Sending Smiles ~

Laura's bouquet , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . People often ask me if there is any one particular bridal bouquet that seems to be a favorite among our brides and the answer is yes - and this is it. A very simple but classic hand tied bouquet of ivory roses, white mini callas, accented with berries and a collar of fresh greens. Each year we do about 100 weddings and we make this exact bouquet no less than 5 or 6 times. Sometimes the ivory roses get replaced with white or even pale pink or peach but the general look and feel remains the same. So there you have, the closest thing we have to a signature bridal bouquet!! To see more of our wedding designs, visit our wedding website at www.perfectweddingflowers.com

Ok, there it is... Fill a vase with fresh flowers is number 21 on a list of 25 bright ideas to recharge your mood, routine and rooms and highlighted in Real Simple Magazine. A Harvard study showed that people who looked at fresh flowers in the morning reported higher energy levels for the rest of the day! That's powerful stuff and so easy to do. Perhaps you'll consider going to your local florist for a fresh bunch of flowers this weekend? What about bringing some into the office next week? Living with flowers - it's a good thing!!

How cute is this picture? Taken almost 8 years ago when my husband and I went on a fantastic trip to the farms of Holland.Thanks to our wholesaler who offered the trip, we had an amazing time. This greenhouse was one of my favorites because I've always loved dutch Gerber Daisies. Almost the size of salad plates, this farm had Gerber's in just about every color your could imagine. I think sometimes we forget about the farmer and his crew that guide the flowers from seedlings to gorgeous blooms!

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

Tin Pails , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . One of the things I love so much about flowers is how many ways you can take th exact same blooms but make them look completely different depending on how you arrange them. Spikey, loose and airy and you have a wild flower look. Tight, compact and round and you have a more formal English Garden feel. What fun and add in so many different flowers and colors to choose from - well, it's mind boggling. Sending someone a gift of flowers for a special occasion but don't know their personal flower style? I always suggest to my customers to take clues from their homes or even how they dress. Do they dress in bright colors? A mixed arrangement in many different colors is likely a good choice. Is their home decor more minimal or contemporary? Perhaps send a monofloral (all one flower) display such as all stock, tulips, gerbers or lisianthus that is arranged in a clear glass cube or cylinder vase. Do they wear je

dingsmiles.com The Village Water Fountain , originally uploaded by Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers . What is it about a water fountain that makes people happy? This fountain is just up the block from my Princeton shop and I personally have been enjoying it even before I moved my business into Forrestal Village. On a sunny day there are tons of children dipping their feet and laughing. Even my new niece Mary Ann was introduced to this particular fountain recently and was absolutely mesmerized by the water. Making it even more special is how her parents posed at this fountain for their wedding portrait 17 years ago! On this particular day, I snapped a quick photo. I was on my way to take some pictures of an event we had just decorated at the Westin Hotel. How cool is that and how lucky am I to have this wonderful mood lifter so close to me? :o)