Bloomin' Blog

Thanksgiving Decor Made Easy

November 20, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Have you found yourself preparing for the big day of turkey and gratitude? Maybe hauling the good dishes down from the cabinet and digging out the nice tablecloths. Perhaps you’ve been thumbing through a few magazines to see if there are any good ideas for decorations … if only you could somehow manage to make time to get to the craft store!

If your whole family is headed to your house to celebrate, we know your To-Do list is extra long. With deep cleaning, special cooking, and trying to manage everyday tasks like work and school leading up to the big day, who has time for decorating?

You do! With just one call to your local florist, you can have your house looking warm and welcoming with no extra time spent! Your guests will instantly notice the lovely look of delicate blooms and earthy textures and definitely savor the fragrant aromas only possible with fresh cut flowers.

Order a breathtaking centerpiece for your dinner table. Maybe an eye-catching arrangement for your entryway. A seasonal wreath is perfect for your front door or the dining room. Whatever room needs a special touch, flowers are a great way to make a statement. And best of all, they can be delivered right to you. No need to fuss, stay up late or struggle to finish that idea you saw on Pinterest that honestly sounded a lot better 5 hours ago. With flowers, your Thanksgiving decor will be a snap!

No matter your style, there is an arrangement for you. Want traditional? Modern? Outdoorsy? Just ask your florist. Read more about different Thanksgiving flower styles and make sure to order early so you can enjoy checking one more thing off your To-Do list!

Headed to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving? This is your chance show your gratitude for all the hard work it takes to put a successful holiday meal together. This year, be the thoughtful dinner guest who does more than help with the dishes. Order phenomenal blooms in seasonal yellows, reds and oranges to make someone else’s holiday decorating easy. Be sure to have the flowers arrive the day before and your hostess will reserve her biggest hug for you!

Enjoy everything this holiday has to offer and make your Thanksgiving decorating easy by bringing in nature’s bounty.

November Newsletter: Having a Terrific Turkey Day!

November 19, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

November is the month that everyone sets aside for giving thanks, and Flower Shop Network is no different! This month we’d like to take a few sentences to thank you, our florists and customers! Without the talented men and women who take up the challenging mantle of florist in every city and small town in the world, Flower Shop Network would not exist. A person does not become a florist to get rich. Instead, they do it because it’s something they love. Making other people happy during their most special moments in turn makes the florist happy. So to all florists out there, thank you.

For those of you out there who love flowers and bring your business to local florists, thank you. Without you, there would be no local florist to use. The local florist is the life’s blood of the floral industry, and you are the ones that allow them to thrive! So thank you all, and know that Flower Shop Network is committed to doing our part to help the floral industry and local florists flourish!

Happy Thanksgiving!

FSN at the Society of American Florists Convention 2013!

If you didn’t make it to Phoenix, AZ this September, you missed out on an amazing, informative weekend full of conferences, fun and some serious floral beauty! Flower Shop Network was there in force and we’ve got some excellent photos to show you. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Here is a photo of the FSN booth. As usual, our setup crew did a great job! But enough with the same old, same old. Let’s take a look at some of the cool stuff!

Continue reading FSN at the Society of American Florists Convention 2013!

Best Reasons to Send Flowers in November!

While we like to say every day is a perfect day to make someone happy with flowers, here are our absolute favorite reasons to spread love and kindness this month.

1. Hanukkah (first day) – November 28th – This is a very special year for the first day of Hanukkah. This is the first and last time Hanukkah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving! People are having fun coining terms like “Thanksgivukkah” and “Hanugivingkkah” just for the occasion. And there are so many beautiful blooms to help you celebrate. White, silver, and blue combinations are the most popular and are a perfect addition to the celebration table.

2.Thanksgiving – November 28th – Time to feast and give thanks with our families! And probably watch some football too. Make your celebration special with a fall-inspired centerpiece. Also, centerpieces make a wonderful gift to send to family and friends unable to come together for the occasion. Show gratitude for love and friendship with flowers

3. November Birthdays – November’s birthday flower is the chrysanthemum. Available in so many different varieties and colors, chrysanthemums will let someone with a special birthday know that you considered their gift carefully. A red chrysanthemum means “I love you” while white chrysanthemums mean innocence, purity, and pure love. Yellow chrysanthemums mean “slighted love.” Ask your local florist to include the beautiful and colorful chrysanthemum in a fresh cut arrangement or to deliver a gorgeous long-lasting blooming plant.

Continue Reading Best Reasons to Send Flowers in November!

Facebook Friday: October 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:

Fall wreath from Wilma's Flowers in Jasper, AL

Wilma’s Flowers, Jasper, AL

Monday Flowers, Princeton, NJ

Oran’s Flower Shop, Kingston, TN

Crossroads Florist, Mahwah, NJ

Honeysuckle Lane, Aurora, NE

Floral Design, Post Falls, ID

See all Facebook Recap pictures in these posts:

Posey Peddler – A Florist Improving Customer Service!

As part of Customer Service Week, (October 7th-11th) we wanted to share with you one of our members who is working hard to boost customer service and sales in their flower shop.

A Local Florist Taking Action

Bridgette Mills Arnold, a 30 year veteran of the floral industry, is the owner of Posey Peddler in Joneboro, Arkansas. The shop has been a fixture in the Jonesboro area since 1998 and serves the local community with custom gifts, flowers, plants and home decor.

Recently Bridgette brought in customer service and sales guru Tim Huckabee of Floral Strategies to conduct a workshop with her employees.

Don’t Forget the Florals for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving dinner. Is there a more delicious collection of food gathered together at one meal? Family comes together, gives thanks for the blessings in their lives throughout the past year and shares in a meal prepared to reflect the bounty they have received. It is a time of gratitude, love and appreciation for what and who has blessed your life.

What better way to express those emotions to your friends and family than through a gift of flowers?

Giving Thanks with Flowers

This year, instead of arriving at your dinner with a prepared dish in hand, offer a beautiful fall bouquet to your hostess! She will be far more grateful to receive gorgeous flowers than yet another green bean casserole. The flowers will make the perfect decoration for the festivities and will be a boon to everyone’s day!

FLOWER CARE TIP After carefully removing the good flowers, clean the vase thoroughly with soapy water to remove any bacteria that could cause the fresh flowers to deteriorate even quicker. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. 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!

Documenting Your Work – Photo Tips for Florists As a florist you are creating beauty everyday for others to enjoy and to help celebrate moments in their lives. But how often do you get to enjoy and celebrate your own work? Rarely, right? Between filling orders, making last minute rush deliveries, and trying to promote your shop, you are busy trying to run a business. But a passion for beauty got you into this industry so don’t let a hectic workday stop you from documenting your hard work.

FSN Member wins Second Annual Buckwald Scholarship! We would like to congratulate Lavender Hill Florals of Jeffersonville, IN for winning the second annual Buckwald scholarship! Way to go, ladies!

FSN and Rick Rivers at the Ozark Florist Association Convention The Ozark Florist Association held their annual convention on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of September. FSN was there to take part in the festivities and cheer on Rick Rivers as he gave his presentation titled “Marketing in Today’s Climate”. Here are a few photos of what we saw!

A Giving Boss’s Day with FSN Boss’s Day was a roaring success at the FSN offices, and for more than just our bosses! The sales department decided to do something a little different this year to honor Brock and Loranne, the owners of Flower Shop Network. Because our owners are such generous people, the sales department chose to do something that embraced their spirit, something that went beyond the walls of our offices and reached out into the community.

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: Facebook Friday, Newsletters, Society of American Florists, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Flowers

FSN Member Wins SAF’s Surprise Flowers VaseOff! Challenge

November 18, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Walter Fedyshyn of Phillip’s Flowers and Gifts in Chicago, IL for winning the SAF’s Surprise Flowers VaseOff! Challenge!

The VaseOff! Challenge

The VaseOff! Challenge is a competition put together to increase consumer awareness of the expertise of local florists and which showcases their ability to design specifically for an individual. Walter Fedyshyn was paired with a Chicago-based blogger named Melissa Williams who writes about DIY projects, design, home decor, travel and much more! He read her blog and perused her social media pages to learn as much as he could about her, and then created a design with those bits of knowledge in mind!

The resulting design beat out the other three competitors for first place! Good job, Walter! To learn more about what and how Walter accomplished this feat, check out the original article here.

We are always proud to announce the accomplishments of our members, and because FSN florists are so impressive, it’s something we get to do often. This proves once again that FSN florists are the best florists!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Florists Only Tagged With: Chicago Illinois Florists, Floral Design

Friday Florist Recap 11/9 – 11/15: A Splash of Color

November 15, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

We have some gorgeous arrangements for you this week! From beautiful bridal bouquets to fall arrangements to some personalized sympathy pieces, the talent of these florists cannot be denied. But don’t take my word for it, scroll down and look for yourself!

Wedding Flowers

Simple yet elegant bouquet from Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

Colorful bridal bouquet from Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ [Read more…]

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

Don’t Forget the Florals for Thanksgiving

November 13, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

What better way to express those emotions to your friends and family than through a gift of flowers? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Holiday Info

Ask the Flower Expert: Can You Help Me to Identify this Flower?

November 11, 2013 by Ed Belly 21 Comments

Ask The Expert:

Could u please help me to identify this flower? Approximate 5 -6 inches long. During night or cool day it open very wide but seems close up during hot day. I live in tropical country.

Zoey

________________________________________________________________

Flower Expert Reply:

Sorry Zoey, for the delay in my reply.

It is hard to tell from the side photo, but I believe the flower is a type of Datura. Most likely a Datura fastuosa. This tropical plant is considered a tender perennial in zone 9-10, and it is commonly referred to as a Devil’s Trumpet. Although this plant is beautiful, it is also toxic! Keep pets and small children well away from this plant.

I hope this information was helpful.

Please let me know if I can help with anything else!

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

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

Friday Florist Recap 11/2 – 11/8: Fall Colors

November 8, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Fall in all it’s splendor is officially here in full bloom, as you can see from today’s floral recap! We have beautiful sunflowers, gorgeous autumn hues, fall mums and so much more! Florists from all across the country and beyond have blown us away once again with their beautiful and creative designs! Check it out!

Wedding Flowers

Lovely sunflowers mixed with deep red roses from Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

“Had to share this one, such fun Fall Bridal Bouquets – perfect for November.”

—

Perfectly matching pinks and vibrant purples in this bride’s bouquet by Hobby Hill Florist in Sebring, FL.

“I used veronica, stock, scabiosa, delphinium, etc… for this colorful bridesmaid’s bouquet.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday

Don’t Forget Veterans Day

November 6, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Any opportunity to honor the men and women who serve, or have served, in our armed forces is one that should be fervently and enthusiastically taken. But November 11th, Veteran’s Day, is more than just one of those random opportunities, it’s a national holiday that has been set aside for the purpose of recognizing and giving thanks to everyone who has served.

How much more, then, should we celebrate them and their accomplishments on this day? What are you doing to honor the veterans in your life?

Honoring the Veterans

There are a myriad of ways to honor those who have served in the armed forces, from attending a local parade to visiting the VA hospital or volunteering your services at a retirement home. But for those veterans who populate your life, those in your family or group of friends, a more personal touch is required. For them, what better way to say thank you than a gorgeous bouquet or floral arrangement?

A patriotic selection, featuring the colors red, white and blue, instills the proper tone of national pride while also offering your veteran the beauty, peace and enjoyment guaranteed with any gift of flowers.

Don’t neglect your veteran on this Veterans Day, show them how much you appreciate their service. Offer an elegant gift of flowers.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Buy Flowers, Holiday Gift Ideas, Veterans Day

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in November

November 4, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

While we like to say every day is a perfect day to make someone happy with flowers, here are our absolute favorite reasons to spread love and kindness this month.

#1. Veteran’s Day – November 11th

Celebrating the dedication of the men and women who fight to keep our country safe, Veteran’s Day is a federal holiday and the perfect time to honor those you know who have served in the U.S. military. Nothing will warm the heart like the thoughtful gesture of some patriotic flowers for this holiday.

#2. Hanukkah (first day) – November 28th

This is a very special year for the first day of Hanukkah. This is the first and last time Hanukkah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving! People are having fun coining terms like “Thanksgivukkah” and “Hanugivingkkah” just for the occasion. And there are so many beautiful blooms to help you celebrate. White, silver, and blue combinations are the most popular and are a perfect addition to the celebration table.

#3.Thanksgiving – November 28th

Time to feast and give thanks with our families! And probably watch some football too. Make your celebration special with a fall-inspired centerpiece. Also, centerpieces make a wonderful gift to send to family and friends unable to come together for the occasion. Show gratitude for love and friendship with flowers!

#4. Forget-Me-Not Day – November 10th

This is a day for remembering family, friends, and loved ones. Individuals celebrate this day by getting in touch with their loved ones, especially any who they haven’t seen in awhile so sending flowers is perfect for this holiday! With our busy lives, it is difficult to keep in touch with everyone who is important to us. Show someone you care about that they are unforgettable in your book!

#5. November Birthdays

November’s birthday flower is the chrysanthemum. Available in so many different varieties and colors, chrysanthemums will let someone with a special birthday know that you considered their gift carefully. A red chrysanthemum means “I love you” while white chrysanthemums mean innocence, purity, and pure love. Yellow chrysanthemums mean “slighted love.” Ask your local florist to include the beautiful and colorful chrysanthemum in a fresh cut arrangement or to deliver a gorgeous long-lasting blooming plant.

What are your favorite reasons to send flowers this month?
Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Best 5 Reasons, Flower Sending Tip, Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Ideas, November Birth Month Flowers

Friday Florist Recap 10/26 – 11/1: A Profusion of Perfection

November 1, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

We are finishing up October with a wondrous collection of floral beauty. Our florists continue to amaze every week, and the submissions just keep getting better! Today we have a mixture of Halloween themed arrangements, fall wedding wonder, and personalized sympathy arrangements to tickle your fancy. The mix of different flowers and colors makes for some gorgeous design. Scroll down and see this profusion of perfection!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Wedding bouquet by Devine Designs in Fulton, NY

Vibrant bouquet from Forget-Me-Not Flower and Gifts in Chandler, TX

Burnt orange bridal bouquet by Allison at Blue Iris Flowers in Catonsville, MD

“Bridal bouquet of burnt orange calla lilies and bear grass.”

Wedding collage by Wilma’s Flowers in Jasper, AL

Everyday Flowers

Spooky Treat for Halloween from Michele’s Floral and Gifts in Copperas Cove, TX

“M&M mug paired with fresh fall flowers & an extra surprise of candy tucked inside the bat.”

Amazingly creative autumn arrangement by Tom Kenison AIFD of Crossroads Florist in Mahwah, NJ

Giving a special touch with Michele’s Floral and Gifts in Copperas Cove, TX

“Our signature touch to our special floral arrangements, a handmade butterfly adorns special blossoms.”

A birthday centerpiece from Wilma’s Flowers in Jasper, AL

Beautiful arrangement from Michele’s Floral and Gifts in Copperas Cove, TX

“Our customers love the soft romantic colors of delphinium, belles, spiders, gazers, & pink carnations with the promise of spring added by a birdhouse & willow basket.”

Beautiful thank you flowers from Banda’s Bouquets in Longview, WA

Gorgeous centerpiece from Blooming Art Floral Design in San Diego, CA

Fall arrangement from Robyn at Flowers and More in Fresno, CA

Sympathy Flowers

Standing spray by Devine Designs in Fulton, NY

Fall sympathy arrangement from Sweet P’s Design in Lubbock, TX

“Love the grouping of roses and the framing of the palm leaves.”

Funeral spray from Robyn at Flowers and More in Fresno, CA

“Funeral spray of red roses, white hydrangea and Casablanca lilies.”

Sympathy arrangement for a fisherman from Tattered Leaf in Lyons, WI

What will next week bring? Who knows! Be sure to like us on Facebook for even more beautiful floral designs. If you’re a florist, we want to feature YOUR favorite design of the week right here on Facebook Friday Recap!

Learn how to submit! | See past recap posts!

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

Thanksgiving Decor Made Easy

November Newsletter: Having a Terrific Turkey Day!

FSN at the Society of American Florists Convention 2013!