Bloomin' Blog

Fruit, Gourmet & Custom Gift Baskets

May 14, 2004 by Kelly Curtis 7 Comments

The popularity of fruit and gourmet gift baskets has increased substantially over the past several years, and more and more full-service florists are offering wide selections of gifts to complement their fresh flowers. It used to be that a simple basket full of apples, oranges, grapes and the like was the most interesting fruit basket choice available. But supply and variety have happily increased to meet demand such that, today, gift baskets can be custom-created in any theme you can imagine…..and these gourmet baskets deliver so much more than just fruit.

Choosing The Right Gift Basket

Coffee-lovers

For the caffeine-lover in your life, send a coffee gift basket, brimming with interesting and exotic coffees and condiments, aromatic whole beans and an electric grinder, a pair of special mugs, fancy napkins, some delicate cookies, and a CD featuring music of the coffee-growing regions of the world.

Day At The Spa

Pamper someone who is in need of a little luxury with an at-home “Day at the Spa” collection of bath and body products. These gift baskets can include scented bath oils or bubble bath, handmade soaps, skin lotions, a loofah sponge and body sprays. Add an aromatherapy candle to heighten the sense of relaxation.

New Baby Gift Basket

For the parents of a newborn child, send a bassinet basket of baby gifts. Tuck in a rattle, some tiny socks or booties, a spoon and a bib, a miniature T-shirt, baby powder and lotion, a bottle of aspirin for Mom, and for Dad, some bubble-gum cigars. Don’t forget a cuddly, plush teddy bear for the newborn. Have a congratulatory balloon tied on to add buoyancy to the celebration.

Dog Lovers

Is one of your canine friends feeling blue? Send a dog-themed gift basket of yummy treats, a new collar and leash, a cute squeaky-toy and a chew bone, all wrapped up in a big, new dog food dish. Trends forecasters say that, with declining birth rates in the U.S. and the increase of single-person households, pets are the “new children.” (I wonder what happened to the old ones.) Surely, you know someone who is especially fond of their pet.

Gourmet Gift Basket

Gourmet assortments of imported jams and jellies, pungent cheeses and creamy pates have become almost commonplace. But not every fruit or food basket needs to be filled with gourmet items. Surprise your favorite sports fanatic with a gift basket overflowing with junk food snacks like potato chips, pork rinds and pretzels. Toss in some bite-size Snickers bars, a can of squeeze cheese and saltine crackers, and let the snack-fest and games begin! Don’t forget to include the antacid tablets!

Seasonal Gift Baskets

Seasonal gift baskets are always popular choices, with selections tailored for a specific time of year or upcoming holiday. A gardener‘s trug containing gardening hand tools, gloves, seeds, knee pads and sunscreen makes a useful and thoughtful gift in spring. Summer might suggest a day at the beach, with a collection of beach toys, a beach towel, a bottle of sun tan lotion, and a couple of pulpy paperback books all delivered in a large plastic pail. Autumn evokes the gustatory pleasures of the harvest season…..grapes, apples and other fruits, nuts, cider mixes, a fresh-baked pie or loaf of herb bread. A Christmas-time basket could include a special Christmas tree ornament, candy canes, a tin of holiday cookies, a scented candle or potpourri, a CD of carols….even a pair of festive mittens!

Graduation Celebration

Now is the perfect time to honor a recent graduate with a ‘Congrats #1 Grad’ gift basket! A professional florist can help you create a customized array of unique and practical gifts that a high school or college grad will enjoy. Fill a ‘Class of 2004’ keepsake mug with Jolly Rancher candies or bubble gum and nestle it in a basket loaded with munchies like microwave popcorn, sunflower seeds and Pop-Tarts. Personalize your congratulations basket even further by adding a prepaid phone or gasoline card, book of stamps or pens and pencils. Just right for memorable snapshots with class buddies in caps and gowns or ‘best summer ever’ photos are disposable cameras, mini photo albums or mini picture frames. Have your local florist assemble the gifts into a re-usable basket, all tied up with ribbon in school/college colors, and deliver it to a graduate that’s in a class all of their own!

You are sure to get rave reviews for creativity when you surprise a friend or loved one with a brightly-packaged basket chock-full of all his/her favorites! Remember, next time an occasion arises call your professional full-service florist for an extra-special delivery of fresh flowers, along with a fruit or gourmet gift basket.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Candy Gift Basket, Gift Baskets, Gift Ideas, Gourmet Chocolate Gift Basket

Need Flowers For A Science Fair Project?

May 6, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Karen Asks:

My daughter has a science experiment she has to do and she and I want to tint a white flower. I used to do this as a kid with daisys. Since there are no daisys around I thought we could use any white flower, but it’s not working. Is there a secret anybody knows about that you can give me? I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

Brock’s Reply:

Fresh cut daisy-type spray chrysanthemums should be readily available from a local florist. The experiment should also work with carnations, either the standard or the spray type. In any case, choose blossoms which are not fully open or mature. Leave out of water for an hour to so. Then, cut about 2″ off the bottom of the stem, using a sharp knife and cutting on a slant. Place the freshly cut stem into a vase of lukewarm water containing the dyeing agent — such as food coloring. Color should show up in the petals of the flower within 2 or 3 days, maybe sooner. Hope this helps

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

The Art of Bonsai

April 14, 2004 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

For centuries, people the world over have been fascinated by bonsai (pronounced BONE- SIGH). These carefully trained trees and shrubs captivate the imagination, as they seem to be impossibly old for their small size, all the while appearing to be exact, miniaturized replicas of mature, full-sized specimens.

The term bonsai’ is a Japanese word made up of two characters: bon’, meaning tray, container, or pot, and sai’, which means tree or planted tree. Thus, bonsai’ may be best translated as “tree planted in a tray’ (to say “bonsai tree” is redundant). The word is both singular and plural, and though they occur in a variety of sizes and shapes, bonsai are always in pots. The practice of growing bonsai originated in China thousands of years ago, but has been truly perfected by Japanese masters.

A typical bonsai is usually a deciduous or evergreen tree which has been maintained at a size between ten and thirty inches tall, although smaller and larger sizes are common. These trees are carefully pruned, trained, potted and coddled so as to maintain their dwarfed size despite ever-increasing age. Age, of course, adds character…an aesthetic quality which bonsai enthusiasts strive for. The older a tree is, the better. There are bonsai specimens living today which are literally hundreds of years old…trees which have been handed down from generation to generation, or which have adorned the entrances to temples or palaces, or which have been official gifts to heads of state. Some bonsai have been trained to resemble ancient and nearly- dead evergreen trees, weathered and beaten by the elements while clinging to a windy cliff. Others are planted in groups which call to mind the stately serenity of a primaeval forest. A solitary, gnarled and statuesque tree may seem to hold the history and the wisdom of the ages.

Bonsai care depends on what species the plant is. Traditionally, bonsai have been created of trees from temperate climate zones, like Japan, with a regular cycle of changing seasons. Various species of pine, spruce, and small-leaved elms and maples are typical. Caring for these trees requires growing them out of doors and duplicating their native environment. Because they are normally planted in relatively small or shallow containers, good care requires frequent watering (sometimes several times a day) during the growing season. In the wintertime, these bonsai are frequently placed in a cold frame to protect them from drying winds and extreme temperatures while providing a necessary and chilly dormancy. These plants should never be kept indoors for very long periods of time.

Many tropical and subtropical plants, including some common houseplants, lend themselves to being good bonsai subjects as well. Popular varieties include ficus and pomegranate, among others. These trees require the normal care for their species, keeping them warm and well-watered virtually the year round. In all cases, frequent pruning and shaping is necessary to maintain the shape and character of the plant. Because bonsai are often grown in shallow pots or trays, regular re-potting and root pruning is essential as the plants deplete the nutritive value of the potting soil.

With proper care, bonsai can live for generations, just as any normal size tree. They can become like members of the family. There is a spectacular collection of bonsai specimens at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, which is well worth a visit. Your professional florist may be able to source some kinds of bonsai for you, but it’s probably more useful to consult a nursery which specializes in such plants. Local bonsai clubs may be located through your area botanical garden, and they typically sponsor shows where bonsai may be viewed or purchased.

Take some time to experience the beautiful art of bonsai.

Filed Under: Newsletters

Daisies, Daisies and More Daisies

March 14, 2004 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

Daisies are among the most well-known and popular flowers of all, and for good reason: who can resist a fresh bouquet of cheerful, sunny faces and delicate petals? Charming harbingers of spring, daisies will bring a smile to anyone’s day.

Daisy Fresh

Daisies have long been associated with youth and purity, hence the phrase “fresh as a daisy”. Wedding bouquets with daisies would certainly be appropriate for a young bride or her attendants. In Victorian times, when hidden meanings were associated with many flowers (see our June Newsletter, The Symbolic Meanings of Flowers), daisies signified innocence and gentleness. Perhaps it is these qualities which makes them such good fortune-tellers (“…she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me”)! Today of course, we often think of sending daisies whenever we want to cheer someone up.

Types of Daisies in Flower Arrangements

The flowers which are most often sold as daisies in modern flower shops are usually a daisy-flowered type of spray chrysanthemum, or daisy pompon as it’s known in the trade. Occurring with several flowers to the stem, these daisy pompons are sturdier and longer lasting than traditional Marguerite daisies, and are available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Gerbera daisies, originally native to South Africa, have become enormously popular in recent years, and they’re being used in everything from casual vase arrangements to sophisticated wedding bouquets. Hybridizers have succeeded in developing gerbera daisies in a tremendous variety of sizes, textures, and colors; there is a gerbera which will coordinate with virtually any decorating scheme or wedding theme.

Where To Buy Daisies

As always, your local professional florist can guide you in selecting the right daisies for the right occasion. Buy them for yourself or for someone else… no one could ever send a bad message with daisies. Just please don’t eat them! But that’s a tale for another day.

Filed Under: Flower Meanings, Flower Suggestions, Trends Tagged With: Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Flower Suggestions

What Is The Meaning of Phoenix Branch?

March 8, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Nicole Asks:

Do you know if there is a meaning for the Phoenix Branch?

Brock’s Reply: I’m not familiar with a “Phoenix Branch”. There is a group of palms, the Date Palms, which belong to the genus Phoenix. For example, Phoenix roebelenii , the Pymgy Date Palm, is often grown as a landscape specimen in warm climates (the correspondent is in Florida). Phoenix dactylifera is the commercial Date Palm, native to North Africa.While I can find no specific reference to a meaning for Phoenix palms, palm fronds in general have traditionally symbolized victory and success. This idea stems from the story of the mythological bird, the Phoenix, which rose again from the ashes of its own firey destruction.

Filed Under: Flower Meanings Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Date Palms, Flower Meanings, Flower Shop Network, Phoenix Branch

What Kind Of Flowering Plant For Elderly Couple

March 7, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Thakujesus Asks:

NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A FLOWERING INDOOR PLANT FOR A HOME THAT IS KEPT “VERY WARM”YEAR ROUND. THIS IS FOR AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT CANT GET OUT MUCH.

Brock’s Reply:This email address is for www.FlowerShopNetwork.com a directory of florists in the U.S. and Canada. As always we suggest you use our directory to find a local florist who may be more suited to provide information about the availability of plants in your area. A couple of plants come to mind however that may fit the bill.

Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
And Bromeliad Guzmania lingulata major

The bromeliad is not truly a blooming plant but it is very hardy and it’s foliage gives the illusion of a flower in eternal bloom.

For more ideas on types of plants available view our plant gallery at:

https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/all-house-plants/

Filed Under: Plant Suggestions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Bromeliad Plants, Flower Shop Network, Flowering Plants, Kalanchoe, Plant Care Questions, Plant Suggestions

Flowering Plant With Pink Blooms

March 6, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Barbara Asks:

my father recently visited Holland and returned with an indoor plant for my mother. He thinks it is called a mydynella or mytynella? It has large sword like leaves and huge pendulus pink blooms. Any clues as to what it might be would be very welcom many thanks

Brock’a reply: There is a plant which is commonly sold in Holland called Medinilla magnifica which has very showy, pendulous, pink flowers. I would not describe the foliage as “sword-like” however. Medinilla is a woody-stemmed, shrubby plant, with pairs of glossy, leathery leaves arranged oppositely along the stem. Medinillaprefers a rich, loamy soil which is kept moist but not wet. Native to the Phillipines, it thrives in bright light and a warm and relatively humid environment.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions, Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Medinilla magnifica, Plant Care Questions, Plant Identification

History of Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2004 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

Cupid’s arrows will soon be flying, because February 14th, Valentines Day, is the time when romance is all around. By long established custom, it’s the day when friends, spouses, lovers, and intended lovers around the world typically proclaim their affection with cards, gifts, and of course flowers! But have you ever wondered about St Valentine’s history? Who was this mysterious figure whose name has come to be so closely associated with affairs of the heart?

Valentine’s Day History

The legends surrounding St Valentine’s history vary, but the most popular and probably most credible story identifies St Valentine as a third century Roman priest. At the time, Emperor Claudius II was having trouble recruiting young men for his army. The emperor outlawed marriage, believing that young men would be more willing to join the army if they did not have wives and families waiting for them at home. Valentine (or Valentinus, as he would have been known in Rome) defied the emperor and continued to marry young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, he was jailed and sentenced to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine was executed for attempting to help Christians escape from the harsh tortures of the Roman prisons.

As history tells it, Valentine became friendly with the young daughter of his jailer, and on the eve of his execution, he left her a tender note which he had signed “from your Valentine”. Thus, he became a heroic, sympathetic, and romantic figure, who may well have “sent” the very first valentine greeting himself. His martyrdom poised him for sainthood.

Why Is Valentine’s Day In February?

Some believe that the date in mid-February commemorates St Valentine’s death or burial, around 270 A.D. However, in ancient Rome the pagan festival of Lupercalia always began on the Ides of February, the 15th. Lupercalia was a celebration of fertility and the beginning of spring, and part of the festivities involved placing the names of eligible young women into a box or an urn, from which the young bachelors would draw. These pairings would last at least for the duration of the festival, or perhaps for an entire year, and the couples frequently married. Early Christians, in an effort to remain inconspicuous, regularly co-opted existing pagan celebrations and made them their own. In approximately 498 A.D., Pope Gelasius proclaimed February 14th as St Valentines Day, establishing the date for all history. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in Europe that February 14th was the beginning of the birds’ mating season, further linking the date with romance.

Valentine’s Day in Modern Times

St Valentines Day was being popularly celebrated in Great Britain by the 17th century, and Americans probably began exchanging handmade valentine greetings in the 1700s. The first mass-produced valentines in America appeared in 1840. The rest… as they say… is history. Naturally, those first valentines were appropriately decorated with doves (who are said to mate for life), hearts ( the universal symbol for love), and images of Cupid ( the son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love).

Your Valentine’s Day…

These days, what could be a more perfect expression of what’s in your heart than beautiful fresh flowers, artfully arranged and deftly delivered by your professional florist? Whether your valentine is close to home or far away, your local florist can help you make some valentine history of your own. Be sure to order early for best selection and delivery options. Then, step back and let Cupid’s arrow find it’s target!

Filed Under: Holiday Info, Newsletters Tagged With: Holiday Info, Valentines Day

Peace Lily That Is Wilting and Turning Yellow

February 13, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams

K Asks:

Please help if you can. I have a peace lily and it is wilting and turning yellow. I keep it watered and i dont over water it either. It has plenty of sun. Could it be from well water? Is it to late to save my plant? Please write back. Thank you

Brock’s Reply: Sounds like you are doing many things right therefore it is hard to say from here. I couldn’t imagine the well water causing a problem unless your well system uses some type of water softener. In the mean time you may want to switch to distilled water purchased from your local grocery store. Also review the following newsletter to make sure there isn’t something else you could do.

https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/newsletter-march-2003/

Filed Under: Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions

Potting Suggestions For Lucky Bamboo

February 7, 2004 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Alain asks:

I have a Lucky Bamboo for quite a while now and I think it is time to change it’s pot. what kind of pot would you suggest and soil with beeds or only beeds. too bad I don’t have a picture to show you but, it is a crown of about 7 inches tall and the bowl is only 1 1/2 inches. I am starting to see the roots. what type of bowl should I get to make sure a proper fit and to make sure I don’t kill it

Brock’s Reply: Without seeing a picture, I will suggest that you put the lucky bamboo in a vase with rocks or beads and water. I am sending you a link that will give you some detailed information about lucky bamboo and care.

https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/newsletter-july-2003/

If I can be of any further assistance please let me know

Filed Under: Lucky Bamboo, Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Lucky Bamboo, Plant Care Questions