Archives for July 2010

Vote For Your Favorite Designs In Our Inspiration Challenge ROUND 4!

July 30, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 3 Comments

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The entries are in and are lookin’ GOOD!
In case you missed it, Flower Shop Network asked talented floral designers to create a fabulous floral art inspired by a subject we selected. For this one, we chose a photograph of an incredible, lush coral reef. It really piqued our florist’s interests and they delivered fantastic results! Find more about the Design Inspiration Challenge here.

Now it’s your turn to participate! Look at the photo carefully and choose a floral design you think best interprets this masterpiece. Look closely at all of the designs before picking a winner! There is a poll at the bottom of this post — Be sure to cast your vote!!

FSN wishes all of the florists who entered GOOD LUCK!! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Design Inspiration Challenge, Floral Design

What Is This White Stuff On My Azalea?

July 30, 2010 by Jamie Jamison Adams 7 Comments

Ask the Expert: what would get the white fungus off azaleas , leaf the azalea has white on them , on the leafs is it a fungus , what can spray on them will mild soapy water work. Janet

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

First we need to determine if you really have a fungus. Is the white substance powdery and can you wipe it off. If so, you have a fungus called powdery mildew. Soapy water doesn’t work on fungus. You will need a fungicide. Your local garden center will have a general purpose fungicide that will work for well on powdery mildew.

If the white on the leaves is more of a lacy pattern on the leaf that can not be wiped away, your azalea has been attacked by an insect called lace bug. Soapy water doesn’t usually control this type of sucking insect. However, if a more organic approach is what you want – try it. If it doesn’t work, you will need an insecticide.

You have two choices when it comes to insecticide control for lace bug – topical or systemic. The topical insecticides work more quickly, but won’t protect as long. Systemic insecticides are slow acting, but longer lasting. Your local garden center will carry both of these products.

Keep in mind, the damage caused by the insects will not change. The plant will produce new leaves and they will eventually cover the damaged ones. So, it is important to keep the lace bugs from attacking these new leaves.

If you would like to read more about the lace bug on Azaleas, the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service has a great article: Azalea & Rhododendron Insect Pests

Charleston florists are proud sponsors of the Flower Shop Network blog.

Filed Under: Insect Identification Tagged With: Azalea, Fungus, Insects, Plant Diseases, Plants & Insects

FSN Congratulates Megan Rudloff — Winner of Texas Cup

July 29, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate Texas floral designer, Megan Rudloff for taking home the prestigious, Texas Cup for floral design. The Texas State Florists Association’s Texas Cup is an annual floral design competition. The winner of the Texas Cup is awarded entry to the Society of American Florist’s Sylvia Cup Competition and the National Alliance of Floral Association’s Designer of the Year competition.

Congratulations again, Megan! We know you’ll go far!

This post is brought to you by Texas’ local florists.

Filed Under: Floral Industry News Tagged With: Megan Rudloff, Texas Cup, Texas Florists, Texas State Florists Association Convention

Removing Spores From Leather Leaf Fern

July 29, 2010 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: I have problem with the Spores on Leather Leaf .
The spores are popping and leaving a mess in fresh flower arrangement’s, What can I do to stop this, The wholesaler says its normal for this time of year but I cant send out flowers with fern spores leaving a mess everywhere. Vonda

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
The wholesaler is correct about this being the time of year (June-July) that ferns release their spores. However, that knowledge doesn’t solve your problem. You may need to remove the spores just like you have to remove pollen in lilies.

I personally haven’t removed ferns spores before, but I researched spore removal. When fern growers need spores to create new plants, they take the fronds with ripe sori (the part of the leaf containing the spores) and fold a piece of paper over them. In a day or two, the spores drop on to the paper.

In the flower shop, I would recommend wiping the back side of the frond with a soft paper towel. Any ripe spores should detach from the leaf. If the spores won’t release, gently taps the frond.

Hopefully, this will be a solution to your problem. Please let us know if this solves your problem.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ferns, Flower Care Tips

Photos from the 2010 Texas State Florist Association Convention

July 29, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

This past weekend, July 23-25, Flower Shop Network had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Texas State Florist Association Convention in San Marcos, Texas. The theme was “The Green Life” and we learned a lot about what it means to be ‘green’ in the floral industry.

For more, check out:
Interview With MNSFA President Kym Erickson at the TSFA Convention
Interview With TSFA Upcoming Vice President, Patrick Berry [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Floral & Flower Shows, Floral Design, Floral Industry News, Fresh Flowers

Interview With Kym Erickson At The Texas State Florists Association Convention — “The Green Life”

July 28, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Mandy Maxwell, from Flower Shop Network, sets down Kym Erickson at the Texas State Florists Association Convention to discuss her take-aways from the floral show. Lots of great presenters, and fantastic new info for even the most veteran florist.

Kym also talks about her work with the Minnesota State Florists Association and their upcoming conference in October. Maybe you were too far from Texas to attend this one, but there is sure to be a floral convention in YOUR area! It is important to attend these shows, not only for you as a designer, but also for the floral industry all together.

Filed Under: Floral Convention Videos, Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Floral & Flower Shows, Floral Design, Floral Industry News

Interview With Patrick Berry At The Texas State Florists Association Convention — “The Green Life”

July 27, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Over the weekend, Flower Shop Network attended the 2010 Texas State Florist Association‘s conference “The Green Life.” We had the wonderful opportunity to catch a quick interview with the upcoming TSFA Vice President, Patrick Berry. Here he talks about this years theme and what it takes to put on such an incredible show. He also stresses the importance of coming to shows like this for local florists. We hope to see you at next years event!

Or, watch on Flower Shop Network’s YouTube Channel. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Filed Under: Floral Convention Videos, Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Floral & Flower Shows, Local Florists, Texas State Florists Association Convention

Design Challenge: Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

July 23, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Florists everywhere are enjoying the FSN Design Inspiration Challenge contests over the past few months, and for good reason. This contest is a lot of fun! If you have not seen the contest, basically we pick an interesting photo to give the florists and they interpret it into their own creations. There have been some crazy, crazy designs! The photo can be ANYTHING… it’s a surprise every round. We’ve had everything from a van Gogh painting to a pair of acrobats (seen above).

Currently, we are on Round 4. This inspiration is a beautiful photo of a coral reef. By picking such a range of subjects, we hope florists are learning to see more than just the beauty around them, but how it can be interpreted into floral designs.

Florists: Do you carry a sketchbook? Do you even use a sketchbook?

I already hear people whining, “But I can’t draw!” This is not a problem! You don’t need to draw.. you just need to remember. Next time you see something with an interesting shape, balance or even great colors together.. jot it down! Take a photo with your phone. You just need to remember what you’ve seen. Next time you need to whip up a masterpiece of floral design, turn to your sketchbook and find that great design you saw in the iron-work of a fence you passed. A sketchbook is a great place to keep resources and references. They even make sketchbooks with pockets and file folders, great for keeping things you’ve torn out of magazines.

Maybe a sketchbook will be less intimidating if you rename it.. your inspiration book. Even if you can’t draw a stick figure if your life depended on it, you can still jot down notes about something that inspired you. No one has to know what it is but you! Remember — you are a floral ARTIST!

FSN wants to know, do you use a sketchbook? What do you think of this post? Leave your comment below!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Florists Only

Floral Environments For Your Flower Shop

July 22, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Are you a local florist with big ideas but never feel you get to do anything ‘creative’? The hum drum of daily floral work can get a little tedious.. Now is the time to change all of that! Creating floral environments in your shop is a great way to show off your talents and well as what is available through your store. Plus when your customers or Facebook friends see them, it’s a great incentive to have a fun-themed party with fantastic floral decor!

First, divide your shop into sections or environments. Depending on space you may just want one or two environments.

Creating a backdrop for your environment is key. You could set up a table with floral designs and the works.. OR, and probably the easiest way, set up intricately created backdrops to really make your theme POP! Check out the backdrop above from the 2010 AIFD Southern Chapter conference back in March. This would be a great floral backdrop to an environment for all things garden! If your shop does more work with ‘go green’ causes, this would be a great accent to your recyclables.

Creating a frame that is reusable and restockable is a way to make sure your floral environment will last. The display above is made with sturdy elements that will last. The fresh flowers are resting in tubes that are attached to the frame.. this way when your flowers get a little droopy, they are easily replaced.

The photo to the left is from the 2010 AIFD National Symposium from just a few weeks ago. This is a great backdrop by European designer Emilio Oliveria. The frame of this is simple wire grids from any hardware store. (think small fencing) The wire frame makes it a breeze to attach things to. Here she has used wool strands, rolled leaves, cork squares and lots of small accents. (This is it hanging in the hall, it’s not supposed to be touching the ground.. just imagine it’s straight, haha)

These are so easy to make, they last forever, and with the addition of fresh flowers and foliage you can change the looks of them in a flash! This is a quick and easy, yet dramatic way to decorate for a party, corporate event, or even a wedding.

These floral backdrops are a great way to accent your environments. By advertising themes in your shop with environments and photos posted to Facebook, it encourages new ideas in your customers. Setting up these great party environments you can show many different ways of decorating with floral design. Whenever you think of a new party theme, change your environment.. This really shows you’re creativity and puts people in the party mood!

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: floral backdrops, floral decorations, floral environments

What Is This Vine Coming Out Of My Croton?

July 21, 2010 by Jamie Jamison Adams 27 Comments

Ask The Expert: My croton has a long feathery vine growing out of it. There appears to be sap on these vines. he leaves have also gotten something on them that looks like a white hair. What is this? Do I cut the vine? Do I cut and plant the vine? Marsha

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
When I first received this question, I was a little puzzled. I asked Marsha to send a picture.

Although the picture is a little dark, I believe the vine is the flower stock of the croton.

I found the croton bloom picture on flickr. It was taken by CameliaTWU. As you can see the bloom has a long stalk that looks like a vine. The flowers are fuzzy and white.

Personally, I have never seen a croton bloom. I have a feeling that you need just the right plant and conditions for this to happen.

If you find the blooms unattractive, you can follow the stalk down to its base and cut it off. Or, you can let the plant flower and when the flowers are spent cut the stalk off. Either way, the plant will be happy.

Oklahoma City florists hope this flower identification question was helpful.

Sharon’s Photos

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Croton, Flower Identification, Houseplants

Archives for July 2010

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