Happy Mother's Day!

We did it! Arapahoe Floral survived the Mother's Day weekend... barely :) We happily created hundreds of flower arrangements for lots of lucky moms. Thank you so much for having us be a part of your family's holiday celebrations. We hope that we served you well.

This year the main trend we saw being ordered were nice spring bouquets with lots of colorful flowers! With color combinations like reds, yellows, purples, and greens, we successfully made lots of beautiful pieces! We even had fun vases to use, adding a playful element to the arrangements.

The flowers that were most requested were daisies, tulips and roses... but not red ones! The roses we used were shades of pinks, purples, yellows, and oranges. Red is more romantic, thus being superior during Valentine's Day, but this holiday lends itself more towards roses symbolizing joy and friendship.

Don't forget, if you didn't order your arrangement for Mother's Day and still want to do something nice for your momma, we can make an arrangement for Monday! We can even send it to her work, making a great start to their work week. It's never too late to show some love!

Way to go, team. We did it! Now to get back to my glass of wine...

Mother's Day Is Sunday!

That's right everyone, this Sunday!!! We know not all of you have sweethearts at Valentine's Day, but it is true that you have all had a mother at some point. This is the one day of the year that you should absolutely take the time to make sure they know how much they mean to you and how grateful you are for all that they've done. It's every mom's favorite holiday. That's what we are here to help you with.

Now, if you are anything like me, you might be thinking, "Hey, aren't flowers a totally cliche gift for Mother's Day?". Let me assure you, dearest friends, after careful research and contemplation, they most certainly are NOT. This year I asked around in order to get some ideas for my momma, and almost every mom I spoke with answered with a no-fail gift... a beautiful bouquet! This truly did surprise me until they explained that having flowers around the house is a luxury they don't often receive. It's rare for a person to buy themselves flowers, and almost just as rare for a hubby to bring them home :) So when one of their kids takes a minute out of their day to send them a nice floral arrangement, it not only brightens up their house, it brightens up their week.

The ultimate "push your mother's day gift over the edge and super impress her" touch, you ask? Make sure to ask the florist to include her favorite flower or color. It really shows and makes a difference when you add those personal touches.

Later this week I'll have a few more gift ideas and tips if you still aren't keen on a nice spring bouquet, but I'm tellin' y'all, it's a classic.

Oh yeah, that's me and my momma in the picture [I've heard we look alike] and her favorite flower [an iris]. Had to do a shout out to the lady I owe it all too :)

It's Administrative Professionals Week!

That's right all you bosses out there, it's the time of the year where you show all of you wonderful employees how much you appreciate their dedication and hard work!

Let's reflect on what Administrative Professionals Week is all about. Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. It's one of the most recognized workplace observances, next to employee birthdays and major holidays. The name was changed to "Administrative Professionals Week/Day" from "Secretaries Week/Day" in the year 2000. The main reason for this name change was simply to keep pace with changing job titles and workplace's expanding responsibilities. Not only is this holiday a great way to celebrate your employees, it also introduces the opportunity for community events, educational seminars, and corporate activities.

Now lets get to down to business... what more simple and better way to thank your employees then to give them the gift of flowers! If you have lots of people on your gift list, you can stick to smaller, colorful arrangements, or even single flowers! Little plants are a great idea, as well. Whatever budget you have for this holiday, we will be more than happy to accommodate you. And... we can deliver to your work place!

So on behalf of your employers, my dearest readers, thanks for all of your hard work! Now, let's just hope my boss doesn't forget to celebrate Administrative Professionals Week!

Colorado Pride :)

We might have had some crazy weather this past week, but you can't ignore those few sunny and warm days we've had too! And for me at least, it reminds me of how much I love good ol' Colorado. Spring is officially here, and I'm ready to get my pack out, drive to the mountains, and go hiking! This weather also promises blooms. So while you're enjoying nature and loving Colorado, pay attention to the wildflowers! Wildflowers are what I'm going to pay homage to today, and, more specifically, Colorado's very own state flower... the Rocky Mountain Columbine!

Columbines [aka Aquilegia caerules] are white, blue, and lavender in color. It was adopted by the General Assembly as the official state flower on April 4, 1899, and in 1925 it was made the public's duty to protect this rare and beautiful bloom. This means while you're hiking along the Rocky Mountains [or any other public land] you are prohibited to dig or uproot this fragile little guy. You can gather the buds, stems, and blossoms, but you are limited to 25 a day. So don't be greedy, kids!

Unfortunately, the rareness and protection of the Columbine means that we can't have them readily available for you at Arapahoe Floral, but even if we could, once these flowers are cut, they don't last long at all. If you really love that wildflower look though, just let us know! We can customize the perfect arrangement just for you :)

Alright folks. I know this blog is addicting, but get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and go find some Columbines!

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!

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!