Sending Smiles ~

"What's the best way to keep my flowers fresh and long lasting"? I hear this question all the time and my answer is as simple as 1, 2, 3! Make sure there is no foliage in the water. Decaying foliage causes bacteria to grow.  Keep your flowers in a cool spot out of the sun or away from heat sources.  Change the water daily if possible which gets rid of the bacteria that kills the flowers. Can it really be that simple? Yes it is. Flower Food? It's fine if you don't have any. I've always believed that fresh water trumps everything.  Good rule of thumb - if you wouldn't drink the water, then your flowers probably don't want to either! Did you know that surrounding yourself with fresh flowers is an instant mood enhancer?  A 2013 Huffington Post article says: Smelling floral scents also seems to put us in a good mood and make us feel less anxious. Flowers clearly aren’t going to eliminate the need for medication, but they may take the

I admit, I love blogging but it's been so busy here at the shop that I don't have as much time as I used to. That being said, I'm in love with sharing tips, as always and so in thinking about flowers , I'm talking the most asked question and turning into another top 3 Tip List ! "How do I keep my flowers looking fresh longer"? 1 ~ Fresh Water Yes, it truly is that simple. Keeping the water fresh in your floral display goes a long way to longevity. Rule of thumb for me is if you wouldn't want to drink that water, neither do your fresh flowers! What I see most often is not only do folks not keep the water fresh in their arrangement's but they forget to add water. Fresh flowers drink lots and lots of water, so be sure it's there for them. 2 ~ Little a Trim Off the Bottom You know how getting a hair cut makes you feel good and helps your hair to look healthy and grow stronger? Well, giving your flowers a little trim acts the same way. Whe

It's not a secret ~ If you want your fresh flowers to last longer, changing the water helps. Watch as Designer Norman shows how and explains why it's important. Remember, if you wouldn't want to drink out of the water your fresh flowers are in, then neither do they! Valentine's Day is around the corner, don't forget to place your order early! With 2 flower shop locations to help you delivering 7 days a week! Call today at 609.520.2005 for our Princeton NJ shop or 215.493.1400 for our Yardley, PA store or you can shop online 24/7 at  www.sendingsmiles.com

Susan's Bouquet , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . Yesterday I had a potential bride call me and ask why bride's let the stems show on their hand tied bridal bouquets. I have to say, I did not know how to answer at first. I understood what she meant, she wondered why they choose not to have them covered by ribbon but I think this bouquet really tells the story of why you might want to let the stems show. How pretty these delicate stems of mini callas are! To cover them completely in ribbon would take away part of the beauty and simplicity of the flowers. As I'm fond of saying - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to each their own. Personally, I love when the stems show. What do you think?

Let's face it, if money was no object everyone would love to have flowers in their house. Having fresh flowers in your life doesn't have to break the bank and with a little care you can enjoy them for days or even weeks. Buying Flower Tips: Look for flowers that look hydrated but are still closed or just beginning to open. This one is a biggie. Flowers that are fresh from the farm as just beginning to open and bloom. Blooms often open in order from top to bottom. For example: Lilies. They are multiple buds. The ones at the bottom open first and then as they expire out the higher ones open. Buy them with the buds are either closed or just beginning to open and you'll get two weeks out of your flowers. Other tips are to look for fresh looking foliage. Stay away from leaves that are yellow or even brown. Remember, there is always going to be a certain amount of imperfections in flowers, they are real and not fake but try to find ones that truly look fresh. Le