Bloomin' Blog

Suggest an Article: Hydrating Hydrangeas!

March 19, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

In this edition of Suggest an Article, we have a fantastic tip from Jo Ann Evans of JoAnn’s Flowers and Gifts in Indian Trail, NC. Take it away, Jo Ann!

“To keep Hydrangeas hydrated:

Wet tip of stem and place in alum powder, then put the flower in the water bucket. You can also put a small amount of alum powder in the water bucket itself. This simple application keeps the flower fresh. It really works!!”

Discovering Alum

If you aren’t big into cooking, pickling in particular, you may not be familiar with alum powder. It’s a primary ingredient in the pickling of fruits and vegetables to help maintain freshness. It would stand to reason that if it can keep these items fresh through the pickling process, it could help prolong the life of your freshly cut hydrangeas!

Because alum powder is used in cooking, it can easily be located on the spice aisle of your local grocer. It’s a cheap additive to keep Hydrangeas happy, so there’s no excuse not to use it.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Suggest an Article, and I can’t wait to see what kinds of ideas we’ll find in our comments section. Remember, your ideas do not have to be limited to flower care tips or marketing techniques. If you think something is happening in your local community deserving of an article by Flower Shop Network, let us know!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Hydrangeas, Tips & Tricks

“Surprise, Surprise” Victor West Wins a Design Competition!

March 18, 2014 by Ed Belly 1 Comment

Victor West, owner of Vanessa’s Flowers in Plymouth, MI, is known among friends and other Michigan florists as the “numbers guy”. He was the kid who attended computer camp in 1975, went to school for accounting and business and then chose to open a flower shop over 22 years ago because he “thought it would be easy.” He quickly learned differently on that last point.

The floral industry is a lot of things. Fun? Yes. Rewarding? Yes. Easy? Not so much. Still, although it wasn’t what he expected, Victor gave it his all and was one of the first florists in the state to become a Certified Florist once the program was implemented. And as no surprise to anyone who knows him, his was also one of the first small shops in the industry to utilize a computer.

Vanessa’s has always done amazing work. 22 years in the business is a testament to that, but Victor takes no personal credit for the breathtaking beauty Vanessa’s has created over the years. “The ladies who work for me are easily twice as talented as I am,” he said, giving them their due accolades for the daily designing that goes on behind the scenes. Victor normally does what he does best, run the business.

An Out-of-Character Choice

It came as a surprise to everyone who knew him when Victor decided to enter the Michigan Floral Association’s Design Contest at the Great Lakes Expo. It was not the first time he’d entered such a competition, but the instances were few and far between and he hadn’t done so in a very long time. Most of his peers were ignorant of his design capabilities, but his close friends and family new the truth. In fact, many of them had been encouraging him to showcase his ability in a more public forum.

The Right Competition

Victor looked at the four competitions and chose to compete in the Surprise, Surprise portion which required the designer to do what he could with a bucket of flowers and 20 minutes. He felt that he had a better chance at an impromptu design than one that could be prepared ahead of time. He did his best and hoped it was enough.

Victor was disappointed after the second and third place winners were announced because he had hoped to at least place in the competition. He held out no hope for first so no one was more surprised than he when the 1st place winner was announced. “I didn’t know what to think,” he said. “I just started laughing.”

He spent the rest of the Expo fielding congratulations and exclamations of surprise from those who were unaware of his hidden talents. Victor is a long-standing member of Flower Shop Network, and now he is also an award-winning designer. Congratulations, Victor!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Floral Design, Floral Design Competitions, Michigan Florists

Bold and Beautiful – FSN’s Pinterest Picks

March 18, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Here’s what caught our eye on Pinterest recently. Big, bold and completely beautiful arrangements that feature some stunning blooms. These colorful creations all show traditional design principals that seek to inspire and command a presence.

Each work is far-reaching and open – inviting contemplation and appreciation of undeniable beauty.

It is designs like these you’ll find in the best sympathy arrangements as well as reception hall centerpieces and memorials. Enjoy the thematic color palettes and expert arranging from these talented florists! And let us know what you think in the comments below.

A New Beginning – Moore, Oklahoma

“Patriotic spray”

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City Flowers – New Buffalo, Michigan

“Just another day in the shop!”

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Flemington, Floral Company and Greenhouse – Flemington, New Jersey

“tropical arrangement”

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Follow us on Pinterest for more floral inspiration.

Hey FSN Florists! Want your pins to be featured on our blog?
Add your Pinterest info in fsnF2F.com. Just use ‘Edit Social Media’ under the Marketing section of the orange side bar.

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Local Florists, Pinterest Picks, Sympathy Flowers

Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

St. Patrick’s Day is here, and if you haven’t purchased flowers for friends and family, time is running out! Why flowers you say? Besides the fact that they are symbols of beauty, love and friendship and would be adored by anyone to whom you presented them, they are also gifts from Mother Nature. They are the jewels of the plant world. As the last grains of sand flow through the hourglass, a better question might be: Why not flowers?

Keeping It Fresh

But don’t fret too much on waiting til the last minute. Your local florist is a talented professional, and she can whip up something amazing for you in a reasonable amount of time. Even so, it would be best not to delay. Even the fastest florist needs some notice if you want something both amazing and original. And honestly, who doesn’t?

Going Green

Is there a better, more natural option when giving a St. Patrick’s Day gift than flowers? They are not only elegant and gorgeous, they are biodegradable! Perfect for that environmentally conscious person on your list.

If you’re still searching for a St. Patty’s Day gift, contact your local florist immediately!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: St. Patricks Day, St. Patricks Day Flowers

Friday Florist Recap 3/8 – 3/14: A Multitude of Magnificence

March 14, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Wedding season is ramping up, and we’ve received some absolutely gorgeous wedding flower photos from some very talented florists. But that doesn’t mean we’re skimping on the other categories! We have an embarrassing number of simply magnificent photos across the board sure to have you running for your nearest local florist. So scroll on down and enjoy this multitude of magnificence.

Wedding Flowers

Beautiful bouquet from Helen’s Flowers in Greenville, OH

Baby’s breath bouquet from Helen’s Flowers in Greenville, OH [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Flower Pictures, Sympathy Flowers, Wedding Flowers

March Newsletter: Luck O’ the Irish!

March 13, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

St. Patrick’s Day is coming quickly, and it’s time to break out some green!

What’s that? You don’t own much in the way of green? No problem. You can still avoid pinches from loved ones and co-workers. A quick stop by your local florist will provide you with all the green you’ll need. Get a gorgeous flower to wear on your lapel, a beautiful bouquet for your significant other or for the slightly more bold, a green garland to wear around your neck or even upon your brow! Whatever your need or desire, you know you’ll find it when you shop with your local florist.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Best Reasons to Send Flowers in March

Another page has turned on the calendar. March marks the month of fresh spring blooms and reasons to get up, get out and get happy as the days are longer and warmer. You can send some of your new found joy to others with an arrangement from your local florist. Here are the very best reasons to send flowers this month:

#1. St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th – Kiss me, I’m Irish! This day got its start commemorating Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland in the 17th century. Over the years it has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture. From parades to green beer, almost every city finds a way to celebrate. If you aren’t celebrating, or at least wearing a bit o’ green, you might get a pinch! Send a little green to someone special this St. Patrick’s Day and the luck of the Irish might just be with you until next year.

#2. First Day of Spring – March 20th – Finally! It has arrived! Sometimes nothing can be sweeter than saying goodbye to the winter winds and welcoming in the changes that spring offers up every year. New life is popping up everywhere and flowers are the first to get started with so many beautiful varieties coming into season. There is certainly someone in your life that could use some perking up after such a long winter, even if that someone is yourself! Send a lovely fresh-cut arrangement of new spring flowers to knock the winter blues away for good.

#3. March Birthdays – Daffodil, narcissus, jonquil, Lent lily, Easter bells, whatever you decide to call it, this happy harbinger of spring is the official birth flower for March. So if you know a special someone with a birthday this month, daffodils are really the best choice. They have a wide range of meaning covering unrequited love, chivalry, affection returned, desire, and love. And all varieties are fragrant and beautiful this season.

Continue Reading Best Reasons to Send Flowers in March!

Blog Spotlight: Central Square Florist

It’s the monthly blog spotlight, and we’re back with yet another content-rich blog for you! We scour the internet every month to find a florist blog that provides both good content and valuable ideas. This week we’d like to introduce David Levine of Central Square Florist in Cambridge, MA. Here’s a very informative post to wet your whistle:

Continue reading Blog Spotlight: Central Square Florist

Facebook Friday: February Favorites

We provide a Friday recap of all the wonderful posts and pictures from active florists on our Facebook Page. It’s been so much fun seeing all the completely different designs every day. We hope you enjoy these favorites and continue through to see more from each Friday this month:

Bird's nest bouquet with Helen's Flowers in Greenville, OH

Helen’s Flowers, Greenville, OH

Petals in Thyme, Wasaga Beach, ON

Dorothea’s Florist, Hobe Sound, FL

Michele’s Floral & Gifts, Copperas Cove, TX

The Treehouse Florist, New Freedom, PA

Cole’s Flowers, Middlebury, VT

See all Facebook Recap pictures in these posts:

Sweet Bridal Bouquets From Instragram

As florists everywhere are preparing for the busy bridal season just around the corner, we wanted to share some beautiful bouquet inspiration from Instagram.

We love the variety of florals found on this popular photo-sharing site and just had to show you what talented florists from all over the world are creating for some very lucky brides.

Take a look at the delicate color and incredible attention to detail evident in every photo. We think you’ll agree – nothing is sweeter than those soft pinks and vintage whites which offer up a classic look and a timeless feel in any design.

Patti Jones Retirement Party

Patti Jones is retiring! I don’t know whether to congratulate her and excitedly jump up and down on her behalf or cry and bemoan the fact that we won’t get to see her shining face in the halls anymore. In reality, I’ll probably do a bit of both. Scroll down for some photos of the party and all the hugs and laughter that were shared.

FLOWER CARE TIP Place loose stems or wrapped bouquets of fresh flowers in your water mixture as soon as possible.
More Flower Care Tips

WE’RE SOCIAL!

Love flowers? Follow us on the above Social Networks! We are always sharing the latest articles from our Bloomin’ Blog, as well as the most fascinating news on the net!

10 New St. Patrick’s Day Card Messages It’s time for some GREEN! That’s right, folks. St. Patrick’s Day is coming and unless you like being pinched (but to be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a good pinch now and again), you need to suit up! But before you enjoy the sights and sounds of this Irish-honoring holiday, make sure you’ve covered your bases and ordered flowers for your friends and loved ones. Local florists have the best options and can make something that might just help you get the Luck O’ The Irish!

FSN Visits the Georgia State Convention! Flower Shop Network made their presence known at the Georgia State Convention held in Atlanta, GA, at the Marriott Century Center Hotel February 28 – March 2nd! It was a fabulous weekend with lots of vendors and some excellent presentations. And who didn’t love the President’s Ball, the Burton’s Cup or the Chopped Competition? With all of the events available, there was something there for everyone!

FSN Baby Shower There’s only one thing better than having a baby, and that’s having two! That’s what happened to Flower Shop Network employee Joe Teasley and his wife Kelly. They were recently blessed with two beautiful additions to their family in Brody (boy) and Kodie (girl). To celebrate, Flower Shop Network decided to host a baby shower in their honor! (I have it on good authority that no babies were actually showered at the event.)

FSN Pre-Chili Cook-off Chili Cook-off The Mission Outreach of Northeast Arkansas is hosting a chili cook-off fundraiser on March 8th of this year. Flower Shop Network is excited to participate, but we only want to present the best possible chili to the contest. In order to find that perfect chili, we decided to hold a pre-chili cook-off chili cook-off. Of course this pre cook-off had nothing to do with a desire to eat delicious chili until we popped. It was all business. You believe that right? Okay, moving on.

Help make Flower Shop Network‘s monthly newsletter even better! Got questions? Have an idea for a story? With your help, we can make the FSN newsletter just what you want and need. You can drop us a note in the comment section on the blog or email us at social@flowershopnetwork.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Flower Spotlight: Gerber Daisies

March 13, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

For this month’s spotlight, in honor of the first official day of spring on March 20th, we are highlighting the Gerber Daisy or Gerbera. Gerberas received their name from the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber who died at the age of 33 in 1743. Exactly why this flower received Gerber’s name remains a mystery.

Availability

The Gerber Daisy is kept on-hand at most flower shops, and is easily accessible year round. It is a popular flower, and so growers make it a priority, allowing florists to keep their stock levels high. It is a bright and colorful flower, blooming in every color except true blues and purples, and is the perfect gift for a first date or just to brighten someone’s day!

Care

These beautiful blooms will last a week or more in the vase, and so are excellent for fresh-flower bouquets. As with all cut flowers, in order to keep them looking fresh as long as possible you’ll want to keep them away from doorways or other areas of the home that will experience dramatic changes in temperature. If you want to pot them yourself, they prefer evenly moist soil, but not overly wet.

Meaning

Innocence – A meaning associated with all varieties of daisy.
Purity – Another meaning attributed to all varieties of daisy.
Cheerfulness – This one is specific to the Gerbera and is derived from the vast spectrum of colors in which this flower is available. A handful of brightly colored gerberas will lift anyone’s spirits!

There’s no need to search for a concrete reason to send these gorgeous flowers, they are wonderful for any occasion or no occasion at all!

Filed Under: Flower Meanings Tagged With: Flower Meanings, Seasonal Flowers, Spring Flowers

Spread the Luck on St. Patrick’s Day!

March 12, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

St. Patrick’s Day is coming. How do you plan on celebrating?

Maybe you’re hitting the streets to watch a parade, sharing a green beer with friends or just wearing a green shirt to ward off any pinches. Part of what makes celebrating St. Patrick’s Day so fun is the idea of the “Luck of the Irish.” This is the hope that celebrating the vibrant culture of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day will mean a little extra luck for you, me and everyone else.

Why Do The Irish Get All The Luck?

The luck of the Irish is thought to mean “extreme good fortune.” There is no solid answer about where the phrase originally came from though. Some claim it has roots in a legend about an Irishman who had a few too many drinks and accidentally walked over a cliff’s edge but his life was saved by landing on a bed of green clovers. Others say it is an American invention that popped up around the time of the Gold Rush and referred to a number of Irish American immigrants who found fortunes in the West.

However it started, it is now widely accepted that having the luck of the Irish means you have good fortune on your side.

Get Lucky With Flowers!

So you can’t predict when and where luck will strike this St. Patrick’s Day but you can certainly make someone special feel lucky. By sending them flowers of course! Better yet GREEN flowers that symbolize luck, prosperity and renewal!

Make your hunny feel lucky to have you with a fresh-cut arrangement. Turn her friends green with envy at the office or brighten the house with a bright blooming bouquet she won’t soon forget. You’ll start feeling lucky when you see flowers bring big smiles this St. Patrick’s Day.

Know someone that could use a little pick-me-up? Your mom, a friend from college or your running buddy? Send them some potted shamrocks this St. Patrick’s Day to help spread the luck around.

Contact your local flower shop to see what specials they have going for the holiday. You’ll feel like a billion bucks for bringing some joy and good luck into someone’s life this St. Patrick’s Day.

Lucky You!

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Gift Ideas

10 New St. Patrick’s Day Card Messages

March 10, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

It’s time for some GREEN! That’s right, folks. St. Patrick’s Day is coming and unless you like being pinched (but to be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a good pinch now and again), you need to suit up! But before you enjoy the sights and sounds of this Irish-honoring holiday, make sure you’ve covered your bases and ordered flowers for your friends and loved ones. Local florists have the best options and can make something that might just help you get the Luck O’ The Irish!

In case you’re wondering what to put on that blank card, here are some helpful card messages to speed you on your way.

St. Patrick’s Day Card Messages

Kiss me! No, I’m not Irish. I just like kisses. More specifically, I like your kisses. Gimme!
These flowers, like our love, are a burst of color in a world of green.
Top O’ the mornin’ to ye!
It’s not easy being green … how about some yellow and blue!
There’ll be no need to pinch any co-workers who forgot what day it was. They turned green with envy the moment these flowers were delivered.
Meet me at the pub after work for a pint?
This leprechaun asked me to take him to my greatest treasure so I sent him to you.
I must have walked through an entire field of four-leaf clovers the day we met. How else would I have been lucky enough to find you?
Some flowers to get your Irish eyes a’ smilin’.
You take my breath away, and that’s no blarney!

Don’t neglect the card on those gorgeous flowers. Use one of the messages above or allow our creativity to inspire your own!

Filed Under: Card Messages Tagged With: St Patricks Day Card Messages, St. Patricks Day, St. Patricks Day Flowers

Friday Florist Recap 3/1 – 3/7: Presenting A Floral Cascade

March 7, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

The Friday Florist Recap is back with a HUGE offering this week! We’ve got beauty in all the right places, and we aren’t afraid to flaunt it. Scroll down for a feast for your eyes as we present this week’s cascade of florals.

Wedding Flowers

Spring floral bouquet from Robyn at Flowers and More in Fresno, CA

Elegant bouquet from Tussie Mussie Flower Cottage in Westminster, CO [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Flower Pictures, Sympathy Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Bloomin' Blog

Suggest an Article: Hydrating Hydrangeas!

Discovering Alum

“Surprise, Surprise” Victor West Wins a Design Competition!

An Out-of-Character Choice

The Right Competition

Bold and Beautiful – FSN’s Pinterest Picks

Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Keeping It Fresh

Going Green

Friday Florist Recap 3/8 – 3/14: A Multitude of Magnificence

Wedding Flowers

March Newsletter: Luck O’ the Irish!

Best Reasons to Send Flowers in March

Blog Spotlight: Central Square Florist

Facebook Friday: February Favorites

Sweet Bridal Bouquets From Instragram

Patti Jones Retirement Party

WE’RE SOCIAL!

You Might Also Like

Flower Spotlight: Gerber Daisies

Availability

Care

Meaning

Spread the Luck on St. Patrick’s Day!

10 New St. Patrick’s Day Card Messages

St. Patrick’s Day Card Messages

Friday Florist Recap 3/1 – 3/7: Presenting A Floral Cascade

Wedding Flowers

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