Florists, Flowers, and everything in between

Style of wedding headdress
It is important, when helping a bride to select a headdress, to apply certain fules. As with the bouquet, the headdress must link with the dress style, fabric and colour, and also with the bridal bouquet. It must also be suitable for the bride’s hair style. It is no good to choose a comb or slide fitting if the bride has short silky hair through which it would slip. The design must suit the shape of the bride’s face, her type of hair, and also her hair style. When the wedding is approaching fast, the flower delivery Elwick is critical. Make sure that all necessary arrangements have been made to get those wonderful blooms delivered on time and to the correct location to avoid disappointment.

Tubs and hanging baskets
From pots at ground level to hanging baskets: these are becoming very popular. Anything raised above eye level is effective and petunias are one of the best subjects for a hanging basket as they flower all summer and show off so much better in a basket than they do in a border in the garden.
I think the mixed basket is probably the most popular. The trailing varieties of lobelia (or other flowers Merivale) are ideal and it is worth remembering how important blue is in a mixed planting. The lobelia ‘Blue Cascade’ is a lovely Cambridge blue and I can thoroughly recommend it. Another good trailer is the ivy-leaved geranium and for a wide range of colour there are the petunias.

Arranging those cut flowers

Ideally, you would already own a vase or two. If you don't, purchase a large glass one, the wider it is at the top, the better. Then drop large hints to your nearest and dearest that you would like to practise your flower-arranging skills. Or send yourself a bouquet. Or send one to your sister or best friend or mother and hope she returns the favour.
A bouquet usually contains enough flowers to fill two vases. Arrange the larger flowers at the back and the smaller ones at the sides and the front. Don't be afraid to mix colours, flowers love to show off, and the more striking the arrangement the better. Never cram a vase too full. Better two vases with plenty of space than one overflowing. Wrap the ribbon that came with the bouquet around your vase. Check your own garden for greenery, if none came with your bouquet. Use half of the packet of flower food straight away, mix it with the vase water and save the rest for the water change. If you didn't receive any flower food with your bouquet, phone up your local Stratford-upon-Avon florist shop and complain!

The pink rose

When you look at a pink rose, you will feel a surge of happiness and pure delight that can only be explained by the flawless and delicate beauty of it. Pink roses are a pleasure to look at, boast a heavenly smell and have a depth of meaning behind its demure exterior. Although roses in general can be used to express varying degrees of love and gratitude, the pink rose is the most dominant in symbolizing these attributes. In a recent survey carried out by Australian flower delivery Hulme professionals it was estimated that nearly five per cent of all flowers sent in 2007 were pink roses. Whilst not as popular as it's cousin (red), the pink rose will always be an excellent choice for many people.

"Oh no! I've cut my flowers too short!"

Don't worry. Just add pebbles or marbles to the bottom of your vase or simply float the head of a broken flower in a clear bowl for a charming display.

Whenever I water my flowers I water my furniture as well!

Avoid spills when watering your flowers; use a baster to reach into narrow vases and full arrangements. The best place to purchase a baster is at your local Larchmont Village florist.

Hope these tips help you to get the most out of your fresh cut flowers.

Dining in the pink
Most festive occasions centre round a meal. And, be it intimate or grand, nothing establishes the tone of that meal more effectively than the table setting. Here, a summery, romantic scheme takes as its basis every shade of pink, from creamy, blush-tinged roses to candy-floss- coloured peonies and fuchsia dendrobium orchids. The overall effect is one of lush extravagance, but it can been achieved with only three or four stems of each type of flower. A large goldfish bowl can make a dramatic centre piece, but this spectacular effect takes only minutes to create, while the flower heads in glasses at each place setting are similarly swift to put together. All of this can be arranged at the time of getting the flowers delivered Greenfield and need not be a stressful event.

A Florist’s Caring Priorities
Flowers arrive in the flower shop in bunches, boxes, buckets and wraps of cellophane, and tied up in bundles. What will need your attention first?
Wilted flowers should always be conditioned first. They will need the longest time to recover, and if you leave their conditioning until last they may become too poor to sell.
The last flowers to require conditioning are those that have arrived ‘aqua packed’; several types of cut material are now being transported in this way to reduce the problems inevitably involved in transporting living, and short-lived, flowers.
Between these categories, there are others that will also require priority treatment. The delicate and generally expensive flowers such as orchids, lilies and roses should be conditioned and stored quickly, to prevent the accidental damage that might occur if they were left until last. Flowers that are required for customers’ orders should also be treated promptly, to allow them sufficient time for a good drink of water and flower food before use. The other category of cut material requiring speedy treatment consists of those that have been ‘dry packed’. These will need several hours to recover before being displayed for sale. Aqua-packed materials, on the other hand, can be ready for sale in just two to four hours by your Belle Vale florist. Once the priorities have been established, the flowers and foliage can be treated according to the stem structure; whether the materials are flaccid and wilted, or perhaps the particular requirements of the individual cut flower or foliage.

An Alice Band Headdress
Being able to offer a selection of head-dresses to a bride is part of a florist’s expertise. The Alice band style makes an attractive alternative to the circlet or garland headdress, and is particularly useful if a bridesmaid has fine, silky hair. Soft thin elastic is threaded through a slot at each end of the band and is taken under the hair at the back of the head, holding the band in position.
Always obtain the head measurement, so the design can be made to the appropriate length. Remember, where possible, to link the colours and types of materials used in the headdress with those being carried. Use good quality, well-conditioned flowers and foliage; it is important to use materials with lasting qualities, as much body heat is lost through the head.
With practice, this attractive headdress is quick and easy to assemble (for all florists City Centre), as the only materials which need to be prepared are the ribbon bows, but the glue gun must be handled with care.