Vote Your Favorite Arrangement to the TOP!

Our design contest is over and now we need your help to select a winner!

Visit the Design Contest Poll on the right side of our blog and cast your vote... Voting Ends 11/17/09 7pm

To View Our Contestant's Arrangements, Please Click On The Image To Make Them Larger.

Good luck to everyone!

Flowering Facts about Sunflowers!

Helianthus is the scientific name of the sunflower. It is a combination of two words Helios, meaning sun and Anthos, meaning flower.

The sunflower plant can grow from 3 to 18 feet tall.

There are more than 60 different varieties of sunflowers in the world. The most common is the bright yellow with the dark brown centers, however new varieties of sunflowers are being created in colors the range from orange, tan, maroon or striped petals with green or yellow centers.

In 1986 M. Heijmf grew the world's tallest sunflower that was 25" 5.5" tall in the Netherlands.

Sunflowers seeds are used in a lot of everyday products such as medicine and paint. They are also rich in oil, which are stored as a source of food energy. Sunflower seeds are also crushed to give us oil, which is used for cooking.

Sunflowers require only 90 to 100 days from planting to mature.

Kansas City has been nicknamed "The Sunflower State" and is the national flower of Russia.

A well-known characteristic of sunflowers is that is flowering head tracks the sun's movement; this occurrence is known at "heliotropism."

The largest sunflower head has been grown in Canada, it was 32.5"

The Bonsai technique has been used to create the shortest sunflower, it was just over 2" tall.

Floral Design Contest

Have you ever seen an arrangement and thought to yourself, "I could do that with my eyes closed!"

If so, you're in luck because we are having a Floral Design Contest on Nov. 7th in our Davie store.
For a $10 admissions fee you will have 30 minutes to create your very own floral design that could be showcased and sold in our stores and featured on our website throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.

If you think you have the skills to compete with the best, then hurry and call our order center to sign up. There are only 8 spots available and the deadline is Oct. 31st!
1-800-96-FRESH

10 Fun Facts about Hydrangeas!

Hydrangeas originated from Japan.

Hydrangea flowers are very beautiful and often fragrant.

Hydrangea’s colors can range from white to blue, to pink to purple and green. This is determined by the acidity level of the soil.

Hydrangeas also come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, resembling a puffy cloud.

Some suggest that the Hydrangeas represent anything that is sincerely heartfelt because it possesses enduring grace and beauty.

There are approximately 23 species of Hydrangeas only five are widely cultivated in the U.S.

The most popular species is Hydrangea macrophylla, which is commonly known as Bigleaf, French, Garden or Florist’s Hydrangea.

The name says it all - Hydrangeas need lots of water!

Hydrangeas range in height from two feet to ten feet tall. Some Hydrangeas are climbing plants, which can reach nearly eighty feet high.

According the language of flowers, hydrangea stands for preservation - preservation of love that lasts forever, often used for weddings.

Flowers and Fragrance

Designer perfumes and colognes can be expensive. Here's a few quick and easy steps to create your own fragrances at home.

1) When choosing the flowers you would like to use for your perfume or cologne pick flowers that are just about to bloom. This allows the flower’s scent to be at it's most fragrant. Stronger smelling flowers are best to use, however using more subtle scented flowers will work just fine.

2) After the flowers have been chosen, chop about 2 cups worth of flowers and add into a large bowl. Add 4 cups of spring or distilled water and make sure all the flowers are completely submerged. Place a lid on the bowl and let it sit overnight.

3) Strain the water & the flowers through a piece of cheesecloth. This will remove all excessive plant material in the water. If you are using a subtle scented flower repeat step 2 with new flowers and the same water. Once completed place water in a pot and bring to a simmer, reduce liquid until only 2 tablespoons remain.

4) Add 5 tablespoons of vodka into a small dark colored glass container. Add the 2 tablespoons of reduced liquid to the bottle. Close the bottle and gently shake as to incorporate the vodka and the reduced flower liquid. Allow mixture to sit for 72 hours. If the scent is too strong, just add 1 tablespoon of water and allow to rest for an additional 24 hours.

REMEMBER!!!
If you are making the perfume to give as a gift, please be aware of any allergies or allergic reactions one may have. Since this is a concentrated scent of flowers it may cause a reaction!

Check Out These Fun Flower Games!!!!

Click on any of the links below and you'll be entertained with these fun flower games!!!

Flower Power

Drag and Drop Rose Puzzle

Lady Bug

Drag and Drop Tulips

Sunflower Jigsaw Puzzle

Butterfly Maze

Match Game

Games were provided by: PrimaryGames.com!

How to Create Your Own Hand - Tied Bouquet!

Hand–Tied Bouquets are very popular, and easy to make. A single type of flower such as roses can be used or it can be a variety. Greenery such as ribbon grass can be placed around the edge for a fuller look.

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Hold a few flower or foliage stems tightly in one hand
2. Add each successive stem in a spiral fashion, with the stems crisscrossed in your hand.
3. Once you have placed all your flowers, and while still holding the bouquet in one hand, tie your bouquet with string, ribbon or raffia at the point where the stems come together. (This can be a bit tricky, but gets easy with practice.)

Now you’re done! This yields a bouquet in which the stems flare out, giving room to each flower, as opposed to typical bouquets where the flower stems are parallel. A hand-tied bouquet makes a great gift for someone who has a lot of vases. Recipients can simply drop their bouquets right into a favorite vase, with no need to arrange them.

Flowers, Ribbons and Bows! Oh, My!

There are various kinds of ribbons that can be used to embellish any arrangement or bouquet. Flowers, ribbons and bows often go hand in hand.

The graceful movement of ribbon adds interest and detail to any bridal bouquet and rarely does a floral gift go unadorned by a decorative bow.

Holiday wreaths and garland often benefit from the addition of a fancy bow. The colors and textures of ribbons must be chosen carefully so as to be compatible with the compositions they are accenting.

One type of popular ribbon is curling ribbon, which is very narrow and will curl into loose ringlets when pulled firmly across a sharp edge, usually used for tying balloon bouquets.

One of the most popular ways to cut the ends of your bow once you have chosen the right ribbon is called, Fishtail Cut, which is an indented "V" shape on the tails of your bow - this adds a nice touch to any arrangement or bouquet! (The image above shows a Fishtail Cut.)

Periods of Designs

One Period of Design that is still used today, is called the Biedermeier also know as "The Classical Revival."

This design originated in Germany about 1815. The Biedermeier focuses on symmetry and straight lines. The flowers are put in containers such as metal or marble mounts and placed on pedestals or columns.

Field of Flowers uses this design style today in their own interpretation of their arrangement called Biedermeier as shown above.

The Classic Line - Exclusively at Field of Flowers

Field of Flowers offers a huge selection of arrangements, but only one line of arrangements has developed exclusively at Field of Flowers – it’s our “Classic Line”

The “Classic Line” offers beautiful vases, baskets and hand ties of all flowers made in all color palettes, such as Rouge and Plum. Those who are not looking for a mixed arrangement, the “Classic Line” can be made with tropical flowers and for the added touch the “Classic Line” also offers centerpieces made to fit anyone’s needs in round or oblong. It's no wonder why Field of Flowers " is like no other flower store on earth..."