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Florists Share 2013 Wedding Color Trend Secrets

Our florists are definitely the top experts of what is happening this year when it comes to wedding color trends. With every new client comes a little insight into what brides are asking for, and that translates into what’s hot for 2013 weddings.

When asked to divulge the most popular colors seen this summer, florists responded with popular trends happening in their area. Here is a detailed list of hot color palettes designers, and brides alike, can’t seem to get enough.

#1. coral

(with mint blue) – most votes!
With refreshing sea hues, this combination recalls the soft coral color of shells and fond dreams of the beach.

coral

#2. shades of blue

Proof that calm soothing colors can be exciting and eye-catching as well.

blues

#3. purple

Purple is the meeting place between red and blue; combinations of this hue lend a perfect mix to a happy day.

purples

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Florist Friday Recap 6/29 – 7/3: Summer Daze

Although it was a holiday week, we’ve got some truly breathtaking designs in today’s Florist Friday Recap. Many of these work for any occasion and show you just what’s available from local florists across the country and beyond. Take a look and if you’re feeling the summer daze, order some for yourself or a friend!

Any Occasion Flower Arrangements

Beautiful flowers by The Enchanted Florist, Taos NM

Beautiful flowers by The Enchanted Florist, Taos NM

“Stayin’ cool.”

Orange flowers by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX

Orange flowers by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX

Summer flowers by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX Orange flowers by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX Beautiful arrangement by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX

Beautiful red rose arrangement by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX

Beautiful floral designs by Carthage Flower Shop, Carthage TX

“These are a few of our favs we’ve done!”

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Make the 4th Of July Sparkle with Flowers!

Fourth of July Flowers

The 4th of July is America’s favorite times to celebrate, and for good reason. It’s basically America’s birthday; who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?

How do we celebrate the 4th of July?

Fireworks and flying flags; grilling, pool parties, watermelon and trips to the lake, but it goes further than that. The Fourth is about sending time with family and friends; taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the real world to focus on what’s important in your life. The 4th of July is a renewing time to refresh our relationships with family, friends and loved ones.

Fourth Flowers For Hard-working Hostess’

This 4th of July when you are visiting family and friends, take them a simple gift of affection with flowers. Red, white and blue flowers make the perfect hostess gift for any Fourth celebration. Your hard-working hostess will feel appreciated and can use the flowers to decorate for the celebration.

4th of July Themed Flowers Red White And Blooms For 4th of July Red, White & True Blue - Patriotic Flower Arrangement

If you are looking for 4th of July flowers, always always always use a local florist.

Buying local is so important, but also connecting directly with your hometown flower shop guarantees you avoid deceptive middlemen and receive the full value of your order. If you need to find a flower shop in your area, use FSN’s handy Florist Finder.

My Secret Place Among The Roses

Growing up can be tough. Though I was blessed to have an amazing childhood, there are many emotions you cannot live without experiencing. The bittersweet hurt of a crush on a boy who does not feel the same can seem like the end of the world to a young girl. Luckily, I had a hiding place where I could really find the truth I was looking for: truth by the ole’ “he loves me; he loves me not” game.

Stopping to Smell the Roses…

Red RosesMy mom worked hard on her roses in the backyard, so to really know the truth about my 7th-grade love, I had to be sneaky. I would walk outside in my backyard. So what did I do? I would venture to my Secret Place in my own backyard, using an arbor in the back corner. It was decorated with mom’s prize roses, and sat right beside the roof. After finding a spot where my hands could get a good grip (without thorns), I could pull myself up on top of the arbor.

The best view of the sunset was just over the trees, and I was almost there. There, I would gather as many petals my hands could hold and I would begin my climb quietly onto the roof. My mother was always a stickler to my climbing routines; being caught was not an option. As I reached the peak, I could slow down. I had reached my destination.

A Whole New World

My Secret Place might have been on the rooftop of my house in small-town Lonoke, Arkansas, but from the view of  the peak, I was in another world. I was Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind.” I was Elizabeth in “Pride and Prejudice.” Most importantly I was a rebel without a cause. I would spend hours on the peak watching the sun slowly make its way down the sky for the night. Those were times I did not need music. I could create it in my head, humming while rubbing rose petals between my thumb and index finger repeating “he loves me; he loves me not” until the results came out to my liking.

Before the sun fell to darkness, I would slowly make my way down the roof. Giving the rose petals one more squeeze, I would release them with all the left-over stress of middle school, and head for the door.

My Secret Place Today

Several years down the road, I was graduating, my parents were moving to Dallas, TX and my house would be put up for sale. Of all the memories I have from growing up in that house the one thing I miss the most is my mother’s prize roses, and the lessons they taught me. I should not be picking apart flowers, but receiving them instead. The wait was well worth the love I have now.

Are there flowers that remind you of home? Recreate old memories by planting them, buying them for yourself or sending to a friend. Memories can last a lifetime; it just takes someone or something to rekindle the spark.

Florist Friday Recap 6/22 – 6/28: Summer Weddings

We have a truly amazing weekly Florist Recap for you today! The summer wedding season is in full bloom and you can definitely tell from this week’s florist favorites. From traditional, to fun and funky, we have a little bit of everything in today’s post. If you’re looking for summer flower inspiration, look no further…

Summer Event & Wedding Flower Photos

Soft pink wedding bouquet by Paisley Floral Design, Manchester NH

Soft pink wedding bouquet by Paisley Floral Design, Manchester NH

“O’Hara roses featured in this hand-tied bridal bouquet!”

Unique seashell bouquets by Flowers By Flowers, Parkville MD

Unique seashell bridesmaid’s bouquets by Flowers By Flowers, Parkville MD

“Not all brides request flower bouquets. Here is a pic of the bridesmaid’s bouquets: all hand wired shells. Took more time than average, but well worth the final product. All the other pieces including the Bride’s bouquet included lilies, orchids and roses.”

Unique wedding bouquet by A Few of My Favorite Things, Wyoming IL

Unique wedding bouquet by A Few of My Favorite Things, Wyoming IL

[Read more…]

FSN Surprise Visits Hollyhocks Flowers & Gifts

Hollyhocks Flowers & Gifts, St. Louis MO

Recently, while attending the SAF Growth Solutions Conference in St. Louis, Brock and Loranne Atwill, owners of Flower Shop Network, decided to pay a surprise visit to one of our member florists to see what was happening in her flower shop.

Susan Kenny, owner of Hollyhocks Flowers & Gifts, welcomed the FSN crew with open arms. After a tour of the shop, the conversation turned to business, and according to Susan, business is good!

Susan has recently found great success in reaching out to the strong Hispanic influence in her community. She has hired a translator to help in the shop and created flyers and other promotions intended to branch out her network in these demographics. She is really proud of her shop’s diversity and is ready for even more.

Brock and Loranne really enjoyed the visit with Susan at Hollyhocks. Just goes to show, you never know when FSN might drop in on you!

Best 5 Reasons To Send Flowers In July

Red White and True BlueBlue skies, white clouds, and red hot grills mean July has started off right this year. With the height of the hot summer season rolling in, remember to refresh with flowers! There are so many fantastic hot-weather blooms available and here are some great reasons to send summer joy:

#1 – Independence Day – July 4th

It’s America’s birthday and time to celebrate! Along with lemonade, homemade ice cream, and anything barbecued, flowers are a sparkling addition to every party or gathering. An arrangement in the middle of the table makes your whole event more festive without much effort at all.

Flowers can serve as a great reminder of the reason we don the white, red, and blue. Our nation battled for its independence and won! Don’t these lilies, mums, and gladiolas look like perfect flower fireworks?

#2 – Show Your Summer Love

Do you have a summer sweetheart? Sending flowers can make a big impression in a budding relationship. Maybe you want to rekindle the affection of your long-time partner? Remind her than your love is in full bloom with a gorgeous arrangement packed with the very best the season has to offer. The summer growing season has so many bright exciting colors, textures, and fragrances to choose from.
To take advantage of seasonal flowers, ask for combinations of these sun-loving varieties:

Citrus Zest

#3 – Parents’ Day – July 28th

Sure, mom and dad get their own individual day in spring, but Parents’ Day honors them both. Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, this relatively new national holiday started in 1994 by President Bill Clinton for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”

It is also quickly becoming a favorite day for families celebrating non-traditional parents because it focuses more on the team effort of parenthood instead of singling out only mothers or fathers. Show your parents they raised you right! Treat them to an arrangement bursting with color or a fruit basket to enjoy while they sip iced tea on the porch.

#4 – July Birthdays

Have family or friends with a upcoming July birthday? Show them how much you care with a lovely arrangement. Make it more personal by ordering their favorite color. Not sure what color would be a hit? Select the traditional July birth flower – consolida. Sometimes called larkspur, this flower symbolizes a strong bond of love, is very closely related to delphinium, and highlights how special this month is to your recipient.
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Florist Friday Recap 6/15 – 6/21: Unique Style

Wow, what a collection we’ve got going today. Truly unique designs tailored to fit their client’s needs perfectly. Everything, from fairy wands, to peace signs to 7ft tall arrangements! We love the variety in today’s post, and know you will too!

Unique Floral Design

Flower Wands by Treehouse Florist, New Freedom PA

Flower Wands by Treehouse Florist, New Freedom PA

“Princess wands for sale at the Dance production”

Candy bouquet by Baker Florist, Spencer NY

Candy bouquet by Baker Florist, Spencer NY

Candy bouquets. Great presentation gift for the graduating guys!”

Rainbow floral design by West End Florist, Rome GA

Rainbow tribute floral design by West End Florist, Rome GA

[Read more…]

June Newsletter: Summer Ready

4th of July

Celebrate Red, White & BLOOM

The 4th of July is America’s favorite times to celebrate, and for good reason. It’s basically America’s birthday; who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?

This Independence Day, when you are visiting family and friends, take them a simple gift of affection with flowers. Red, white and blue flowers make the perfect hostess gift for any Fourth celebration. Your hard-working hostess will feel appreciated and can use the flowers to decorate for the celebration.

Contact your local florist and see just what all they’ve got in mind for the 4th! Find your favorite red, white and blue flowers!

Read more about Red, White & Blue Flower Suggestions


Weathered & Worn – The Perfect Look for a Rustic Wedding

Welcome in the worn look with these incredible wedding photos shared by Martha Sheldon Florist from Eastman, Georgia. From inviting wreaths to large elegant sprays to unique containers, this FSN florist knew how to capture a day of perfect rustic beauty.

Rustic Wedding Entry

Read more about this rustic wedding


Yellow Sunflower

Sunflowers That Will Take Your Breath Away

Planning a summer or fall wedding and can’t dream of it without sunflowers? You’re in luck!  Sunflowers have a long season which allows the flowers to be used for summer and fall weddings. Although most florists are able to order sunflowers year round, they are  usually much more affordable when they’re used in season. The sunflower is the perfect statement piece, and are great for bouquets, arches, centerpieces and so much more. With so many placement options, they make flower planning a breeze.

Continue reading about Sunflowers for Weddings


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Just4Florists: How To Reach Out With Community Workshops

Teach What You KnowHow involved is your flower shop in the local community? (No blank stares, please.) The more you put yourself out there, the more you will get back!

Do more for your public image by offering workshops to your community. This engaging approach cements your business in the minds of customers, and can be highly rewarding.

By developing simple, one-day sessions, you can reach out to your neighborhood to offer an event that is completely original.

Your customer base will increase, not just from workshop participants, but word of mouth as well. Think of it as summer camp for flower enthusiasts!

Host Workshops in Your Area

Flower Arranging 101 – Teach the basics of flower arranging to the DIY crowd, and make sure they know they can get the best loose stems and flower accessories from you to build their own custom creations.

Grow Green Thumbs  – Show how to care for all the houseplants you offer in your shop by demonstrating various pruning, re-potting and watering tips.

Cocktail Flower Hour – Offer a wine tasting paired with a floral design lesson for a relaxed and sophisticated evening mingle.

Posy Pals  – Make use of bright, summer blooms and appeal to all ages by teaching young flower lovers how put together a beautiful flower arrangement. (Great just before family-oriented holidays, such as Grandparent’s Day.)

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