Of course, we had many weddings this year, too. C'ause someone asked if I were busy with weddings. I took some pictures before and after setting them, but I forgot to put them on the web. I did a lot with cameras and website, but at the point of loading photos, I am slow. Why? No reasons. Always a good excuse is - I strive to make the better arrangement, rather than taking a better photo from them.

Unforgettable wedding -

one summer wedding at Kanapaha Botanical Garden

He brought her daughter's wedding to our florist last summer, and it was one of the most beautiful wedding. Wedding Ceremony at a beautiful garden, and the reception at the art museum surrounded paintings - it can be true at Botanical garden wedding.

Each guest table has Modern Cube arrangement of blue/white/green hydrangeas with white roses, and some tall arrangments. I just want to keep these here before too late. We had a strong showers of summer rain in the afternoon. That cleans air and land just like a shower of blessings for everyone. Now I still have to make some arrangements for tomorrow, so can't continue. Hope to put more photos of recent weddings soon. *-*

Gainesville Wedding & More

Weddings for one of our royal customer - Mom brought antique bronze vases for reception tables, and it worked well with hydrangea, cream roses, and some white dendro orchids. After the ceremony at church, they had reception at hotel grand hall in Gainesville.

I am still collecting the photos of weddings. This photo is going to be one of them. I arranged a few more flower arrangement centerpieces for this wedding, but I can't put all here. I am just too busy with everyday jobs, I couldn't have enough time to make albums yet.

Cakes and flower centerpeices for birthday - She liked tulips and pink roses.

Wedding Flowers - Calla Lily Wedding Ideas

If you really love Call Lilies for your wedding!

Calla lilies are one of the most popular wedding flowers these days. In our store, many new brides are coming in just to ask how the calla lilies can be arranged in modern contemporary style. Young brides want a simple, but elegant design of wedding centerpieces for their reception. I had several weddings with calla lilies last year, and I collected some pictures of calla lilies centerpieces and bouquets. Calla Lilies are expensive, but with some other wedding centerpieces components such as candles, rocks, and petals, 2 or 3 stems might be enough for one table.
In this centerpiece, you need 3 purple calla lilies, 4" square vase, white dendrobium orchid petals(3 stems), 2 or 3 candles(can be floating). The next arrangement is using 5 stems of calla lilies in a tall square vase.
This centerpiece is even more simpler. It can be used for not only weddings, but any party tables. A fun fact when you are working with calla lilies is that you can bend the calla lilies and make a wreath. In 2007 at one wedding, I used 3 long stem calla lilies and made it just like flower wreath. I add one ruscus stem around it, and then used this calla lily wreath as a candle holder. So in the center of each calla lily wreath, we put 10" hurricane with candle. Also, I spread white rose petals around it. It was so beautiful, and they liked it.
In this centerpiece, you need a round vase, 2 white calla lilies, and some pretty rocks/beads. Isn't that simple, but elegant? Want to be more creative and unique?
1. Put your color of ribbon around the vase.
2. Use a long round or square vase with the same design. Or combine two design of tall vase arrangements and small vase arrangements.
3. Or your two different colors of calla lilies. White(mostly ivory) and Orange, white and yellow, or mixed.

This arrangement uses some natural stones with a willow branch to look more sophisticated. The orange/Coral color is one of favorite colors of Gainesville Wedding.

You can replace calla lilies with tulips in the same design pattern, if you are a tulip lover.
Before going for a wedding shopping, you have to find out your style, what flowers you like, and what flowers makes you smile and be in a happy mode. Wedding is your special day, and each wedding is unique even though we use the same design for every wedding, just because you will make the difference by yourself. So take some time to think about your style and write a note about that. Just be comfindent on what you are dreaming of your wedding, then ask a florist how it can be done and where to start.

Today we started with calla lily wedding flowers. Tight and Compact, Simple and Elegant - these concepts work for you, then the flower arrangements with calla lilies shown above would a good job to brighten your wedding day. I am going to put more wedding ideas with calla lilies and some other flowers soon. So check it back, or you contact us.

For more information, just come and see us. Wedding consultation is free of charge, and you are always welcomed. We are located at Haile Plantation Publix Market Square, 2725 SW 91st ST, Suite 150, Gainesville, FL32608. http://www.gainesvilleflower.com/ 352-333-0551

Sunflower Arrangement & Vincent Van Gogh

Breif Understanding of Vincent Van Gogh - Sunflowers (1888) & Sunflower Arrangement by Hannah

There are pieces of artwork drifting through galleries around the world that have become nearly synonymous with the artists name and techniques. The various paintings of Sunflowers and Vincent van Gogh are a perfect example of this. Not only can one make a mental connection between the artists name and painting but also between the artist and their influence on the development of art through these paintings. Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower paintings have been duplicated many times by various artists (although never reaching the vivacity and intensity of Van Gogh's) and displayed everywhere; from households to art expos.
Upon looking at these paintings one begins to notice aspects that seem to flow from one piece to another. The colors are vibrant and express emotions typically associated with the life of sunflowers: bright yellows of the full bloom to arid browns of wilting and death; all of the stages woven through these polar opposites are presented. Perhaps this very technique is what draws one into the painting; the fulfillment of seeing all angles of the spectrum of life and in turn reaching a deeper understanding of how all living things are tied together.

Sunflowers by Gogh - I was wondering who arranged the flowers for Gogh. I guess it wouldn't matter much. Because the point is depending on how you see it, not how it looks like. (However, I thought the flower arrangement would be better if I had a large sunflower.)

I hope my customer would be very happy with the flower arrangement I made. Even they are not the best piece in the world, they could get positive thinking and make a smily face at the moment they receive it, influenced by the warn thoughts from the sender with the efforts made by the flower workers such as flower growers, delivery man and the florists including me.

One more day before weekend. Hue~~~ Another nice day is nearly gone. *^*

Simple Fall Flower Arrangement with Gerbera Daisy by Hannah

Fall Flower Arrangement by Hannah, Gainesville Flower

Very simple seasonal flower arrangement for this fall - If you like simple line of floral design, learn this technique. When I start saying, 'simple', always my student asked me back, 'Is this simple?'. However, Once you do any style of arrangement three times, then you get see how the arrangement can be done better. Then you can try to change the color, flowers to create your own arrangement. So for the beginner, there is no such an easy thing-never. But it mean that it is easier to follow than other sophisticated arrangement.

Materials: 5 gerbe daisy, 2 yellow daisy, 3 mini carnation(orange or bi-color), 2 button mum(crysanthemum), and the brown color(or orange color) vase.

Tips for Arrangement:
In this arrangement, the main idea is to arrange the Gerbera Daisy in Cross + at 5 points), and fill the Yellow Daisy between Gerbera Daisies. And fill with the button mum and carnations to give different textual looking.

Challenge:
1. If you don't have(like) button mum or carnations, you can use baby's breath or wax flower or even hydrangea as filler. But the main design of this arrangement is circular, and I used all small round flowers to contrast with Large face of Gerbera Daisy.

2. Try with Yellow or Orange color Gerbera Daisy. Use your city color. For Gators, I would use Orange Gerbera Daisy and blue delphinium as filler. Another theme of 'Go Gator' Arrangement.

So for this fall, do not just pick up the flowers at supermarket and put the whole thing in the vase. Try to arrange it in your own way. Why not? Not to show up, But for your own Mental Health and Creativity. Take your inside out in a simple way.

Very bright, beautiful day, Saturday 10/13/2007 at the Gainesville Flower Shop

Flowers in a champagne glass for UF Gator

Flowers in a champagne glass

Mom called to order this flower arrangement for her daughter at UF. She asked me, "Do you have a champagne glass?". I didn't have one, but she ordered in advance, so I had enough time to get it. I still have a few left. Her daughter was admitted to University of Florida, being "GATOR" - Yeah!!!.

Materials: 3 pink roses, 2 white roses, 2 purple/white orchids, 2 iris, eucalyptus stems and bear grasses

Tips for arrangement:

I used pink floral form at the top of the glass and the stems are inserted into the form. You can't use too many stems for this type of glass vase, just use the minimum number of stems. Then you have to be careful when you insert each stem through the form. Because you don't want to make a lot of holes in the floral form by re-inserting them repeatedly.

So let me tell you the tips!!! Just clear the unnecessary leaf or greens from the flowers. Then before arraging the flowers into the form, hold the flowers in the left hand(for right-handed person) just as arranged in the vase. So you have to get an idea how it is going to look. Obviously, you are now looking at the picture here, and you can do it much easier. Howver, still, you had better try to hold the flowers on hand in an arranged format before trying to insert them into the floral form.

Once you get the line and style of the arrangement, then start to get each stem inserted. 2.5-3 cm of the stem would be enough to keep the shape for flowers used here. So the below the form, you don't really see any stems.

Challenges:

At the bottom of the glass, you can add some pretty marbles or stones. or you can put some floral sands, too. For a special Cocktail party or celebration, try this arrangement in your table.

This arrangement was done January 2007 for one of Lady Gators. Of course by hannah ^-^

Floral Arrangement Tips

Floral Arrangements Tips 1

Floral Arrangement Question 1.
What is the best way to take care of a flower arrangements?

It depends on how they are packaged:

If you receive flowers in a container with floral foam, be certain the container is full of water every day. The water should be treated with the floral food provided by your florist.

Using your finger, feel under the greens for a place where water can be added. Or you can pour water slowly into the center of the arrangement, keeping a finger in the container to gauge the water level.

If you receive flowers in a vase, check to be sure the water is always clear.
If the water turns cloudy, empty it and add fresh water mixed with the floral food provided by your florist. If possible, re-cut the stems with a sharp knife before placing them in the fresh water.

If you receive flowers in a box or tissue, remove all of the foliage that falls below the water line, then cut the stems with a sharp knife in a sink full of warm water. Be sure to cut the stems under the water and place them immediately into a vase of warm water mixed with the floral food provided by your florist.

No matter what type of arrangement you have, it is important to keep your flowers off of televisions, appliances and heating/cooling units.

You should also keep them away from hot or cold drafts and out of direct sunlight.


Floral Arrangement Question 2.
What is wrong with the water in a vase when it turns yellow and cloudy?

This is a natural sign that bacteria are growing in the water. Bacteria can clog stems and shorten the vase life of flowers, so keep the water clear at all times to ensure the longevity of your blooms.

If your water starts to turn cloudy,
- immediately empty the vase and add fresh water, preferably mixed with the floral food
provided by your florist.
- Re-cut the stems with a sharp knife under warm water before placing them in the
vase of fresh water.


Floral Arrangement Question 3.
Since flowers like sunshine, should I put my arrangement in the sun when I get it?
-------------No.
Growing flowers require sunshine for maturation, but cut flowers will fade much faster if exposed to heat and direct sunlight.

To keep flowers fresh longer, place them in a location away from sun and drafts.


Floral Arrangement Question 4.
Is it possible to revive a wilted rose?

- Sometimes. If a rose wilts prematurely, remove it from the arrangement and try the following easy tip to perk it up.

- Fill a sink with warm water.

- Lay the rose horizontally in the water bath and cut the stem (about 1") with a sharp knife under the warm water.

- Leave the rose in the bath for about two hours and let the water cool.

This process can work wonders, but if the rose is already past its vase life it will not revive.

from SAF