flower blog

Whether your Fourth of July plans include BBQs, fireworks and parades or just some R&R, remember that flowers are quick and convenient way to spruce up any room, patio or porch. And if travel is first on the agenda, remember that sending flowers ahead of time as a host/hostess gift means one less thing to pack and take through security.

If you're at home, try mixing it up a bit. Blend some bamboo or branches in with your flower arrangements or use seashells as vases for single flowers.

Roses are typically cheaper in the summertime so why not experiment with some new looks? For instance: place a few hot-colored roses in square skinny vases, anchored with dark stones or glass pieces on the bottom of the vase. Trim the roses so they are just a half-inch above the rim of the vase. This looks chic and sculptural. When the roses start to droop, lose the stems completely and float them in a bowl of water.

Whatever you do, have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Today's post is from expert florist Matthew McDonald of Bookshelf Florist and Gifts in Gaffney, SC, www.bookshelfflorist.com.  


For those who have lost a loved one, a funeral service is of extreme importance. Grief counselors will tell you that the family and friends need a chance to get together to grieve for the loss and to share memories of the deceased. This is very comforting during the first few days.

The most appropriate expression of sympathy is sending funeral flowers. Flowers provide a thoughtful and beautiful distraction from the grief of survivors.

Even if the family has expressed a desire for a financial contribution to their favorite charities, flowers should still be sent. Even though the notice may read “In Lieu of Flowers” or “Sympathy memorials may be made to the charity of your choice” flowers are always appropriate.

Floral tributes can be customized to reflect the personality, culture and traditions of the deceased. In South Carolina, standing sprays and funeral baskets are the most requested.

Flowers help people express feelings that are difficult to express. Flowers show respect for the dead, add warmth to the service and provide visual support. With flowers, the atmosphere becomes more pleasant and mourners more comfortable. The value and importance of flowers sent in sympathy can never be overstated.

Flowers and greens have always played an important role in burial traditions. Humans and flowers are both products of nature, testaments to the mystery of being. With their essential but fleeting beauty, flowers remind us of our own existence and the temporal quality of our human lives.

In ancient times, herbs were used to anoint the bodies of their loved ones, and they also held “wakes.” Ancient civilizations across Europe and the Middle East also burned, buried or entombed flowers with the dead.

Matthew McDonald
Bookshelf Florist and Gifts
www.BookshelFlorist.com

Today's post is from the trend-setting designers known as the MiGi Girls, Michele Adams and Gia Russo. MiGi and Teleflora have teamed up to create a fabulous line of baby bouquets.




Who doesn’t like receiving flowers, especially unexpectedly? Michele and I have been working with flowers for several years and LOVE them. Whether it’s buying fresh flowers at the local farmers market, receiving them as a surprise or giving them as a gift, flowers will always put a smile on your face.

As designers and lifestyle experts, we are always thinking of unique ways to use flowers. Here are some of our favorite foolproof ideas:

1. Gift-wrapping a present and incorporating a flower adds a beautiful simple touch to any gift. Tuck the flower bloom into the knot of the bow. Choose flowers that are hearty and can sustain being without water. Some floral recommendations are tulips, roses, daisies or even a tropical leaf.



2. Purchasing seasonal flowers by the stem from your local Teleflora florist is perfect for a get well, thank you or hostess gift. To make the bouquet special, wrap the bouquet in piece of tulle or paper (to create a cuff) and tie the bouquet with a beautiful satin or grosgrain ribbon.



3. A potted orchid, hydrangea, tulip, or daffodil from your local Teleflora florist makes a beautiful gift. For a personalized added touch, cover the pot in a piece of fabric and tie a ribbon.

This week marks the launch of a fun new product line for babies (see below), designed for Teleflora by the trend-setting designers known as the MiGi Girls, Michele Adams and Gia Russo.

Flowers are special, almost as special as a new baby! And think how cute these bouquets would look in a nursery or as a decoration at a baby shower. Once the pretty flowers are gone, there's a practical gift to enjoy. The keepsake container becomes a darling toy or a great spot for cotton balls and Q-Tips.

                                                                  

I can't wait to send them to friends of mine who recently became parents. Also, I'm very excited to welcome a series of guest blog posts starting tomorrow from Michele Adams and Gia Russo. Thank you, Michele and Gia, for sharing your creativity and cool ideas!

MiGi's Baby Elephant Bouquet by Teleflora sells for $56.95. MiGi's Baby Circus Bouquet by Teleflora is $46.95. The bouquets will be featured at chic events this summer; I'll keep you posted on when and where.

In May of 2000, my father was in the hospital undergoing treatment for the cancer that would take his life by the end of that summer. He had fought long and hard, turning a six-month prognosis into a seven-year battle, but the doctors knew the end was near and had suggested hospice care.

The family was gathered around his bed and a woman representing the hospice care unit came in to give an explanation of how the care worked and how he would stay at home, but there would be daily nursing care that would do the utmost to insure that his final days would be as comfortable as possible.


The author Jeffrey Peterson and his son,
Cade. Jeffrey's father instilled in him a
love of baseball.

But my father had misunderstood and thought that hospice care meant that he would receive the same level of treatment, but in his home environment that he so desperately wanted.

Shortly into her presentation, he realized what the purpose of hospice care was and interrupted to tell her thank you, but he was not yet willing to resign himself to his fate. She was very gracious and made sure that they would be there to help him whenever he was ready.

When the family was dispersing, my father, a fanatic follower of the Angels from their inception, motioned my brother and me over to his bedside. He was weakened from his struggle, but he wasn’t yet through being a father and he wanted to give us another lesson.

Throughout our lives, he used baseball as a means to teach us life principles that he felt were important. He believed that the beauty of the game was its simplicity and that that were certain facets that stood for values that transcended the game itself. He glanced around to make sure my mother had left the room and softly repeated something he had been telling us for over forty or so years.

“You don’t leave the game before the final out.”

We nodded. We understood.

By Jeffrey Peterson