Sunday, May 15, 2011
Bitersweet :)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Everyone Love A Nice Lei ;)

Orchid lei have a lot of history, and since summer is coming and graduations are near, I thought it would be a splendid idea to share some fun facts with y'all. [ie. "lei" is used for both the plural and singular form of the noun :)]
During the "Boat Days" of the early 1900s, lei vendors lined the pier at Aloha Tower to welcome malihini (visitors) to the islands and kama'aina (locals) back home. It is said that departing visitors would throw their lei into the sea as the ship passed Diamond Head, in the hopes that, like the lei, they too would return to the islands again someday.
Today, visitors can easily bring back the nostalgia of old Hawaii by ordering a traditional flower lei greeting for their arrival at the airport. Greeters welcome visitors with a warm “aloha” and adorn them with beautiful fresh leis. It's a wonderful way to begin a Hawaiian vacation.
You can wear a lei at anytime. Heck, you can even buy one for yourself, but it's good to know that there are a few rules when it comes to lei etiquette. The proper way to wear it is gently on the shoulders so it hangs down both the front and back. Also, it is a sign of affection if someone gives you a lei. Therefore, it is pretty rude to refuse it [I recommend you never do]. Once you do have your lei on, it is rude to remove it in front of the person that gave it to you; so if you need to take it off, make sure they don't see!
Graduations are a very popular time to adorn someone with a lei. In Hawaiian tradition, graduates are likely to be given so many lei that they can sometimes come up to the persons eyes!
There are lots of types of leis, but orchid leis tend to be the most popular here in the Continental United States. In case you do want a lei, but you aren't sure where to get one in Colorado, I have good news for you! I, yes your trusty blogger, am actually pretty darned good at making a lei :) So if you know someone who is graduating but don't want to bog them down with a loose bouquet of flowers or if you want to show your affection in a creative manner, give Arapahoe Floral a call and order your lei. The sooner, the better. These suckers can take sometime :)
Aloha!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thinkin' Outside of the Box!
As promised, I have some alternative Mother's Day gift ideas for my avid blog readers! [Though I stand by flowers thru and thru.] We are going to keep this post simple and straightforward, bullet point style...Monday, May 2, 2011
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.Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Royal Wedding Bouquet!


Alright, readers, we finally have the inspiration behind weddings for the next ten years. The Royal Wedding has happened, and it's time for us to talk about the flowers!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
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! Monday, April 25, 2011
Love My Momma :)

I'm unfortunately far away from my family, and around the holidays it gets extra tough. Fortunately, my mom knows it's hard on me and somehow always manages to include me in celebrations despite the distance.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Super Saver Tips Continued!
Friday, April 22, 2011
We Love Wedding Season!


To continue on our wedding-themed topic, today I am going to talk about the 2011 wedding season's color choice of the year... Honeysuckle!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wedding Season Starts with a Royal Theme

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Are You Feeling Lucky?

I'm not sure I want to admit this to you all, but I used to be so bad with plants that I couldn't keep the notoriously simple bamboo plant alive. Oh, the good ol' college days! Don't worry though, my green thumb has grown.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
In Your Dreams!

I don't know about you, but I have some crazy dreams. [Don't worry, I won't make you read the specifics.] When it comes down to it, no one really knows the exact reason or meanings behind dreams, but recently Arapahoe Floral discovered some very interesting influences on them.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Purple Sticks of the Gods. Wait. What?

Sticking to the wildflower theme of Wednesday's blog post, I have decided to indulge you all in one of my personal all-time favorite flowers... Liatris!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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!Monday, April 4, 2011
Palm Sunday


Palm Sunday is soon to be here, and that doesn't just mean it's almost time to drink soda and eat candy again, folks. But it does mean that it's time to stock up on your palms!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Whole New World

This past weekend, in New York City, Macy’s 37th 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!
Monday, March 28, 2011
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.
Friday, March 25, 2011
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!Thursday, March 24, 2011
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 :)