Oh no! You’ve missed the birthday! What to do, what to do? Send flowers. I know. It seems to be my answer for everything but trust me on this one. Short of an apology on bended knee and a round of sobbing, there isn’t a much better way to say “I’m sorry for forgetting the birthday of someone so special to me.” In lieu of the first option, belated birthday flowers seem like a much better idea.

While weeping and pleading are probably not right up there on everyone’s list, sending flowers is quick and easy. In other words, having a local florist deliver a belated birthday bouquet is the best way to humbly recognize a forgetful slip up while not having to spend all day groveling for mercy at the feet of the offended one.

Many people have a heard enough time finding the right birthday card message, let alone sifting through lists and lists to find belated birthday card messages that practically jump off of the page. Local florists, being all too familiar with the humble needs of forgetful loved ones, have contributed to this list of the best belated birthday card messages for just such an occasion.

15 Card Message Reminders That It’s Never To Late To Say Happy Birthday

1)       (Funny) 29 again? Talk about recycling! Happy Belated Birthday

2)       May God grant you a day filled with happiness, a year filled with joy.

3)       Today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. You deserve a lifetime of beautiful tomorrows. Happy Belated Birthday.

4)       (Funny) At birthday time, it’s good to remember our friends. Actually, it’s good to remember anything! Happy Belated Birthday

5)       Because you’re you I’m celebrating your birthday yesterday! Because I’m me, I’m celebrating it today! Happy Belated Birthday

6)       Count not your years by adding the days but with joy count the friends you’ve made on the way. Wishing you a year of joy and friendship.

7)       For your birthday, I wanted to get you the thing you need most but how do you gift-wrap a 25-hour day? Happy Belated Birthday

8)       Go ahead and have another birthday if you want to. But don’t expect me to keep up with you. Happy Belated Birthday.

9)       (Funny) Can you guess what I want to be when I grow up? As much fun as you! Happy Belated Birthday.

10)   (Funny) Happy Belated Birthday. You’ve got a great life, you look wonderful, and your health is good. How could a measly present from me compete with that?

11)   (Funny) Happy Belated Birthday to someone who still looks good. In fact, almost lifelike.

12)   Your birthday is truly an event worth celebrating! Happy Belated Birthday.

13)   (Funny) You should really celebrate on your birthday. Take TWO naps today.

14)   Wishing you birthday memories to hold close to your heart! Have a Beautiful Day.

15)   (Funny) Wanted to send you something really nice for your birthday but the machine just kept taking my quarters. Happy Belated Birthday.

Haven’t found the one you want yet? Follow this link for a printable list of all belated birthday enclosure card messages. Brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

Chuppah Flowers by A Fantasy In Flowers

Congratulations to A Fantasy In Flowers, a Jacksonville FL flower shop, for winning the first ever FSN Facebook Photo of the Week contest! The winning photo this week showcases a chuppah covered in flowers overlooking a lovely scene in Jacksonville.

The quality of these chuppah flowers is not surprising given the reputation of A Fantasy In Flowers. Let the story behind the photo speak for itself. Straight from the designer:

Thank you! This was actually daughter #4 of the Rabbi. We have now done the flowers for 4 out of 6 daughters with 2 more to go!!!! [...] Actually 6 daughters and 2 sons. The youngest 2 daughters are still to be married!

Word of mouth gets around when 1000 words just won’t cut it for a photo like this. If you need a fantastic florist in Jacksonville Florida, stop by and see the florists at A Fantasy In Flowers. You’ll be amazed!

Want to submit YOUR photos to the contest?Attach the photo in a comment below and include contact information OR visit the FSN Facebook page to submit your floral industry related photos.

Read the official FSN Facebook photo contest rules.

It’s easy to enter. Just submit your floral industry related photos (limit 5 per week) and check the Bloomin’ Blog on Monday to see if you won!

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Leave your photos in a comment on the weekly Winner blog. Include name, florist/flower shop, city/st
2. Post your photos as fan photos on the FSN Facebook page. Include the name of the person/florist/flower shop who receives credit for the photo.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. Flower Shop Network will pick a new winner every Monday from photos submitted the previous Monday through Sunday. eg. Photos submitted Monday Sept 28 - Sunday Oct 3 are eligible for the Photo of The Week on Monday, Oct 4th. So on, so forth.
2. Only 5 photos may be submitted per person/page per week.
3. Duplicate photos may not be submitted for reentry. HOWEVER, Wedding And Party Network is running a similar contest. You may submit the same photo to both sites, but no photo will be considered for the contest more than ONE week per page (FSN or WPN).
4. Comments and likes on a photo will make up 50% of the vote for that photo.

I know, I know. That’s a lot of rules but we’re trying to have fun with it so submit away! Don’t forget to have your friends/fans check out and vote for your photos!

Happy viewing.

Flower Shop Network

Ask the Expert: what might this plant be?
Foud it in my wildflower garden next to False Sunflowers and New England
Asters. Might be a weed, Earl

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe it is a Acalypha virginica (Virginia threeseed mercury).  It is considered a weed with mild allergen properties.  It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.

Just a side note:  This plant is a sister to a houseplant called Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida).  Which just goes to show you one man’s weed is another man’s treasure.

The season for flower shows wraps up in October so this is your last chance to attend a fun filled weekend of networking, learning and entertainment. If you like mingling with other people who love flowers, visit one of the flower shows below.

October 4-11, 2009: Maine State Florists & Growers Association Fryeburg Fair Show in Fryeburg Maine. For more information call 207-947-4521 or toll free at 800-879-5996.

October 10-11, 2009: South Dakota Florists Association Free Fall Seminar in Chamberlain South Dakota. For more information call 605-997-2751.

October 20-21, 2009: Garden & Florist Expo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For more information call 905-875-1805 or toll free at 800-265-5656.

Hurricane Lily

Ask the Expert: What flower is this?
I found this flower growing in some dense brush and though i want to trim the brush I wasnt sure if doing so would hurt the flowers as they seem to like the shade.. DJ Dicey

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe this delicate pink flower is a Hurricane Lily (lucoris radiata) also known as a red spider lily.  These beautiful flowers are perennial and will live in full sun or partial shade areas.  So you can cut back the brush and the lilies will be ok.  These lilies usually pop up right before hurricane season (late September - October).  The flowers usually last a week or two and then leaves will appear. By next summer the leaves will die back. Then the whole process begins again.

Ask the Expert: what kind of weed is this?
My dad has a garden that has been growing an invasive ground cover weed that has clover shaped leaves with tiny white “flowers”. He has sprayed with all sorts of weed killers and nothing seems to work. It seems to stay only in the garden and has not crept onto the grass. It’s very viney like.. grows like a carpet. Has been tilled repeatedly.. he left the garden area unplanted for a year to see if that would help get rid of it but it keeps coming back. They seem to grow from the root. When pulled from the garden they always seem wet even when there has been no moisture applied to the garden at all. He suspects that it started in a small area and was spread by use of the tiller. They grow very close to the ground only.. max of 2″ inches tall. He has tried to pull them many times and when he does the base of the weed (green) will pull off from a white, slippery, more solid structure. I do not have a photo available at this time but if you are not able to identify it I can post a picture soon for you to see. Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you for your time! Please let me know if a picutre is needed. My poor dad, an avid gardner, is completely stumped! I hope you can help! Thank you!  Misty McCollough

Plant Expert Reply:

It is difficult to make an identification just from the description you have given.  So I found some pictures of plants that could possibly be your dad’s problem.  Please take a look at them and let me know which you think look the most like his.  Once we idenitify the plant, I will help figure a way to get rid of the problem.

For someone with a birthday in October (like me) it’s important to feel special. I suppose that’s true of all birthday boys and girls but it’s especially true of Libras and as much so of Scorpios. Rather than focus on zodiac flowers–in case you did that last year–focus instead on the birth month flower of October when looking for a unique birthday gift.

The birth month flower of October is marigold (Calendula) which means that it’s super easy to find flowers to go with such a beautiful bloom. Fall flowers like chocolate cosmos, burgundy pincushion, dahlia, dark colored hydrangea, sunflowers, amaranthus and gloriosa are great with marigold. They give a festive feel to the arrangement and are a breath of fresh flowers…er…air.

If you haven’t already discovered the October birth month flower, talk with your local florist about how you can send arrangements containing marigold or inspired by the delightful colors and textures of it. This will be a unique birthday gift for a special someone and will give you a chance to flex your creative muscles. Go on! Be creative!

Just a side note, the flower meaning of marigold (Calendula) is “desire for riches” so you can also use this as part of the theme of your gift. It’s practically the same as wishing someone good fortune, plus you the golden opportunity to use the most beautiful brown, orange and yellow shades in your arrangement. If your birthday boy or girl isn’t a fan of these colors, play it down a little and add some of their favorites. Reds, greens, dark blues, purples and similar earth-toned hues are striking against other popular fall flowers.

In my family, grandparents rule the roost. The child in good with the grandparents need never want for another thing. They are protective, loving, gentle, and supportive. They rule their homes with iron fists and open hearts. I adore my grandparents and want only the best for them. We recently started celebrating Grandparents Day with them as a way of bringing the families together again during the year. My remaining grandmother and grandfather are in their early 80s. After that many years of receiving gifts for various occasions it gets kind of hard to give one that they’ll really like. I’ve figured out the answer for them though. I have decided to send flowers to my grandmother with a very sweet Grandparents Day card message attached. My grandfather, a farmer, is receiving a plant instead but with the same message of love.

Those not so skilled in verse may struggle to find the right way to say what is on their hearts. Grandma and Grandpa know that they are loved, but what combination of words expresses the depth of this love with any kind of fervor? What Grandparents Day card message says it all but in the space of a little enclosure card? Instead of spending hours looking for the perfect message, spend the day enjoying time with your grandparents. They’ll love the gift because you sent it, but a special message like those below help make it their favorite gift yet. With this list of Grandparents Day card messages compiled by local florists, it is easy to find the message that you need when sending flowers to grandma and grandpa.

Grandparents Day Card Messages

1)       The two of you must have been the inspiration for this special day. Happy Grandparents Day.

2)       A Loving Wish on Grandparents Day. To wish you a happy Grandparents Day and then remind you, too, how very, very much you’re loved Today and all year through!

3)       Among the sweetest memories Our hearts keep through the years, Are special things grandmothers say and do– Their tender hugs and words of praise, Their laughter and their loving ways Are joys that we recall our whole lives through. With more love and special thoughts than you could ever know.

4)       A zillion hugs just aren’t enough for grandparents who do such special stuff and always make me feel so very loved.

5)       It’s great to have a day that honors grandparents. It’s a wonderful chance to thank you for great times and feelings and lifelong gifts of your love.

6)       Thank you for telling me your stories and sharing your many years of experience and wisdom. I’m a better person for having learned from you. Happy Grandparents Day.

7)       A grandparent is a special part of all that’s cherished in the heart.

8)       Grandparents give the best hugs! Here’s one to wish you a Happy Grandparents Day.

9)       I love the way you love and the nice things that you do. I feel so very lucky just because you’re you!

10)     For You On Grandparents Day. It’s the perfect time to let you know how much you’re loved, how much you’re wished the best of everything.

You’re only halfway through! Read all 20 Grandparents Day enclosure card messages. Brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

And people assume florists just DO flowers.

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)

That’s hardly the case for the 116 florists who took part in the Accreditation Evaluation Session (AES) of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) at the yearly Symposium held this year in Kansas City, Missouri. 46 of the 116 earned the AIFD accreditation and can now say that they are AIFD certified florists. Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate all of the new AIFDs, but 5 individuals have earned a special pat on the back.

Flower Shop Network is very proud of the following members who earned their AIFD accreditation at the 2009 AES:

• Candy McNeil Cannon (The Flower Studio, a flower shop in Sun Prairie Wisconsin)
• Frances Davis (The Flower Merchant Ltd, a Springfield Missouri flower shop)
• Jeremy R. Estes (Kents Floral Gallery, a flower shop in Columbia Missouri)
  
• Janet Frye (The Enchanted Florist, a creative flower shop in Asheville North Carolina)
• Christy Langone (Langone’s Florist and Greenhouse, a Westfield Massachusetts florist)

The AES is not a contest and no winner is declared. However, it’s not easy either! Florists are judged on 10 points of professional floral design including mechanics, balance, color, theme, line and creativity. This is something that takes many hours of preparation (days, months even) and has earned its elite reputation partially due to the difficulty of the AES. When a florist earns his or her AIFD, they should be heartily congratulated at the least.

We at Flower Shop Network want to extend our congratulations to our good friends above and to the other florists who participated in the session. The 46 floral designers who earned their AIFD accreditation will be inducted officially at the 2010 AIFD Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts.

69 of the remaining 70 participants earned the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) accrediation which is the AIFD’s newest designation program. Among these were three Flower Shop Network members who deserve a feather in their cap:

• Anthony Swick (Bay Bouquet Floral Studio, florists in Tampa Florida)
• Connie LeBlanc (Hearts Desire Florist, florists in Houma Louisiana)
• Joseph Farrington (Delorice’s Florist, florists in Douglas Georgia)

Congratulations everyone!

Click the photo above to view the official AIFD press release and see a complete list of newly accredited participants.