Flower Delivery

Over recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of flower shops that are offering flowers and flower arrangements at discount rates over the internet.

Many offer free shipping and most offer some form of discount. It has quickly become one of the most popular forms of flower sales for florists.

Most of these flower shops offer same day delivery within a specified distance from the flower retailer. Discounts are often offered for specials occasions such as Mothers Day, Valentines Day, Christmas Day and also for other personal occasions such as the birth of a baby.

By buying directly from the retailer over the Internet you can be assured of freshness and flower quality, as the reputation of these online retailers can spread quickly over the Internet.

As flowers can make a powerful impression on the person who is receiving them, so too can the service and the quality of the flower retailer and they know that providing good service and prices will help them retain your custom.

Added to this is the fact that there are now so many opportunities for the customer to shop around and get exceptional deals.

Ordering flowers online is so much easier, and more often than not you will have a far greater selection to choose from when dealing with the big flower delivery services.

Flower deliveries can be scheduled for different times of the day adding to the convenience of online ordering. With many different payment options it is as simple as filling out the details, paying with your credit card and your flower delivery will arrive at your desired destination when you determine.

It is very convenient for those occasions when you have forgotten to order on time or you have limited time to arrange flower delivery through your normal channels.

It is possible to arrange for delivery of flowers both nationwide and also worldwide as many of the big flower delivery businesses have branches throughout the world.

The best place to start is with a quick search of the Internet where you can compare what the different flower delivery companies are offering in the form of discounts and delivery times.

There is no longer a problem sending flowers to a loved one anywhere in the world.

Flower Meanings

Certain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don't want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure!

FLOWER NAME and/or COLOR -- FLOWER MEANINGS

Carnations

Carnation (General) -- Fascination
Carnation, Pink -- Emblem of Mother's Day, I will never forget you
Carnation, Purple -- Antipathy and Capriciousness
Carnation, Red -- Admiration, my heart aches for you
Carnation, Striped -- No, Sorry, I cannot be with you
Carnation, White -- Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence
Carnation, Yellow -- Disdain and Rejection

Lilies

Lily, Calla -- Majestic Beauty
Lily, Day -- Coquetry
Lily, Orange -- Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride
Lily, White -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Lily of the Valley -- Purity and Humility, Sweetness

Roses

Rose, Coral/Orange -- Enthusiasm, Desire
Rose, Dark Pink -- Thank you
Rose, Light Pink -- Admiration
Rose, Musk -- Capricious Beauty
Rose, Pale -- Friendship
Rose, Peach -- Let's get together, Closing of the deal
Rose, Pink -- Love, Grace, Gentility, You're so Lovely
Rose, Pink & White -- Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done
Rose, Red -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Rose, Red & Yellow -- Congratulations
Rose, White -- Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You're Heavenly
Rose, White on Red -- Unity/Flower Emblem of England
Rose, Yellow -- Infidelity, Joy, Friendship, Welcome Back, Remember me
Rose, Yellow & Orange -- Passionate thoughts

Tulips

Tulip -- Symbol of The Perfect Lover
Tulip, Red -- Believe me, Declaration of love
Tulip, Variegated -- Beautiful eyes

Others

Daffodil -- Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love
Daisy -- Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love
Iris -- Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much
Orchid -- Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement
Sunflower -- Homage and Devotion

Flower Gardening

When you think of any kind of gardening, the first thing that pops into your mind is flower gardening. Flowers and gardens being naturally synonymous with each other. And dedicated gardener that you are, you’ll naturally be doing your own flower gardening this year.

Flower gardening need not be limited only to summertime. If you plan carefully and plant ahead of time, your garden can be filled with an abundance of flowers for most of the year.

If we start by seasons, then for spring flowers, the best thing you could do would be to plant bulbs. Any nursery will have them, and if you’re more inclined towards the exotic, and rarer flowering bulbs, there’s a good chance you can have them ordered specially.

Favorites amongst bulb lovers are early springtime Crocuses, and cheerful Snowdrops. Tulips though, are by and away the most famous of bulbs in demand by flower gardeners, and are available in a variety of shades, including a black-colored one, which is really more of a deep maroon and one of those rare flowers I was talking about earlier.

Remember that all spring flowering bulbs should be planted in mid autumn, as this is the best time for them. Come any closer to winter and you’re in danger of losing your bulbs altogether.

Moving through to summer, we find that perennials are a firm favorite for flower gardening as they yield blooms almost continuously throughout the season, and sometimes beyond. With a little luck and care, you’ll also find that most of your perennials will last through to next year, and the year after that, and, well you get the picture right? You’ll also find that as the years and the seasons wear on, your perennials will become fuller, and generally will become more abundant than the first year you planted them.

As autumn gently closes in most flower gardens are left bereft of anything but a few small hardy plants. If you're into more dedicated flower gardening however, that need not be the case for you. Hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters number among the many types of fall flowers available, and will look stunning in late summer/early fall, Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colors, as well as the more genteel pastel colors to choose from. Ornamental grasses are another favorite and will nicely complement your fall flowers.

To round off the year and your efforts at flower gardening, don't despair as there are many winter blooms available. Amaryllis, Hyacinth, and Narcissus are a few of the more common known flowers and are available in bulb form. If you want something a little more out of the ordinary, you could always try Winter Jasmine, or Winter Honeysuckle.

So, take heart, take plenty of notes, plan, and buy to your heart's content. By the end of it all you truly will have a flower for every season, and your flower gardening efforts will be rewarded most bountifully

Flower For Your Wedding



At your wedding reception you really want everything to be perfect, pretty, and, most importantly, meaningful. Flowers can really accomplish all three of these vital tasks at your wedding and still impress your guests with the way you use one thing for multiple purposes. Flowers are a beautiful addition to any room, home, or party because they bring with them feelings of joy and they stimulate your senses with their aromatic scent and their beautiful blossoming petals and colors that make your eyes become fixated on them. Flowers are really enchanting and adding them into your wedding reception décor will impress your guests especially if you are having a themed wedding and flowers really fit into that theme and bring your decorations together and show your guests that you know what you are doing.

The other great part about flowers is that they all have different kinds of meanings. For example, all different colors of roses have different meanings like love, romance, passion, and friendship so you can really express your true feelings through them and show everyone what you think about them and the whole wedding reception. Other flowers have other meanings that you might want to research and then write a little blurb about to leave as messages at the tables to tell your guests why you chose these specific flowers. The universal meaning of flowers is the idea of eternity and everlasting life because their intense beauty is very inspirational and will bring this mood to everyone and has special meaning for you on your wedding day. The everlasting meaning applies to you on this amazingly special day because you have just entered into an eternal bond that you will enjoy for the rest of your life and that you will share with your spouse and every single one of your friends, family, and loved ones because they are such a big part of your life.

Flowers are just the best choice if you are looking for something to add to your decorations but you really don't know what to do because you can't think of anything. Flowers will always be the right choice, no matter what, because they will always add a special something to the color scheme, smell, and meaning of the party.

Another great feature is that depending on what kinds of flower you get, you can give them out as types of wedding party favors for your guests to take home and remember your special day forever with. A wonderful tradition is that of drying and pressing flowers so that you will always have them and you will always have a physical representation of the night that made your life complete. This is a good thing to have because a lot of times physical objects can trigger our memories of the past. In years to come, you and your spouse can look at these dried and pressed flowers together and remember all the emotions and hopes you felt during that night of dreams coming true and very palpable love.

Simple Steps to Pick a Perfect Valentine's flower

Three simple steps to pick a perfect Valentine's flower

Valentine Day is right around the corner and do not fall behind this special celebration to bring the love one with a bouquet of flowers. It doesn't make a difference if you are in love or just wanting to express care for your close friend or family members, it is nothing better Valentines Day gift than the gift of floral arrangement. Valentine's Day is globally accepted as the special day for expressing love. Over 1 million people send flower as gift during Valentine's Day. According to a study, there are getting more women sending flowers to men. Flowers are suitable for everybody regardless sex, age, or ethic background. In addition, it is affordable as floral gifts come in nearly every price range. Do not panic if you do not know what flower to choose, I will walk you through three simple steps on how to select the right flower for love ones.

Step 1: Brainstorming what recipient like Before choosing the flowers, there are few things you need to brainstorm. Firstly, how close is your relationship with your recipient? Secondly, what is the recipient preferred color or flower? Thirdly, does your recipient prefer stronger or softer scents? Flower has it symbolic meaning that has been formed over centuries. For lovers, red roses are always the first choice for Valentine's Day flower. Red color represents romance and love, which is suitable for spouse or girlfriend whom you have long term relationship with. Pink roses, which represent passion, are more appropriate for new couples. Some of the flowers that are sent frequently during Valentine's Day including: roses, carnations, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, tuberoses, and freesias . However, please bear in mind, for some girls, they might prefer to receive their favorite flowers rather than the flowers mentioned above. Therefore, it is better to find out in advance. Step 2: Presentation of the Flower After choosing the flower, good and presentable packaging plays an important role to enhance the appearance of the flowers. Believe it or not, nice packaging changes the overall perception of the value of the flower being deliver. Several options such as basket and pot are available together with decorative item which can be put together in the bouquet of flower. Flower with candy, chocolate and decorated in soft animal and hearts are available for selection in different price range. Alternatively, you can put everything together by yourself.

Steps 3: Customize your Valentine's message. Finally, do attach a personalized message to your recipient. Here are some of the suggestions you can "steal": 1) Love you from the bottom of my heart 2) You are the sweetest! 3) Today is a very special day for sending all my love your way! 4) My heart is empty without you, like a bird without a song. 5) We've been through a few hard times honey. Well, I just want to let all the people to know that you are my only one. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. 6) Your smile is my sunrise; your kiss is my sunset. Thank you for being the most wonderful friend and companion 7) I love now, tomorrow and today, and if God give me the time.. I'll love you 'till the end of my life... 8) With you it's Valentine's Day 365 days a year. 9) May this Valentine's Day find you counting God's blessings and all the warm wishes of those who care about you. 10) Happy Valentine to you with all my love!

Now you can order flowers online almost effortless. Learn what your recipient/lover prefer and order your flowers in advance to avoid delay in delivery on Valentine's Day. Alternatively, you may even surprise your love one with a bouquet of flowers before the valentine's dinner (if you happen to order late minute!)

Valentine's Day - Why Rose Is The Preferred Flower?

The world is full of flowers. Visit any place dedicated to flowers and you will be amazed at the types of flowers, and facts about them. Flowers come in all shapes, and colors. Some of them can intoxicate you with their lovely perfume. Some are so delicate that one fears touching them. And all of them are stunningly beautiful. Still, it is the Rose which is preferred around the world as a flower of choice on the Valentine's day? I wonder about this. And though I have not tried to search for the reasons, here is my own theory on why it is so. One another fact struck me. We can get Roses in many colors but still it the dark red that is preferred as the flower of love. Why? View some of the desktop wallpapers for Valentine's day. You will find rose prominently on them. Therefore the question - Why?
Let us first think about the color choice. I think that dark red must be the preferred color as it looks like red. And every true lover is ready to shed his/her blood for the beloved. Also love is associated with the heart, and heart pumps blood. So red signifies love. Colors have their own significance, looking at any white color, the first thought is of purity. Same way red means love.

Now let us examine our central theme. Why Rose? A Rose has thorns. But the thorns are below the Rose. The Rose represents life beautifully. It has very soft petals, that tell us about the soft side of living and thorns to convey that life is not all the bed of Roses without thorns. What does a lover do? A true lover will always take the thorns and give only the soft flowers to his/her darling. That is love and love demands that one give only comfort to one's darling. Love demands sacrifice. Love demands giving of joy. Love demands that all pain be kept away from the beloved. That is also the message a lover sends across to his/her beloved with a Rose. I have kept the thorns with myself and I am sending you these soft flowers . I think this is the reason why on Valentine's day, the red Rose is the flower of choice. To feel the joy of flowers you can view these animated love flower screensavers. To feel the romance of flowers download these flower desktop wallpapers. Enjoy love. Life is no life without love.

Love Text Messages - The Perfect Partner for Flowers





“love text messages” Overview: Thanks to the convenience of cell phones, nobody is ever more than a few buttons away. Text messages are becoming a more and more popular trend amongst people of all ages, and can be a good way to remind someone that you love them. This article will detail how you can mix them with flowers to produce a great result.

Text messages to tell her you love her

With Valentines Day swiftly nearing, it’s always good to come up with new ways to impress your wife or girlfriend. A simple card and box of chocolates is a good start, but you can do so much more. Text messages containing love poetry or cute reminders are a great idea. Remind her you love her with text messages bringing up shared memories of a pleasant day you had in the past.

You can find a large selection of love text messages online if you’re not the world’s greatest poet, which will allow you to still benefit from this convenience. Women love cute text messages reminding them of how special they are to you, so consider text messages when trying to send a suggestion of love.

Text messages aren’t quite enough of a solution for Valentines Day, however, even though they are a great start to expressing your love. Read below for more ideas.

Text messages and flowers to keep the love alive

What better way to express your love than through flowers? There really isn’t one, as flowers are a tradition long held dear by many cultures across the world. Following up on text messages with flowers is an effective one-two combination for winning over your girl.

Say you’ve sent her text messages telling her you love her. She’ll be pleased, but probably not expecting anything more. That’s when you follow up on the love text messages with a surprise delivery of flowers. A bouquet of fresh roses does the trick, and will guarantee a good evening for the both of you.

Sending messages of love through text mixed with flowers is a surefire strategy for success. Remember the winning combination: text messages followed by flowers bearing your message of love. It can’t possibly fail! If you have any questions about using flowers to follow up on text messages of love, call a local florist.

Flower ideas to go along with love text messages

Once you’ve sent those text messages, you’re going to want to follow up with flowers to express your love as we have suggested. A bouquet of roses always works, but what about other ideas? You’re free to pick any colour and any variety of flowers to go along with your love text messages, which has the potential to give you nearly endless possibilities.

Not only can you follow up on text messages with bouquets, baskets and other arrangements, you can also mix and match other things to express your love. Why not include a card repeating or expanding on the text messages you sent earlier? Or you could include a cute teddy bear holding a heart that says “love.” The ideas are limitless.

If you’re curious about ideas to follow upon on love text messages for your special someone, feel free to consult with a florist. They’ll be happy to give advice regarding follow-ups for text messages that will help improve your love life.

How to order flowers for delivery to compliment love text messages

Now that you’ve decided to follow up on text messages with a floral message of love, you’re going to want to know the options available to you. Fortunately, you have several to choose from that will help you spread the word of love after you’ve sent your text messages.

The first option is to visit the florist or website to make a selection and to ask for suggestions that suit your woman’s or man’s tastes. The florist will be able to help you find the right flowers to demonstrate your love and that will follow up nicely on the text messages.

The second option is to go online and visit the florist’s website. There you’ll be able to browse and select from their inventory, pay using a secure order form, and set a destination address for the flowers. It’s perfect for a surprise follow up on your love text messages.

Domestic and international deliveries are both available, should your love live in another city. This will only heighten the surprise after you’ve sent your text messages. Flowers are the perfect way to follow up on love text messages. Contact a florist today!

MATTHEW HARLEY is an award-winning freelance writer and search engine expert who has written extensively for the advertising industry. DOYLE BOLT is President of Bolt Family Florist, and owner of the Brant Florist operating unit. For more great flower information http://brantflorist.com/

How We Came to Send Flowers, Cards, and Chocolates on Valentine's Day





Every February 14, couples send flowers, buy chocolate and break out their romantic sides. Few people, however, know how we came to celebrate Valentine’s Day. They may even believe the holiday was invented by the flower and greeting card industry. In fact, a history of Valentine’s Day through the years recounts many mysteries, romantic figures, and smart entrepreneurs.
One legend suggests Valentine was a priest in the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men because he thought single men made better soldiers than men with wives and families. Valentine secretly continued to perform marriages and when his actions were discovered, Claudius sentenced him to death. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270.

Another story has it that while in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement and who may have been his jailor's daughter. The future saint cured the girl of her blindness and before his death, he allegedly wrote his love a letter, signing it 'From your Valentine,' an expression still common today.

We may owe our observance of Valentine's Day to the Roman celebration of Lupercalia, a festival that honored Juno Februata, the goddess of "feverish" love. Annually, on February 15th, young men and women would draw names to partner with for romantic game playing. Early Christians frowned on these lascivious activities and tried to transform the sexual nature of Lupercalia by turning the "feast of the flesh" into a "ritual for romance.” The Church selected a single saint, St. Valentine, to represent the new festival. Since Valentine was martyred on February 14, the date was also changed. When the names were now drawn on this day, couples began to exchange small gifts.

One of the earliest known “valentine” cards dates back to 1415. From his confinement in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt, a young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent several poems or rhymed love letters to his wife in France. One valentine card showed a drawing of a knight and a lady, with Cupid in the act of sending an arrow to pierce the knight's heart. The holiday that honors lovebirds has not always been so popular, going in and out of favor throughout the centuries. The celebration experienced renewed vigor in England just prior to 1800 when publishing companies came to the aid of tongue-tied romeos by distributing booklets of passages that lovers could recite to each other. Gift giving included cards that were usually hand painted and often lavishly decorated with laces, silk or satin, flowers (made from the feathers of tropical birds), and perfumed sachets.

The first U.S. made valentines were fashioned by a Mount Holyoke College student, Esther Howland circa 1830. Her father imported valentines every year from England as a stationer in Worcester, MA. Esther decided to create her own valentine messages and began importing lace, fine papers, and other supplies for her cards. Her "Worcester" valentines sold an estimated hundred thousand dollars annually! Until the mid-1800's, the cost to send a Valentine through the mail was beyond the means of the average person. The postal service even demanded payment from the recipient, not the sender, of the letter! A hand delivered Valentine became the most popular way to declare love during this time.

The holiday suffered a popularity plunge in the late 19th century, but by the 20th century, Americans businesses had rescued Valentine's Day by turning it into a commercial bonanza. It became common for a valentine to usually accompany a more elaborate gift of candy, flowers, dinner, etc. Nowadays, many schools even enable students to send flowers to each other to celebrate the day. Valentine’s Day cards have emerged to become the second biggest sellers to Christmas cards. Recently, the internet has proved increasingly popular to celebrate the day as well. Now you can send an elecronic greeting card (http://www.123greetings.com), send chocolate (http://www.lindt.com) and send flowers (http://www.beyondblossoms.com) all without leaving the house.

A World Beyond Roses


The mere mention of ordering flowers often brings to mind the images of deep flush red roses, waiting to be bought and delivered to our loved ones. More often than not, roses, even of varying colors, are the flower variety commonly purchased for occasions connected to love and relationships.Roses are a thing of beauty, with their perfectly coiffed petals and velvety texture, it's no wonder why most couples have claimed it to be their favorite flower of all time. But why not start a new tradition and pick a new and fresh variety as Valentine's Day comes to a close.

Take a step back and notice the world beyond roses.

Orchids

You can't go wrong in picking a pot of orchids as a gift to your loved ones. With their delicate and unique flower structure, orchids are undeniably one of the most exotically stunning flowering plants.

Simply choose from the wide variety of orchid plants, and your loved one will enjoy the bliss of a rare and a delicate beauty.

Daisies

Seeing a bouquet or two of these lovely flowers can uplift anyone's mood. These lovely daisy flowers are often associated with sunflowers as they have a striking resemblance to the sunflower's shape and petal.

Put your loved one in a great mood with these vibrant bouquets of delight. Simple, lovely and gorgeous, daisy bouquets are perfect for any occasion.

Lilies

If you're going for a love message filled with innocence and purity, you can't go wrong with a bouquet or two of lily flowers.

These highly popular and uniquely textured flowers can be easily given to any kind of occasions, and definitely fitting for an event filled with love and dedication.

Iris

With over 200 colors to its name, irises are undeniably one of the loveliest flowers in the world. The name of iris flowers are derived from the Greek word of rainbow, which seems fitting as it grows in hundreds of different colors.

These dainty pretty things can sum up faith, hope and wisdom through its flowers. Why not give your loved one a bouquet of iris flowers today, as it's just about perfect for any occasion.

Top Seven Fowers for Bridal Bouquet

Bouquets look better when it use the right flowers. Make the bouquet for bride can be as simple as cut several flowers & tie them. But not every flower is suitable for bridal bouquet. Knowing what are the most popular flowers is very useful for you. If you know what are the best and most favorite, it is easy for you to make a good wedding flower. You can make it as single flower arrangement or combine several popular flowers to make it unique. So, what are the most beloved flowers for brides? Here is a list of the most popular flowers (in ascending order):

Hydrangea

A hydrangea bouquet should be a good choice for those who want a simple elegance nosegay bouquet. Hydrangea is native to southern and eastern Asia. White is the most species color. Other species can be pink, blue, purple, and red. Hydrangea has a unique shape. Its shape is suitable for making a nosegay bouquet.

Carnation

Carnation is the flower of love. Carnations usually are used for showing love and fascination. But cultivars of many colors can bring different symbol from each color. For example, white carnation may symbolize the purity of Mother's Day. Actually, the carnation is a species of Dianthus. Colors include pink (natural color), red, white, yellow and green.

Stephanotis

Stephanotis can make a simple cake become elegant. The flower has white petals, star-shaped flower, and dark green leaves. The best known stephanotis species is Stephanotis floribunda whose are popular component of wedding bouquets.

Tulips

The look is instantly fresh. The flowers come with hundreds varieties with typically have one flower per stem and are available year-round. Many people think that tulips are flowers from the Dutch. Actually, tulips are native to Central Asia & Persian Empire. The vast majority of tulips are being exported from Holland to all over the world.

Gerbera

The name was taken from the last name of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Gerbera is a genus of sunflower family. The flowers grow with less water, so they are suitable for home gardening. Gerbera is popular for wedding bouquet because it is vary greatly in shape, color, and size. The capitulum is composed of hundreds of individual flowers.

Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are elegant flower. The flowers are very popular choices for bridal bouquets, flower arrangements, & home decoration because of its range of colors available with unique shapes. Calla lilies are poisonous plants, so if you want to arrange a bouquet made with calla lilies, consider to keep it far from children & pet.

Roses

The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart. Roses symbolize love with various color (white, pink, & red), beautiful shape, and more than a hundred species. Its beautiful shape with good smell can touch the heart of many people. No wonder if roses is the most favorite flowers in the world. Rose is also a durable flower. The characteristics of a good rose are: long stemmed, bold petals, & has minimum five petals.

Floristry of Passion


For a flower to look more beautiful and elegant, a special technique or skill is applied on it. Floristry, flower arranging, floral arrangement, floral design or floral arts is the art of creating flower arrangements in vases, bowls and baskets, or making bouquets and compositions from cut flowers, foliage, herbs, ornamental grasses and other botanical materials. A florist’s responsibilities includes selecting flowers that will look good together, knowing how to cut, treat, and arrange flowers and other stock plants so they will remain fresh as long as possible, and (as explained above) selling them, which involves knowledge of customer requirements and expectations.

Knowing how to form wreaths, bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres/'buttonholes', artificial arrangements and other more complicated arrangements is also important. Florists are very commonly seen on any flower shops, making floral arrangements on flowers to make it look more appealing and significant, just like the Florists here in the Philippines. Philippine Florists can also be seen on any kind of flower shop, especially in a place called the Dangwa Flower Market where an over of 50 flower shops exists. But aside from flower shops that you see on the streets or on the mall, there are also some Philippine Florists working on an online flower shop. And among them is the Flowers Express.

Flowers Express is an online flower shop that specializes in selling, delivering, and providing the best floral arrangements from the best Philippine Florists in the Philippines. The Flowers Express offers a wide collection of flowers to their customers such as Roses, Alstroemerias, Carnations, Ecuadorian Roses, Gerberas, Lilies, Orchids, Spring Flowers and Tulips. Flowers Express also offers the talents of their Philippine Florists when it comes to floral arrangements or flower arrangements. Flowers Express’ Philippine Florists can offer different kinds of floral arrangements on your flowers befitting a specific occasion or sentiment such as Anniversaries, Congratulations, Christmas, Get Well, Love & Romance, Sorry, Thank You, Welcome Home and Valentines Special.

Flowers Express can also provide their customers with a free delivery on all of their flowers to any part of the Philippines. This is mainly because Flowers Express is owned and operated by eLBC Direct, Inc., an LBC company that is dedicated to providing Filipinos access to products and services apart from the traditional products offered by LBC. If you want more information about the Flowers Express and the talents of their Philippine Florists, then visit www.flowersexpress.com.ph.

5 Ways To Put Flowers On Your Wedding Cake




A great way to coordinate your wedding cake with the rest of the wedding theme is by using flowers on your cake.Here are 5 very easy and highly effective ways of placing flowers onto a wedding cake.
1. Flower topper - This is when you or your florist arrange a small group of flowers that are the same colour and type as used in the bouquets. This can be done very quickly by arranging them into a small piece of oasis with a plastic base.

2. Rose sandwich - When roses are placed in-between each tier of the cake. The wedding cake is constructed on thin pillars and tiered with a gap of approximately 1 ¼ inches between each tier. Your florist or yourself can then easily place roses cut and taped to about 2 inches in length into the gap. You must ensure that the roses are tightly packed and lay flush with the cake so that you don't have any gaps showing.

3. Flower trail - A flowing line of flowers that trail down the cake. This method is best suited to cakes that are tiered directly on top of each other. You start by individually wiring your chosen flower heads. Group several heads together, tape and secure on the top of the cake by gently pushing the taped wire stems into the cake. Then work your way down the cake pushing flower heads in at regular intervals. To create a strong band place the flower heads closely together.

4. Linked flower toppers - If you have a gap in-between your cake tiers and a flower arrangement on each tier you can easily link them together. Simply take a few stems of steelgrass and use it to link each of the flower arrangements to each other.

5. Scattered petals or flower heads - If you have no room to place flowers onto your cake or if you are having individual cupcakes. Scattering rose petals around the base of the wedding cake is a wonderful way to link in your colour theme. Individual flower heads look very pretty when placed in-between cupcakes on a tiered cake stand.

Don't forget some flowers and foliages are not suitable to use on cakes as they are poisonous. Ivy is one of those. If you're in doubt ask for advice from your florist or cake maker.

To see more pictures of wedding cake flowers visit http://www.wedding-cake-advice.com. Here you will also find ideas on unique wedding cakes and chocolate wedding cakes.

The Meaning of Flowers in Human Culture



“meaning of flowers” - The meaning of flowers is something that can be discussed from both an historical and present perspective. For many cultures flowers have had different meanings, but there are many similarities that last even to this day. Peace, beauty, purity, strength – all of these and more can be linked to flowers.

It has long been a custom that lovers will gift one another with flowers as a declaration of their desire and faithfulness. This is a custom that still stands today. Often, the flowers are chosen due to their meaning to someone, usually as a result of personal taste or favoritism. In addition to this, the individual meaning of the blooms can be an influence in the selection. When you are choosing flowers for a loved one, you may wish to consider the historical meaning behind each blossom.

The chrysanthemum has long been a popular flower for a wedding or similar happy occasion, with both the red and white varieties carrying the meaning of true love for another. The carnation has been used for Mother’s Day for over a century. The white variety is ideal for this purpose, as the yellow carries with it a message of disappointment or disdain, and the striped variety are used as a refusal to let someone know you can’t be with them.

The daffodil can have the meaning of a new beginning, but is also used to convey true love. As a result, it is appropriately associated with the tenth wedding anniversary. The azalea, considered in China as the symbol of womanhood, carries also the meaning of love and romance. Similarly, ivy can mean affection and friendship, and is used as a symbol of marriage.

Poppy flowers are used in Canada for Remembrance Day, and carry with them the meaning of consolation and pleasure in their white form, but wealth and success in their yellow. Magnolia flowers suggest dignity and nobility, but also a love for nature. The peony can mean shame, but is also used for good health and prosperity. A purple hyacinth has the meaning of apology, whereas a yellow one indicates jealousy.

The ever-popular orchid can mean love, but is often used to indicate beauty – specifically in a woman. In China, the orchid demonstrates longevity as well as beauty.

Many flowers are specific to a particular anniversary. Consult with a florist to help you determine the right flowers for the occasion and if you have a question about the meaning behind a particular bloom. They’ll be happy to help!

MATTHEW HARLEY is an award-winning freelance writer and search engine expert who has written extensively for the advertising industry. DOYLE BOLT is President of Bolt Family Florist, and owner of the Brant Florist operating unit. For more great flower information, Visit Brant Florist today!

http://brantflorist.com/

Flower Tips for Party Decorations



Flowers are a popular accessory to use for party decorations but, you may need a few tips to help your decorations go from fair to fabulous. Decide what kinds of flower go with the kind of party you're going to throw. Roses are romantic, tulips are elegant, daisies or sunflowers are whimsical and carnations are casual.

You can use real or silk flowers for your centerpieces or for table top decorations. You may want to arrange centerpieces ahead of time so that all of your party preparations don't have to be done at the last minute. Silk flowers are perfect for this accommodation.

If you want to help fresh flowers last longer there are a few things you need to do. Make sure that you use only healthy flowers. There should be no brown spots or wilting pedals. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle underwater, place the flowers in lukewarm water and add a little lemon-lime soda to the water to give your flowers an extra punch.

If you are using flowers for centerpieces keep the arrangements high for a buffet table, low and long for a sit-down dinner and small and scaled down for smaller tables. Use unique and inventive items to place the flowers in. Look for elegant shaped vases, beautiful bowls or even silver or metal trays.

To create interest and beauty to your centerpieces fill the bottom of clear vases with colored stone or add floating candles to a centerpiece with few flowers. Using an online florist such as www.florists.tk will save you time. Shopping on the internet you can find all of the supplies you will need to create a wonderful setting for your party.

Another flower tip is to only use the petals of flowers in your decorating. Using this method is a great way to use your own flowers that are not picture perfect. Sprinkle pedals on table tops and other flat surfaces with a few candles as your decorative statement.

Viewing Tulips at the Tulip Festival in Holland MI



If you love Spring, tulips are blooming from mid-April to mid-May. This is your time. The Tulip festival in Holland MI occurs in the first part of May every year. In fact, Tulip Time in Holland, MI is the official celebration of one of the largest Dutch ethnic events in the midwest United States. If you have always wanted to see a close imitation of the Netherlands, visit Holland, MI to see beautiful tulip fields in full bloom.

Holland Michigan tulips are on display, depending on the Spring weather and the growing season. In 2007, the tulip season seems to be on track and the Holland tulip festival is scheduled for May 5- May 12, 2007. The city of Holland features a line up of tulip viewing, entertainment, events and ethnic celebrations for tulip lovers and families. Here is what to see when you visit Holland, MI for Tulip Time.

Fields of Authentic Festival Holland Tulips
When you drive down River Street from US 31, you will see the beginnings of tulip flowers that fill the Holland, MI area. The city claims that more than 5,000,000 tulips are on display in parks, along streets and in local attractions. For starters, visit the Veldheer Tulip Farm. This attractive farm began in 1945 with 100 red tulips and 300 white tulips. Now, there are millions of tulip bulbs that blossom every Spring. The farm hosts multiple gardens that teem with white tulips, yellow Big Smile, orange Apricot Dream, red Appeldorn, and literally dozens of other varieties and colors.

The Veldheer Tulip Farm displays lily tulips, Darwin Hybrid tulips, peony (double) tulips, parrot tulips, Triumph tulips and specialty tulips. The grounds show blue, white, and pink hyacinths, white and yellow daffodils and narcissi. Each garden has a numbered stake that identifies the type of flower. Visitors match the flower number with a printed guide sheet to learn more about the flowers. For those who want to order Holland tulip bulbs, visitors can order Holland tulip bulbs from the guide sheet, which are shipped the following September. Admission to the farm is $10 for adults, $5 for children. The Veldheer Tulip Farm is located on Quincy Street, just off Highway US 31, about 3 miles north of Holland.

If you are taking children and the family to Holland, make sure to visit Nelis' Dutch Village. Dutch Village is a family theme park model buildings, authentic Dutch chocolate and licorice, Delftware, a wooden shoe factory, a working street organ, bell tower and photo spots for adults and children. Dutch Village offers a beautiful setting for family fun. The spot has buildings modeled after 1800's Netherlands cottage architecture. Dutch Village had smaller patches of tulips that are spread throughout the grounds. Each "garden" is identified by numbered stakes so that visitors know what the tulips are. Dutch Village is on US 31 on the northern edge of Holland. Admission for adults is 10; $5 for children.

A third scenic spot to view tulips during the Holland Tulip Festival is Windmill Island. Windmill Island is the home of the "De Zwaan" (graceful bird,) a 240 year-old working windmill from the Netherlands. Located just off 7th Street, Windmill Island offers a shopping area, historic architecture including the Posthouse museum (14th century replica of a wayside inn. During Spring, Windmill Island boasts 150,000 tulips; during summer and fall, the gardens offer colorful annuals. Admission is $10 for adults.

You can wander downtown Holland on 8th Street and view the many attractive settings and plantings of tulip flowers. Then, drive along the eight miles of curbside tulips planted throughout the city. You can get some inspiring ideas for creating and enhancing the tulip garden at your home.

Make your Spring a joyful one; visit Tulip Time, the tulip festival in Holland MI.


Summer Flower Arrangements



Summer is a busy time for the gardener and flower arranger. There are so many blooms out there that are just ripe for the picking and are screaming to be arranged. Flowers reflect the freshness and warmth of summer and it always nice to have a flower arrangement at home. Certain flowers only bloom in the summer and it is best to feature them in your summer flower arrangements.

Here is a list of summer flowers that you can use for your flower arrangements:

- Sunflower. Representing the brightness of the summer season, sunflowers are considered the primary summer flowers. These big, eye-catching, and vibrant flowers only bloom completely during the summer. They are great for big and elaborate arrangements.

- Aster. Aster attracts bright and colorful butterflies in the summer. These flowers come in beautiful shades of white, pink, blue, and purple. According to flower myths and traditions, aster signifies patience, variety, and delicacy.

- Sweet Pea. You can add sweet pea to your flower arrangement to give it a nice, sweet scent.

- Daisy. This summer flower denotes innocence, gentleness and purity. Sometimes called "the marker of summer", the daisy is also called the "day's eye" because it opens up and closes along with the sun. For a simple flower arrangement, simply get an empty milk bottle, fill it with water and put in a handful of these pretty blooms.

- Lily. The sensitizing effect of lilies will never fail to lighten your mood or bring a smile to your face so add them in your flower arrangement.

- Snapdragons. Snapdragons make beautiful cut flowers. They are great hung from a basket or kept in a tall, slim vase.

Make the best of summer by filling the spaces in your house, garden, and office with these summer blooms. They will not only beautify your room, they can lighten up your mood as well.

Silk Calla Lily Complete Buyers Guide

Silk Calla Lily can be found in 5 primary sizes: baby, mini, small, medium and large. A baby Calla Lily is the size used for corsages. Mini and Small sizes are usually used in small arrangements, aisle flowers and bridesmaid flowers. Medium is the size you would likely encounter in a garden. This is the size that Calla Lilies are most often found naturally. The medium size is used in floral arrangements and multi flower bouquets (traditionally a bridal bouquet, but sometimes in bridesmaid bouquets). The Large Silk Calla Lily is used in single flower bridal bouquets for a simple and elegant statement. They are also used for alter flowers as well as in large floral arrangements.
Silk Calla Lilies are most often found as stems but can be found as complete arrangements, bushes (whole plants) and potted. You can usually find exactly what you are looking for. The stems have wire in the stems to aid in shaping for you precise purpose. The stems can also be easily trimmed to size.

Calla, Lily and Lilies are among the most misspelled flower words. You'll find Calla misspelled Cala often. Lily is often misspelled with 2 L's like Lilly or Lillies. Lilly is also a popular name so it will come up in searches. None of the top searches for Lilly will result in a flower, so when you are search for these, spelling is important.

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The Silk Calla Lily is a popular choice for decorating and for wedding flowers. The Calla Lily is an elegant and beautiful flower and has become a popular alternate to the venerable rose. Calla Lilies are found in three popular wedding colors and several sizes so decorators and designers have many options when using this beautiful silk flower. The beautiful and elegant silk calla lily stems have a fresh cut look and are made of a synthetic material to provide a realistic look. They are easy to keep clean and fresh looking.

Color: Silk Calla Lilies can be found in several colors. Yellow and White are the two most popular colors and they also happen to be the colors most people think of when they imagine a Calla Lily. Also available are cream, green, plum and mauve. White Silk Calla Lilies are very commonly used in wedding flowers.

Sizes: A Silk Calla Lily can be found in 5 primary sizes: baby, mini, small, medium and large. A baby Calla Lily is the size used for corsages. Mini and Small sizes are usually used in small arrangements, aisle flowers and bridesmaid flowers. Medium is the size you would likely encounter in a garden. This is the size that Calla Lilies are most often found naturally. The medium size is used in floral arrangements and multi flower bouquets (traditionally a bridal bouquet, but sometimes in bridesmaid bouquets). The Large Silk Calla Lily is used in single flower bridal bouquets for a simple and elegant statement. They are also used for alter flowers as well as in large floral arrangements.

Silk Calla Lilies are most often found as stems but can be found as complete arrangements, bushes (whole plants) and potted. You can usually find exactly what you are looking for. The stems have wire in the stems to aid in shaping for you precise purpose. The stems can also be easily trimmed to size.

Calla, Lily and Lilies are among the most misspelled flower words. You'll find Calla misspelled Cala often. Lily is often misspelled with 2 L's like Lilly or Lillies. Lilly is also a popular name so it will come up in searches. None of the top searches for Lilly will result in a flower, so when you are search for these, spelling is important.

Lotus Flowers - A Beautiful Addition To Your Garden Pond

A lotus flower can be successfully grown in “tubs” in or around your pond. Large containers will work as well. Just be sure to keep them wet, and by wet the professionals mean VERY wet. Usually there should be at least two inches of water above the ground soil in which you plant your lotus flower. They love the soil, however they are very thirsty plants, which is why the garden pond conditions (perhaps particular to your landscape) may be perfect.

There are several kinds of lotus flowers for you to choose from, available on the market today. Increase the luxury and ambiance that a garden pond provides already, by planting lotus flowers – these will bloom impressively and flourish in your personal outdoor sanctuary. Create an even more beautiful place to relax and unwind at home. Perennial plants such as lotus flowers are a great idea for any garden pond. These plants want good soil, however, and humid condition. Nonetheless, it is not absolutely impossible, to adjust them to more dry environmental conditions.

Winds as well as the height of the plant’s leaves may bend or become discolored, brown and dry or discolored. So you should care for your lotus plants with a dedicated, continuous observation. If you live in less than ideal conditions, for the safety and beauty of your lotus flowers and overall garden décor, be sure t tend to them properly.

Warm, if not what are considered hot temperatures, are preferred by the lotus plant. Eighty to ninety degrees are actually ideal conditions for this kind of pond life. As with any kind of plant or garden flower, a lotus flower under pf conditions will reach their full, flourishing and most beautiful potential. By their potential I mean the size and condition of the blossoms, as well as the health and fragrance of your pond in general. Of course, this adds to the appeal of your home outdoors and your ability to relax and unwind.

There are several kinds of lotus flowers, such as the “Chinese Dbl Rose” these are described as deep rose colored dbl flowers. They can grow to be up to three feet in height. Because this is one of the smaller lotus flowers, they can be grown in the water in a three gallon container. The Chinese dbl rose is a beautiful sight to see! You would be surprised at the bright color and the ambiance it creates all around you. This rose of a lotus flower may become the center of attraction in your garden pond. But there are many, many more kinds of beautiful garden pond plants on the market for you to choose from, and a long list of lotus, which is what this article will focus on.

The “Empress” or Alba Striata are great flowers. They are a whitish bloom with gentle strokes of pinkish colors on the edges of the petals. These plants can grow up to five feet tall in perfect conditions. The empress lotus flower bursts into a wide white rose-shaped blossom when in full bloom. As all plant life will, the Lotus flower will increase the oxygen in the air. It is also a great way to enhance your g pond and / or landscape design with a water plant which best suits your personal taste.

One of these bright and beautiful flowers is called the “Mrs. Perry D Slocum” and what lovely ladies they are! These flowers are multi-colored and abs el. The first day they appear pink, on the second day they are pink and yellow, by the third day of blooming they are a creamy, flushed pink color. These colors combined are luxurious buds you will certainly love. The Mrs. Perry D. Slocum lotus flower grows to be about four to five feet in adequate conditions. And will decorate your already relaxing outdoor pond with a burst of colorful, fragrant allure.

The lotus flower called “Momo Botan” is a deep, brilliant pink, it will produce double blooms, of truly elegant water blossoms. Older flowers are able to stay open through the night. The blooming season of this wonderful flower will last longer than the average blooming seasons of other flower blossoms, including, lotus lowers. These plants can also be placed in a small cont in your g pond.

The “Lavender Lady” is another lovely member of the family of lotus flowers. These are, as their name indicates produce dark, yet chalkish, and lovely, lavender colored blossoms with a tinge of pink. These beautiful ladies grow to become five to seven feet tall depending on the stability of their conditions. Like all other lotus flowers, you must be attentive to their needs as far as the amounts of water, light, and humidity. The conditions of your environment are only part of it. You can create special conditions when you care for your lotus flower, such as misting the flowers being extra attentive to their intake of water, the health of the surrounding plants, and the flower’s overall stability.

Another beautiful lotus bloom is called the Green Maiden. In addition to the elegance and grace of all these decorative females, is the common distinctive shape and color, which vary slightly between the separate species of this flower. In the case of the Green maiden, (as with many lotus flowers) their sequential pattern of color transformation goes from pink to yellow to a cream-color. The final blossom looks as though the tips have been dipped in a bright, yet subtle pink, the yellow can be seen more closely from the center of the bloom. These blooms can grow up to three feet in your g pond.

Another wonderfully named lotus flower is the Frankly Scarlet lotus flower. These are dark pink and a very impressive, colorful, and alluring addition to your pond. These plants can grow to be up to six feet and produce multiple, single blooms. Frankly, the frankly scarlet lotus flower is one of my personal favorites. Treat her like a princess and she will treat you like royalty too. Find our how amazing these flowers will look in your garden pond, not to mention the possible habitats that many kinds of lotus plants will help provide for other wild life.

Single white blooms can also be decorative outdoors in your garden pond, to add that extra splash of life to your landscape. These flowers are lotus flowers called the “Alba Grandiflora” or otherwise known as the “Asiatic.” This lovely, cup shaped lotus flower can also grow up to five feet in good conditions. No matter what your outdoor garden motif, if you have a garden pond a lotus flower could be the perfect solution for you. Look at the kinds of flowers available on the market today and decide what you want for very best landscaping you can possible imagine in your outdoor design or garden pond.




Hibiscus Flowers


When Hibiscus flowers are mentioned, many visualize the exotic red blossom pinned in the hair of a woman. The Hibiscus - one of the most beautiful flowers in the world - comes in numerous colors, shapes and sizes. Some have single petals, others double or crested, and some do not open fully. Sizes vary from tiny to 10-12 inches.

The flower of each species of the Hibiscus has its own individuality. The colors and the combinations are fabulous. Hibiscus come with romantic names like Sun Showers, Midnight Blue, Silver Shadow and Sunny Moon to name a few.


This dream flower is in great demand for decorative purposes, and this demand has developed into a big business.


Hibiscus flowers are not just endowed with beauty. They are useful in many ways. In some countries, Hibiscus are called "shoe flowers." Perhaps this is because they can be used as black shoe polish. Shampooing with hibiscus flowers is supposed prevent dandruff and stimulate hair growth. There are branded cosmetic products containing the Hibiscus flower extract. And, they are believed to have anti-bacterial properties, as well as correct liver and stomach aliments. There are also claims that the flower acts as laxative and diuretic, relaxes the uterus, controls blood pressure, increases circulation and reduces cholesterol. The high vitamin C content in Hibiscus flowers helps resist colds and chest congestion.


The major consumption of this bloom is Hibiscus tea. The Arabs, who invented this tea, call it ‘karkady’. This brew is popular among Americans. Dietary supplements in capsule form containing Hibiscus flower extracts are available. Also, several table recipes like salads use Hibiscus flowers. Hibiscus Margaritas are considered to be an exciting cocktail, and there are Hibiscus flower wines as well.


Hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia and the state flower of Hawaii. This flower is truly one of God’s great gifts to man.

Passion Flower and Alternative Health

Sometimes, you just need to relax. When the stress of work and everyday life gets to you, you may need something to help calm your nerves and assist your body's ability toward serenity and well-being. It is no surprise, therefore, that many people look to alternative methods for relaxation. Health shops provide a number of supplements containing natural ingredients designed to assist the body's ability to become sedate, some of which have been used for centuries outside the Western world.

The Amazon Rain Forest, for one, yields many herbs, plants, and trees which are cultivated for medicinal use. The Passion Flower is one such plant, claimed by the natives to be an effective, natural sedative.

What is Passion Flower?

Passion Flower, or Passiflora edulis, gets it names from the Spanish missionaries who visited the New World in the early centuries. Upon seeing the rain forest's wood vine sprouting large white flowers centered with bright pinks and purples, it was believed the flowers bore similarities to images of the Crucifixion, or Passion, of Christ. Passion Flower is indigenous to tropical areas of South America, and yields a small fruit the flowers which are used for various healthful purposes.

What is so great about Passion Flower?

When taking properly, Passion Flower is believed to act as a natural sedative. The passion flower as used by the natives is believed to soothe the nerves and help reduce headaches, anxiety and other symptoms associated with stress. The rain forest natives also believe that passion flower works as an aid to relieve insomnia. It's believed effect on the central nervous system contributes to the testament of passion flower's tranquilizing properties.

Does Passion Flower cure any illnesses?

Despite the abilities as claimed by the Brazilian people, passion flower is not viewed as a cure-all, but a supplement to aid the body's natural abilities. People interested in using passion flower as a supplement are advised to consult a physician.

Where can I buy Passion Flower?

Passion flower is fast becoming a popular means of alternative health. Specialty health shops may offer supplements and vitamins containing some form of passion flower, but it is important to check all labels first. Be certain the purest form of passion flower is available, direct from the Amazon Rain Forest, and be mindful of any side effects that may occur.


Purple Hibiscus


The hibiscus is a flowering plant with over 200 different species. These plants are native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the world. You will be able to find both perennial, as well as annual types of hibiscus. The primary reason people grow these types of plants is for their flowers. The shrubs themselves are also used for landscaping purposes. However, the flowers they grow are the main attraction for this type of plant.

Hawaii is the most area where hibiscus is most popular. It has come to the point that the hibiscus is the state flower of the Hawaiian Islands. They use the hibiscus flower for the creation of gardens, as well as creating leis for important visitors to the Islands.




Different Types of Hibiscus:


The hibiscus comes in many different shapes and colors. Some species are shrubs, where as others can grow to trees that are six to eight feet tall. All of the different types of hibiscus produce large colorful flowers, they to also come in different shapes sizes. One commonality between all hibiscus species is its beauty. Their bright colors and large size allows it to brighten up the room, or enhance the look of your garden. Their aesthetically pleasing appearance gave it the reputation as being one of the most beautiful flowers in existence today.




One type of hibiscus in particular is especially beautiful. The Purple Hibiscus has been known to produce some of the best looking flower among all types of hibiscus. The flower of this species is grown for ornamental purposes, as well as to enhance the landscaping of the garden.

The beauty of this flower is so inspiring that many writers and poets have used this particular flower to inspire them into their writings. Many books and poems today were written about the purple hibiscus.

A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs

Flowers are a favorite of many backyard gardeners. Thanks to their ease of planting and relatively low cost, flower bulbs are a popular choice for flower gardens. Not only are flower bulbs beautiful, but planting them is a very simple undertaking.

Planting flower bulbs is so easy, in fact, that it’s almost foolproof. The most important consideration is timing. Flower bulbs need to be planted when the ground is cool—not too hot and not too cold. It’s best to plant them about six weeks before the ground freezes.

The next consideration is location. You’ll want to choose a place where the soil drains well—bulbs do not grow well in areas with standing water. Bulbs also need a location that is well lit and sunny.Make sure that the soil is loose. It does not require any fertilization or special treatment. However, you might want to add compost or peat moss if you’re working in a new flowerbed.

The next consideration in planting flower bulbs is purely cosmetic. You’ll want to consider the placement of the various flowers. Generally, bulbs should be densely planted—they do not look as nice planted alone or in thin lines. Taller flowers should be planted behind short ones. Consider the finished product as you are planning your flower beds. Think about which color combinations work best together, as well as which varieties of flowers best complement each other.

Once you have determined placement, you are ready to plant. Dig your holes about six to eight inches deep (follow package directions). Place the bulb in the ground with the pointed end facing up. Cover the hole and pack it firmly to release any air holes. Water the ground thoroughly.

As you can see, planting flower bulbs is a fun and easy project. With a little patience and creativity, you can have a beautiful and enjoyable flower bed.

Flower Bulbs: Where to Buy Them From?


Growing flowers is more difficult than many people consider it. Basically, that is because you have to decide a few things before you plant the flower itself. There are a lot of ways to produce a flower. You may, for example, buy the flower itself, and replant it in your garden. You may choose to grow the flower from a seed, a time-consuming but rewarding process. You may as well grow your flower from a clip made from other plants. And you may use flower bulbs. That is, most people admit, the easiest way. A great number of different flowers are grown that way, such as daffodils, daylilies, tulips, gladiolus, crocuses, dahlias and many more.

The reason why people choose to grow flowers from flower bulbs is because that is extremely easy. Planting and taking care of flower bulbs until they bloom into beautiful flowers doesn’t require any additional skills or knowledge from you. The other reason is because flower bulbs for sale can be found in every local nursery or a landscape supply store.

Stores offer wide variety of different flower bulbs. Home improvement stores like Lowe’s or home depot sell flower bulbs. Department stores are another possibility: take Wal-Mart, for example. You can find great quantity of various flower bulbs there. Last but not least come discount stores, such as 99 Cents Only, Dollar Tree or Dollar General. They are seasonal, but you can find them a practical solution if you like to buy cheaper flower bulbs. But you have to be very careful when choosing flower bulbs from these stores: you’ve got to make sure you pick up only viable ones.

Another way to buy flower bulbs is using online nurseries. It is getting more and more popular these days. Many online stores such as Nature Hill’s Nursery, Schreiner’s Gardens and American Meadows offer all kinds of flower bulbs that you may admire. The easiest way is to offer flower bulbs on EBay! People prefer purchasing flower bulbs online, because they save time going around the stores, searching for the bulbs. It is faster, indeed, but you’d better have in mind that online purchasing doesn’t offer you the possibility to inspect the viability of the flower bulbs you have ordered. You may be disappointed when you see that the delivered flower bulbs are not what you expected. To avoid this, order only from reputable nurseries: for example, if you like to buy tulips, use the best online nurseries, which come from Holland. Always look through different possibilities, and consult with other people, so that you stay informed about the best online nurseries and get flower bulbs with finest quality.

Whatever way you choose to purchase flower bulbs, you may come to discover how great a variety all companies offer. Always pick up the most suitable for you, having in mind the above-mentioned pieces of advice.

Sikkim International Flower Festival 2008

The International Flower Festival is an exceptional show of unusual varieties of flowers, orchids and other plants native to Sikkim, a north eastern state of India. This Festival is being hosted by Sikkim and the Saramsa Garden, a well-known picnic spot stretch on an area of 6 acres and sited 3 kms away from Ranipool in East Sikkim is currently undergoing an absolute makeover which has been selected as the venue for the approaching International Flower Festival 2008.

This Flower Show of Sikkim is the first professional floriculture presentation primarily of orchids in nature's own garden Sikkim, prominent for its flora which is full flourish in March-May and has around 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and ferns, 150 varieties of gladioli, 46 types of rhododendrons along with a variety of magnolias and many other shrubbery plants. The main displays are orchids, alpine plants, roses, ferns, herbs, cacti, creepers, climbers etc.

The festival is accompanied by food and entertainment in grand terms and also includes attractions like river rafting and yak safari. The experts and masters of botanical sciences also come up to hold lectures and seminars. This Festival is a vibrant pleasure for the eyes and the event is important both at state and national level. The marvelous collection of flowers confirms it as an incredible event and attracts a massive amount of people from all over.

According to the Secretary, Horticulture and Floriculture Department, more than 30 participants have registered from the country itself and 18 countries have confirmed their participation in the International Flower Festival.

Most Popular Yumthang “Valley of Flowers” in Sikkim is located at a distance of 148 Kms from Gangtok, it is a paradise for nature lovers with a fascinating blend of flora and fauna and breathtaking scenic beauty.

In spring season wild flowers such as primulae and rhododendrons bathe the landscape in rich colors making it a tourist hot spot. It is also a nice experience to visit Yumthang during February/March, when the place is full of snow and during October/November when the towering snow peaks dazzle against the clear, blue sky. Sikkimhotravel provides online booking for hotels, flights and car and also organize tour to International Flower Festival Sikkim and Yumthang Valley of Flowers.For more details log on to www.sikkimhotravel.com or mail us at marketing@sikkimhotravel.com


Gifting Flowers: Yehi Hai Right Choice Baby!


Flowers have their own language to speak and nothing in this world can beat the subtleness of the flowers. Gift your loved ones with a bunch of flowers and see the magic with your own eyes.

Flowers are the beautiful gift of beauty and different flowers have different meanings attached with them. They embark more individualism than humans. Every flower has its own meaning and name, very unlike humans who just want to ape the other person sitting next to them. Sending flowers with special meanings is considered the best way of showing your love, gratitude or happiness whichever suits fall in the correct situation. Whether it’s a birthday party or weddings or anniversaries and even graduation ceremony, flowers have their own distinct presence. Whatever the occasion is, we always try and speak our mind with the help of flowers.

It’s true “Some words are better untold” and with flowers the adage goes like “Some words are better expressed”. They are regarded as purposeful friends who can express your inner most feelings without any words.

The technological endeavour has brought many changes in our life. And the prominent one among them is definitely www.retailsdirect.com>online shopping. With the help of these shopping portals people could now easily send flowers to their loved ones even from far off places. There are a number of websites typically devoted for flowers. You just have to choose the best that suit your requirements and the rest would be taken care by them.

Well, the best advantage is that these flower websites have the widest range and collection of flowers with them. You have the option of reading different reviews and can then decide your favourite bunch. The portals even deliver them to your desired destination.

Now that the festive season is round the corner, what could be more descent than sending flowers through online shops and that too at an affordable price? Many a times just because of our tight schedule we fail to go and shop for our favourite flowers as gifts but this problem has been sorted out by the online vendors. You can find plenty of seasonal flowers at reasonable rates on online florists. One of the best advantages of the online flower shopping is that one can place an order days and months before the occasion and safeguard himself from the exorbitant prices.

So, now you know what to buy this festive season through online shopping. Don’t you?

The Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Lotus Flower Tattoo



Lotus flowers are amazing and have strong symbolic ties to many Asian religions especially throughout India. The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.

Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life. The meaning varies slightly between the two religions of course but essentially both religious traditions place importance on the lotus flower.

In modern times the meaning of a lotus flower tattoo ties into it's religious symbolism and meaning. Most tattoo enthusiast feel that the a lotus tattoo represent life in general. As the lotus flower grows up from the mud into a object of great beauty people also grow and change into something more beautiful (hopefully!). So the symbol represent the struggle of life at its most basic form.

Lotus flower tattoos are also popular for people who have gone through a hard time and are now coming out of it. Like the flower they have been at the bottom in the muddy, yucky dirty bottom of the pond but have risen above this to display an object of beauty or al ife of beauty as the case might be. Thus a lotus flower tattoo or blossom can also represent a hard time in life that has been overcome.

Lotus flower and peonies are also two flowers that are very popular among Japanese tattoo artists and they make a great compliment to Koi Fish tattoos. Ironically enough the two koi fish and lotus flowers can often be found in the same pond in front of a temple. The Koi fish is a symbol typically for strength and individualism.

Top Seven Flowers for Bridal Bouquet




Bouquets look better when it use the right flowers. Make the bouquet for bride can be as simple as cut several flowers & tie them. But not every flower is suitable for bridal bouquet. Knowing what are the most popular flowers is very useful for you. If you know what are the best and most favorite, it is easy for you to make a good wedding flower. You can make it as single flower arrangement or combine several popular flowers to make it unique. So, what are the most beloved flowers for brides? Here is a list of the most popular flowers (in ascending order):

1. Hydrangea
A hydrangea bouquet should be a good choice for those who want a simple elegance nosegay bouquet. Hydrangea is native to southern and eastern Asia. White is the most species color. Other species can be pink, blue, purple, and red. Hydrangea has a unique shape. Its shape is suitable for making a nosegay bouquet.

2. Carnation
Carnation is the flower of love. Carnations usually are used for showing love and fascination. But cultivars of many colors can bring different symbol from each color. For example, white carnation may symbolize the purity of Mother's Day. Actually, the carnation is a species of Dianthus. Colors include pink (natural color), red, white, yellow and green.

3. Stephanotis
Stephanotis can make a simple cake become elegant. The flower has white petals, star-shaped flower, and dark green leaves. The best known stephanotis species is Stephanotis floribunda whose are popular component of wedding bouquets.

4. Tulips
The look is instantly fresh. The flowers come with hundreds varieties with typically have one flower per stem and are available year-round. Many people think that tulips are flowers from the Dutch. Actually, tulips are native to Central Asia & Persian Empire. The vast majority of tulips are being exported from Holland to all over the world.

5. Gerbera
The name was taken from the last name of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Gerbera is a genus of sunflower family. The flowers grow with less water, so they are suitable for home gardening. Gerbera is popular for wedding bouquet because it is vary greatly in shape, color, and size. The capitulum is composed of hundreds of individual flowers.

6. Calla Lilies
Calla lilies are elegant flower. The flowers are very popular choices for bridal bouquets, flower arrangements, & home decoration because of its range of colors available with unique shapes. Calla lilies are poisonous plants, so if you want to arrange a bouquet made with calla lilies, consider to keep it far from children & pet.

7. Roses
The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart. Roses symbolize love with various color (white, pink, & red), beautiful shape, and more than a hundred species. Its beautiful shape with good smell can touch the heart of many people. No wonder if roses is the most favorite flowers in the world. Rose is also a durable flower. The characteristics of a good rose are: long stemmed, bold petals, & has minimum five petals.