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The Underdogs of the Floral World

For something a bit different, I thought I’d take a minute to write a post on underrated flowers because let’s face it, everyone already appreciates the spectacular blooms!

As a florist, working with different blooms is part of the program. We cannot only work with the blooms we love, because at the end of the day, we aren’t the customer and we need to create what our customers want and love. Aside from that, in order to have a successful business you need to ensure your staff are using the material at the correct retail price and costing arrangements properly, rather than giving away your profits by slipping an extra stem in here and there. Equally as important is ensuring your stock is being carefully rotated. We always try to stick to the first in, first out mindset so you are being mindful of your usage and not leaving stock to the side only to throw it out. You can also be sure that you are not selling stock that is too old when you stick to this method.

Underrated flowers have there place certainly. When you begin your studies as a florist, you are taught about the importance of picking a strong focal flower, but in order to create a cohesive arrangement you also need line flowers and transitional flowers.

Source: Mr Fothergills

Transitional flowers lack the ‘punch’ of a focal flower. That is not to say they are not attractive, because they certainly are. Where a focal flower has (usually) a single, eye catching bloom, a transitional flower generally has clusters of individual flowers on the stem. Transitional flowers are used to fill in spaces between the focal and line flowers.

Transitional flowers are like the chorus line in a show. Without them, the show just would not be complete, but in many ways they are not the ones you are there to see. Their job is to support the stars of the show, to make them look their absolute best. Some examples of transitional flowers include asters, chrysanthemums, babies breath, spray roses, stock, Queen Anne’s lace, Geraldton was, lisianthus, Tea Tree, hellebores.

Focal flowers, the show stoppers, are the ones you pay to see. But let’s be honest, a vaseful of peonies or Columbia’s roses would just cost a crazy amount. Aside from that, without transitional flowers or foliage in an arrangement these expensive, special flowers will not sit beautifully in a vase. They will not be spaced out, each with enough room to garner the attention they deserve. Instead they will be sitting in each other’s space, leaning on one another unsupported.

Focal flowers are spectacular flowers like peonies, disbud chrysanthemums, Columbia’s roses, lilies, gerberas, crab claws.

Line flowers creat movement throughout an arrangement. They guide your eye so that you can appreciate the whole design. Examples of line flowers are liatris, amaranthus, heliconias, orchids. Often you use them to direct the movement within the arrangement, and therefore use their natural shape to guide you in that.

Many flowers that were thought of as pretty drab and uninteresting a few years ago, are being reinvented. Babies breath, which people used to turn their noses up at the suggestion of, is now used as the feature flower of some displays. Entire arrangements are made with it in fact.

So whilst in a traditional arrangement the role of these flowers was to support the star of the show, some are now pulling quite an audience of their own. Check out the following images of so-called transitional flowers holding their own.

Fwf x

Feature Image

Gorgeous babies breath wedding. Source : Strictly Weddings
Babies breath wedding via Strictly Weddings

 

Bridal bouquets made entirely of babies breath, source: Hi Miss Puff
Amber Gress Photography, via Brides.com

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Flower Delivery Sydney: A Short and Brief Guide

image of a Gorgeous Baby collections - newborn gift ideas

Using a flower delivery service is a convenient way to gift flowers to loved ones and make them feel special. The elegance, love, and beauty of flower bouquets will make her blush and feel loved whatever the occasion is. Whether you are planning to send a gift for Mother’s Day, birthdays, an anniversary, or Valentine’s Day, a flower bouquet delivered through a flower delivery service will make your loved one feel special.

 

But where can you order fast and efficient flower delivery in Sydney?

 

Here are some options to consider:

  • Conduct an online search

 

A Google search will help you find several florists who offer flower delivery services in Sydney CBD for minimal fee. There are even florists offering same-day delivery free of charge. Pick a flower delivery service that can offer flexible delivery schedules. You may request to have the flowers delivered the same day or ahead of time. Pre-planning flower delivery not only saves you time, but also ensures that the flowers will arrive at the recipient’s doorstep at the perfect time.

 

 

  • Choose a local flower delivery company

 

Support Sydney-based florists as they offer the same quality blooms and artistic arrangements for different occasions. Choosing local suppliers over nationwide flower delivery companies also guarantees that flowers are delivered on time in Sydney.

 

 

  • Always order in advance

 

Although there are florists that accept same-day delivery requests, it’s always best to book the delivery 3 to 4 days in advance. This is especially important to remember during peak seasons such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the graduation season. The florist may have a sufficient stock of flower bouquets and arrangements during high-demand days, but may not be able to organise prompt delivery of flowers because of other deliveries already scheduled during these busy periods.

By ordering in advance, the flower delivery company will have enough time to map out their logistics during peak seasons.
To learn more about flower delivery services in Sydney or if you wish to purchase flowers, give us a call on 02 9871 1666 today.

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When Winter is on Its Way

While it may be hard to believe, now that we are past the half way mark of the month of May, it is now drawing closer to winter. For some, this marks the starts of a downturn in activity and outdoor activities. For our industry, this means that things will start to quieten down as the more moderate temperatures will come to an end, and this usually coincides with a drop in wedding and event bookings.

In the cooler months, there is LOTS to enjoy in the floral world. Garden roses come to an end now, so the roses you will see in store will either be glasshouse grown or imported. The glasshouse grown roses lack the fragrance of garden roses. While their heads tend to hold the shape well,  they will never truly open….unless of course you choose to reflex your roses. 😉 Winter is also a wonderful time to enjoy many of the wonderfully fragrant bulbs that are available such as hyacinth, and johnquills. Other bulb flowers you can begin to enjoy soon are daffodils, and tulips.

You will also see cymbidium stems start to be available in store frequently from now. The entire stem of flower is cut from the plant to give us these incredibly big, eye catching, beautiful and long lasting blooms. For that reason, they are priced dependant on how many individual flowers are on the spike.

Cymbidium orchid spikes are beautiful, striking and long lasting
Source: Flower Farm Shop

Some spikes of cymbidiums also have a fragrance, which is quite interesting. They are available in a vast array of colours including white, pink, mauve, yellow, lime, burgundy, red, cream, orange, chocolate and many more variations in between.

Tulips are an incredibly elegant cut flower. Throughout winter you can enjoy beautiful single standard tulips, feathery tulips, double tulips, and parrot tulips. One thing that many people do not understand about tulips is that they grow towards sunlight. As you can probably imagine, it is incredibly frustrating for a florist who has arranged them in a mixed bouquet as you will find them standing tall above their flower neighbours overnight. This is even more frustrating for a wedding florist!  Not only  do they grow in length,  but their stems will become all wiggly and wavy in an attempt to be the tallest and the closest to the sun. For this reason alone, it is so important to choose a reputable florist when ordering flowers for a wedding, otherwise you are at risk of receiving a bunch of rather wayward blooms.

 

But probably what most consumers look forward to most when thinking about fresh cut flowers and winter is the longevity of the blooms. It is certainly true that in the cooler months your flowers will last longer. When ordering a flower delivery or buying fresh cut blooms for home you can be confident that  they will look fresh and fabulous for days or even weeks depending on what you choose, and how well you care for them. You will notice that the water does not become as smelly as quickly however it is just as important to change the water and recut the stems regularly to get the best vase life. Talk to our wonderful staff about long lasting choices. The cymbidium stems for example can be pricey per stem, but when you think you can enjoy them for weeks, they are actually very good value. Sometimes you will find some of the blooms may be covered when sitting in a vase with foliage or other flowers. Instead of having them essentially wasted, snip them off the stem and use them in a float bowl.

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How to Pick Flower Bouquets in Sydney for First-Time Senders

image of a Gorgeous native bouquet by florist with flowers

Most men are completely clueless when it comes to buying flowers from a flower bouquet delivery service in Sydney. Choosing the perfect flower bouquet to a woman can be quite a challenging task.

This brief and concise guide will help you simplify the job of picking flowers for first-time senders.

 

 

  • Learn something about her

 

The getting-to-know phase when dating will give you an idea on what type of flowers a woman likes. Some women may tell you that they don’t like flowers, but surprising them with a bouquet is a sweet and thoughtful gesture that will definitely be appreciated. If she is allergic to pollen or to strong scents, you may want to consider sending other gift items instead.

Ask her about her favourite colours. This will make it easier for you to pick flowers when ordering online. Analysing her personality will also help you in picking a flower arrangement that she will most likely appreciate.

 

 

  • What message do you want to convey?

 

Sending flowers is a way to communicate a clear message to the recipient. The message that you want to convey will also help narrow down your flower selection!

Are you sending flowers to a colleague to convey gratefulness on a professional level? Or are you trying to send a signal to a woman you’re dating that you love them? Sending flowers in neutral colours such as white and yellow are more appropriate to convey a message of appreciation. On the other hand, sending a dozen red roses to a lady is a clear message of love and affection.

 

 

  • Get professional help for best results

 

If you really want to impress your loved one, or if you simply want her to have a sweet surprise on her special day, seek the help of the best flower bouquet company in Sydney. There are several florists spread across Sydney, but only a handful can deliver fresh and affordable flower bouquet arrangements. Take your time on researching and choose the company who have positive feedback from customers.
Why not surprise someone with flowers that will make her day and think of you, too! Order a flower bouquet from us today and we will delivery same day or anytime you wish to. You may reach us on 02 9871 1666 today.

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Make it Happen for Mother’s Day

May is charging along, just like the proceeding months, and this weekend, we will celebrating Mother’s Day. If you are still to order a fresh cut flower bouquet or floral arrangement, it is not too late!

Our Mothers Day range includes a variety of colour schemes and styles to choose from. You can check out the entire range here. For those of you who want to add chocolates, or wine to your order, there is options to do that online, or you can speak to one of our friendly team members on 02) 9871 1666. We also have gift vouchers available for purchase so that mum can fill her house with fresh cut flowers whenever she pleases, as well as gorgeous Ecoya gift packs that include a scented candle, hand cream all beautifully presented in a cosmetic bag.

I’ve been searching for some interesting quotes about mothers, or motherhood to help inspire you for this weekend. I think that only as we get older, and perhaps become mothers ourselves, do we truly understand what we put our mothers through 😂

So whether you are celebrating with your mother, grandmother, step mother, god mother, or the mother of your children, I think we can all agree that the Motherly figures in our lives more than deserve our appreciation. All these influential woman deserve to be honoured. I can also appreciate that this weekend can be an incredibly emotional time for some perhaps those who have strained relationships, or have lost the significant women in their life.

I hope some of these quotes resonate with you:

” No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.”

– Godfrey Winn

cyclamen make a popular gift for mothers dya
Cyclamen plants are a popular choice for Mother’s Day as they are pretty and long lasting.

“Motherhood is…difficult and….rewarding.”

– Gloria Estefan

“One thing I know for sure – this motherhood thing is not for sissies”

– Jennifer Nettles

Not your average mum? Our "Wild at Heart" arrangement is for those special ones who like something a little bit different, march to the beat of their own drum, and can be tough when they need to be 😉
Not your average mum? Our “Wild at Heart” arrangement is for those special ones who like something a little bit different, march to the beat of their own drum, and can be tough when they need to be 😉

” Motherhood is a great honour and privilege, yet is also synonymous with servethood. Every day women are called upon to selflessly meet the needs of their families. Whether they are awake at night nursing a baby, spending their time and money on less-than-grateful teenagers, or preparing meals, mums continuously put others before themselves.”

– Charles Stanley

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother”.

– Theodore Hesburgh

 

With a name like "So Loved" what better way to show mum she is, than to give her this gorgeous bouquet
With a name like “So Loved” what better way to show mum she is, than to give her this gorgeous bouquet

“For when a child is born the mother also is born again”.

– Gilbert Parker

 

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers”.

-Rudyard Kipling

We want to wish all the mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, and mummies-to-be a wonderful weekend. Here’s hoping you get tea and toast in bed, taken out for coffee and cake, afforded a solo toilet trip, a day off nappy duty, and that someone cooks for  you AND cleans up…

Fwf x

Feature image: The Hollies Farm Shop

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Mother's Day gifts for awesome mums

A Mother’s Life Work

I’ve got a big question for you today.What is the best thing about your mum? Could you put your finger on it?

They say that a mother is ONE person who does the work of TWENTY. And when you are growing up, I’m sure you can appreciate that that is far from true…surely it is more like the work of 50! 😂😂😂

She literally teaches you to do every single thing….things that as a fully functional adult you probably take for granted. But let’s face it, your mother has taught you how to walk, talk, feed yourself, how to play, how to problem solve, how clean up after yourself, how to bounce back after disappointment. She has been your personal chef, cleaner, chauffeur.

Mums break time

So what could you gift a person who has given so much? Look, if I’m totally honest, there probably isn’t any ONE thing that you could give to your mum that would even come close to repaying her for all she has done. You can however try 😝

Whether she likes small potted plants to plant to her garden, exotic orchids or terrariums for inside, or a vase of fresh cut flowers, I know we have plenty of beauties on offer. Our Mothers Day gift range includes bunches of fresh cut flowers featuring traditional chrysanthemums or “mums” as they are affectionately known. We also have gorgeous arrangements made in decorative ceramic pots, wooden troughs and attractive boxes. We also have a range of wines and chocolates that can be added to your order. As your local florist, we can deliver to Carlingford and surrounding areas. We can also organise your flower delivery to outer areas using other reputable florists through our network. But be quick, as there are only so many hours in each day for us to individually craft your order and organise delivery.

Mauve Mother's Day arrangement
These pretty mauve tones are feminine. They feature the traditional ‘mums’
Mother's Day arrangement in decorative pot
Arrangements in decorative ceramic pots are great as they do not need to be arranged or unwrapped upon delivery. PLUS you can use the pot again
Orchids are a great, long lasting gift for mother's day
Orchids are a great, long lasting gift idea that mum can enjoy for weeks, or onths after the day.

Now I’m a pretty lucky human, I’ve got an amazing mum, and I’ve got to tell you, I appreciate her now more than ever. Mum is like some sort of magical fairy….when I go back to the washing machine to go hang it out, guess what? It’s already done. When one of my kids needs some one on one time with me, she engages the others so that I can give 100% of my attention.  And the magical thing about it is this all happens without a conversation taking place.

Intuitively Mothers know what their offspring need, and they work out how they can facilitate it.

Mothers Day is now just 9 days away. And while the day is to celebrate our Mothers and show our appreciation, much of the time for what they done for us while we were growing up, I for one will also be spending the day celebrating the grandmother she has become for my kids, as well appreciating all the things she still does for me to this day.

Don’t see something that is perfect for mum in our Mother’s Day range? That’s ok, we can make something as special and unique as she is. Give our staff a call on 02 9871 1666.

Fwf x

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