Bloomin' Blog

Facebook Friday Recap – Wedding Season

July 20, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Friday! Friday Friday Friday! It’s they day of the week with our favorite blog post, and this week is one of the best Friday Recaps we’ve ever had! Wedding season is in FULL SWING! It’s obvious from all the pictures florists across the US and Canada posted on our Facebook page. Before we get to the pictures, let’s see what our florists had to say about what’s trendy for the 2012 wedding season.

“Purple and plum colors with lots of other bright accents… also a lot of natural stuff… grasses, burlap, barn weddings…” – Every Blooming Thing, Akron OH

“Greens, purples, blues and magenta” – Cottage Flowers, Pasadena TX

“Now that you mention it…yes, we have seen quite a bit of purple this summer. Gerberas have been a more popular choice than usual for bridal work as well. We’re starting to see a shift away from the compact round hand-tied bouquets to a looser, less uniform shape with lots of different textures.” – The Flower Patch & More, Bolivar MO

“Both the weddings I have so far have black as a main color.” – A Lovie Creation, Gresham OR

“One of ours this weekend is green and peach/oranges” – MaryJane’s Flowers & Gifts, Berlin NJ

2012 Wedding Season Photos

Beautiful wedding bouquets by Back To The Fuchsia, Saugatuck MI.

“A beautiful bride surrounded by gorgeous flowers from Back To The Fuchsia!! Thanks Alisha!”
Photo by McConomy Photography.

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Beautiful mixed bouquet by Botanica Creations Bouquet, Klamath Falls, OR

“One of our July Weddings!”

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Bling bouquet by La Petite Jaune Fleur in Red Deer AB, CA

“A little bling from la petite Jaune Fleur”

Bingo! The Perfect Funeral Flower Memorial

July 19, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Jean Everly of Heart to Heart Flower Shop in North Cape May, NJ shared with us the story of a recent sympathy tribute. Who says flowers for a funeral have to be the same? This lady loved her weekly bingo game. This beautiful floral memorial is a great way to lift spirits at such a somber occasion. It is a perfect conversation starter for reminiscing the best memories of the departed.

“She loved her Bingo game. Every week she was there until her illness took her away. Her friends decided this was the only flower arrangement proper for her service.” – Jean Everly

Have an interesting story from your flower shop or about flowers? Share it with us!

Filed Under: Funeral Flowers Tagged With: Custom Floral Design, Funeral Flowers, New Jersey Florists, Sending Custom Flowers, Sympathy Flowers

Upcoming Florist Shows & Conventions

July 18, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Floral conventions and flower shows are excellent ways to boost your creativity! No matter if you’re a florist or just someone who enjoys the beauty of flowers, these shows are just for you. Bring a notepad; you’ll be busy!

There’s nothing like a flower show to a florist. Not only will you find so much inspiration and new techniques, but you will meet fellow florists and form life-time friendships in this industry. Grab your bags and get going; maybe we’ll see you there! (*** Indicates Flower Shop Network will be there!)

JULY 2012 — Floral Conventions and Flower Shows

***July 20 – 22, 2012: The annual Texas State Florists Association will be held at the Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, TX. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

***July 27 – 29, 2012: The annual South Carolina Florists Association Convention will be held at the Marriott Hotel, downtown in on Columbia, SC. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

***July 28 – 29, 2012: The annual Oklahoma State Florists Association Convention will be held at the Doubletree Waren Place Tulsa, OK. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

AUGUST 2012 — Floral Conventions and Flower Shows

***August 3 – 5, 2012: The annual West-Texas New Mexico Florist Association will be held at the The Midland Center in Midland, TX. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Floral Conventions, Florists Association Conventions

Local Florist’s Quick Tips For DIY Flower Arranging

July 17, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

We just found this great video from back in 2007 that features one of our member florists and thought I’d share! Meghan Carter, host of Ask the Decorator visits with Vickey Wenshrup of Amelia Florist Wine & Gift Shop in Amelia, Ohio to learn a few DIY flower arranging pointers.

Don’t miss the video at the bottom of this post!

DIY Flower Arranging

At the beginning of the video, Meghan asks, “How hard can it really be to make a floral arrangement?” By the end, she adds, “flower arranging isn’t as easy and you would think!” There is a whole lot more that goes into flower arranging that just putting flowers into a vase. Florists are truly artists, but also have to be meticulous in their efforts to keep your flowers lasting as long as possible. Sure you can DIY a flower arrangement, but for the absolute best results, give your local florist a call!

If you’re interested in DIY flowers, keep an eye out for workshops available in your area. Florists all over the country offer flower arranging classes where you can learn the ins and outs of creating flowers.

Summer Love Blooms Here!

July 16, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Oh how sweet it is to be in love in the summer. There are so many great activities and parties in the summer, there’s no excuse not to have fun with the one you love.

Whether you’ve just had your first date or you’re going on 50 years, summer is the time to kindle or rekindle the love you have in the seasonal heat. What better way to do this than the always-romantic gift of flowers?

Let’s face it, we’re almost into the dog days of summer where we’ll be spending most of our time indoors beating the heat. Why not bring the romance of flowers inside for your summer love? If your partner is off on business or other reasons, why not send a surprise, summer flower arrangement to let him or her know you care?

Let your summer love bloom with flowers from your local florist. Don’t know yours? Let FSN help with our handy local florist finder; get started spreading summer love today!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Romance, Seasonal Flowers, Sending Flowers, Summer Blooming, Summer Flowers

Help! Why Is My Peace Lily Green, Not White?

July 14, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell

Ask The Plant Expert:

My Peace plant flower is green, it should be white. What does it need?

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Could be a variety of things. What most people call the the bloom is actually called a spathe. This is sort of like a leaf and surrounds the spadix, which supports the actual flowers of the plant. The Spathes can range in color from a pure white to a pale whitish green.

Factors you can work with to achieve better blooms: humidity, water light and fertilizer. Giving the plant the proper humidity and water will help make the formation of leaves, spathes and flowers stronger. The right fertilizer and light will help with strength the color and structure of the plant. So, follow the care instructions for Peace Lilies (at the bottom). Hopefully this will change future spathes from green to white.

Hope this is helpful!

Filed Under: Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Blooming Problems, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions

Florists On Facebook – Friday Recap

July 13, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

It’s our favorite time of the week – FRIDAY! No, not just because the weekend starts tomorrow, but because it’s time for our Friday Recap! Today is the day we show off all the great pictures you guys have posted on our Facebook page this week. Now onto the pictures! (Weddings are BIG right now!)

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By Monday Morning Flower Co. “From one of last weeks weddings. Such happy, summer colors and putting the hood of my hubby’s car to good use. The color was perfect, don’t you think?”

By Monday Morning Flowers in Princeton NJ.

“We had so much fun with last weekends weddings (we had 4 of them) that I thought I’d share. :)”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Floral Design Photos, Flower Pictures

15 Snapshots Florists Should Keep In Their Phones

July 12, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell 3 Comments

Important Pictures to Take on your Cell Phone Let’s face it, as we age our memories are just not what they used to be. If you’re anything like me, you’d loose your head if it wasn’t attached! However, with new technology, there are lots of things you can do to help yourself remember, the most important of these is your cell phone! Whether you’re carrying and old Razr or an iPhone, make it work for you in more ways than just calling friends.

Most modern cell phones have some sort of camera on them. Sure, it’s great for grandkids, but it can also be used for many other things you might not think about, such as aiding our memory.

15 Photos Florists Should Keep In Their Phones

1. Where you parked – For some deliveries, this will really come in handy!
2. Pictures of any refills – Take pictures of the sizes, brand, or other specific information on refill-type products you might use in the store, such as: printer cartridges, specific flower food, light bulbs you use, gift items used often, etc.
3. Common design recipes – Keep your best-sellers handy.
4. Delivery vehicle license plates – Just in case something happens, or you need to know it when they are gone. You can also take a picture of the mileage when necessary.
5. Hotel room numbers – When going on trips to florist conventions!
6. Delivery drop offs – Keep a record of how the flowers looked when they are delivered.
7. The White Board – If you have a white board or other place you write out shopping lists, take a picture of it right before you leave so you don’t have to copy it all down again! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Florists Only, Tips For Florists

Feng Shui: Colors & Flowers

July 11, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

Just what is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex ancient art that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it.

Feng Shui Compass Feng means “wind” and Shui means “water.” Followers of Feng Shui believe the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. By focusing that Chi in the right ways, you can live a fuller, healthier, more balanced life. Harmony and balance with life are the major principles of Feng Shui teaching.

Feng Shui can affect every aspect of our lives. By simply adjusting the objects in our homes and lives, we can adjust the energies associated with them. We’ve all heard how color affects moods, well Feng Shui takes that idea to a whole new level. In this post, you will see how by simply ordering an arrangement of fresh flowers in a certain color or shape, you can enhance, balance or reduce specific moods in a space.

Feng Shui and You

Different people have different energy needs. Feng Shui offers a way to narrow down your specific needs. This can get very complicated and it can take a lifetime to master the art of Feng Shui, but with a bit of research, you can start opening up these energies in your life.

First of all, what is your Feng Shui birth element? This is where the research comes in, but it’s very simple! Simply go to this page and locate your birth year on the chart to identify your birth element. I was born in 1986, that makes my element Fire. Now that we know our elements, let’s take a look at how to put them to use!

Feng Shui and Color

Color is one of the easiest ways to shift the energy in your space with Feng Shui. Each color is an expression of one of the Five Feng Shui Elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.

Remember, scientifically color is light, and light is our number one nutrient. Although you might not believe whole-heartedly in Feng Shui, there is definite logic behind the use of color and moods, aka Chromotheropy.

Let’s take a look at what Feng Shui has to say about colors and moods:

Fire Element

Fire represents passion and high energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Resources, Trends Tagged With: Color inspiration, Color Schemes, Feng Shui

July Newsletter: Beat the Heat

July 10, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Beat the Heat with Summer Flowers!

Looking for a good way to beat the heat this summer? Why not a cool flower arrangement?

I know what you’re thinking, how do flowers help keep me cool? Flowers give us the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of summer flowers but from the comfort of indoors! With this summer’s heat wave, staying indoors is a good idea. Summer flowers make the perfect centerpieces for backyard BBQs, block parties, and any other summer get-togethers. They are also a great hostess gift to bring when attending a festive party.

Know someone who is unable to go outside and enjoy the sunny season? They deserve flowers most of all. Flowers never fail to lift spirits and put a smile on someone’s face. Whether it’s temporary bed rest or something more permanent, share the beauty of the season with all who could use it

Sneak Peek: The 2012 Summer Olympics Bouquet

When it comes to the olympics, summer or winter, the entire world stops to take notice. Athletes dedicate their lives to perfection in their sport and compete to take home so much more than a medal. Their accomplishments in the olympics translate into well-deserved glory and honor in their home countries.

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in London from July 27th to August 12th. From archery to gymnastics, cycling to water polo — you can bet competition at these games will be fierce, which is why winners deserve so much respect.

In addition to the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, winners can also expect to receive a unique bouquet of flowers from the Jane Packer floral design studio. Some 4,400 floral ”Victory Bouquets” will be presented to athletes along with medals during the Victory Ceremonies.

Get your first look at the 2012 Summer Olympic Bouquet!