A Touch of Gold

We’ll be honest… We almost forgot Wedding Wednesday this week, but we caught is before the day was over. This week we’re sharing an elegant bridal clutch from a wedding we designed last weekend.

We gathered white hydrangea, white roses and spray roses and fragrant white freesia with green hypericum berries into a simple bridal clutch. We then added a bit of flair by winding delicate gold bullion wire and pearls around its circumference; just the right amount of opulence for a modest wedding.

If you're in the Philadelphia, PA or Burlington, NJ area and would like to meet with one of Stein Your Florist Co.'s expert wedding consultants call us at 800-887-4013.

Bohemian Bridal Arch

Peace, love and hippie wedding bliss. It’s Wedding Wednesday and this week we’re bringing you a groovy bridal arch from a tie-dye themed wedding of two flower children.

We went on site at the beautiful Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, PA to adorn this arch in colorful blooms including sunflowers, blue hydrangea, orange gerbera daisies, solidego and monte casino asters. We further decked the arch with curly willow branches, Spanish and sheet mosses and finished it with whimsical butterflies throughout and stones at the base. Our bohemian couple loved it!

If you're in the Philadelphia, PA or Burlington, NJ area and would like to meet with one of Stein Your Florist Co.'s expert wedding consultants call us at 800-887-4013.

Winter Storm Jonas

If you’re in Philadelphia, PA or the surrounding area like we are, then we’re sure you noticed the abundance of fluffy white stuff falling from the sky this weekend. Welcome to Winter Storm Jonas, the Blizzard of 2016.


Snowy Red Ranunculus during Winter Storm Jonas,
the Blizzard of 2016, by Stein Your Florist Co.

Even we here at Steins, your friendly neighborhood florist that is open 365 days a year has been knocked on our butts a bit by this winter squall. The winds have taken out some of our neon, but we are open through the snowstorm for walk-in service; a handful of our local loyal employees simply refused to keep the doors closed today, no matter the weather.


Winter Storm Jonas, the Blizzard of 2016,
has knocked out some of our neon at Stein Your Florist Co.

We hope everyone is faring well, staying safe and keeping warm. Enjoy a few of our snowy floral pics and if you dare to venture out stop in and say hello!


Snowy Blue Hydrangea during Winter Storm Jonas,
the Blizzard of 2016, by Stein Your Florist Co.

Flowers make the moment… Let us make a moment for you, at SteinYour Florist Co.


Snowy purple daisies during Winter Storm Jonas,
the Blizzard of 2016, by Stein Your Florist Co.



Snow covered trees during Winter Storm Jonas,
the Blizzard of 2016, by Stein Your Florist Co.
 

Hydrangea and Rose Wedding

It’s Wedding Wednesday again already! This week’s bouquets soft and cool hues is beautiful for the springtime or winter bride.

Light blue hydrangea, pale lavender roses, light blue delphinium, and wax flower are gathered together into a beautiful bridal clutch bouquet. The blue thistle adds an extra textural element and the bouquet is finished with a collar of dusty blue seeded and traditional eucalyptus.

If you're in the Philadelphia, PA or Burlington, NJ area and would like to meet with one of Stein Your Florist Co.'s expert wedding consultants call us at 800-887-4013.

Blue Hydrangea on Wedding Wednesday

Happy Wedding Wednesday!! This is starting to become our favorite day of the week...

 

This week's Wedding Wednesday bouquet is simple and dramatic at the same time. The only flower is this bouquet is blue hydrangea, which would certainly covers your something blue.


Dramatic Bridal Bouquet of Blue Hydrangea by Stein Your Florist Co.

Six stems of blue hydrangea are gathered tightly and are surrounded by a nest of silver wires with more delicate silver wires forming a cage over the top of the blooms. The stems are wrapped in a pewter satin with two long streamers of ribbon cascading down the front with long strands of silver wire adorned with dainty metal leaves and clear crystals for drama.

This bouquet isn't for every bride, but if it's for you we promise that it won't be one that your guests will soon forget!

If you're in the Philadelphia, PA or Burlington, NJ area and would like to meet with one of Stein Your Florist Co.'s expert wedding consultants call us at 800-887-4013.


Blue Hydrangea

 

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 221 - 225

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 221 - Chamelaucium, also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs endemic to south western Western Australia. They belong to the myrtle family Myrtaceae and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees. The genus was first defined by French botanist René Louiche Desfontaines in 1819. The derivation of the name is unclear. They are commonly known as waxplants, or wax flowers from the waxy feel of the petals.

Day 222 – The wildly popular “Green Trick” dianthus, a relative of carnations and Sweet William, is imported to the US from Holland, Israel, Ecuador and Colombia.

 

 

Day 223 - Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. In herbalism, Calendula in suspension or in tincture is used topically for acne, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue. Pretty and practical!

Day 224 - Hydrangeas are fascinating in that, unlike most other plants, the color of their flowers can change dramatically. The people who have the most control over the color of their hydrangeas are those who grow them in containers. It is much easier to control or alter the pH of the soil in a container than it is in the ground. On the other hand, hydrangeas often change color on their own when they are planted or transplanted. They are adjusting to the new environment. It is not unusual to see several different colors on one shrub the next year after planting. It is much easier to change a hydrangea from pink to blue than it is from blue to pink. Changing a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding aluminum to the soil. Changing from blue to pink means subtracting aluminum from the soil or taking it out of reach of the hydrangea.

Day 225 - Your liatris and other cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase water. The copper in pennies is thought to act like an acidifier, which prevents the growth of bacteria.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 86-90

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 86 - Derived from the Greek words “anti,” meaning like, and “rhin,” meaning nose, antirrhinum, the snapdragon’s botanical name, is a fitting description of this snout-shaped flower. It’s said that the common name for this colorful flower comes from the snap it makes when the sides of the “dragon’s mouth” are gently squeezed. While their actual origin is unknown, it’s believed that snapdragons were originally wildflowers in Spain and Italy. Legend has it that concealing a snapdragon makes a person appear fascinating and cordial, and in the language of flowers, snapdragons are said to represent both deception (perhaps tied to the notion of concealment) and graciousness.

Day 87 - The most obvious and well known meaning of the red rose is deep love and affection. In the 18th century, a special rose language evolved as a means of communication between lovers who were forced by society to keep their feelings a secret. And the red rose came to symbolize true love that would stand the test of time. Staunchly promising affection that is forever riding high is what the red rose means. The red rose denotes a true love that is stronger than thorns and can outlive all obstacles.

Day 88 - Through ancient societies, the aster flower has come to be known as a symbol of charm and patience as well as refinement and elegance. The Ancients also believe that, by burning aster leaves, they could drive away serpents with the smell as well as be used as a love charm. Today, the message conveyed by giving asters can be sometimes taken as a lack of trust that a person has remained faithful. The flower offers a unique beauty that has also offered some medicinal properties. It is related to other flowers, such as mums, marigolds, and daisies.

Day 89 - With a recorded history that dates back thousands of years, it’s not surprising that even the mythology surrounding the origin of the peony has multiple versions. One legend has it that the peony is named after Paeon, a physician to the gods, who received the flower on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo. And another tells the story of that same physician who was “saved” from the fate of dying as other mortals by being turned into the flower we know today as the peony.

Day 90 - There remains some debate over the hydrangea’s symbolism – with some connecting it to vanity and boastfulness (perhaps reflecting its abundance of petals and lavish, rounded shape) and others suggesting that a bouquet of hydrangea expresses the giver’s gratefulness for the recipient’s understanding. Still others suggest it represents anything that’s sincerely heartfelt. Despite this variation in flower meaning, there appears to be an overwhelming consensus that this 4th wedding anniversary flower possesses enduring grace and beauty.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 61-65

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 61 - First discovered in Japan, the name hydrangea comes from the Greek “hydor,” meaning water, and “angos,” meaning jar or vessel. This roughly translates to “water barrel,” referring to the hydrangea’s need for plenty of water and its cup-shaped flower. With its wooden stems and lacy, star-shaped flowers packed closely together in a pompom, the hydrangea’s color ranges from white to blue to pink and purple, determined by the acidity level of the soil.

Day 62 – The beginning of January has primrose plants popping up in flower shops and markets all along the east coast. With a vast array of colorful blooms they are a cool weather favorite of many flowering plant lovers and perfect to keep indoors this time of year. They enjoy bright light and cool temperatures, so a nice sunny window away from the heat is a great location for your indoor flowering garden. They like to stay moist, but not wet. Because of their need to be moist and cool, some leaf mold or fungus growth may occur, simply remove any troubled leaves and enjoy.

Day 63 - Grown for both its colorful flowers and its everlasting calyx (the green leaf that encloses the flower bud), statice is also considered an herb, referred to as “sea lavender.” Statice is commonly used in dried flower arrangements as well as fresh bouquets. Its botanical name is derived from the Greek word “limonium,” meaning meadow, referring to the plants original habitat and likely why this versatile flower is also called marsh-rosemary. With a misty and seafoam appearance (two more names associated with this wildflower-like plant), in the language of flowers, statice symbolizes remembrance.

Day 64 - The Matsumoto aster is a fast-growing annual that has long, sturdy stems along with long-lasting flowers. It is native to East Asia and was developed in Japan. It is prized among both home gardeners and commercial floral growers. It tends to last between seven and ten days, depending on the bud stage and is good only as a fresh flower as it does not dry well. It is best to re-cut it about a half-inch from the base of each stem while it is still under water. The water should be changed out every three days and no foliage should be submerged in water or this may lead to bacterial growth.

Day 65 – Many of us remember dyeing flowers as children for a school experiment with food coloring or ink, but floral processors dye flowers by the thousands. Typically flowers are dyed through absorption, the dye is in the water and taken in through the stem and into the petals as the flower drinks, but immersion is another, faster method, where the flowers are dip-dyed. When dyeing fresh cut flowers the dyes are generally used at the rate of 1-2 ounces per gallon of water. One pound of dye tints approximately 5,000-10,000 stems. That’s a lot more than we remember dyeing in elementary school! The daisy pom pons pictured here have been dyed a fun neon pink!

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 11-15

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Properly Display Cut Flowers

Day 11 - To enjoy your cut flowers for the longest possible time be sure to display them in a cool spot. Most flowers prefer temperatures between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius) and are best displayed away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators, which give off heat and can cause flowers to dehydrate.

Bird of Paradise

Day 12 - Each stem of a bird of paradise usually contains about 4 to 5 flowers (called inflorescence). Sometimes only one flower is visible, where others are hidden in the “beak” of the flower. When one exposed flower withers it should be removed and another one can be pulled out of the flower’s boat shaped bract. If a flower doesn't emerge, gently ease it out by hand, but many times this is already done by our floral designers for the most beautiful look. These exotic blooms are sensitive to temperatures below 50 degrees F, so display them in a spot that doesn’t get too cool.

Gerbera Daisy

Day 13- Gerbera daisies are fun, bright, and beautiful, but their stems are highly susceptible to bacteria blockage. This may cause their heads to droop over, so change their water often and replenish their supply of floral food every 1-2 days, this will keep them looking lovely longer. Also, since they are particularly sensitive to ethylene gas and bacteria – keep the vase and surrounding areas clean and debris free and keep them away from ripening fruit.






Aloe Vera Plant

Day 14 - Aloe plants are wonderful as they are both beautiful and have a purpose. Mother Nature Network reports aloe plants, or aloe vera, are succulents that help clear the air of formaldehyde and benzene, byproducts of certain cleaners, paints and other household items. They're perfect if you are painting or are doing some major cleaning. Aside from helping to rid the air of chemicals, aloe also has a healing effect inside its branches. The gel inside works to heal cuts and soothe burns.

Hydrangea

Day 15 - Hydrangeas have woody stems that need to draw water for maximum vase life. If a blossom wilts prematurely, remove it from the design, recut the stem at a sharp angle and place in warm water for at least one hour. The flower should be revived and ready to take its place in the design. If this doesn’t revive your thirsty flower try submerging the bloom in a bucket of room temperature water for a few hours, hydrangea are great at drinking water through their petals and will often perk back up after their drowning. For best results keep the water level in their vase full. Hydrangeas can also be dried, by hanging them upside down in a warm spot. Although the color will fade slightly – the dried flowers can last between 9 months to a year.