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Top 5 Reasons To Send A Dish Garden For Grandparents Day

There are many reasons why Grandma and Grandpa will love dish gardens instead of more traditional Grandparents Day gifts. If your grandparents are anything like mine, reading this will likely result in a lot of nodding and the occasional phrase “that sounds just like my grandma/grandpa.”

Dish Garden1. Dish Gardens Are Low Maintenance Gift

“I’m pretty sure they can handle a plant.” Grandma and Grandpa were there for you through childhood, tween years, teen years and beyond. They’re still supportive. Thankfully, a dish garden requires no more maintenance than any other houseplant. It’ll be a nice break after all those years.

2. Dish Garden Containers Have Their Own Unique Qualities

If they’re the type that have collected every childhood trinket pertaining to their grandkids, dish gardens will be a nice gift for both of you. They’ll probably keep the container because it’s what they do. At least it’s not a useless knick-knack that needs dusting. You’ll feel better for not contributing to the shrine o’ junk that was once your old bedroom. It’s a win-win.

3. Plants In A Dish Garden Last Quite A While

On a light-hearted note, plants in a dish garden last quite a while. There is only as much care required as a normal houseplant. Simply water when the soil is dry to the touch. Once your plants are too big for their container, you can separate them out into even more houseplants to love.

4. Dish Gardens Are Unique Gifts

That’s right. You’re better than peer pressure. You’re above it. That’s why you will choose to send dish gardens. While everyone else is sending something cheesy and porcelain, you’re relaxing in the new found fresh air created by the dish garden that you had a local florist deliver. Mmm. Even the food will taste better when you head over to your grandparents house  for a holiday celebration.

5. Did I Say 5 Reasons? Let’s Go With Eco-Friendly Gifts

I can probably name several other reasons why dish gardens are awesome gifts, but I’ll stop with the eco-friendliness of sending a dish garden. First of all, the containers can be reused. Recycling is fun for everyone. Go recycling! Second, some dish garden plants can be transplanted. That’s great for the environment because plants replenish soil nutrients and create fresh air for us all.

Hurry! Grandparents Day is September 11, 2011.

Have another reason to send dish gardens? Even if you just want to comment on my comments, feel free to commence commenting below.

Celebrating Sweetest Day

What Is Sweetest Day?

Looking for a reason to send a gift? How about Sweetest Day!  Never heard of it?  Well, it is the holiday that celebrates kindness and appreciation.  Sweetest Day is a fantastic way to show your appreciation for a special person, to remember those who are alone, or give back to the unsung heroes of your community.

Chocolate Hearts & CandyGifts are extra special when unexpected and given as a form of appreciation or simply just because. Those receiving a Sweetest Day gift are usually caught completely by surprise.  After all, no one expects a gift/treat on Sweetest Day like they do on Halloween, Christmas or even Valentine’s Day.  The element of surprise and sheer kindness in these gifts is what makes Sweetest Day so awesome.

The History Of Sweetest Day!

Celebrated on the third Saturday in October, Sweetest Day is a tradition that is often forgotten, but has a deep and chocolaty rich history.  The concept of this tradition began with a philanthropist and candy employee named Herbert Birch Kingston. Feeling the weight of  his good fortune and seeing the plight and misfortune of others, Mr. Kingston saw the need to brighten the lives of others.  Understanding the need all people have to feel appreciated, he wanted a day that recognized people simply for being people.  So drawing from his candy background, Mr. Kingston conceived the idea of a holiday that would give candy and small gifts to the underprivileged, shut-ins and [Read more…]

Have You Heard of Chinese Valentine’s Day?

Chinese Valentine’s Day is actually very cool. They do not regard their form of the holiday in the same way as we western hemispherians. (*grin*) It’s still a neat holiday for lovers and I’ll tell you why. But first! — a little Chinese Valentine’s Day history for you history buffs.

The History of Chinese Valentine’s Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. For those playing along at home, that’s August 26, 2009. The traditional story is a love story told of two star-crossed lovers (a droll joke, or so you’ll later learn). One is the 7th daughter of the Emperor of Heaven. Her love interest is an orphaned cowherd. A true “he’s from the wrong side of the tracks” story or a pasture in this case.

Anyway, the emperor couldn’t stand the thought of them together so he decided to banish them to stars far away. He sent his daughter to the star Vega and the cowherd to the star Altair. Being a somewhat benevolent father, he decided to allow them to see each other once a year. You can probably see where this is going. That day–now celebrated as Chinese Valentine’s Day–is the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar Chinese lunar calendar. You can almost hear the a-ha’s.

Modern Celebration of Chinese Valentine’s Day

Chinese girls and women do not take their dates for a night out and expect an armful of chocolates and flowers. Instead, they all visit a matchmaker in hopes that doing so will provide blessings for their future relationships. Couples in love also go to the matchmaker to ask for blessings on their relationship. There are several other interesting traditions but the one that really caught my eye for obvious reasons is how the young ladies use flowers.

They decorate the ox’s horn with flowers in hopes of preventing future disasters in their relationships. My only question now is where do I find a PETA approved Ox horn and a bucket full of flowers?

How Florists Help Celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day

Lovers may not be visiting their florist for love advice on this day but that doesn’t mean that florists can’t help lovers find a way to share their affection. In fact, the westernization of many traditional celebrations puts them in the starting line-up! Aside from the crazies like me muttering something about “flowers for my ox horn”, you can still give fun gifts from the local flower shop to your lover on this day.

If you are a Chinese-American or just one who likes to celebrate random holidays (and I do!), this is a fun occasion for gift giving. Surprise your date with a bouquet of flowers as you leave to see “the matchmaker” in your life. A cute little twist would be to send flowers with an enclosure card that reads “for your ox horn”. Now off to my local florist for a gift for the most non-traditional traditional holiday I’ve ever heard of!

3 Fabulous Fathers Day Arrangements

Yeah, there pretty much isn’t a less-than-fabulous Fathers Day arrangement in Flower Shop Network’s photo gallery. With that in mind, we racked our brains and came up with what we think are the three MOST fabulous Father’s Day flower arrangements ever. Lucky for your dad, all of these flowers are available from your local florist.

"You're The Greatest" Fathers Day Flowers

It’s really easy to tell Dad how much he means to you with an arrangement like the “You’re The Greatest” Father’s Day flowers. Fans of Babe Ruth may find this especially significant. Fathers day flowers like these are a real treat because they are brightly colored, full, contemporary and just masculine enough to make Dad feel joyful about receiving flowers.

"Artistic Tribute" Fathers Day Flowers

Father’s Day flowers don’t get much more in line with what Dad wants than the “Artistic Tribute” contemporary flower arrangement. This arrangement just screams “buy me for Dad!” The high-style “Artistic Tribute” Fathers Day flowers are nothing short of architecturally amazing, visually stimulating, and emotionally satisfying for the father whose child is you.

"Fiery Red Topiary" Fathers Day Flowers

Dad a sports fan? Then he’ll love the “Fiery Red Topiary” for Father’s Day! Flowers like these create a stylish display for every sporty dad. The fiery red color is right in line with the St.  Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and other teams (it is baseball season after all.) Ask for a black ribbon or raffia instead and it’s the colors of the Atlanta Falcons! Whatever his team, whatever his sport, your local florist can create a beautiful topiary like this for your dad. Just ask if a color substitution is possible.

Fathers Day Card Messages For The World’s Best Dad

I absolutely adore my dad. My daddy is the coolest guy in the world (to me at least) but I have trouble telling him exactly how I feel about him. I could chock it up to sharing his non-touchy-feely-emotional personality, but it still amounts to the same thing-what do I say?!?!

My friends had suggested getting my dad some Fathers Day flowers and putting a sweet message on the enclosure card. Dad loves contemporary arrangements but more than anything he likes knowing that his “little girl” will always be his “baby.” Not to go into too much sappy sentiment about my father, I’ve decided to definitely send flowers. Now the predicament becomes figuring out what to put on the card. For this reason I asked local florists what they thought were the best Fathers Day card messages that they’ve seen. The results were heartwarming.

When sending Fathers Days flowers, local florists have found that the best enclosure card messages are those from the heart. In the interest of sharing-because that’s what Daddy taught me-I’ve included their top choices below. Feel free to share or add your own!

Florists Choice:  Top Fathers Day Card Messages For Dear Ole Dad

1)       Thanks for giving me the best things in life: Your time, your care, and your love. Happy Fathers Day.

2)       Wishing you a Happy Father’s Day.

3)       May all the love you give to others come back to you on this special day.

4)       Thanks for being there when I need you the most and even when I didn’t.

5)       Thank you for being a good father and a good friend.

6)       Forever your daddy’s girl. Happy Father’s Day.

7)       My hero, my helper, my friend, my dad. Happy Father’s Day.

8)       My strength and my friend, I am today what I have become because of you. Thanks, Dad.

9)       Happy Father’s Day to the greatest Dad in the whole world!

10)     A father is a special part of all that’s cherished in the heart.

There are many more messages to touch Dad’s heart. View all special Fathers Day enclosure card messages.

Break Away From Red Flowers For Mother’s Day–Show Lavender Love Instead!

"Lavender Love" Mother's Day Bouquet

"Lavender Love" Mother's Day Bouquet

Ever tried to express lavender love? I would guess not. Red is the color usually associated with passionate love, but that’s not what I want to show my mom for Mother’s Day. My mom deserves something else. Something better. Something more representative of the sweet and nurturing nature of a mother and her child. That’s why I chose the “Lavender Love” bouquet as this month’s featured flower arrangement.

Since we don’t live in caves we all know that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. It’s time to start looking for the best gift for mom this year. The “Lavender Love” Mother’s Day bouquet jumped out at me when I was peering through the fresh flower photo gallery. It’s gorgeous! It has height, style, depth, color, softness, personality–it’s everything I would say about my mother. Well, I’m taller than my mom and I only stand 5’4″ but the rest is true.

Chances are that your mother is totally different than mine. That’s fine! That’s great, in fact, because it provides a dozen new reasons why someone else will like the “Lavender Love” bouquet for Mother’s Day. It’s unique in that it appeals to so many different types of people.

  • Does your mom love Spring? Pastel spring colors and a few vibrant, bold ones pop up in this arrangement.
  • Is your mom the leader of the household? Soften her up a bit with a sweet flower bouquet like this one.
  • Does your mom a real social butterfly who loves hosting parties and get-togethers for the ladies? Give them something to look at during their Mothers Day teas by sending flowers like this gift to your mom’s home. Impressing her friends is a happy side effect of this.

No matter what your mom is like, she’s a great woman who deserves a gift. Right? If you’re in the mood for some Mother’s Day gift ideas, stop here. Take a peek at the “Lavender Love” fresh flowers bouquet and see what you think. Even better, think about what your mom will say when it is handed to her by a local florist with a sweet Mother’s Day card message attached.  Happy Mother’s Day!

Did you send this bouquet for another holiday? Getting ready to send it for Mother’s Day? Let us hear your stories! We want to know what your mother or friend thought of the “Lavender Love” bouquet!

Mothers Day Flowers For Every Type of Mom

Want a gift that speaks volumes about your mom’s personality? Mothers Day flowers are great gift ideas for this holiday, but take it  a step further with these cool flower arrangements. Each one is a reflection of a different personality type that your mother may have. Is your mom vivicacious and feisty? Is she personal and traditional? How about reflective and into the arts and crafts? No matter what type of personality your mom has, I suggest these beautiful flowers when you’re looking for Mothers Day gift ideas.

"Touch of Class" Mothers Day Flowers

"Touch of Class" Mothers Day Flowers

Mom “The Contemporary”

She’s hip. She’s cool. She’s into modern things with contemporary flair. She probably likes interior design, is well aware of design techniques and tricks, and doesn’t tune the tv dial to retro shows very often.

This is one cool mother and she deserves a cool gift. Try the “Touch of Class” Mothers Day flowers. They’re perfect for a contemporary office space (send flowers to mom at work) or a home decorated in the trendiest style (send flowers to mom at home or present them to her at lunch).

"Remember Mom" Mothers Day Bouquet

"Remember Mom" Mothers Day Bouquet

Mom “The Traditionalist”

She’s perfect in your eyes. She may not have the latest addition of Interior Design Monthly but you can bet that Family Circle is somewhere in the house. She’s settled but not boring. She’s all about her children (even if grown) but makes time to have fun. She loves a good book or a good movie and will not pass up the opportunity for a relaxing Mothers Day brunch with her daughters and granddaughters.

This mom is awesome. She is selfless and deserves a sweet reward for  her exhausting dedication to her family. For this mom, send the “Remember Mom” bouquet.

"Lasting Love" Mothers Day Basket

"Lasting Love" Mothers Day Basket

Mom “The Old School Sweetheart”

This is for the mom that is very likely a grandmother by now. She’s young at heart with an old soul.  She’s seen a lot in her life and has the wisdom and bearing to prove it. She probably spends a lot of time gardening, relaxing with friends in the Red Hat Society (or is a purple hatter), and has been an empty nester just long enough to still not be completely ok with it.

This mom is precious. She is a giver who has watched many incredible things pass. Her most prized moments though? Moments with you. Why not bring along the “Lasting Love” Mothers Day basket to your get-together this year?

"Lavender Love" Mothers Day Bouquet

"Lavender Love" Mothers Day Bouquet

Mom “The Spritely”

This mom is as active as you are. She’s always here or there doing something with someone. She’s up and about and loves living life to the fullest. She’s charming enough to be everyone’s favorite mother. When your friends wanted a sleepover, they wanted it at your mom’s house.

This mom is perky. She needs something as bouncy and happy in her life as her personality reflects. For the mom who is a constant fount of energy and happiness, give the “Lavender Love” bouquet for Mothers Day.

"Mother Nature's Expression Bouquet"

"Mother Nature's Expression Bouquet"

Mom “The Candid”

(This is my mother and grandmother!) She’s a pip to be around because she always has a witty retort or a wise saying in the form of a wisecrack. She knows her stuff and makes sure that you know that about her. You rarely catch her without an expressed opinion but you’ll never hear her admit that it may be wrong. She’s the life of the party because you want to know what she’s going to say next. No one laughs at this tough cookie though. She’s a very respected mother.

This mom is blunt. She doesn’t fool around with nonsense and expects the same from other people. If your mother is like this (and mine is), send flowers like the “Mother Nature’s Expression Bouquet” because it’s hard to dislike. Just like your mom.

Mothers Day Card Messages From A Real Momma’s Girl

I’m a momma’s girl. Always have been. My mother is my best friend, the delight of my heart and constantly grating but it’s all because she loves me. Have a mother like that? I make a point to tell my mom every day that I love her but I want her to feel special on Mother’s Day. Card messages that I normally see seem to take a cheesy turn, an overly sappy sentiment or are just plain not befitting of the coolest mother in the world. So, I tapped into my resources and compiled this handy list of good Mothers Day card messages.

Local florists give wonderful suggestions for Mothers Day card messages. They either have mothers and/or are mothers plus they spend each year preparing beautiful Mothers Day flower arrangements. So, the perspective of local florists was very valuable in creating this list of the top 10 card messages for Mom.

Top 10 Card Messages That Tell Mom She’s Loved:

1)       May all the love you give to others come back to you on this special day.

2)       Love is not just candlelight dinners, sentimental poems, and bouquets of flowers. It’s also bandaging scraped knees, reading favorite stories over and over, and always being there to listen and encourage Love is all the things you do, every day, without fail, to make our house a home, our family a wonderful place to be. Happy Mother’s Day, With All My Love

3)       Only a mother can communicate love without saying a word. For the many unspoken ways that you share your love in our family, I hope you know that you’re loved and appreciated beyond measure

4)       Happy Mother’s Day to the greatest Mom in the whole world!

5)       Thank you for being a great Mother and a good friend.

6)       Thanks for being there when I need you the most and even when I didn’t.

7)       Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.

8)       Thanks for giving me the best things in life: Your time, your care, and your love. Happy Mothers Day.

9)       Thinking of you with love today and always. Happy Mother’s Day

10)     For a wonderful mother on Mother’s Day.

There are more than 25 messages to enjoy. If you liked this top 10, view all Mothers Day enclosure card messages.

I Just Found The Coolest Mother’s Day Gift at Belvedere Flowers!

I enjoy the Belvedere Flowers blog because there is always something interesting happening at the flower shop! The florists at Belvedere Flowers in Havertown Pennsylvania create some very ingenious designs. Here’s one of the ones that caught a friend’s attention who quickly passed the link to me. I fell in love with its unique charm. I think you will too.

It’s a fresh flower purse for Mother’s Day. Let me emphasize this for effect. It’s a fresh…flower…Purse. It’s too cool! What it is is a moss covered basket shaped like a purse and filled to the brim with beautiful fresh flowers like cymbidium orchids, roses, heather and gerbera daisies. My nose is liking this already!

This video shows off the first of many fresh flower purses created by Belvedere Flowers for Mother’s Day. I say that because it’s too cute a Mother’s Day gift idea not to catch on quickly. Check it out!

Florists Announce Top 5 Secretaries Day Card Messages

Secretaries come in many shapes and sizes and go by just as many names. Administrative professional, administrative assistant, secretary, desk clerk and other monikers are given to that special person in every office who makes sure that things run smoothly. This knight in shining armor often receives little other recognition, so the gift of Secretaries Day flowers is the perfect expression of gratitude. For the busy executive, taking the time to send flowers is a special gesture because your secretary knows better than anyone how full your schedule is. However, delighting the heart of your administrative professional lies mostly in the card message.

Secretaries Day card messages are a unique pleasure for local florists. Their professionalism as an unsung hero is shared with secretaries, so the Administrative Professionals Day card messages composed with the help of florists are often the most heartfelt and endearing. Having Secretaries Day flowers delivered to your assistant sends a special message. To help send the perfect message to your administrative assistant, several florists were asked to reveal their favorite Administrative Professionals Day card messages.

The Office Unsung Hero–Top Five Secretaries Day Card Messages:

  1. Here’s to you for all you do! Happy Secretary’s Day.
  2. For running a tight ship with grace and gentility. Wishing you a happy Secretary’s Day.
  3. Couldn’t do it without you. Thanks for all that you do. Happy Administrative Professional’s Day.
  4. Secretary. Administrative Professional. Assistant. No matter what title you have, you are foremost my friend. Wishing you a happy Secretary’s Day.
  5. You brighten up the room with your smile. Thanks for being more uplifting than my morning coffee. Happy Secretary’s Day.

There are many more Secretaries Day enclosure card messages for you to view. Enjoy them all today!