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One Can’t-Miss Flower Sending Tip For November

November is a beautiful month. The weather changes from the cool first days of fall to the brisk chill that fills the air until December’s snowy cold. As fun as this weather can be for hayrides or bonfires, the chilly weather is terrible for maintaining beautiful fresh flowers. Arrangements should be carefully placed to maintain an optimal shelf life whether to be used as fall flower decorations, centerpieces, fall wedding bouquets, or the many other excellent uses for flowers this month.

Sending flowers to a friend or loved one through with the help of a local florist? He or she is probably very aware of the dangers of leaving flowers unattended in the cold. Providing the florist with the correct contact information is very helpful. When sending flowers to your loved ones, remember to provide the florist delivering your gift of flowers with this information:

  • Recipient’s name — this may seem silly or obvious but not always. If the recipient goes by one name to friends and another at work, providing the correct name may make the difference between an accepted delivery and a rejected delivery. It also saves the deliverer time and effort in sorting out the misunderstanding.
  • Full and proper address — many large cities and even some small towns have more than one street with the same name. To avoid any confusion, include all relevant information such as the street’s direction (North, East, et al), apartment number, the road’s proper indication (street, drive, avenue, et al), and any other helpful tidbits.
  • Best time to contact — Does the recipient attend school during the day? Have a night class? Work late on Thursdays? Take junior to soccer practice on Fridays? It is often helpful to include a designation for delivery such as “after 5,” “at work before 3p,” or “during the daytime.”
  • Correct phone number — Most people these days have house phones, cellular phones or both. Including a house number, cell number, work number, or combination of these may prevent the delivering florist from making several trips or arriving at an inconvenient time.

Your gift is very important and should be kept at peak quality as long as possible. Help your gift of flowers maintain its exquisite beauty as long as possible by providing proper information to avoid these flowers being left in the cold.

Important Tips for Arranging Flowers at Home

Start with a clean vase:

One of the first mistakes people make when they arrange their flowers at home is to start the process with a dirty vase. If you haven’t cleaned the vase from the last time there were flowers in it, there could be bacteria or fungi in the vase that will cause your flowers to go down early.

A clean vase from your cupboard could also be a source of house dust. We all know that house dust contains all things that could be harmful to you, which are also potentially harmful to your flowers.

Be sure to start with a freshly washed vase every time and your flowers will last a lot longer!

Use lukewarm water and flower food:

Once you have a sparkling clean vase, the next step is to add water and flower food. Dragonfly Flowers On McPhillps should provides customers with one or two small packages of flower food with their bouquet purchase. When the flower was cut, it lost it’s source of water and nutrients. The flower food provided by your local florist replaces these carbohydrates and sugars typically used by the flowers and stabilizes and lowers the pH of the water. Some contain microorganism inhibitors to stop fungi and bacteria from growing on the stems and some formulas even contain un-blockers for the stems.

Simply pour the flower food into the container and add water. Swirl the container to mix it up a bit and you are done!

Your flowers are hopefully still fresh and perky when you get them, but they have certainly been through the mill. Most flowers have traveled thousands of miles, been tossed around during shipping, handled 5-10 times and cut 2 or 3 times before they even get to you. You don’t want to shock them even more with cold water when you get them, they have been through enough. Your flowers have likely been out of water for 30 minutes to a couple of hours by this time as well. Using warmer water allows them to drink much more efficiently as it slowly cools to room temperature. During this time, they are also sucking up valuable nutrients from your flower food.

Re-cut the stems – again:

You florist likely gave your flowers a fresh cut before they sent them to you, which allows them to drink more readily. Even though your flowers have been cut from their roots, where they typically get their nourishment and water, they still have the ability to draw water up the stems, which will keep their heads moist and nourished. It’s always a good idea to re-cut your flowers when you get them home to make sure that the tubes in the stems are free and clear to draw as much water as possible.

You have probably heard that you should cut the flowers on an angle. This cutting the stems on an angle provides a greater area of the stem to contact the water, and allows it to drink more freely.

Try not to use scissors to cut the stems. Cutting the stems with scissors typically compresses the stem to some extent and in doing so, will limit it’s ability to drink efficiently. A good sharp knife, like your florist uses, will do the trick!

Remove excess greens:

Your florist may or may not have removed the excess greens or leaves from the stems of your flowers. It’s a good idea to strip away these greens and make sure they are not below the water line. The flowers don’t drink through the leaves, and the large surface area of the greens provides ample space for bacteria and fungi to hitch a ride into the water and subsequently into the stems.

Display in the right area:

In order to keep your flowers looking their best for the longest period of time there are a few rules to follow for where you display them. The main points are, keep them away from excessive heat and in areas with little air movement. Heat and air movement both speed the evaporation of water from the flowers and make it more difficult for them to survive for longer periods of time.

Flower Display rules:

  • Keep flowers away from drafts
  • Don’t display arrangements on the TV (Or any other warm place, such as close to a register)
  • – Don’t display fresh flowers in direct sunlight.
  • – Don’t display flower arrangements on top of the fridge or microwave.

These few simple tips can significantly lengthen the life of your arrangement and keep your flowers looking lovely for several weeks.

Fresh Flowers And A Square Vase Make A Great Birthday Gift

How do fresh flowers by the stem and a square vase make a great birthday gift? Well for me is it incorporates everything I love: geometric shapes, flowers and the personal efforts of my husband.

Every year Neal gives me flowers for my birthday but there is always some kind of twist to the arrangement. One year he had our florist create a flower arrangement in a beautiful vase that had a bright abstract pattern. The vase still sits on my kitchen buffet reminding me of that birthday every time I look at it. Another time my birthday arrangement arrived with a crystal wine stopper uniquely placed among the flowers and foliage. So this year I wasn’t sure what to expect. So I waited all day for the florist to deliver my birthday flowers but at 5pm I still was flowerless. I assumed that Neal, after years of sending me flower arrangements for my birthday, had decided to give me something different. I left work and sped home to see what was in store for my birthday. As I entered the living room I saw this:

Roses in Square Vase

These gorgeous peach colored roses were sweetly arranged in my favorite square vase. Neal’s special twist this year was to actually make my birthday flower arrangement. He had hoped to gather flowers from our own garden to create the arrangement. He had actually done this a week before when it was our turn at church to provide the alter flowers. Below is a picture of that arrangement. It contains Casablanca lilies, Balloon flower blooms and Baptisia foliage all from our garden.

Alter Flowers

However our garden, like all gardens, doesn’t always cooperate and he didn’t have anything to work with this week. So Neal popped into our local florist and picked up the roses and came home to work his magic. We can always count on our local florist to provide us with fresh flowers that we can take home. That’s the great thing about local florists, they have fresh flowers all of the time. Most florists will let you buy them by the stem or they will create an arrangement for you to take home or to be delivered.

I was glad that Neal continued the tradition of giving me flowers on my birthday. My flower memories are very precious to me and these flowers will rank among the top. So how do fresh flowers by the stem and a square vase make a great birthday gift? They create a flower memory that includes the wonder of flowers in a uniqueness container and the knowledge that someone really loves you.

Fresh Flower Arrangements In The Strangest Places

I believe that every room deserve a fresh flower arrangement and that every one should receive or send fresh flowers at least once a year (although the more times the better). But, yesterday I was pleasantly surprised to find a flower arrangement in a place that you don’t often see them — a public bathroom.

Fresh Flower Arrangement

I popped into the bathroom at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs AR and found this beautiful flower arrangement. In fact this was one of two fresh arrangements in [Read more…]

Honey, You’re A Real Gemini

Gemini birthdays fall between May 21 and June 21. If the love of your life is a Gemini, he or she is probably known for being talkative, intellectual, and energetic. It may be difficult to find a unique gift as fun and fascinating as your Gemini but sending a fresh flower arrangement filled with alstroemeria, solidago, or daffodils is a very easy way to make your Gemini feel special. These beautiful flowers represent the Gemini astrological sign and, when paired with a personalized card, are as unique to your Gemini as her bright blue eyes or his sensual laugh.

Your guy or gal may appreciate a plant rather than an arrangement. Easy! Cactus, nut-bearing fruit trees, and maidenhair ferns all represent the same charismatic traits found in Gemini. Gemini represents very strong individuals who are adaptive and ready for a new adventure making cacti perfect gifts. Nut-bearing fruit trees reveal to the world a fresh start and a new season of growth and exploration. With these and many other gorgeous plants, there is no shortage of options for pleasing your Gemini with a special birthday or anniversary gift!

Alstroemeria Topiary Flower Arrangement

Alstroemeria Topiary makes great Gemini gift.

Keeping Fresh Flowers Fresh

Fresh Flower ArrangementA bouquet of fresh cut flowers is always a welcome addition to any home or office. Fresh flowers can brighten someone’s day, deliver a meaningful message, decorate a special occasion, distract us from sorrow, and remind us of the gifts of nature. Part of the intrinsic value of fresh cut flowers is the fact that their beauty is so fleeting… making them all the more precious.

Nonetheless, we usually want those fresh flowers to last as long as possible. Fortunately, we can add several days to the vase life of fresh cut flowers by following the practices used by professional florists to prolong the vitality of their products. A small investment of time will pay off in the extended enjoyment of your beautiful blossoms.

Preparing Your New Flowers

First, choose fresh flowers that are not yet fully developed. Most cut flowers, with the exception of some tropical flowers and fresh orchids, will continue to open after they’ve been put into the vase. Look for blossoms that are unblemished by bruises and that feel firm to the touch. Foliage should be crisp and green, not yellowing or becoming mushy.

Flower Flower Food Mixes

Upon bringing your fresh flowers home, mix up a solution of commercially prepared fresh flower food. There are many such products on the market, such as AquaPlus™, Floralife®, and Chrysal™, and a packet or two is usually included when you purchase cut flowers. Be certain to ask for it. Most professional florists will be happy even to sell you a larger quantity of flower food from their own bulk supplies. Fresh cut flowers benefit tremendously from the use of these products, which contain three main ingredients: first, sugar in a form which is useable by the flowers so as to provide nutrition; secondly, an acidifier such as citric acid to lower the pH of the solution (cut flowers take up water best if the pH is around 4.5, well below neutral); third, a biocide to kill any bacteria that may be present. Many of the current generation of fresh flower nutrient solutions also contain an agent which helps keep the water in the vase clear.

It is important to mix the flower food accurately. Using too little can actually nourish the bacteria instead of the flowers. Too much can “burn” the petals. Mix the solution using lukewarm water – 110° F. is ideal. Fresh flowers absorb water faster if it’s warm. You may have heard of some “home remedies” for keeping cut flowers fresh, such as adding pennies, bleach, aspirin, soda, or even vodka to the water in the vase. Each of these quaint ideas is based on some aspect of a cut flower’s requirements. But it is far more beneficial to use the commercial products, accurately measured, which have solid science behind their development.

Adding Flowers To A Vase

Carefully unwrap your fresh cut flowers and remove any foliage from the stems that would fall below the water line in the vase. The leaves can rot underwater and can harbor bacteria which would decrease the life span of the cut blooms. Cut one to two inches off from the bottoms of the stems, at a steep angle. Use a sharp knife rather than scissors, which can crush the vascular system of the stem and impede the uptake of water and nutrients. If practical, cut the stems under clean water. Re-cutting helps to remove any blockages from the stem, caused by callusing or air embolisms. Once the stems have been freshly cut, immediately place the flowers gently into the vase containing the nutrient solution. Don’t drop the stems in – this can bruise the cut ends when they hit the bottom of the vase, again damaging the vascular system. Never pound or crush the stems of cut flowers, even woody branches, for the same reason.

Where To Keep Your Fresh Flowers

Once you’ve arranged the fresh flowers, place them in an appropriate location, away from heat or drafts. Never put them on top of a television set or near a heat or air-conditioning vent. If possible, keep them in a cooler location at night when you’re not enjoying them. Most cut flowers can be stored at temperatures as low as 38° or 40° F., the temperature of a home refrigerator. The exception again would be tropical flowers such as fresh orchids, anthuriums, and ginger blossoms; coming from warm, steamy regions of the world, these flowers are damaged by cold temperatures. Keep them above 55° F. Also, be sure to keep your fresh flowers away from ethylene gas, which is given off by ripening fruit and other organic materials. Many flowers are quite sensitive to ethylene, especially carnations, freesias, and lilies, which significantly shortens their vase life.

Keeping Flowers Fresh

Check the water level in the vase daily, adding more nutrient solution as necessary. Mist the fresh cut flowers with plain water as often as possible, even several times a day, helping to keep moisture in their petals. Every few days, remove the flowers from the vase, replace the water and flower food, put a fresh cut on the stems, and arrange the flowers back in their vase.

Your local florist has the experience to be able to advise you on even more flower care and handling tips that are helpful with specific varieties. For example, hydrangeas can benefit from being completely submerged under water for several minutes prior to processing. Gladioli will open their florets faster if you remove a couple of buds from the very tip of the spike. With just a little effort, you can add several days of enjoyment to your fresh cut flowers… and their beauty may not be quite so fleeting after all.