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Flower Shop Network’s Best of the Best 2010

Best of the Best 2010

We post a TON of great articles here on the Bloomin’ Blog, and we realize it might be a little hard to keep up. That is why we’ve created this post — the Best of the Best articles from 2010! (Just in case you missed one!) And if you’re not one of our great subscribers, then do it now! You won’t be sorry!

FLOWER FUN AND FLORAL TRENDS

Matching Corsage To Prom Dress
(April) The hottest trend in prom fashion, wild and crazy corsages that show off the teen’s fun and funky dresses. Check out great prom corsage pics along with the dress they go with from a REAL high school prom. (Good ideas for next year moms & teens!) Probably my favorite post of last year, definitely a must see!

Matching Your Prom Dress To Your Corsage

Design Inspiration Challenge
(September) We had SO MUCH FUN this summer with our Design Inspiration Challenge. How it worked: we selected an ‘inspiration’ or brilliant photo of art, architecture, butterflies… all sorts of things, and florists created an amazing flower arrangement ‘inspired’ by each photo. We got some very interesting submissions! Check them ALL out in this post, including our winner!

Floral Pocket Squares Trend
(October) This was a fun post because many people have never heard of a floral pocket square or how they are used. We made several designs in our studio to share with you. Floral pocket squares make perfect accessories to grooms who just can’t do boutonnieres.

Trend Alert: Sushi Flowers
(September) For those who know me, know I had to choose this as a favorite. I love sushi! When I saw the sushi designs from this summer’s floral conventions, I couldn’t help but create this post!

BEST HOLIDAY POSTS

The Romance of Flowers (Valentines Day)
(February) Sure, the title may sound a little cheesy, but this loaded with GREAT info on romantic flowers.. and not just roses! This article will guide you through selecting flowers for your honey based on [Read more…]

Every Star Deserves Flowers!

Ask the Expert:
I am attending a local play that a girlfriend is acting in. Thinking I should bring flowers but not sure what is appropriate. Please let me know Thanks! Susan

Flower Shop Network Expert Reply:
Flowers are a lovely gesture for any occasion. In fact, flowers and the theater have a very long history. Single stem roses were often thrown on stage at the end of a performance. The lead actress would pick these flowers up as she took her bows. So, it is perfectably acceptable to give someone flowers who is performing in a play.

Hand-tied flower bouquets are the beat flower choice for the theater. Depending on the situation and the recipient, you could give the actress a hand-tied bouquet of roses or mixed flowers after the performance.

If you want to send something prior to the performance, a vase arrangement would be the best choice. Your local florist can help you decide which type of arrangement is the best choice for your actress based on the theater.

This flower giving tip was brought to you by New York Florists who deliver flowers to the theater district on a daily basis.

Flowers Are The Best Way To Say I’m Sorry

I'm Sorry FlowersIt summer and it is hot. So, a relaxing day by the pool is just what my niece (Jordon) needed while studying for her nurse practitioner exam. Lucky for her, she has an aunt and uncle with a pool who are willing to let her use it on a hot summer day. So what does this all have to do with sending flowers?

Everyone has had one of those days when relaxing becomes stressful.  Who knew a simple lunch invitation would turn into a fender bender?

While relaxing and studying, Christen (a friend of Jordon’s) stopped by and invited her to lunch. They jumped in his car and proceeded down the drive-way.  Unfortunately a neighbor parked their car right behind the driveway and Christen backed right into it.

The tranquility of the day was completely erased in a matter of minutes. Thinking we would be upset, Jordon became very distressed. Seeing Jordon and the neighbor upset and thinking we would be mad, Christen became overwrought and embarrassed.

After exchanging insurance information with the neighbor, Jordon and Christen went to lunch. The conversation at lunch was virtually non-existent except for Christen’s constant apology. Although Jordon excepted his apologies, her moody was very gloomy. Instead of going back to the pool after lunch, Jordon went home to study and Christen went on his way.

A couple of hours later, Christen was on Jordon’s doorstep with a bouquet of flowers and a nice bottle of wine.  Suddenly the cloud lifted and his apology was accepted with a smile and a hug.

Anyone can say they are sorry, but when you say it with flowers it means so much more. Everyone makes mistakes. Just remember when you make a mistake and need to say you are sorry,  flowers will make them smile and forget all about it.

By the way Christen, where are my flowers? Oh yeah, neighbor would like some too.

Send an Arrangement Your Mom Will Remember Using Birth Month Flowers!

Mothers love anything that reminds them of their children–including flowers! Harness the deep meaning of flowers this year to create a personalized Mothers Day Bouquet with a bloom to represent each of her children. Similar to the popular mother’s ring, these gorgeous bouquets are a wonderful Mother’s Day Gift that hold special meaning and brighten Mom’s day!

sweet-pea

Sweet Pea Represents April Birthdays!

Work with your local florist to choose blooms that represent the birth month of each of your siblings and design a bouquet to send on Mother’s Day. These creative, colorful bouquets will touch Mom’s heart and include all of your siblings in showing her how much you care. Here’s a quick guide to finding your birth month flower:

  • January – Carnations or snowdrops (Colors:  black, dark blue or red)
  • February – Violet or primrose (Colors:  violet, sky blue or yellow)
  • March – Daffodil or jonquil (Colors:  white or light blue)
  • April – Daisy or sweet pea (Colors:  yellow, red and colorless)
  • May -Lily of the Valley or hawthorn (Colors:  yellow, red and green)
  • June – Rose or honeysuckle (Colors:  light blue, white and cream)
  • July – Larkspur or water lily (Colors: green, russet and red)
  • August – Gladiolas or poppy (Colors: orange, red and light green)
  • September – Aster or morning glory (Colors: brown, deep blue)
  • October – Calendula or cosmos (Colors: white, yellow and varied)
  • November -Chrysanthemum (Colors: dark blue, red and yellow)
  • December –  Narcissus or holly (Colors: indigo, green, greenish blue)

As you can see, there are few options per month, making it easy to create a beautiful Mother’s Day Bouquet! It’s that simple! Call your florist, tell her your chosen flowers and let her work her magic!

This is also perfect for Moms who live far away. Locate a local florist near you mother and tell her your brilliant idea! Your mom will appreciate the extra effort making her Mother’s Day one to remember!

How To: Personalize Your Mother’s Day Bouquet

No one knows you better than Mom, and the inverse rings true, too! Our moms are special, wonderful people whose personalities have been with us since the beginning. So, why not include a touch of Mom’s personality when sending a floral arrangement this Mother’s Day? It’s amazingly simple to add a touch of personality for a Mother’s Day bouquet that says, “Mom, I got this for you.

To get started, contact your local florist to discuss your options. Adding something special to your mother’s arrangement can be as small as adding her favorite candy or getting creative with the container. Here are a few ideas:

Mother’s Day Collectible Gifts:

Is your mom an avid collector? If so, you and your florist can come up with a great way to incorporate any number of things, from brooches to tea pots. A skilled florist can find a way to mix in small items or arrange flowers in unconventional containers. For example, for a mother who collects tea pots, you can ask your florist to build their arrangement inside a lovely tea pot. Imagine how thrilled your mother would be to receive a stunning bouquet, as well as an addition to her prized collection!

Stamps, thimbles and countless other trinkets can be added with ease to a variety of arrangements. Collaborate with your florist to find the perfect idea for your mom! Trust me, the extra effort will be worth it!

The Perfect Color For Your Mother:

This is an easy one! What is your mother’s favorite color? My mother likes red, so naturally, I would choose red flowers and accessories when designing my arrangement. Add colored beads, ribbon and other details to add some pizazz to your arrangement. Don’t be afraid to go monochromatic: it’s modern and chic! The variety of textures in a monochromatic arrangement captivates the eyes in a new and exciting way!

Another great idea is to choose birth month flowers to represent each of your mother’s children. Follow this handy birth month flower guide to create a custom arrangement to represent those lucky enough to call your mother, “Mom.” Consider adding a card that explains the flowers and who in the family they represent. This colorful bouquet will be a exquisite reminder of how much your mom means to your family.

Mothers Adore Photos:

Adding family photos to bouquet is another wonderful way to personalize your Mother’s Day bouquet. Bring a handful of your mother’s cherished photos to your local florist and ask her to incorporate them into the arrangement. Include photos of your kindergarten graduation, your brother’s childhood toothless grin or photos of your entire family. You know your mother better than anyone, so choose photos you know matter most to her. You really can’t go wrong!

Another interpretation of this trend is creating a generational bouquet with flowers of your mother, her mother and your great-grandmother. This honors all the cherished mothers in your family and reminds your mother of the important place she holds.

Adding photos is a great way to personalize an arrangement if your mother lives far away, as photos can be sent to local florists all over the country. The extra effort will go a long way when letting your mother know how much you appreciate all that she has done for your family.

mothers-day-arrangement-with-candyMoms Love Candy:

Adding candy or other edibles to an arrangement is a growing trend in floral design. By adding your mother’s favorite candy to an arrangement, you’re creating a bouquet to please all of the senses! Your florist will know the best way to incorporate candy bars, apples or whatever else your mother may like.

Use this as an opportunity to get creative! For example, for mother who is a teacher, incorporating apples into a bouquet would be a charming way to pay tribute to her profession while sending a one-of-a-kind bouquet to make her day.

Trust your florist to incorporate your ideas in a way that is pleasing to the eye. There are many ways to make your creative ideas come to life! However, this isn’t a last minute call. Take the time to plan ahead to ensure your Mothers Day bouquet worthy of the one who has done so much for you.

Mothers’ hobbies vary as much as their personalities. You know your mother better than anyone. Choose one thing to add to an arrangement that speaks to who your mother is and what she means to you. Taking the time to personalize a Mother’s Day arrangement will let her know how much you love her for her.

Teapot picture courtesy of Creative Commons

Photo Bouquet courtesy of Mary Jane’s Flowers and Gifts in Berlin New Jersey

There’s No Foolin’ With Our April Flowers!

April is here! With April Fools Day in full bloom nationwide, there are tons of pranks taking place all over the place! At Flower Shop Network we love to feature great arrangements perfect for the upcoming month on our active Bloomin’ Blog— and our April 2010 Featured Flowers are NOT foolin’ around!

This beautiful arrangement is perfect for all of the fun holidays coming up this month! From Administrative Professional Day or as some of you  know it– Secretary Day to Earth Day and even to Easter, these gorgeous spring flowers are sure to win over your recipient!  The delightful flower arrangement is made with beautiful fuchsia Gerberas, peach roses, adorable yellow tulips, green button poms all packaged into cute vase with curly willow foliage! Don’t forget, you don’t have to wait for a holiday to brighten someone’s day—bring some cheer to your office or even your friend’s office with these bright spring flowers!

Find a local florist today!

‘Going Green’ for St. Patty’s Day Has Never Been Easier!

“Going Green” for St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago meant little more than avoiding getting pinched and the occasional green beer. However, as floral aesthetics evolve and people are becoming more environmentally aware, “Going Green” can mean any number of things, meaning getting creative this St. Patrick’s Day is more fun than it has ever been! Going GREEN has never been easier!

A Brief History:

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

  • Did you know the shamrock was originally used by St. Patrick to teach the Holy Trinity?

Before diving into the festivities on March 17, it might be helpful to know a little bit about St. Patrick and how his signature color and subsequent celebrations have become a world-wide phenomenon. The good news is, unlike many holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is based on a real person! Maewyn Succat was born into a rich family in fifth century Great Britain before being kidnapped by Irish raiders and made a slave. During that time, Succat converted to Christianity and escaped back to Great Britain, where he chose Patrick as his Christian name. He opened several schools along the west coast of Ireland and famously used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to his students. After nearly 30 years of educating the Irish using shamrocks, Patrick passed away. Ireland then chose to commemorate his life with a holiday–St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

  • Did you know blue was the original color of St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t  the boisterous celebration it is today until the 1990s when Ireland chose to promote their culture around the world using the now-famous St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Prior to that, beginning the Middle Ages, St. Patrick’s Day was a one day reprieve from Lent, depending where the Holy Week landed each year. Observers were allowed to have a drink of ale on St. Patrick’s day, beginning a tradition and the association of the holiday with the drink. St. Patrick’s Day still remains a religious holiday for many; however, with the creation of the world-wide festival, parades and celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day has become a public celebration that is undoubtedly here to stay.

Going GREEN: Floral Edition

green-flowers1For the past few years, consumers and florists alike have been easing into the idea of an all-green arrangement. Today, many are taking the monochromatic look head-on and creating gorgeous, modern arrangements that are both memorable and classically chic. From weddings to everyday deliveries, versatile green arrangements possess a unique beauty that makes a statement in any instance.

And what is that statement?

Green arrangements can mean any number of things. They lend themselves perfectly to St. Patrick’s day, given not only their color, but common associations with green. Green floral arrangements are also ideal for celebrating the beginning of spring!

The Meaning of GREEN:

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

  • Did you know the color green is associated with optimism and renewal? It’s the perfect color for spring!

Although blue was the original color associated with St. Patrick’s Day, green was the obvious color chosen by many, due to the iconic use of the shamrock in the observance of the holiday. This is perfect for florists, because green can do double-duty for this time of year: celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the arrival of spring!

Words associated with green flowers include rejuvenation, health, youth and nature, making green arrangements an ideal choice for the season! Green flowers, with their diverse shapes and textures, are the perfect compliment to spring weddings, baby arrivals and graduations.  Strong associations between green and optimism make it possible to literally send a little happiness to someone who will appreciate a fun, unconventional arrangement.

Go GREEN with Mother Nature:

Given that the floral profession is directly intertwined with nature, it’s no surprise that florists are doing their part to preserve the earth’s beauty.  New techniques to become  a GREEN florist arrive daily, making this the hottest trend in the floral industry. Organic blooms, composting and using local florists and nurseries are just a few of the ways to to be responsible when collecting some of nature’s most  beautiful offerings.

Using local florists also allows you to choose from a region’s seasonal foliage, creating a unique [Read more…]

What Plants Add March Interest In South Carolina

Ask The Expert: Im trying to figure out what would be the best plants to plant outside in March to beautify my community. Kimberly Columbia, SC

Plant Expert Reply:

Are you looking for shrubs or flowers?  South Carolina is a zone 7-8.  So, you would need plants that are zone 7 hardy. The issue is March may not be the best time to plants shrubs in your area.  Another issue to consider is the location you are wanting to beautify.

If you simply want to beautify an entrance to your home or an office building, I suggest using decorative pots filled with annual flowers. This option gives you color, as well as an opportunity to change your colors seasonally. For March, I suggest the following flowers: pansies, snapdragons, wave petunia, lisanthus, dianthus, delphinium, diascia, stock, alyssum, bacopa, bellis, primula, violas.  My personal preference is a pot with snapdragons and wave petunias. To find your best option drop into your local nursery or garden center and discuss the flowers available in your area.

The same goes for shrubs. To find the right shrubs for your area, you have to consider many factors: space requirements, soil needs, maintenance, whether a commercial or residential application and the need for year-round interest. I personally like a mixture of evergreen, blooming and deciduous plants.

Nandinas are one of my favorite shrubs in early spring. Although, I prefer the dwarf nandinas — either a harbour belle or a gulf stream variety. Nandinas have a reddish foliage in the cold months and a green foliage in the warm months. So, this plant could add a lot of interest to your area in March. I also favor boxwoods and cleyera japonica as foundation plants. If you have room for a tree and you want early spring blooming try a saucer magnolia or a star magnolia.

The best suggestion I can give you on want to plant is to take a photo and measurements of the area and take it to your local garden center and nursery. This way they can help you design your area and show your the plant options available in your area.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

The Romance Of Flowers: How To Choose The Best Flowers For Your Sweetie

Flower Romance Consists Of More Than Roses!

flower-romance-for-valentines-dayYes, roses are traditionally considered the most romantic flower.

However, this isn’t always the case. Though it seems hard to believe, many men and women do not care for roses or favor other flowers more highly.

When you’re in a pickle about which romantic flowers to get your sweetheart, don’t be discouraged. Try these ideas instead:

Choose A Flower With A Significant Meaning

The instant joy felt when receiving flowers is a memory not quickly forgotten. Often, parents send their children the same type of flower each year to celebrate a birthday, special occasion or Valentine’s Day before boyfriends and girlfriends enter the picture.

romantic-tulipsCarnations, orchids, tulips, daisies and other popular cut flowers are given as tokens of love and affection on these occasions. Growing up with those memories, the flowers sent are revered through adolescence and into adulthood.

When considering Valentine’s Day gifts, anniversary flowers, or birthday flowers this year, do your best to learn if a particular bloom has a special significance to your sweetheart.

Instead of the traditional “because it’s expected of me” gift, your sweetie will enjoy the “it’s truly because I care” gesture. The little things go a long way, and this is the “extra mile” sort of gift that will dazzle.

Select Fresh Flowers With Special Meanings

The sweetest thing someone can do for their lover is to personally select the flowers that go into a romantic bouquet. Taking the time to learn about flower meanings, flower color meanings and personal significance to the recipient is the most amazing part of any gift. When ordering a romantic flower bouquet from your florist, consider the following flowers. Each has a special flower meaning. (Hint:  Include the flower meaning on the card and watch her eyes light up!)

  • Holly = domestic happiness
  • Larkspur = beautiful spirit
  • Lilac = first love
  • Orchid = delicate beauty
  • Red Tulip = declaration of love
  • Yellow Tulip = hopelessly in love

Talk with your florist about using flowers with significant meanings. The best gift of all is the gift that shows how much you care.

Romantic Flowers She’s Sure To Love

There are some fresh flowers that never fail. Many of the flowers below are [Read more…]

Psychiatrists: Fill Your Lobby With These Flowers

The Thinker With Flowers

Sometimes a little power of suggestion can do the trick. For those in the profession of mental health, the flower meanings of these blooms represent exactly the emotions you hope to see and express during a session.

It’s proven in many clinical studies that flowers are a powerful part of a happy psyche.  When decorating your waiting room with fresh flowers (always a good idea), consider these flowers for their unique flower meanings. (Read more on flowers and mental health)

  • The flower meaning of begonia is “deep thoughts.”
  • The flower meaning of black-eyed susan is “encouragement.”
  • The flower meaning of white chrysanthemum is “truth.”
  • The flower meaning of red chrysanthemum is “sharing.”
  • The flower meaning of peony is “healing.”

When dealing with mental health, we could all use a little of these sentiments. Contact your local florist to discuss using these fresh flowers in your practice. You can also learn more flower meanings brought to you by Flower Shop Network.