Bloomin' Blog

January Newsletter: Winter Wonderland

January 16, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

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!

Filed Under: Newsletters Tagged With: Christmas Flowers, Floral Design, Flower Meanings, Seasonal Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Blog Spotlight: Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co.

January 16, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Florists are the authority on all things floral. For most it is their passion as well as their job. These men and women overflow with knowledge about flowers and share that information on their websites every day. They describe events they’ve decorated, arrangements they’ve designed and even classes they offer. There’s no end to the information you can glean when reading blogs by local florists.

Because of that fact, the Bloomin’ Blog is choosing the blog of one florist each month to spotlight. If you need floral ideas for a wedding, a party or just for your home, there’s no better place to go than the source, your local florist!

For this month”s Blog Spotlight, we’re taking you all the way to Princeton, NJ to visit not one but two blogs by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co!

Monday Morning Flowers

Our first example comes from the Monday Morning Flowers main site.

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Floral Cake Making

“It’s not too late to sign up for our next in-store workshop! Join us in our Princeton location next Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 from 6-8PM for Floral Cake Making. Learn how to make your own cake made of flowers. Perfect for a gift, decoration or party piece. Let us teach you all the tricks to making these fun cakes while you enjoy wine and refreshments!

This class is only $55 per person and includes $10 of Monday Morning Money to spend however you like! Call our shop today at 609-520-2005, or sign up online at www.sendingsmiles.com.”

Weddings by Monday Morning Weddings

This piece is from Monday Morning’s wedding blog.

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“We love doing themed weddings, especially a Christmas one.

Last weekend had us decorating the ceremony and reception area of the Cranbury Inn for bride Danielle and Groom Jason. There might not have been snow on the ground but the setting was warm and festive. My favorite part of the wedding was the place card table which was created using three very large vases filled with winter ilex berries, water and a floating candle. So dramatic!

The aisle was decorated with tall vases filled with water, floating cranberries and our hanging Juliette candle holders. So pretty! After the ceremony when the room was quickly changed over, these vases were then placed along the edge of the room to add a touch of warmth and a pop of color. The centerpieces were created with fresh cranberries, red roses, red berries, winter greens and fresh holy. A small but dramatic touch to the tables. Such elegant but simple wedding decor for the perfect Christmas Themed Wedding.”

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As you can see from the examples above, Georgianne Vinicombe uses her blogs to not only promote her business, but also to reach out to her community by offering classes and educational tidbits. The blogs intrigue and educate her readers about flowers and how she uses them to best effect while also mixing in a little advertising. Great job!

Thanks to Monday Morning Flowers and come back next month for another Blog Spotlight!

Calling all florists! If you would like to see your site featured in our Blog Spotlight, leave your website information in the comments below!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlights, Flower Blogs

Want The Perfect Valentine Gift?

January 15, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is your big chance to show her how you really feel. And nothing can express that better than flowers!

Watch this video for some absolutely stunning flower arrangements that your local florist can create just for your special someone.

Keep browsing here!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Valentines Day, Valentines Day Flowers

Instagram Inspiration

January 14, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

We present 3 stellar florists who are great at fusing their own brand of creativity into their work.

Isn’t it about time you sent someone you know a little floral inspiration?

Looks like a great kickstart for Valentine’s Day. Make your sweetheart swoon with this one.

“Love is in the air. The countdown begins, order early” – Michele’s Floral in Copperas Cove, Texas [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Floral Design Photos, Florist Spotlights, Flower Pictures

Ask the Plant Expert: Please Help My Corn Plant – What Am I Doing Wrong?

January 14, 2014 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask The Plant Expert:

What is wrong with my plant?

I received this plant as a condolence at my mothers funeral. When I reviewed it there were no problems with it, but about two days after bringing it home the leaves started to brown … that was about a week ago. Now it looks like this. I would really love to save this plant. Can you help?

It is located in front of my French doors that do not have curtains and is about two feet away from a heater vent, but the vent does not blow directly on it, and the temperature is kept at around 72° in the house. I have watered it once since bringing it home. The care instructions said moderately bright light and only water when soil is dry, so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.

I had problems sending multiple photos so I just included the whole plant. If you need others please email me a location that they can be sent.

Angie

Plant Expert Reply:

Angie,

I think the plant is suffering from too much direct sunlight and not enough humidity. If the plant is closer than 18″ from the French doors, the sunlight may be too strong. Keep in mind the glass from the door can cause the sunlight concentration to intensify. This will cause a burning effect on the leaves. Low humidity can also cause browning of the tips and leaves.

I recommend you pull the plant at least 18″ from the window and mist the air around the plant every other day with lukewarm water. You should see new growth within a couple of weeks. You can remove any of the severely damaged leaves.

One more thing. Check your pot and make sure any excess water can drain away from the plant.

Good Luck and keep me posted.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Ask the Plant Expert: What is this Blooming Plant with Spikes on the Trunk?

January 13, 2014 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: What is this plant called?

I got this plant a few months ago. The plant had pink flowers blooming on it but they have all died. The trunk has spikes on it.

Ryan

Plant Expert Reply:

Ryan,

What an interesting little plant you have. It is a is a Euphorbia milii commonly called Crown of thorns.

This plant does not like to be over watered, so water it sparingly and apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer at half rate to it once a month during the growing season. In March and April the plant will require a little more water than other times during the growing season. During the winter keep the plant almost dry.

To ensure that the plant will thrive make sure you have the plant potted in a well-drained light soil and placed in full sunlight. It prefers warm areas and is hardy only in zone 9 – 11. If you live outside of these zones, be sure to bring the plant indoors once the temperature falls below 45 degrees.

When handling the plant you might want to wear latex gloves since the sap of the plant can cause skin irritation. This plant is poisonous if ingested, so keep children and pets away from it.

Hope this information is helpful.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Friday Florist Recap 1/4 – 1/10: Wearying of Winter

January 10, 2014 by Ed Belly 2 Comments

This week we have a few last holiday holdouts and a whole host of spring-themed and colorful designs! From the photos we received this week, it’s obvious our florists are already wearying of winter. They are looking ahead to warmer weather and the explosion of color that comes with Spring. So join in the fun and scroll down to see a bevy of beautiful blooms!

Wedding Flowers

Winning bouquet from Cary’s Designs Floral in Spanish Fork, UT

“Our Wedding Bouquet for Gentry Gustin’s Wedding in August was published in the newest issue Utah Valley Brides Magazine! We are very honored!”

Blue and white winter wedding bouquet from Blooming Art Floral Design in San Diego, CA [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Flower Pictures, Sympathy Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Flower Spotlight: Carnations

January 9, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

This month we spotlight the carnation!

Carnation Origins

Carnation Colors and Meanings

In general, carnations represent love, fascination and distinction however color variations can have their own meanings.

Light Red – Admiration
Dark Red – Deep love or affection
Pink – A mother’s undying love – The legend around this color says that the pink carnation was formed when the Virgin Mary wept for Jesus as he carried the cross to his own crucifixion.
Purple – Capriciousness, unpredictability, fickleness and unreliability
Yellow – Disappointment, dejection and rejection
White – Pure love and good luck
Green – Not a natural color, they are often dyed and coupled with white carnations for St. Patrick’s Day.
Striped – Regret or refusal

As you can see, the carnation covers a wide range of feelings and events. Did someone ask you out but you want to let them down easy? Say, “No” with flowers! Want to tell the world you’re feeling a bit unpredictable? A purple carnation on your lapel will do the trick nicely. Are you wanting a different flower to use on Valentine’s Day? The red carnation says love as loudly as any rose. The carnation is also the official flower for January birthdays!

Need to think of new and creative ways to use carnations? Contact your local florist and let them guide you! Carnations have been popular flowers for over 2,000 years. They have a storied history and are just downright gorgeous. Next time you have flower needs, don’t forget the carnation!

Filed Under: Flower Meanings Tagged With: Carnation, Carnation Comeback, Flower Meanings, Modern Carnations

Broad Mites Might Be The Problem With Your Schefflera

January 8, 2014 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask The Plant Expert:

Hello, Through unfortunate circumstances I have become the keeper of 2 Schefflera plants. One is a pretty good sized ‘bush’ and the other is much smaller.

They both came from a florist and looked extraordinary 5 days ago. The problem started surfacing the day we brought them home, the leaves started wilting, turning a dark greenish-brown and then falling off. On the smaller plant some of the leaves actually look shriveled and dried (mostly the smaller newer growth). There are a few leaves that have spots on them.

I’m having a hard time telling if they are dry, the soil seems to be deep in the pot and it seems to just be the vine/stem in the soil. Because of this they have been watered thoroughly and drained before putting them back in their decorative pots. They are both in a brightly lit room, the smaller one has been placed near a great vent so I just moved it today.

The larger one is in the same room but not near a vent. They were shipped to a visitation and then put in the car for a few hours before coming home with me – the temp that day was in the single digits. When I first noticed these symptoms it reminded me of what lettuce looks like when it gets frozen then thawed, I thought the extreme temps did something to some of the branches so I trimmed quite a bit of the sickly looking leaves/stems from them. Regardless of doing that they are rapidly losing life. They are holding a sentimental value right now for me and I would really love to keep them happy but not sure how to fix the problem.

Marci

Plant Expert Reply:
Marci,

Wow. It does look like your plants are having a bit of trouble, but I think your plants are still in fairly good condition.

Exposure to cold temperatures may have caused some of the problems you are seeing. But from a glance, I would say the plants could have a broad mite problem. Broad mites will often cause new leaves to cup downward and pucker, as well as cause leaves to be stunted with serrated margins. You will need a magnifying glass to identify the mites. If your plant does have mites, I recommend removing all damaged leaves and stems and treating with a miticide. Your local garden center should have one that will work.

The sticky substance could also indicate an aphid problem. If you have aphids, you should be able to see them without a magnifying glass. Look at the underneath side of the leaves. If aphids are a problem, you will need to treat with an insecticide.

I am not sure what you mean when you say ” I’m having a hard time telling if they are dry, the soil seems to be deep in the pot and it seems to just be the vine/stem in the soil. Because of this they have been watered thoroughly and drained before putting them back in their decorative pots.”

If you can give me a little more information or a picture of the soil, I think I can help you avoid water stress issues.

At the bottom of our Dwarf Schefflera page you can find a list of care instruction that might help.

I hope this information is helpful.

Thanks!

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Schefflera

FSN’s Pinterest Picks

January 7, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

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! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Pinterest Picks