January Newsletter: Winter Wonderland

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!