"Fall Flirtations" Vase Arrangement

Fun, feisty and perfect for fall, the “Fall Flirtations” vase arrangement strikes a beautiful pose for recipients.

With it’s delicate blend of tulips, roses and hydrangea, these flowers beckon the recipient to get ever so close. The fragrant aroma of the flowers make inhaling the succulent smell a necessity. The tempting colors of this fall flowers arrangement keep each new viewer yearning for a closer view.

Alluring and inviting, this beautiful arrangement is a delightful gift for everyone—and quite the favorable one. It is difficult not to enjoy the beauty in the tulips, roses, carnations, stock and other flowers. The colors of the flowers are reminiscent of a fall sunset. For most, even the faintest reminder of such a beautiful is enough to make the strongest fall in love.

Give an irresistibly attractive gift this October. Order the “Fall Flirtations”  flower arrangement from a local florist.

“Fall Flirtations” Recipe

Ginger Vase
‘Antique’ Hydrangea
Rust ‘Leonidas’ Roses
Orange & Yellow Variegated Tulips
Ruby Stock
Orange Dahlias
Orange Variegated Carnations
Brown Hypericum
‘Sunset Safari’ Leucadendrons
Sheer Bronze Wired Ribbon

It’s no secret that Flower Shop Network has been deeply and personally affected by breast cancer. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’d like to give you our reasons why we hope this month will be a strong month for everyone who has been affected by the horrible disease.

"Think Pink" Flowers for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

1. Recently each one of us was touched by the tragic loss of our dear friend, Jackie Marshall, who passed away earlier this year from complications of breast cancer. Having been in remission for many years, the cancer resurfaced later in another part of her body and took her much quicker than any of us had imagined possible.
2. Our own Loranne Atwill suffered a loss long before selling her flower shop to pursue her dreams with Flower Shop Network, Wedding And Party Network, and FGmarket. One of the florists in her shop was diagnosed with breast cancer and was sadly lost to the illness.
3. A very good friend of mine and a strong mentor lost her life battling the disease for only a few months. After a double mastectomy, the cancer was still not isolated and removed. My family, her family and many friends have never forgotten the sound of her voice or how happy it made us to hear her laugh. We just miss it.

It’s hard not to meet someone who has been affected by breast cancer. It is a prevalent, horrible disease that sneaks and attacks without warning, without repentance. It is very important that a cure is found and found FAST. Having known all but first hand the difficulties of the disease, it’s our sincerest hopes that people (including us) do everything we can this month and every one after to help find a way to end the suffering for our sisters.

Many florists give a portion of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or another respectable foundation involved in the fight against breast cancer. Contact your local flower shop today to see if they participate in any programs. If they don’t, request one!

Know someone battling breast cancer? Respectfully and gently show your respect by sending a Breast Cancer Awareness flower bouquet to your loved one.

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.