First Come Flowers

4 Reasons to Send Your Valentine's Day Flowers Now

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Do you have a good plan for getting flowers to your beloved?

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Before you know it, it will be February 14. I'd like to suggest that you take the pressure off and buy them now.

 

4 Reasons to Send Your Valentine's Day Flowers Now:

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1. Valentine's Day is on Saturday this year. Get real. You know you don't feel like getting up early on your day off if you don't have to. Ordering your flowers and having them delivered takes all that stress off the table.

 

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2. A new cell or Ipad is nice, but where's the romance in that. Surprise your mate with flowers during the week, then follow up with the unexpected tech gift on Valentine's Day.

 

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3. It's really nice to get flowers from your loved one at your workplace. I still have the card from the flowers my husband surprised me with umpteen years ago. Reading it still gives me a thrill. Make Valentine's Day memorable this year. Do it like they do in the movies, but remember to sign your name on the card. Most women don't like getting flowers anonymously.

 

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4. It's winter people. I know everybody doesn't live in a cold climate, but for those of us who do, who knows when the next storm is coming? Order and send your Valentine's Day flowers early and cross it off your list.

 

If you're looking for affordable, unique and sophisticated flower arrangements to be delivered in Yonkers or in the surrounding Westchester County, New York area, we'd love to help. Just visit our website  or call us at (914) 476-2200.

 Mimi

 

All Images - Fly Me To The Moon Florists

How to Make Simple Mini Thanksgiving Flower Arrangements

Thanksgiving Flower Arrangement Options

It's nearly Thanksgiving. You've probably already decided what you're going to cook and who's gonna bring what. But have you thought about a centerpiece for the table? 

 

 Image: BHG 

A gravy boat and some jellied cranberry sauce on a pretty dish do not a centerpiece make. 

 

Image:  BHG

But, if you're not really crafty, what can you do?

 

  

Image: Fly Me to The Moon

You Can Get A Traditional Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement 

Autumnal-hued roses, mango calla lilies, dripping with bronze chyrsanthemums, red pears, foliage of many kinds and other stuff you can't even name. Sometimes, there are even candles embedded in them.

I know, because I make them. If you'd like one, you can order it here.

But, maybe this year you'd like to try something different. Perhaps you want a simpler, more relaxed Thanksgiving.  Enter the simple mini Thanksgiving flower arrangement.

 

Image:   via Flower Picture Gallery

Centerpieces that involve nothing more than cutting small clusters of flowers and putting them into a glass or small vase. Of course, you do have to get some flowers though.

 

  

You can put one of these mini Thanksgiving centerpieces at each place setting. You can place them here and there along a table. Or you can cluster them in a group on a cake stand or pretty tray. 

 

Image:   Sandra P Photography
 

 Here's how to get the look:

• Get a few small stem glasses or vases. They don't have to match or be the same size. I'd use all the same color though for continuity. The shape doesn't matter, but the stemware must be deep enough to hold flower stems. You may not want to use your finest for this. Buy mismatched ones from your local thrift shop.
• Buy a bunch or several bunches of flowers depending upon how many arrangements you plan to make. Sunflowers are way too big and heavy for these arrangements. Small flowers, roses, pom poms, berries, carnations are good choices. Consider the colors you're using on the tables as a jumping off point for your flowers.

 

Image:   NewlyWoodwards

 

• Or make mini arrangements of all one kind of flower or all one kind per vase. You decide what you like best.
• Condition your flowers. Learn how here.
• Cut the flowers apart and create little bouquets of flowers. Trust your own judgement about what looks good.  
• You may want to take the flowers and separate them into piles first. If you are making 5 arrangements then make 5 piles with a rose, then add a carnation to each pile, then the next flower... That way you 'll be sure to have enough flowers for all your mini arrangements.
• You can do this the day before you need them. 
• These arrangements are great for other places in your home like the bathroom, bedroom or office.

 

Image:   Martha Stewart

The mini flower arrangements above were made in small glass candle holders and then wrapped in corn husks.

If you'd like to elevate your mini Thanksgiving flower arrangements and don't have a cake stand. Learn how to make one here. 

I often make these kinds of mini flower arrangements at  In fact.  I made 60 of them for a farm-to-table event last week here in downtown Yonkers. 

Customers buy them as birthday gifts for co-workers. You can make these yourself and give them as gifts too.

So it's time to get started on this project. If you're still feeling like you can't pull this off alone, invite a crafty friend or relative over to help the night before. 

And please, let me know how they turn out. 

Mimi

 

Linking to:

French Country Cottage

At The Picket Fence

No Minimalist Here

Coffee & Conversations

Home Is Where My Story Begins

Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Common Ground

My Romantic Home

 

 

 

 

Who Can You Encourage With A Gift Of Flowers?

 

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"A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses."

                                                                   Chinese Proverb

 

I was inspired to write this post when an 80-year-old woman walked into our shop and said she was buying herself flowers, because no one in her entire life had ever given her any. Sad, isn't it?

Who Needs Flowers?

No one really. Or do they? According to several studies, fresh flowers actually have a positive effect on ones's emotions. You can read about the findings of these studies here. 

There are those who are well-loved and always remembered. We go out of our way to help them and do what we can to make them feel special.

But, there are others, who rarely get encouraged by others. No matter how good, thoughtful or in need they may be, they're forgotten.

 You can make a big impact on the life of someone you know today with a simple, inexpensive bunch of flowers. That simple gesture says, "I was thinking of you. You matter."

Who can you give flowers to?

1)  The person that's always there for you no matter what you're going through.

2)  The patient on the other bed at the hospital who never seems to have visitors.

3)  The woman that cares for your children or your parents while you work.

4)  That friend or co-worker who's going through a difficult time or always seems depressed.

5)  The person who went out of their way to make the seemingly impossible happen for you.

6)  Someone in your life who accomplished a major or minor goal whom you'd like to continue to inspire.

7)  Your mom, or the one that's been like a mom to you, just because.

8)  The child you want to encourage.

9)  The older neighbor that seems to be alone in the world.

10) The person trying to make it through the anniversary of someone near and dear who died.

That's my list of people you can encourage with a gift of flowers. Who's on your list?

Mimi

 

 

5 Paper Flower Headpieces You'll Love

 I love paper flowers. So I thought I'd share some beautiful paper flower headpieces I came across while online. I could have called them hats, but somehow that word just doesn't do these stunning creations justice.

 

5 Paper Flower Headpieces

 

Hayley Sheldon 

 1. I really love the attention to detail and embellishments on this one. The colors are great too, don't you think?

 

 Eloise Corr Danch 

2. I wonder how people come up with such fabulous designs? This ones's a beauty, but I don't think you could get on the subway with it.

 

Katsuya Kamo 

3. Just like when you create floral designs with fresh flowers, the details really show up when you use a single color.

 

 Brittany Watson 

4. This one really says spring or should I say fall? The color combo is lovely and bright.

 

 Honey Bee Events 

5. In my floral design, I tend to use bold colors, but truth be told, I really love these muted shades. The slight variations in color make this one very sophisticated I think.

 

If you'd like to make some paper flowers here are some reources:

How to Make Beautiful Paper Flowers  

5 DIY Paper Flower Links To Your Favorite Spring Blooms

More Paper Flower Tutorials 

7 Links For Making Paper Flowers While You're Relaxing 

How To Make 5 Kinds Of Paper Flowers

 

If I had to choose, I think I'd have to say #1 is my favorite. Your turn, which paper flower headpiece do you like best?

 

Mimi

 

Have You Seen These Crazy Flowers Yet?

 "Happy Alien" -  Calceolaria Uniflora 

 

Butterfly Voyages

 

"Flying Duck Orchid" - Caleana Major

Michael Prideaux

 

If you'd like to see more of these unusual flowers, you'll want to check out "17 Flowers That Look Like Something Else" over at the blog, boredpanda.

 

Your turn, what do you think of these unusual flowers?

Mimi

 

Sunflowers: 6 Reasons Why I Don't Hate Sunflowers Anymore

I used to hate sunflowers. When we opened Fly Me To The Moon I wouldn't even buy them for the shop. But, then customers began asking for them so I had to start carrying them.

 

 Floret Farm

 

Here's what I hated about sunflowers:

1) They were over-sized, looked cartoonish and weighed a ton  a lot.

2) The contrast between the dark brown center and the bright yellow petals was too strong.

3) They were usually poorly arranged with flowers they had no business being with.

4) There was just nothing elegant about them. 

 

 Rck Barich

 But, then when I opened an Instagram account for the shop, I began to see sunflowers in a whole new light. All those artisitic shots of sunflowers gave me a diferent perspective.

 

Design Sponge

 

 So here's why I like sunflowers now:

 1) Sunflowers are inexpensive. You can get a bunch of them without breaking the bank.

2) Sunflowers last quite a long time. They last well over a week if you give them basic care.

3) You don't need a lot of sunflowers to make a statement. A single sunflower in a vase makes a powerful statement. The more, the merrier.

4) They look great when casually arranged by themselves. No need to get fancy. Just cut them and place them in a vase. And whatever you do, please don't add baby's breath.

5) Sunflowers come in several different varieties

 

 Doug Kalal - The Teddy Bear Sunflower

 

 Gravy Lessons - Velvet Queen or Chocolate Sunflower

 

 

 Fly Me To The Moon

 

Ovando

6) When the yellow petals start falling off, pull off the rest of them and you have a sunflower with a whole new look.

 

Sunflower Resources

Flower Glossary: Sunflower - Design Sponge

How to Make A Sunflower Arrangement - Martha Stewart 

 

If you never liked sunflowers, I hope this post will encourage you to give them a second chance.

Mimi

 

Dahlias Dahling

Fly Me To The Moon

 It was a dahlia sort of a Monday morning in the New York City flower district today. 

 

Fly Me To The Moon 

 There were lovely dahlias everywhere you looked.

 

Fly Me To The Moon

Not sure if these are cafe au lait dahlias or blush, but I do know they're gorgeous.

 

Fly Me To The Moon

Even the plain white dahlias were stunning.

 

Fly Me To The Moon

I bought these dahlias for the shop. There were so many to choose from, but these will go well with the lovely deep purple roses, chrysanthemums and carnations we have on hand. 

So if you're like me, and still grieving over peonies, consider the lovely dahlia which comes in many varieties.

 

Dahlia Resources

Dahlia Arrangements

Dahlias: Care and Handling

Visiting A Dahlia Garden

 

Mimi

 

 

7 Tips for Choosing Mismatched Bridesmaid Bouquets

Can't decide which bridesmaid bouquet to choose?

Why not have your bridesmaids carry different bouquets?

 

Bridal Bouquet

 

If you're a creative type and are looking to distinguish your wedding from others, you may want to consider having your bridesmaids carry different bouquets.

 

Zumaphoto

Most brides opt to have matching bouquets and dresses in the same colors. But when it comes to your wedding, you get to do things your way.

 

Will it cost more to have your bridesmaids carry different bouquets?

It might. If your budget is tight, having to buy lots of different flowers that may not be used elsewhere in your wedding can add up. But, if you choose nice inexpensive flowers in the right colors it might work.

Photo: Shane Welch

Most of my brides at Fly Me To The Moon Florists want a pretty uniform look among their bridesmaids. They may wear different dresses or shoes of the same color or tone. Their hair can be up or down. But almost always, the bridesmaids bouquets must match. But they don't have to.

 

 

 Mark and Jennifer Garber

 

 7 Tips For Choosing Mismatched Bridesmaid Bouquets

Marianne Taylor Photography

1. Use bouquets of different flowers in a single color. I like this, because a single color unifies the look. Monochromatic bouquets are always beautiful especially if you use a lot of interesting textures. Not all flowers come in all colors though. So do your research before you select your color.

 

Niki Rossi

2. Try matching the shoes and bouquets.  This works, because all of the women are wearing the same color. I absolutely love this whimsical idea. Even though a variety of flower colors are used, the matching shoes make it unique, but classic. If you look at this photo in 20 years, you won't be saying to yourself, "What the heck were they thinking?"

 

Anna K. Photography

3. Use different color bouquets and dresses. In my opinion, this look is a bit harder to pull off, but not impossible. Though each bouquet needs to complement each dress, all the different dresses and bouquets need to go together.You want everything to look intentional and cohesive. Not like a big hodge podge of color, unless of course, that's the look you were going for.

 

 

 LeAnna Theresa Photography

 4. Keep the color palette simple. Use one, two, but no more than 3 colors in the flowers and dresses. Using different shades of one or two colors can look quite sopisticated.

 

 

Tac Petaja

 5. Keep bouquets small to medium in size. This will prevent any of the colors from being too overwhelming.

 

 Captured Photography by Jenny

 

6. Select dresses in the same color, but in different styles. 

 7. Use only a few types of flowers and arrange them in different ways.

 

I love when brides get creative. My job is to keep it elegant and within the budget. I guess that's what makes floral design so interesting!

 

You can see bridal bouquets:

10 Pink Bridal Bouquets

10 Green Bridal Bouquets

10 Purple Bridal Bouquets

10 Burgundy Bridal Bouquets

 

To see even more wedding bouquets check out my pinterest boards here.

 

Would you use a mix of bouquets for a wedding?

Mimi 

 

 

Why Do Fresh Flowers Have To Last Forever?

 

 

Colorful Peonies - Fly Me To The Moon Florists

On my way to the shop this morning, I came across a bunch of old flowers sticking out of a garbage bag. AndI thought, "Why do fresh flowers have to last forever?"

Where in the world did we get that expectation? That in order for real flowers to be of any value they should never die. Why?

When magnolia trees burst into pale pink blossoms as if by magic near the edge of winter, we might wish they'd last longer. But then, what would be our sign that spring was on the way?

When you have a great meal, see a rainbow after a storm, or for me, hear Claire de Lune, I thoroughly enjoy it for as long as it lasts, then it's over. But that's okay, because I can play that tune again and again and again if I want.

If you're patient, you'll see another breathtaking sunset. Or return to that restaurant and have that same meal. But, if you had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, I wonder if it would retain that magic. Stop being quite as special as it once was.

That's how I wish we'd all feel about flowers. A thing to be enjoyed in the moment, for however long that moment lasts.

So now it's your turn, how do you feel about fresh flowers?

 Mimi

 

Behind the Scenes: Visit to Jamali Floral and Garden Supplies

Special events lighting - FMTTMF

Jamali Floral and Garden Supplies, a store in the New York City flower district, sells just about everything you need for a special event. Think Platinum Weddings.

I visited the store one rainy day and thought I'd share my trip with you. My pictures don't show every single category of the items they sell, so please don't blame me if I miss something.

 

Faux foliage and flowers - FMTTMF

They carry a selection of faux foliage and flowers. I guess these would come in handy if you were making a display you needed to last for a long time. Otherwise, fresh flowers and foliage would probably be cheaper. They have nice boxwood foliage in little pots. Perfect for a desk or lined up down the center of a table as a deconstructed centerpiece.

 

Sparkle for special events - FMTTMF

If it's sparkle you want, you've come to the right place. They've got sparkle galore. Chandeliers, candelabras, vases, bowls, votive holders, hanging spheres, etc. They also have amazing lights to enhance centerpieces and other displays.

 

Decorative lanterns - FMTTMF

If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen these gorgeous lanterns.  I love the intricate detail on them. You can place a candle inside or if you're feeling adventurous, a small plant or floral arrangement.

 

Modern metallic vases - FMTTMF

Jamali carries a nice selection of vases from the very small to the rather large. You''ll find vases of all kinds made from different types of materials. Think glass, wood, metal, acrylic, ceramic or resin. They also sell the French metal buckets we use at the shop. You can see more of their vases here.

 

Natural elements - FMTTMF

If you need baskets, shells, drift wood, rocks, stones, feathers or other natural items, Jamali has them. Glass beads and other decorative objects to place at the bottom of a vase can be found there as well.

 

Pink long-tailed birds - FMTTMF

Big Bird's somewhat daintier and pink cousins are waitng for you to stop by. These bad boys are pretty big. Jamaili is always on top of the latest trends. If it's on the runways or in the design magazines, it's at Jamali

Gold and silver vessels - FMTTMF 

If you're having an over the top special event, here's where you'll find all your fancy vessels. They come in gold, silver, copper, bronze, shiny or matte finishes. Just add flowers, and water of course.

 

Colorful candle holders - FMTTMF

Here are just some of the candle holders Jamali has in stock. By the way, if you find something there you really like, you'd better buy it soon, because it will proabably be gone by the time you get back. That goes for most things they sell. People come in and buy in huge quantities. And here's a tip: they may not get any more for a very long time. 

  

Moroccan-style lights - FMTTMF

Jamali doesn't usually carry lamps, but these were so cool I thought I'd let you see them. If you were doing a Moraccan themed party or design for a room these lamps would be perfect. They have lots of products related to a variety of themes.

 

Peacock feather wreath - FMTTMF

Been looking for a peacock feather wreath? They have it. Or at least they did when I took this picture. 

 

Colorful ribbon collection - FMTTMF

I have a little secret for you. Well two actually: 1) I love ribbon 2) If you need googobs of ribbon, try your local flower district stores first. Ribbon at Jamali is kind of expensive, but Central Floral Supply at 40 West 28th Street has great prices on double-sided satin ribbon. Tell Bruce, Mimi sent you. 

 

Floral design supplies - FMTTMF

You can buy fancy colored wires, raffia and all kinds of trendy floral design supplies at Jamali. If you're making floral bouquets for weddings, you can get everything you need here except for the fresh flowers that is. 

 

Hanging Bulb vases - FMTTMF

I found these cute hanging bulb vases here. I know I've seen DIY tutorials on how to make them, but if that's not your thing, relax, they've got you covered.

 

Jamali Storefront - FMTTMF

So if you're looking for inspiration for a special event or need to buy floral design supplies, Jamali is worth a visit. They're located at 149 W. 28th Street in New York City. You can also check out their website.

Where do you find your inspiration when you're decorating for special events?

Mimi