Image of a Sympathy Flower Arrangement by Florst with Flowers

The Etiquette of Sending Sympathy Flowers

Sending sympathy flowers to family members of the recently deceased is one way of showing your support, love, and friendship. Truly, there is no easy way to accept the death of family and friends.  Sympathy flowers are a sincere gesture of support for those left behind.

 

Here are some shopping tips for those who want to order sympathy flowers online but are clueless about flower-sending etiquette.

 

How to Choose Sympathy Flowers Sydney

 

In essence, sympathy flowers are arrangements that are sent directly to the bereaved family after the announcement of an individual’s passing. Traditionally, sympathy flowers come with sympathy cards expressing condolences to the family.

 

Customarily, a bouquet of sympathy flowers should be neutral in colour. Blooms in vibrant shades should be avoided as they are more appropriate for celebratory occasions.

 

You may also send a sympathy flower arrangement in place of a bouquet. The bereaved family can use the flower arrangement to decorate the service at the funeral home.

 

Make sure to send sympathy flowers a few days after a person’s death. If you have the time, you can request same day delivery sent to your home, so you can personally hand them when you have the chance to visit the funeral home or the funeral service.

 

If you want to send the bereaved family something more lasting than flowers, you may also send them sympathy plants instead. Plants can be displayed for months and can serve as a remembrance of a lost beloved.

 

Choose among the many sympathy flowers bouquets and arrangements here. To place an order, you may also reach us on 02 9871 1666.

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Craig Scott from Eastcoast Wildflowers

Drive You Wild Flowers

A familiar face from the Sydney Flower Markets, Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflowers was featured on last week’s episode of Gardening Australia. A fourth generation flower grower, Scott’s passion is evident in the way he talks about his work and his love of Australian Flora.

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If you missed it, and are interested in watching the segment, you’ll find it here.

Craig’s great grandfather, William “Robbo” Robinson, the first in the family to start in the flower trade, sold flowers via a mixed business between the train station and Woronora cemetery.

His grandfather grew a range of traditional flowers on his farm in the Southern Sydney suburb of Menai, and sold a selection of ‘bush-picked’ native blooms long before the restrictions on picking natives were in place.

Craig’s father Col was instrumental in developing Scott’s love of Australian native flowers. As well as growing some traditional blooms, Col began selling native flowers in the market and in 1968 he bought a 50 acre farm at Mangrove Mountain where the business still exists today. Craig and his father shared a love of the outdoors. Col was a rock climber and Craig, an interested hiker. They would often spot interesting flora on their adventures and this fuelled their inspiration.

Approximately half of the farm is native bushland, while the other half is cleared with several glasshouses set up. They grow a range of native flowers including waratah, billy buttons, mulla mulla, grevillea, wattle, eucalyptus, paper daisies and a large kangaroo paw range which is a key line in their business.

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Eastcoast Wildflowers Farm. Source: Try booking

Craig is one of those growers that has built a great business based on a combination passion and hard work. For years he has offered florists a wonderful range of Australian flowers; flowers that get florists excited to create. Australian Native Flora is stunningly unique in appearance; they have gorgeous colour variations and a particularly interesting texture.

When people talk about natives, often an image of a dull coloured arrangement comes to mind, but that simply is not the case. Native flowers can be incredibly bright. Telopea, for example is derived from the Greek word ‘telopos’, meaning ‘seen from afar’  and refers to the robust, brightly coloured head of the red Waratah which can be spotted at a great distance.

Craig also shared a glimpse into the glorious colour range that they grow on the farm of kangaroo paw. Paw grows for approximately 8 months of the year, making it incredibly important for their business.

Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi)
Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) Source: National Parks

Flannel flower, which is incredibly popular for wedding bouquets with a more rustic feel, gets its name come the texture of the blooms. The elegant flowers are soft and furry, with delicate petals. According to Scott they have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow commercially,  but he has found that growing the plants in pots has been very successful.

What I enjoyed most was hearing and feeling his energy when he spoke about working with flowers and being out in nature. It is obvious that Craig has achieved what most of us only hope for, to turn a passion and a hunger for spreading that inspiration, into a thriving business. His gentle demeanour and overall feeling of calm beautifully illustrated the effects of working with nature and in nature.

Fwf x

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Image of a Birthday Celebration Bouquet by Florist with Flowers

How to Pick the Perfect Birthday Flowers for Family, Friends and Loved Ones

Flowers delivered to someone celebrating a birthday is a sweet and thoughtful way of greeting them on the special occasion. Flowers express pleasant emotions from, “I love you.” to “I remember you.” Most importantly, sending birthday flowers is a sincere gift that can mean the world to the celebrant.

 

If this is your first time sending birthday flowers or ordering and buying birthday flowers online, here are some helpful tips:

There are specific types of flowers that are meant to celebrate birthdays. In addition, the type of birthday flower to buy online will depend on your relationship with the recipient.

 

  • For instance, if you are sending out flowers to family members and relatives you may choose to order lilies, daisies, or wildflowers in vibrant colours.
  • If you are sending out flowers to a loved one such as in the case of a girlfriend or wife, red roses certainly convey deep affection and love.

 

What type of birthday flowers should you give out?

 

  • Orchids

A pot of blooming orchids looks elegant, to say the least. This bloom essentially symbolises beauty, strength, and love—some qualities that the birthday celebrant also showcases.

 

  • Roses

Nothing can be more romantic than receiving a bouquet of fresh roses on your birthday. Obviously, red roses symbolise love and deep passion. You may also want to give friends and relatives yellow roses that symbolise joy and friendship. Pink roses are to be sent out as birthday flowers for celebrants that you inspire and admire.

 

  • Lilies

Lilies are the perfect birthday flowers as they represent happiness, positivity, and new beginnings. This is the perfect flower to send out to women close to you such as your mum, sister, aunt, or grandmother.
Whatever birthday flower you choose to send people on their birthday, make sure to include sincere well wishes to complete your thoughtful gift to them.

 

Check out our elegant birthday flowers and luscious bouquets here. For enquiries, you may also reach us on 02 9871 1666.

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Why Can’t Milennials Grow Plants?

Ever heard the term snowflake generation? Apparently it is yet another term used for millennials, who are also already known as Generation Y, or Gen Y. We are the generation that is wildly generalised as being a softer, less resilient group, taking more offence than previous generations. Yikes!

Now I’m sure we have all heard our fair share of bad press for this generation. Selfish, entitled and lazy. In fact TIME magazine said :

“Millennials got so many participation trophies growing up that a recent study showed that 40% believe they should be promoted every two years, regardless of performance.” 🤔

Although there is no official dates of when this group starts or finishes, generally speaking, Generation Y starts in the early 1980’s and concludes mid to late 1990’s.

 

The Milennials latest deficiency?  There knowledge of simple flowers and the practices to grow things.

Secateurs
This is a pair of secateurs 😂 Source: The Independant

Believe it or not, 1 in 5 did not know what a garden hose was, and more than 50% didn’t recognise a pair of secateurs.  You only have to look around to see an increase in the number of artificial plants on offer these days. Probably a preventative measure put in place for Gen Y 😂 According to Daily Star 10% of plant owners admit to killing their plants from over watering, and another 17.5% said they had forgotten to water their plants at all. Cactus anyone? 🌵🌵🌵

Milennials were able to identify roses, and sunflowers which are popular favourites however lesser known varieties included daffodils, lavender, marigolds, bougainvillea were a bit of a mystery. I think it’s pretty normal to be clueless if you have no experience in a particular area, or to feel out of your depth when you are trying something new. Gardening is no different. It is essential to get familiar with your tools and understand that things do not always got according to plan when you are learning to look after a living thing.

Sunflowers
Glorious Sunflowers

Many factors contribute to the generational lack of skills. Think about it, this is the generation that began life playing in the garden like our predecessors, but had technology introduced pretty early on as ‘the way of the future’. Lifestyles became more sedentary. More time was spent staring at screens than sunsets.  More time spent pounding the keyboard than pounding the pavement. 👩🏼‍💻

Outsourcing has become the norm. More families required both parents to work, so tasks that couldn’t be done within the household were outsourced. Convenience foods became plentiful. Pre-prepared, abundant. More extra curricular activities meant a faster pace to life. Growing something is a slow living activity. 👨🏼‍🌾

Dead indoor plant
Oh no, someone’s forgotten to water the plants. Source; Nursery Live

Is it surprising that we can appreciate the aesthetic and the benefits of living plants but that our lifestyles sometimes prevent us from actually keep them living? 🥀

What is clear is that there is a push for organic produce, understanding and using seasonal produce and reducing plastics. All of this can be better achieved if we all learn how to garden ourselves.

if you are interested in testing your knowledge, follow this link.

Fwf x

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Image of a Christmas Flower Bouquet by Florist with Flowers

Christmas Flowers – Best flowers for Christmas

Receiving a fresh bouquet or pot of flowers induces genuine feelings of happiness and joy. If you want to brighten the day of a loved one during the holidays, give them flowers for Christmas. Flowers are not the first thing that pops into our mind when we think about Christmas presents. But if you want your idea to be unique and just as thoughtful as traditional Christmas treats, sending our Christmas flower arrangements is definitely the best way to go.

 

  • Christmas Flowers are the best gift idea for people who have everything

 

What do you give a friend or a family member who literally has everything in life? Or for loved ones who simply don’t need more material possessions in their homes? Try giving them flowers for Christmas. According to studies, sending out Christmas flowers enhances the mood of recipients. It’s the most thoughtful gift that money can buy during the holidays.

 

  • Save Mother Earth while making other people feel good at the same time

 

If you’ve recently jumped on the “zero waste” bandwagon, sending out Christmas flower arrangements is best. Gift giving around the holiday season can be extremely wasteful. To reduce your carbon footprint and that of your Christmas gift recipients, you can’t beat giving flowers for the Christmas season.

 

Although flowers for Christmas will start wilting a few days to a few weeks after delivery, since they are biodegradable, they will not contribute to more trash in landfills and even waterways.

 

  • Flowers are an affordable Christmas present option

 

A misconception about flower gift giving is that they are too expensive and may not fit right into the budgetary constraints. But did you know that flowers are cheap, especially when you know where to look. Source local and ethically-grown produce. During the holidays, make sure to get blooms in season such as:

 

  • Poinsettia
  • Roses
  • Carnations
  • Germinis
  • Chrysanthemums

 

To check out captivating Christmas flower arrangement ideas, visit us here. To place an order, call us on 02 9871 1666.

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Floral Beards, Wigs and Wonder

Agricultural shows like Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, as well as regional shows, like Brisbane’s EKKA have always included some sort of floral design competition. In addition to prize winning specimens of stunning camellias, roses, and of course the local gigantic pumpkin, a variety of arrangements are submitted, displayed and judged on a a list of criteria.

This years EKKA took the concept of ‘manscaping’ to a whole new level. Instead of removing excess hair, the challenge at yesterday’s EKKA instead was to decorate the beard and head area of a (brave and) a willing participant using a combination of flowers and trees native to Queensland. In addition to exploring creativity, the event was able to shine the light brightly on the gorgeous native flora from the region, which can often be overlooked for imported varieties.

Floral beards
Source : Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News

The trend has featured at EKKA over the last couple of years and provides an interesting medium to work with. Florists are accustomed to working on intricate floral crowns, floral fascinators, head bands, corsages, neckpieces, buttonholes, even pieces to attach to your clutch bag.

Competitions often provide an opportunity to experiment in ways that we don’t get in our usual business dealings. Over the years I have seen challenges like this where you get to dress a mannequin in flowers, or create wonderful scenes entirely from flowers. It is an incredible to experience to ‘see’ your materials in an entirely new light. I’m reminded of this often when playing with my children. Like when you’re lying on the grass looking at the clouds and seeing shapes and scenes, similarly, my middle child will pick up a coloured leaf on a walk that may have an unusual shape and will see a way she can use it in a piece of art.

I do not anticipate that floral beards are the next big thing. However for the hipster crowd it may provide an interesting and certainly unique way for men to incorporate more florals in their outfits for a special occasion. Just as men began wearing engagement rings a few years ago, we may see some orders for a floral beard adornment for a wedding. Why do the girls get to have all the fun? 😉 Floral expression is something entirely personal and so that means that our designs are guided by what our customer wants.

In the meantime, it gets our creative juices flowing simply thinking about the possibilities. And sometimes, the act of just thinking differently can be the key….

Fwf x

 

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Flower Perfumes Attracting Pollinators for Millions of Years

When you think of fresh flowers a couple of defining features probably come to mind; aesthetic beauty of course, and fragrance. Flower fragrance compounds are used in modern day scents for human use, as well as perfumes for the home. They are used to make people seem more attractive; to draw them in, and intrigue them 😍. They are use to make a space more inviting, a fragrant version of ‘come hither’ 😉

Flower fragrances in nature are used for exactly the same reasons, to attract and intrigue, to invite and lure the pollinators.

A recent study has shown that flowers from the Cretaceous period may have had similar fragrances as their modern day counterparts. What is extraordinary, is that the study undertaken by Oregon State University has shown that primitive flower varieties used their fragrance to attract pollinators. Modern day flowers use both fragrance, as well as colourful petals and showy designs to lure pollinators, however these ancient ancestors relied on perfume alone.

The evidence shows that floral frangrance originated some 100 million years ago…we are talking back when dinosaurs roamed!

“I bet some of the dinosaurs could have detected the scents of these early flowers,” said George Poinar, an entomologist at Oregon State University. “In fact, floral essences from these early flowers could even have attracted these giant reptiles,” said Mr. Poinar.

Preserved flower encased in hardened tree sap
Source : Oregon State University

The flowers were immortalised in hardened tree sap, known as amber. The team researched glandular laurel flowers (Cascolaurus burmensis and veined star flowers (Tropidogyne pentaptera) found in Myanmar.

Whilst the scent of the flowers could not be retained within the amber, what was preserved was the tissue structure responsible for producing scents. They also found that the secretory tissue was similar to their modern day descendants. This suggests that these Cretaceous flowers could possibly have produced similar essences to modern flower varieties. Check out the resemblance to Christmas Bush from New South Wales.

Tropidogyne pentaptera. Source; Oregon State University
Christmas Bush
Christmas Bush has an uncanny resemblance to the Tropidogyne pentaptera preserved in Myanmar Amber. Image: John Tann / Wikicommons

“It’s obvious flowers were producing scents to make themselves more attractive to pollinators long before humans began using perfumes to make themselves more appealing to other humans,” said George Poinar.

We all know how vitally important pollination is. Without it, the world’s food production ceases. But it almost seems obsurd to think that flower essences, something we use today for cosmetic and hygienic purposes was key in plant reproduction all those years ago.

Fwf x

Feature image : Greg Nunamaker

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Farmers Best, But for Less.

These days when you go to the supermarket, or green grocer, you are presented with multiple options. The Western world is reknowned for only wanting the best of everything but refreshingly, I believe we are in the midst of change where many people are trying to make more mindful purchases. We are learning that something looking ‘perfect’ does not necessarily equal perfection. And we are also beginning to learn or appreciate that buying seasonal produce means that fresh products can be enjoyed at their best.

We are now given the option of buying what can only be described as ‘seconds’. And whilst their appearance may not be perfect, often the produce tastes the same (if not better) than their pretty peers.

Jamie Oliver has been pretty instrumental in Woolworths’ campaign dubbed ‘The Odd Bunch’, which provides seasonal produce that looks a bit ‘ugly’ but is marketed at a more attractive price. The farmers have set aside land, watered, fertilised and cared for this produce, and it would be so incredibly wasteful to simply cast them aside.

Buy seconds to reduce waste
Source: The Sun.

It was quite the breath of fresh air when I read in UK newspaper, The Sun, that one big retailer is trying the same concept with flowers. Flowers with smaller blooms, shorter stems or other ‘defects’.

The reality of flower production is pretty harsh. For stock grown outside, it is at the mercy of nature. Heavy rain can cause mildew or fungal problems. Harsh, dry temperature can result in smaller blooms, shorter stems, and sometimes a glut of produce all available at one time. Wind damage results in fewer blooms as well as damage to leaves and petals. Hail can have devastating effects on produce, wiping out whole crops, or causing horrendous damage that makes sale impossible.

The farmers are already up against so much, so this would be a wonderful scheme to implement and keep farmers on their properties, and able to make a living.

Drew Kirk, from Morrisons in the UK said: “It would be a shame to see these beautiful stems go to waste just because they’re a few centimetres too short.

“Our wonky range helps growers and farmers reduce waste and at the same time helps customers to afford to buy flowers more often.”

Truck full of fresh flowers
Source: At First Bite

And this is something that we could certainly apply here also. Flowers are often viewed as a luxury item, so of course, they will be the first item scratched from the list when the budget doesn’t allow it. People LOVE having fresh flowers in their home, and with this scheme, more people could afford to have them at home more often, whilst reducing the waste and loss for our local flower farmers. Sounds like a win, win to me

Fwf x

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