A Whole New World

This past weekend, in New York City, Macy’s 37^th Annual Flower Show began. The even consists of the store being entirely adorned with a vast variety of floras and living plants. This year’s theme is “Tower of Flowers”, giving the designers the opportunity to play with height. There are eleven gardens to explore, each with a subtheme such as “the Orchid Garden”. The shop creates a whimsical environment during this show, enveloping the guests in its scents and colors. And that’s not where the fun stops, folks! “Petacular Fair” starts right after; you get to dress your pups up with the most fashionable flower around!

If you can’t make it out to NYC to take part in this spectacular display, we have an alternative for you! We might not have an event quite as extravagant as this one going on, but come on into our shop and you’ll really feel the difference our flowers make. Step into the cooler and out of your everyday life!

Please click here to read the full article. It really is amazing!

Easter is Coming!

Easter is approaching and we at Arapahoe Floral are getting ready! You might not automatically associate flower shops with Easter, but one of the most prominent Easter symbols is the Easter lily [pictured].

Easter lilies represent purity, virtue, innocence, grace, hope, and life. They are also directly related to Easter; tradition has it that these white lilies grew where Christ’s tears and sweat fell in the Garden of Gethsemane after His agony. At churches during the Easter season lilies are used to decorate altars and crosses, reminding everyone, through their symbolism, of hope, virtue, and innocence.

Easter lilies are fairly easy to take care of. They like indirect light and moderately cool temperatures. Make sure they avoid direct light, drafts, and excessive heat. Keep their soil moist, but not over watered. When you do water them, make sure the water drains out; don’t leave them in foil or in a pot that retains all the water!

We carry Easter lilies in a few different forms. We have them in stems, so you can buy them individually or have us put them in an arrangement for you. However, around Easter we carry them in plant form. This means you can give them as a gift, keep them in your home, and replant them outside so they can bloom again in the future.

Decorate Your Cake

If you enjoy baking like I do, you know how important the final presentation of your masterpiece is. What better way to spice up your hard work than with some fresh flowers?! They are very popular for many reasons. Whether you are hosting a party and want to impress some guests, or you are getting married and need to give your cake a special and unique touch, we have the best, most simple, and elegant solutions!

Fresh flowers are a beautiful accent to add to your baked goods. Their colors stand out and really pop against your cakes, creating a beautiful color palette. The picture I've showcased today is from an actual wedding that we did the cake table decorations for. Remember that though these flowers are beautiful and might look delicious, it's typically not recommended to eat them. Just in case you are tempted, though, I have compiled a general list of flowers that are okay to use for cake decorations:

-Apple Blossoms -Begonias -Cornflower -Daisies -Freesia -Geranium -Hibiscus -Honeysuckle -Lavender -Pansies -Roses -Tulips

-Violets

Please refer to my previous post on cooking with flowers for more information if you are doing your own cake decorations. [Remember, make sure your flowers are clean and pesticide-free!]

If you would like us to help you out or want us to work on your wedding, we are full of wonderful ideas for details that will make every evening extra special!

Bon Appétit!

Will You Go To Prom With Us??

Prom season is quickly approaching and everyone here at Arapahoe Floral is getting excited! Though none of us plan on getting asked to go (sad, I know), we still look forward to this time of year because it means lots of corsages and boutonnieres. And that our Saturdays are going to be getting nice and busy :)

So, let me tell you a bit about our custom made corsages and bouts. Every order is made individually. That means you have control over ribbon color, flowers being used, accents... everything! And really, the options are endless. So when you place your order, tell us your color preferences and maybe a bit more and we will have a beautiful piece ready for your big night out.

Molly is our corsage queen. She uses ribbon instead of the uncomfortable elastic bands to hold the corsage on your wrist. She also uses unique accents to get just the right colors, and her "spring mix" corsages are to die for. Nikki is our boutonniere master. She can use any color rose available, or even a calla lily [pictured] and make the most simple and elegant or colorful and crazy bout you could imagine. Color accent loops are all the rage right now, and she has turned them into an art.

So pre-order your flower accessories with us, and we promise to make your exciting day a bit more colorful :)

March Madness!

I’ll admit it. I’m not a big “sports” fan. But, with March Madness going on I’ve had a hard time avoiding them. So while pretending to know what I’m talking about and discussing an ongoing game, my boyfriend came up with today’s blog post concept! [He’s brilliant, I know]

For all of you that DO care about March Madness and are planning on having people over to watch some games [or are going to a friend’s house to do it- reference Saturday’s post!] we have come up with a fun little idea. Sport’s Flowers! Take this concept as you may, but our general idea is to make an arrangement using your favorite basketball team’s colors! You could also use a fun container with the team name on it or even possibly basketball shaped. The possibilities are endless!

In case you need some inspiration I’ve come up with a slightly biased example. We could make you an Ohio State arrangement, possibly using a black container, some red and white flowers, and maybe even some silver spray-painted curly willow mixed in. WA-LA! You now have a personal tribute for your favorite team!

So whether you want to surprise a special fan in your life or spice up your house décor, “sports flowers” are a great go-to!

Good luck with your brackets, readers!

For the Up-And-Coming Socialites

This post was been inspired by my entirely busy [and absolutely unusual] social calendar from this past week.

Typically, I spend my evenings lying around in my sweats, cooking up some tasty food, reading a good book, making a mess with crafting, and watching 30 Rock with the boyfriend and pup. These past few days have thrown me entirely off track though! Something planned every night and several dinner parties in one week?! Unheard of! Despite this chaotic whirlwind, I knew in return for my friends' hospitality I needed to bring them something nice.

This led me to my next dilemma... Bake cupcakes? Definitely not enough time. Bring an appetizer? They didn't need help with their fine cooking skills. Finally, it hit me. Flowers! [I know. I should have probably thought of that sooner, working at Arapahoe Floral and all...] Anyways, I put together a couple of beautiful and colorful arrangements. I went with the short, compact modern style. If they use it as a centerpiece, it's great because it isn't blocking anyone's view; and that is exactly what they did! My gift showed them my appreciation, and was a great hit!

So, believe me. The next time you're headed to a dinner party, remember that a beautiful flower arrangement, or even some loose flowers wrapped up for them to drop in a vase, is the perfect accompaniment. They'll be touched that you took the time to show your thanks, and you'll feel good knowing you could contribute to the beautiful evening ahead of you.

Enjoy your night out!

Happy Birthday Molly :)

All right my fellow bloggers. Today is a very special day in our little shop. It’s Molly’s birthday! Molly is one of our beautiful and ridiculously [almost obnoxiously J] talented floral designers at Arapahoe Floral. From the Chicago area, Molly has been working with flowers for about 10 years. [That, surprisingly, does not make her old. I promise.] She is also one of the nicest people I know. So, in honor of my dear friend and our beloved employee we are going to blog about her favorite flower… hydrangea! And to be more specific, antique hydrangea, which is our featured picture today.

Hydrangeas are beautiful and delicate pom-pom shaped flowers that come in a plethora of color. Whites, blues, purples, pinks, and even greens! They look beautiful on their own in a simple clear vase or mixed into a lovely high-end arrangement. However, hydrangeas are most prominent and very popular [rightfully so] in wedding bouquets. They hold up well, have a beautiful round shape, match exquisitely with a palate of colors, and they subtly shout class and elegance.

Hydrangeas are so darn pretty you probably don’t ever want to part with them. Well everyone, it’s your lucky day! I am including a possible solution for your emotional attachment. Hydrangea flowers are great candidates for drying. Based off of my research there are a few important guidelines. If you are picking your own blooms, make sure to do so towards the end of their season, August-October. Simply let the stem dry; hydrangeas do not need to be hung upside down. Finally, if you don’t want to keep it au ‘natural you can use silica gel which produces breathtaking colors.

Help us celebrate Miss Molly’s Birthday! Give us a call and ask about her favorite flower. We would love to get some fresh hydrangea in for you, and maybe for us too J

Shamrocks- It's Your Lucky Day!

Our next blog for our mini St. Patrick’s Day series is about shamrock plants because St. Patty’s Day isn’t complete without one! Shamrocks are said to have been used by Saint Patrick himself to illustrate the Christian concept of the Trinity, represented by the three leaflets surrounding the one stalk. Like Bells of Ireland, shamrock plants are also symbols of good luck.

Shamrocks have three heart-shaped leaves per stalk with small white flowers. Not only are they beautiful and delicate in appearance, they are incredibly easy to take care of! Just keep these three simple guidelines in mind…

1.This houseplant loves bright, indirect light.

2. Don’t drown them; simply let the soil dry slightly before re-watering.

3. Indoor houseplant fertilizer isn’t a bad idea either.

Finally, and most importantly, they come in both green and purple so you can mix and match :)

Just give us a call to order your shamrock plant, either for yourself or someone special. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top O' the Mornin' to Ya!

In preperation for one of my all time favorite holidays [you guessed it- St. Patrick's Day!] the next few blog posts are going to share an all-too-cliche-and-obvious-Irish theme. Today's topic: Bells of Ireland!

Bells of Ireland, or Moluccella Laevis, actually have no direct relationship with with the country, except by their name! These flowers are, in fact, native to western Asia. However, we can make some indirect correlations. Bells of Ireland are a brilliant green color, often associated with Irish landscapes. Also, in the language of flowers, they suggest good luck, and we all know the common [yet entirely misinterpreted] expression: “luck of the Irish”.

Whatever the origins or meanings may be Bells of Ireland are graceful, elegant, simple, and beautiful. Their color goes perfectly with other greens, pastels, or even bold jewel colors. They add height and texture to any arrangement. So when you are decorating for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, or setting your table for your traditional Irish stew, remember that Bells of Ireland will be the perfect addition to your home and table.

Calling All Foodies

For the blog readers that love to cook, today we are going to expand your repertoire by introducing you to edible flowers! The first and absolute most important part about cooking with flowers is to know which ones are edible and which can be poisonous. Please click the link to get a thorough list of edible flowers as well as further information about the topic:

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

There is a lot you need to know about cooking with flowers before you start, and in this post we are simply touching the basics. As previously mentioned, it is imperative that you are fully knowledgeable about what flowers are going to hurt you and which ones are going to make your taste buds happy. But here are a few other tips:

-Only eat flowers that are grown organically; you want to avoid digesting pesticides. Be very aware of this wherever you purchase or pick the flowers you plan to eat.

-Introduce flowers to your diet gradually; it might not be pretty if you overwhelm your stomach with something entirely foreign.

-Wash the petals, or whichever part you plan to use, thoroughly!

-Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before consuming; the standard is that you will only eat the petals.

-Once you have familiarized yourself with all of the guidelines and information, you can get to cookin’!

Here is a fairly simple recipe I found [at www.homecooking.about.com] to get you started:

Rose-Glazed Brie

You’ll need…

• 1 15-ounce round brie cheese, or similar cheese

• Rose petals, pesticide-free rinsed and patted dry to taste

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin

• 1/4 cup cold water

• 2 cups dry white wine

To make…

- Remove the rind from the top of the brie cheese round, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Arrange rose petals on and around brie wheel.

-In a small bowl, soften gelatin in the 1/4 cup cold water for 5 minutes. In a saucepan set over moderate heat, combine white wine with softened gelatin and heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved. Transfer to a bowl and let cool, stirring. Gently brush rose petals and cheese with gelatin mixture and chill until set. Serve with crackers.

Good luck with your cooking adventures!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow... Rose?

That's right. Today we wanted to highlight the unique but ever-so-beautiful RAINBOW ROSE! If you've never seen one in real life, these flowers are exactly like what you're seeing to the right; all of the petals of the rose are a different color of the rainbow!

These roses are not naturally colored this way, but they aren't painted either. In order to create a rainbow rose a unique process is used. The stem of the cream or white rose is split and each part is dipped into different water, which has been colored. The stem then absorbs or "drinks" the water which is drawn into the petals, creating a multicolored rose! If you're worried about the dye affecting the life of your flowers, don't be! It doesn't affect their lifespan, just their appearance!

The versatility of this rose is endless. Their bright and colorful appearance make them perfect for almost any occasion or holiday! I would personally recommend to use them in arrangements for birthdays, get wells, as an addition to a nice spring mix, baby showers [especially when the gender of the baby is going to be a surprise], congratulations, etc. I'm sure you can all see where this is headed!

And for all you event seeking-high school dancing-mardi gras celebrating-masquerade going customers, another application that is really fun, and will make you stand out like the bright individual you are, is to use them in boutonnieres and corsages! [the corsages will typically use the colors and petals as an accent; the rose heads are too big for the ladies' wrists!] It's the perfect way to accessorize your outfit and make a statement.

So don't worry, Dorothy. You don't have to go far to get to your rainbow. We carry them almost all of the time, and if we don't have them in stock, we will make that extra effort to get them. Just for you :)