Summer’s here and your flower garden has never looked better with sunflowers stretching taller than the garage, roses sprouting up in reds, yellows and whites, yellow snapdragons and tulips offset by purple forget-me-nots and hyacinths. It’s a butterfly paradise! Many people choose to bring some of this fragrance and beauty inside to create summer bouquets to be used as breathtaking centerpieces.

Step one toward creating vivid summer floral bouquets is, of course, the planting. The best time to begin is late March in the West or May in the East, after the threat of frost has diminished. According to Beth Benjamin, floral expert at Renee’s Garden Seed Company, the best flower garden picks are cosmos, sunflowers and zinnias. In the front row of her garden, she’s planted purplish blue cerinthe, deep violet love-in-a-mist and phlox. Her second row is comprised of white cosmos flanked by chartreuse bells-of-Ireland and backed by white ammi majus as filler. In the third row, round colorful zinnias grow next to blue and red salvia. The fourth row hangs ardent love-lies-bleeding to the left and cherry pink cleome to the right, flanked by pink and rose cosmos. In the rear, tall sunflowers grow with strawflowers at each end.

There are many florist tricks to extend the vase life of your summer bouquets. Cut flowers early in the morning for the freshest snip. Using sharp clippers will ensure the water can traverse up the stem into the flower. Place the stems in a bucket of tepid water immediately after cutting. Inside, fill the kitchen sink with cool water and re-cut underwater, allowing water to travel up the stem, rather than air. Keep all bacteria-inducing leaves out of the water. Add floral preservative containing sugar, acidifier and biocide into lukewarm water. You can also create your own mix with one-part regular lemon-lime soda and three parts water or 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a crushed aspirin into 24 ounces of water.

To arrange beautiful summer bouquets, try to find an out-of-the-ordinary container. One floral expert tip is to use a cooling rack over a large colored bowl holding 2-3 inches of water, which will hold the arrangement in place and allow you to stuff concentric rings of flowers in an orderly fashion. Space rose bouquets around the outermost ring. Fill the inner layers with Casablanca lilies and fill Star Gazer lilies between the roses. In the center of the rack, cut veronica stems longer so they protrude a little. The light perfume will fill the air, the colors will pop and you’ll have an enviable flower bouquet in no time.

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Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day or a birthday celebration, purchasing flowers online is a very soothing way to shop for a gift. Giving flowers as gifts dates all the way back to ancient Egypt, Roman and Greek mythology, as well as traditional Chinese writings, experts say. During the Middle Ages, flowers were given as a way of transferring secret messages, despite a crackdown on relations. Sending bouquets of flowers remained increasingly popular throughout the Renaissance period, where many of our modern day “flower meanings” stem from.

First of all, when buying flowers via the internet, you’ll need to be aware who you’re ordering from. Since anyone can open a website, you’re not necessarily ordering from an established florist. Some mom-and-pop flower shops service just a small area and have a website taking online orders for local deliveries only. Other times, a national website will be equipped to handle online orders, yet will expect local affiliates to fulfill the arranging and delivering for them. A third possibility is that you’re ordering from floral growers, brokers, shippers or marketers that ship unarranged flowers in a box by overnight air. It’s easy to assume that all flowers are delivered by hand in a beautiful vase, yet when you’re ordering from these guys, they will send flowers in boxes and you’ll need to do the arranging when they arrive. If the price seems “too good to be true,” then you may be ordering directly from a grower.

Secondly, you’ll want to read the terms of ordering flowers online. Read over the replacement and refund policy, as well as the freshness guarantee. Nothing’s worse than paying to have a beautiful arrangement arrive, only to find that some of the blooms are wilted! Find out who is in charge of delivering the flowers. Is it a ground carrier like FedEx or is it a local flower shop? You should accept nothing less than a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on your order.

If you have waited until the last-minute for a special occasion, then you’ll be happy to know that same day flower delivery is available at www.ftd.com, www.1800flowers.com, www.bloomstoday.com, www.proflowers.com, www.fromyouflorists.com and more. Buying flowers online is the best way for an under-achiever to transform himself into an over-achiever with the click of a button. Just be sure you take into consideration your loved one’s favorite flowers, colors and personal tastes.

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Flowers top the list of the “most popular product purchased online.” Even though electronics, books, toys and wines are also purchased via the internet, it seems that reliable flower delivery has spread like wildfire. The Society of American Florists reports that the industry made roughly $20.1 billion last year and that there are about 22,751 local shops operating in the US. Even though online sellers have flourished, many of these local shops continue to do well because they pair up with the national giants to service their local markets.

There are numerous occasions to buy flowers, the most obvious being Valentine’s Day and Birthdays. However, never underestimate the power of an unexpected delivery! To really impress someone, send an arrangement to acknowledge a job promotion or to express sympathy during a difficult time. For family members, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Easter are popular times too. It’s customary to send flowers gifts of to newlyweds to wish them well. Of course, there are also flower faux pas to be aware of.

For instance, it’s not customary to send flowers to Muslims following a family member’s death. In Asian culture, white blooms are given only during mournful and unhappy occasions. In the US, it’s customary to send the flowers in arrangements of one dozen, but in some European countries an even number is considered inappropriate. Also, Asians have superstitions about receiving four blooms (which signifies “death”) and many countries are superstitious about the number thirteen.

One way to select flowers is to think about what is “in season.” By creating a seasonal bouquet, you’ll ensure that the blooms are fresh, available and less expensive. Sometimes this can also make you think outside your comfort zone, dabbling in new favorites, and the recipient is sure to delight in your creativity! Of course there are varieties for all seasons, such as Roses, Baby’s Breath, Carnations, Gardenias, Lilies of the Valley, Orchids and Gladiolus. For those winter months, you can try Calla Lilies, Forget-Me-Nots, Ivies, Poinsettias, Tulips, Jasmines or Camellias. For springtime, try Violets, Tulips, Narcissuses, Lilacs, Jonquils, Apple Blossoms, Orange Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms, Irises, Hyacinths, Daffodils and Pansies. Summer blooms include Daisies, Hydrangeas, Sweet Peas, Peonies, Queen Anne’s Lace, Delphiniums and Dahlias. Then, in the fall, try Asters, Chrysanthemums, Marigolds and Gerbera Daisies, while adding some autumn leaves to spruce it up a bit.

There are many places to buy flowers. When shopping online, look for phrases like “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” “Over 15 Years in the Business,” “Secure Ordering” and “Award-Winning Service.” Industry credentials, customer testimonials and awards all ultimately lend to a company’s credibility. Sometimes your local flower shop has its own website, which can be a good bet. Otherwise, try one of the larger and more established sellers like Proflowers, FTD or 1800Flowers.

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“Instinct tells us that flowers lift our spirits, but, their effects on seniors are especially profound, if not surprising,” said Jeannette Haviland-Jones, lead researcher on a 2001 Rutgers behavioral study linking flora with senior citizen happiness. In their findings, 81% of seniors reported a reduction in depression following a flower delivery; 41% reported broadening their social contacts; 72% scored very high on memory tests in comparison with those who did not receive any. “Happier people live longer, healthier lives and are more open to change,” said Haviland-Jones. “Our research shows that a small dose of nature, like flowers, can do a world of wonder for our well-being as we age.”

There are numerous occasions to buy flowers, the most obvious being Valentine’s Day and Birthdays. However, never underestimate the power of an unexpected delivery! To really impress someone, send an arrangement to acknowledge a job promotion or to express sympathy during a difficult time. For family members, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Easter are popular times too. It’s customary to send flowers gifts of to newlyweds to wish them well. Of course, there are also flower faux pas to be aware of.

For instance, it’s not customary to send flowers to Muslims following a family member’s death. In Asian culture, white blooms are given only during mournful and unhappy occasions. In the US, it’s customary to send the flowers in arrangements of one dozen, but in some European countries an even number is considered inappropriate. Also, Asians have superstitions about receiving four blooms (which signifies “death”) and many countries are superstitious about the number thirteen.

Did you know there are secret meanings associated with flowers? To make a thoughtful arrangement, you can have one created to make your thoughtfulness clear by writing a message defining each meaning. The most commonly known meanings are in the different color roses. For instance, red roses mean “love, respect and courage,” white roses mean “reverence, purity, innocence, secrecy,” yellow roses mean “joy, gladness, freedom and friendship,” red and white roses are equated with “unity,” while pink and orange roses mean “gratitude, appreciation, admiration and sympathy.” For a romantic bouquet, try adding blue Irises and red Tulips, which symbolize “a lover’s embrace.” A Daisy stands for “loyalty in love” and similarly, a white Carnation also means “faithfulness.”

Web Mystery Shoppers International Inc. recently ran a study rating online flower sellers like Proflowers, FTD, 1st In Flowers and Urban Florist. Seventy-three percent of the mystery shoppers said the shipping costs were “hidden” and once discovered, they found that 30% of the retailers had such high shipping prices that they wouldn’t even consider purchasing. Often prices are not in fact higher online, but consumers are left feeling dissatisfied when they have to enter their personal credit card information before receiving the total cost including shipping. Additionally, error rates ranged from 20-34% while trying to book a delivery, so web responsiveness is another area where the top online flower shops need to improve. Despite all this, fresh blooms are one of the top online sales, yet for some people, the occasion is worth the trip to the local flower shop.

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In the Victorian era, flowers adorned everything, such as the hair, clothing, stationary, furniture and jewelry. The “language of flowers” was considered to be very important as well and passing secret messages with a flower bouquet was a favorite pastime. For instance, if a man sent purple irises, crocuses or an ivy, he meant to say “My heart is aflame with joy and I choose you above all else.” If he sent red carnations to a long-distance love, it meant “I must see you soon.” Snowdrops sent to an ex-lover meant “Let’s try the romance again.” While all floral gifts are not taken as literally today, there are certain flowers for certain occasions.

Generally, when you’re making a customized, mixed flower arrangement, you’ll want to pick one larger bloom that will impress. Lilies, iris and orchids are the most common “wow” flowers, although birds of paradise can also be included, with fewer of these scattered throughout. Next, you’ll want to choose medium flowers as the most abundant addition, such as daisies, carnations, roses, peonies, daffodils, chrysanthemums, anemone or asters. Lastly, you’ll need to close in the gaps with a filler. Baby’s breath, cherry blossoms, hyacinths, larkspur, lilac, ivy, stock and Queen Anne’s lace may be used. By varying texture, color and varieties, you’ll have one of the most impressive and thoughtful bouquets of flowers imaginable.

Once you’ve decided on the ideal floral bouquet for the right occasion, be sure you order from a reputable online flower shop that boasts a long track record and offers a satisfaction guarantee. Write down delivery information and request a confirmation for peace of mind. Double-check that your order considers the recipient’s preferences, favorite flowers, favorite colors and that it is suitable for the time of year and occasion. Or perhaps your arrangement will convey the language of flowers with a hidden message. Be sure your bouquet is overflowing with beautiful blooms, rather than green leaves. Also, if you choose accessories, then be sure they do not overpower the beauty of the flowers.

Receiving a beautiful flower bouquet will bring aroma, color and life to one’s home. The beautiful arrangement will be a reminder of the kindness and generosity of the giver. Though the flowering blooms may die, it will remain in one’s mind as an enduring symbol of well wishes. Perhaps that’s why American botanist and science pioneer Luther Burbank said, “Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.”

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