Sending Smiles ~

MMF Plant Care Tips: Bulbs and Orchids We have noticed that one of the things people most often ask about is plant care. I'm going to write a series of blogs with some basic plant care instructions. These are all plants we carry in our shops and want you to feel comfortable bringing one of beauties home! Bulb Plants are an easy and economical way to add color to your home and garden year after year. Sun Exposure: moderate, indirect light Care: ·          Keep soil moist, water thoroughly when water is dry to the touch, draining excess water. Replanting Bulbs: ·          Once the plant has stopped blooming, stop watering and wait for foliage to die back. ·          Once the foliage is dried out and brown, remove from bulb by gently tugging. If foliage does not pull off easily, you may not have waited as long as needed. It is ve...

Today we are highlighting more MMF staff favorites. This time from Jeff  and George ! Jeff has been with MMF for over 6 years, as our highly talented in-house graphic designer and a driver and event's setup person.  Jeff's first choice was a lady slipper orchid. Orchids are easy to care for, will re-bloom throughout the year and a gift that gives long lasting beauty.  Jeff must really like plants! His second choice was a succulent and he said he especially is captivated by the succulent's flowers that appear after a few months of proper care. We offer a chic and modern succulent garden that would make the perfect gift for a man or woman, Apparently everyone loves stuffed animals , including this adorable owl that is a new item in the shop. Be sure to give us a call if you are interested in one of these more unique plush friends, what is displayed on the website is only a small selection. Our driver George also gravitated t...

One of the best parts of starting a brand new year, is that feeling of starting over. The best way to freshen up your life at home and at work is with a fresh plant . Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate 2015 and treat yourself to a little positive energy!  Designer Holly just made this goblet of succulent plants for a customer who was taking it as a gift. Don't you just love the look? The texture of these different succulents combined in the over sized brandy snifter really make this an appealing planter combination. Call us to send this as a gift or to have us make one for you!   Violets ~ Aren't these stunning. Their fuzzy deep green leaves and brightly colored purple flowers are sure to brighten any location. Although violets do require a certain amount of indirect light and care, for those with a green thumb, they are a stand out.   I often hear ~ "I'm not good with orchids, I kill them". Well, no you didn't kill it, it bloomed and...

It's all about the color blue for last months wedding for George and Rachel. My personal favorite were the blue orchids used for the chuppah but hydrangeas and delphinium in shocking cobalt blue were also featured. Truly a blue and white theme, the wedding flowers were striking and dramatic against the neutral but elegant back drop of the newly renovated Nassau Inn Ballroom.  Rachel's bridal bouquet was stunningly created using ivory roses, white mini callas and deep blue delphinium. The centerpieces were designed in elegant footed compotes that were silver and included ivory roses, deep blue hydrangeas and touches of delphinium and assorted spring foliage. The chuppah was amazingly adorned with draping blue dyed orchids and accented with draping vines and ivy.  Thank you Kyo Morishima Photography for the amazing photos of the elegant blue wedding ! 

The best part about working in the flower shop during a holiday is seeing all the specialty flowers arrive. Truthfully, we wish we could have these amazing blooms in all year long but alas, the more expensive varieties are a bit out of every day range for us. This week we had Japanese Sweet Peas arrive in and they are spectacular. They smell amazing and their delicate two tones petals would set any girls heart aflutter.  Not as unusual to have in the shop during non-holiday times would be full size cymbidium orchid blooms but this week they are unusually lovely . In shades of red, pink and white, a single stem is a work of art unto itself, would you agree?   We're still taking order for Valentine's Day Delivery but you really need to place your order soon to get these lovely blooms! 

Folks are loving blue flowers and at the top of their " Wish List " are these amazing blue dyed dendrobium orchids. Last weekends wedding was a mix of common flowers (baby's breath) and unique blooms (these amazing stem dyed beauties) and what a display they presented for Marisa's wedding at the The Palace in Somerset.  The first element that guests would see when they arrived was the silver archway and golden chairs that were decorated both baby's breath and blue orchids. As the bride walked down the aisle, she carried a cascade bouquet of baby and tea white roses, stephanotis and baby's breath, which her maids carried hand tied bouquets of just baby's breath.  As the guests entered they ballroom they were greeted with elegant crystal trees adorned with cascades of blue orchids. Sprinkled crystals around the base helped catch the light from the votive candles while pin lighting from above helped the tree sparkle. For anyone bride looking for ...

Had to share one of this weekends wedding bouquets and what a colorful bouquet it is! It's not December yet and this colorful, fall themed wedding bouquet proves it. I love when brides are not shy about having colorful bridal bouquets like this one. Made from mini callas, orchids, hydrangea, hypericum berries, mini gerbers, roses, safari sunset, pin cushion protea and even blue thistle, this bouquet is sure to  be a look as she walks down the aisle.  Do you like this bouquet? Would you carry something so colorful on your wedding day? 

One of the best parts of our job is when we get to create pretty floral centerpieces for special events. Take these centerpieces created for a Golden Anniversary party at Salt Creek Grille. No, you don't have to splurge on floral arrangements but we think it's well worth the investment. It's not everyday your parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, right?

Oh my goodness, the line of brides in and out of our shop has been constant (and a bit overwhelming if I'm truly honest)! I predict that our wedding calendar is going to book up faster than any other year since I started doing weddings 20 years ago. On one hand, I'm flattered because it means the word out on the street is that we do a great job with our wedding designs - offer beautiful flowers, fair pricing and excellent service. Wow, I patted myself so hard on the back and knocked myself off my chair! Just kidding. On to the topic listed above - A Real Beach Wedding. The other night I met with past bride Jodi and her friend Jackie to talk about her October wedding. I admit, I was a bit more snippy than usual and I'm going to admit that I probably had put in too long a day, with too little food and water and the tail end of a horrible cold dragging me down. Sorry Jodi and Jackie!! But how sweet was it to come in the next morning to see in my email, sent that night at 1...

It's always fun to share real weddings with our blog readers and this one is especially rewarding being we will be doing her sister Sarah's wedding next. Working on Adele and Chris's wedding flowers last year was both fun and exciting. We especially loved Adele's wedding bouquet of mini callas, protea, mokara and cymbidium orchids, berzillia berries, orange roses and fiddle ferns. Don't you just love the texture?  Adele and her sister Sarah have a bit of fun. Sarah's wedding is up next and very different than her sisters. But in this photo, the day belonged to Adele.  Adele and Chris seemed amazed by those cute fiddleheads in her bouquet. We're thinking the bouquet would not have been the same without them.  How sweet to have a carriage ride and to take pictures with this beautiful horse right in the heart of Lambertville, NJ.  Lambertville was the perfect back drop. The brown and orange color theme really popped against the fresh green...

New footnote on this blog - 2012: Wow! What a response we had from all over the country with this blue orchid corsage. Please just keep in mind that our corsages are not available outside our New Jersey and Pennsylvania delivery area. If you like this corsage and would like it created feel free to share this photo with your local florist. Now back to the originial blog post from 5/18/2011: We say no way!! Who says flowers for Prom have to be boring - well not us. This blue orchid corsage was created by our very talented designer Sheryl. Going to prom soon? Why not hint to your date that you'd like your flowers to come from Monday Morning Flowers!! http://www.sendingsmiles.com/aboutus.asp?topnav=TopNav

This past weekend we created these lovely Phalaenopsis orchid centerpieces for our bride Carolyn. This morning she sent a thank you note and expressed that she was so happy with all her flowers and especially these arrangements. Well, who could blame her. Phalaenopsis orchids have to be one of the most beautiful cut orchids that a florist can design with. Most often we sell them as plants but for special occasions and certain design work, we order cut orchid sprays. Longer lasting and more sturdy than you might think, these cascading orchids are perfect for these "umbrella" style centerpieces. Not inexpensiveby any means, but so worth the money and effort. These lovely blooms might not fit everyone's budget but as a florist, I'm so happy when a client comes along who can both afford and appreciate these amazing flowers! To see these and more of our wedding designs check out our wedding website at www.perfectweddingflowers.com