Holiday Info - Bloomin' Blog

FSN September Newsletter: Last Chance for Summer Sun!

September 11, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

September means the end of summer, and yet there is still time before temperatures fall into the cool days of autumn. For a few weeks more, summer sunshine will grace us with warm days and cool nights. Before you turn the page to the new season, engage in some fun summer activities. Go camping, play a neighborhood game of kickball and buy yourself or a loved one another arrangement of fabulous summer flowers.

Because that’s how you celebrate the last days of summer, by enjoying the warmth of the summer sun outside and the beauty of summer inside.

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Filed Under: Newsletters Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Florist Spotlights, Flower Meanings, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in April

March 31, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

April is upon us and that means spring is in swing! Whether you are enjoying some fresh air while you tackle yard work or watching April showers pour down during your spring cleaning campaign, one thing is missing from your day. Flowers! Your local florist has a huge stock of springtime blooms to share. Here are some of the reasons you should be sending flowers this month.

#1. Passover – April 14th

The 3rd week in April brings the celebration of Passover for those of the Jewish faith. This ancient holiday is steeped in tradition and always begins with a gathering of family and friends for the Passover meal. Whether you are hosting the ritual Sedar feast this year or heading to a family member’s house, flowers will add to your celebration in a big way. A fresh-cut arrangement makes for welcoming decor or a wonderful hostess gift for the lady of the house. A beautifully crafted arrangement will add beauty and elegance to this important time of year and last throughout the week long observance.

#2. Easter – April 20th

Headed to your mother-in-law’s for Easter dinner? Add to the table a breath-taking centerpiece of fresh-cut garden flowers. Have grandkids who are too far away for an in-person visit from the Easter bunny? Your florist has you covered with customizable baskets full of toys, candy and topped with a balloons. Want an arrangement that speaks to you or your recipient’s religious beliefs? Ask your florists about their faith-based designs including crosses, favorite card scriptures and more. Make your Easter celebration special and memorable this April with gifts from the flower shop.

#3. Earth Day – April 22nd

Time again to celebrate the rich beauty and the fullness of this great planet that sustains the lives of billions of inhabitants everyday. Earth Day is a day designed to inspire appreciation for the Earth’s environment as well as raise awareness for the protection for our fascinating home. What could be more inspiring than nature? Ask your florist about the fantastic potted plants and plant-able spring bulbs they have in store. Add a little more green into someone’s day to help them celebrate all the reason’s Earth is important to us.

#4. Administrative Professional’s Day – April 23rd

Once known as Secretary’s Day, Administrative Professionals Day has become one of the largest workplace observances. By setting aside a special day to recognize support staff with gifts and words of appreciation, now is the perfect opportunity to tell your staff or assistant “Thank you so much for everything you do!” Favorites include beautiful fresh-cut arrangements in fun and useful coffee mug vases. Also, gourmet snack baskets piled high with fruit and treats will go over big in the breakroom. Let your employees know how much they are valued with just a quick call to your local florist.

#5. April Birthdays

Anyone with an April birthday deserves all the loveliness of spring for their big day. Daisies are the official birth flower and are sure to bring big smiles. There are so many varieties of the Asteraceae family, you’ll have fun picking out pretty styles and colors. Daisies instantly bring cheer and exuberance while symbolizing innocence, purity and new beginnings. The Victorian meaning of daisy is loyal love and will never tell. Surprise your birthday girl with a big bunch of bright Gerberas and she will never forget your thoughtfulness!

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

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Best 5 Reasons, Holiday Info

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in March

March 3, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Another page has turned on the calendar. March marks the month of fresh spring blooms and reasons to get up, get out and get happy as the days are longer and warmer. You can send some of your new found joy to others with an arrangement from your local florist. Here are the very best reasons to send flowers this month.

#1. Mardi Gras – March 4th

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Or rather, let the good times roll! Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” and is the traditional celebration taking place the day before Ash Wednesday. The official colors of Mardi Gras were selected in 1872 and have specific meanings – purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. And while you may be far away from the thrill and excitement of Mardi Gras parties and parades, you can help loved ones celebrate with flowers! Your local florist can create a complete vision of Mardi Gras in color and spirit with bright spring flowers.

#2. International Women’s Day – March 8th

Not just another Valentine’s Day’s or Mother’s Day here. International Women’s Day stands as a day to champion the strength and accomplishments of women. This day has a history of acknowledging the struggles of women to gain equal rights. While the date has changed a few times since its start in 1908, actress and activist Beata Pozniak solidified the bill that made this holiday officially recognized by the US in 1994. The UN sets a theme for each year to bring about awareness. 2014 proclaims “Equality for Women is Progress for All.” Individuals often wear purple ribbons to mark the day. Send a bright blooming bouquet to any strong trailblazers in your life.

#3. St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th

Kiss me, I’m Irish! This day got its start commemorating Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland in the 17th century. Over the years it has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture. From parades to green beer, almost every city finds a way to celebrate. If you aren’t celebrating, or at least wearing a bit o’ green, you might get a pinch! Send a little green to someone special this St. Patrick’s Day and the luck of the Irish might just be with you until next year.

#4. First Day of Spring – March 20th

Finally! It has arrived! Sometimes nothing can be sweeter than saying goodbye to the winter winds and welcoming in the changes that spring offers up every year. New life is popping up everywhere and flowers are the first to get started with so many beautiful varieties coming into season. There is certainly someone in your life that could use some perking up after such a long winter, even if that someone is yourself! Send a lovely fresh-cut arrangement of new spring flowers to knock the winter blues away for good.

#5. March Birthdays

Daffodil, narcissus, jonquil, Lent lily, Easter bells, whatever you decide to call it, this happy harbinger of spring is the official birth flower for March. So if you know a special someone with a birthday this month, daffodils are really the best choice. They have a wide range of meaning covering unrequited love, chivalry, affection returned, desire, and love. And all varieties are fragrant and beautiful this season.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Best 5 Reasons, Holiday Info

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in February

February 5, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

February is the winter month that works so hard to shake the chill and celebrate love. Maybe you have noticed the endless seas of red and pink at local stores or watched as people find little ways to enjoy themselves and help others during a harsh winter. With your help, we can spread the warmth and bring a smile. Here are the reasons you should be sending flowers this month:

#1. Valentine’s Day – Feb 14th

As if you couldn’t see this one coming from a mile away! Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest flower-sending holidays of the entire year. That’s because beautiful fresh-cut flowers are the very best way to say what’s on your mind! Whether it is “I love you!” or “I’m trying my best for you.” or simply “You are special!” – flowers can mean anything you want them to mean. And that special person who got flowers? They won’t forget it.

#2. American Heart Month

The CDC made the natural choice to bring about heart health awareness during the very month we associate with love. Most people know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women but the surprising news is heart disease is preventable and controllable. This is information worth sharing. If you know a loved with who is at risk, sending red-themed flowers for Amercian Heart Month can be a gentle reminder that they can take control of their heart health.

#3. Winter Olympic Games – Feb 7th – 23rd

It is an exciting time in the world of sports as the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia begins! Arrangements featuring the classic blue, yellow, black, green, and red can be custom designed for some 5 ring inspiration. This type of flower creation would be a thoughtful and exciting gift for your avid Olympic follower or, best of all, a bit of encouragement for a young athlete with big dreams. Ask your local florist to get in the spirit of the games today!

#4. Random Acts of Kindness Day – Feb. 17th

Join in a growing worldwide holiday that challenges you to do something kind to a friend or stranger for no reason at all. This is a perfect time to give a cheerful bouquet to that barista that goes above and beyond or your elderly neighbor who doesn’t get out much. By doing something kind for someone else, they are likely to act out of kindness as well. So a small heart-warming deed can perpetuate.

#5. February. Birthdays

Anyone with a birthday in February needs a bright pretty arrangement to celebrate the warmth and love of their special day! Early spring flowers are just coming in stock and your florist will have breathtaking options that will say “Happy Birthday” better than anything else. The birth flower for February is the violet which symbolizes faithfulness, wisdom and hope.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Holiday Info

Bring Good Luck For Chinese New Year

January 27, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important traditional Chinese holiday. Beginning on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, celebrations and traditions continue until the 15th day with the Lantern Festival. Similar to New Year’s Eve celebrations in the States, the Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as chú xī or literally “Year-pass Eve.”

In 2014, Chinese New Year starts on January 31st in the US.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is time to welcome in the year of the horse!

Flowers for a New Beginning

If you plan on enjoying some of the festivities of the New Year, don’t forget that flowers can play an important part in your celebration. Through color, texture and fragrance, flowers instantly bring joy and good will into a room. And if you want good luck in the New Year, bringing a few smiles is a great place to start!

Whether it is surprising your hostess with a fresh-cut bouquet at a reunion dinner or decorating your home after a traditional cleansing of bad luck and spirits, flowers can bring harmony through color and symbolism. While some flower shops might not have a specific Chinese New Year arrangement, this is where a real talented local florist can surprise and delight you!

Tell your florist you want something special for Chinese New Year and they will work with you to create a personalized arrangement that will thrill you and any recipient. Your florist will select beautiful flowers, the perfect container and handle all the details of making something new and exciting for the occasion. After all, that’s what they are good at – expressing the feeling for any occasion through flowers!

Blooming with Meaning

Daffodil – prosperity
Chrysanthemum – longevity
Bamboo – luck
Sunflower – pure thoughts
Mandarin oranges – fortune
Plum trees – hard to find in the U.S. but a popular tradition in China

Chinese New Year Colors:

Red – symbolizes joy, virtue, truth and sincerity and is thought to chase away bad fortune and evil spirits like the mythical beast called the Nian.

Gold – symbolizes fortune and prosperity and is a favorite for starting a new year.

Ask for a custom arrangement that embodies the spirit of the season.
And always always always use a real local florist!

Bring On The Happy

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Flower Meanings, Holiday Info

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

January 20, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a time for remembering a great man, reflecting on the dreams he shared and celebrating his accomplishments as well as the life he led. Honoring him requires honoring the values for which he stood, spoke and lived. He dreamed of liberty, freedom and justice. He dreamed of true equality. He dreamed of brotherhood.

Showing Love with Flowers

Flowers are the perfect gift for this holiday because they say so many things. They say friendship, love, hope and yes, brotherhood. You can share a slice of happiness with strangers by handing out yellow roses to random people you pass on the street. You can extend the hand of friendship to someone with whom you work with but may not know well with a lovely bouquet of daisies, or offer that neighbor with whom you rarely speak a handful of gerberas.

A beautiful arrangement offered to the girl at school who sits alone at lunch or a gladiolus proffered to the boy who gets picked on in the locker room, each of these actions honor the values that Dr. King embodied.

Don’t let this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day pass without doing your part to honor the memory of a man who wanted nothing more than for everyone to love each other and treat everyone as equals.

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Best 5 Reasons to Send Flowers in December

December 4, 2013 by Juli Jackson 2 Comments

December is certainly the heaviest hitting month for holidays and this list reflects it!

There are so many reasons that flowers make a perfect gift. Through color, texture, shape and fragrance, your local florist can help you discover a genuine way to reach out to those important people in your life. So without delay, here are the best reasons to send flowers this December.

#1. December Birthdays

This reason tops our list because those friends and family who have birthdays during the month of the December always have to compete with so many other festivities. Ask anyone with a December birthday and without fail they will have the experience of receiving birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper or getting combo holiday/birthday gifts. A birthday should be the unique celebration of just one person. Make the day truly about your loved one by sending beautiful birthday blooms on their special day.

#2. Winter Solstice – December 21st

In the Northern Hemisphere, this day is often referred to as the “longest night.” Each year, as the world spins, there comes a point where the lengthening of winter days reaches its apex and this has long been celebrated as the Winter Solstice. While sometimes the winter blues can get us down, you can brighten someone’s day with a cheery wintery mix of beautiful flowers. Smiles are sure to lighten up any dark day.

#3. Christmas – December 25th

Flowers are a fantastic way to decorate for Christmas and make a wonderful gift for the entire household. Whether sending deep red roses with bright green stems, a fragrant holiday wreath or a breath-taking centerpiece that ties the dinner table together, you can show your warmest love from afar and be a presence in the home of those you hold near and dear.

#4. Kwanzaa – December 26th – January 1st

The colorful ceremonies of Kwanzaa are an excellent reason to include flowers as part of the 7 day celebration of African cultural and historical heritage. Have a florist create a bright and festive centerpiece around your kinara. Send a Kwanzaa-themed arrangement to relatives out of town to help them honor their traditions and wish those all around a joyous Kwanzaa.

#5. New Year’s Eve – December 31st

The tradition of living it up on New Year’s Eve is always part joy for what the future may bring as well as part remembrance of another year having passed. Ring in the New Year with the elegance and style of a stunning fresh-cut arrangement.

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 Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Seasonal Flowers

Your Sweetest Day Ever!

October 2, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Celebrate Sweetest Day!

What? You don’t celebrate Sweetest Day every year? You don’t have any time-honored Sweetest Day traditions? Ok, so you wouldn’t be alone in this. This is a holiday observance that seems to be more popular in some parts of the country than others, but that’s no reason you can’t start the trend in your neck of the woods!

Think about the people in your life that are generous of spirit. Those that are good listeners or bring snacks for the entire office. Maybe it is your neighbor who always has a smile and a kind word. What about that new co-worker who is shy? There is definitely someone in your life that deserves a little sweetness. Be the one to share it!

What Sweetest Day Is All About

Even though this holiday was started back in 1921, it seems to currently only have a following in the Mid-West and Great Lakes regions. It’s time to change that, don’t you think?

The very first Sweetest Day is attributed to a committee formed by Cleveland candy company employees. They organized an effort to give over 20,000 boxes of candies to “”newsboys, orphans, old folks, and the poor” as a way to sweeten their day. It was a simple dream to show kindness and appreciation to those most often neglected in the community.

Be Sweet! Not Cynical!

Is it just me or can you never have too many holidays that celebrate love and generosity? Some people call Sweetest Day a psuedo-holiday or a “Hallmark Holiday” because it was created by an industry that produced candy. Well, it’s obvious these individuals suffer from a lack of imagination! Or maybe no one has ever given them a simple gift out of love in mid-October! Our day to day lives can get so busy and hectic, a single day of acknowledging someone special (not just mothers, fathers, lovers) is really a lovely idea. No reason to be so bah-humbug about it!

One of the best things about this holiday is it’s not based on a single religious sentiment or on a specific family relationship. It can serve as a reminder that a thoughtful word or action will build up others and make for a full happy life.

How To Celebrate

Select a cute and delicious CANDY BOUQUET for a killer sweet tooth
Send a Sweetest Day card that brightens a day
Order beautiful flowers to surprise a sweet soul
Pick a wonderfully scented candle paired with a couple of balloons for quite the pick-me-up
Take a fresh bakery treat into the office to share

Think Outside the Candy

While it is called “Sweetest Day” don’t let that fool you into only giving candy. If there’s anyone on your list that can’t enjoy the sugar rush, your local florist can help you decide on a perfect gift.

Celebrate in your own sweet way to show love, appreciation and gratitude for family, friends and loved ones this year on October 19th!

Photo Credits: FSN and Baker Florist in Spencer, NY

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

Still Time to Order Flowers for Grandparents Day!

September 5, 2013 by Juli Jackson 3 Comments

Grandparents Day will be here soon!

Grandparents Day is the perfect time to show your grandparents what they mean to you and your family. Mothers and Fathers Day are always big celebrations for showing that we care, so forgetting about Grandparents Day this year isn’t an option.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter dedicated the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. As it is a nationally recognized holiday, let’s take the time to honor our family and learn about ours roots. Consider visiting with your grandparents and listening carefully to those oft-told stories. Ask questions that dig deeper about a time that is quickly disappearing. Our children learn about their heritage and gain respect for their elders during these visits so make it a good one. Have grandma write down her favorite recipe or have grandpa show you his coin collection. You’ll be happy to make some new memories.

Be There Even If You Are Here

On a day set aside for family, we want so much to be together. But if you can’t be there in person, flowers are a perfect expression of your feelings of love and tenderness. Sending flowers for Grandparents Day can create a beautiful presence in a home and can convey what words can not. The tradition of sending flowers is a way of being right next to your loved ones when you are far away. Include a touching card messag e to complete the thought.

Reaching Out

Our elders everywhere deserve appreciation! Don’t forget about an older neighbor whose children can’t visit or those residing in a nursing home. A simple gesture of flowers can mean the world to someone who is alone on this special day. Celebrate this holiday with love that reaches further than your own door.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Gift Ideas, Grandparents Day, Grandparents Day Gifts, Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Don’t Let Parent’s Day Pass Unremarked Again

July 23, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

It’s that time again! Woohoo! Alright! Parent’s Day is just around the corner! Well, c’mon everybody why are you just sitting there? It’s Parent’s Day! It’s … Parent’s Day … it … woo? Okay, I know that this holiday still doesn’t have a lot of national traction just yet, but if you’re not familiar, it’s past time to get familiar. This is one holiday to which each of us needs to be paying more attention.

Parent’s Day History

For those of us who don’t know, Parent’s Day was signed into existence by President Bill Clinton in 1994 to be a holiday that, and I’m paraphrasing here, recognizes, uplifts and supports the role of parents. Since that day, the fourth Sunday in July has been designated as Parent’s Day. Think of it as a combination of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, except that instead of lauding one member of the parenting team, they are celebrated together as a team.

But wait, that’s not all! It also exalts the act of parenting in general. Father’s Day or Mother’s Day can both be used to celebrate the person who was physically responsible for bringing you into this world. Parent’s Day celebrates the one(s) who made the sacrifices, stayed up the late nights, and did everything possible to make your life full. In short, the one(s) who raised you.

Say ‘Thank You’ with Flowers – The Perfect Parent’s Day Gift

Now, as a FlowerShopNetwork.com writer, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention flowers in some capacity within this post. Fortunately for me, flowers are not only an acceptable gift for Parent’s Day, or really any occasion, they are quite possibly the perfect gift.

Flowers symbolize fragile beauty that must be nurtured and cared for in order to flourish. Sound familiar? Is it not a perfect representation of childhood? For after all, what is a child if not the embodiment of fragile beauty in need of nurture? Mature blooms are the result of careful rearing, just as you are the result of your parents’ labors. What could be more perfect than that?

Refuse to let this year’s Parent’s Day sneak past you. The holiday, and your parents, are worth celebrating! Parent’s Day is July 28th — this Sunday! Call your local florist to order your parent’s the perfect gift.

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Info, Parent's Day