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Archive for 2010

Lilium longiflorum – The Easter Lily

Friday, March 12th, 2010

For many, the Easter Lily, the traditional time-honored flower of Easter, is highly regarded as a joyful symbol of beauty, hope and life. The large, trumpet-shaped, fragrant white flowers make a meaningful gift that embodies the very essence of the celebration of Easter.

Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. Churches, to this day, continue the tradition at Easter time by banking their altars and surrounding their crosses with masses of Easter Lilies, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting.

Easter Lilies prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil and moderately cool temperatures.  Recommended daytime temperatures are 60o to 65o F. with slightly cooler night temperatures. The lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight, but avoid glaring, direct sunlight.

Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, but avoid over-watering. For best results, remove the plant from container, and water thoroughly until water seeps out of the pot’s drain holes to completely saturate the soil. Allow the plant to air for a few minutes and discard the excess water before replacing it back into its container.

As the flowers mature, remove the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This gives longer flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers. When a mature flower starts to wither after its prime, cut it off to make the plant more attractive while you still enjoy the fresher, newly-opened blooms.

The Easter Lily bulbs are surprisingly hardy even in cold climates.   After the last bloom has withered and has been cut away, you can continue to grow your Easter Lilies, and even plant them outside in your garden to enjoy them for years to come.

Usher in Spring with a vase-full of blooming forsythia

Friday, February 26th, 2010

forsythia branches10 branches approximately 36-40” with  3 tropical leaves to leaf line a clear vase. $90 + $20 shipping.

As seen in The Magazines!

Shipping

Order must be placed by 6 PM EDT for overnight shipping the following morning.  So if you order by 6 Eastern time on Monday you will receive your flowers on Wednesday.

You will receive a tracking number after your product is shipped.  Saturday delivery is double the normal rate.

More about Forsythia

Local Flora arrangements now available at Good Earth in Fairfax, CA

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

San Anselmo’s “green” florist Local Flora, www.marinflora.com, will provide beautiful California grown arrangements in a new small flower section at local Good Earth Natural Foods in Farifax, CA beginning Feb 10, 2010.

Why not take home a lovely artisanal arrangement to accompany your wonderful organic dinner items!

Avante Gardens, Anaheim is selected “Google Favorite Place”

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Avante Gardens in Anaheim, www.avantegardens.com posted on Floristblogs.com – Dec 15th 2009 about the inclusion in the “Google Favorite Place” campaign.

“The buzz about Google sending out Favorite Places packets with window decals to 100,000 of the “most sought out and researched businesses on Google and Google Maps” began with an announcement on the Official Google Blog.  I kept crossing my fingers, hoping we’d get one. I mean… how cool to be called out as a Google Favorite Place among the millions of small businesses in the US.

Fast forward … a stack of mail looking like advertisements… and there it was, “Congratulations! You’re a Favorite Place on Google” right on the front of the envelope. (Yes, I did stroll through the shop singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”)

The decal… was placed on our front door about 5 minutes after the envelope was opened — Gotta say though, I was hoping for a bigger poster,— but we’re tickled with the one we got!

I haven’t been able to scan the window decals bar code yet and am offering a free dozen long stem roses arrangement to the first visitor who can read it with an Android or iPhone, so come on down!  We’re also offer a free gift to anyone who scans the decal between now and January 31.

And a big thanks! To Google and the users who put us on the Favorite Places list.”

Congratulations to Avante Gardens on their continued success with Marketing and Business Development!  All the best in 2010!!

The Early Bird gets the best flowers! Valentine’s Day 2010

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Photo courtesy of Birch San Francisco

Photo courtesy of Birch San Francisco

Flowers remain one of the best and most affordable ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day. With the right ideas and flower arrangements, you really cannot go wrong!   This year, Cupid’s arrow strikes on Sunday, Feb 14th.  Plan ahead and the rewards will be great!

Smart Move #1:  Start the weekend off with a bang and enjoy the Love Fest for more than just one day! Have your flowers delivered on Friday or Saturday this year.  If you really plan it right, you might just consider calling in sick on Monday!  But- you didn’t hear that from me!

Smart Move #2:   Include a 2nd choice and a range of budget on your order request.  This can sometimes be the key to a more efficient delivery of your floral order.

Smart Move #3:  While Red Roses are thought of as the standard for reflecting your love and affection. Do not be afraid to “step outside the flower box” into the vast field of floral possibilities.  Other gorgeous flowers usually available for this holiday are Amaryllis, Tulips, Cut Orchids stems, Double Cup Anthurium , in varying shades of Reds, Pinks and Whites, as well as, less traditional Valentine’s colors.  With enough advance consideration, you can provide the object of your affections with an exquisite bouquet of unique quality flowers!

Smart Move #4: Consider having the floral arrangement delivered to your home or office and presenting them personally along with your own private romantic note and perhaps – a bottle of your favorite sparkling beverage or dare I say it – a promise to do the dishes for a whole month?  Hey, Romance comes in various packages!

Smart Move  #5: Quiet as it’s kept, many men love and appreciate flowers as much as women do!  Don’t be afraid to send him a floral key to your heart!

Planning a romantic getaway?  Keep in mind that bbrooks can provide high quality couture floral design service internationally as well as locally.  Call us with any questions regarding your delivery request.

Visit our web site www.bbrooks.com or give us a call at 1-888-346-3356.  Our Valentine’s Day experts look forwarding to assisting you with your orders!


Very Nice – All in White!

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Bella Fiori – Floral & Event Design – Denver, Colorado  showed a smart sampling of Bridal Bouquets showcasing monochromatic white premium flowers, http://bellafiori-events.blogspot.com.

Cover Girl Joanne Leiman of FlowersFlowers, IL

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

make-it-better.jpgJoanne Leiman of FlowersFlowers  in Evanston, IL., www.flowers-flowers.com, provided the elegant floral decor for the second issue cover of makeitbetter magazine.

A great  new magazine for the North Shore of Chicago. They have a wonderful website, full of great info and ideas, www.makeitbetter.net.




Modern Style Wrapped in Traditional Southern Charm

Monday, January 4th, 2010

scan0006-urbanearthwedding.JPGThe wedding couple wanted an event full of Southern charm and grace utilizing traditional and native flowers choices such as peonies and camellias. As featured in Flower Magazine Summer 2009 James Clawson and his team of talented and hard-working designers from Urban Earth www.urbanearthstudios.com in New Orleans, LA met this request aptly and flavored it with a modern touch as well.

The bridal party flowers and church interior featured an elegant, traditional mix of white and pink peonies, hydrangea, Vendela roses, grape hyacinth, parrot tulips, ranunculas, gardenias and camellia.

The reception was set in a grand old home owned by the bride’s parents. This location provided ample room for guests to move from garden settings to the inviting environ of a gorgeous interior. To compliment theregal antiquity of the home and its heirloom treasures, Urban Earth created very traditional designs of soft, mounded white hydrangea, pink peonies, roses and tulips, camellia and lily grass for the interior décor such as banister and table dressings.

Afforded the spaciousness of the property grounds, Urban Earth created gorgeous and inventive “traffic-stopping” suspended chandeliers for two areas. Swaying from the branches of the old oak tree on the front lawn were elegantly modern pieces compiled of masses of French Tulips and Bear Grass “planted atop custom-fabricated drum chandeliers softly illuminating an intimate corner of the lawn. Even more impressive were the luminaries of Cherry branches, Curly Willow and long-stemmed French Tulips hung suspended from the glass ceiling of the pool house.

The happy couple and the talented designers of Urban Earth both agree that the wedding was a huge success. In fact, the couple says that people still talking about the beautiful design work to this day.