The event that was decorated with flowers, weddings, showers, birthdays, even funerals leave behind a mass amount of flowers. They are great to display and to gift out until their beauty starts to fade, butt then what do you do with them. Many merely toss them in the trash; however, you have other options.

Before your flowers begin to fade, you can preserve your bouquet by freeze drying them. It is best to have this professionally done because the process does not just mean placing your flowers in a cooler of dry ice. Professionals use special equipment and chemicals to remove the moisture from your flowers to preserve their color and beauty. Once they are done though, you can admire their beauty for several years. This is a rather expensive option, but if you want to relive your special moment or memory as long as possible, it is a great option for longevity.

Another option is to press your flowers. It is not too hard of a procedure and here are a few links of the process to help you out.

How to Press and Dry Flowers from Family Crafts.com

How to Press Flowers from AmazingMoms.com

Here is a video I enjoy. Not only does it show you how to press flowers but a neat way to use those flowers after they are pressed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvzmd7PxGaM&feature=player_embedded

You can also dry your flowers. There are several different ways you can go about this. Here is a link that will give you various options.
Methods of Preserving Flowers from North Dakota Agriculture Department

Another option is to start a compost pile. It is a great way to start a organic compost for your home gardening needs and gives back the to the environment.

These options are much better than simply tossing the flowers in the trash and gives you the option of keeping their beauty around for even longer.

Flowers bring a color and beauty to any home and can create an uplifting atmosphere. There are various types of flower arrangements and even more types of flowers to put into those arrangements. With the massive variety of flowers around the world, florist will never run out of creative ways to arrange them and never have to worry about anything becoming redundant!

There are several different types of flower arrangements that florist use to showcase flowers beauty – circular shape, triangular shape, crescent shape, fan shape, Hogarth or ‘S’ shape, and Ikebana.

Creating an eye catching flower arrangement is what Brant Florist takes great pride in and is greatly honored to create them for you for all your flower needs. When you know what you are wanting in your arrangement, you can even tell the Brant Florist team through their “design your own” order form on the Brant Florist website or feel free to call. Brant Florist will go the extra mile to ensure your flowers are perfect every time.

Have you ever had to express yourself to someone, for whatever reason – be it an apology, a secret crush, or a blatant expression of love, flowers can say that for you without saying a word.

For the most part, people are intuitive. They know when someone is crushing on them and if they were to receive flowers from that person, it would solidify their thoughts and could be that step that brings on a more meaningful relationship. If someone feels they have been wronged, if they were to receive flowers from the person they felt wronged by, they will quickly relate it as an olive branch reaching out to make amends. No note would even need to be attached with the flowers, other than the name of the sender and the message would be conveyed. It can be the simple gesture of sending flowers that opens the door to forgiveness or love.

As many meanings as flowers behold, those meanings mean nothing if they are not sent to someone to make those meanings and feelings come to light. With out gifting flowers, they are just that, flowers. Regardless of flowers grand beauty, their meanings only become known when you send them.

Stressed? Then just breath in the sweet fragrance of flowers. Studies have proven that by merely enjoying the fragrance of flowers you can reduce your stress. There is scientific evidence that certain fragrances alter gene activity and blood chemistry that reduces stress levels. So next time you are feeling stressed, order some flowers. Or better yet, keep flower in your world at all times to lessen stress in your environment.

Enjoy this article about how flowers scientifically reduce stress published on Science Daily.

Stop And Smell The Flowers — The Scent Really Can Soothe Stress.

I know if I said it once, I have said it a 1000 times, flowers can say anything you want them to say, but never in a million years would I have thought they would be used to say “Stick um up” in a bank robbery, but yet that is exactly what transpired.

Here is a link to the entire news article I came across while browsing the net. NYDailyNews.Com

Basics are the robber made his way into a Manhattan bank with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and presented the teller with a note that he had inside the flowers demanding she hand over all the $100’s and $50’s and not to try to be a hero. The teller of course handed the money over and return the flower bearing robber left her a parting gift of the flowers. Well, as chivalrous as the parting gift of flowers were, this flower bearing robber obviously was so enthralled with the flowers fragrance that he was oblivious to the camera catching his picture that will hopefully bring his “say it with flowers” bank robbing gig to an end.

It makes you want to cry when you see your prime roses covered with black spots. What on earth is happening to your prize roses you ask. Black spot disease is yet another evil villain of our beloved flowers and another common fungal disease. And roses are its biggest victim.

The disease typically begins as black spots on the foliage. They are most prevalent on upper leaf surfaces, and may be up to ½″ across. The leaves will eventually turn yellow around the spots, then become all yellow and fall off. The spots may also appear on rose canes, appearing first purple and then turning black.

Again, the culprit for this disease is too wet of conditions for too long of a time frame. It only takes seven hours for infection to set in, so when watering your roses be sure to water early in the morning to give ample sun time for drying and avoid watering on known cloudy days. Also, make sure to water from the ground avoiding all foliage and flowers. Use proper spacing so your roses can get good circulation. These things will help to minimize the disease and or prevent it totally.

Black spot fungus overwinters in fallen leaves and infected canes. Prune out infections and rake the fallen leaves at the end of the season.

Rose varieties vary greatly in their resistance to black spot, so choose resistant ones. If this information is not indicated on plant labels, you can research the variety online or check with experts at your local nursery. Several of the shrub roses show resistance to black spot—and powdery mildew. Many of the other shrub roses and old-fashioned roses are resistant as well.

To help control black spot disease, dust roses infected with black spot with sulfur powder. Sulfur will not kill the fungus spores, but it will prevent a new generation from germinating. You can also use a spray solution of 1 tsp. baking soda mixed in 1 qt. warm water in the early morning hours on your roses foliage. In addition, when your plants are in the dormant season, spray your roses with a dormant oil or Bordeaux mixture.

Gray mold is one of the most common types of diseases that afflict flowers. It is more prevalent during periods of high rainfall and cool temperatures. It has an appearance of a powdery mildew that is gray in color, thus its name. It appears primarily on old and dying leaves and flowers. When water sits on plants without the natural ability to dry within a reasonable time frame a gray fuzzy coating begins to appear – gray mold.

To care for plants and flowers affected with gray mold, remove all diseased flowers and or leaves right away and spray with a beneficial bacterial control. To prevent gray mold keep your garden bed flowers spaced to allow for plenty of air circulation and well weeded. Also avoid overhead watering.

Gray mold can also present on trees, shrubs, and small fruits like strawberries. Recommended disposal of affected leaves, flowers, and fruits is burning, but since many urban areas do not allow for burning, burying the affected plants is also acceptable.

I am pleased to announce we have a winner for our June Brant Florist Free Flower Give Away! Nicole T from Ignace, Ontario participated in the contest and was selected out of the random draw as our June winner. Brant Florist would like to thank everyone who participated and helped Brant Florist Fanpage base grow. However, if you were not the winner this month, there will be plenty of other opportunities to win a free flower arrangement delivered to your door from Brant Florist. So stay tuned! Once again, thank you to everyone who participated!

Nicole T- We will be sending you a Facebook message as well as an email giving you direction in how to claim your prize. Congratulations!!

Remember, if Nicole T doesn’t respond to our acknowledgment of winning, a new winner will be picked. So stay posted!

According to rigorous research, it has been found that sympathy flowers have a bigger effect on those in mourning than just honoring the deceased. Sympathy flowers have been found to give a warm feeling to a memorial setting as well as brighten a otherwise darkened moment. They have also been found to have a huge impact on the emotional well being of those in mourning. A behavioral research study done by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. of Harvard University emphasizes the calming and fortifying feelings that flowers create. Study showed that flowers do have a strong positive effect on ones emotions and that people are naturally attracted to them. Previous studies have proven that flowers do have a strong effect on ones emotional well being easing depression, anxiousness, and agitation when receiving flowers. They have also shown that those who receive flowers have a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. (Rutgers, State Univ. of New Jersey; Journal of Evolutionary Psychology)

The bereavement process is a high emotional time where flowers can play a huge role in easing some of pain during this time. There is a new trend in funeral planning with the use of “in lieu of flowers” where the family will ask that instead of sending flowers, those who want to pay respect to the deceased send money to a particular charity. However, in light of the benefits flowers can bring to a memorial service, it is hard to imagine one without them. Although the sentiment is nice in being charitable, it takes away those who want to pay respect to the deceased the ability to express their sympathy in a manner that is comfortable to them. For many, flowers are customary and what is comfortable for them to express sympathy for the loss of a loved one. For those who are in the unfortunate position of planning a funeral, a better phrase to use when incorporating a charitable contribution to a particular cause are “Donations may be made to (charity)”, “The family has designated (charity) for memorial contributions”, or “The (charity) Memorial has been established for those wishing to make a contribution” so the ability for those to express sympathy do not feel as if their hands are tied. This is not being stated to diminish the deceased or family wishes, just to give alternatives so those who feel the need to send flowers can do so as well without feeling as if they are showing any disrespect.

Who loves flowers? Who loves flowers delivered to them? Who love free flowers delivered? EVERYONE!! Would you like to win free flowers delivered to your door?

If you would like to win a beautiful flower arrangement from Brant Florist valued at $50.00 delivered to your door, make sure to enter into Brant Florists Free Flower Giveaway.

Here how you can enter to have a chance to win a beautiful flower arrangement from Brant Florist valued at $50.00 delivered to your door:

Basics:
No purchase necessary.
Flowers delivered only in the US or Canada
All you have to do is:
1) Follow us on our Brant Florist Facebook FanPage, Brant Florist “The Florister Blog”, or Brant Florist Twitter

2) Leave a comment on this blog about the most memorable flower delivery you have ever received.

3) Check back on Brant Florist Facebook FanPage or Brant Florist “The Florister Blog” to see if you won!

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS 12:00 AM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (“PST”) ON June 2nd, 2010 AND ENDS AT 11:59 PM PST ON June 16th , 2010.

1. ELIGIBILITY: Brant Florist Facebook/Blog Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the United States and Canada who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Winners of a sweepstakes by Brant Florist within previous six (6) months prior to this Sweepstakes are not eligible. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Brant Florist’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Brant Florist reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the winners.

2. HOW TO ENTER: Visit the Brant Florist “The Florister Blog” located at http://theflorister.com/ or Brant Florist FaceBook Fan Page located at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Brant-Florist/192057682380?ref=ts and post a comment on your most memorable flower delivery. Fan the Brant Florist Facebook Fanpage or Subscribe to the Brant Florist “The Florister Blog”, or Follow Brant Florist on Twitter at http://www. . Limit one (1) entry per person/e-mail address/household for the duration of the Sweepstakes. Automated entries by script, macro, or other automated or mechanical means are void. All entries become the property of Brant Florist and will not be acknowledged or returned.

3. PRIZES: One (1) winner will be randomly selected from among all eligible entries and shall receive a Brant Florist flower arrangement valued at $50.00. Brant Florist will arrange to deliver the Prize to the winner within fourteen (14) days of when the winner accepts the Prize. The Prize (or any portion thereof) is non-transferable, non-negotiable and not redeemable for cash, credit or merchandise. No substitutions or cash redemption of the Prize is permitted. Additional restrictions may apply.

4. DRAWING: The potential winner will be selected in a random drawing held on or about June 16th , 2010 from all eligible entries received. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The potential winner will be notified by e-mail. Potential winner must respond within one week of notification or prize will be forfeited and another name drawn. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its designees to use each winner’s name, city, state, likeness, voice and biographical information for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity in any and all media, now or hereafter devised without limitation and without additional notification or permission or compensation, unless prohibited by law. All information collected will be treated in a manner consistent with Sponsor’s privacy policy and the consent given at time of entry.

5 WINNERS LIST: The winner’s name will be posted on the Brant Florist “The Florister Blog”, Brant Florist Twitter, and on Brant Florist Facebook FanPage. Last name will be emitted for privacy of winner and Last Initial will be used instead.

6. SPONSOR: Brant Florist 2010 Maria St. Burlington, ON L7R 1K5 Canada