Trends - Bloomin' Blog

Celebrate Tour De France With Flowers For Your Cyclist

July 6, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

The world famous Tour de France 2011 competition is going on now! Running from Saturday July 2^nd to Sunday July 24^th, the 98^th Tour de France will consist of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometers.

Our cycling fans here at FSN are just itching to get home to see more of the race! If you, or someone you know are glued to the tube watching race results, this custom flower idea is just the thing for you!

Winners Wear

For those out of the loop (like me), there are different types of winners at the Tour de France signified by what jersey they wear:

YELLOW JERSEY – the over-all winner

GREEN JERSEY – fastest sprinter

WHITE & RED POLKA DOT JERSEY – best mountain climber

WHITE JERSEY – competition for young riders

The thing about the Tour de France we love is how they incorporate colors with their award bouquets. For each stage, a new winner is given the appropriate colored jersey (as mentioned above) to wear in the next round, and also a matching bouquet!

3rd Stage Winners: Mountain: Gilbert Philippe (Germany) Young Rider: Geraint Thomas (G.Britain) Sprinter: Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain) Over-all Winner: Tyler Farrar (American)

Need Gifts For A Cyclist?

Choose flowers in the colors above to match your cyclist’s favorite player or their style!

Flowers For Mom Style Guide

May 5, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 4 Comments

Style Guide For Mother's Day Flowers
When it comes to buying flowers for Mother’s Day, it can be a bit overwhelming deciding which one is perfect for mom. Don’t worry, Flower Shop Network is here to help! Our flower buying style guide is your source for the perfect gift for mom!

The Classy Mom

Sophisticated, stylish and always full of class.

Tips for classy moms: monochromatic color schemes, contemporary styles.
Flowers for classy moms: orchids, garden roses, calla lilies, anthurium.
Colors ideas: white, coral pinks, ruby red, deep purples

The Natural Mom

The mom who loves the outdoors — gardening, birdwatching, hiking, this mom is more at home outdoors than in.

Tips for natural moms: think garden flowers, terracotta containers, fresh fruit, houseplants, arrangements made on wood.
Flowers for natural moms: lilies, roses, tulips, asters, irises, peonies and carnations.
Colors: earth tones, emerald green, dusty pink, creams

Unique Bud Vases From The ISFA Convention

April 6, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

These little novelty bud vases were a HOOT at the Illinois State Florist Association Convention last month. In a class titled “Rockin’ Petal Pets, Eldon Haab showed attendees how to create some of the coolest and most unique floral designs around! Of course the pets were super cute; the poodles were just adorable. One type of design we had never seen before was his unique bud vases in the forms of little people! Check it out:

Just imagine sending this cheerful bud vase to your favorite cheerleader, perhaps as congratulations or for a job well done! Kids and teens love these little vases because of the bendable appendages! It’s so much fun making them strike a pose! (more pics after the jump!) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Trends Tagged With: Back To School Flowers, bud vases, Novelty Flowers

Frequently Asked Prom Corsage Questions — ANSWERED!

March 25, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 4 Comments

What is a prom corsage? A prom corsage is a small flower arrangement that typically adorns a girl’s wrist or collar and is bought and given to her by her prom date. Most prom-goers, these days, prefer the wrist corsage. Flowers and accessories usually match or accent the girl’s prom dress.

What is a boutonniere? A boutonniere is the floral design worn by guys on their lapels. The boutonniere is bought for the guy by his date and often matches the colors and style of his date’s corsage.

What wrist do your wear your corsage on? It is generally recognized as proper etiquette to wear the wrist corsage on the left, although a left-handed date may prefer her wrist corsage worn on the right arm.

Do the corsage and boutonniere have to match? Not necessarily, but it usually looks more stylish and put-together that way. Talk to your local florist about your choice of formal wear for prom, both for the guy and the girl, and discuss what corsage/bout options would work best for your combined look. (Also check out: Matching Prom Dress to Prom Corsage!)

How do I get my guy to buy the perfect prom corsage for me? Make sure the florist sees your dress. Your florist is sure to make something that accents your specific style. Seeing the dress ensures your flowers and prom accessories will match perfectly. Give your guy pictures of prom corsages you like to get him heading in the right direction. He can also show these to his florist. Why not go into your local flower shop together? You can buy both the amazing corsage and boutonniere together!

If I wanted something special, would a florist work with me? Absolutely! Florists love a challenge! If you’ve got something special in mind, talk to your florist about how they can customize your corsage just for you! May you’ve got a dark dress and are thinking of a Black Swan style? No problem! Love bright and playful? Your florist can fix you up with wire swirls and colorful daisies. Just don’t be afraid to ask!

Many florists are starting to offer Corsage Bar events in their store. This is a buffet-like setup where prom-goers can go down a row and pick out all the separate elements of their corsage. No guessing as to what it will look like when YOU’VE picked it all out!

When do I need to order my prom flowers? Order right now! It’s always good to plan ahead and get your order in as soon as possible. The spring is a very busy time for florists, with wedding season just beginning and Mother’s Day right around the corner. At any rate, order at least two weeks in advance.

Why do I need to use a florist, can’t I make my own DIY corsage? Not only do corsages have to look great, but they must hold up throughout the night of dancing and celebration. It’s always a good idea to buy a corsage from your local florist, rather than try to create one yourself. Corsages are not easy to make; the flowers have to stay ON the corsage, and stay looking fresh for long periods of time. Just talk to your florist about your budget and your options, it might surprise you what they’ll come up with!

What if I’m on a tight budget, can I still get a great-looking prom corsage? Yes, talk to your florist about your situation and ask what suggestions they might have. Often times by using seasonal or flowers your florist might have in excess can cut down on costs and still give you a great-looking corsage!

What do I need before I visit my local florist? Be sure to bring a picture of the dress you are wearing. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, even a picture from a cell phone will do. Bring any pictures of prom corsages you like from the internet or magazines for your florist to look at.

What are the hottest prom flower trends to date? Bright and bold colors that really make a statement, mixed with a variety of textures and details. We’ve seen a lot different uses of wire and other accessories. Another prom accessory we just love this year is the reusable wristlets. Instead of a cheap corsage holder for the wrist, invest in a beautiful corsage bracelet. Not only will your corsage look amazing, you can wear the bracelet for years to come and always be reminded of your big night.

I also have to talk about body flowers! Florists can do WAY more than just wrist corsages, ask your florist what body flowers would look best with your dress! One of our favorite looks is a strapless dress with over-the-shoulder flowers — a stunning look! You can also have flower rings, necklaces and even flowers for your shoes created! It’s all about using flowers to add color and style to your prom look.

Get MORE Prom Inspiration »

This post is brought to you by local Casper WY florists.
Not in Wyoming? No worries, Flower Shop Network makes it easy to find your local florist with our real local florist directory.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Prom, Prom Flower Tips, prom flower trends, Prom Flowers, Prom Trends

Creative & Custom Funeral Flower Trends

February 25, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 18 Comments

First of all, let’s think of the purpose of funeral flowers: to show one’s love, and support for the family and the departed. Flowers comfort and soothe us as we say our final goodbyes, but why stop there? Creative florists everywhere are using funeral flowers to construct personalized tributes to fallen friends.

What Kind of Personalized Funeral Flowers Are Available?

The limit is your imagination. Consider your lost friend and the biggest loves in their life. Perhaps they were an avid fisherman, loved bowling, or were closely involved in an organization. Use their favorite hobbies, passions and accomplishments as inspiration for their final tributes. Funeral flower tributes spark wonderful memories of times past, and lift the mood with stories and laughter about time spent together.

How Do I Purchase Custom Flowers For Funerals?

That’s easy! First, find a local florist in your area, or in the location of the funeral. Flower Shop Network makes it easy with our real, local florist directory. Click below to find local florists in any city in the US & Canada.

Find a Florist

Next, call your florist directly and discuss your ideas for the funeral tribute. Explain their favorite hobbies or affiliations, and let them know their favorite colors and styles. If you have something specific in mind, find a picture of it or something in a similar style. Send that to your florist to make sure they can create exactly what you’re wanting.

(Let FSNfuneralhomes.com help you find a funeral home.)

Funeral Flower Pictures Inspiration

Here are pictures of unique funeral flowers from local florists all across the US.

Hobby – Themed Funeral Flower Photos

Airplane Funeral Flowers
“A funeral design, for a pilot about 5 years ago.“
Buds ‘n Bows Flower Shop in Crawford, GA

Gardening Funeral Flowers
“For an avid gardener. I got complimentary calls from the family, the minister (who had never seen anything so beautiful) and the funeral home on this one. :)”
The Petal Patch, McFarland, WI

Gardener Funeral Flowers
We actually made this for the funeral of a dear friend and floral mentor of ours as our tribute. :-)
Charlotte’s Flowers, Cresson PA

Out With The Old In With The Hues!

December 31, 2010 by Flower Shop Network 2 Comments

Florist Color Trends For 2011

Bright and Bold

2011 is citing exotic elements of luxurious artistry in foreign lands like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey as inspiration for this years color trends. These color pallets are BRIGHT and bold! As shown below, tropical, fun and whimsical sets the overall tone for a year of color indulgence. The intense and radiant colors like apple green or clementine orange are best showcased when in contrast with the neutral colors of these selections like slate gray or smokey navy blue.

Colors shown above from left to right*: apple green, mauve, lilac, hot pink, slate gray, celadon, aged gold, coral, red, violet purple, mocha or chocolate brown, navy, pine green, clementine orange, and yellow.

Masculine and Earthy

If your design calls for something a little more masculine then these vintage, earthy and sun-washed colors are sure to provide a solution.
Gray is the “it” color, but mocha is sure to return to one of the top favorites, along with orange and triad hues of green for an eco-nomic/urban color scheme.

However you choose to combine these palettes, they are sure to add visual interest and creative value to all your floral arrangements and designs.

Masculine & Earthy Hues
Colors above shown from left to right*: dark chocolate, dark charcoal gray, sangria/brick red, myrtle (dark) green, dark tangerine, dark chestnut, asparagus, Tyrian purple, dark midnight green, deep blue, Persian green, mocha taupe, agate blue, amazon green, scallop shell, moccasin, olivine green, khaki, carrot orange, oyster gray, gray taupe, and antique white.

* color names may differ per source.

This post is brought to you by local Bloomington, MN florists.
Not in Minnesota? No worries, use Flower Shop Network’s handy online directory of local florists.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: 2011 Trends, Color Trends, Flower Trends

Flower Trends: Equisetum, Oh The Possibilities!

October 15, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Equisetum, Oh The Possibilities!

One of my favorite filler flower trends right now has to be Equisetum. Florists everywhere are using it in the most CREATIVE ways! Equisetum hyemale, also know as horsetial, is a bamboo-like fern. Because it stands so straight, it is ideal for geometric floral designs.

Check out how these florists are using Equisetum in their floral designs:

Geometric Floral Design

This florist used Equisetum not only for the base of her design, but as a unique linear accent.

Equisetum Bouquet

This wedding bouquet is all about angles only possible with Equisetum.

Curled Equisetum Flower Arrangement

This florist used Equisetum in a completely different way. With the help of wire, she curled the stiff foliage artfully around the base of her design.

Contact your local florist and ask for an Equisetum flower arrangement today! Because of the strong use of line, Equisetum designs are great for sending men flowers.

This post is brought to you by local Beaverton, Oregon florists.
Not in Beaverton? Use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of real local florists to find a florist near you!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Flower Suggestions, Trends Tagged With: Equisetum, Filler Flower, Floral Design, Geometric Floral Design, Unique Flower Arrangements

Trend Alert: Pocket Squares Taking The Place of Boutonnieres?

October 15, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

The boutonniere and the pocket square have long been part of a gentleman’s formal attire. Creative florists have recently began to combine the fresh-flower look of the boutonniere and the placement of the pocket squares for something new and festive!

But Honey…. do I *have* to wear a boutonniere??

The biggest complaint we hear from guys about boutonnieres is that they don’t want to wear flowers that close to their face. Most men are just picky, but some have allergies that genuinely prevent them from wearing a bout’. Having flowers farther down in the pocket can be a big relief for men with this problem.

Often times the groom’s boutonniere gets practically destroyed during the activities of your wedding reception. Pocket squares tend to be a little more sturdy than boutonnieres because they aren’t pinned to your tuxedo. The bride is able to comfortably wrap her arms around the grooms neck without fear of crushing flowers or getting pin stuck.

Floral Pocket Squares — Boutonniere Alternative For Proms & Homecomings

Not only will the pocket square stand up to all of the festivities of a wedding reception — just think how perfect this trend is for teens going to homecoming or prom! I don’t know what it is about boys, but they love to take things apart. By the end of prom night, a guys boutonniere is often in 5 different pieces and the pin is stuck in his buddy’s arm. (Hopefully not, but you get the idea.)

With the floral pocket square, there are no pins. The design is attached, usually with glue, to a long insert that fills the pocket. Prom-going teens tend to leave them alone because they are further down on their chest — out of side, out of mind. The pocket square is a great boutonniere alternative, especially for prom, homecoming and other teen events.

Replacing Boutonnieres?

A boutonniere has long been part of the fashion-forward gentlemens fashion. Although the floral pocket square is a trendy up-and-comer, you will never replace a good, old-fashion boutonniere. The key is to find the style that is right for your look and your attire. Consult with your local florist, they are the BEST place to turn when it comes to this decision.

If you are looking for pocket squares, boutonnieres or corsages, contact your town’s local florists. She will help you choose the right floral accessories to fit your event!

This post is brought to you by local Independence MO florists.
Not in Independence? Use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of real local florists to find a florist near you today!

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Boutonniere Alternative, Boutonnieres, Floral Pocket Squares, Homecoming, Prom, Prom Flowers, Prom Trends

Trend Alert: Sushi Flowers!

September 1, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Sushi lover or not, you have to appreciate the care, artistry and composition a sushi chef puts into their work. Sushi is quickly becoming one of the trendiest foods around! Even if you don’t like eating the raw-fish rolls, you can still get your hands on cute sushi gear — from stuffed animals to jump drives — sushi is invading pop culture!

Don’t forget our favorite way to use sushi — in trendy floral designs! Check out these great sushi-themed flowers we saw at floral shows this summer:

This dynamic design uses greens and flowers as sushi rolls. They recycled stems and wired them on as chopsticks! This design is very impressive and so easy to do! Great way to get some use out of those to-short, scrap flowers! The tray he selected works great for the presentation. You might also consider inexpensive plates (especially in unique shapes), lined box lids, bamboo-style place mats, simple wooden blocks and almost any container with an Asian-theme.

This design takes sushi flowers in a completely different style! You can see the little box of sushi, but also individual rolls are on the bamboo place mat. The rolls are very simple to do too — just wrap your flower heads in leaves (water pick or use a small block of floral foam for water source). This designer used chopsticks for this sushi floral design. These sushi roll flowers make GREAT hostess gifts! Plus your computer guy’s nerdy girlfriend would love these geek flowers (I would)!

Not familiar with sushi? Do a quick Google image search for sushi and you will see hundreds of styles you can interpret into floral designs!

Florists, sushi designs are easy and small. Try a sushi flowers promotion! Send a couple of little example arrangements to areas you know will be frequented by teens to college students, perhaps a college student center, movie theater lobby, or your local sushi bar! Display with a card telling about your promotion. (Also, promote it on Facebook!) To really hit with the young people, offer several size and price options.

This post is brought to you by local Long Beach CA florists.
Not in Long Beach? Use Flower Shop Network‘s handy directory to find your city’s real local florists!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Trends Tagged With: Floral Art, Floral Design, Floral Shows, Flower Trends, Sushi Flowers

FSN’s 2010 Prom Recap

April 27, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Unique Orchid Masterpiece

Do you LOVE prom? We do! Flower Shop Network has really got the school spirit this prom season! We have gone to several proms to take corsage photos. We have interviewed, videoed and photographed florists all over our area doin’ the prom thing. We have also written lots of articles in our blog about prom! (Check here and here.) Not to mention all the [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design, Seasonal Ideas, Trends Tagged With: Corsages, Floral Photography, Prom, Prom Flower Tips, Prom Flowers, Prom Trends, Wrist Corsages