The Inevitable Holiday Procrastination Affliction

Are you one of the many people waiting until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping? Did you forget about your in-laws out in Arkansas? Or your favorite professor who wrote you that awesome letter of recomendation? What about your third cousin who just had a baby that you didn't hear about until yesterday? Or even that cute girl who lives down the hall in your apartment complex?

Here at Arapahoe Floral we have the solution to your Christmas predicaments. We specialize in last minute solutions! We can whip up a holiday arrangement, call all over the country to make sure your order to those in-laws is taken care of, and even deliver on Christmas Eve.

So just keep in mind we have fresh cut flowers, arrangements, plants, orchids, and, of course, the never failing gift card!

Merry Christmas!

Alternative Holiday Gifts

Want to get a bit creative with your holiday plants?? If you haven't heard of a "Shooting Star Hydrangea", we are about to take your home's Christmas Decor to a whole new level.


They are incredibly unique with multi-petaled 'stars' shooting from the flower. They are also the longest lasting of all Lace Cap varieties and are suitable for the outdoors... which is perfect for once we get through the winter!


To take care of your funky new Shooting Star Hydrangea here are a few tips:

- Temperature should be around 55 degrees - 75 degrees (F)
- Keep them very moist (drench when you water them) but don't let them sit in the water
- Medium light, or indirect sunlight, is best!


Our Shooting Star Hydrangea begin at $40. Give us a call or shoot us an email to place your order today :)

Poinsettias: How To Care For Your Holiday Flowers

Here at Arapahoe Floral we like to think of ourselves as an honest business with your best interest in mind. So we are going to be straight with you... poinsettias are a very fussy, needy, and finicky plant. BUT with the right knowledge you will be able to surpass the challenges and keep the festive flowers alive for the holiday, and today we are going to provide you with the tips to do so!


1. Light: Poinsettias are a tropical plant (indigenous to Mexico and Central America) therefore they love the sun! Keep them near a sunny window so they can soak up as much of those rays as possible.


2. Temperature: Cold kills! Keep your plant away from cool drafts and make sure they are in a constant warm environment (around 60-75 degrees F). If you do have them near that sunny window, make sure they aren't touching the glass if it's cold. Also, Extreme temperature changes are not healthy for them either, so intense heat is not a good idea. (aka don't keep it near your heating units!)


3. Water: You always want your poinsettia to have moist soil. Typically, it's a good idea to check and water them AT LEAST every other day. Make sure that you drain them and don't let them sit in water. It could cause wilting!


With those three imperative guidelines, your holiday poinsettias should thrive throughout the festivities!


If you have any further questions or want to take a look at our poinsettia collection, give us a call at 303-220-7515.


Happy Holidays!!

"Horns Of Plenty"

Did you know that in the 18th century, the highlight of a formal dinner was the centerpiece?



Nowadays, the most celebrated formal dinner every year is Thanksgiving. Holiday centerpieces and decorative arrangements throughout the home have become a standard tradition for this special occasion. One of the most recognized symbols and pieces used for Thanksgiving decor is the cornucopia, or "horn of plenty".



However, the cornucopia has been around much longer than the holiday of Thanksgiving has existed. The actual word "cornucopia" dates back to the 5th century BC. Typically, it was a goat's horn that was hollowed out and filled with various fruits, nuts, and grains. According to Greek legend, Amalthea (a goat) offered one of her horns to the Greek god Zues who in turn set the goat's image as the constellation known as "Cornucopia". Since then, they have been a symbol of gratitude and appreciation.



This Thanksgiving season, we have cornucopias available to fill with fresh flowers, gourds, wheat, cattails, vegetables, fruits, and even mini pumpkins. These unique arrangements will look great as a centerpiece or even as side piece for your buffet table.



Show how thankful you are for your loved one's this Thanksgiving with the timeless symbol of appreciation- a cornucopia!

HAPPY FALL!

Come in and check out our wonderful fall Flowers. Most of our flowers come in fresh directly from the growers. Splendid Flowers Inc. is the main supplier their located in Miami, Fl. They offer us the latest and most amazing selection of flowers grown in Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Holland, Costa Rica and many others. They're collection includes: Roses, Carnations, Mini Carnations, Gypsophila, Pompons, Asters, Gerberas, Lilies, Snapdragons, Limonium, Delphinium, Larkspur, and Hypericum. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Give Thanks!

In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to share some inspirational images to help get your centerpieces started! Thay are a splendid addition to your Thanksgiving dinner, and the perfect way to tell someone how thankful you are for them!

(Boutiful Beauty, starting at $59.95)

(Autumn Lights, starting at $84.95)

(Center of Attention, starting at $114.95)

We have lots of different products to choose from- these are just a few! There are hurricane candles, tapered candles, wicker baskets, festive gourds, and even cornucopias. Also, our talented designers can create a unique piece just for you and your budget. Give us a call or order online to schedule your Thanksgiving pick up or delivery order!

Earn Petal Points . . . Get Discounts!!

Arapahoe Floral just started a discount program for our repeat online customers. It is called Petal Points. Basically once you are enrolled in the program you get a point for every 10 dollars that you spend. Once you get 10 points you receive 10% off the order of your choice to use whenever you want to. Visit our website to sign up; just place your order and click yes to sign up for petal points.

Arapahoe Floral Discounts

Please visit our Google page from time to time to check out our special offers and coupons because they are constantly changing throughout the year, especially around holidays. Currently we are doing a Friday Flower Happy Hour special where we have 15% off for walk-in customers and discount prices on certain flowers every Friday from 1 pm to close. A link to our google page and offers is below:

http://maps.google.com/coupons/pagedid=0_1872672707692705512&provider=SELF&cid=7ACWSFAVSYPX7BTC&oi=md_coup&sa=X&ct=coup&cd=1&gl=us&hl=en

Keepsake Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Every year, around mid November all over America, people start to prepare for the holidays. For most this means picking out a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece to go on their family's table. Though this may seem like a very small part of Thanksgiving, it is the simplest way to decorate your holiday table and it can become a family tradition. Every year Arapahoe Floral (with the help of Teleflora) provides arrangements for only certain holidays that come in containers that can be used year after year. These keepsake containers are a lot more popular and more practical than just a glass vase or plastic container because the very next year you can bring them back into Arapahoe Floral and have them arranged in again for much cheaper. Examples of these arrangements are the Falling Leaves Arrangement and the Harvest Bowl Arrangement. Both of these make great Holiday Centerpieces and are timeless.

Check out our website to order yours!

20% off All Halloween Arrangements and Plants

Now through Halloween, Sunday the 31st, all Halloween themed floral arrangements and plants will be 20% off. Any of these arrangements would be a perfect addition to Halloween Party decorations. Stop by this weekend for something cute n' creepy!

Avoid Flower Scams! Buy Local!

The next time you place an order online for flowers through a website that is not a local flower shop, here are some things to think about. Websites like Flower Shop Network, FTD, Bloomnet, Teleflora, and Pro Flowers are all companies that make money off of providing customers with the convenience of ordering online. They make it easy to order by providing thousands of pictures of arrangements that you can choose from at a price that seems very reasonable. The arrangements all look amazing and full and it is as easy as clicking on the picture, putting in the address and paying with your credit card. Though this seems like the way to go, the chance of the arrangement you picked out being delivered like the one in the picture is very small.

Here's Why . . .

Once you place that order, that company immediately takes out anywhere from 20-30% of what you spent on your flowers for their service (this is on top of the 8-10 dollar convenience charge they have automatically added to your order.) After that they try to find a flower shop in the same zip code or close that will take the order. However by this point the flower shop they send it to is only getting 70% of what you spent and have to take out delivery, labor, and the cost of the vase or container, leaving a small percentage for the flowers. This means if you buy a 100 dollar arrangement through one of these websites, only about 50 dollars of what you spent is going toward your flower arrangement. A lot of times, quality local florist reject these orders because it would hurt their business to either make the arrangements nice and not make any profit or to send out skimpy arrangements and get a bad reputation. This causes your online order to often be sent from florist to florist until it ends up at a florist that doesn't mind skimping on your flower arrangement. Good quality local florists that are forced to take these orders end up coping in other ways, like raising prices to customers that call or come in. These scams have increased flower arrangement costs and decreased flower arrangement quality as a whole.

So Please Please Please from all of us local florists,

BUY FROM LOCAL FLOWER SHOPS DIRECTLY!

It's cheaper, has the convenience of online ordering, and will guarantee quality arrangements!

Like Arapahoe Floral,

call us at 303-220-7515 to get the quality flowers

sent, that your loved ones deserve!

Need help finding a local florist in your area or in the area of your family and friends,

check out http://www.floristdetective.com/

and here are some tips to filter through the websites that claim they are local.

From the Florist Detective:
Tips to Avoid Being Fooled by Flower Order Gatherers
•Check the Home and About Us pages for the physical address of the business.
•Ask 'What is Your Address?' when you call on the phone. If they decline to provide it, consider calling another florist.
•Check the Contact Us page for a local phone number. It should match the area code of the location to where your flowers are being delivered. If the contact information consists of an email address only, be suspicious.
•Call the local phone number. If it is answered 'Flower Shop' without providing the name of the florist, ask which shop you've called. If they provide a different answer than the one you've dialed, you may have reached a gatherer/broker.
•On the phone, ask for the business' location and driving directions. If they fail to provide these details, consider calling a different florist.
•Ask the florist to itemize all charges. Be especially cautious about companies that charge relay fees, same-day fees, service fees, shipping fees and handling fees. Local florists generally charge for delivery (which you also pay through a broker) but the other surcharges are completely avoidable when ordering direct from the florist who will actually make your arrangement.
•Google the phone number. If it appears under many different business names with different locations, be suspicious.
•Be aware that just because an ad or website name says "City Name Florist", it doesn't mean the company is located in or actually delivers to that city.
•If following a link from a search engine ad, find the site's home page. Order gatherer sites often contain directory-like links named after states, provinces and cities. Each page will appear virtually the same except for the city name.

What is a Dish Garden?? Let Us Explain...

A dish garden is an arrangement of plants in a container, typically a ceramic bowl or even a wicker basket with lining. Dish gardens are very unique; they do not have any drainage holes and combine a variety of plant types. You can create a dish garden with green plants like ferns and ivy, blooming plants to add a bit of color, or even a collection of different types of cacti! They are full and can thrive indoors, creating a perfect miniature garden perfect for anyone's home, especially during the winter season!

Dish gardens are the ultimate housewarming gift, a wonderful way to say thank you, and even a great way to celebrate a birthday. They are longlasting, providing the beneficiary with a constant reminder of your appreciation!

If you're feeling a little creative and want to personalize your dishgarden, try potting the plants in your favorite mug or any other type of container you may have at home! Just bring it in and we can put a beautiful garden together for you!!

The Sentiment of a Rose

Giving a rose has been a tradition all of the world for thousands of years. Because of their importance in our culture, throughout history people have developed a color language for them. Over time the meanings of each different color of rose has changed, so below is a list of the colors of roses and what they mean today. This way the next time you want to order roses you will be able to pick ones that represent the exact sentiment your going for.

Red: romance, love, courage, beauty, respect, passion, "I love you"
White: purity, innocence, youthfulness, purity, humility (wedding: "I am worthy of you")
Pink: appreciation, graditude
Light Pink: admiration, sympathy, grace, joy, sweetness
Yellow: Friendship, delight, welcome back, gladness
Lavender: enchantment, love at first sight
Orange: Desire, Enthusiasm
White with red tips: given together they mean unity
Peach: Modesty, sincerety
Coral: Desire

It's never too early . . .

. . . To start thinking about the holidays!
It's almost Novemeber already which means out-of-town family, massive dinners and lots of memories in the making. For most this is a wonderful time of the year but for some it can be the most stressful time of the year. That is why we recommend thinking ahead and preparing for the holidays starting now while things are calm. As it gets closer things like Thanksgiving dinner centerpieces can fall through the cracks, causing last minute stresses. At Arapahoe Floral you can never order too early to make sure you have the perfect centerpiece for your family table. You can even order it online and have it delivered just a day or two before Thanksgiving to make it as easy as possible for yourself. We have hurricane candles, fall colored flowers, maple leaves, pine, cedar and holly to make up any custom holiday arrangement. Call us today to order yours!

~**Fall Leaves**~

As the season changes to Autumn, the natural beauty of the changing trees provides a striking mix of yellows, reds and oranges. However, most of us get busy with our hectic lives and don't get the opportunity to appreciate the view.

This fall, Arapahoe Floral wants to make it easier to enjoy the beauty of fall by bringing it into your home! We have maple leaves and all sorts of colors of fall leaves we can put into any arrangement. We also have autumn colored mums and daisies that are ordered in fresh from our grower each week. Beyond our flowers, we have Halloween and Thanksgiving themed containers like ceramic pumkins and cornacopias to give any fall arrangement that extra pizaz.

We also love to add organic gourds, apples and even mini-pumpkins from our neighbor, Sunflower Market, to give them a unique design. We always encourage pre-ordering your arrangement at least 24 hours ahead of time so we have the chance to give it the attention it deserves.

We highly recomend bringing the beauty of fall into your home,

so give us a call or stop by and see us!

~Pumpkin Floral Arrangements~

Want to change up pumpkin carving this year?

Arapahoe Floral has the perfect way to dress up an ordinary pumpkin and make it into fabulous seasonal decor or a centerpiece!

From now until Thanksgiving if you bring in a cleaned out pumpkin (carved or uncarved) we will fill it with the flowers of your choice.

Pumpkin arrangements make perfect centerpieces for Thanksgiving dinners, gifts for friends and family, and porch ornaments.

Bring your pumpkin in today!

Friday Flower Happy Hour!

If you haven't heard . . . Friday between 1pm and 5:30pm is the Happiest time of the week!

At Arapahoe Floral every Friday we have Friday Flower Happy Hour. This means every Friday, 1pm to close we offer special deals only to customers that come into the shop. Each week we offer a different discount and we only announce it that Friday. Last week we offered 15% off and for customers that spent over 30 dollars we gave them a small candle and customers that spent over 50 dollars got a large candle.

Stop by this Friday afternoon and experience for yourself the HAPPIEST time of the week!

Don't Forget Your Boss This Week!

National Boss Day is this upcoming Friday, October 15 2010!

This holiday began in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski decided to celebrate her boss, who also happened to be her father. Since then its become a tradition to show your fearless leader your appreciation for their continual guidance and support.

What better way to thank the head honcho than by sending them a unique and colorful arrangment to brighten up the work environment?! We also do gift baskets, plants, gift certificates, and orchids!

Check out our website where we have plenty of ideas to get you started: http://www.arapahoefloral.com/englewood-florist/bosses-day-is-10/16-9369c.asp?topnav=Occasions

Click online to order!

If you missed Taste of Greenwood Village . . .

. . . . You missed some splendid arrangements by Arapahoe Floral!

This last week the city of Greenwood Village put on a wonderful event to raise money for the city. Arapahoe Floral had the opportunity to donate the majority of the flowers for the event. We decorated each table with tall upscale oncidium orchid arrangements inside, and clear glass bowls with floating sunflowers in the outside tent. The theme of simple yellow flowers and black rocks looked spectacular for the event. We appreciate the City of Greenwood Village Chamber of Commerce asking us to donate again this year and we hope to donate next year!

Check back for pictures~!!!

It's Fall! Let's Dance!

Corsages and Boutonnieres

Fall has arrived! This means football Sundays, fall leaves and for high school students: dance season. Whether you’re a senior and an old pro at ordering your date’s floral accessories or you’re a freshman who is new to this stuff, let us guide you through ordering your corsages and boutonnieres.
Here is a list of tips to make ordering this year a breeze!
1. Often times when ordering a corsage or a boutonniere we will ask you what your date is wearing; that way we will be able to match the boutonniere or corsage to their dance ensemble.
a. For example, if wearing black or white or both you can match white flowers with a black ribbon or go opposite and make it bright and colorful to offset the dress
b. If your date is wearing an obscure color like teal or baby blue, (that flowers are not normallly found in) you may need to find an accent color that goes and do the wrist ribbon in that color. The other option would be to spray paint a few of the flowers.
2. Another good tip is to order in advance, that way we will have enough time to get exactly what you have in mind. The more time we have, the more unique and interesting we can make it.
3. For corsages, we mainly use spray roses along with other smaller accent flowers depending on the color and size you want it. We also use orchids, Gerbera daisy pedals, alstroemeria, kalanchoe buds, and larkspur. All of our corsages are tied on the wrist with the ribbon of your choice because we have found they stay on best that way. We also however, have rhinestone bracelet corsages for 7 dollars more if you want to be a little fancier.
a. For longest lasting corsages, place in the fridge door before the dance
b. For the most secure corsages, tie a knot at the bottom of the wrist and then again at the top underneath the flower portion.
4. We typically use roses for a boutonniere for the gentlemen’s floral adornment, which gets pinned on to his vest or lapel. However, there are other flowers that can be used as well, like Calla Lilies, Freesia, and mini roses.
5. All of our corsages are $30 and all of our boutonnieres are $15.
Call today to place your order!

What You Need to Prepare for Your Wedding Consultation

~Wedding Consultation~

During your complimentary consultation you will sit down with a wedding designer, go over all arrangements needed, all flowers to match your color scheme and choice, and ideas for your desired arrangements. We are flexible with every one's ideas, budgets, and opinions. There is no budget too large or too small. We will work with you to make your wedding day special. You'll be able to show your guests your own individual style through the flowers that you choose!

Before coming to your Wedding Consultation, please come prepared with this list of information to ensure you get the most out of your appointment:

*Pictures of Preferred Flowers

-Any magazine Clippings

-Photos from another wedding

*Pictures or Ideas of Bouquet Styles

-Hand Tied

-Cascading

-Nosegay

*Any Colors or Fabrics in the Wedding

-Samples of colors for the dresses

-Other accents used in the wedding

*Total Number of Wedding Attendants

-If possible bring the names of all attendants

*Ceremony Address

*Reception Address

*Estimated Floral Budget

-The amount you have budgeted for the wedding flowers

~Call for your Appointment Today!~

~10th Annual Taste of Greenwood Village~

Come See Our Flowers at

Greenwood Village's Annual Premier Food and Wine Event!

Thursday September 30, 2010

5:30pm - 10:00 pm

Palazzo Verdi

6363 South Fiddlers Green Circle

(21 and older)

Arapahoe Floral, again this year, has the honor of doing flower arrangements for this event. It offers 3 different levels of ticket pricing which include fine dining, wine tasting, jazz entertainment, an art show, & a silent auction.

Get your tickets for:

A Taste Under the Stars

A Taste Above at Mangia Bevi

or The Madden Museum Masterpiece

(Where our beautiful arrangements will be located)

For more information visit: www.TasteofGreenwoodVillage.com

Come see us at the 2010 Bridal Show!!!!!!

Come see us on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 from noon to 4pm at the first major Bridal Show in South Denver this fall!

Visit our booth in order to set up a free consultation to talk about your wedding flowers and enter to win a $50 credit towards your wedding!!!

The show is at the Sheraton Hotel in DTC:
7007 S. Clinton St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80112

For more information visit: http://planning.theknot.com/calender//bridal%20shows/4199/colorado-bridal-show-first-major-fall-2010-show-in-south-denver

See you there!!!

Flower Arrangement Care

So you just answered the door and you have received a beautiful arrangement from Arapahoe Floral. Now has you place the arrangement in the house, you start wondering how to do I care for the flowers so I get it maximum enjoyment?



Here are a few tips that will help your arrangement last longer!!



First check the water level and add water with a preservation solution if needed. Make sure to keep the water high in the vase. If your arrangement is make in arranging foam, make sure to keep the foam saturated in water.



Flowers will last longer if not displayed in direct sunlight and in excessive hot or cold areas.



When you change the water, recut the stems and add water with a floral preservative to keep the flowers "drinking."



Following these tips will increase the vase life of your flowers!

Be Smarter..... Buy Flowers!!

According to Dr. Alan Hursch, a neurologist and director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, if you're learning a new skill, you'll pick it up 17 percent faster when exposed to the smell of flowers-any flowers, so long as you like the scent. We recommend hydrangeas, because they're pretty!!

Benefits of Interior Plants

Benefits of Interior Plants

Plants are an amazing addition to any home or office!

*Interior plants naturally purify the air that we breathe.

*Plants reduce the noise level in your house by providing decorative insulation.

*They even reduce stress and anxiety by increasing positive feelings. This is because they are pleasant to look at and provide any house with a warm "homie" feeling.

*Beyond making your home more warm and inviting, plants also make any office look more professional and any living space more clean and well put together.

*Plants also provide your home with the optimum amount of humidity

which is better for your health and naturally cools your home.

*They purify the air by absorbing the carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen; continuously refreshing it.

****Ultimately households and offices with plants****

have much more pleasant environments for

people to work and live.

5 Best Plants To Purify the Air

*Dracaena "Janet Craig"

*Azalea

*Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily)

*Golden Pothos

*Boston Fern

**Come in and see us at Arapahoe Floral!**

**We carry all of these plants and we can help you find the best one to fit you**

Orchids - A Great Houseplant!!!!

Did you know that exotic orchids make the ultimate house plant? Orchids offer a huge variety of exotic blooms that last much longer than most flowering plants. Plus these unique plants are easy to care for and require no more attention than your other houseplants!!



For Colorado orchids are a great plant, they are easy to grow with our sunny climate that averages more than 300 days of sun. The orchid growing zone is within two feet of the window. Direct light from an east facing window is fine but could be to harsh in a south or west window. The ideal tempature zone is 65 to 85 degrees.



Never let your orchid sit in water - let the plant dry out between watering and then soak the it and let it drain. With every watering, use our fertilizer to develop maximum plant strength, flowering and root growth!!



At Arapahoe Floral we have a wide selection of unique orchids plants - stop in and check out our unique orchids!!!

Englewood Flowers

Arapahoe Floral, your local Englewood florist, delivers fresh flowers throughout the Englewood, CO area. Arapahoe Floral offers same-day flower delivery on all arrangements to Englewood CO.