Seasonal Flowers

Celebrate Summer with Flowers

June 18, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

The summer solstice happens on June 21st!

Summer is the perfect time to bask in the glorious sunshine, warm weather and always present beauty of nature. It’s the season for grass stains on your knees, dirt in your hair and a smile on your face. It’s for cookouts, family reunions and white, sandy beaches, as well as an excellent opportunity to indulge in some camping, water-sports and the good old American past time, baseball.

It’s also the perfect time of year for gorgeous flowers. Either grown in your garden at home or purchased from your local florist, there is no better way to show some summer love.

The Perfect Compliment to Summer

If you’re looking for an excellent decoration for your home, look no further than your local florist. Flowers are a beautiful and natural compliment to summer, and your local florist can put together some absolutely fantastic centerpieces for your table, arrangements for your living area or floral accents for your kitchen. Who doesn’t love waking up to fresh cut flowers adorning the breakfast table?

As you can see, there’s no better way to glory in nature’s beauty than flowers. Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate the beginning of summer, and all season long, with gorgeous blooms from your local florist!

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

Spring Forward With Flowers!

March 6, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Here is a reminder to set those clocks forward one hour this Sunday.

Daylight saving time begins this year on March 9th, 2014 at 2:00am.

So those blissfully longer days you have been dreaming of all winter will cost you an extra hour of sleep. Unless you happen to live in locations that ignore Daylight Saving Time all together. Then you don’t have to worry about it. Hawaii anyone?

With spring on the way, it is time to shake off the dust of last season. Sure, maybe you’ll get started on all that spring cleaning now, but don’t forget to actively enjoy nature a little more.

Welcome Spring In Right Now!

Here’s how:

Send a cheery spring arrangement to your spouse or best friend! Flowers bring instant smiles and sunshine into a room.
Select a healthy new house plant for your home or office. They look beautiful, lift your mood, help purify the air!
Think outdoors! Check out what great seasonal items are available like potted tulips, garden flags, spring-themed wreaths and more at your local flower shop.

You might be losing a little sleep but with some extra daylight hours, you can enjoy the welcome sight of spring when you give the gift of fresh cut flowers and living plants. It’s a fantastic chance to show someone special that you are thinking about them or a perfect way to treat yourself.

Find your real local florist today and order lovely flowers to spring forward with this season.

Butterfly Garden Bouquet

Filed Under: Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers

Forget the Groundhog. Bring In Spring Right Now!

February 3, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Well, there you have it folks. 6 more weeks of winter according to everyone’s favorite weather-predicting rodent. Yesterday was Groundhog’s Day and the official word from Punxsutawney Phil is we are in for more winter weather. Brrrr! How are you planning on facing the continuing chill? Another bright scarf? Lots of soup and hot chocolate? Try bringing spring just a little sooner with a fresh-cut flower arrangement!

It doesn’t have to be a special occasion to order up a bright bouquet. Chasing away the winter blues is reason enough whether you are sending flowers to a friend or as a special treat to yourself. A perfectly crafted floral creation from your local florist will lighten up your house and fill the room with warm smells of spring freshness. Your mood will be lifted every time you enter. And florists are ready for you.

No flower shop needs groundhog prediction to deliver the best nature has to offer. They stay ahead of the curve and already have beautiful spring blooms in stock. So take a look at what spring has in store by clicking any of the photos below.

The winter may be long, but flowers can remind you spring is near! Use them to cozy up your house, send a warm hug to someone far away, and spread the scent that promises greener brighter days are coming.

Filed Under: Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Gift Ideas, Seasonal 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

Happy New Year … with Flowers!

December 25, 2013 by Ed Belly 1 Comment

It’s almost time to ring in the new year!

Flowers and the New Year

With New Year’s Day fast approaching, you’re probably thinking about how you can structure things to start the year off in the best possible way. You’re picking out your resolution, deciding on the traditional menu items you want to prepare and getting everything ready for the party you’re throwing for loved ones. Make sure that in all the preparations you don’t forget a very important component to starting the new year off right. I’m talking about flowers of course!

Symbolizing Love and Happiness

Everything you do on New Year’s Day has meaning and often stands as a symbol for something larger than itself. Do you eat black-eyed peas and collard greens to ensure wealth and prosperity throughout the year? Maybe you eat pork and cabbage? Each of these traditional foods is consumed to symbolize blessing for the coming year. Shouldn’t flowers be part of your traditional celebration?

Flowers symbolize happiness and love, joy and friendship, embodying everything you want for your loved ones in the upcoming year. This New Year’s Day, make sure you make flowers part of your celebration!

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: New Years, New Years Flowers, Seasonal Flowers

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in December

December 4, 2013 by Juli Jackson 2 Comments

December is certainly the heaviest hitting month for holidays and this list reflects it!

There are so many reasons that flowers make a perfect gift. Through color, texture, shape and fragrance, your local florist can help you discover a genuine way to reach out to those important people in your life. So without delay, here are the best reasons to send flowers this December.

#1. December Birthdays

This reason tops our list because those friends and family who have birthdays during the month of the December always have to compete with so many other festivities. Ask anyone with a December birthday and without fail they will have the experience of receiving birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper or getting combo holiday/birthday gifts. A birthday should be the unique celebration of just one person. Make the day truly about your loved one by sending beautiful birthday blooms on their special day.

#2. Winter Solstice – December 21st

In the Northern Hemisphere, this day is often referred to as the “longest night.” Each year, as the world spins, there comes a point where the lengthening of winter days reaches its apex and this has long been celebrated as the Winter Solstice. While sometimes the winter blues can get us down, you can brighten someone’s day with a cheery wintery mix of beautiful flowers. Smiles are sure to lighten up any dark day.

#3. Christmas – December 25th

Flowers are a fantastic way to decorate for Christmas and make a wonderful gift for the entire household. Whether sending deep red roses with bright green stems, a fragrant holiday wreath or a breath-taking centerpiece that ties the dinner table together, you can show your warmest love from afar and be a presence in the home of those you hold near and dear.

#4. Kwanzaa – December 26th – January 1st

The colorful ceremonies of Kwanzaa are an excellent reason to include flowers as part of the 7 day celebration of African cultural and historical heritage. Have a florist create a bright and festive centerpiece around your kinara. Send a Kwanzaa-themed arrangement to relatives out of town to help them honor their traditions and wish those all around a joyous Kwanzaa.

#5. New Year’s Eve – December 31st

The tradition of living it up on New Year’s Eve is always part joy for what the future may bring as well as part remembrance of another year having passed. Ring in the New Year with the elegance and style of a stunning fresh-cut arrangement.

What are your favorite reasons to send flowers this month?
Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Best 5 Reasons, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Seasonal Flowers

Thanksgiving Decor Made Easy

November 20, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Have you found yourself preparing for the big day of turkey and gratitude? Maybe hauling the good dishes down from the cabinet and digging out the nice tablecloths. Perhaps you’ve been thumbing through a few magazines to see if there are any good ideas for decorations … if only you could somehow manage to make time to get to the craft store!

If your whole family is headed to your house to celebrate, we know your To-Do list is extra long. With deep cleaning, special cooking, and trying to manage everyday tasks like work and school leading up to the big day, who has time for decorating?

You do! With just one call to your local florist, you can have your house looking warm and welcoming with no extra time spent! Your guests will instantly notice the lovely look of delicate blooms and earthy textures and definitely savor the fragrant aromas only possible with fresh cut flowers.

Order a breathtaking centerpiece for your dinner table. Maybe an eye-catching arrangement for your entryway. A seasonal wreath is perfect for your front door or the dining room. Whatever room needs a special touch, flowers are a great way to make a statement. And best of all, they can be delivered right to you. No need to fuss, stay up late or struggle to finish that idea you saw on Pinterest that honestly sounded a lot better 5 hours ago. With flowers, your Thanksgiving decor will be a snap!

No matter your style, there is an arrangement for you. Want traditional? Modern? Outdoorsy? Just ask your florist. Read more about different Thanksgiving flower styles and make sure to order early so you can enjoy checking one more thing off your To-Do list!

Headed to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving? This is your chance show your gratitude for all the hard work it takes to put a successful holiday meal together. This year, be the thoughtful dinner guest who does more than help with the dishes. Order phenomenal blooms in seasonal yellows, reds and oranges to make someone else’s holiday decorating easy. Be sure to have the flowers arrive the day before and your hostess will reserve her biggest hug for you!

Enjoy everything this holiday has to offer and make your Thanksgiving decorating easy by bringing in nature’s bounty.

Filed Under: Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Fall Flowers, Seasonal Flowers

Fall Back With Flowers!

October 30, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Just a reminder to turn those clocks back this Sunday.

Daylight saving time ends this year on November 3rd, 2013 . That means you’ll get an extra hour of sleep but those nights which have slowly been creeping closer are about to get much longer!

Even though fall is such a beautiful time of year, days can start to feel rushed when the sun is setting at 5 o’clock. Who likes to miss all the sunshine and changing leaves while being at work all day? And like it or not, if you work a 9 to 5, darkness has settled in by the time you get home!

Brighten your fall afternoons with flowers!

Here’s why:

Flowers bring their own sunshine and smiles. Be an everyday hero and send a cheery fall arrangement to your spouse or best friend!
Potted house plants look beautiful and lift your mood. Plus they help purify the air so they are great for offices and small spaces.
Looking for something new to spruce up your home? Check out seasonal wreaths, swags and more at your local flower shop.

Even though the days are getting shorter, you can still enjoy the bright bounty of nature when you give the gift of fresh cut flowers and living plants. It’s a great way to show someone special that you are thinking about them or a perfect way to treat yourself.

Find your real local florist today and order the great flowers to fall back with this season.

Filed Under: Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers, Sending Flowers

5 Floral Gift Ideas for 5 Different Boss Types

October 7, 2013 by Ed Belly 1 Comment

Boss’s Day has really gained traction in recent years. If there was ever a time when this holiday could be ignored or set aside in favor of more important things, that time is long passed. So if you have a boss, and let’s be honest most of us have a boss, here are a few floral gift ideas to make your boss’s Boss’s Day a roaring success!

The Sports Fan

If you’ve ever seen your boss sporting their favorite football team’s mascot on his tie, he may be a sports fan. Your local florist is more than aware of any local or regional sports teams and probably carries a plethora of items they could use to put together a wonderful sports-themed arrangement. If nothing else, an arrangement using flowers in your boss’s favorite team’s colors can provide that “Wow” factor! If your boss loves golf, a sport where there are no teams, or is a fan of a team across the country, do not fret! Your local florist will have what they need to put together something impressive!

The Workaholic

Does your boss spend long hours at the office? Is she there when you arrive and there when you leave? Then she may be a workaholic. The best gift for these dedicated employers is a potted plant! The plant will inject some much-needed nature into their world while offering fresh oxygen that hasn’t been run through the building’s filters and HVAC unit. A plant is also very low maintenance. It will be a benefit without distracting this hard worker from her daily duties.

The Free Spirit [Read more…]

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Seasonal Flowers, Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Boss's Day Gift Ideas, Candy Gift Basket, Gift Baskets, Holiday Flowers, Houseplants, National Bosses Day, Seasonal Flowers