Inspired to Flower

Stress Busters

2009-06-03T07:09:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not, recent behavioral studies have uncovered quite possibly the simplest way to improve emotional health and wellbeing – flowers. Considering the fast-paced and highly-stressed lifestyle most of us lead today, this comes as a welcome discovery. Besides exercise and other personal lifestyle changes as stress relief, flowers can also be used as a way to feel better and more relaxed.

It has been found that being around flowers triggers uplifting emotions like happiness. Flowers are also able to enhance good feelings such as life satisfaction and also affect people’s behavior in a social situation.

As natural and healthy mood moderators, flowers have the power to:

Immediately alter moods
When someone receives flowers, happiness is almost instantaneous, displaying excited smiles indicating extreme pleasure.

(This result occurs in all age groups.)

Affect moods in the long run
People who receive flowers are more likely to be less anxious, depressed and restless. They experience heightened enjoyment and are more satisfied with their lives than those who have not received flowers.

(Think of seniors in retirement homes.)

Create intimate bonds with others
Being around flowers makes people more sociable and leads to increased contact with others, especially friends and family.

(The “Valentine” Effect.)

Brighten up spaces and create a sharing atmosphere
Most people position their floral arrangements in highly visible places such as the living and dining rooms, and in hallways and entrance halls. In other words, the flowers are placed in areas where visitors are welcomed.

(An instant “I value you” message!)

There's no two ways about it – with such a compelling argument, there's no reason why we should let stress get the better of us. Especially in the present day environment, anything that helps us feel better is most welcomed! Surround yourself and your loved ones with flowers, and see the difference for yourself.

It’s Prom Season!

2009-04-03T13:06:00.001-04:00

We are busy preparing an assortment of corsages and boutonnieres for the multiple proms in our area. We feature a range of wristlet options for corsages… freshwater pearl, crystal, shimmery slap bracelets, decorative wire and traditional elastic. We also carry several accent choices for corsages and boutonnieres… crystal butterfly clips, crystal and pearl accents strands, bouillon wire in an assortment of colors and styles, crystal flowers and other decorative additions. Stop by to see our full selection and to place your order!

Valentine's Day

2009-01-28T09:55:00.000-05:00

Can you believe Valentine's Day is right around the corner? We have been busy getting the shop ready. If you have not made plans yet, it might be a good idea to start thinking about what you want to do. February is right around the corner.

To get you in the mood, here are some gorgeous flower arrangements from Better Homes and Gardens. These are just a few, go to their website for more ideas and inspiration.

Also, click here to see some of our posts from last year.

Exciting News

2009-01-26T04:00:00.000-05:00

We had some wonderful press coverage at the end of the 2008. We are proud to announce our selection as Readers' Choice Best of Atlanta Florist for 2008 in Atlanta Magazine. This honor means so much to us since it is a reflection of our level of customer satisfaction in the community. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers who voted for us!

One of our weddings has also been featured in the Knot Magazine Atlanta Spring 2009 edition. Click here to see the online version. We are thrilled to see the flower pictures - taken by the very talented Scott Chester of W. Scott Chester Photography - that they chose to feature.

It’s a New Year!

2009-01-08T11:52:00.001-05:00

All of us at KaBloom (Marianne, Linda, Don, Michele, Laura, Tim and Cooper (our newly initiated delivery driver) rang in the New Year with much excitement and anticipation. We were wondering how the economic meltdown in the last part of 2008 would affect the business and we’re happy to report that the holiday season from November to December was good to us. We had such beautiful Christmas trees and wreaths on display at the shop and received many oohs and aahs from customers shopping or just looking. Thank you, Don!

And now all the left-over ornaments and adornments are an incredible 50% off! That also applies to all other holiday items – and fall items (still some left!) are at an all-time-low of 60%.

We have to clear out all these items in preparation for the florist’s busiest day of the year – Valentine’s Day! New vases, new plush, new designs are waiting in the wings to go on display, but we need the room. Take advantage of our sales!!!

Heart-shaped rose photo is courtesy of Jerry Downs

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T03:22:00.000-05:00

Wishing you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.

Fall Weddings

2008-11-26T02:05:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I guess it is time to post some fall wedding ideas! Check out these beautiful fall inspired flowers. I love the idea of using natural materials. The bark covered vases are gorgeous. The boutonniere with the kumquats and eucalyptus pods are super cute too.

Pictures from brides.com and The Knot; click on each picture to get more details.

Fall Vase Hack

2008-11-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Martha Stewart brings us a simple way to create a fall look with some of the small vessels you have on hand. Wrap a dried corn husk around a small vase and then, tie some ribbon around the bottom so it holds. You will have yourself a beautiful vase to put some fall colored flowers in for Thanksgiving in no time.

Flower Pumpkins

2008-11-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

So cute! I love this idea of using pumpkins and mums for these arrangements. What a great decorating idea for Thanksgiving. You could even do this with the kids.

Click here for details from Better Homes and Gardens.

Thanksgiving Table Settings

2008-11-07T12:02:00.001-05:00

Come on over to the shop today or tomorrow to see some table setting examples at our Holiday Open House! We will have demonstrations on using ribbon for decorations, creating your own centerpieces for the holiday table, decorating Christmas trees, and more! We hope you will stop by for the party!

In the meantime, here is some inspiration for your Thanksgiving Table - just a few short weeks away.

[pictures from Country Living, click here for many more ideas]

Holiday Open House

2008-11-05T09:38:00.001-05:00

Wow! I can't believe Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. To prepare for the holidays we are hosting a Holiday Open House. Check out the details below.

Friday, November 7th, 12 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, November 8th, 9 am to 5 pm

We will have the store decorated with holiday decor and tablescapes. We will give you some decoration and DIY tips with demonstrations. You will get a chance to meet our designers. And we will have some noshes & nibbles and wine & drinks to share with you, as well as door prizes! Please stop by.

Sandy Springs Festival

2008-09-19T13:27:00.000-04:00

Be sure to check out the Sandy Springs Festival this weekend! Here are the details for the event:

Hours - Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00pm and Sunday: 11:00am to 5:00 pm

Where - Right near CityWalk

What - community fun! Don't miss the pet parade at 11:00 am on Saturday. And you can register early tomorrow morning for the Doug Kessler Lightning 10k.

Click here for more information.

[The picture on the right is from last year's festival.]

COLOURLovers - Wedding Palette Possiblities

2008-08-27T09:21:00.000-04:00

I spent sometime this morning playing with the COLOURLovers website. Wow. If you like experimenting with color, you can spend a good deal of time on this website. I think it would be really helpful for someone planning a wedding (along with decorating, floral design, you name it). Say you are struggling with which colors to use for your wedding. With this website, you can take a favorite painting, photograph, or whatever; throw it into the COLOURLovers picture palette inspiration tool; and ta-da! - the colors that were used in the picture pop up on the screen. From there, you can create a inspired color palette for your wedding.

One of my favorite paintings is the Girl in the Window by Dalí. So, I took a weblink for that painting and came up with this palette.

Check out KenzieKate's guest post on Design*Sponge for a more detailed description of how to use this website.

Air Plants!

2008-08-26T07:32:00.000-04:00

The designers are having so much fun with air plants these days! Also known as Tillandsia, air plants are so easy to care for and add a bit of spunk to an arrangement. Air plants do not have roots, do not require soil, and mainly thrive on the dust and moisture in the air, which means they are super easy for those missing a green thumb. There are so many ways to use these plants: add them to an arrangement, use them on a piece of drift wood, or place them on top of some beautiful river rocks - that is just the start, the possibilities are endless.

To round out the summer, try getting an air plant and putting it into one of the shells you found this summer at the beach. Here are the instructions for how-to do it!

[via Martha Stewart]

For more information on air plants, click here and here.

College Living

2008-08-07T10:45:00.000-04:00

It is that time of the year. The car gets packed to the gills and you head out to start a new year. College students all over the U.S. will be decorating their dorms and college apartments over the next few weeks, if they haven't already. The first year is always the most exciting and overwhelming. What to bring? There is tons of advice out there on this. I remember the monster list I had with great suggestions on items that I needed for the year. Here are a few lists that I found online: Off-to-College Checklist, Bed Bath and Beyond, and the Container Store. The Container Store also has some tips for college living on their main dorm room page. And here are some more suggestions to keep organized and manage in a small space. National Geographic also lists some resources for taking your dorm room green. Remember to check with your school to find out what is allowed in your dorm room and don't forget to plan with your roommate!

My one suggestion would be to add some live plants. They bring life to the room and offer an inexpensive option for decor. Try African Violets, succulents, or a money tree for easy to care for options. Lucky Bamboo or wheat grass are two other ideas that would work too! Go to your local florist and see what is available that you like.

[photos via pusgums and cyntheticflava]

Wedding Featured

2008-08-06T16:19:00.001-04:00

One late night last week, I received word that some of our wedding photos were going to be featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs blog. When I opened up the link, I was blown away with the super nice comments and photo selection for the post. Today, I finally had a chance to poke around the blog some more and let me say that I am amazed by all the gorgeous weddings and decoration ideas posted on their site. Be sure to check out their blog regularly for wedding inspiration! We are SO honored that they posted some of the photographs from our wedding. Check out the feature on their blog for some pictures by the very talented W. Scott Chester. Thank you Elizabeth and Anne and thanks to Cristen of W. Scott Chester photography for forwarding along our photos. Also, you can see some of the floral arrangements created by KaBloom of Sandy Springs! Thanks Don, Linda, Michelle, and Tim for all your work that day!

Some Pieces from Around the Web

2008-08-05T20:57:00.001-04:00

Check out the links below for some of the items that I have bookmarked over the past few months.

Flower Arrangements

Summer Flower Arranging Tips for low vases from Apartment Therapy
How To: Display Cut Flowers (10 Easy Ways) from Apartment Therapy
Retro Vignettes of flower arrangements from Desire to Inspire
Hodgepodge of single stem tulips in blue vases from Lovely Little Things

Vases

Polka Dot and Stripes vases from {frolic!}
Sara Paloma Vases from {frolic!}
Postfossil's Torre Pot from happy mundane
Easy Fabric Vase Covers from How about orange...

Miscellaneous

Terrariums and Aquariums from Koko Studios (found via Apartment Therapy)
10 Best Succulents from Apartment Therapy

If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it is your world for the moment.

Georgia O'Keefe

Internet Blues

2008-07-29T10:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry Folks for the lack of posting here. I have had intermittent Internet access. But I am back online here and will really get back to the regularly scheduled program. Today is a catch-up day, and the rest of the week we will be on a family vacation. So, we will be back next week! In honor of the Internet Blues - here is a blue arrangement using ranunculus and muscari from Martha Stewart. Click here for instructions on how to put it together.

Vases by Alyssa Ettinger

2008-07-22T14:54:00.000-04:00

Alyssa Ettinger has some really nice white porcelain vases for sale in her etsy shop. I have a soft spot for old milk jug style jugs - so I just loves these! (Right: Milk Collection, $30; Left: Set of Three, NYC Theme, $110)

I also love the detail here for the knitware vase (Flat Mod Cable, $150).

Found via PoppyTalk and click here for more designs.

Upside Down Callas

2008-07-18T11:22:00.001-04:00

Check out this gorgeous arrangement from Hotel Murano. I love the calla lilies hanging down inside the vase - some good floral engineering to accomplish that one!

Hotel Murano is located in Tacoma, Washington and is inspired by glass art. For more photos of the hotel, click here. [Found via Apartment Therapy and photo by Toby Weiss of the B.E.L.T blog.]

Modern White

2008-07-16T07:08:00.000-04:00

No wonder Preston Bailey is tops when it comes to floral design. This stunning bouquet just says it all. Perfect for the modern bride!

This bouquet was made for J.J. Philbin (Regis Philbin's daughter) and is filled with white cymbidium and dendrobium orchids, white peonies, and mini calla lilies. (via InStyle Weddings)

Simple Summer Flower Arrangements

2008-07-14T07:29:00.000-04:00

Real Simple posted an article with eight simple flower arrangement ideas. The main tip is to use a unique container with one or two different types of flowers. My favorite from their bunch is the gerber daisy table runner with wh eat grass - very simple and summery. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
I also like the idea of using beach pales or terra cotta planters as containers too. These are things you have lying around the house - why not put flowers into them to give them new life! Click here for some more ideas.

Home from Vacation!

2008-07-10T07:36:00.000-04:00

We have arrived home. So, we will be back to our regularly scheduled program next week! We had a wonderful trip and saw many exciting sights! Here is one lotus flower picture that I took from our first stop in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I love how they folded the flower petals!

Brights - Yellow and Pink

2008-07-09T06:03:00.000-04:00

Here are some beautiful arrangements from the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings! I love the bright colors, especially the yellow. Click here for more pictures and arrangements.

Real Simple Flowers

2008-07-08T09:12:00.000-04:00

I have already featured two arrangements from this Real Simple Flower slide show, but I just could not resist a few more. Check them out!

Click here for some more.

July 4th! Patriotic Flowers

2008-07-03T08:24:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that July 4th is tomorrow!?! Hope you have some nice plans to celebrate the day with friends and family. Here, many Atlantans celebrate by running the Peachtree Road Race - so if you are running, GOOD LUCK! :) And don't forget to have some fun!

After the race, if you are going to a barbeque, think about taking a nice arrangement of red and white flowers in some blue vases. Or just a few small blooms - one of each color to use in a small bud vase.

Enjoy the fireworks displays!

[image from Rachel Ray]

Orchid Details

2008-07-02T08:27:00.000-04:00

Orchids, orchids, orchids. Delicate, elegant, and interesting. For a small wedding or even a bridal shower, I love the idea of using these orchid cones as escort or place cards that double as favors. Just add the guest's name to the ribbon or cone with some more ribbon and a little piece of paper. A water tube is placed inside each of the cones to keep the orchids hydrated. [via Martha Stewart]

Flag Arrangement - 4th of July

2008-07-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

Here is one floral arrangement idea you could use to celebrate July 4th!

Take 6 or more small, short cube vases, a bunch of red and white flowers (roses, carnations, or tulips) and your favorite blue flower (dyed blue roses, hydrangeas, cornflowers, anemones, or even irises). Line up all the cube vases in a rectangle on your table. Fill one cube with the blue flowers and put that in the top corner, and then fill the other cubes with alternating rows of red and white. Final result - flag of flowers! You could even sprinkle in a few small white blooms to make the stars for the blue cube. You could also due this with a box, glass baking dish (with short stems and floral foam), or whatever else you think of!

Similar to this, but on a smaller scale!

[photo by Neil Rickards]

Old Houseware Items Turned Modern Vases

2008-06-30T08:08:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens has some suggestions for creative flower arrangements. Some of them use items that could be found while looking around antique shops and markets, garage sales, and anywhere else! Or think about other uses for items before you toss them.

Colored Glass Cups	Mercury Glass Containers

Old Watering Can	Rustic Kitchen Containers

Silver Cordial Glasses

Click here for some more ideas.

Simple Rose Arrangement

2008-06-27T08:19:00.000-04:00

We often have great specials on rose bouquets. Take home a dozen or two and make this super simple arrangement. All you need are the flowers and a short square vase. Just make sure you have enough roses to fill your vase. Click here for the instructions by Jill Slater.

One more below the rim

2008-06-26T07:49:00.000-04:00

Simple, elegant. The container makes the arrangement. Just float a few big blooms in a beautiful china bowl and you have a classic center piece! [via Martha Stewart]

Wedding Cakes with Fresh Flowers

2008-06-25T09:23:00.000-04:00

I chose a simple wedding cake with fresh flowers as decorations. It came out beautifully! Using fresh flowers to decorate your cake is, often times, a good cost saving option. Here are some beautiful cakes featuring fresh flowers!

[photos from left to right, top to bottom: Wedding Channel, Better Homes and Gardens(BHG), Wedding Channel; second row: Knot, Knot, BHG; third row: Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel]

Just Below the Rim

2008-06-24T07:21:00.000-04:00

For quick and simple flower arrangements, think about big vases and floating flowers. Click on the pictures for details on how to design each flower arrangement.

via Better Homes and Gardens

Sunny Yellow

2008-06-23T08:51:00.000-04:00

Love this very simple arrangement! Look at what a big bunch of daisies can do in a bright bucket vase!

[via Real Simple]

Containers Can Make the Arrangement

2008-06-20T08:59:00.000-04:00

Happy Weekend!

[via Real Simple]

Wooden Box Tip

2008-06-19T07:58:00.000-04:00

I just love this arrangement. The secret to pulling it off though is using smaller containers inside the box to hold the water and the flowers.

via Better Homes and Gardens

Garden Shower

2008-06-18T09:25:00.000-04:00

This picture from the Wedding Style Guide, a new wedding inspiration resource from Australia, is just so adorable. I love the green boots, fresh flowers, brown paper wrapped around the bunches, big mason jars, and brown twine. Wouldn't it be cute to throw a flower arranging shower in your backyard. I know bridesmaids are always looking for fun activities to do at bridal showers. This would be a great way to get the guests involved and it would give them a little favor to take home with them. Buying a few bunches of flowers would be less expensive than a few center pieces too! To take it a step further, talk to your local florist and see if you can schedule one of their designers to come and give a short little lesson. This could be used for more than just wedding showers too - think local garden club meeting, girls night out, new neighbor welcome, any number of events.

Check out the Wedding Style Guide blog too!

Succulent Wreath

2008-06-16T08:31:00.000-04:00

Succulents are so unique and interesting. Instead of just putting them in a pot or box, you can make a cool wreath out of them. Click here is a beautiful example. Use them for an event, such as a wedding or make one for a housewarming gift! Check out this video on how to make a succulent wreath - Instructions from Martha Stewart.

Hat Tip

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T04:13:00.001-04:00

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Enjoy the day celebrating your father!

Congrats to LaDonna and Darnell

2008-06-12T16:24:00.000-04:00

LaDonna and Darnell, an Atlanta couple, won the Today Show's Race to the Altar! They will get married in two weeks with Today Throws a Wedding. All next week you can vote with other Today Show viewers to help make the decisions for the details of the wedding.

For more wedding articles from the Today Show, click here. I am sure they will update their site with all the wedding choices too.

Screen on the Green

2008-06-12T08:24:00.000-04:00

If you haven't caught a Screen on the Green showing at Centennial Olympic Park yet, this week's movie, Chicago, would be a good start!

Screen on the Green starts at sunset in Centennial Olympic Park. and is free. If you can't make it tonight, you have two more shots - E.T. (June 19th) and Footloose (June 26th).

Take Marta and make sure you follow the park rules: "Moviegoers are welcome to bring picnic baskets and food. No high-back chairs, glass, alcohol, grills or pets of any kind are permitted at the event." Click here for more details.

*We make up picnic baskets of all sorts of goodies that could help make your date extra special. You could even add some fresh flowers.*

Flower Cones for the Aisle

2008-06-11T08:41:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens has a tutorial for making floral cones to hang on the chairs lining the aisle. Making your own allows you to personalize them to suit your theme and color! Click here for instructions.

Father's Day Gifts

2008-06-10T08:46:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is right around the corner - June 15th. Don't forget to check out our website for some Father's Day Gift Ideas - Sphere of Tranquility Terrarium, Cactus Gardens, Poker Night gift basket, Chocolate Lovers Basket, and many more!

Year of Flowers

2008-06-09T08:57:00.000-04:00

When Abbey, of the wonderful blog Abbey Goes Design Scouting, turned 29 this year, her husband gave her a very creative and thoughtful gift. He made up 52 envelopes each filled with a note and a bit of cash to spend on fresh flowers from their neighborhood flower stands - a new note and bunch of flowers each week! It is a gift that lasts the whole year. I think he is going to have a hard time topping that one next year! What a wonderful idea!

Abbey has been documenting her purchases each week on her blog and flickr account. I always look forward to seeing what she comes home with. Here are some of her latest choices:

Check out her blog for more each week and for some great interior design ideas too! She also has two Etsy stores - stationery products and vintage decorative items. Take some time to poke around!

Beautiful Simple Arrangements

2008-06-06T08:27:00.000-04:00

I tagged these photos back around Mother's Day, so I better post them before Father's Day! Better Homes and Gardens has some wonderful suggestions for unique and simple arrangements. Ranunculus are such fun flowers - I love how they paired them with this special rustic country container. Could be a good item to look for at antique shops, flea markets, or garage sales!

This seashell arrangement could be used for a beach wedding. Or just to bring the beach home. Place a little floral foam inside the shell, and then stick in a few stems of your favorite flowers - parrot tulips were used here.

Click on the pictures to go to the originals.

Centerpieces Using Hydrangea

2008-06-05T07:55:00.000-04:00

As promised here are some pictures of centerpieces that use hydrangea. Hydrangeas look great all on their own or combined with any number of flowers - roses, lilies, peonies, and hanging amaranthus, just to name a few.

[photos from, left to right, top to bottom, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot, MS Weddings]

Hydrangeas for Your Wedding

2008-06-04T16:15:00.001-04:00

I have seen some AWESOME hydrangea blooms lately. The big balls of little, delicate flowers just make me smile. And, as they are great flowers to use in your wedding, I thought I would post some wedding hydrangeas :) Above are some beautiful bouquets featuring hydrangea. Hydrangea come in a variety of colors - as you can see! I love the mini-hydrangea in the last photo. [photo credits, from left to right: MS Weddings, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel].

Here are some pics of hydrangea decorating the aisle and chairs for the ceremony [photo credits, from left to right:Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot].

You can even use hydrangea for the men of the bridal party - check out these hydrangea boutonnières [photo credits, from left to right: Knot, Knot, Knot].

Last but not least, some details - entrance decor, cakes, wreaths [photo credits, from left to right, top to bottom:. MS Weddings, MS Weddings, MS Weddings, MS Weddings].

Stay tuned for some centerpieces using hydrangea, coming tomorrow!

Everything Guide to Flowers

2008-06-02T08:53:00.002-04:00

The New York Magazine published a bunch of articles on flowers this weekend. With an obvious spin toward the NYC flower scene, the articles covered making your own arrangement, caring for the flowers, and using unique vases, among others.

One of the articles featured a sample of the different arrangements you might receive for $100 when asking for the freshest flowers - here is what arrived from florists in NYC:

Click here for descriptions and more arrangements.

West Elm Glass Vases and Pots on Sale!

2008-05-30T07:22:00.000-04:00

West Elm has a sale going on right now. These artisanal vases and pots are all on sale. The top row vases come in a group of three: orange $34.99 (previously, $49.00); white $44.99 (previously $69.00). They have a set of blue vases and a set of small bulb vases for sale too. The bottom row pots also come in a group of three: large pots $29.99 (previously $34.00); small pots $19.99 (previously $34.00).

Click here for more.

Sewing and Flowers

2008-05-29T10:59:00.000-04:00

Floral patterns are all the rage this season on the fashion runways. For another way to blend fashion with flowers, check out this photo of some beautiful astrantia set inside vintage wooden sewing spools. To get you hands on the spools, check Ebay and Casey Wood's Products.

[image via color line]

More Wedding Inspiration

2008-05-28T07:10:00.000-04:00

I stumbled across the Southern Wedding Style blog last week. This site has tons of beautiful pictures of southern weddings. Take a look!

Memorial Day

2008-05-23T10:09:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the long weekend and take some time to remember those who have died serving our country.

[image from Sister72]

Colorful Carnations

2008-05-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Check out this tutorial on dying carnations - perfect for your Memorial Day Weekend. Take some white carnations, put them in cups or vases with red and blue food dye and see what happens! Click here for the details from Make and Takes. As an added bonus - someone responded to the post and suggested splitting the stem of the carnation in half or quarters and then putting each piece of the stem into different colored water to get multi-colored flowers. This could be a fun little experiment to do with your kids.

Pictures via Make and Takes and found via Lovely Little Things.

Group of White Vases

2008-05-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

More vases to help with the single-stem-grouping flower arranging style! Available from Graham and Green in the UK in either a 7 or 12 stem group.

Found via Lovely Little Things

Bouquets

2008-05-21T07:06:00.000-04:00

Founds some new (at least to me) beautiful pictures of unique bouquets on Martha Stewart's Wedding website today. Gorgeous Inspiration!

I have seen more and more of these beautiful roses. According to MS, this is Michael George's signature bridal bouquet - the Couture Rose. It is made by removing the petals from a bunch of roses and then wiring them into one bloom - 6 to 7 inches across.

Some unique additions in the bouquets above. In the first one, herbs - thyme, rosemary and sage - compliment the lily of the valley, grape hyacinth, scented-geranium foliage, and lamb's ear. And in the second one, small shells work their way into pink bouquet.

Succulents, succulents, succulents! They are everywhere, and I love them! What a beautiful combination with the orchids and ranunculus.

One flower bouquets here - carnations, anemones, and calla lillies!

Click here for even more pictures.

Flower Arranging

2008-05-20T13:37:00.001-04:00

While I was out last week, the New York Times published an article about simple flower arranging. Apartment Therapy (AT) posted about it this past weekend, which is how I came across it. AT ran a poll to see whether or not people were intimated by flower arranging. Most people had no problem arranging their own flowers! Yeah!

The NYT article features De Juan Stroud, a New York floral design company owner. Stoud describes some simple arrangements to make at home. Click here for the article and here for the slide show. The main take away is to keep it simple, with groupings of some vases and flowers of the same color.

[via NY Times]

About carnations Stoud said, that because they are considered trite "only his most sophisticated clients are willing to use them" :). Carnations generally do get a bad rap, but if they are used well, they are wonderful flowers!

Unique Vases

2008-05-20T08:50:00.000-04:00

A Cup of Jo recently asked her readers for tips on unusual vases. We have covered some of the ideas posted, (like the test tubes, egg cups, tea tins, and toothbrush holder ideas) but here are some additional ideas people posted:

French Coffee Press
Martinelli's Apple Juice Bottles or Orangina Bottles
Old Blender
Shot Glasses
Silver Trophies
Candle Sticks
Rain boots
And...Sandwich bag in a pair of jeans

This is a little more than what the poster was suggesting, but just to give you an idea!

via hong kong daily photo

Click here and here are some other ideas.

Back to our regularly scheduled program

2008-05-19T08:17:00.001-04:00

...later this week. In the meantime, check out some of these amazing flower photographs from flickr - here and here.

Mother's Day Special! Stargazer Lilies

2008-05-07T06:45:00.000-04:00

We have Stargazer Lilies in abundance, and we are offering them to you at a special price of $3.50 per stem.

The royal Stargazer Lily is a floral jewel of extraordinary beauty and fragrance. Paired with red roses or by themselves, these large bloom Oriental lilies make a statement to remember.

Shipped to us straight from flower farms in South America, they are fresh, beautiful and the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

Call us today to order! 404-303-0530

Fields of Flowers

2008-05-06T07:42:00.000-04:00

Check out these beautiful pictures of fields of Moss Phlox flowers in Hitsujiyama Park, in Chichibu, Japan. Picture by Issei Kato. Click here for more. (via Apartment Therapy)

Mother's Day! May 11th

2008-05-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Don't forget to plan something special for your mom. Here are some great ideas for how to use flowers to make mom smile!

I love this idea! Surprise mom before she wakes up in the morning. When I was little, we would celebrate mother's day by making our mom breakfast in bed. We would write up a menu, and then, run upstairs to take her order. My dad would make up the breakfast with us helping (washing the blueberries and pouring the orange juice). We would then bring the meal up for her when ready. We would have really pulled this together by placing a little arrangement of flowers around her bed post!

I also like the idea of using real flowers to accent gift wrapping. It is easy to do and adds a special touch to your gifts. I have seen more elaborate arrangements placed on top of larger boxes, but I think the single rose pictured above works really well too!

Another idea for Better Homes and Gardens is to place flowers inside the present that you are giving to your mom. If your mom likes to write, you can give her a hand-made pencil holder (like this, this, or this) filled with some of her favorite blooms. Or if your mom likes to cook, take a mortar and pestle set and fill the mortar with some flowers.

Just some ideas to get you started - we will post more throughout the week!

[pictures from Better Homes and Gardens]

Bridal Shower - Good Advice

2008-04-30T10:18:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens has an article on their website about throwing a "Good Advice" shower. I really like this idea for a bridal or even a baby shower, because it is a great way to involve the guests. Plus, coming up with one line of advice, can't be too hard! Here are some suggestions on how to match the advice (from BHG) with the present:

Advice: Take turns cooking for each other.
Gift: Favorite cookbook and kitchen tools.

Advice: Experience new things.
Gift: Travel accessories.

Click here for the article - the main point is to include a cute card along with the invitation (maybe a pocket envelope invitation), provide some instructions on what to do with the card, and have the bride read each card aloud before she opens the present!

Another great suggestion, if you are doing your own food, buffet style, is to use square vases as containers. This makes for a nice uniform, modern look.

Go check out the article for some more great suggestions!

Flex Vase

2008-04-29T10:25:00.001-04:00

In doing some research for another post, I ran across this very interesting "test tube" vase at the Museum of Modern Art website. Designed by Andy Designs, this award winning vase combines test tubes with flexible connectors, which allow the vase to form different shapes and sizes. Go to their website to see a video on how the vase works!

Here are just some of the patterns you can make with the vase. Click here for more tips.

Darwin's Garden - NY Botanical

2008-04-25T06:57:00.000-04:00

Slipper Orchids

The New York Botanical Garden has an exhibit featuring Charles Darwin's study of plants and flowers. The exhibit replicates Darwin's Down House experiments and his English gardens. Studying flowers greatly influenced the development of Darwin's theory of evolution. For a slide show by the New York Times about the exhibition, click here. And here is the link for the article.

Sweet Little Flower Details

2008-04-23T12:06:00.002-04:00

Flowers do not have to be limited to bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony decorations. There are tons of ways of bringing flowers into other elements of your wedding. Below are just some random ideas I have run across recently.

I love the idea of using a flower to accent each place setting. And I adore the little ranunculus cuff in the first picture below!

[pictures via In Style Weddings and brides.com]

Another unique idea is to use a little bud vase with a single flower for your place cards, which could double as a favor. I especially like this idea for bridal showers, which are often smaller, making the idea more budget friendly! Or just add a creative flower arrangement near your escort cards to add some more color.

[In Style Weddings and brides]

And I love this idea of using mums to decorate the swizzle sticks for these lemonade drinks!

[via Hostest with the Mostest Blog, In Style Weddings]

Happy Administrative Professional's Day

2008-04-23T07:08:00.000-04:00

A post on the Flower Blog points to research by Rutgers University about how bouquets send a very positive message to the receiver. Not only are flowers beautiful to receive and look at, but they tell the receiver something about the sender (e.g., thoughtful, caring, and successful). Click here for more information about the results.

[picture from Sister72]

Administrative Professional's Day - Tomorrow!

2008-04-22T10:59:00.000-04:00

[picture from procsilas]

Don't forget about administrative professional's day! Make sure you place your flower orders today. Recognize and thank the people who really keep the office running.

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

Grow grass inside! Aiming to green indoor living spaces, these frames of grass modernize the old Chia Pet. Supposedly, the grass lasts for about 4 to 5 months. The trays can be refilled to begin the process again. Click here for purchasing information.

Daily Inspiration - a beautiful and inspiring blog!

2008-04-21T06:57:00.001-04:00

Lately, I have really been enjoying the posts by Sas of Daily Inspiration. She takes beautiful pictures of flowers, posts wonderful quotes, and truly inspires. See below for some examples of her photos and quotes, but really, I encourage you to check out her blog for true inspiration!

Silently a flower blooms, In silence it falls away; Yet here now, at this moment, at this place, The world of the flower, the whole of the world is blooming. This is the talk of the flower, the truth of the blossom: The glory of eternal life is fully shining here. - Zenkei Shibayama

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun. - Kahlil Gibran

Spring Centerpieces - Tutorial

2008-04-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Epicurious posted a slideshow with tips on how to make three different spring centerpieces. Click here for the slideshow. If you look closely you can see the asparagus lining the square vase for the arrangement at the farthest right.

A few more wrist corsages

2008-04-17T07:54:00.000-04:00

After the post last week about different corsage ideas, I found a few more wrist corsages (on the left) that were interesting. I think they could help spark some creative thinking about how to design some wrist corsages. They remind you that are not so limited to just selecting which flowers to use, but how to accent the corsage and how to use leaves, other flowers, and materials for the band. Any of these could work for a wedding or for prom. The first and last ones are definitely an out-of-the-box designs. I love the idea of using the craspedia (also know as billy buttons or woollyheads) as the band and the use of the anthurium for focal point. For more information click here.

On the right you can see some recent prom corsages that we have made up. They are made with roses and dendrobium orchids and sprinkled with succulents, grape hyacinth, wax flowers, and greens. The band on the first corsage is made from a strand of pearls! The band for the middle corsage is a "diamond" band - really Austrian crystals!

Some More Spring Trends

2008-04-10T08:22:00.001-04:00

Here are some beautiful arrangements using the colorful gray trend for flower arranging this spring. I love the big green arrangements! They are so tall and impressive.

[images from the Flower Council of Holland]

Click here for some more arrangements that fall in line with this trend.

And click here for our previous post on using gray this spring.

Sophisticated Corsage Options

2008-04-09T07:38:00.001-04:00

Corsages are used to recognize the special women at your wedding - mothers, grandmothers, readers, stepmothers, or any other immediate family members who are not in the wedding party. Here are some corsage options to consider. The traditional corsage is pinned just below the shoulder and near the collarbone. Typical pin-on corsages can be made of multiple flowers or made of one bloom, maybe a cymbidium orchid or a rose.

Another option is a wrist corsage.

[image from brides.com]

[image from KaBloom of Sandy Springs]

You may want to recognize your mothers a little differently. Two ideas that I like are giving them a corsage that attaches to their purses or giving them a small bouquet or a few stems to carry instead of wearing a traditional corsage.

A few things to remember: Try to use a flower that matches the rest of the wedding flowers. You can personalize the corsages by using the wearer's favorite bloom. Click here for instruction on how to pin a corsage.

Hanging Vases and Flowers

2008-04-08T06:45:00.000-04:00

For some reason, I have been drawn to hanging vases lately. By hanging a vase with flowers, they are directly at eye-level when you walk into a room, so you seem them right away. I think it is romantic and a little unexpected.

[image from KaBloom of Sandy Springs]

CB2 has two hanging vases available for purchase and a few hanging candles. Hang them in a cluster to create beautiful floral arrangement that is surrounded by candle light. First seen on Loving Living Small.

Or click on the following link for an article on how to make your own: Tips on Making your Own.

Ginger

2008-04-07T06:41:00.000-04:00

It has been awhile since we featured a tropical flower. Today's flower is Ginger, also known as Alpinia. Like many tropical flowers, these are big, dramatic flowers. Originally they are from Malaysia, but now they bloom in many tropical regions. Ginger comes in red or pink, but there is also a yellow variety. Depending on the type of ginger, the shape varies. The one shown below is shaped like a pine cone and is often found in floral shops. It is commonly called beehive ginger.

[images from turtlemom4bacon and daveyll]

Another variety often found in floral shops (definitely ours), looks like the ones below, a little bit longer and more opened.

[image from KaBloom of Sandy Springs]

Quick Tips

Tropical flowers like warmer temperatures and bright indirect light. You can spray the petals with water to keep them moist and fresh. Change the water and trim the stems every three to four days. And they are related to the ginger you eat!

Dogwood Festival - New Location

2008-04-04T07:47:00.000-04:00

Even though this year's Dogwood Festival is not at Piedmont Park, due to the drought, it is still a great opportunity to check out some artwork and hear some live music. So take Marta down to Lenox Square this weekend and walk around a bit. Hey, you can even do some shopping while your at it!

Lenox Square

3393 Peachtree Road N.E.
Atlanta GA 30326

Friday, April 4, 12:00 - 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, April 6, 12:00 - 6:00 PM

Click here for more information.

Have a great weekend!

Just one more... gray this time!

2008-04-03T10:06:00.001-04:00

But, if you want to stay with the times and the gray trend for this spring, check out these very cool vases by Tina Frey (found via Oh Joy!). Yellow and green containers are available too.

Feeling Green Vases

2008-04-03T08:37:00.001-04:00

Feeling some green today. For some reasons, most of the of vases I have tagged from Etsy for a post turned out to be green glass. So, I decided to focus on it! Check out some of these beautiful vintage vases for Etsy.

[click on each vase to go to the seller - garagesale, sweetrice, and MyVintagePad]

And then some of these handblown creations from SolosGlass in Richmond, VA.

[click on each picture to get purchasing information]

Aisle Style

2008-04-02T07:04:00.002-04:00

I really wanted to have flower petals lining the aisle when I got married, but alas due to restrictions, we couldn't. However, there are tons of ways to decorate the aisle for your wedding ceremony. You could have two aisle markers made of big, beautiful arrangements that make a statement when guests walk in. Or have them lining the entire aisle. You could put pomanders or pew markers on each (or every other or the first and last) row. You could line the aisle with candles or a flower garland. Here are some pictures to provide you with some inspiration.

[click on each of the pictures for the original - from the the knot, wedding channel, and brides.com]

Spring Flower Trends

2008-04-01T06:45:00.000-04:00

Some spring flower trends have been posted by the UK Flowers and Plants Association. I think they are right on point with selecting gray as one of the trends. I have seen lots of gray out there. It is a neutral color that allows the flowers to pop against it. Here is some information about the trend, which they name "Colourful Grey" (British spelling), from their site:

Colourful Grey’ symbolises all that is fabulous in nature. Like the first splashes of dawn glimpsed over dark and sleeping hills. Like walking along a pebbled beach on a crisp, spring morning, and noticing one bright orange starfish, washed up by the surf and glowing like a flame amongst ash. Like looking up at a greying spring sky at dusk, and seeing the blues and greens of a magpie’s wing glinting in the dying sun. This is nature personified; with a duality of opposites coming together to form exquisite beauty.

Here are some pictures of how to design floral arrangements using the gray and colorful pops of gerbera daisies.

[Pictures from UK Flower and Plants Association]

More spring flower trends to come later this week and next!

Calla Lily

2008-03-31T07:58:00.002-04:00

[images from minette, tanakawho, and tanakawho]

Calla or arum lilies (Zantedescia aethiopica) are native flowers from southern Africa. These elegant flowers, with their sculptural shape, are commonly used in weddings. But they are beautiful for all sorts of occasions and work as a great focal point in floral arrangements. Calla lilies are available in shades of pink and cream, yellow, green, terracotta orange, and dark purple. They also come in a miniature size, mini calla lilies.

[images from tanakawho and robbie jim]

Care tips:

Calla lilies are delicate, so take care when transporting them. As with most flowers, start with a clean vase. Take your calla lilies, re-cut the stems, remove foliage that will be below the water line, and put flower food into the vase water. Once you have the flowers arranged, keep them away from direct sunlight and air vents. After a few days (2-3), change water, recut stems, and clean vase. Check your arrangement daily for dying blooms and foliage, remove immediately.

[image from phil wood]

For more information, Flowers and Plants UK

Branches

2008-03-28T06:47:00.001-04:00

With the Atlanta Dogwood Festival coming next weekend and the National Cherry Blossom Festival starting this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to post some information about branches. Seeing the flowers bloom on the trees is one of my favorite signs of spring!

Sunset Magazine recently posted an article about displaying blooming branches. If you are taking the branches from a tree on your yard, clip them when the first buds open and make about an inch slit at the end of the stem. Then, put the branches in a vase with some warm water with flower food. The general rule is to use branches that are about twice the height of your container. When you change the water, recut and reslit the ends. Click here for more details and for some specific ideas for using magnolias, blooming fruit trees, flowering quince, and dogwoods!

[image from Sunset Magazine]

Vase Alternatives

2008-03-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

Here are some more vase alternatives that I have stumbled upon over the past few weeks.

Tons of vessels can serve as vases, such as scientific beakers or test tubes in a test tube holder, Wellington boots, mason jars, or wine carafes. The other day, I saw a bunch of flowers nicely arranged in a plain white-coffee mug! Basically, you can use anything!

The important thing to remember is to use a small glass to hold the flowers for anything that is not watertight or waterproof. The picture below, from Better Home and Gardens, uses Chinese take-out boxes (via All Things for All Parties). I have also seen pictures displaying flowers in tea tins. Just get creative!

I love the idea of just wrapping something around a vase to give it another look. You can use ribbons, beads, paper, any type of material. We posted an idea a few weeks back that used placemats. Judith Blacklock from the UK has two great ideas posted on her website. Wrap some cloth around a vase and tie some twine around the cloth to get the look below.

Judith Blacklock Flower School in the UK

Or take a regular vase, a rubber band, and some sticky stuff, get some rhubarb and lily grass, and make a vase covering like the one below. Click here for complete instructions! You could use bamboo or pussy willow as alternative ideas.

Click here and here for some vase ideas that we posted in previous weeks.

update: I just saw a post by Silly Little Mischief that suggests using pitchers, sugar bowls, and teapots - check out her blog for some great pics!

Wedding Blogs

2008-03-26T06:45:00.000-04:00

When planning my wedding back last year, I discovered a few wedding blogs that provided wonderful ideas and inspiration. My three favorite wedding blogs are:

So, if you are in need of wedding inspiration, be sure to check them out! Something old, something new has a great eye for accessories and bridesmaids gifts. Style Me Pretty posts beautiful inspiration boards. And Weddingbee is a community blog of brides going through the planning process, so you can follow them from ordering their wedding invitations to selecting their flowers!

Finally, I have had this bookmarked ever since I saw it and it is about time I posted it! So here goes...

Back in January, Style Me Pretty featured a few posts on Parisian floral trends. The guest blogger, Laura Dowling, had recently returned from Paris and reported back on some of the current trends. In three gorgeous posts, Abby from Style Me Pretty, and Laura posted picture, after picture of amazing wedding flowers.

In terms of bouquets, Laura summed up the trends, as follows:

"Overall, current bouquet trends run the entire spectrum from being highly structured bouquets with extraordinary detailing and flourishes – like the haute couture style – to being very natural and unstructured, as if the bouquet is coming from the field or garden and the flowers are springing up from the base. The latter trend of an au natural style is the dominant trend in Paris, and is often juxtaposed against stark, modern backdrops, producing surprising and exciting effects."

Click here, here,and here to see the posts. Here are some little slivers of what you will find!

The Twist

2008-03-25T13:48:00.002-04:00

Matt from PlantTherapy (of Apartment Therapy) posted a wonderful guide on how to twist your tulip stems when making a tulip flower arrangement. The twist is a simple, modern touch that adds a beautiful and sophisticated element to your arrangement. With a little practice, I am sure you can master this design technique too!

Check out the tutorial here - it is complete with instructions and pictures to give you a good idea of what to do. A video from Martha Stewart also shows you how to twist tulips stems - they start talking about the twist around 5:30 minute mark. *I had already posted this link back in February with some more information about tulips.*

Gerbera Bouquets

2008-03-25T07:20:00.000-04:00

For a bridal shower a few months back, we created monochromatic gerbera hand-tied bouquets. The mini-bouquets were placed throughout the entire room. I loved the bold, bright colors of the flowers. I think overall it was modern and simple. Plus, with the gerberas, it looked super cute! Check out a few of the arrangements. We got lots of complements on them!

Gerbera Daisy

2008-03-24T06:49:00.000-04:00

The Gerbera Daisy, also commonly called gerber daisy, originates from all over the world - South America, Africa, Madagascar, and tropical Asia. It is one of the world's most popular flowers being the fifth most popular cut flower. Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, and tulips rank above gerbera daisies.

[image from Drawings of Light - Paul]

These are beautiful flowers. They can be bold, bright, and colorful or soft and romantic. Gerberas come in SO many colors - pinks, reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and whites! The size of the flower can make a great statement with just a few stems. Yet, mini gerbers are cute and dainty!

[images from Fovea Centralis and asilva]

Gerberas can last a long time, if you change the water and cut the stems every few days. Also, don't forget to use flower food in your vase.

Gerberas can be used in bud vases, in larger vases with other flowers or on their own, or even as a dress! Check out this dress made of over 2,000 Gerberas for a fashion show in Milan - via Florist de Kwakel BV

Lastly, here is a e-how video on how to make a "hand-tie" (hand-tie is in quotes, because she actually uses bouquet holder) Gerbera bouquet.

For more information, check out the following websites:

Wikipedia: Gerbera

UK Flowers and Plants Association

[image from amishah]

Easter Centerpieces

2008-03-21T08:33:00.008-04:00

Here are a few more centerpiece ideas for your Easter table. I love the use of the wheat grass in the middle left picture - it is so simple! And again, we see the blown out egg as a vase in the bottom left picture. Click on each of the pictures for more details about each of the arrangement.

[photos via better homes and gardens; top: left and right; middle: left and right; bottom: left and right]

Again, Happy Easter! We hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones. If you are decorating Easter eggs, check out this article from Better Home and Gardens for some beautiful ideas!

Making it Big - Floral Design Episode

2008-03-20T13:48:00.002-04:00

The Style Network's Making it Big series is showing an episode focused on floral event design. I have not seen the episode yet, but I watched the clip on their website. It looks like it could be entertaining and could provide some tips on floral designing. If you have sometime over the weekend, check it out! Three different designers are given two hours to create the floral decor for a high-class dinner party. The winner will get the chance to work with Preston Bailey!

Click here for a preview. It first aired last night, but should be showing as a re-run over the weekend.

via Teleflora's Flower Blog

Easter Flowers

2008-03-20T10:51:00.001-04:00

Easter is just a few days away! This was our store display from last year, which I just stumbled upon - so, I thought I would share it! I love the green grass bunnies and the bright tissue paper pompoms from this display. I will try to get some pictures up from this year's window, but no guarantees.

For some home decorating inspiration, here are some pictures of Easter arrangements from Martha Stewart. I love the use of the egg cups and cake platters in the first picture - another creative way to use home objects as vases.

[images from martha stewart online, left and right]

These pictures use homemade vases - the first one is made from an ostrich egg! Click on the links below for the instructions on how to make each one.

[images from martha stewart online (left and right) and here are the instructions (left and right) on how to make vases]

Spring is Here!

2008-03-20T07:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Spring! I love spring and everything it represents - sunny days, blooming flowers, longer days, and new beginnings. The light pastel colors of spring and the warmer weather are welcome changes! Here are some beautiful floral pictures from flickr to celebrate the coming of spring!

[image from WTL]

[image from mikelens and noel zia lee]

[image from annia316]

[images from MR+G and zed.cat]

[image from tagon]

Green Wedding Flower Inspiration

2008-03-12T07:18:00.000-04:00

I LOVE green! I especially love green and white for a wedding color combination. Other combinations that work are green and brown, green and pink, green and purple, and green and aqua. If you choose a green focused color pallet, you can use succulents, which last long after the wedding is over. Here are just SOME ideas for using green flowers for your wedding or event!

[pictures via brides.com]

[pictures via theknot.com]

[pictures via theknot.com, instyle weddings, and brides.com; click on each one to go the the original]

And check out this recently posted wedding at Brooklyn Bride, for even more inspiration - part I and part II!

Bouquets to Art

2008-03-11T06:44:00.000-04:00

In San Francisco this week, the de Young Museum is featuring "Bouquets to Art," which is a fundraiser for the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. This annual event features around 150 floral arrangements from outstanding floral designers in the local area. The floral designers are challenged to make floral arrangements that depict the artwork in the gallery.

[picture from San Francisco Gate]

Click here for more information. And click here for some more pictures from last year's event.

Bells-of-Ireland

2008-03-10T06:46:00.000-04:00

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I thought Bells-of-Ireland, Moluccella laevis, would make for a great flower of the week. These unique green, bell-like calyxes are densely packed along the tall stems. Tiny white flowers with a gentle fragrance bloom within each of the green "bells" of the flower. The flower originates from Turkey and Syria, not Ireland, and belongs to the mint family. The link to Ireland comes from the color and its symbol of good luck.

[picture via jurek d]

Here are two flower arrangements we made using Bells of Ireland:

Click here and here or more information, and for a song about Bells of Ireland from NPR, click here.

A Bright and Cheerful Event

2008-03-05T06:28:00.001-05:00

On Monday, we showed you one of Jane Packer's floral arrangements. She is tops when it comes to floral designers. Packer has a few schools dedicated to teaching floral design, has authored numerous books about flowers, and has designed the florals for some famous weddings. Brides Magazine featured an event with some of her floral designs (she partnered with Donna Stain, for this). I love the gift boxes and the flower garland for the escort cards. It is all really cute!

For more pictures of the event, click here.

Although these floral arrangements were created for a wedding reception, the ideas, especially the gift box idea, could be used for any number of occasions, including birthdays, baby showers, and bridal showers.

Mimosa and International Women's Day

2008-03-03T06:47:00.001-05:00

This coming Saturday, March 8th, people around the world will celebrate International Women's Day. Part of the tradition for this day is that women, especially in Italy, receive yellow Mimosa flowers from the people in their lives. So, I figured this would be a good time to introduce the flower. Yellow Mimosa is also (and more correctly) known as Acaia dealbata (silver wattle). It comes from Australia. The flower actually grows on a tree, and the trees are beautiful when they are in bloom.

As a cut flower, they add a unique texture to floral arrangements. They have a fuzzy appearance and a sweet smell.

Check out this arrangement of yellow tulips and mimosa by Jane Packer (found via frolic)

Having Fun with Floral Arrangements

2008-02-29T06:47:00.001-05:00

One of our designers, Don, loves to create floral arrangements for Imagym. Imagym, which is also located at CityWalk in Sandy Springs, is a kids play center that focuses on health and physical activity. Don gets really creative with these arrangements and uses all sorts of materials to make them fun and entertaining for the kids and the parents going to Imagym. Here are some of his creations:

Have a great weekend!

Colors for Springs

2008-02-28T07:13:00.001-05:00

Even though it is cool outside, February is coming to a close. It's a leap year, so we have one more day! But it looks like March will start off with a warm, sunny day! Spring is just around the corner for us in the South. And spring brings softer, lighter colors. According to Pantone, the color trend setters, pinks and purples are the colors for this coming season. A dash of yellow, splash of blue, and a touch of gray round out the selections. According to Pantone Color Institute's executive director, Leatrice Eiseman, the spring colors "reflect the cheerfulness of the season" and I would say that I have to agree. Here is the report, which was actually published last spring. If you are interested in color trends for fall 2008, check them out here.

Here are a few of the "hot" colors and some for this coming Spring and some flowers that closely match them:

Color - Spring Crocus Flower - Hydrangea Photo via KorayGokhan
Color - Rococco Red Flower - Gerbera Photo via ginamig276
Color - Freesia Flower - Rose Photo via frascelly
Color - Cantaloupe Flower - Dahlia Photo via martineau

Boutonnieres for the Men

2008-02-27T06:40:00.000-05:00

The name comes from the french word for buttonhole. Boutonnieres, as you know, are one or two small blooms pinned on to men's jacket lapels. For weddings, all of the men in the bridal party wear one. So, of course the groom gets one, the father of the bride, the father of the groom, and all the groomsmen. If you have other special men in your wedding party, like a ring bearers or greeters, they should have a boutonniere too. And if you are lucky enough to have your grandfather there, it is nice to honor him with a boutonniere too.

It is always a nice touch to have the groom's boutonniere play off the brides bouquet. For instance, if your bouquet has roses, calla lilies, freesia, and rananuculus in it, then maybe the groom's boutonniere could be made with a calla lily and the others' boutonnieres could be made with freesia. Here are some of great ideas for boutonnieres.

[images from The Wedding Channel, In Style Weddings, and The Knot; click on each individual picture to go to original source]

Flower Arranging Tutorials

2008-02-26T06:37:00.001-05:00

Decor8, a blog I have been reading for quite a while, recently directed my attention to a new do-it-your (diy) tutorial website: Howcast. Members of the community post videos and guides for specific topics. Topics range from financial issues to crafting suggestions. A few members have posted some tutorials about flower arranging. Check out the one below to learn how to use a grid of floral tape to make your own arrangements look more polished. The video is about 2 minutes long.