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Mother’s Day Flowers…Here We Come!

May10

The tradition of Mother’s Day has now gone on for over a hundred years. It began when Juliet Howe issued her famous Mother’s Day Proclamation of 1870. This Mother’s Peace Day eventually led to mothers being honored from coast to coast. Expressing honor & love, families still gather to present mothers with flowers, serve them breakfast in bed or treat them to a special brunch, party or dinner celebration. It is one of the few days out of the year in which mothers can truly kick back and relax.

Flowers this spring have been bigger than ever, and you can hardly go wrong with flowers for Mother’s Day. To keep things simple, choosing just one flower type is always a delight. Orchids have an exotic feel, yet they are incredibly serene and relaxing. Roses have always been a favorite, blessing us with an array of delightful colors to choose from. Traditionally, however, red carnations have been the flower for Mother’s Day.

If you enjoy a mixture of colors, don’t be afraid to go with several different flower types. Arrangements come to life with soft blooms, such as ranunculus, poppies, and freesia. Another great combination is a mix of dahlias, peonies, tulips, and sweet peas.

Think of what type clothes your mom likes to wear, or better yet just glance at her closet. That will tell you everything you need to know about what color and style of flowers to buy her! If she loves to wear glitzy things with rhinestones and diamonds, go with that type of look. If she likes sleek and modern, keep the flowers simple. As a professional florist, we have lots of experience with just these types of decisions, and are happy to assist.

If your mom has allergies, there are several flowers you’ll want to stick with, so check with the flower shop. Because pollen is a big culprit for triggering allergies, avoid those with a lot of fragrance, which comes from the pollen. Hybrid versions of roses, like tea roses, are a good option, especially in the closed-bud stage. Spray roses are always allergy-free and are a great alternative to long-stemmed roses, which are not good for those with allergies. Lilies can be made allergy free by removing the flowers’ anthers, so pollen can’t be produced. Orchids, baby’s breath and potted flowers like hydrangeas and begonias are all good choices for mothers with allergies as well.

Flowers beautify the home and bring a burst of spring inside, but their benefits go far beyond just looks.  Studies have proven flowers to have an immediate impact on happiness, evoking delight and a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. What better way than with flowers to express your love and adoration for your mom?

Flowers by the Falls . Kings Mountain, NC  (704) 739-7331

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Christmas Cactus

Dec22

The unique tropical Christmas cactus has been kept as a beloved holiday houseplant since the 1800’s. It is quite a bit different from cacti that grow in the dessert, because it actually keeps its blooms longer in cooler temperatures, and even wilts if it does not get enough water! They are great in hanging baskets from the florist.

Schlumbergera truncata is the botanical name of the Christmas cactus. The name is derived from Frédéric Schlumberger, a well known Frenchman who collected cacti and grew them at his home. Flower shops have many colors to embrace such as red, fuscia, pink, purple, orange and crème, the flowers of the Christmas cactus are pleasant indeed.

As for the “Christmas Tree”… Pine and fir trees are evergreens found in cold climates, and these generally are used as Christmas trees. They bring people comfort from the cold harsh winter. However, since some countries like Africa and Australia have hot dry conditions, nature does not provide pine and fir trees. So the custom of decorating the Christmas cactus as Christmas tree came into being. They decorate the Christmas cactus just as we would, having the best of both worlds with ornaments and flowers!

Here is a neat article from HGTV on these delightful plants: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/getting-the-best-out-of-your-holiday-plants/index.html

Flowers by the Falls . Kings Mountain, NC  (704) 739-7331

Great Potted Plants for the Fall: Chrysanthemums

Oct24

As the weather gets cooler and autumn leaves begin to change colors, we should remember that there are still many opportunities to enjoy flowers in the fall. Potted plants are a fantastic option from your local flower shop because, they not only are substantial in size, giving you an abundance of blooms, but they will faithfully return back to you each year!

Mums were originally cultivated in China. They used the chrysanthemum as their symbol of royalty, and consider this bloom the highest of all flowers. The Japanese were so taken with this flower, that they embraced it as the crest and official seal of the Emperor. In addition, there’s even a “Festival of Happiness” to celebrate this flower each year. Later, mums were then introduced into the United States during colonial times. Their artistic allure has grown in such popularity that they are considered to be “Queen of the Fall Flowers.” On the contrary, in Italy, these flowers are associated with death.

Chrysanthemums are daisy-like having a decorative “pompon”. They are as durable as they are delightful and are one of the longest lasting of all cut flowers. Years of artful cultivation have produced a full range of colors, many of which are traditional for autumn. Deep reds, purples, oranges, yellows and bronzes are among their many colors. This season though, the most fashionable without doubt, is the vibrant yellow mum. We just can’t seem to get enough of this fun great color, as it has been spotted in nearly every fashion opportunity! Take a glance at “The Looks We Love” on J.Crew’s website: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/lookswelove.jsp, and also how this bride had her wedding planner use yellow mums throughout her wedding décor: http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/decorating-with-mums.

Symbolism: The chrysanthemum is a symbol of the sun. It’s said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life. Mums are Chicago’s official flower, the November birth flower, and the flower for 13th wedding anniversaries. Other meanings include: laughter, optimism, joy, cheerfulness, friendship, peace, loveliness, abundance and wealth. Red pompons profess love, yellow means new opportunity and white speaks only of truth.

Flowers by the Falls . Kings Mountain, NC  (704) 739-7331