Valentines Day Flower & Candy Arrangement

But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be limited to only red roses. Roses in a variety of hues are popular among recipients, as are other flowers, such as lilies, tulips, orchids, gerbera daisies, hydrangea and callas. (In fact, tulips are one of the most popular choices for Valentine’s Day.)

No matter what choice of flower or color that you decide to give for this special holiday, you can’t go wrong when you pair it with candy. To build on that quintessential combination, we’ve incorporated candy into the actual floral arrangement and prepared a tutorial to show you how you can create your own flower arrangement for Valentine’s Day. You can choose whatever flowers you desire and match it to a candy that complements the colors in your blossoms.

Here’s How

Step 1

Choose a vase and then find another container that will fit inside. You need enough space between the two for your candy to fill the void. You can use a drinking glass inside your vase as long as the lips of both containers are of similar height.

Step 2

Fill the space between the two containers with candy. Among pastel-colored choices are traditional conversation hearts, petite nonpareil mints, Jordan almonds or hard-coated chocolate candies (such as M&Ms). Or choose solid red- or pink-colored candies, such as red-hot cinnamon candies, gummy bears, red licorice bites, sour cherry balls, raspberry drops, Swedish fish, jelly beans or wrapped taffy pieces.

Step 3

In a separate container, mix water with flower food following the directions on the flower-food packet. Carefully pour this liquid into the inside vase.

Step 4

Trim your Valentine’s Day flowers to the appropriate length. You can determine length by holding a flower upside down next to your vase. Measure how high you want the flowers to extend over the top of the vase and trim the stem at that height. Then cut all your stems to match.

Step 5

Remove any foliage that will be underwater from each stem.

Step 6

Insert each flower stem individually into the vase. Crisscross the stems to create an internal framework that supports the stems. Fill in with additional flowers as needed.

Make sure your loved one keeps their Valentines flower arrangement away from heat vents or bowls of fresh fruit. The heat will dry out the flowers, and the fruit will emit an odorless, colorless gas that is nontoxic to humans but lethal to flowers.

Add water to the arrangement as needed, every one to two days. Trim the bottom of each stem when you add water to ensure the bottom doesn’t become mushy, which impedes the uptake of water.

Of course, you don’t have to limit the gift of flowers to only one day a year. Research proves that people love to receive flowers any time of year. So whether you are giving Valentine’s Day flowers or giving a floral gift “just because,” take time to personalize your present and make the occasion that much extra special.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

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3. 3 Easy Techniques to Create Black Flowers

Halloween Pumpkin Flower Arrangements

Here are some trendy ideas for Halloween flower arrangements:

Pumpkin Halloween Vase

Pumpkin Halloween Vase

You can transform a simple faux pumpkin into an eerie daisy Halloween vase by spray-painting the pumpkins with a matte black finish. Once the pumpkins have dried, carefully etch the surface and cut a hole in the top with a sharp paring knife.

Then, fill with water and accurately measured flower food and drop in a bouquet of orange daisies to create an eye-catching Halloween masterpiece.

You can find flowers at a variety of retailers such as your local supermarket, the neighborhood floral shop, online sellers or brick-and-mortar florist shops.

You could even make your own black flowers… here are 3 Easy Techniques to Create Black Flowers.

Chrysanthemums on Pumpkins

If daisies aren’t your style, other options include chrysanthemums in different colors, shapes and sizes. To add some interest to the display, use a variety of shades of orange-colored chrysanthemums. To add even more interest, use pumpkins in different sizes. Place some on the ground and place others on hay bales and upside-down baskets to add some height.

Chrysanthemums in a Pumpkin Vase

Hags’ Huge Pot Display

What is Halloween without your usual pot-stirring, maniacally laughing witch? To recreate an iconic witch’s cauldron, sans the ickiness and gore, fill a black pot with natural, dried flowers, grasses and berries. Include a bag of scented potpourri and some bare branches to add dramatic–and aromatic–effect. Toss in a block of dry ice for additional spooky drama.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? Check out our 9 Tips to Create Ghostly Decor.

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2. Create Your Own Unique Valentine’s Day Flower Arrangement
3. 3 Easy Techniques to Create Black Flowers

Tulips Are Another Favorite for Valentine’s Day Giving

Whether you have sticky typing fingers or just don’t know the correct words to key in, you aren’t alone in stumbling over your keyboard trying to find the perfect search terms to lead you to the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved one.

No matter. The end result is that, here, you have actually found some advice that should set you on the road to choosing the perfect blossoms for your beloved. We’ve gathered some valuable information to help you on your quest. But let’s start first with the search terms that got you started in your pursuit for posies: Valentines roses. You were searching for how or where or what kind of roses to buy for Valentine’s Day, correct? Ah! But here’s the real question: Must you buy roses for Valentine’s Day?

You may be surprised at the answer…

Valentines Rose or Valentine’s Rose—the Apostrophe Doesn’t Matter, Nor Does the Flower

Men, over the years, have developed the belief that only one flower typifies this February holiday: the traditional Valentines Day rose. But not just any rose. The red rose. As a result, the floral industry has to ramp up its efforts every year to try and come up with enough red roses to meet that heightened demand. That means flower growers kick it into high gear to push blooms to bud at exactly the right time, resulting in crazy-busy efforts to get the flowers harvested, processed, imported, trucked and then delivered to your florist so that she still has enough time to design a bouquet of Valentines roses that will blow your lady’s socks off (or whatever undergarment you prefer).

A Red Rose Is Traditional for Valentine’s Day

The pressure to provide roses in such abundance in such a limited window is enormous. Thus, red-rose prices end up far higher during the holiday season than at any other time of the year to cover all the extra costs associated with this frantic production cycle.

And what’s even crazier? Women don’t necessarily even prefer red roses! Sure, they are traditional, and lovely and romantic. But a variety of surveys, albeit very informal, show that women prefer other flowers. Maybe it’s the fact that roses are so traditional, and modern-day ladies want something a bit more unique, fun or personal. Whatever the case, you can feel confident that choosing blossoms other than roses won’t put you in the doghouse.

So what other choices should you consider? We asked some florists from across the continent for the second-most-requested flowers behind the Valentines rose. Following are the results of our unscientific poll to help you choose the best flowers for your favorite gal.

Favorite Valentine Flowers

Tulips

Tulips were the absolute favorite among our florist friends. What’s great about tulips is not only do woman love them, but they are also extremely affordable at Valentine’s Day. That’s because they are in season during February. So, for the same price as a Valentines Day rose in that crimson hue, you can get several bunches of tulips and bequeath your love with a dramatic, show-stopping bouquet.

Many Women Prefer Red Tulips to Red Roses

Stargazer Lilies

These beauties are preferred by anyone who longs for a perfumed aroma from their purchase. Stargazers are a variety of lily renowned for their fragrance, as well as buds that continue to open for several days after purchase.

Stargazer Lilies Are Loved for Their Fragrance

Orchids

A stem of orchids often sells at the same price point as a Valentines rose stem, but orchids typically have a longer vase life. The hardy blooms come in a huge assortment of styles and colors, too, so you can choose a variety that matches your gal’s particular preferences.

Orchids Are Often Preferred for Their Long Vase Life

Callas

These stately flowers (often referred to as calla lilies) are typically available in white, but other shades of pink, yellow and burgundy are also offered. Set a bouquet next to one of that traditional Valentines Day rose and you’ll see immediately what the appeal is.

Mixed Bunches

A potpourri of posies is often the preferred choice, mixing a rainbow of colors or blending a hue of monochromatic colors. You’ll often get the biggest bang for your buck with a mixed bunch, too, because the blend of high-priced flowers with less-expensive ones allows for a larger arrangement. A related option is to request a mixed bouquet of colored Valentines roses. Either option—according to our florist friends—will satisfy your sweetheart’s sweet spot.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

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Valleflor Eryngium Amethystinum

This is the third of several stories describing his journeys. If you missed the first two articles, take a look at Flowers with Love and Roses from Living Soil.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Robert Frost

Flowers grow abundantly throughout Ecuador. Yet the country’s cut flower-growing community is most well-known within the floral trade for focusing on and producing incredible roses — large blossoms, thick, long stems and an amazing assortment of varieties and colors. But one flower farm, Valleflor (Puembo, Ecuador), chose a different path from other farms in nurturing the growth of some different blossoms. And that, as in Frost’s poem, has made all the difference.

Valleflor Delphiniums

Rather than focusing on roses, Valleflor produces what are called “summer flowers.” Its offerings include delphinium, bouvardia, statice, limonium and many other varieties. First on my list of favorites is the aforementioned delphinium. Magnificent, long, spiked flowers of blues and pinks, this blossom’s name comes from the Latin word for “dolphin,” referring to the shape of the nectar-producing part of the flower, or “nectary.”

Valleflor’s Delphinium Royal varieties of flowers grow into blossoms with deeply intense, vivid colors and have more blooms per stem than other cut flower varieties. They were also developed for longer vase life so people can enjoy their colorful displays of flowers for many more days.

Second on my list of favorites is a far-lesser-known flower: eryngium (air-RIN-jee-um). Eryngium is in the family of Apiaceae, a family that features hairless and usually spiny leaves and dome-shaped flowers (actually flower clusters or umbels) that remind me of thistles.

Valleflor Limonium

Valleflor describes its eryngium as a “New Age” flower. I don’t know about that, but I know what I like — something different with a long, long vase life. The longer, the better. And eryngium certainly has both distinctiveness and vase-life longevity.

Valleflor prides itself on ensuring its flowers grow in harmony with society and the environment, while also protecting the well-being of its more than 220 employees. All employee meals are prepared and served in a stunning, red building with a spotless interior and a terra-cotta-tiled floor and wooden tables and chairs. The monthly cost for those meals is about what we would pay for a cup of premium coffee in the United States.

Taking a road less-traveled with a mission of producing the newest varieties of excellent-quality summer cut flowers has not only resulted in some of the finest summer flowers I have ever seen, but it has paid off with many Valleflor customers beating a path to its door.

Written by

Terry Johnson

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like,” “Tweet,” “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe and get our articles sent directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

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1. Roses from Living Soil
2. Ecuador Rose Grower Nurtures Flowers With Love
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“I had to essentially throw the book away on growing roses”

Fausto Falconi sincerely believed his many years as an agronomist (soil and plant scientist) would have prepared him well for the challenges of starting his own organic farming and rose production business in Cayambe, Ecuador just North of the capital city of Quito. He was so wrong.

“I had to essentially throw the book away on growing roses,” Fausto revealed.”I really had to start from scratch when it came to growing organically.” Fresh Cut emerged from that beginning as one of the best organic rose growers in the world, a difficult task in the extreme, yet here they are doing what many have said could not be done: growing roses 98% free of normal chemical controls. Their goal is to be using 100% natural controls in the very near future.

The Ecuadorian flower grower community has long recognized the importance of only using approved chemical controls in their growing operations, minimizing their use, and taking great care to protect their workers from exposure to these chemicals. Why then go to so much trouble to grow roses without chemicals, when no one will be eating them?

…a leader in Organic Rose Production.

“We wanted to not only be a leader in quality roses, we also wanted to become a leader in the production of organic roses,” explained Fausto. “Taking care of human beings and nature comes hand in hand with the development and wellness of our main resource: people, which guarantees an optimum product with the highest productivity level.”

That decision to grow the best organic roses resulted in Fresh Cut literally having to start from the ground up, because they realized the first step toward their goal was with the growing medium, the material in which their roses would be grown. In other words, they believed in order to grow the finest roses, they had to start with the finest possible soil – soil in balance, as it occurs naturally in nearby forests.

It took years of trial and error to find which combinations of growing materials worked best. And that work is on-going. “Take this soil in your hand,” Fausto suggested. “Can you feel the life it contains?” I scooped up a handful of the nearly black growing medium and, having spent serious time in the garden, could understand why his roses loved this stuff.

Between the rows of rose plants, vegetation is literally composting before my eyes, much like would take place in a natural setting. And, these roses! Beautiful, intense colors and straight stems with healthy foliage which will be cut, bunched and then bathed in natural solutions to prevent molds and other things from damaging the flowers.

Fausto made his point once again: “Taking care of nature and human beings guarantees highly productive plants that produce these gorgeous, healthy roses.”

And it all starts with living soil.

Episode 3: The Road Less Traveled

Written by

Terry Johnson

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like,” “Tweet,” “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe and get our articles sent directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. Ecuador Rose Grower Nurtures Flowers With Love
2. Valleflor: The Road Less Traveled
3. Organic Flowers: The Greener Way

I travel quite a lot. During flights from one city to another, invariably, a fellow passenger strikes up a conversation, which leads him or her to ask what business I’m in. When I say I’m in the floral industry, many times they ask, “Are you a florist?”

White Roses With Huge Blooms | Image: FlowerChat.com

No, I tell them; I’m involved in helping to improve the methods by which flowers are handled from farms to their arrival in markets in North America. Then I explain that most flowers sold here come from countries in South America. My fellow passengers are almost always surprised. “I had no idea” is a common reply.

Ecuador Rose Insider View: Greenrose Flower Farm

My most recent trip had an envious destination: Ecuador rose farms. I joined a small group of people who specialize in handling, importing and selling fresh flowers who were traveling to this South American country, a representative democratic republic bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. After a four-hour flight from Miami, we landed in Quito, the capital, at an elevation of 9,350 feet — the highest capital city in the world. Quito is positioned in the northern central part of the country.

Red Roses Freshly Harvested | Image: FlowerChat.com

First thing in the morning, we headed north from Quito toward the Cayambe flower-growing region, which gets its name from the very prominent Cayambe volcano. Permanently capped with snow, the volcano — at 15,387 feet — is the highest point in the world crossed by the equator and the only point on the equator with snow cover. The 60-mile drive took us over mountain passes with scarce vegetation down into fertile valleys with tree-lined roads. Many of the trees were eucalyptus, said to have been brought from Australia by an Ecuadorian president about 150 years ago.

As we approached the Ecuador rose farms, we were informed that the surrounding villages are growing and prosperous because of the flower-growing industry. The flower industry represents a major export of Ecuador, totaling about $680 million annually, which is nearly one-quarter of all agricultural exports. The flower business is also a sizable employer, especially of women, who make up more than half of all flower-industry workers.

Fresh Roses Ready for Shipping to Florists | Image: FlowerChat.com

Ecuador Rose Grower Has Heart

As we pulled into Greenroses’s organic growing facilities, it was obvious that it was as impressive as any flower farm I had ever seen. The setting, with the Cayambe volcano in the background, was truly spectacular.

We were greeted by the owner, Jose Javier Pallares, who explained that his farm was the best possible place to grow flowers in the world. “At 10,000 feet, there is the right kind of light, moderate temperatures and, most importantly, a great water supply from the mountains and the volcano,” he explained. He mentioned that he had a great view of the Cayambe Volcano from his office window. I made a mental note, remembering that I had a similarly great view of Mt. St. Helens from my office window in Portland, Ore., in 1980. It was quite a shock when it erupted and sent ash everywhere. Of course, the Cayambe Volcano’s last eruption was in 1786.

As with all of the Ecuador rose and flower farms today, worker’s well-being, their safety, the environment and the surrounding community are very important to Greenrose. Javier is noticeably proud of his workers (many of whom have been with the farm since its beginning 16 years ago) and of the gorgeous roses they produce. And why shouldn’t he be? Every rose is a natural jewel with full blossoms, straight stems and lush, dark-green foliage wrapped in beautiful, protective packaging for markets in North America and countries as far away as Russia.

Fresh Cut Roses Being Processed on Farm | Image: FlowerChat.com

And each carefully grown rose comes with a sincere message: From Cayambe with love to you.

Episode two: Roses from Living Soil.

Written by

Terry Johnson

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like,” “Tweet,” “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe and get our articles sent directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. Roses from Living Soil
2. Flower Grower to Consumer in 24 hours: FloraHolland
3. Valleflor: The Road Less Traveled

Holland is a primary grower of flowers.

Flowers Grow in Three Main Places

About 90 percent of all flowers sold in the U.S. and Canada come from just three places: Colombia (70 percent), Ecuador (10 percent) and California (10 percent.) The sources of the remaining 10 percent include countries such as Canada, Holland, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Thailand.

How a Cut Flower Is Shipped

Flowers grow mostly in warm countries.

Step 1: Preparation

With some exceptions, most flowers are cut, bunched, wrapped and then packed in large corrugated boxes for shipping. Those flower boxes coming from other countries (with the exception of Canada and Mexico) are placed on pallets and flown to the United States.

Miami is by far the largest destination for those flower boxes, but Los Angeles Airport and New York’s JFK Airport receive flowers, as well.

Step 2: Inspection

When boxes arrive in the U.S. from where the flowers grow around the world, they are inspected by the Department of Agriculture to make sure they are bug-free and also checked by U.S. Customs. Flower boxes are then delivered to flower importers who load the boxes on refrigerated trucks that deliver the flowers to local markets across the U.S. and Canada.

Step 3: Refrigerated Transportation

In the case of Californian-, Canadian- and Mexican-grown product, boxes of cut flowers are loaded onto refrigerated trucks to be shipped to local North American markets.

Because flowers are a very perishable cargo, those in charge of shipping and distributing them keep the stems at low temperatures (ideally around 35 degrees Fahrenheit) through every step of the distribution logistics process. This procedure is called the “cool chain.” It is the same type of procedures used for shipping other perishables, such as fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat, fish and pharmaceuticals.

Flowers require great care during shipping.

All of these efforts are designed to increase the enjoyment of fresh flowers whenever and wherever they are purchased.

Written by

Terry Johnson

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. Ecuador Rose Grower Nurtures Flowers With Love
2. Flower Grower to Consumer in 24 hours: FloraHolland
3. How to Make Sugar-Frosted Flowers

Bad Customer Service | Image: jezebel.com

In the past, you might have worried a little about to whom she might complain. With today’s social media options, however, your concern should be tenfold. You cannot afford to have any disgruntled customers! In a recent survey by ClickFox, 16 percent of respondents said they would post negative comments after a bad customer-service experience compared to only 8 percent who said they would post a positive review.

Furthermore, while 52 percent of unhappy customers spout off to family and friends, an even more astounding 32 percent will stop doing business altogether with the company that wronged them. And when customers take to social media to air their discontent, more than 60 percent of consumers are influenced by these detrimental comments.

This just goes to show how serious the negative repercussions of bad customer service can be. So if you weren’t nervous in the past when a disgruntled customer left your shop or got off the phone, you certainly should be paying attention to these issues now. If you don’t, the situation could quickly spiral out of control, and the consequences could be devastating to your shop’s reputation.

The infographic below should give you a good idea of what customers hate the most about bad customer service and how they might react.

Image originally posted on Zengage, The Zendesk Blog

We hope you found this infographic interesting and that it will serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining good customer relations at all times. If you aren’t already active on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+, we highly recommend you look into doing so. Setting up a profile on these sites is not difficult and will definitely help you manage any customer-service issues that make their way into the public domain.

And, as a bonus, if done correctly, these channels can become an additional source of business for your flower shop and help create awareness around your brand. (We will write more about this aspect in upcoming articles.)

If you have any experience of your own with managing customer-service online, or you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

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Photo By Bella Fiori Florist

The Internet has added a twist of which many unscrupulous businesses have taken advantage. Yet few consumers are aware of any pitfalls with this method of gift giving.

At lunch recently with friends, I asked the question: How would you send flowers for Mothers Day? Most replied that they would simply call or go online to order from a national 800-number or website. Several sets of eyes widened when I explained that, by using one of those companies, they would likely spend an additional 20 percent to 30 percent more for their Mother’s Day flowers than if they simply contacted a florist directly in the town where their mothers lived.

How do you find a trustworthy florist in another town? Here are a few dos and don’ts:

Don’t Use Directory Assistance to Order Flowers

Asking the 4-1-1 operator (or your country’s equivalent) for the name of a florist in, say, Concord, Mass., won’t necessarily connect you with an actual florist in that town. Instead, you may be sent to an order-gatherer—that is, a company that takes orders for flower arrangements and adds fees that amount to as much as 30 percent of the price before sending the order to a local florist. (Thus, an arrangement listed as $39.99 can actually end up costing you $60 with the extra fees. Yet the national company doesn’t pass any of these extra charges to the florist who makes and delivers the bouquet. Thus, once that florist deducts another $10 to $15 to pay a driver to deliver it, he will only receive about $25.99 to $29.99 to create your floral gift.)

These companies list themselves as being local florists, but they aren’t. (Some even fraudulently list physical addresses that don’t exist or are for other businesses in an effort to be appear as legitimate floral retailers.)

Kale Roses, Hypericum, Dahlias, Thistle, Poppy and Scabiosa Pods | Courtesy of Bella Fiori Florist

Do Go Online to Order Flowers — But Be Wary

When you perform an Internet search for a florist, what you see is not always what you get. Many order-gatherers try to look like legitimate local florists. You’ll even find online directories that allow you to search by ZIP code or city — but the search findings actually result in “cloaked” names of these national floral-brokerage firms.

You can easily identify whether an online listing is for a legitimate florist shop simply by calling the number listed and asking, “What’s your street address so I can come look at your arrangements in person?” If the person to whom you are speaking can’t — or won’t — give you a street address, you know it’s not a real florist. So keep calling until you find one.

Another option for online searching is to look for a florist association in the state to which you want to send your mother flowers. Most state, city or regional florist associations offer a listing of their members. These are all real-life florists with brick-and-mortar shops who can fulfill whatever order you send their way.

A website that helps direct consumers away from order-gatherers, Florist Detective, also lists a few other options for finding a local florist online.

Carnations for Mother’s Day | Credit to DeShow.net

Don’t Unwittingly Use a “Drop-Shipper” to Send Flowers

A drop-shipper is a company that packages flowers in a box, overnights them using a freight firm, such as FedEx or UPS, and drops them at the recipient’s door. These companies—such as ProFlowers.com — advertise nationally on radio, TV and in magazines. Their websites show lovely flowers arranged in a vase. But what you are actually sending is a cardboard box filled with flowers and a separate vase — if you pay extra for it.

The recipient has to prepare the flowers by cutting off the bottoms of the stems, stripping off foliage that falls below the water line, adding floral preservative to the vase water and then arranging the flowers herself.

Some of these companies include cool packs and water tubes on each stem to help maintain the freshness of the flowers during their logistical journey. But others do not, and all are subject to being delivered when the recipient isn’t home. That means flowers are left at the door in weather that can be extremely detrimental to their longevity. The result is a box of dead flowers that is more of an insult than a happy surprise.

Pink Roses for Mothers Day

Do Call Your Local Florist to Send Flowers (But Don’t Ask for Referrals During Superbusy Holidays)

Florists are slammed with business during holidays. So asking your local florist to recommend or provide the name of an out-of-town florist is like asking a dentist in the middle of an oral surgery to look at your chipped tooth.

Gerbera Daisy for Mothers Day

Of course, if you love your local florist and don’t mind paying an extra fee for her service, call and ask her to handle the request for you. She will be happy to do so and usually can guarantee delivery of your order. Most florists either have a network of national florists on whom they rely for these situations or they belong to a wire service (floral relay companies), such as FTD or Teleflora. As mentioned, you may pay an extra fee to have your florist send the order for you, but to many busy consumers, the convenience is worth it.

If you call your florist during less busy times of the year, he is likely to be happy to help you by providing the name of an out-of-town florist. However, make sure you do him a favor, in return, by using him the next time you need flowers delivered locally. (Remember to save the name and number of that long-distance florist, though, for the next time you need to send a bouquet.)

Don’t Fall for National Advertising or Daily-Deal Discounts When Ordering Flowers

Those wire services mentioned earlier — FTD and Teleflora, for example—legitimately connect local florists with one another to aid them in sending orders to out-of-town customers. However, their dot-com equivalents — FTD.com, Teleflora.com and other big-name firms such as 1-800-Flowers.com—are not the same. These online affiliates are among the order-gatherers mentioned previously. They add those extra fees to the cost of an arrangement, send the order to a “receiving” florist to fulfill it and charge you a boatload of extra fees in between.

Similarly, take care when you see advertisements for discounted offers, particularly on the daily-deal websites. Recently, the floral industry has seen instances where the company offering the deal sent consumers to a different website than its regular one — a website where the prices were higher. Thus, consumers actually got a worse deal using the discount. (Of course, the regular site still charged hefty extra fees. So avoid these sites no matter how tempting the discounts look.)

Pink Carnation | Credit to DeShow.net

Do Ask Friends for a Referral in Sending Flowers

With so many social-networking sites available today, it’s easy to find a friend or friend-of-a-friend in the city where you want flowers delivered. Go on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or another social-media site. Ask if someone can recommend a local florist that you can call.

Once you have the name of a quality-minded florist you can trust, keep it in a safe place for future use. Then, whether you are sending an order today, tomorrow or next year, you can ensure you are spending money on a bouquet for which you can be proud — and that your mom will be proud to show off.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. How to Find a Florist & Save Money Sending Flowers
2. Valentine’s Day Aftermath: Don’t Give Up After a Bad Bouquet
3. How to Give Stylishly Chic Mother’s Day Flowers

Her taste in flowers probably is just as fashionable. She wants a floral arrangement that—when delivered—will make friends and coworkers “Ooooh!” and “Ahhhh!” with heart-felt envy rather than merely polite admiration.

Mothers Day Flower Ideas

Stylish Ideas for Mother’s Day Flowers

What do the most fashionable flowers for Mother’s Day look like that will make mom the envy of her office? Check out this review of some of the trendiest styles that you can request from your local florist:

Mother’s Day Flowers With Pavé Passion

The pavé look is an especially high-style option. Pave designs feature short-stemmed blossoms, all arranged at the same height in a tightly packed design. Usually, you’ll see them in a short container, often square or rectangular in shape. Some florists get even more creative and place them into unique containers such as hinged-lid boxes. If the mom in your life has a favorite flower, ask whether it would be appropriate for a pavé design. Request colors that will complement her home’s décor, including a base or vase that reflects her style.

Sweetheart Rose Pave Flower Arrangement | Credit to ShannonsShanonigins

A Worthy Mother’s Day Wreath

Wreaths are not just for hanging on doors, and they don’t have to come only in round shapes. Florists can create them in squares, triangles, ovals or any silhouette you desire. Wreaths are especially beautiful set flat on a tabletop with tapered or votive candles nestled in the center.

Give your florist some design free will, and you’ll be more likely to present mom with something especially memorable this Mothers Day. For example, tell your florist whether the recipient loves a cottage-garden style or sleek, modern look. Using varying heights of flowers and textures, your floral designer can create a one-of-a-kind wreath that will leave your mom speechless.

Contemporary Wreath | Credit to Herta Vasiloudis

Mother’s Day Flowers With Ikebana Accents

Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging cut flowers in rhythmic, decorative designs. But even if your loved one isn’t an Asian enthusiast, she will still appreciate the delicate shapes and textures that Ikebana designs evoke. Again, tell the florist of the recipient’s favorite flower so that the floral designer can incorporate that blossom into the arrangement. And request a container in which the flowers can be designed that will work well in the mother’s home décor.

Fabulous Underwater Flowers for Mother’s Day

One of the most elegant and chic designs you can request for a Mother’s Day recipient is the tall cylindrical or square vase in which flowers are “suspended” underwater. These designs can last an especially long time, depending on the type of flowers chosen for display. Orchids and callas are especially elegant, and the florist can incorporate twisted and spiraling wire as a sculptural element, along with other bling, such as colored or natural stones or glass pebbles.

Submerged Orchids | Credit to Elaine25

While mom will appreciate any flower arrangement you choose for her, taking the time to order something that reflects her personal style is a route destined to bring back fond memories of your thoughtfulness for a long time — or at least until next year.

For more creative ideas for Mother’s Day, take a look at our Mothers Day Gift Ideas: 10 Great Ways to Spoil Her.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

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