First Come Flowers

10 Fragrant Flowers You Should Know

People expect flowers to smell good! I know this, because I watch people put flowers up to their noses nearly everyday at the shop.. 

 

Image:  Martha Stewart

I do the exact same thing when I discover a new flower at the flower district in New York City. 

The next thing customers at our flower shop do is ask how long the flower will last. I never respond by saying what my flower salesman says. "It will last until it dies!," Instead, I give them a general approximation based on the variety of the flower.

Fragrance vs Vase Life

It was interesting to learn that the fragrance of flowers and their vase life are closely linked. It seems the more scientists try to extend the life of flowers, the less likely they are to have a scent. But, in spite of all this floral engineering, there are still some commercially cut flowers that always smell good.

Image:  Fly Me To The Moon Florists

Fragrant flowers don't usually last as long as unscented ones.  But if you think of them as you would a great performance, a wonderful dinner or a beautiful sunset, I doubt that you 'll ever think of these magnificent flowers as a waste of money.

 

10 Fragrant Flowers

Here's a list of 10 fragrant flowers that you should experience at least once in your life.  Take the list with you  when you go to the florist:

1) Freesia - Roses Are Red

 

2) Hyacinth - flowerpictures.org

3)  Lavender - Flower Picture Gallery

4) Lilac - hortu.com

 

5) Lily (some varieties) - rosesarerae

 

6) Lily Of The Valley - Telegraph UK

 

7) Peony  (some varieties) - shoplovepeony

 

8) Roses (some varieties) - Ubloom

 

9) Sweet Pea - Examiner

 

10) Stock - wholeblossoms

 

What's your favorite scent and what memories rush to mind when you smell it? It doesn't have to be a flower.

Mimi

 

Linking to: 

At The Picket Fence

Beyond The Picket Fence

Chic On A Shoestring

Common Ground

Elizabeth & Co.

French Country Cottage

Home Is Where My Story Begins

Ivy and Elephants

My Romantic Home

No Minimalist Here

One Artsy Mama

Primp

Redoux

Savvy Southern Style

Serenity Now

Simply Sweet Home

Stuff And Nonsense

The Charm of Home

The Not So Functional Housewife

The Shabby Nest

Three Mango Seeds

Tip Junkie

Top 5 December Wedding Bouquets

Red flowers predominate in the unusual bridal bouquets I've selected for December. 

 

1) Image:     Martha Stewart

 

2) Image:   Flora Nova

 

3) Image:   Flora Nova

 

 
4) Image:   Flower Studio

 

5) Image:   MissNowMrs

 

Do you feel about feathers in bridal bouquets?

 

Mimi

5 Last Minute Tips for Holiday Outdoor Decor

 

Image:  Martha Stewart

1. Go green. Use lots of real evergreens outside your home.You can leave it out all winter to make your home look elegant and inviting.

 

2. Stick holiday ornaments and branches into existing outdoor plants. The bigger the ornaments,the better. Coordinate the colors. Buy them from your local dollar store. You can spray paint some branches or just buy some.

 

Image:   via Style Estate

3. Put a tree outside your home. Use a real or a fake one. Just make sure it's weighted down so it doesn't blow over to your neighbors place. The ornaments need to be wired to the Christmas tree.

 

Image:    Style Estate

4. Add white lights to stuff you already have outside. Light up your bushes, around your door and windows, etc. You get the idea. White lights or a single color keep things elegant.

 

Image:   Running in Stilettos

5. Put candles in lanterns outdoors. The lanterns should be heavy and appropriate for outdoor use. You can pick these up in stores like Home Goods. 

 

We placed pine boughs, berries and pine cones into the flower boxes in front of our shop. We'll leave those there until it get's warm. They hold up very well here in New York.

What's your tip for outdoor holiday decorating at the last minute?

Mimi

How To Make Vintage Inspired Holiday Decor

Vintage Style Window Display 

I didn't realize that birds were so in this year for Christmas until I stopped by Jamaili. It's a floral and event supply store in the flower district here in New York City.

Nearly every ornament in there was a bird. Glittered birds to be exact. There were small birds. Large birds, bird lights, I think, and even bird garland.

So I guess the Christmas tree here at the shop is quite on trend. I don't particularly care for that term, but sometimes it's best to just go with the lingo.

Vintage Swan Planter

I bought this vintage swan planter from a local thrift shop for $5.99. It was chipped, but I think it adds to its charm. I filled it with pine boughs and holiday ornaments. 

Swan in Fly Me To The Moon Florists  Window

If you read this blog regularly, this isn't the first or last time you''ll see this swan.

You can achieve a similar look with an urn or a different type of planter. 

  

Christmas Tree at  Fly Me To The Moon Florists

 

Red Birds in Golden Nests

I found these red birds, cardinals I think,at a local discount store.They were 2 for a dollar.

My lovely sister, Susan, was kind enough to make these golden nests from strips of paper. Aren't they beautiful? She applied glue to the strips of paper and formed them into the shape of nests. Then let them dry completely. She spray painted them gold and they were done.

I bought the golden french horn from an outlet store in the neighborhood. 

 

Holiday Arrangement in Vintage Style Cone 

Vintage Style Cone

I made this cone. Well actually, I covered a plastic cemetery vase with brown kraft paper. Then embellished it with a  tea-stained colored piece of cardstockI made into a medallion.  I glued the red and gold medallions on top of the other one. I believe there was a button or a tiny glittered circle on top of that, but it appears to have disappeared. 

I then filled the cone half way with water. Inserted selected holiday greens, red foliage and filler and that thick beige stuff that used to be green amaranthus. I really love the way it turned out.

The cone arrangement is attached to the top of an 8ft. rusty iron obelisk- shaped shelving unit I found on the street. It weighs a ton.

It  stands  proudly in the nook right outside of Fly Me To The Moon Florists. We don't have to worry about anyone taking it though, because they can't move it either. 

Golden Pumpkin with Glittered Pine and Pine Cone 

Golden Pumpkin

I confess. This pumpkin was left over from Halloween. A simple coat of gold spray paint and embellishments turned it into this beauty. My business partner's triplet sons think it's just weird. You decide.

 

Christmas Tree at Fly Me To The Moon Florists 

 

Christmas Tree

It's not easy taking a picture of a shop window without getting a reflection. We just got a DSLR camera which my business partner promises will change everything. We'll see. 

Here's what's on the tree:

• Red birds in and out of nests
• Dollar store ornaments I embellished with medallions, vintage buttons, etc. which I couldn't get decent pictures of.
• Enormous gold french horns with red cord. Of course they're too big, but I like a bit of whimsy in my displays.
• Glittered gold and red pine cones
• Non-blinking  clear lights

 

Holiday Window Fly Me To The Moon Florists

There are a few other holiday vignettes around the shop, but the lighting didn't allow me to get presentable pictures of them. 

Hope you enjoyed our holidiay window display.  

What would you have added to this vintage inspired window display? 

Mimi

 

 

Linking to:

No Minimalist Here

Common Ground

Primp

My Romantic Home

The Charm of Home

2805

Stuff and Nonsense

At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

Chic On A Shoestring

Start Your Day With Flowers

 

Here's a bedroom that clearly illustrates what a little bit of flowers can do for a room.

Cailan, of the blog, Everyday Lovely, created this beautiful bedroom. The colors are magnificent together. But without the flowers it loses a little something.

Put your thumb over the vase of flowers and you'll see what I mean.

I often make little flower arrangements out of broken flowers and place them around the shop. Customers come in from time to time and buy them.

Why? Because they know just a little bit of flowers can change their day.

Try putting a bright bunch of flowers near your bed and just watch what happens! 

How do you feel when you walk into a room and see flowers?

Mimi

Image:   Everyday Lovely

Happy Birthday Fly Me To The Moon Florists

Image:   Fly Me To The Moon Florists

 

Please Join Us In Celebrating The 4th Anniversary Of

Fly Me To The Moon Florists

Established November 30, 2007

 

We're honored to create flower arrangements for you!

Mimi

Real Tales From Fly Me To The Moon Florists 7

Tale #7:  Happy Anniversary Times Two

 

Image:  Fly Me To The Moon Florists

 

One bright Monday morning, a customer came by and said how much he liked seeing our flowers in the lobby of his building each day.  

He went on to say that he was celebrating his first anniversary and would like to buy his wife a flower arrangement. After we discussed the details, he arranged to pick up the flowers as soon as we opened the next day.

About 15 minutes later, a woman came by and announced that she loved our flowers and would like to place an order for delivery the next day.

She said she didn't want them to be too feminine-looking, because they were for her husband.  She said he loved our flowers so much that she wanted to get him an arrangement to celebrate their first anniversary.

 

Image:  Fly Me To The Moon Florists

I looked down intently at the order form willing myself not to smile. Trying hard not to indicate that her husband had just been there to order flowers for her.

As I asked for her name, I tried not to go ahead and fill in the address before she told me where she lived.

I created 2 different arrangements to celebrate the marriage of these incredibly lovely people. Wishing I was a fly on the wall when the second flower arrangement was delivered.

Fly Me to The Moon: A Unique Florist

Mimi

Top 5 November Floral Arrangements

1)  Image:   Fly Me To The Moon Florists

 

2)  Image:   Planet Flowers

 

3)  Image:   Jen Huang - Poppies & Posies

 

4)  Image:   Quatre Coeur

 

 

 5)  Image:   Rosenow

 

I know. I should have done the deep reds, oranges and other fall colors. But, I chose not to for two reasons:

1) Not everyone lives in NYC where we get the four distinct seasons with the obligatory floral colors.

2) I think people should have access to whatever color flowers they want no matter the season.  

Just because my flower wholesalers don't get lilac chrysanthemums all year long, doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to see them now. They're not in any of these pictures, but my heart pines for them anyway.

So which of these floral arrangements would you like delivered to you today regardless of where you live?

Mimi

Only The Freshest Flowers Will Do

Green Flower Arrangement - Fly Me To The Moon Florist

 

I made this flower arrangement 3 weeks ago for one of our weekly flower contracts.

Would you believe, with a few minor substitutions, it is still sitting on display in our flower shop. 

Each week we deliver a fresh arrangement and bring back the old one. Sometimes they still look so good I keep them in the shop for display.

At the crack of dawn every Monday and Wednesday, you can find me in the Chelsea Flower Market in New York City.

The flowers arrive at the New York airports at 2:00 am. I try to get there as soon as the wholesalers take the blooms and foliage out of the boxes.

I take the freshest and most interesting flowers to Fly Me To The Moon Florist where they are handled with tender loving care.

Guess that's why this one lasted so long!

 

How long would you like your fresh flowers to last?

Mimi

 

 

 

 

31 Days of Orange: Day 9 Orange and Purple Flower Arrangement

 

 

 Orange and Purple Flower Arrangement-Fly Me to The Moon Florists

This is one of my favorite arrangements. It's in the window of our boutique flower shop, Fly Me to The Moon Florists.

It was created for one of our corporate clients.  I try to grab a picture of all our flower arrangements before we deliver them.  Not always possible though.

 

Orange Flowers

•  Roses
•  Pincushion
•  Spray roses

Purple flowers

• Aster
• Lisianthus
• Stock

 

I think this is an unusual color combination for flowers.  Which 2 unusual colors would you like to see in a flower arrangement?

Mimi

 

Link to other bloggers in the 31 Day Challenge here at The Nester.