EE9866B5-5022-4DF3-B597-132AA19A32A4

What does Christmas look Like to you?

When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind?

For me, there are many things, but one thing that is essential to my picture of Christmas is a summer’s day….and we certainly haven’t been short of those.
Anyone from the Northern Hemisphere would surely struggle with the heat at Christmas, but for us Aussies, it is simply our ‘normal’.

With that comes a change in traditional menus, with less hot roasted meat, and more cold seafood, and of course, there is no holly or mistletoe.

Fresh flowers are essential for many people’s picture of Christmas including mine.
Fresh bunches of pine, or spruce can bring the lovely scent of a Christmas tree to your home whether or not you have a fresh tree.

533364AB-0D50-4B97-981E-BA37A8B2E49A

And who could forget the little explosions of bright red that appear in the shape of Flowering Eucalyptus?
I think of flowering gum as our Aussie Holly. Of course it is not at all related to Holly, but like Holly blooms at Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere, the flowering eucalyptus species are in bloom during the festive season here. Plus, it is stunning with its vibrant red and lush green.

2176D78B-AFFA-42AE-A9C9-AAFCAB60447B

Christmas bells are a flower that many people search for during the festive season. They are essential to a traditional Christmas for many people. They are usually sold by the stem for a premium price, however as they are so delicate they should not be mixed with huge volumes of other flowers as they will get swamped.
Ceratopetalum gummiferum, the New South Wales Christmas bush, is another popular Christmas flower. It is a tall shrub or small tree and the magic is that the sepals turn from cream to a bright red-pink around Christmas time.
5ACC7868-9D02-41CC-9B19-8F970F6477E5

One of my personal favourite plant materials to decorate with at Christmas time is Caladium leaves. They come in countless varieties, each with unique patterns and colour combinations on the leaves. The markings on each variety is so unique, and each leaf has a unique shape and finish.
I usually use a combination of a few varieties, including the red and green patterned leaves, as well as the white and green.
I find foliage always lasts well in our warm climate and requires less work, so it’s win win.

CE402D05-0BC0-4530-8B58-DC39E0C9C527

We always have a fabulous selection of old favourites in store plus much, much more, so I’m curious….have you got a favourite flower to decorate with at Christmas? Does it have to be red, white and green….or is there other factors that influence your choices?

The countdown is on…only 9 days til Christmas, make sure you have any gift orders finalised, and feel free to come in to discuss any fresh cut flowers for home.

Fwf x

Featured Image via news.com.au

Read More

The 3 Most Popular Christmas Flowers to Display in Sydney

Image of stunningfower arrangement on a fish bowl for Christmas

Flowers and greenery are must-haves around the holidays. They add colour, vibrancy, and cheer to your home during the most wonderful time of the year! The importance of having Christmas flowers and plants on display is most often underestimated, but these natural beauties add splendid holiday decor to any Sydney home.

In this post, we have summarised the five best flowers that will keep your home look and feel warm and cosy during the holidays and beyond.

 

 

  • Poinsettias

 

Poinsettias are synonymous with the Christmas season. When ordering flower arrangements with poinsettias, make sure to choose those with little yellow flowers at the centre. The little flowers indicate freshness. Do not buy poinsettias with shedding pollen. If the yellow flowers have dropped off at the centre, it connotes that the flowers are past their prime and will not last for a very long time.

 

 

  • Amaryllis

 

Amaryllis look stunning as Christmas flower arrangements. You can give them height for a more brilliant aesthetic finish. Your Christmas bouquet or floral arrangement doesn’t have to be all about flowers. You can add popular Christmas decor, such as striped candy canes to add that holiday feel. Combining red and burgundy amaryllis are excellent due to their vibrant hues and playful textures.

 

 

  • Christmas Cactus

 

Christmas cacti are excellent and unique Christmas flowers that you can send to friends and family. If you want to veer away from the traditional poinsettias, this is the best way to go. Christmas cacti are resilient plants that can certainly last beyond Christmas. With utmost care, they can be a staple at the recipient’s home for many years to come.
 
 
Placing an advance order for Christmas flowers and plants as well as floral arrangements is a must during this busy season. To make sure that your fresh and vibrant gifts arrive on time, it’s best to call in your order as early as today! You may reach us on 02 9871 1666 today.

Read More

A Few Shoppers Tips for Christmas Flower Delivery in Sydney

Gift of Joy Christmas Flowers, Image by Florist With Flowers

Besides the grand Christmas tree, flowers are an important item for decorating your home during the holiday season. With this in mind, it is important to identify flowers which are the best to showcase in your home during Christmas or flowers that you can give as gifts, too. Just like any other occasion, flower decorations for Christmas brighten up the home and add that joyous spirit to the festivities.

 

In this article, we will enumerate the seasonal flowers that are popular during Christmas. 

 

 

  • Poinsettia

 

Poinsettia is undoubtedly the Queen of all Christmas blooms. The plant is a bestseller during holidays as it is used as décor in homes and gifts when attending parties. Its’ long, vibrant red petals is definitely a must-have when decorating a centrepiece for your Christmas spread.

 

 

  • Roses

 

White roses perfectly complement the warm and cozy vibe of the Yuletide season. They are elegant, simple, and sweet flowers that perfectly match any type of Christmas décor that you may have set up at home.

 

 

  • Amaryllis and Winterberry

 

Red and green are must-have colours when decorating your home for Christmas. These flowers exude the unique and festive feel of Christmas.

 

 

  • Cymbidium

 

Cymbidium orchid is a flower that goes perfectly well with other Christmas flowers and decorations. It comes in various bright hues that can certainly uplift the mood inside your home when displayed as centrepiece for your dinner table.

Make sure to order your floral arrangements a few weeks in advance. Christmas is a busy time for floral shops in Sydney, so it’s important to request early on to avoid delays in delivering them to your home or to friends and family around Sydney.
 
 
To learn more about our upcoming Christmas flowering offerings, you may contact us on 02 9871 1666 today.

Read More

The Top 4 Christmas Flowers Arrangement Ideas for 2019

Christmas Posy in a vase, Image by Florist with Flowers

Add a little excitement to your typical Christmas spread this 2019. Christmas floral arrangements don’t need to be all about the poinsettias. You can choose from a wide range of brightly-coloured red blooms to elegant white floral centrepieces, and everything in between. Whether you are looking for Christmas floral arrangements for a December wedding or arranging flowers for your Yuletide tablescape, here are 5 Christmas flowers exude the joy and cheers of this festive season.

 

 

  • Same shade, different blooms

 

Red is the ultimate colour of Christmas, hence should be your first pick when creating a simple and yet festive bouquet for loved ones. Flowers that are popular for their Christmassy vibe are dahlias, ranunculus, and scabiosa.

 

 

  • Christmas bouquet of abundance

 

If you are planning a December wedding, why not integrate the Christmas theme into your bouquet. A grand bouquet teeming with a variety of flowers and greens in Christmas hues will be a scene stealer when you walk down the aisle. Examples of flower selections for a Christmas-themed wedding bouquet are roses, ranunculus, amaranthus, and an assortment of decorative greens.

 

 

  • Love Pink

 

If you want to deviate from the traditional red hues of Christmas, it’s an excellent idea to mix pink tones and green for floral arrangements and table centrepieces. Great examples of pink flowers and greens for Christmas floral arrangements are kangaroo paws, red charm peony, minim cymbidiums , Douglas fir, and seeded eucalyptus.

 

 

  • Add Festive Hues of Citrus and Blush into The Holiday Mix

 

Hints of citrus and blush go together with traditional Christmas hues of red, white, and green. If you are arranging a grand centrepiece for your upcoming spread, consider including peach garden roses, hellebores, pieris Japonica, pink astilbe, burgundy amaranthus, maidenhair fern, jasmine vine, and Ivanhoe grevillea to set and uplift the mood for you and your loved ones.
 
 
Want to learn about your upcoming Christmas flower delivery promos? Contact us directly on 02 9871 1666 for orders and enquiries.

Read More

A Brief Guide to Choosing Christmas Flowers for Sydney Friends and Family

Spirit of Christmas Red Flowers arranged in Garden Tin, Image by Florist With Flowers

According to research conducted by Rutgers University, New Jersey, flowers as a gift item evokes happiness for all who receive them. Although not as expensive as a designer bag or fancy as a trip around the world, a bouquet of flowers is considered one of the sweetest gifts a man or woman receives during the Yuletide season.

 

Christmas is right around the corner. And if you are still looking for the best Christmas gift you can give your loved one, look no further as we give you tips on flower gift giving this joyous season.

 

 

  • For that someone who has everything

 

It can be very tricky to come up with a gift for loved ones who have everything. We all have those friends and family members who usually treats themselves or has impeccable taste that is beyond our budget. Also, there are also people who simply don’t need more stuff in their homes. Requesting a Christmas flower delivery to be made straight to their Sydney home will be the perfect gift. Sending them a bunch of red roses or a potted Orchid will surely uplift their mood or further brighten their home during the festive season.

 

 

  • Go Green on Christmas

 

Instead of decorating your home with plastic Christmas-themed flowers and plants, why not choose locally-grown flora and greens. Supporting florists who source their offerings from local farms using sustainable farming techniques is simply the best way to go. Poinsettia may not be locally grown in Australia around the Christmas season, but make sure to source them from the florists who buys their supply from Fairtrade growers abroad.

 

 

  • You can buy any type of flowers as Christmas gift

 

There is no right or wrong type of flower when sending to a loved one during the Yuletide season. You can definitely go ahead and have a non-Christmas seasonal flowers sent to your loved ones. But since florists anticipate a heavy demand for seasonal flowers during Christmas, it’s best to place your order in advance.

 

Choosing flower types that awaken the holiday spirit. Safe colour choices are whites, greens, and reds in classic holiday styles.
 
 
Want to learn about your upcoming Christmas flower delivery promos? Contact us directly on 02 9871 1666 for orders and enquiries.

Read More

image of Spirit of Christmas Red Flowers arranged in Garden Tin

The Top 4 Christmas Flowers Gift Ideas

Christmas is just around the corner! Australians love summery Christmas as we can spend our holidays basking in the warmth of the summer sun. We may have a White Christmas in the country, we still follow some of the most heart-warming tradition during the Yuletide season.

If you are looking for a thoughtful and beautiful gift to give out to loved ones this season, we highly recommend for you to send a bouquet of Christmas flowers. Instead of buying conventional Christmas gifts to your family and friends, why not send them flowers that they can use during their own Christmas celebrations at home or a Christmas flower or plant that they can grow in their own home?

 

What flowers represent Christmas?

 

  • Poinsettia

 

When we talk about poinsettia, the first thing that comes to mind is the Christmas holiday. They are immensely popular around this time of year due to poinsettia’s extremely vibrant red colour. Poinsettia symbolises two things; red as blood of Christ and white leaves for purity. If you want the recipient to take good care of it in the long haul, request that the poinsettia plant is placed in a vase. In this way, your loved ones can care for them and make them last longer, too.

 

  • Mistletoe

 

Mistletoe is the second most popular holiday plant as it is used as cheerful decoration. Although mistletoe is technically a plant, adding a few twigs to a flower arrangement will give that much-needed Christmas vibe.

 

  • Amaryllis

 

Amaryllis is a beautiful, slender flower in great demand during the Yuletide season. White and red amaryllis are great for Christmas flower arrangements due to their huge bulbs that are similar to trumpets announcing the arrival of the festive holidays. Amaryllis flower arrangements make excellent centerpieces and complement the colours of Christmas at home.

 

  • Christmas Cactus

 

Unlike the traditional types of cacti that thrive in hot and warm climates, Christmas cacti grow well in cooler temperatures. The flowers bloom around late November and usually adapts well to cool indoor environment. The flower got its name from its luscious flowers that hang down gracefully like Christmas ornaments.

 

These flowers can be included in the next flower arrangement that you send out to a loved one this Christmas. To find out about the other Christmas flowers or if you wish to place an order, call us now on 02 9871  1666.

Read More

image of Joyful Hatbox - christmas flowers sydney

The Best Christmas Flowers in Sydney to Send to your Loved Ones

The Yuletide season is a time for glad tidings, good cheer, and beauty. One great way of spreading joy and love this Christmas season than sending Christmas flowers to Sydney family and friends. You can now send Christmas flower arrangements by ordering them online.

Although flowers are not the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about gift-giving during the Christmas season, doing so is a thoughtful and sweet gesture nonetheless. This article will help you pick the right Christmas flowers that your loved ones will immensely appreciate.

Top 2 Christmas Flowers in Sydney

You may find this surprising, but did you know that majority of Christmas flowers are actually tropical plants? Tropical flowers and plants are ideal around Christmas season in Australia as we enjoy warmer climate around this time of the year. This also means that it will be relatively easier for your recipients to take care of them over time.

Here are the top 2 flowers that are excellent gift ideas this Christmas:

  • Poinsettia

Poinsettia symbolises Christmas. Poinsettia has been a part of Christmas traditions all around the globe. Also known as “flower of the Holy Night” the colours of the poinsettia flower symbolise the joyous event that is the birth of Jesus Christ. The red petal symbolises the blood of Christ whilst the white leaves represent purity.

You can have poinsettia delivered in a pot or have it installed in a flower arrangement with other beautiful blooms. They are great centerpiece flowers when combined with pine needle leaves and frosted acorns.

  • Amaryllis

The Amaryllis is another popular flower around Christmas holiday. The tall and elegant beauty of the Amaryllis matches with the festive celebrations that happen during the Yuletide season. The Amaryllis plant typically comes in red and white colours. Ideally, Amaryllis should be delivered cut and placed in a vase so it can last a long time (up to three weeks) and can bloom again with proper care.

 

Send your loved ones these beautiful, seasonal flowers. We deliver lovely Christmas flower arrangements to anywhere in Sydney at your request. For orders and enquiries, you may call us on 02 9871  1666.

Read More

Merry Christmas 2018

A Different Christmas List

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, til his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, ” doesn’t come from a store. 

Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

Dr Suess

Dr suess christmas wisdom
Source: Wise Conservatism

Can you believe it is Christmas Eve? I must admit that I think I’m in denial. It has been a big year, and it seems that the world is turning a little bit faster, and that our journey around the sun seems to be taking a shorter amount of time each year!

On the day before Christmas, there will be people who are still rushing around finalising their Christmas shopping; getting last minute gifts, boxes of chocolates (just in case), collecting their chosen beverages for the holiday and getting all the fresh ingredients for their Christmas meal.

In amongst all the madness, all the rushing, and stress, it is so easy to forget what Christmas is all about. Now look, not everyone celebrates a Christian Christmas, and for many, the day has no religious significance at all. But, if you live in Australia, Christmas is a National Public holiday- and the idea of a holiday is rest, a slower pace, and enjoyment, right?

Sure, it has become increasingly commercial over the years, and let’s face it, it’s always nice to be given something that someone has chosen for you, but these days, Christmas can turn into a bit of a circus…and this ringmaster for one, is having trouble controlling her monkeys!

I saw this Christmas To Do list posted many times over the last few weeks, and I had to share it with you all:

Be present this christmas

In the process of getting everything done, and having everything look perfect, we put extra pressure on ourselves, and in turn our families.

I remember my friend once telling me she was the self appointed ‘Queen of Outsourcing’. Why? Because she figured her time was better spent doing the things she enjoyed and that made her happy, than running errands or rushing around doing housework. Instead, she made the choice to pay a bit extra to get the jobs she didn’t want to do, DONE.

So, that is my advice to you too over the holidays. Sometimes, paying a delivery fee to get something to you is worth saving yourself a round trip. Sometimes dropping the laundry off will alleviate enough pressure that you will be able to enjoy a slow morning at home reading.

DIY table decorations
Source: Como Fazerem Casa

Sometimes the idea of decorating your Christmas table with something homemade (that you found on Pinterest) is more satisfying than the actual experience of doing it yourself. Without the proper tools. With time restrictions.

So whilst the clock is ticking and there are only hours left of trade, rest assured that Florist With Flowers has been up early this morning at the markets, getting a beautiful selection of fresh flowers for you and your families to collect in store, or for local delivery. Take advantage of our skills and our passion.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers who are celebrating tomorrow, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We appreciate your loyalty so very, very much. You make it possible for us to do what we love everyday, and we know that we could not do it without you.

Be safe, and we look forward to another wonderful year working together in 2019.

Fwf x

Read More

DIY Christmas wreaths

D.I.Y Door Decorations

Let’s face it, Christmas is expensive. And even if you simplify, as we do, the cost of quality items is high. Add to that the cost of the Christmas meal whether that includes turkey or prawns, pudding or trifle. And don’t forget the provisions you just have to buy when the shops close for 24hours…you know, ridiculous quantities of canned goods, preserved fruits and vegetables, extra milk and bread to freeze 🤦‍♀️

Florist With Flowers designs a gorgeous range of wreaths each year, suitable for your table or your door. Call us on 02 9871 1666 or come in-store to chat to our friendly staff about your requirements. You can get some inspiration here. If however, your budget has stretched as far as it is going to, yet the decorations have been left to last, here are a few ways to get creative.

Embroidery Hoop Wreath

Using an embroidery hoop from your local fabric/craft shop as your wreath base, you can create a simple yet stunning door hanging. Taking inspiration from Scandinavian design,  the focus is as much on the empty space within the piece as it is on the decorated area.

Embroidery hoop wreath arrangement
Source: LapinBlu
Competed hoop wreath with advent bags
Source: LapinBlu

You only really need a small amount of pine or spruce along with foraged pine cones to complete this simple wreath. This example shows how it can also be adapted to be your own special advent calendar. You simply number some brown paper bags and fill them with your chosen treats, and finally attach them to the base.

Pool Noodle Wreath

For those of you who are not only cash poor, but also time poor, this option can be prepared well ahead of time, freeing you up closer to Christmas. It requires NO fresh ingredients. Aside from gluing the noodle together to form a ring which would need to be done ahead of time, this wreath would take less than 10 minutes!

Pool noodle wreath
Pool Noodle wreath. Source: Miss Kris

30 minute Bauble Wreath

This wreath is about as festive as you can get. You can choose the colours you fancy, but you will need approximately 90 baubles in a variety of sizes, a hot glue gun, an old wire coat hanger and a bottle of wine 🍷  (according to the author). For a full breakdown of instructions you can check out the full post from Delightfully Noted.

A gorgeous bauble wreath that you can customise to match any colour scheme. Source: Delightfully Noted
A gorgeous bauble wreath that you can customise to match any colour scheme. Source: Delightfully Noted
Step by step instructions are available at Delightfully Noted
Step by step instructions are available at Delightfully Noted

Kmart Christmas Hula Hoop

Kmart products often inspire a bazillion creative hacks, and Christmas is no different….in fact there are probably even more sources for inspiration. This year, one clever mummy has created the most impressive hanging display which will sit over her dinner table, but the concept could just as easily be adapted to create an amazing door hanger or decoration for an entry gate. Lisa Heenan’s simple instructions can be found here, but please note, Lisa has attached the hoop in four places to her ceiling fan which allows it to move slowly in the video.

Lisa Heenan created this hanging arrangement using a Kmart hula hoop and flowers, vines from IKEA and discounted store ornaments.
Lisa Heenan created this hanging arrangement using a Kmart hula hoop and flowers, vines from IKEA and discounted store ornaments.

The $5 hoop can be found at Kmart, along with a variety of other retailers, and is simply covered in an assortment of artificial vines, and blooms sourced from IKEA, Kmart and discount stores.

Should you wish to adapt this to include fresh foliage and fresh cut flowers, I would suggest using a combination of doddavine, trailing Ivy as your base to cover the hoop. Both materials last well without water. For your flower choices, I would generally recommend sticking with dried flowers, or flowers that can either survive for the day without water or in small water vials.

Spray painted dried lotus pods, pine cones and gum nuts are ideal as they are dry. White Singaporean orchids are a delicate bloom that lasts well without water.  Most tropical blooms will withstand a day or so without water, particularly if it is humid.

Wreath Gum and Paper Cut Outs

Source: Sostrenegrene

This is soooo simple to look at, and even simpler to do. Using only eucalyptus foliage which can be left to dry on a super simple frame, and adorned with quaint paper cut outs…really, is there any excuse not to have a wreath when there are options as easy as these.

Still, not everyone is crafty, so as you know we are here for all your fresh flower, gifting and Christmas decorating needs.

Not long to go ONLY 5 more sleeps! 🎄 🎅🏼 🎄 🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼🎄

Fwf x

 

Read More