The day was wonderful! The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and the flowers were gorgeous! As another anniversary comes around, one wonders where do the years go? Anniversaries are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate love, and much like the actual wedding day, they’re a great opportunity to help the happy couple do exactly that! Each year is a milestone honouring the love two people have for each other. Whether it’s your own anniversary you’re celebrating or that of your parents, grandparents, siblings, children, cousins or friends – acknowledging this joyous occasion is a time-honoured tradition. Finding the right gift can be much easier for an anniversary than it was for the wedding! Anniversary Flowers — delivered right to the door, can express how much you wish them your very best. A beautiful vase arrangement or a bouquet of colourful cut flowers can be the finishing touch to a day filled with happiness.

Of course all anniversaries are worth celebrating, but some are extra special! So we’ve put together a list to help you remember (or just look like you did!) which flowers represent each of these momentous anniversaries:

The Anniversary Flower idea is a long held tradition. Here is a list of anniversary flowers for some of the years.

For the missing years in between… just use your own imagination!

When you are planning out your planting calendar for your outdoor flower garden, there are several things that you need to keep in mind. Two of the main factors are what type of plant you are planting and what type of climate that you live in, as these will both be very important factors in your planting schedule. Another thing to factor in is the current weather as every year can be different. If you have early spring plants, you may have to hold off on planting them until you are sure that the last frost is gone if it’s a particularly cold year. The best time to start your flower garden varies depending on the type of plant as well.

Annuals

Annual plants are those that need to be planted again every year. These are more delicate plants and you need to make sure that they are planted after the last spring frost, otherwise there is a very good chance that they will freeze with the next cold snap. There are a couple of exceptions which include violas and pansies. These are sold as cold weather annuals and can last through harsher weather conditions.

Bare Root Perennials

Perennials are sold either as bare root plants or container grown. If you have purchased a dormant bare root plant, as soon as you can work the ground, you can plant it. This is when the soil is no longer frozen but not wet and muddy either. Dormant bare root plants need to wake up slowly with the season and this is the perfect way to do this. If you have to store the plant before planting it, you want to keep it in a cool, dark place, but only for a couple of days. Get it in the ground as soon as possible and keep it out of warm areas or else the root may start to grow before you have a chance to transplant.

Container Grown Perennial Plants

If the container grown perennial has been grown outdoors, you can transplant it as soon as you purchase it, assuming that the ground is workable. Those which have been grown in a greenhouse, however, need time to adapt to the outdoor conditions. These can be hardened by setting the pot out in the sun each morning and keeping it in a more protected area during the remainder of the day and night. Make sure that it also has protection from the wind and the frost if it has leafed out. Keep it watered enough so that the soil is as moist as a wrung out sponge. After leaving it in these conditions for a week, you can transplant the flowers into your garden.

If you are in doubt about when to plant flowers outdoors, talk to your local nursery. Workers there will know all about proper planting times or will have the means to find out. The tags that come with most flowers will also give you a good idea of when they should be placed in the ground.

Window boxes can add some much needed gardening space to small homes or perk up a window in any size house. They give the apartment dweller with no deck a place to garden and give the illusion of bringing the outdoors inside. Choosing what type of flowers to plant in your window box really depends on where your box is located and the type of blooms that you want. Take a look at where your window box is, or where you would like it to be and note how much sun it gets. This will help you determine which flowers to plant.

Size Matters

When you are plant shopping for your window box, you want to look for any type of plant that does not grow very tall so that you don’t obstruct the view from the window. Decide if you want to place new flowers in the box with each season or have leaves that look good all year round and choose your foliage accordingly. Try and stay away from plants that need a large root base because in a window box, these types can become easily root bound and either take over other plants or die.

Building Depth

When you are planting your box, try and build some depth in it by planting vine type plants such as ivy that spill out of the box and hang down. Behind these types of foliage, plant the lowest type plants and build your way up to the taller plants in the back. This will create a look that is 3 dimensional and give it a more professional feel.

The Best Flower Options

Some of the more popular types of blooms for window boxes include marigolds, petunias, pansies, geraniums and begonias. These are very seasonal however, and need to be replaced in the winter with greenery such as green hydrangea and bittersweet to keep the planters looking fresh and alive. Other popular plants include herbs, basil, chives, mint and thyme are all good ones which can be planted in a kitchen window box for a quick and flavorful addition to any meal.

Essentially, you want seedlings that will stay fairly small, so as not to outgrow the space. It’s also important to look for an abundance of color and long lasting blooms so you will have plenty of bright petals to enjoy throughout the season. Some blossoms come and go so quickly that it’s not even worth having them in your window.

For the lowest maintenance look while still enjoying a beautiful window, mix and match your choices. Pick some plants that have beautiful foliage that stands on its own and add in some long lasting flowers like marigolds or forget-me-nots for a splash of color. This will let you have a pretty planter even when the blooming season is over.

Window boxes offer a simple way to get into gardening no matter where you live and can add a homey touch to an otherwise dull room simply by including some beautiful flowers, and are a great gift for birthdays or Mothers Day.

The loss of someone you love is not just measured by a blood or marriage relationship you shared. It is also measured by the closeness of a relationship, which then includes
in-laws, friends and yes, even pets. How we grieve for these relationships is very personal. The experts say there is a process, notably denial, numbness, anger, depression and finally acceptance. However, the time it takes for each of us to reach and work through these steps is totally at our own pace – sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. It is not for anyone else to comment on how or when we should move from one to the other or whether the time has come to “get over it” or “move on with your life”.

As a society, we are shifting from days upon days of mourning, to holding a celebration of life – such a lovely tribute to a person who has touched our lives. We fill our homes with flowers, always good for the soul, and turn to others for comfort. We talk about this person (or pet), reliving their impact on the world around them, and eventually the sadness gives way to memories that can make us smile. In fact, the very same memories that are just too painful to think about when the loss is new, are the same ones that help keep our loved ones alive in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Other people acknowledge our loss with sympathy cards and sympathy flowers – again helping us through our difficult time.

There really aren’t many rules concerning what is appropriate and what isn’t anymore. Three days of visiting at a funeral home is often replaced with a memorial service lasting an hour. We rarely wear only black. Often we lean toward a colour we know was a favourite of our loved one. Flowers being sent to a funeral are not always done in pastel colours or certain styles. A popular choice is to send a beautiful, bright coloured arrangement in a vase. These are suitable for the family to take home, give to others attending the funeral or passing on to a hospital. This practice appeals to those who don’t like the idea of a floral tribute being left at the graveside when it can bring so much happiness into another person’s day.

So the basic rule practiced today is to make sure whatever you choose, is a fitting tribute to the life you are honouring, and always, always include flowers as a part of that tribute. Like a touching eulogy, beautiful flowers put the finishing touch on saying “Good-Bye”.

Many women have hesitated to send their special guy flowers on special occasions.. According to many behavioral studies, not only do men enjoy receiving flowers as a gift, but they also show an increase in social interaction and appear to be generally happier. This also had been proven in studies done years before on women who received flowers. In fact, it is said that over 60% of men surveyed by the Society of American Florists said that they would very much like to receive flowers for Valentine’s Day. So with this part of the mystery solved, how do we know what the best flowers are to send to a man?

Because it is not yet a common practice to send flowers to men, there are no steadfast rules. However, there are a few proven preferences. For example, men seem to prefer more vibrant colored flowers as opposed to the softer shades of pink or yellow. They like reds, blues, purples and oranges. Stick to vibrant colors and steer away from pastels, unless you know them to be a favorite.

Tropical flowers are also popular with the gents. They seem to find the angular lines of exotic and tropical flowers appealing. Adding a bit of greenery may make the arrangement of flowers appear to be more masculine. If the guy receiving the gift is good with plants in general, consideration may want to be given to something that is potted as opposed to cut flowers.

You will want to consider the role this man plays in your life as well as the occasion for which you are sending the flowers. If you want to be romantic or convey that message, roses are popular. To make it more masculine, trying an unusual color may help. An example would be blue roses. Be careful when sending roses because the color does mean something and if your guy is up on such things (or has a female friend that is) you may create a disaster by sending the wrong color/message.

When it comes to the color of roses, they usually mean the following:

- Red stands for romance
- Yellow symbolize friendship
- Peach are to convey sincerity or gratitude
- Orange means desire
- Pink is to symbolize happiness or a secret love /crush
- White stands for purity
- Blue means unattainable or impossible

Other than roses, there are still a host of wonderful flowers out there that can do the job. Chrysanthemums, carnations, irises, lilies are all popular with the guys and come in a host of bright colors. With all of this being said, if you are still nervous about how your guy will react to getting flowers it can be toned down by adding something to the mix such as incorporating one of his hobbies into the bouquet. For example, if your guy likes fish, arrange a single flower or small bunch of flowers fastened to a new fishing rod with a bow. Try to be creative because after all, there are no rules here other than he has to be pleased with his gift.

It is also suggested that if you are unsure of what to send, you can contact a reputable florist who will have a good grasp on not only what flowers to use in the bouquet, but also how to dress them up. They will know how to help you send the perfect bouquet to the man in your life. Be brave because after all, men love to receive gift just like the girls do and for the same reasons. Most importantly, sending flowers shows that you are thinking about them!

Many people have a favourite flower, but do they know what that flower symbolizes? Most flowers that are commonly given as gifts in bouquets or used in floral arrangements have some type of meaning or another. There are certainly situations or occasions where only certain types of flowers are appropriate - such as red roses on Valentine’s Day. There are also less-known albeit just as significant meanings for flowers that you may not even have known existed. Next time you have the opportunity to give or send flowers, consider choosing blossoms that will communicate a message merely because of their breed.

Below is a guide to the meanings and symbolism assigned to common flowers that you may or may not be familiar with. This is a fun and exciting way to learn about different flowers and stray from the everyday bouquet.

Acacia - Friendship, Hidden love, Purity in love
Alstroemeria - Wealth, Success, Fortune
Amaryllis - Dignity
Ambrosia - I love you too
Arbutus - I only love you
Aster - Afterthought
Astilbe - I will wait patiently
Azalea - Love, Romance, First love
Bells of Ireland - Good luck
Begonia - Be careful
Bluebell - Humility
Cactus - Endurance
Caladium - Joy and Delight
Calla - Magnificent Beauty
Camelia (in general) - Perfection
Camelia (Pink) - Longing for you
Camelia (Red) - You’re a flame in my heart
Camelia (White) - You’re adorable
Carnation (in general) - Fascination, Female love
Carnation (Solid Color) - Yes
Carnation (Pink) - I’ll never forget you
Carnation (Purple) - Fickle
Carnation (Red) - My heart aches for you, I admire you
Carnation (Striped) - Sorry I can’t be with you, No, Refusal
Carnation (White) - Purity, Sweet and lovely, Chaste love
Carnation (Yellow) - Rejection, You have disappointed me
Chrysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness, You’re a great friend, Rest
Chrysanthemum (Red) - I Love You
Chrysanthemum (White) - Truth
Chrysanthemum (Yellow) - Snubbed love
Cosmos - Modest
Crocus - Youthful Gladness, Cheerfulness
Daffodil - You’re my only one, Unrequited love
Dahlia - Volatility
Daisy - Innocence, Loyal love, Purity
Dogwood - Love Overcoming Adversity
Fern - Fascination, Sincerity, Confidence, Shelter
Fern (Maiden Hair) - Secret Love
Flax - Domestic Love
Forget-Me-Not - True love, Memories
Forsythia - Innocence, Anticipation
Freesia - Innocence
Gardenia - Secret love
Geranium - Stupidity, Folly, Silliness
Gladiolus - Strength of character, Really sincere
Gloxinia - Love at first sight
Hydrangea - Thank-you for understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
Iris - Emblem of France, Wisdom and Valor, My compliments Your friendship means so much to me
Ivy - Fidelity, Wedded Love, Friendship, Affection
Ivy (Sprig of white tendrils) - Affection
Jonquil (daffodil) - Sympathy, Love me, Affection Returned, Desire
Larkspur - Levity
Lavender - Devotion
Lilac - Humility
Lily of the Valley - Sweetness, Humility, Return to happiness
Magnolia - Love of nature, Nobility
Marigold - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
Monkshood - Chivalry, Beware, A deadly foe is near
Myrtle - Home, Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage
Narcissus - Egotism, Formality, Stay as sweet as you are
Nasturtium - Patriotism, Conquest, Victory in battle
Orange Blossom - Purity, Innocence, Eternal love, Marriage, Fuitfulness
Oleander - Caution
Orchid - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children
Pansy - Thoughts
Peony - Bashfulness
Petunia - Resentment, Anger
Phlox - Our Souls Are One
Queen Anne’s Lace - Haven
Rose (Bridal) - Happy Love
Rose (Dark Crimson) - Mourning
Rose (Red) - Love, Respect, I love you
Rose (White) - Innocence, Secrecy, Purity
Rose (Pink) - Grace, Perfect Happiness
Rose (Lavender) - Enchantment
Rose (Peach) - Desire
Rose (Snapdragon) - Deception, Gracious Lady
Spider Flower - Elope with Me
Tulip - Perfect lover, Fame
Water lily - Purity of heart
Weeping Willow - Mourning
Yarrow - Healing
Zinnia - Remembering Absent Friends

The next time an occasion or situation calls for flowers, review the list above and consider whether a specific type of flower will be meaningful in conveying a message.

As Mother’s Day quickly approaches, it’s time to start thinking about sending that special lady in your life a lovely bouquet of fresh flowers to show her how much you care. It’s never too early to start thinking about how to do this affordably, where to order them from and what type of flowers to get. Fortunately for you, there are many options when it comes to ordering a floral arrangement that will make her feel special on this momentous day.

What type of flowers should I get?

As a matter of tradition, Mothers Day flowers are generally carnations and roses, however sweet and simple flowers like mums and daisies are also nice choices when it comes to sending a thoughtful floral arrangement to make her feel special. When it comes to flowers, you may want to consider the color of the flowers and how that will be meaningful to the recipient. For example, for your wife, it would be perfectly ok to order her a bouquet of red roses, possibly mixed with some purple or yellow carnations. But this may be overly romantic for your own Mother, who would probably respond best to a bouquet of yellow or baby pink roses mixed with some lovely cream or yellow carnations. It’s best to consult with a florist to see what options are available for different recipients, but if in doubt you can always go with lighter colors for a parent and darker more romantic colors for a love partner.

How shall I order the flowers?

In this day and age, there are so many options available for you to order fresh flower bouquets, but you will want to think about how you want them to be delivered in order to make the best decision. If you prefer to deliver them in person, you may want to order a special floral arrangement from your local florist. It’s important to order ahead of time, a minimum of two weeks in advance of the day you plan to pick the flowers up so that they can be ready in time.

The flowers will be fresh, beautiful and your Mother will enjoy them even more since you will be stopping by to visit her in addition to bringing her flowers. If you are sending flowers to a Mother who lives too far away to visit in person, then you may want to go with a reputable online flower and gift ordering site. The benefit with this is that you can order months in advance for all those special occasions, often with discounts included and then not have to worry about it. Your Mother will receive a beautiful high quality bouquet on that special day and you will be a hero.

When is the best time to order flowers for Mother’s Day?

Since Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May, you will want to order in plenty of time so that your special lady receives them on that day. The same rule applies if you are ordering the flowers locally or by calling a national flower service or ordering them online. The best rule of thumb is to order your floral gifts a minimum of two weeks ahead of time. So in the case of Mother’s Day, you will want to order your flowers by the third week of April in order to guarantee that your Mother or Wife will have these flowers to enjoy on Mother’s Day.

Preparing for Mother’s Day is not as stressful as you may think. Being prepared for every special occasion is made easy by the many local and online services that are available nowadays. If you are still unsure of what to get someone for Mother’s Day, it’s always a good idea to consult with a florist for more information about the flowers, ordering process and other gift options.

It’s quite customary in nearly every culture, to place flowers at a gravesite during the funeral. At the actual service, it’s not uncommon for a large number of people to bring flower arrangements and the family may also have a funerary wreath or arrangement created to remember their loved one. The question remains, however, when to actually remove these flowers.

Cemetery Rules

It’s important to follow the rules of the cemetery first of all. If they don’t allow flowers to remain after the funeral, then it’s a good idea to know this ahead of time. You can ask people to refrain from bringing floral arrangements and make sure that you remove the funerary wreath when you leave.

Some cemeteries have rules as to how many flowers can be placed on a grave or whether or not they have to be on the name plate. Check with your graveyard before making any decisions about flowers to find out what the rules are so you can pass them on to others.

Cut Flower Removal

For cut flowers, a week after the funeral is a good time to start removing them. At this point, the flowers will be fading and dying. Many cemeteries will have a staff that automatically removes dying flowers, but in some cases, you may want to do this yourself. Many people will show up after the funeral to bring flowers, so these might not be in bad shape yet. However, unless you want to be continuously returning to dispose of the blooms that have died, then it’s better to remove them at the one week point. If you aren`t up to the task or don’t want to return to the grave at this point, then have someone else go in your place, or find out if the cemetery will get rid of any dead and dying flowers.

In the case of excessive funeral arrangements, you can remove any extras immediately after the funeral, once people have gone. This is fairly common when the number of floral arrangements have spilled off the gravesite and onto the lawn. Since most cemeteries don’t allow this, you’ll need to get rid of any extra flower arrangements. Simply rearrange the ones on the grave so that the best or most sentimental blooms are still there and then take the rest away.

It’s acceptable to remove large showy arrangements from the grave immediately after the wedding, particularly if the flowers are not in a vase. Keeping them fresh for as long as possible by placing flowers in vases will ensure they still look decent a week later when you return to remove them.

Artificial Flower Removal

Many people opt for fake or silk flowers since they will last longer, but these aren’t going to stand up to years of weather unscathed. These artificial flowers are often not allowed in more modern cemeteries, so be sure you check the regulations beforehand.

While artificial flowers certainly help keep a grave cheerful for longer, these, too, need to be removed after a time. This type of flower can be left longer, but as soon as it shows signs of becoming dirty or bedraggled, usually a couple of months after the funeral, it’s time to retire the flowers.

It’s best to clear away any old flowers on a regular basis after the funeral, to keep the grave neat and tidy. Adding fresh new flowers to the gravesite from time to time will ensure that your deceased loved one is remembered and the removal of any old or dying flowers is simply a respectful thing to do.

Your big day is over. Everything went wonderfully. You looked beautiful, your groom was handsome, the flowers looked and smelled great, and the food was as tasty as you imagined it would be. You just have one little problem. What should you do with all of those once-gorgeous flowers? Rather than throw them in the trash, consider these options to help you “give back” a little from your wedding day.

Use Centerpieces as Gifts

One way to honor those who helped make your wedding a special day is to give them a bouquet, perhaps a centerpiece, as a gift. Everyone loves fresh flowers, and with the right care those flowers will stay beautiful for a week or two after your wedding. The people that helped make your special day such a success can relive the beauty of your wedding every time they look at your beautiful flowers.

Before you gift flowers, however, make sure they are a gift that can be enjoyed. A massive centerpiece may not be appreciated by someone living in a small apartment. Also, some of your guests may have allergies that will be irritated by a gift of flowers. However, many of your helpers will be able to enjoy your wedding flowers, making them an ideal gift.

Preserve Your Bouquet

You can have your wedding bouquet freeze dried to preserve it after your wedding day. Be sure you have this professionally done, as it takes special equipment to remove all of the moisture from your bouquet and preserve its shape and beauty. Once it is preserved, you can have it mounted to display in your new home. As long as you do not touch the bouquet, it should stay beautiful for several years. Imagine being able to show your children your wedding bouquet one day!

Having your wedding bouquet preserved is kind of expensive. If you have spent your entire budget on your wedding, you could request this as a gift from one of your parents or a close friend. When they ask you what they could give you to help you start off your married life, you could explain that you would like to preserve your bouquet. You also could use some of your monetary gifts to pay for this memory.

Start a Compost Heap

Composting is probably not on your mind on your wedding day, but if you intend to have a garden in your new home, your wedding flowers are the perfect way to start your compost heap. You can designate someone to collect the flowers after the party and take them to your home where the compost area is set up.

Keep in mind that a wedding bouquet or centerpiece is not entirely organic. There are wires, ribbon, Styrofoam, and other items in the bouquet. You will need to have someone remove these items and throw the flowers and leaves into the compost heap.

Once the flowers are in the compost heap, they can remain untouched until you return from your honeymoon. Then, you can add your kitchen waste and gardening waste to the compost heap as you begin your new life together. Soon you will have healthy compost that you can add to the soil of your next garden. Whether you want to grow food or plant flowers, compost, created with your wedding flowers, will help the plants grow big and stay healthy.

These options are much better than simply tossing the flowers in the trash. You paid a good amount for your wedding flowers. By gifting them, preserving them, or using them as compost, you can get even more benefit from the investment. Not only that, but you are also keeping more stuff out of the landfills, helping you to protect the environment as you clean up from your wedding.

It can be difficult to think about what your responsibilities are when you are in the midst of a crisis, but chances are you`ll still want to respond appropriately to things like sympathy flowers and letters. When someone has taken the time to select something beautiful to send along and let you know that they`re sorry for what you`re going through, it`s always nice to acknowledge this.

Displaying Sympathy Flowers

One very nice way to make sure people know that their gift is appreciated is to display the flowers. You can do this in your home, a hospital room or even on a gravesite, depending on the situation. When the person who sent the arrangement visits, they will be pleased to see that you are using the flowers.

Keeping sympathy arrangements on display isn`t required, however, so don`t feel obligated. If you are receiving too many bouquets to keep around, you might want to simply replace them every couple of days, or ask friends and family to take some with them.

Sending Notes

To properly acknowledge the reception of sympathy flowers, etiquette requires a note. There`s no need to get wordy, it`s quite acceptable to keep the thank you short and sweet. You can use the same note for everyone who sends flowers, so there`s no need to come up with something special for each person. People will understand that you aren`t up to writing a full letter at this point.

Thank you notes can be written on nice paper or a simple card. Thank you cards are readily available in any stationary store, all you need to do is add a short note and send it off. This can be particularly helpful for anyone who doesn`t have much time on their hands.

While the note doesn`t have to be long or detailed, be sure to address the person you are speaking to. If printing off notes on the computer, it`s only polite to sign your name afterwards, to make it a little more personal.

If you are feeling quite overwhelmed and aren`t sure where to start sending notes, then you might consider doing it by group. For example, you might send one note to the church, where several people have sent flowers. This note can be publically displayed.

Keeping Track of Sympathy Flowers

To ensure that you don`t miss anyone; keep a manila envelope on hand. Each time a flower arrangement arrives, take the card or tag with the sender`s name and tuck it into the envelope. When you are ready to send out thank you cards, you can simply sort through the notes and get it all done at once.

It also helps to keep track of any addresses, so when applicable, keep the sympathy card in the envelope it came in so you won`t have to search for addresses to go with each name at a later date. It`s a good idea to assign someone close to you to look up any mailing addresses that you don`t have on hand. This frees you up to worry about more important things and relieves some of the stress. You can also ask friends to help you fill out the envelopes.

Sympathy, funeral flowers, unlike sympathy cards or notes, do indicate the need to send out a thank you. It doesn`t have to be anything complicated, though. You shouldn`t have to stress over the response to sympathy at this point, when you have so many other things to focus on. So, keep it short and sweet, just a couple of lines in a thank you card, and people will know that you appreciated their thoughtfulness.