Thank you to bbrooks member Rose Red & Lavender in Brooklyn, NY!!!

No worries!  We will not forget Mamma!

Long-time bbrooks member Robertson’s Flowers, in Wyndmoor, PA,  has a gift item which gives back to the community, as well.

Through their “Generosity Blossoms Program”, 20% of all sales of this exclusive arrangement are donated to Philabundance in support of their fight to eliminate hunger in the Delaware Valley. Comprised of vibrant whites and classy creams with complementing herbs and fruits is not only stunning but also beneficial to those in need.

Here at bbrooks fine flowers, we also believe in giving back.   And, that is why we have partnered with sites like buy2give, buy2change, socialvest, and shoppinggivesback.  These sites  donate a portion of the  customer’s purchase to a  charity which the customer can choose.

This year, Mother will love you even more for thinking of others too!

bbrooks member Cebolla Fine Flowers in Dallas, TX  offered gorgeous plant baskets for Valentine’s Day!

Featured at left are pink cyclamen and pink azalea plants accompanied by mixed green plants in a rustically elegant twig container.

A wonderful idea for Mother’s Day too!

Administrative Professionals’ Day was originally organized in 1952 as “National Secretaries Day” by the National Secretaries Association (also known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals). It was established as an effort to recognize secretaries for their contributions in the workplace.

It is an unofficial secular holiday observed on the last Wednesday of April. It is celebrated as part of a larger Administrative Professionals Week, which takes place during the last full week of April. In 1998, the name of the holiday was changed from Secretaries’ Day to Administrative Professionals’ day to better represent the full range of clerical positions.

Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. The event is celebrated worldwide, bringing together millions of people for community events, social gatherings, and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff with gifts of appreciation. In the United States, the day is often celebrated by giving one’s assistant such gifts as flowers, candy, trinkets, lunch at a restaurant, or time off.

Arrangement above is Snowball Viburnum with Forsythia branches  by bbrooks member Flowers Claire Marie in San Francisco.

The supply of helium, an inert element with the lowest boiling point of any known substance, has now become so erratic that scientists are calling for a ban on all but the most essential uses – which could mean no more helium-filled party balloons. “The scarcity of helium is a really serious issue. I can imagine that in 50 years’ time our children will be saying ‘I can’t believe they used such a precious material to fill balloons,’” said Peter Wothers of Cambridge University.

“There is a finite supply of this lighter-than-air gas on Earth so if we keep using it for non-essential things like party balloons, where we’re just letting it float off into space, we could be in for some serious problems in around 30 to 50 years’ time,” Dr Wothers said.

The shortage has mainly affected research centres studying the brain using magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanners, which are similar to the MRI machines used in hospitals but need to be topped up regularly with liquid helium (helium super-cooled to minus 269C, just four degrees above the lowest possible temperature, absolute zero).

We at bbrooks take the information found in this January 1013 article from The Independent/UK very seriously.  As of March 2013, we will no longer be fulfilling requests for balloons.

John and Ann Betar of Fairfield, Conn., said “I do” on Nov. 25, 1932, and have been happily married for 80 years. Together they have five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

The couple was selected for the 2013 award by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, based in San Bernardino, CA.  An award ceremony will take place this month at the Fairfield, Conn., home of one of the Betars’ granddaughters, Heather Mitchell.

Though the couple is hesitant to give out marriage advice, their secret to so many happy years together is simple: compromise and don’t hold a grudge.

John, 101, met Ann, now 97, while growing up in the same Syrian community in Bridgeport, Conn. Breaking with tradition, Ann defied her parents when they set up an arranged marriage for her. She ran off to Harrison, N.Y. to elope with John. Now, she says she knows she made the right choice.

The Betars were chosen out of hundreds of couples nominated during the project’s submission period, which ran from October of last year to January. There may be other couples who have been married longer in the U.S., but none was formally nominated, according to the group.

As seen in Yahoo! News.

Valentine’s Day is this Thursday, February 14th!!!!

Our bbrooks member in Berlin, Blumen-Koch, took a few moments during Valentine’s preparation to share their thoughts on how this holiday effects flower prices.  Vielen Dank!

“Did you notice that some of our colleagues  in London do not sell any red flowers?  We started to limit the choice of red flowers too.  Quality Red Roses are 9,00€ ($12US) - it’s a twofold increase since last week!  Increasing demands on the Dutch nurseries and Flower Auction at Aalsmeer make the price situation shake.”

“We (at Blumen-Koch) recommend our clients to select from the beautiful choice of blooming twigs such as red plums, Japanese cherries and Chaenomaelis… instead of letting them run into the Red-Flower-Price-Trap.”

“Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  Sending you warm greetings from Berlin!”

bbrooks member Third Bloom in Rancho Santa Fe, CA showcases a display of Top Ten Weddings of 2012 on their blog.

Included in the collection is this lush and gorgeous bouquet of Roses, Ranunculus, Cymbidium blossoms and lily grass.

 Fit for a  bride….. and a Valentine!!