Sending Smiles ~

Late summer is always a nice time in the flower shop because of the local product that arrives each day such as these huge yellow centered sunflowers. Some measuring 7" across, what fun it is to bring a couple home to brighten up the house. Another flower that screams late summer are iris. Available year round from various farms, they are especially plentiful at this time of the year and the color is just so vibrant! Did you know that these very cool brown sunflowers grow this way? Nope, they are not dyed and they came from a local New Jersey Farm too! Look at these very cool gloriosa lilies that just arrived from Holland. Very spidery and vibrant, these little short stemmed version of this viney flower is perfect in summer basket arrangements and centerpieces. How about these tropical bird of paradise? Tropical floral displays are very popular during the summer months. Must be the heat!! Well, that's a view in the shop today!!

Samantha , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . Have you ever tried to spin a clay pot? Remember art class where you sat there just trying to get that clay to turn into something of beauty? If you are like me, the clay fought me every step of the way and never was much to look at! I'm the same way with paint. I marvel at how someone can take that little colorful liquid and turn it into an amazing landscape or portrait. Well, the same holds true for flowers in the hands of truly gifted artist. Believe me, I've seen designers come and go through my shop doors who think they have talent but are unable to really craft the flowers the way they should. Even with talent someone needs lots of practice and design instruction to really create beautiful floral displays and bouquets. Don't forget, flowers are not only delicate but they are perishable. Working with flowers means that they must be kept cool and can't be done too far in advance. Transportat

Family and Flowers , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . Sometimes I loose perspective on the product that I sell. No really, it's true. I know I talk about flowers - a lot but sometimes I forget the impact they have. This past weekend Kevin and I had to rush from the shop, after setting up numerous events for our clients, we had to actually attend a backyard party in honor of our nephew who was making his Communion. As I ran around, trying to get out, wrapping his gift and writing out his card, I asked designer Samantha to make me a pretty little basket of flowers to take with us. Well, of course, the flowers were a hit and much appreciated by everyone there. The next time you are going to a party, will you consider stopping at your local florist for a bouquet or arrangement? Family, friends and flowers, perfect together.

I thought I'd share a few photos from a Bar Mitzvah we did yestersday. I really loved the "pop" of red that the linens provided. People ask all the time if I think linen colors make a difference and if this event is any indication, I'd say yes! We took our photos before the napkins went down but they were going to be a deep chocolate brown to pick up the color in the curly willow and natural river stones. Because the room at the Nassau Inn is a nice size but does not have overly tall ceilings, we chose to do half the tables with matching down pieces to compliment without over powering the room. If your venue offers colored linen, by all means have fun with it and choose something that compliments your theme! When in doubt, go for a little linen drama!!

Show me the .... I'll bet you thought I was going to say money, right? Actually, I'm talking about what I ask my brides to show me when they come in to the wedding consultations. I ask them to show me: A picture that shows me what color they want their wedding flowers to be. A picture that shows me what texture they want their wedding flower to have. A picture that show me how big they want their bouquets to be. I've been known to give my brides homework if they come unpreppared with the following but truly, it's time well spent. A picture is worth a 1,000 words (or so they say) and the above three pictures really say it all to me when trying to create wedding bouquets. What color do you want your flowers to be? You'd think that would be a simple question but some brides really struggle with this. I try to advise but truthfully, I want the color to not only match dresses and overall theme but also be a color that makes the bride (and groom) happy. Pick colors th

The world of flowers - a breath of fresh air on a dreary day. Is there anything more satisfying than being a  florist who is able to slowly unpack these lovely flowers? Today, these little "blooms in fire" arrived to many Ohhhhs and an Ahhhh's from myself and the staff. Gloriosa lilies, commonly known as the climbing lily, arrived to our shop via Japan. Yes, from Japan and these are unusually spectacular. Native to South Africa, they are truly a work of art. Long, thin vine like stems topped off with these gold tipped gems. As the blossom matures, the petals elongate and wrinkle and gradually arch backward while sequencing through a spectrum of color from green to yellow to scarlet. A most unusual and exotic flower, the gloriosa lily is a crimson and yellow vision to behold and if you receive a flower delivery from our shop - you just might have one of these beauties in your arrangement!!

Everyone knows that making a purchase, no matter how big or small is partly about the experience. Yes, sometimes you shop because you have to but isn't it true that you shop where you have the best experience? Ok, I'm going to get on my Florist soap box and shout my usual mantra of floralisms. Hm, is that a word? It is unclear to me at the time but on with my rant.... Flower Purchases are About the Floral Experience!! As a Florist I understand that people may be coming into my shop for fresher flowers than they might find at the Supermarket. They may be coming to us for flowers for their wedding. They may be coming in to have flowers delivered to a friend but chances are, if they are coming into my flower shop to buy flowers they are here for the Floral Experience. What, pray tell, is that? It's the wonderful experience that they should have of coming into a clean, organized, well stocked place of beauty. They are coming in for the selection, the freshness, the customer s

If I had a dollar for everytime I was out at a business or social function where I heard - "Hey, I see your vans all the time",  I'd be a very wealthy lady by now! How fun is that? I love hearing how people are aware of my company and I especially love my delivery vehicles, complete with their "Send Someone a Smile" and huge blue daisy! So now how can you  win you a smile? If you see our van, take a picture and post it on our Facebook Fan page and you can get money in your hand. That's right, take picture and post it and win a $50 gift card to our shop.  That will put a smile on our face and yours! Have fun and happy hunting! Don't forget to become our fan at Facebook Fan Page of Monday Morning Flowers!

It's funny how the calendar changes from February to March and suddenly, customers start calling for balloon decor! I love it! Every spring hundreds of balloons leave the shop to decorate for fun events such as Communions, Proms, Sweet Sixteens and Mitzvahs. What better way to usher in spring and celebrate good times than with a balloon arch or clusters of balloons flying high over party tables? Even corporate events such as sales meetings and fund raisers can really benefit from a bit of balloon decor. What else really gives you that kind of "bang for your buck"? Flowers are fun but balloons speak volumns with out breaking the bank. It's especially fun doing themed parties using balloons. Just today we met with a client who is hosting a "movie" themed party. Each table will have a giant cluster of balloons that will look like buttery popcorn flying over a red and white popcorn tub. Fun, but simple and certainly will be memorable! Walk a thons are also bi

There are three main things you may not know about me. Number 1, I'm extremely goal oriented. Number 2, I'm competitive but not with others and Number 3, I love working. Ok, let's take these one at a time to get to why I'm writing this blog. What does it mean to be goal oriented? To me, it's having purpose, knowing where you want to go and taking the steps to get there. It can be as simple as "I want to leave work, go home and get some laundry done". By the time I get home, I might not feel like doing it but I know it was my goal to do it and sometimes you have to do things you don't feel like doing. Anyone that knows me, knows that once I set a goal, I'm very hard to derail from getting whatever it is done and accomplished. Sometimes the goals are long term and sometimes short term but they are there and I could not live without them! The next one, I'm competitive, but not with others. I've never liked being in situations where someone

For those of you who read my blog, you know I rarely make it overly "Salesish" but in the spirit of Christmas and knowing that many of you will be running around like crazy looking for gifts, I thought it might be nice if I point out some of my favorite offerings this year. The orders for some of our Teleflora product have started coming in and I have to say I really love the Christmas Cookie Bouquet. The mixing bowl is simply adorable and the arrangmenet really makes up nice. Because this is a Teleflora product, it's easy for us to help you send this to just about any location in the US and Canada. At $52.95 this really makes a sweet gift for anyone on your list and shopping online and hand delivery make it both fast and simple. Another Teleflora  product that I'm really liking is the Teleflora Lenox Holly-Day arrangement. The bowl is aspecially lovely and we have already sold quite a few of these, minus the flowers. That, to me, is the ultimate compliment as peo

Maybe it's just me but it's not Christmas until the lovely poinsettia's arrive. Just before Thanksgiving we start bringing in these colorful plants and all through out December they arrive, get displayed and then get sold. The shop looks so empty when they are all gone and it's so sad!! I thought it might be helpful to post some Do's and Don't for poinsettia care. Thanks to the Paul Ecke Ranch for providing me with this information!! The Do's and Don'ts of Poinsettia Care DO place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain. DO provide room temperatures between 68 - 70° F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia. DO water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. DO use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it. DON'T place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Av

Halloween (or the days leading up to it) are always fun at the shop. We dress up, eat, laugh, take pictures and most of all have fun! We even have a contest with prizes. Who will win this year? Perhaps it's the Swine Flu? Or the King of Hearts? Time will tell! Our shop is always busy and boy, it can be a tight fit but most of the time it all works!! In between the madness, there are weddings and deliveries to be made. The Flower Show must go on! It's times like this that I really appreciate my staff (and friends). This year is especially bitter sweet, as we miss Rocio's sister, Reina so much but we still feel her here with us, each and every day. New designer Norman has been a wonderful addition to the Monday Morning team. It's wonderful that he fits right in, even during Halloween because he's in the spirit!! Norman strikes a pose with Sheryl and Rocio!! David always manages to make us laugh. He's been striking funny poses and making me giggle

Can flowers be a symbol of success? I say a resounding YES! Have you ever been to a beautiful restaurant and noticed that they have fresh flowers on their front counter or even at every table? Those flowers need to be replaced at least once a week but each week that restaurants pays for them for their space. Why? Simple, people love flowers. Flowers are a symbol of freshness and success. Businesses having trouble paying their staff, rent or other bills don't  buy flowers. Let's be honest, all businesses would love to have fresh flowers in their lobby but not all can afford them. In that way, flowers are a sign of financial success. I remember reading a statement made by Carley Roney, Co-Founder of TheKnot.com which was "with flowers, you get what you pay for" and boy, that is so true. Case in point, this weekend we had 8 weddings and various other parties that we were hired to create floral centerpieces for. We had every price point from $30 to $125! Wow, what a di

Who doesn't like to see their name in print? Well, as long as it's not in the tabloids, I'm all for it! It's always a compliment to me and my business to have a publication interested enough in what we do to ask us about ourselves or how we conduct our business. Back in the old days, when I was voted "young careerist 1991" by a local women's business organization (how quaint was that), it was an amazing thing for me or my business to be highlighted in the local newspaper. My personal favorite was the 1992 edition of "Business for Central Jersey" who highlighted me as "Someone to Watch" that year. How relieved I was when the next year they followed up with me and I was still in business and not in jail! You may laugh but one of the people they followed was arrested for something bad and a couple had gone belly up! Wow!! I was doing ok, thank goodness. Every month or so, we do seem to be in this magazine or that paper and this month is n

This past Saturday, Kevin and I were able to leave work a bit early and head out into the sun for a bit of fun at Silver Decoy Winery. Our friend was throwing his wife a surprise party compete with family, friends, food, flowers and fun!! My hubby enjoys the sun as we walk among the vines at the winery. For those who are not aware, New Jersey has many wonderful vineyards and makes fantastic wine. Remember, keep it local whenever possible by supporting the businesses close to your home! These smiley face and latex balloons were a colorful addition to the tent. I love the look on the children's faces when they see these flying gems. Who doesn't smile when they are faced with such a funny image! Baskets of summer flowers seemed to be appreciated by all. Daisies, roses, lisianthus and statice in a white washed basket - so cute! Who doesn't love a few blooms now and then! It was fun walking among the vines and don't tell anyone, but I tried many of the grapes and they we

There's a few things I'm learning about myself as the years roll on. One is that I'm not liking getting old, but hey, who does! I'm also learning that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Hm, my husband says in my line of work it's a good thing but I think my poor employees would say other wise. But, onto the point of this blog... I'm noticing that I look at everything around me as if I were taking a picture. What's the lighting? What are the colors and how do they look together? What's the composition? Is there something in the way of making my "picture" perfect? I remember one time when my Event Coordinator David came back from setting up a wedding and proudly showed me the pictures he took. Now, mind you, this is on a tiny screen, not on a big computer. I did my usual, "These are great David, wonderful shots, except there's an exit sign in this one, this one is too back lit, the angle makes the flowers looks crooked and this one... loo

I laugh at myself as I write that title but it's funny how every time I have a "grand" revelation (and I use that term loosely) I think - "Wow! I have to write a blog about that"! I'm sitting here wondering when did my life turn into a blog? And the bigger question is, does anyone care what I think? I'm not so sure but boy, I really do love putting down my thoughts knowing that someone just might read it. Last week, one of my employees commented on my writing because she really loves my blogs. She innocently asked me if I got good grades in school for my writing skills. I nearly laughed out loud but, of course, that would not be very Presidential of me. I very nicely told her no, I was never good at English or writing. I was completely honest and told her that I had to take Junior English twice, as I failed with a big fat F! I don't know the difference between a verb and a noun and thank goodness for spell check! I'm a florist for heaven sake, no

My designer Gaby and I were talking the other day about the poor flower industry. Have you ever noticed how often other types of business's will put down flowers just to say that their product is better? Society of American Florist spends so much of their time letting other business's know that it's not cool to put us down to make their product look good. It's amazing how those that sell jewelry, candy, chocolates and goodness knows who else use flowers as a point of reference when saying their product is better. Yes, flowers you send today may be gone next month but is that what it's all about? What about the beauty of flowers or the way they can be personalized? What about how special they make people feel or how they physically brighten their mood? Does everything have to be about the long term? In a society of "let's collect as much stuff as possible" doesn't it make sense to bring a thing of beauty into your home that won't be collecting

I don't know what it is about the color pink but it just never seems to go out of style when choosing a wedding flower color. A lush bouquet of ivory and pale pink roses is as timeless now as it was 10 years ago. Aged, ceramic urns filled with herbs and pink blooms make a perfect centerpiece for a wedding set in an old mansion. A simple wreath of cream hydrangea, pink roses and carnations and accents of moss look perfect at an outdoor terrace wedding. Pink roses everywhere speak of romance and elegance. Choose pink as your wedding color the options are endless. To see more, gorgeous pink arrangements visit our wedding website at www.perfectweddingflowers.com