It's our Birthday!

It's our Birthday!   We are 26 this week!

We sold our first flower on August 27, 1987 in the little shop that was formerly Shew's Flowers.  Our first delivery vehicle was a 1979 green Bonneville with the back seat removed.  This business started on a wing and a prayer, a lot of hope and faith and a few ideas, and many long hours,  but thanks to all of our fine customers and loyal friends, we celebrate 26 years this week!  
    Thank you to all our fine customers!   You are all the best!  

    Looking forward to many more years of continued service

Can I customize a flower arrangement?

can I customize a flower arrangement?

To honor the life of a gardener, a stepping stone plaque was added to this floral arrangement.



A gate is symbolic of entrance into Heaven.



Angel statuary is a comforting touch in a floral tribute.



A vegetative arrangement complete with fishing line and fish honor the life of an avid fisherman.

Personalization is a way of designing a floral arrangement containing a theme that characterizes a person's life or interests.  Many times we are asked to design a floral arrangement around a favorite flower, a sport, or a hobby.  These added touches make a statement about the person you honor and provide a bit of comfort to the bereaved family. 

 

How long do flowers last?

HOW LONG DO FLOWERS LAST???????

Occasionally I get asked this question, and there really are a lot of valid answers.  Depending on the varieties, flowers on average will last 5-7 days.  There are a number of factors to take into consideration.  I have a few "behind the scenes" practices that help the longevity of your flowers.  First I like to only buy from trusted vendors who consistently provide the freshest-from-the-farm flowers.  When they reach the cutting room here, they are cut underwater and then hydrated in a solution that provides nutrients and kills bacteria.  They are stored in sterilized buckets in a sterile, high-humidity cooler at 34 degrees.

After YOU get them, you simply need to make sure the water level is kept up in a vase so that all stems are submerged. 

Most proteas keep their beautiful appearance when dried.  The fresh arrangement itself will last around 10 days.  Then the flowers will dry and you can continue to enjoy them as a dried arrangement. 

Varieties of Garden Roses

Varieties of Garden Roses

 Keira  A beautiful blend of blush pink and cream with peachy highlights.  Medium fragrance.L


Darcey  Raspberry red rosettes that gradually deepen to rich purple.  Light fruity fragrance.


Kate  Long buds gradually open to raspberry pink rosettes.  Delightful, fruity fragrance.



Patience  Creamy buds open to buttermilk rosettes.  Old rose and myrrh fragrance.
 

Phoebe  Warm, rose pink blooms with a slightly cupped formation.  Delicious fruity fragrance.

MirandaRose pink rosettes with attractive, green streaked outer petals.  Delicate fruity fragrance.







Cymbeline  Deep pink blooms with a traditional old rose quartered style.  Classic myrrh fragrance.


 

Flower Care

Cut flowers don't have to be here today and gone tomorrow. A little knowledge goes a long way for postharvest flower care to help extend the life of the flower.

In the field, garden or greenhouse, plants nourish their flowers, allowing them to grow and develop. When you cut the flower from its plant, it loses that nourishment. So Floralife developed Fresh Flower Food to mimic the flower's original environment, allowing it to fully develop, or open.

Fresh flower food helps flowers by:

• Providing food in the form of sugars to keep the flowers alive. Just like people, flowers get energy from carbohydrates.
• Helping lower pH, which keeps the water/food conducting system in flowers working at maximum efficiency.
• Unplugging stems to allow better flow to the flowers.

 

Some basic steps for proper care of fresh cut flowers include the following:

1. Begin with a clean vase. If possible, do not use water from a water softener for your flowers. The salt content may decrease the life of some flowers.
2. Always add Floralife® Flower Food to the water, following the instructions on the packet or label. Floralife® Flower Food hydrates and nourishes flowers for your customers’ maximum enjoyment.
3. Remove all of the foliage below the water line to prevent the foliage from decaying. This also keeps the water cleaner and the stems free flowing.
4. Give all flowers a fresh cut before placing them into flower food solution. This helps ensure hydration.
5. Flowers will live longer if not placed in direct sunlight, in a draft or on top of a TV.
6. Replenish the vase or container with a Floralife® Flower Food solution as needed, due to water uptake and evaporation.

 

Vegetative Design

Vegetative Design

A naturalistic design style in which flowers and plant materials are placed as they would grow in nature.  Materials used should be those found together in nature with emphasis placed on climactic, seasonal, geographical, and topographical compatibility.  In this example, which was designed to commemorate the life of a fisherman, flowers and plants were chosen that would be found growing along waterways.  Some designer license is used in this case to add more color to the arrangement.  A small fishing pole with a catch, and birch logs are also included in the design.  

Different Styles of Floral Designs

 M A S S

Mass designs utilize a quantity of materials with little or no negative space.  Mass designs are generally associated with certain historical periods, traditional and geometric shapes.  They usually have radial stem placement,








LINE DESIGN

A floral arrangement in which lines are emphasized
over form, characterized by an openness in silhouette
and featuring relatively more negative space
than a mass design.



Summer Bounty

Summer Bounty

 I sometimes am asked "are my favorite flowers available?"  Just as in the words of a song--"it's 5 o'clock somewhere..."  yes--your favorite flowers are available.  Fortunately we have sources from all over the world where flowers that may not be in season locally, are in season!  And with all our shipping options, we are able to get them in quickly.  These favorite varieties are from California.  Montbretia, purple coneflower, pin-cushion proteas, purple butterfly bush, and blushing bride.  Ask about your favorites--we are always happy to bring in special varieties.

What's Trending

What's Trending

The seasons of the year influence what is available and what is trending.  In spring we have bulb gardens with exposed roots in glass, or vases of blooming branches.  In summer we enjoy all the variety of flowers that grow in gardens--sunflowers, coneflowers, zinnia, cottage yarrow, accented with Dusty Miller, hosta leaves and ornamental grasses.  Check out Pinterest boards and you will see garden-style bouquets in the ever-popular Mason jars--especially nice if you can find the old ones at thrift stores and in auctions.  The shabby-chic look of combining burlap and lace has made its appearance even in the most elegant weddings. 

 

Succulents have been in the spotlight for the past year and are trending very strongly this summer.  They are available in so many interesting sizes and shapes, require so little care, and are used to accent bouquets in both sympathy and wedding and event work. 

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