Hello everyone and welcome back to iflorist’s blog…

Chrissy (Creative Director) and David (Managing Director)

Hi there! We realise we haven’t been the best at keeping the blog up-to-date and letting you all know what fabulous things we have been getting up to on a daily basis, but we have made a promise to ourselves (and now to you!) to make-sure that from now on, you know all the goings on at iflorist HQ.

This includes sneak previews of new collections, advice and some top tips from our award-winning (yes that’s right – we’ve won some awards) designers and florists, the latest floral trends and fashions, the perfect bunch to buy for a specific occasion, a weekly Q&A session with different members of our team so you can really get to know us, and much, much more.

We want to invite you to get to know us as a brand and as people, so you know you are not only buying very special, beautiful and unique bouquets, but you are buying bouquets which you know have been made with a smile and with nothing but passion and enthusiasm…

See you soon, the iflorist team x

 

 

Different Methods Used To Preserve Flowers

Whether you have received a special flower delivery for your birthday or you have recently attended a wedding and caught the bridal bouquet, there will come a time when you will wish to preserve certain flowers forever!  Some people like to make the most of any bouquet they purchase themselves from the store or florist.  Others are only inclined to hang on to the flowers people send to them to mark a special occasion.  Either way, one thing is for sure, there’s more than one way to dry and preserve flowers.

The two easiest ways of preserving flowers is by hanging (upside down) or pressing.  Majority of flowers can be dried by hanging. Remember that when hanging the flowers, you should bind them with elastic because elastic will contract as the stems shrink.  You should also hang your flowers in a cool and dry place.  Naturally, you are trying to dry the flowers so a humid environment would defeat the object.  Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight and, if possible, keep the room as dark as you can because the sun makes the colours fade.  Remove any damaged leaves and petals before drying.  Some flowers like Hydrangeas can not be dried by hanging them upside down.  In fact, they should be placed upright in a vase with just a minimal amount of water.

As for pressing flowers, it is a quicker method than hanging.  Thick flowers like roses dry well when hung but do not look so great when pressed.  If you are the patient kind, you can always remove the petals gently, press them and assemble the flower again once dried.  Of course you would be assembling the flower directly on your creative work and not trying to string it together!  Tissue paper works well as a protective layer for your flowers to be pressed in as it is thin, absorbant and does not have any print on it.  Telephone books work very well as weights and you can place other heavy objects on top of them too.

Using glycerin is a lot more effort but the results are exponentially better.  When drying flowers as mentioned above, they will remain stiff and brittle.  Glycerin replaces the water in the stems, flowers and leaves so that, while the plant is dried, it remains flexible.  Packages of glycerin will include instructions.  It can take anything up to 30 days for the plant product to absorb the glycerin and after this, it will need to be dried out for at least a week.  If you have the time and patience, the results are worth it!

A new popular method is by using silica to dry flowers.  By burying the plant product in the granules as per the instructions, it can take as little as 36 hours to reach desired results.  The granules can also be dried in the microwave and reused!  You should find it at your local craft or hobby store.

How to cut costs by making your own flower arrangement

Flower bouquets and arrangements are one of the most versatile gifts.  Sometimes, however, we find ourselves forced to pay outrageous prices just for a few roses.  We all know that roses can double or even tripple in price for Valentine’s Day and the same is true for carnations when Mother’s Day approaches.  So before you buy or order an assembled arrangement from your florist, here are some ideas on how to make your own arrangements at a fraction of the price.

Design and Planning

Firstly, you need to decide on the design of your arrangement.  Are you going to make a vertical or horizontal arrangement?  Do you have an abundance of flowers or are you limited and therefore would choose the minimalistic approach?  The type of arrangement will determine the flowers, foliage and container that you will need so it will also depend on what you have at your disposal.

You may find it useful to look around online at various design tips so that you have a guideline as to how many flowers you will need and how to place each stem for the right effect.

Container

Your container need not be anything fancy.  You can use anything from a left over tin can to an expensive crystal vase. Just remember, we are trying to CUT costs here!  I made a habit of hanging on to the plastic containers and bases from flower arrangements that I’d received.  Some containers might require the use of floral foam which is not expensive.

If, however, you find yourself really strapped for cash, then you should opt for the tin can approach.  Just be sure to clean the lable off and decorate it with paint and ribbons.  You can also use a glass jar.  Take a square piece of material.  The size would depend on the size of the jar.  Place the jar in the middle and pull the corners up.  Then place a rubber band around the top to hold it in place and cover the rubber band with a decorative ribbon.

Choosing the flowers

Whether you plan to order and send flowers or buy and make your own arrangements, the same rules apply when deciding on the type of flowers.  The cheapest flowers will be the ones you find in your own garden.

Should you not find sufficient or suitable flowers in your garden, the following flowers are generally the cheapest: daisies, tulips and chrysanthemums.  Carnations can be cheap but sometimes their prices increase quite a bit around Mother’s Day.  Also insist upon seasonal flowers.  Just like fruit, flowers have their seasons.  Although they might be available throughout the year, the prices will be substantially higher when not in season.

Foliage

Your garden is not only useful for its flowers but also the greenery!  Remember that lush fern hiding in the corner of your yard?  Carefully select some of its more perfect stems to add a splash of green to your arrangement.

Those are my 4 top tips on how to create your own flower arrangement for less!  Remember that when you receive a bouquet, be sure to also save any ribbons or accessories as they too will come in handy when creating your own arrangement.  So, what are you waiting for?  I bet you are just itching to get started so don’t wait for the next holiday to arrive.  Send some flowers to that special person today or perhaps brighten up your own home!

iFlorist and 1-800 Flowers say iDo – helping brides create a right royal bouquet

You can’t help but notice there’s a royal wedding coming soon in the UK. (Actually two royal weddings, but Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall seem to have slipped cunningly under the radar…) Britain’s very own Prince Charming, William Wales, is marrying his sweetheart Kate Middleton on April 29^th, and the whole country has been granted a national holiday in celebration.

To commemorate this happy event, iFlorist and its US partner 1-800 Flowers would like to help every bride make her flowers look as pretty as a princess’s, with this guide to royal wedding flowers.

Commoners like us have a free rein when it comes to choosing our wedding flowers, but not Kate Middleton. Royal brides traditionally carry a bouquet of all-white flowers, according to protocol. If you’re thinking this means a cheapo bunch of spray carnations and gypsophila, think again! Queen Elizabeth II (then a princess) chose that very Hollywood of flowers, white orchids, for her marriage to Prince Phillip; while her daughter Anne selected a very traditional mixture of roses, lily of the valley, and white heather to represent Scotland.

Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria) is the traditional flower of May 1st, very close to Kate and William’s wedding day, so that may well figure in the bouquet. It’s an elegant, dainty flower with a glorious perfume; it needs careful handling by an expert florist, but in the right hands will create the most exquisite bridal bouquet. Serena Stanhope (possibly the most stylish of all royal brides) certainly thought so when she carried a posy of lily-of-the-valley at her wedding to Viscount Linley. Her bouquet style was also plain – a simple tied bunch of flowers, sometimes referred to as a “Beidermeier”, just like many modern British brides carry up the aisle.

In contrast, Princess Diana reflected the opulence of the Eighties – and matched the size of her wedding gown – with a large cascading bouquet of wired stephanotis heads, orchids and gardenias, intertwined with ivy trails to represent faithfulness. This style requires immense technical skill on the part of the florist, to construct such a complex bouquet and to keep it looking perfect right through the day. With all that floral perfume it would have made a sweetly-scented, as well as stunning, arrangement; even if the “faithful” ivy didn’t quite do the trick. Some say gardenias represent a secret love, in the Language of Flowers, so maybe Diana knew more than she was letting on?

Whatever Kate Middleton chooses as her flowers, whether for church, reception, or dancing in the palace, you can be certain of one ingredient in her bouquet. Every royal bouquet since Queen Victoria in the 19^th century, has carried a sprig of fluffy white Myrtle. After her wedding to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria planted a sprig of myrtle from her bouquet, in the garden at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, her island palace retreat. Long a symbol of love and marriage, Myrtle is also associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and her Roman equivalent Venus – with those ladies behind you, your wedding can’t help but be a loving occasion! A myrtle sprig has been sent, fresh from Victoria’s own garden, to each royal bride ever since.

One other tradition has also been maintained by royal brides since 1923. When Queen Elizabeth’s mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, married King George VI, she spontaneously laid her bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. Perhaps she remembered her own brother, who was killed in World War 1. Kate’s bouquet, like that of all royal brides since, will also be laid there.

Vase Filler Ideas

Over the years for your birthday, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, you have received flowers.  Perhaps, in this time, you have collected quite a number of vases in the process.  The flowers have long since perished and we don’t always have the means to replace them on a regular basis.  What a shame to have those beautiful vases just sitting in a cupboard instead of on display where they belong?  Well, instead of waiting for a florist to knock on your door with another flower delivery, take a look at these creative ways to put your vases to good use today!

The Natural Option

Nature is the creator of some of the finest works of art.  All you need do is take a look in your garden or a nearby park or beach.

– Sand and Pebbles are great natural fillers and you can use one or the other OR both together.

I like sea sand because of its fine, white appearance.  Pebbles found in or near a river are often the smoothest and easier to find than those at the beach.

– Speaking of the beach, seashells make wonderful fillers.  Be sure to collect various colours, shapes and sizes and arrange them carefully so that they don’t break.

– Acorns and Pine cones from a nearby forest look great in larger vases.  I have one on my mantelpiece and my friends have all said that it compliments the fireplace very well.

Consumables

This is one of my favourite ways to put a vase to work.  Not only do you have the vase on display but the filler can also be consumed!

– Jelly Beans come in an assortment of flavours and colours and although they make great fillers for any vase, I like to use them in one of my large, tube-shaped vases.  Choose your favourite kind of candy, fruit or even gumballs and be sure to mix up the colours!

– If you love the smell of coffee, then coffee beans will be the choice for you!

– Use things like dry pasta or rice if you would prefer for your filler NOT to be consumed by every passer by!

It’s ALIVE!

If your vase is large enough, then you might be able to use it to house a tiny addition to the family.  Depending on the size of the inhabitant, make sure that your vase is of adequate size too.  The Siamese Fighting Fish is a colourful choice and perfect for a life of solitude.  If you put more than one of them together, their aggression will get the better of them!  If you prefer to have more than one fish, perhaps three or four little Neons.  Take your vase with you to the pet store and ask an assistant for their advice.  Be sure that your fish will not grow too large for its home.  Also ask the pet shop assistant to advise you on a small surface plant to regulate the flow of oxygen and form a kind of lid to prevent the fish from jumping out.

Longer Lasting

A very popular option is artificial fillers.  They require little or no maintenance and this are great for people who have busy lives.

– Potpouri is a great choice for both colour and scent.  You can add an unlit candle to the middle too.

– Marbles and Gems are a well-known choice.  You would perhaps need to take them out and give them a rinse every now and then to keep them shining.

– Ornaments are wonderful especially when they carry the theme of a particular season or holiday like Christmas for example.

There you have some of my favourite ideas.  I am sure that at least one of them will suit your home perfectly!  I hope I have inspired your creative side so that next time the florist comes knocking, you will find yourself looking at the vase more closely than the flowers!