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How To: Personalize Your Mother’s Day Bouquet

No one knows you better than Mom, and the inverse rings true, too! Our moms are special, wonderful people whose personalities have been with us since the beginning. So, why not include a touch of Mom’s personality when sending a floral arrangement this Mother’s Day? It’s amazingly simple to add a touch of personality for a Mother’s Day bouquet that says, “Mom, I got this for you.

To get started, contact your local florist to discuss your options. Adding something special to your mother’s arrangement can be as small as adding her favorite candy or getting creative with the container. Here are a few ideas:

Mother’s Day Collectible Gifts:

Is your mom an avid collector? If so, you and your florist can come up with a great way to incorporate any number of things, from brooches to tea pots. A skilled florist can find a way to mix in small items or arrange flowers in unconventional containers. For example, for a mother who collects tea pots, you can ask your florist to build their arrangement inside a lovely tea pot. Imagine how thrilled your mother would be to receive a stunning bouquet, as well as an addition to her prized collection!

Stamps, thimbles and countless other trinkets can be added with ease to a variety of arrangements. Collaborate with your florist to find the perfect idea for your mom! Trust me, the extra effort will be worth it!

The Perfect Color For Your Mother:

This is an easy one! What is your mother’s favorite color? My mother likes red, so naturally, I would choose red flowers and accessories when designing my arrangement. Add colored beads, ribbon and other details to add some pizazz to your arrangement. Don’t be afraid to go monochromatic: it’s modern and chic! The variety of textures in a monochromatic arrangement captivates the eyes in a new and exciting way!

Another great idea is to choose birth month flowers to represent each of your mother’s children. Follow this handy birth month flower guide to create a custom arrangement to represent those lucky enough to call your mother, “Mom.” Consider adding a card that explains the flowers and who in the family they represent. This colorful bouquet will be a exquisite reminder of how much your mom means to your family.

Mothers Adore Photos:

Adding family photos to bouquet is another wonderful way to personalize your Mother’s Day bouquet. Bring a handful of your mother’s cherished photos to your local florist and ask her to incorporate them into the arrangement. Include photos of your kindergarten graduation, your brother’s childhood toothless grin or photos of your entire family. You know your mother better than anyone, so choose photos you know matter most to her. You really can’t go wrong!

Another interpretation of this trend is creating a generational bouquet with flowers of your mother, her mother and your great-grandmother. This honors all the cherished mothers in your family and reminds your mother of the important place she holds.

Adding photos is a great way to personalize an arrangement if your mother lives far away, as photos can be sent to local florists all over the country. The extra effort will go a long way when letting your mother know how much you appreciate all that she has done for your family.

mothers-day-arrangement-with-candyMoms Love Candy:

Adding candy or other edibles to an arrangement is a growing trend in floral design. By adding your mother’s favorite candy to an arrangement, you’re creating a bouquet to please all of the senses! Your florist will know the best way to incorporate candy bars, apples or whatever else your mother may like.

Use this as an opportunity to get creative! For example, for mother who is a teacher, incorporating apples into a bouquet would be a charming way to pay tribute to her profession while sending a one-of-a-kind bouquet to make her day.

Trust your florist to incorporate your ideas in a way that is pleasing to the eye. There are many ways to make your creative ideas come to life! However, this isn’t a last minute call. Take the time to plan ahead to ensure your Mothers Day bouquet worthy of the one who has done so much for you.

Mothers’ hobbies vary as much as their personalities. You know your mother better than anyone. Choose one thing to add to an arrangement that speaks to who your mother is and what she means to you. Taking the time to personalize a Mother’s Day arrangement will let her know how much you love her for her.

Teapot picture courtesy of Creative Commons

Photo Bouquet courtesy of Mary Jane’s Flowers and Gifts in Berlin New Jersey

Did You Receive This Mothers Day Gift From A U.S. Soldier?

If you have someone serving overseas in the military, you know how much your heart skips a beat every time you receive a card, letter, e-mail or phone call. You also know the lonely pangs when these gestures don’t come. Being a military mom is one of the hardest roles to play.

Feeling the pain of military moms, MariEllyn Donnellan of A Dykstra Florist developed an idea to help deployed soldiers share a special moment with their moms for Mother’s Day. She decided to make it possible for soldiers from her town, Spring Valley New York, to send their mothers flowers. Each mom received a single rose. Many received their roses surrounded by baby’s breath inside a vase. A small American flag served as a patriotic reminder of the person serving overseas.

The response was amazing among local moms as well as other florists in New York state. Many New York state florists participated in the program which helped mothers across the state fall into appreciative tears at the simple but inexplicably significant gesture of everyone involved.

When it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, this is likely the best gift ever for many of these moms. As they pray for their children’s safety and safe return, they can rest at ease knowing that their children are thinking of them as well. Part of why it’s great to be an American is because of the good people who make it possible to connect mother and daughter/ mother and son on such important occasions. Many thanks to MariEllyn Donnellan and other florists who participated in this phenomenal surprise.

Are you one of the moms who received a rose for Mother’s Day from a New York florist? We would love to hear your story!

Mothers Day Card Messages From A Real Momma’s Girl

I’m a momma’s girl. Always have been. My mother is my best friend, the delight of my heart and constantly grating but it’s all because she loves me. Have a mother like that? I make a point to tell my mom every day that I love her but I want her to feel special on Mother’s Day. Card messages that I normally see seem to take a cheesy turn, an overly sappy sentiment or are just plain not befitting of the coolest mother in the world. So, I tapped into my resources and compiled this handy list of good Mothers Day card messages.

Local florists give wonderful suggestions for Mothers Day card messages. They either have mothers and/or are mothers plus they spend each year preparing beautiful Mothers Day flower arrangements. So, the perspective of local florists was very valuable in creating this list of the top 10 card messages for Mom.

Top 10 Card Messages That Tell Mom She’s Loved:

1)       May all the love you give to others come back to you on this special day.

2)       Love is not just candlelight dinners, sentimental poems, and bouquets of flowers. It’s also bandaging scraped knees, reading favorite stories over and over, and always being there to listen and encourage Love is all the things you do, every day, without fail, to make our house a home, our family a wonderful place to be. Happy Mother’s Day, With All My Love

3)       Only a mother can communicate love without saying a word. For the many unspoken ways that you share your love in our family, I hope you know that you’re loved and appreciated beyond measure

4)       Happy Mother’s Day to the greatest Mom in the whole world!

5)       Thank you for being a great Mother and a good friend.

6)       Thanks for being there when I need you the most and even when I didn’t.

7)       Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.

8)       Thanks for giving me the best things in life: Your time, your care, and your love. Happy Mothers Day.

9)       Thinking of you with love today and always. Happy Mother’s Day

10)     For a wonderful mother on Mother’s Day.

There are more than 25 messages to enjoy. If you liked this top 10, view all Mothers Day enclosure card messages.

Carnations A Classic Flower

Carnations Strength and Beauty in One Lovely Bloom

Single stem of White Carnation the official Mothers Day flowerWhat do Spain and Ohio have in common? Carnations. The national flower of Spain and the state flower of Ohio are one in the same – the carnation. Among the most popular cut flowers in the US, the fluffy, fragrant carnation flower is frequently used in corsages, boutonnières and bouquets. With its multitude of colors and long shelf life (keeps fresh long after it is cut), carnations have a wide appeal. The strength yet daintiness of the carnation flower is the foundation for its appeal. After all the large full blossoms look very graceful perched atop their long straight and sturdy stems.

The History of Carnations – the Mothers Day Flower

Because of their long history, flower meaning and vast accessibility, carnations are often worn on Mother’s Day, at weddings or to prom. In fact, the carnation is the official Mother’s Day flower. Ann Jarvis, the founder of the holiday, chose the carnation as the official Mother’s Day flower in 1907 sending 500 white carnations to a West Virginia church for mothers to wear. Carnation flowers were her mother’s favorite and she thought the white carnation signified the virtues of motherhood. After that first service, Ms. Jarvis continued to send white carnations to the same church each Mother’s Day. Today carnations are still widely given on Mother’s Day.

But the history of the carnation flower goes back much further than 1907. Carnations have been cultivated for nearly 2,000 years. It is thought that carnations were used in Greek ceremonial crowns and were Jove’s favorite flower. According to Christian legend, carnations first sprang up where Jesus carried the cross. Carnations, also, appeared where the Virgin Mary’s tears fell as she was crying for Jesus. At that time carnations were a pink or peach color and were often thought of as being flesh-toned. However since that time many colors of carnations have been cultivated.

Carnations Flower Meanings and Colors

Versatility in both color and design is another wonderful attribute of carnation flowers. Strong enough to fill a focal point and delicate enough to play the part of an accent flower, carnations are a florist’s greatest ally. Florists can tint a white carnation to almost any color imaginable making it an ideal flower for matching wedding or party colors.

  • Pink and red carnations tend to be the most popular but other common colors include green, scarlet, yellow and white.
  • Green carnations are often associated with St Patrick’s Day.
  • Yellow, purple and scarlet carnations are used most often as accents in mixed flower arrangements.

Purple carnations compliment gerberas, roses & other flowers in vase.Generally carnation flowers symbolize fascination, a woman’s love and pride; but the specific color of a carnation flower can hold a message for the recipient. Carnations can express different sentiments based on the color and symbolize different meanings in different cultures.

In Korea carnations are given on Parent’s Day, which is like a combination of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

In America, carnations are worn and given for many occasions, often using the color to reflect the meaning.

  • A pink carnation means gratitude or “I’ll never forget you.”
  • A red carnation expresses admiration or could signify my “heart-aches for you”
  • A purple carnation shows capriciousness.
  • Solid colors say, “yes”, while striped carnations say “no” and express a refusal.
  • Sometimes the meanings are conflicting, since striped carnations can, also, mean “sorry I cannot be with you”, “I wish I could”.
  • A white carnation, especially on Mother’s Day, represents purity, “sweet and lovely”, and a woman’s good luck gift.
  • A yellow carnation means rejection or “you have disappointed me”.
  • Mini carnations mean pure love or “my heart yearns for you”.

Whatever message you send with a carnation, a splendid aroma will accompany it.

Carnation Plant Care

The florist carnations are hybrids of Dianthus caryophyllus; although they can be grown in your garden, the florist-quality ones are grown in greenhouses or specialized farms.

There are several species of “carnations” that are grown in the gardens: Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) and Dianthus chinesis to name a few. Dianthus chinensis is the most widely grown, although it does not have the same look as a florist carnation. Most Dianthus species will have the same pleasing aroma (clove-like) as the florist quality carnations. Depending on the species, carnations can be biennial or annual which provide lush blooms through out the spring and summer.

Orange carnations in a bouquet vase with berries and leather leafCarnation plant care is not too complicated. A little work can harvest beautiful full blooms, which can be enjoyed in the garden or cut and arranged in a carnation bouquet. A simple table can be turned into an exquisite sight with a beautiful and fragrant carnation bouquet. Grown from seed, carnations can be directly sown in the garden or started inside and later transplanted. The aromatic and beautiful carnation plants are perfect for flowerbeds, containers and garden borders.

Although carnations prefer full sun, they do not take well to high heat and humid areas and will need protection from these conditions. Carnations, also, need well-drained soil preferring a sandy or gravel based soil. Over watering can make their leaves turn yellow and muddy damp soil can cause fungal diseases (crown rot and rusts). Proper drainage and plant maintenance are vital for healthy carnation plants.

Blooms that are past their prime should be pinched off – encouraging new blooms and alleviating fungal conditions. During the growing season watch for slugs, sow bugs, grasshoppers, aphids and spider mites. There are pesticides and organic methods to control these pests. Protect from wildlife such as deer, squirrels and chipmunks may be needed.

The Classic Carnation

Next time you need a gift for any event or a beautiful table decoration, don’t forget the classic carnation. Remember a lovely carnation boutonniere will make the moms in your life feel very special. Jazzing up your table for a special dinner party is a snap with a beautiful carnation bouquet. Whatever the occasion, you can find a florist ready to create the perfect carnation flower arrangement for you.

Contributor: Quinn Propst

Mothers Day Tips for Florists

Mother’s Day is almost upon us. To relieve some of your stress, we are sending a Mother’s Day Tips sheet for your new or part-time employees. Hopefully these tips will equip your employees with the information they need for efficient customer service while eliminating potential problems with order delivery.

Mother’s Day Tips

  • Place orders early, orders placed after 12:00PM cst Friday cannot be guaranteed delivery before Mother’s Day.

  • Please provide complete delivery information for recipients. We must have street address and telephone number, and a cell phone if possible.

  • Minimum Order for Mother’s Day is $40 with an average delivery fee of $8 to $10 except in metro areas where delivery could be as much as $15.

  • Always provide a 2nd choice option for each order.

  • Please inform your staff that FSN Headquarters may be calling with florist to florist orders during this holiday. These checks will be sent Monday following the delivery date and will be paid at 80%.

The FSN relay team is committed to making your holiday go smoothly.

Mother’s Day 2006 – Relay Suggestions

With the Mother’s Day holiday approaching, Flower Shop Network would like to make these suggestions to ensure your satisfaction as well as your customer’s, on orders placed going outside your delivery area:

Encourage customers to place orders early.

Consider minimum order amounts of at least $40 PLUS a delivery charge. Shops in METRO areas may require $50 PLUS a delivery charge.

Allow an additional $ 5.00- $10.00 for delivery. Metro and rural delivery areas may run $10 to $15.

Obtain a 2nd choice/ or color for product.

Obtain recipient phone numbers. Many shops will not attempt delivery without a recipient phone number.

Send your orders via www.fsnf2f.com the fastest, lowest cost and most accurate way to send your orders. If you are not setup call 800-858-9925 today for immediate access.

Our Florist to Florist relay department will be on an extended schedule Mother’s Day week to better serve you. Our Mother’s Day Holiday Hours are:

7:00am to 7:00pm CST – Monday, May 1st – Friday, May 5th
7:00am to 5:00pm CST – Saturday May 6th
Relay Office Closed on Sunday May 7th
7:00am to 8:00pm CST – Monday May 8th – Friday May 12th
7:00am to 6:00pm CST – Saturday May 13th
10:00AM to 2:00pm CST – Sunday May 14th

Julie Ratliff
Relay Department Manager

Flowers for Mother’s Day

It’s that time of year again when, by tradition, we honor those very special women who have been so important in our lives. While we certainly love and cherish our Moms the year round, Mother’s Day for remembering mom with a bit of extra love and attention.

You can’t go wrong with a gift of flowers for Mother’s Day

Flowers, with their intrinsic and vibrant beauty, are the perfect symbols for the life-giving energy that really defines motherhood. This Mother’s Day, florists across the country are well-stocked with beautiful blossoms to help you express your affection.

Peach & White Roses For MomFor example, the popular look in flowers these days features rounded blooms with soft, feminine textures in a lush and abundant arrangement. So a simple, clear glass vase filled with such flowers as hydrangea, ranunculus, peonies, and lisianthus , accented with delicate filler materials such as Queen Anne’s lace or Misty Blue limonium is sure to delight. Other soft textured flowers include stock, heather, delphinium, lilac and viburnum.

Roses Are A Mother’s Day Favorite

Of course, the rose is always a favorite choice of flower for Mother’s Day, and May is an especially good time of year for a bounteous selection of them. Add a few of these luxuriant blossoms to any bouquet to give it an extra measure of appeal.

Flowers For The Gardening Mom

Gardening is America’s number one hobby, and it remains as a very popular theme for Mother’s Day gift-giving. Consider sending Mom a basket of garden flowers arranged in a vegetative style; in other words, designed to reflect how they grow. A vegetative designed arrangement displays flowers in relaxed, vertical groups as though they were growing in a perennial border. Snapdragons, lilies, tulips, and iris work well in this style of arrangement. Special detailing with mosses, branches, and foliages, and perhaps the inclusion of some natural element, such as a bird’s nest, completes the presentation.

European-style Dish Garden

European Dish GardenA European garden, which is a collection of green and blooming plants placed together into a basket or tray, is another charming way to present flowers for Mother’s Day, with the added benefit that the live plants will continue to survive and grow after the holiday. Bloomers like African violets, begonias, miniature roses, and cyclamens can be combined with green houseplants such as ivy, dieffenbachia, and philodendrons, accented with a branch or a flourish of ribbon.

It’s been said that it doesn’t matter what you give your Mom, as long as it’s flowers. Send her a garden of love, full of flowers for Mother’s Day, or consult you local Mother’s Day florist for other great ideas. But don’t delay……it’s only a few days away!