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.

Did you know that people have been dressing up for Halloween for around 2,000 years? Historians think that the ancient Celts, who founded many of the Halloween traditions we still practice today, would dress in costume on the night of Oct. 31 to disguise themselves from spirits of the dead roaming around. These days, most of us probably aren’t worried about encountering unfriendly ghosts on Halloween night, but picking the perfect costume is still of utmost importance.

Kids’ Costumes

For kids, Halloween costumes go hand-in-hand with trick-or-treating. Since boys and girls will probably be walking around in their costumes all night, parents should keep safety in mind when helping them pick one out. Adorable superheroes and fairy princess should make sure that their capes and dresses aren’t dragging along the ground. Any fancy footwear should also fit well and not pose any tripping hazards. In addition, masks can block visibility, so makeup might be a safer alternative.

This year, the National Retail Federation predicts that the five most popular kids’ Halloween costumes will be princess, witch, Spider Man, pirate and pumpkin. Other classic characters such as cowboys, rock stars, athletes and animals are also cute choices.

Adult Costumes

Dressing up isn’t just for kids, however. More than 50 million American adults donned Halloween costumes in 2008. When selecting a costume, older partygoers should first consider where they’ll be wearing it. Halloween shindigs in a family or work atmosphere call for more all-ages outfits like famers and friendly witches. But if you’re heading to an adults-only fiesta, the sky’s the limit.

If you’re interested in a unique Halloween getup, you might want to stay away from the most popular adult costumes. For 2009, those are witches, vampires, clowns, pirates and wenches. Can’t think of anything interesting to be? Maybe a personality from a favorite movie, television show or band could be fun to dress up as. Or, perhaps political figures, famous couples or supernatural creatures (zombies, ghosts, etc.) are more up your alley.

Once you’ve come up with the right Halloween costume idea, think of ways to personalize it. Wigs, makeup, fake teeth and prosthetics can all transform a generic dress up outfit into a one-of-a-kind costume. Just don’t get spooked about being creative and get into the true spirit of Halloween!

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!

Popsicles, yum!

Summertime’s here–hooray! That means BBQs, swimming pools, sand castles and sweet treats to cool you down! Did you know you can save money at the grocery store–or the ice cream truck–by making your own popsicles? Not only are they cheap treats, but they’re fun to make with the whole family.

Perform a quick internet search for ‘popsicle molds’ and you’ll find a slew of options. Choose from the tried and true Rocket Shape form as well as more modern options. Once you have your popsicle molds, you’re ready to start making your sweet treats! You can use fresh or concentrated juice, fresh fruit or yogurt. I usually stick with the old-school lemonade or OJ version, but you can whip up all kinds of creative combos: peaches and cream, triple berry, strawberry banana….you get the picture!

Check out this site for more details and recipes to make your own sweet treats!

Or, if you’re too busy to make your own popsicles, try this quick tip for your next get-together:

Simply throw fruit chunks and/or fresh mint leaves along with a splash of water into regular (or fun-shaped) ice cube trays. The elegant and tasty ice cubes will surely ‘fancy up’ a regular old glass of sparkling water!

Sunday June 21st is right around the corner—do you have anything special planned yet for Dad? We’ve searched the web for some delicious recipe ideas and unique gift ideas guaranteed to ensure a wonderful Father’s Day!

RECIPES:

Dad’s Special Breakfast

Surprise Dad with a delicious breakfast in bed. Grilled Steak and Eggs is a hearty meal that satisfies and is sure to start his day off with a smile. If Dad has a morning sweet tooth then whip up this easy Fluffy French Toast recipe.

Picnic in the Park

Grab Dad for a sunshine-filled picnic in the park and be sure to give him a Father’s Day to remember. Pick up some pre-made sandwiches and salads from the grocery store; for a special touch bake up some sweet treats ahead of time to bring along like these Peanut Blossom Cookies.

Backyard BBQ

Give Dad a break from the usual BBQ duties. Try out this quick and easy Beer Can Grilled Chicken recipe and you can bet you’ll get two thumbs up.

GIFTS:

Fired up

Bring back warm memories with this adorable Fire Engine Basket. Complete with bell, ladders and wheels that roll, this is one fire truck that’s sure to deliver four-alarm smiles.

Gone Fishing

If your dad would always rather be fishing then check out these cool fishing-themed gift ideas. Perfect for the outdoorsman they will give him a reason to get out there and catch the big fish.

Going Green

Bring a little of the outdoors in with this Garden in a Glass. It’s perfect for his home or office desk. A unique gift for a unique father.

Made with Love

Grab the kids and make Dad something with love. This cool tool caddy craft is made from an old coffee can. Or make a set of cute family magnets to always remind Dad of those closest to him.

Home Run

Does your Dad love baseball? Send a cool Home Run Basket he’s sure to love. Include some tickets to a weekend baseball game for a real treat!

Happy Father’s Day!

Father's Day Bouquet

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