Bloomin' Blog

Warm Up With Instagram Inspiration

January 28, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

January, you have been a harsh one. In most parts of the country, winter is still going strong with freezing temperatures, blustery winds and dull gray skies. Thankfully we have incredibly talented florists to remind us that warmer days are coming!

While browsing Instagram this week, these arrangements from our florist members leaped right out of the screen and brightened our day. With bursts of green, splashes of orange and cascades of pink, we know you’ll be thinking warmer thoughts after taking a moment to stop and smell these roses.

A vivid bridal bouquet featuring showstopping fuchsia, purple, pink, and lime green.

A Fantasy in Flowers – Saint Augustine, FL [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Instagram Inspiration

Bring Good Luck For Chinese New Year

January 27, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important traditional Chinese holiday. Beginning on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, celebrations and traditions continue until the 15th day with the Lantern Festival. Similar to New Year’s Eve celebrations in the States, the Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as chú xī or literally “Year-pass Eve.”

In 2014, Chinese New Year starts on January 31st in the US.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is time to welcome in the year of the horse!

Flowers for a New Beginning

If you plan on enjoying some of the festivities of the New Year, don’t forget that flowers can play an important part in your celebration. Through color, texture and fragrance, flowers instantly bring joy and good will into a room. And if you want good luck in the New Year, bringing a few smiles is a great place to start!

Whether it is surprising your hostess with a fresh-cut bouquet at a reunion dinner or decorating your home after a traditional cleansing of bad luck and spirits, flowers can bring harmony through color and symbolism. While some flower shops might not have a specific Chinese New Year arrangement, this is where a real talented local florist can surprise and delight you!

Tell your florist you want something special for Chinese New Year and they will work with you to create a personalized arrangement that will thrill you and any recipient. Your florist will select beautiful flowers, the perfect container and handle all the details of making something new and exciting for the occasion. After all, that’s what they are good at – expressing the feeling for any occasion through flowers!

Blooming with Meaning

Daffodil – prosperity
Chrysanthemum – longevity
Bamboo – luck
Sunflower – pure thoughts
Mandarin oranges – fortune
Plum trees – hard to find in the U.S. but a popular tradition in China

Chinese New Year Colors:

Red – symbolizes joy, virtue, truth and sincerity and is thought to chase away bad fortune and evil spirits like the mythical beast called the Nian.

Gold – symbolizes fortune and prosperity and is a favorite for starting a new year.

Ask for a custom arrangement that embodies the spirit of the season.
And always always always use a real local florist!

Bring On The Happy

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Flower Meanings, Holiday Info

Friday Florist Recap 1/18 – 1/24: Bombardment of Floral Beauty

January 24, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

We’ve received a bombardment of floral beauty! These talented florists have gone above and beyond the call and were gracious enough to share their hard work with us. We have an assortment of arrangements that will leave your mouth agape and see you running to your local flower shop for some gorgeous blooms of your very own. Talent and style abounds here, but don’t let me hold you up. Scroll down and see for yourself!

Wedding Flowers

An absolutely gorgeous bouquet from Helen’s Flowers & Gifts in Greenville, OH

“The scabiosa pods are so much fun!!”

Magnificent wedding centerpiece by Your Personal Florist in Troy, OH [Read more…]

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

Lasting Florals in Vogue!

January 23, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your work into Vogue magazine, Deborah Mooney’s path is probably an accurate, if difficult to emulate, blueprint. In essence: be talented, work with talented people and have a heaping helping of good luck!

The Value of Hard Work and Reputation

Deborah wasn’t trying to get into Vogue. Rather she did what every local florist does every day, accept an order and do her best to make it amazing. It’s that “everyday” quality that makes this story so wonderful. It’s a tale of hard work, of taking advantage of opportunities and striving to make the most of them. It’s about a talented local florist whose toil through the years earned her the respect of her community and a simple request that led to a most unexpected honor.

Answering the Call

Deborah’s work speaks for itself. She’s been operating locally in Midlothian, VA, since 2001, specializing in weddings and special events and working an average of 30+ weddings a year. And when local make-up artist Lulu Schwall put out a request for a local florist to help with a photo shoot, Deborah jumped at the opportunity.

Lulu put Deborah in contact with photographer Jyoti Sackett who requested three unique pieces she could pose together with her models. After getting the details, Deborah went to work. Once they were ready to go, Deborah shipped them out and went on with her day, never giving the project a second thought. Why would she? After all, she had been given no information to indicate the project had such potential. Quality work is business as usual at Lasting Florals.

A Pleasant Surprise

Time passed and Deborah had largely forgotten about the three pieces she’d designed. She had other projects to occupy her time and talents. Weddings, holidays and social events all conspired to keep her plenty busy.

And then it happened.

Out of the blue, Deborah was contacted by Jyoti Sackett who informed her that one of the photos featuring the headpiece she’d designed had been selected to appear in Vogue magazine. To say the least, she was shocked and very excited!

Deborah has done impressive work in the Midlothian area, and because of her dedication to her craft she received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have her work shared with the world. It’s this kind of work ethic that embodies and defines not only Deborah but all local florists. Congratulations to Deborah Mooney and everyone at Lasting Florals. We are proud to have you as members of Flower Shop Network.

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlights, flowers

Introducing Radiant Orchid – The Color of the Year!

January 22, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Pantone, the global authority on color and issuer of professional color standards for the design industry for over 50 years, has been selecting a Color of the Year since 2000. They base their selection on expert color-sampling from the world of design and fashion, often predicting those hot trends you’ll soon be seeing everywhere.

For 2014, Pantone: Radiant Orchid was declared the Color of the Year!

“Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination. An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society. An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.” -Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute

Captivate With Radiant Orchid

This “it” hue is going to be seen all over – from women’s dresses to men’s ties to throw pillows to accent walls. And, of course, in our favorite flower designs everywhere.

Want to brighten someone’s office with this trend-setting color? Ask your florist to include roses, matsumoto asters, chrysanthemums or stock in lovely shades of this pinkish purple.

Planning your wedding? Feature radiant orchid as your accent color with gerbera, orchids, callas or roses for stunning bouquets, boutineers, alter flowers and centerpieces.

And what could celebrate this color better than orchids themselves! Purple cymbidium orchids and phalaenopsis orchids come in dazzling arrangements and as graceful, long-lasting potted plants.

Injecting this vibrant color into your day is sure to inspire a wonderful freedom and happiness that comes from appreciating, and reveling in, all life has to offer!

Need help from a knowledgeable florist? That’s no problem! Use our florist search to find a skilled florist near you!

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Pantone Color of the Year

FSN’s Pinterest Picks

January 21, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

This week’s selection from Pinterest has us examining how florists create beautiful high points and cascading lows to add drama and movement in a floral piece.

While all 3 arrangements have different styles, colors and textures, the element that unites these 3 lovely works is engaging movement!

Take a look.

Klamath Flower Shop – Klamath Falls, OR
This fun bright arrangement features pink gladiolus and glitter picks for height with a few yellow pom surprises throughout. [Read more…]

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

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

January 20, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a time for remembering a great man, reflecting on the dreams he shared and celebrating his accomplishments as well as the life he led. Honoring him requires honoring the values for which he stood, spoke and lived. He dreamed of liberty, freedom and justice. He dreamed of true equality. He dreamed of brotherhood.

Showing Love with Flowers

Flowers are the perfect gift for this holiday because they say so many things. They say friendship, love, hope and yes, brotherhood. You can share a slice of happiness with strangers by handing out yellow roses to random people you pass on the street. You can extend the hand of friendship to someone with whom you work with but may not know well with a lovely bouquet of daisies, or offer that neighbor with whom you rarely speak a handful of gerberas.

A beautiful arrangement offered to the girl at school who sits alone at lunch or a gladiolus proffered to the boy who gets picked on in the locker room, each of these actions honor the values that Dr. King embodied.

Don’t let this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day pass without doing your part to honor the memory of a man who wanted nothing more than for everyone to love each other and treat everyone as equals.

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Friday Florist Recap 1/11-1/17: A Collection of Creativity

January 17, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

We have some absolutely stunning arrangements for you this week. Local florists are working hard every day to create some of the most creative and uniquely interesting designs you’ll ever see, and we are fortunate enough to get submissions of those every week. Here is this weeks collection of creativity. Enjoy.

Wedding Flowers

Gorgeous bouquet by Holtz Landscape in Ham Lake, MN

Special Occasion Flowers

“Stoned” by Tom Kenison AIFD of Crossroads Florist in Mahwah, NJ [Read more…]

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

January Newsletter: Winter Wonderland

January 16, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

The holidays are behind us, and a new year has begun!

January is traditionally a month for reflection, a time to think about the past year and all the things we can do to make the coming year better. The natural world has grown silent. Birds have migrated. Animals have gone into hibernation. And Mother Nature herself seems to be holding her breath as she faces a clean slate on which to build for the coming spring.

Snow blankets the ground and wind greets us with an icy chill, but even now, amidst all the starkness and cold, flowers still find a way to bloom. Some of the most beautiful florals thrive at this time of year bringing true meaning to the phrase “winter wonderland”.

As you sit cozy at home, warm coffee cup in hand and looking out the window at the frozen landscape, don’t hesitate to make bold plans for the future. After all, you are not the hibernating bear. You are the winter flower, a bloom which finds a way to thrive even as the rest of the world is falling asleep.

Flower Spotlight: Carnations

This month we are spotlighting the carnation!

Carnation Origins

The carnation is a beautiful flower most likely native to the Mediterranean region. I say “most likely” because it has been so widely cultivated over the last 2,000 years that no one knows for sure the full range of this flower’s natural origins. Still, if you were to try growing your own carnations, you’d need well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil and full sun. Certainly in keeping with a Mediterranean climate.

Continue reading Flower Spotlight: Carnations

Best reasons to Send Flowers in January!

Gray and blue don’t have to color this wintery month. We have some great reasons to send exciting flowers in January so not only can you help celebrate a special occasion, you can feel great about brightening someone else’s day… and your own!

1. Chinese New Year – Jan. 31st – Also referred to as the Lunar New Year, this traditional Chinese holiday is marked by bright red decor, big feasts, offerings to the spirits, and cleaning house to make way for good luck in the new year. Help someone near and dear to you celebrate good fortune and happiness with a bright Asian-inspired bouquet! Send flowers for their reunion dinner or as a wish for good luck in the coming year.

2. January Birthdays – You gotta love nature for creating flowers that are designed to bloom even in the gloomy cold seasons. So if there is a birthday to celebrate this month, January’s birth flower, the carnation, is ready to thrill and delight. Carnations are symbolic of love, fascination and distinction.

3. Beat The Winter Blues – Even if you don’t have a full blown case of seasonal affective disorder, long grey winters have a way of bringing everyone down. After the December holidays and marching right into the coldest days of the year in many climates, January is an especially hard month for sunny dispositions. Battle the winter blues by sending some bright flowers!

Continue Reading Best Reasons to Send Flowers in January!

Facebook Friday: December 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:

The Petal Patch, Ltd. of McFarland, WI

Fancy Flowers in Hialeah, FL

Sassy Floral and Design in Saint Anthony, ID

Crossroads Florist, Mahwah, NJ

Flowerama Minneapolis in Minneapolis, MN

Monday Morning, Princeton, NJ

See all Facebook Recap pictures in these posts:

Instagram Inspirations

Digital color filters and retro frames might not be needed to show off the beauty of these arrangements but it certainly doesn’t hurt. We selected our favorites from Instagram this week and we are loving the variety of styles!

We present 3 stellar florists who are great at fusing their own brand of creativity into their work.

FSN Christmas Celebration!

Today we enjoyed a wonderful lunch together for our annual Flower Shop Network Christmas Party. The food was great, the company was better and the homemade desserts were to die for! To keep things interesting, we also held an Ugly Sweater Contest. I’ve never seen so many people wearing working lights! Take a moment to peruse through this photo tour of the FSN festivities and Happy Holidays!

FLOWER CARE TIP Do not use scissors to cut your flowers because they can crush the stems and prevent water absorption.
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!

FSN’s Pinterest Picks Really feeling the purple this week when we searched through Pinterest for some great inspiration from talented florists. Take a closer look and you’ll see all those carefully crafted details that make these pieces so lovely and ready to deliver smiles!

January is Houseplant Appreciation Month! Houseplants are wonderful additions to your home. They add color, life and a touch of nature everyday. They give off oxygen that helps purify your home and they ask for so little care in return. This is the month to give them a little extra love and attention. Now that the holidays have passed, find a moment to check in with your plants and give them some TLC.

Suggest an Article: Car Wrapping Not too long ago, we asked our member florists to submit any ideas they had to use in future blog posts. We intentionally didn’t specify what kind of ideas we were looking for, and as a result, we received suggestions encompassing all aspects of the business. This will be the first in a series of articles wherein I take those tips and present them to you!

Valentine’s Day: It’s Never Too Early to Plan for Love! Valentine’s Day may be more than a month away, but that’s all the more reason to start planning your big day immediately! When it comes to love, you can never prepare too early. After all, “He who hesitates is lost.” By getting an early start, you’re guaranteed to have everything you need to make your significant other’s day magnificent!

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 Tagged With: Christmas Flowers, Floral Design, Flower Meanings, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Blog Spotlight: Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co.

January 16, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Florists are the authority on all things floral. For most it is their passion as well as their job. These men and women overflow with knowledge about flowers and share that information on their websites every day. They describe events they’ve decorated, arrangements they’ve designed and even classes they offer. There’s no end to the information you can glean when reading blogs by local florists.

Because of that fact, the Bloomin’ Blog is choosing the blog of one florist each month to spotlight. If you need floral ideas for a wedding, a party or just for your home, there’s no better place to go than the source, your local florist!

For this month”s Blog Spotlight, we’re taking you all the way to Princeton, NJ to visit not one but two blogs by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co!

Monday Morning Flowers

Our first example comes from the Monday Morning Flowers main site.

–

Floral Cake Making

“It’s not too late to sign up for our next in-store workshop! Join us in our Princeton location next Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 from 6-8PM for Floral Cake Making. Learn how to make your own cake made of flowers. Perfect for a gift, decoration or party piece. Let us teach you all the tricks to making these fun cakes while you enjoy wine and refreshments!

This class is only $55 per person and includes $10 of Monday Morning Money to spend however you like! Call our shop today at 609-520-2005, or sign up online at www.sendingsmiles.com.”

Weddings by Monday Morning Weddings

This piece is from Monday Morning’s wedding blog.

–

“We love doing themed weddings, especially a Christmas one.

Last weekend had us decorating the ceremony and reception area of the Cranbury Inn for bride Danielle and Groom Jason. There might not have been snow on the ground but the setting was warm and festive. My favorite part of the wedding was the place card table which was created using three very large vases filled with winter ilex berries, water and a floating candle. So dramatic!

The aisle was decorated with tall vases filled with water, floating cranberries and our hanging Juliette candle holders. So pretty! After the ceremony when the room was quickly changed over, these vases were then placed along the edge of the room to add a touch of warmth and a pop of color. The centerpieces were created with fresh cranberries, red roses, red berries, winter greens and fresh holy. A small but dramatic touch to the tables. Such elegant but simple wedding decor for the perfect Christmas Themed Wedding.”

–

As you can see from the examples above, Georgianne Vinicombe uses her blogs to not only promote her business, but also to reach out to her community by offering classes and educational tidbits. The blogs intrigue and educate her readers about flowers and how she uses them to best effect while also mixing in a little advertising. Great job!

Thanks to Monday Morning Flowers and come back next month for another Blog Spotlight!

Calling all florists! If you would like to see your site featured in our Blog Spotlight, leave your website information in the comments below!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlights, Flower Blogs

Bloomin' Blog

Warm Up With Instagram Inspiration

Bring Good Luck For Chinese New Year

Friday Florist Recap 1/18 – 1/24: Bombardment of Floral Beauty

Wedding Flowers

Lasting Florals in Vogue!

The Value of Hard Work and Reputation

Answering the Call

A Pleasant Surprise

Introducing Radiant Orchid – The Color of the Year!

For 2014, Pantone: Radiant Orchid was declared the Color of the Year!

FSN’s Pinterest Picks

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

Showing Love with Flowers

Friday Florist Recap 1/11-1/17: A Collection of Creativity

Wedding Flowers

Special Occasion Flowers

January Newsletter: Winter Wonderland

Flower Spotlight: Carnations

Best reasons to Send Flowers in January!

Facebook Friday: December Favorites

Instagram Inspirations

FSN Christmas Celebration!

WE’RE SOCIAL!

You Might Also Like

Blog Spotlight: Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co.

Monday Morning Flowers

Weddings by Monday Morning Weddings

Follow Us

Recent Posts