Seasonal Flowers

Gladiolus Add Sincerity and Character To The Meaning of Flowers

July 24, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

If pictures are worth a thousand words, how many words are flowers worth? Every individual attaches some special memory or memories to the many types of flowers in their lives. Whether it was the focal flower in the bouquet that he delivered with the engagement ring, the sympathy flowers that made mourning easier, or simply the creative gesture of a loved one who somehow just knew that a little boost would turn the day around, there are thousands of memories to delve into when we pass flowers in the grocery store, garden, or local flower shop.

Some flowers, though, have very particular flower meanings and can be sent to express a very specific feeling or message. The birth month flower of August is gladiolus so which better to share? This beautiful, tall blossoming flower represents some very pleasant flower meanings making a gladiolus arrangement the perfect gift to send a message to a guy or a girl!

Express sincerity with a gladiolus bouquet. Sometimes it takes just that little extra to push through the “yes” decisions in our minds. Being completely sure of the sincerity of the sender is the difference between “99% sure that you’re the one for me” and “I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.” Avoid any confusion by ensuring your sincerity with an arrangement of gladiolus.

Express strength of character with gladiolus flowers. Integrity, strong ethics and values, and high moral fiber are qualities that every person looks for in a partner. Make your best qualities shine through. Highlight those strong qualities in another person who needs reassurance of their wonderful self. Gladiolus are the perfect flowers for subtly expressing strength of character.

Sincerity and strength of character are wonderful character traits. Why not put them on display with the help of a fresh gladiolus arrangement from your local florist? The catalog of personal memories along with the flower meanings of gladiolus and many other flowers truly does beg the question…how many words are pictures of flowers worth?

So Glad It’s Summer Gladiolus Arrangement.jpg Gladiolus arrangements envigorate any summer day!

Filed Under: Flower Meanings, Gift Ideas, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Flower Meanings, Flower Meanings, Flower Shop Network, Gift Ideas, Gladiolus, Local Flower Shops, Seasonal Flowers

Five Cool Flowers For Summer

July 18, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

There are many awesome flowers that make great additions to summertime flower arrangements. When it comes to creating an exquisite display for my tables, centerpieces, gardens and other home décor uses, I look to these fabulous blooms for an extra splash of cool during the summer months.

Hydrangeas in full bloom are gorgeous additions to the home or garden. The blossoms of hydrangeas provide a very distinctive and soft scent that no nose can resist. Hydrangea potted plants accentuate patios, walkways, gardens, tables, and other nooks in the home. These colorful and buxom plants draw attention to ignored areas with their attractive size and shape. Hydrangea wedding bouquets are also popular as summer wedding flowers. The shapely blooms of hydrangea plants create full and vivacious wedding bouquets. At the wedding reception, the full-bodied shape of hydrangea centerpieces lend a sense of balance to larger tables. Adding depth and dimension to flower arrangements or gardens, hydrangeas are a colorful and attractive way to enjoy the fresh, full summer months.

Tame the heat with potted hydrangea plants.

Calla lilies are other summer flowers that enhance wedding bouquets. Calla lily bouquets are easily recognized as their distinctive and beautiful appearance make them one of the most popular summer wedding flowers. Calla lilies are especially suited to certain bouquet shapes. Brides everywhere look to calla lily wedding bouquets to enhance gorgeous, long wedding gowns. Whether dancing at a summer wedding or simply drawing more attention to a listless centerpiece, calla lilies are perfect summer flowers for bringing light, beauty, and grace to the atmosphere of your home.

Colorful trumpeted calla lilies beautify any bridal bouquet!

Lilies are excellent seasonal flowers. Summer months see the lily at its finest with use in bridal bouquets, home décor, gardening, or fresh flower arrangements delivered to loved ones. One of the most popular types of summer flowers is the stargazer lily. This easily recognizable flower is popular for its unparalleled ability to add beauty and color to fresh flower bouquets. The brilliant star-shaped pink and white bloom matches the intensity of the summer months but with intense distinction rather than intense heat. Stargazer lilies definitely make a bold statement regardless of how it is chosen for display.

Stunning stargazer lilies make incredible summer wedding flowers!

The birth month flower of August is gladiolus which is another fabulous flower for summertime bouquets. These flowers bloom all summer and are very popular in all most special occasion arrangements during the warm summer months. Looking at gladiolus, with just the right amount of brilliant color, helps tone down the intense heat of the summer and brings a more appealing cool to whatever room I’m in.

Glorious Gladiolus zest up any table!

Of the many flowers in season in summer, liatris should always be counted among the most distinctive types of summer flowers. Liatris stands tall and proud in fresh flower arrangements, drawing definite attention to the height and beauty of the bouquets. The bright purple bottlebrushes of the liatris quickly enhance plain-jane tables or gardens with a pop of stunning color. Summer wedding centerpieces also benefit from the fun and fancy appeal of the tall, colorful flowers.

Use liatris to add height to your fragrant garden!

There are so many uses for these great summer flowers. Personally, I look forward to seeing the large hydrangea bushes outside of my home each day. The blue-purple blooms never fail to attract my attention. Looking out of my window each morning, I greet the day with a smile as my hydrangea plants greet me with color. In the process of planning a summer wedding for a friend, I definitely cannot overlook the versatility of lilies in our bridal bouquets. My friend being a huge fan of stargazer lilies, I’m sure her summer wedding will be a hit. Bringing gorgeous flowers inside is a job I leave to the others in the home but we are never failed by the wonderful summer blooming flowers.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Calla, Flower Shop Network, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Gladiolus, Liatris, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Light Up July With Larkspur Flowers

July 9, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Celebrate July with a bang! The fabulous flower for the month of July is the larkspur which is the common name for several varieties of flowers from the Delphinium and Consolida genera. Beautifully complex, the intricate spikes of Larkspur plants bloom in colors ranging from white to blue and violet to pink, making Larkspur an attractive addition to gardens, homes or inside flower arrangements. The long, stemming Larkspur plant adds a very desirable height and visual appeal to flower arrangements. This touch of distinction keeps Larkspur the popular choice for florists desiring a little extra for a truly stunning arrangement.

Celebrate your independence from unoriginal, boring gift ideas this July. The uncommonly appealing blossom of the larkspur can be used to [Read more…]

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Birth Month Flowers, Flower Shop Network, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Seasonal Flowers

Fall May be Months Away But Here’s A Sample October Flowers ?

April 28, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask the Expert: what flowers are in in October. Kelley

Filed Under: Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Suggestions, October Flowers, Seasonal Flowers

Inexpensive “Green” Wedding Flowers For North West

April 25, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask the Expert: What flowers are in season in the Great NW on 7/4?

I am planning a wedding to commence on the 4th of July this year. I am trying to plan it as “‘green,” local, and inexpensive as possible. My colors are green, purple, white, and perhaps bold yellow highlights. Please email me your response as soon as possible. Thank you! Shawnicee

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Eco Friendly, Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

The Greatest Natural Wonder: Celebrating Earth

April 22, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

It’s Earth Day again! Time now to celebrate the rich beauty and the fullness of this great planet that daily sustains the lives of millions of inhabitants. With such a remarkable and rewarding existence, it is no wonder that April 22 marks the yearly celebration of such a fascinating home.

My older brother and I were sitting around discussing “green” politics one day—a practice not at all unusual or uncommon. The topic of Earth Day and Arbor Day spawned such enthusiasm that a planting party idea quickly emerged. He and I sat for hours planning an elaborate gathering of ourselves, our neighbors, and our community around a group of plants ready to break ground on environmental awareness and renewal. What plans to be a great time is reserved for six o’clock this evening at our local park with a host of friends, family, flowers, and foliage.

A bit of history on this holiday is that Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22 of 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson had for several years been very disheartened by a lack of environmental awareness in political policy. Senator Nelson had tried earlier during the presidency of John F. Kennedy to push the issue into national attention. He met with President Kennedy to plan and discuss a national conservation tour. Though the success of the tour did not produce the results Senator Nelson had desired, it did spawn an idea that would later become Earth Day.

An epiphany of sorts came to Senator Nelson during a visit to a college campus in the summer of 1969. The Vietnam War was spreading fury among young protestors who took to the streets in opposition. Senator Nelson’s view of these events sparked the idea for a national protest of the atrocities affecting the environment. Senator Nelson first spoke officially of a national grassroots demonstration for the cause at a conference in September of the same year. The following April, his vision came to life and would later become what we now know as Earth Day. More than 20,000 demonstrators including individuals, schools, and civic groups participated in the nationwide awareness movement.

With this knowledge emblazoned in our minds, Mark and I decided to keep the fiery tradition alive. While we may be just two people, we’re two humans who breathe deeply the fresh air of a new day. A swim, ride, or hike is as much a renewal to our spirits as a fresh glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. Earth Day is a celebration of waking up to a fresh landscape, a way to appreciate our surroundings, and a national moment of thought toward the natural wonders that bring so much joy into the lives of us all.

If you can plant a tree to celebrate Earth Day, send or buy a plant that improves air quality such as peace lily, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, snake plant, or heartleaf philodendron (all pictured below). To learn more about plants that improve air quality, read NASA’s Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement report.

– Brynn FSN Support Staff –

English Ivy

Chinese Evergreen

Peace Lily

Heartleaf Philodendron

Snake Plant – Mother In Law’s Tongue – Sansevieria

Filed Under: Holiday Info, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Air Purifying Plants, Earth Day, Holiday Info, Houseplants, Seasonal Flowers

All Zodiac Signs Point To Birthday Flowers

April 15, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

April is the month of many birthdays in my family. I knew that I wanted to send my elderly grandmother a colorful spring bouquet but was unsure of which unique gift to give my sister. Shannon shares a birthday with my best friend, which is difficult enough, but her birthday is also one of five family birthdays in the month.

I went in search of a unique idea for expressing just how meaningful Shannon is to me and how special she is apart from anyone else. I began shopping through the horde of treasures on her wish list but nothing particularly grabbed my fancy. I dislike shopping and exhaust easily under the pressure to be sold something so I took a break to peruse the rest of the marvels that the Internet has to offer. It was shortly thereafter when I stumbled upon a great gift idea and all I had to do was look to the stars! No, I was not viewing the celebrity gossip blogs but was looking at an article that noted the different types of flowers that coincide with astrological signs. How interesting!

I hear Shannon speak often of the birthstone that correlates to her zodiac sign so sending flowers that designated her astrological sign seemed like the perfect idea I’d longed to find. My dear little sister is an Aries which coincides with beautiful blooms such as tulips, red roses, and amaryllis. It was quite a treat to watch her smile at the spectacular bouquet our local florist had arranged.

This is similar to the bouquet that received such a favorable response.

April also cedes two weeks to the Taurus sign under which my grandmother falls. The arrangement of iris, sweet pea, lilac, and lavender is sure to brighten her table in the coming weeks. I look forward to letting my grandmother see how much thought went into her gift so that she will know how often she is on my mind.

Both women are strikingly different and sending a personalized gift of birthday flowers helped express all of the things about both that I love so much. They are strong, intelligent, beautiful, graceful, and charming ladies. In as much as I wish I could share my love for them in words, so also I wish I could have forever captured the indescribable happiness of seeing each receive my gift and feel as adored and splendid for a moment as I find them all year.

Brynn – FSN Support Staff

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Birthday Flowers, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Local Florists, Seasonal Flowers, Zodiac Flowers

Maryland Wedding Flowers In May

April 11, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask the Expert: May seasonal flowers in Maryland
What are some seasonal flowers for a May wedding in Maryland? I don’t want to pay extra to have flowers flown in, as it’s much more affordable. The wedding is May 9th. I really like color and the wedding will be held in a garden.
Any ideas or suggestions? Jessica

Jessica,

In today’s global world, most flowers aren’t truly “seasonal” any more. With the exception of really rare flowers like lilacs, most florists can get any flower any time with very little seasonal cost difference. With that said, Roses are more expensive during Valentine’s Day and peonies are less expensive during May and June. Cost is related more to the sources your local florist has available. I would make a list of the flowers and colors you like and consult with your local Maryland florist. The florist will be able to tell you what they bring in as a standard order and what they can order without charging a premium price. I would also discuss the fact that you are having an outdoor wedding. Using flowers that will not hold up well outside, no matter what the price, will lead to disappointment. Your florist will be able to determine what flowers do well based on your climate. I will suggest the use of gladiolus for outdoor receptions since they do well in these conditions. I would, also, suggest using a mixture of flowers for your bridal bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets – this will try into the garden theme of the wedding. With mixed flowers you can get a lot of color.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Suggestions, Maryland florists, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Flowers For A Late May Wedding

April 9, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

Ask the Expert: Seasonal flowers in May in Northeast Ohio
We are planning a May wedding and I am curious about which flowers would be the best choice for a late May wedding. I’m on a fixed budget so someone suggested I go with “what’s in season.” I really love dahlias and would love to use these. Any chance? Also do the dahlias come in shades of pink? Thank you so much. DeeDee

DeeDee,

Most flowers are available year round and depending on where you live dahlias could be available for your May wedding. Dahlias do come in a variety of pink shades. With that said the cost of the flowers can vary from season to season and from region to region. The style of bouquets and other wedding flower needs will also create a difference in price.

Typically flowers like alstroemeria, calla lilies, carnation, daisies mums, delphinium, freesia, gardenia, gerbera daisies, gladiolus, hydrangea, iris, liatris, asiatic and oriental lilies, lisanthus, orchids, peonies, ranunculus, roses, snapdragons and statice are “in season” during the month of May.

As to the issue of cost effectiveness – it all depends on the style you choose for your bouquet and other wedding flower needs. You could use a more expensive flower if the style is simple and minimalistic. The use of premium flowers in combination with other flowers can create a balance in the cost of the bouquet. Typically your less expensive flowers will be alstroemeria, carnations, chrysanthemums, statice. Premium flowers would be gardenia, oriental lilies, orchids, peonies, ranunculus and some roses.

The first thing I would do is make a list of all of the flowers needs for your wedding: bouquets, corsages, boutonnières, reception flowers, etc. Then set a budget and make an appointment with your local florist. When you meet with the florist, tell them the style you have in mind and the flowers you prefer to use along with your budget. Your local florist will have a better sense of what those flowers cost in your area and what will fit your budget. And by all means if you love dahlias use them. Depending on your budget it may only be a couple here or there, but they will add a truly personal touch to your day.

Just a little side note. If I had to do it all over again, I would carry a hand tied bouquet of gerbera daisies or calla lilies.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Spring Has Sprung With An Abundance of Spring Flowers

March 27, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Despite the bad weather occurring across the nation, mother nature perseveres. Spring flowers like tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils have been popping up all over the place. Every day on my way to work, I pass a house with a driveway lined in daffodils. It is an absolutely amazing display. My mother’s hyacinths and tulips are gorgeous this year. They even survived the storm last week that blew the fence down behind them.

It is refreshing to see these flowers and to know that spring is once again upon us. It seems these spring flowers are exciting to everyone. In fact, Steve Pelham (our VP of Technology) snapped a picture of these beautiful daffodils in the yard where his daughter Alice was participating in an Easter Egg Hunt.

Many of you may have daffodils in your yard or may have received potted daffodils last Sunday for Easter. If so, you might be interested in Caring for Daffodils.

Now is the time to Welcome Spring and enjoy all the flowers you can.

Filed Under: Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Daffodil Plant Care, Daffodils, Seasonal Flowers, Spring Flowers

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