Find Your Ask The Expert: Luffa
I just want to know whether luffa is monocot or dicot. Based on my understanding, it is a dicot plant, but my lecturer said that luffa is monocot plant. can someone help? – Zulaikha
Bright Hues Cure Winter Blues
November 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There’s something about the winter that makes us a little blue. It could be the shorter days, the chill in the air, or maybe the end of the year that get’s us down. This is why it’s so easy and so important to chase off the winter blues before they get you down.
Did you know flowers have healing powers? While not strong enough to cure acute illnesses, they can help boost your spirits and lift you up out of the dreary winter funk. How is this possible, you ask? Think of it this way:
Light is a nutrient to living things, just like food. Our bodies need light (the sunshine vitamin), just like plants need sunshine to grow. Well, we all know light is energy, but did you know color is light? That’s right! Color is simply light vibrating at different frequencies. So, if light is energy, and color is light, than that means color = energy!
There is growing evidence that humans respond, both physiologically, mentally and emotionally to different colors. Simply seeing these different colors can be therapeutic, also known as chromotherapy. Read more about chromotheropy.
So you can see, a colorful bouquet of flowers for yourself or a friend is a great way to cure those winter blues! Think about having them on your desk in your office, or some other place at work where you would see them often. Maybe in the kitchen to get you through making all the holiday meals this year. Put flowers wherever you need to feel a little pick-me-up.
Click here for more great ideas for get well flowers!
Florist Friday Recap 11/17 – 11/23: Floral Thanks
November 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s Friday! Boy was this a busy and short week for florists, just like the rest of us. Not nearly as many photos shared with us as our usual Friday recaps, but still very beautiful fall arrangements that deserve your attention. Very colorful and beautiful designs this week – mostly Thanksgiving themed, so check it out!
Thanksgiving Flowers
Thanksgiving flowers by Libby’s Flowers & Gifts, Elberton GA
“Flowers, feathers and turkey inside a wire pumpkin for a Thanksgiving table arrangement”
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Cornucopia Design by Rittners School of Floral Design, Boston MA
“It’s Thanksgiving… Cornucopia Rock!!”
(See more of their cornucopia designs here)
Happy Thanksgiving From FSN!
November 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
We hope you all have a SAFE and happy Thanksgiving!
There is so much for us to be thankful this year. We hope you all count your blessings on this day of “Thanks!”
Last Minute Thanksgiving Centerpieces & Flowers
November 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Whether Grandma’s house is across town or across the country, thousands of faithful family members make the trek each and every year at this time. No matter how far the journey, don’t show up empty handed!
Your casserole may not hold up for the trip, so stop by the local florists’ for a lush bouquet of fall flowers. From a small centerpiece to a magnificent cornucopia, most local florists will have extras on hand even this close to Thanksgiving! Simply stop by and pick one up! Not only does Grandma get to enjoy them for Thanksgiving, she can keep them long after you and the family have headed back home.
(Learn the differences in Thanksgiving flower styles here.)
Need Help Finding A Florist?
If you are traveling to a town you are unfamiliar with, you can always use Flower Shop Network’s handy florist finder to find a real local florist anywhere in the US and Canada.
Above all else, have a wonderful and SAFE Thanksgiving holiday.
The Creative Process Of Local Florist – Blossom Shop
November 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Take a peek inside the creative mind of a florist as they design something truly unique for a special someone. This is a story shared with us by Blossom Shop in Strasburg CO.
I got a wire order over the phone from another flower shop. I was pleasantly surprised to get a very good budget for a sympathy arrangement and no specifics other than they would like a nice fall arrangement if you can do that otherwise…
So I got to thinking, I wanted to do several matching pieces, something really large in a basket. I just knew I wanted it to be creative, but not something they might dislike being too interesting.
Getting Inspiration
So I took a tour of my shop a few times, front and back, to see what sizes and different containers that I might want to use. Some of my best-liked arrangements come from me finding something I can’t seem to get rid of (container wise) and making it beautiful with flowers. So I found these square wreath forms that I’ve yet to sell; one, because they have structure in the middle for placing a picture or something of the like, and two, they are a big size. I have yet to convince anyone to let me customize the center or pay enough so I could do something “interesting”.
So I grabbed one on those bad boys and got the wheels spinning. I used the leaf-looking ribbon to cover the back. To make that interesting I wove 10 lengths of that ribbon and covered all that maché and the center structure. After soaking it I laid it flat to start my designing.
Bringing It All Together
I covered the center structure with fall-colored, preserved leaves. Then I did the four corners, each with a different type of green to add interest, and then filled in with beautiful fall flowers. [Read more…]
Thanksgiving Is Just Around The Corner…
November 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
If you haven’t decided what you’re bringing to the family or friends get-together… your local florist still has you covered!
Click to see more ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces, arrangements, and cornucopias.
Thanksgiving is the time of year for making family memories. What do you remember from early Thanksgivings with family? Grandma’s dressing and desserts, or was it the hustle and bustle of family coming together to laugh and love with each other? Probably a good mixture of both. These memories we make during Thanksgiving last for a lifetime. Make sure your extended family takes away special memories of food, family and the beauty of the fall harvest.
Whether this Thanksgiving is at your home, or at a family or friends, you can help share the beauty of fall through flowers – always tasteful. Flowers make a wonderful hostess gift to bring.
Your fall decor is a tradition from long ago when our ancestors where still closely connected with the changing of seasons and a bountiful Thanksgiving meant security for the upcoming winter. Celebrate what you have to be thankful for; all of the bounty in your life.
Just remember, show your thanks to your community by shopping local this holiday.
Florist Friday Recap 11/10 – 11/16: Floral Romance
November 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Fall romance is in the air this week as most of our florists’ contributions this week are of their beautiful wedding design work. For those of you who don’t follow our blog, every Friday we do a recap of all the beautiful flower arrangement photos shared with us on our Facebook page by local florists all across the US & Canada. Without further adieu, let’s get on with the pictures!
Wedding & Event Flower Pictures
Outdoor wedding flowers by Libby’s Flowers & Gifts, Elberton GA
“Overhead Swag for wedding at Lake Lanier Islands.”
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Wedding bouquet by Alma Blooms, Alma WI
“Close up of a bridesmaid bouquet.”
FSN Thanksgiving 2012
November 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Today we had a feast at FSN! It was Thanksgiving and everyone brought their own delicious contribution to fill all of our buffet tables to the brim. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes… you name it, we probably ate it today!
That doesn’t mean we aren’t doing our part to help those that need it. Since school started back, we’ve donated hundreds of items to our local food bank’s School Backpack Program to help students who may not get all that they need at home. Because it’s an ongoing competition between our departments, we have given a ton!
Here are more pictures from today’s Thanksgiving feast!
What Is Causing My Plant To Drip Sap?
November 14, 2012 by
Ask the Plant Expert:
I am finding odd brown colored fluid dripping on the sides of my outdoor potted plant. What is causing it, and how can I get rid of it? I can’t see anywhere on the leaves where it could be coming from. Thank you. – Lisa
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
It looks like you might have damage from borers. Did you happen to see any ants climbing up the trees? Ants aren’t a problem, but they often indicate that borers are in your tree. Borers are a problem. Borers are a larvea, usually placed by a type of beetle into the trunk of trees and plants. The borers cause damage from the inside out, often creating a hole in which the sap of the tree is released. What kind of plant/tree is it?
Your local garden center nursery will have the right chemical to kill the borers.
