As the winter chill sets in, and colorful leaves of fall and give way to bare tree branches, it casts a more somber tone on the landscape. But just because the vivid oranges, golds and reds fade away outdoors, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice color inside. In fact, the late fall and winter are perfect opportunities to get creative with seasonal décor.

For instance, rather than just relying on cold weather plants and blooms to liven up a room, why not add an extra point of interest with complementary fruits? Of course, pumpkins and gourds are the go-to option for early fall and Halloween, but don’t limit yourself to them. The chilly months offer a variety of vibrant options, including pears, cranberries, and pomegranates. Even a large bowl filled with a lively selection of fruits, intermingled with dried leaves or flowers, can have an attractive effect.

If you aren’t sure where to start, these ideas might offer some help:

• Kumquats: Don’t overlook the potential of these lovely, palm-sized citruses. Better Homes and Gardens suggests creating your own seasonal kumquat topiary using flower foam as the foundation. Simply the cut the foam to the desired shape and attach kumquats around the base with picks, topping it off with coordinating rose blooms.

• Cranberries: For a clever way to add an extra splash of color to a flower arrangement, fill the vase partially full with cranberries. Be sure to add enough of the tart fruits in the vase to prevent them from floating around in the water, and the stems will also nest securely in the bed of berries. To replicate this effect in a gift, send someone a seasonal flower arrangement filled with cranberries.

• Pears: Bring out the glitter and gold for the winter, and try your hand at gilding pears. Highlight the fruit’s delicate shape with easy-to-use gold, silver or copper leaf paper. Most craft stores sell gilding kits that should include everything you need. USA Pears recommends silver leaf on Gold Anjou pears and copper on Red Anjou.

• Pomegranates: These symbols of good luck also dry beautifully for long-lasting décor accents. According to eHow, the first step is selecting fresh, healthy pomegranates that are smooth and firm. Then, all you have to do is space them out on a wire rack and allow to air dry for at least three weeks. Take care to turn them every couple of days as well to preserve their shape. Once dried, integrate them into floral centerpieces, wreaths and garlands or display them on their own.

• Apples: The wonderful part about decorating with apples is their sheer variety. Bright green Granny Smiths, blushing Galas and sunny Golden Delicious are just a few of the options you can choose from. Martha Stewart suggests coring out apples, placing votive candles inside the spaces and floating them in water to cast a warm glow on an autumnal meal. Or showcase a harvest-themed centerpiece made up of chrysanthemums, roses, carnations and eucalyptus, interspersed with glossy apples.

As you start thinking about how to liven up your home for winter, consider bringing the fruit out of the kitchen and into dazzling displays. They can provide cheerful notes on the fireplace mantle, coffee table, dining room centerpiece or any entranceway. Just find a fruit you like and have fun with it.

When it comes to hanging on to the beauty of fresh flowers, you have several options. You can dry or press your flowers; both of these methods yield gorgeous results. Another way to preserve your flowers is to wax them. Wax flowers are beautiful and lend themselves to all sorts of crafts, decorations and projects. It is actually an easy process–read on for details!

What You’ll Need:
Double boiler
Fresh Flowers
Scissors
Spoon
Toothpick
Tweezers
Tray lined with parchment paper
Paraffin wax
Thermometer
Floral foam
Rubber bands
Small cup (optional)
Display dome (optional)
Candle pillar (optional)

1. Use fresh flowers that are completely opened. Flowers with firm petals are best—delicate petals disintegrate. Good choices include roses and lilies.

2. Melt a pound of paraffin wax in a double boiler. Keep in Mind: Never melt paraffin directly over a flame!

3. Temperature is key here. Heat wax to 130 to 150 degrees. Maintain the ideal temperature throughout process with a thermometer. Wax will not coat flowers effectively at a low temperature and a higher temperature will scorch them.

4. Cut all flower stems to at least 2 to 3 inches.

5. Take your fresh flowers, holding each flower by the stem end and dip the flower head completely into wax. When waxing them, you will want to use a slight angle instead of straight on, and be sure not to touch the sides of the double boiler. Immediately lift out, allowing excess wax to drip into pot. If you’re waxing a flower with many petals you might want to spoon wax into flower middle to fully cover. When waxing small blooms you can insert a toothpick into the center and dip into wax, or use tweezers.

6. Cool the flowers by placing each blossom’s stem in floral foam or on its side on a parchment-paper-lined tray. It will cool and harden completely in 5 minutes. Be sure to handle the flowers carefully!

7. Now it’s time to finish the process by waxing the stems. When the blooms have hardened, wax their stems by holding the bloom this time and dipping the stem in wax.

8. You have endless options when it comes to displaying these waxed flowers. You can showcase them on their own, make cards with them, display them in a centerpiece, use them when wrapping a gift, arrange around a candle…the sky is the limit! One way you can showcase them is to display them in a simple, small cup and put them under a glass display dome or bell jar. Just snip your flowers to a few different lengths and secure with a rubber band. Fill the small cup with floral foam and—using care—arrange the flowers in the cup. You can add decorations like ornaments if you wish.

Enjoy, and stop back by for more tips about how to showcase the beauty of flowers!

Set aside as a day for employees to show gratitude and appreciation to their boss, Boss’s day is celebrated on Friday, October 16th this year. Employees can take this opportunity to present their boss with a token of appreciation, but there are a few gift giving ideas to keep in mind when choosing a gift for this occasion.

If you choose to give a gift to your boss for Boss’s day, it is important to remember that you should stay away from anything overly personal or anything that could be perceived to have romantic overtones. For example, you don’t want to present your boss with an arrangement of roses or a piece of jewelry, unless you really want to spark some water-cooler gossip! Instead, try to choose more practical or sensible gifts, such as an orchid plant or a dish garden for their desk.

You may also want to ask around the office to check if your co-workers are planning on giving a gift to the boss – if you turn out to be the only person thinking of giving a gift, you may want to re-think the idea of giving a gift. If you are the only employee in the office giving a gift on Boss’s day, your intentions may come across as a bit self-serving; perhaps choose to write a quick thank you note to your boss instead – the gesture is sure to still be appreciated!

Should you find that your co-workers were planning on giving a gift but hadn’t yet decided what to give, suggest that everyone contributes to buy a gift together as a group. With the money collected, you can choose a gift basket such as one filled with their favorite fruits, or a gourmet basket that has a little bit of everything, and your boss is sure to enjoy!

Choosing a gift that has a bit more personal flair is also sure to be a hit, so if you know your boss loves chocolates, sports, or just loves the aromatic scent of stargazer lilies, sending a gift that incorporates their favorite things is a sure way to show your gratitude for all your boss does for you throughout the year!

Congratulations are in order! I am proud to announce that FromYouFlowers.com has made the Inc. 5000 list!

How exciting to be an honoree! The Inc. 5000 list is Inc.’s annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America!

Check out our write-up over at the Inc. website.

The methodology for making the list:

” The Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, they have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2008 (a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired since that date). Revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million. ”

FromYouFlowers.com is committed to providing the freshest flowers at great prices, most available for same-day delivery. Our commitment to quality, coupled with top notch customer service, has made an impression on our customers–and recipients!

Thanks to all of our customers for supporting us!

White Phalaenopsis Orchid

So, you’ve been the lucky recipient of an orchid plant–congratulations!

Once the gorgeous blooms start dying off, perhaps that feeling of joy has turned to one of panic. Questions pop into your head…along with the premonition that you surely cannot keep this thing alive.

What now? When the flowers die is the plant dead? Do I put it outside or inside? How often do I water it? Should I just throw it away since the flowers fell off?

Stop panicking…believe it or not, orchids aren’t as high maintenance as their reputation makes them out to be! That said, they definitely aren’t as low maintenance as that cactus on your desk! But, just follow a few general tips and you can enjoy your orchid plant for months, maybe years, to come. There’s a reason why ‘orchid people’ are an infatuated bunch of folks–they can’t resist the unique beauty of the breathtaking plants!

Read on for basic info–applicable to most orchid species–along with great orchid resources for detailed info.

Take it From the Top

Congrats–someone must really care for you to send you such a gorgeous plant! So, take good care of it!

-When you receive your new orchid, feel the ’soil’ (orchids use a different potting mix than other plants and do not survive in plain old dirt/soil) to see if it is very dry. If it is, water it–lightly!–over a sink.

-Orchids need light! Don’t stick it in a dark corner, but don’t put it in direct light either. Filtered, indirect sunlight–like on a nice window sill–is best.

-Enjoy the show! Appreciate the flowers while your plant is still in bloom. Different species keep their blooms for different amounts of time. If your plant is blooming for quite some time, make sure to water it–lightly!–once every 7 days and to make sure it is getting enough light.

-Figure out what kind of orchid you’re dealing with. There are many different species, which require different care. Some of the most popular are Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Oncidium. Posted below are three popular species; see the resources section at the very bottom of this post for a more detailed list in order to identify what kind of orchid you’ve got and how to care for it.

Dendrobium:

Oncidium:

Oncidium Orchid

Phalaenopsis:

Lavender Phalaenopsis Orchid

What Now?!?

So you’ve enjoyed your orchid in all its blooming splendor…now what? Well, it’s time to repot!

-Your orchid most likely came in a small, decorative flowerpot with minimal drainage. You must repot it so it has a bigger home to flourish in.

-Clay pots, shallow but wide are the best. If you cannot find a special orchid pot with holes for good drainage online or at a local nursery, then head to the Home Depot and grab a shallow terracotta ‘azalea pot’.

-Orchids cannot survive in potting soil. They require a special mix. This is a great one; if you cannot find orchid mix at your local nursery/home improvement store, then look for fir bark at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

-Fill the pot about 1/3 of the way with the orchid mix.

-Carefully remove your orchid from the decorative pot it arrived in–taking care not to damage the plant or roots. You may have to use a screwdriver or knife–just be sure to clean it with alcohol first–to gently pry it out.

-Fill the rest of the pot with orchid mix.

-Water lightly and place it back in its favorite spot with plenty of light. Don’t water for another 6 days or so.

-Keep an eye on it and make sure not to over-water it! Water your plants over a sink and never let it sit in water. Always water in the morning!

-Fertilize with orchid fertilizer once a month. Make sure the fertilizer you buy is specially made for orchids.

Bad Signs

Once you’ve repotted your orchid, you need to keep an eye on it to look for signs of sickness or distress.

-Your orchid leaves should be a medium green color. Very dark green leaves mean your orchid may not be receiving enough light; lighter green leaves means it is getting too much light. Adjust accordingly!

-If your orchid starts to get blotchy or damaged looking leaves, hold off on watering. It may be getting “root rot” from over-watering it. If the leaves and new growth turn black, then it is definitely getting root rot.

-If you see signs of distress, then seek help! Check out the orchid resources listed below for more in-depth help.

Orchid Help: Care, Identification and Shopping

Orchid Care Tips: Beautiful Orchids

Orchid Identification: My Orchid Care

Orchid Care for Specific Species: Aloha Orchids

Send Orchids: FromYouFlowers.com

Buying Unique Orchids for Yourself: Aloha Orchids & Angel Street Orchids

Happy Growing!

Someone you care about has a birthday coming up. Are you planning on waiting till the last minute and sending a gift card again? Don’t do it! Send thoughtful birthday flowers or gifts instead–read on for personalized flower and gift ideas for that birthday girl or boy in your life.

Family and Friends

Mom

What Mom doesn’t like to get flowers? Below are some personalized ideas for your Mom, tailored to her style!

The How Sweet It Is flower bouquet is a good choice–and safe bet–for your Mom, regardless of her personal style.

A unique flower trend is “flower cakes” like this Wishes Come True bouquet.

Best (Girl)friends Forever

What better way to make your B.F.F.’s day then sending her a beautiful flower arrangement? The Fashionista Flower Bouquet is absolutely for your best fashionista girlfriend.

Or, send a gorgeous orchid!

Sister, Aunt or Cousin

A cheerful and pretty flower bouquet like the Polka Dots and Posies bouquet will certainly bring a smile to her face!

Romantic Birthday Flowers

Express your love, passion and devotion with these flower arrangements perfect for making her birthday one to remember.

Fragrant and gorgeous lilies mingle with classic roses in this gorgeous and romantic Celebrations bouquet

This Rambling Rose Bouquet is a unique and romantic spin on classic roses and sure to convey your love and affection.

Or, satisfy her sweet tooth with a delicious chocolate gift basket like the Grand Ghirardelli Chocolate Basket.

Husband, Dad, Brother, Uncle, Boyfriend

Guys love flowers and gift baskets too! This Home Run bouquet will definitely hit the ball out of the park!

Or, a great idea is to send a great plant for his home or office like this Areca Palm–a lasting way to spruce up any home or office.

Say Happy Birthday this year with style–send birthday flowers or gift baskets and make their special day even happier!

Summer love is in the air! That means it’s time to get outside and enjoy these summer days and nights, and what better way to enjoy the season then with your summertime love? Read on for some great date ideas for your summer love!

1. Picnic at the Beach

What’s more romantic than a sunset picnic with your sweetheart? If you live near a beach or lake head on down with a picnic basket or cooler, a blanket or chairs and a bottle of wine. Enjoy some food and drinks, great conversation, and a beautiful sunset…and maybe even some fireworks!

Food ideas: Apples and cheese, sandwiches, chips and hummus, sliced watermelon
Drink ideas: Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, lemonade, iced tea

Don’t forget the wine opener!

2. Bike Ride for Ice Cream

Enjoy some fresh air by riding your bicycles to the nearest ice cream stand or restaurant for some sweet treats. Added bonus: Work off the calories on the ride back!

ice cream!

3. Movies Under the Stars

If you’ve never been to a drive-in movie theater, then you’re really missing out. A romantic–and affordable!–setting, drive-in movies have been institution in this country for decades. Unfortunately, there are not as many drive-ins as there were back in the 50s and 60s, but if you’re lucky enough to live close by, you’d better hightail it over there this weekend! They offer great fun for all your friends when heading as a group there, hanging out before the show and sitting all together for the feature–however, the real goodness and romantic nostalgia of the drive-in shines through when you take your sweetheart. At most drive-ins you are allowed to bring in your own food and drinks, so if that’s the case, either pack some snacks and drinks or stop off at a restaurant for some good food to go. Bring comfy chairs to enjoy the show in. Holding hands+watching a movie on a big screen under the stars=a beautiful evening.

Don’t live close by to a drive-in? Do some research–many areas offer free movies at local parks in the summertime. If you cannot find any outdoor movies in your area, it’s time to improvise! Grab your laptop with a movie to watch, a blanket, a bottle of wine and your sweetheart and head to a park, the beach, or any favorite outdoor spot.

Drive In Movies

4. Bring Out Your Inner Kid at an Amusement Park

Just because you loved riding roller coasters and eating kettle corn at the amusement park when you were a kid doesn’t mean you’ve grown out of it! Drive to the closest amusement park or keep an eye out for any fairs to head to with your honey. You’re sure to have a day of fun in the sun, no matter how old you are!

Roller Coaster

5. Romantic Dinner Al Fresco

romantic dinner

Why spend all your money on a romantic dinner at a crowded restaurant when you can enjoy the romantic privacy of your own backyard, patio (or if you’re really lucky) right on the beach? Whip up a delicious and easy dinner like this Seafood Spagetti, grab a nice bottle of wine, and get ready for some romance!

For an extra special touch, make a romantic playlist of your favorite songs and set the table with candles and beautiful flowers, like these mixed roses:

Colorful Jubilee

Runner Ups:

1. Outdoor concerts & festivals
2. Botanical gardens
3. Miniature golf
4. Moonlight swim

Get creative with your dates by making the most of the summertime weather and fun–you don’t need a ton of money to share romantic moments with your summer love!

Stay tuned to the In Bloom blog this summer for more Summer Lovin’ romantic ideas.

It’s a magical time of year–fireworks, BBQs, pool parties and fun on the beach. It’s a time for getting together with your friends and family to laugh, eat and celebrate our independence. Read on for some great ideas for entertaining your 4th of July guests.

Crank up the Grill

Two words come to mind for 4th of July: Fireworks and BBQ, and not necessarily in that order! In addition to the summer staples–hamburgers and hot dogs–why not try something new this year? Try this Ultimate Barbecued Chicken and be sure to impress. Molasses and brown sugar set this recipe apart from the rest. For a delicious and unique main dish give this Sweet Cola Ribs Recipe a try. For a quick, easy and nutritious side dish, just slice up some eggplant and zucchini, coat in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and throw it on the grill. Yum!

Entertaining

What’s a 4th of July get-together without all your favorite family and friends? If you’re entertaining this year, try out these creative party ideas. Instead of just serving boring beer to your adult guests give these Fun 4th of July Cocktails a try. And don’t forget the music–make a patriotic themed playlist with songs like ‘Born in the USA’ and ‘Bye Bye American Pie’.

Setting the Scene

Why not have fun with your 4th of July party this year? String up some red, white or blue holiday lights in your backyard for a festive touch. Miniature American flags scattered along backyard paths is a nice touch. For centerpieces, pick a beautiful and festive flower arrangement to set the mood. Surround with boxes of sparklers for an extra fun touch!

American Spirit Flower Bouquet

Happy 4th of July!

Summer flower arrangements

FromYouFlowers.com has a wide assortment of spring and summer flower arrangements guaranteed to set the tone for fun in the sun! Whether you want to show Dad how much you care, send a thank-you gift to the hostess with the mostest, bring a smile to your summer love’s face or add some cheer to your home for a summer BBQ or party, FromYouFlowers.com has you covered!

A Homerun for Dad

Father’s Day is fast approaching—hit a homerun with your gift choice this year with our Big Hit Bouquet! This bright bouquet gives Dad fresh flowers in an oversized baseball mug that he’ll be able enjoy for years!

Cheerful Daisies

Our Delightfully Daisy bouquet is the perfect choice for a hostess thank you gift or a “Just Because” bouquet. Lavender daisies make a bright impression and add warmth and cheer to any home or office.

Sunny Day

Mimic the sunshine with our gorgeous Sunny Smiles flower bouquet! A cheery bouquet of yellow, peach and white blossoms is like a vase full of happiness! This floral gift is an excellent “Get Well” choice, or just the right touch to perk up someone’s spirits.

Wish Come True

Help someone make a summertime wish come true with our Make a Wish Bouquet. A cheerful mix of daisies, carnations and alstroemeria in summery tones of yellow, purple, orange and hot pink, are delivered in a miniature ginger vase adorned with a plaid yellow ribbon. Perfect for any summer love or friend.

Perfect as a Posy

Make someone’s day with this Polka Dots and Posies bouquet! For a treat that can’t be beat, this delightfully cheery bouquet of white daisies and pink roses - presented in a delicately tinted pink glass cube vase, accented with a matching pink polka-dot ribbon - is like a gift of pure joy! It’s an adorable birthday gift as well as a charming arrangement for your summer sweetheart.

Just Like Heaven

Have a summertime anniversary to celebrate? Send our Heavenly Hues bouquet to your sweetie. The enchanting arrangement includes a fragrant mix of blooms in soft blues, light yellows, and white, perfectly accented by a cylindrical vase with a light blue satin finish.

Everything’s Coming up Roses

Make anyone’s day rosy with this charming Stratford Gardens Bouquet! A wonderful centerpiece for any summer day, this bouquet is as lovely as a stroll through the English countryside in the summertime. Pink and peach roses mingle with cool lavender mums, creating the perfect complement to a misty lavender glass vase.

Oh Baby!

Welcoming a new baby into the world this summer? Send our adorable Just Ducky Bouquet, available for a newborn boy or girl, to the new parents and guarantee even more smiles! Displayed in a ceramic duck wearing a sailor hat, this darling bouquet in a yellow and white color scheme includes mums, roses, and carnations. Too cute!

Rare Beauty

Want to let your summertime sweetheart how rare a beauty she is? Send a beautiful orchid. Our striking Dendrobium Orchid plant exudes rare beauty and is a long-lasting reminder of how you feel.

Red, White and Blue All Over

Happy Independence Day! Spruce up a 4th of July BBQ with cheerful Red, White and Blue flower arrangements. Surround one of these bouquets with your hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings and you’re good to go!

Summer Smiles Flower Bouquet

A rose by any other name…

Did you know that June is National Rose Month? If you’re a gardener then check out these ideas about how to celebrate.

Did you know?

• Aphrodite gave the rose its name according to Greek mythology.

• The rose is native to the United States. The oldest fossilized imprint of the rose was left on a slate, Colorado. It was estimated to be over 35 million years old! Perhaps due to these facts it makes sense that it is the official floral emblem of the U.S.; President Ronald Reagan signed legislation back in 1987 that made the rose the United State’s National Floral Emblem.

• The rose is the state flower of Georgia, Iowa, New York, North Dakota, and the District of Columbia.

• The world’s oldest living rose is thought to be 1,000 years old! Today it still thrives on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral of Germany.

Roses are red, violets are blue

Roses have always been (and will always be) the traditional flower of love and romance. But did you know that every color and type has a different meaning?

• Red roses are the traditional symbol of love, romance and deep passion.

• Pink roses impart a softer, gentler message of love. They are used to express admiration and affection.

• Yellow roses evoke the sun. They symbolize friendship and loyalty.

• White roses embody innocence and are most often associated with weddings.

• Orange roses symbolize passion, fire and exciting energy.

• Lavender roses enchant; they most often symbolize enchantment, fascination and love at first site.

• Long stemmed roses convey deeper feelings then the traditional variety. For instance, sending a dozen long stemmed red roses implies your love runs very deep.

Want to send a strong message about how you feel? Send roses just because you love her—don’t wait for Valentine’s Day or her birthday! One dozen beautiful roses coupled with a romantic chocolate fondue will make for an absolutely amazing evening she won’t soon forget!

Beautiful Rose Bouquets