Article Source: ABC Article Directory

Did I get your attention? Sorry, I just couldn’t resist! When I was a little girl, we called them “brains”. We would gather them into huge piles and either throw them into the woods or throw them at each other.

I know what you are probably thinking, “That must have hurt!” It did but it never slowed us down. Still don’t know what I am talking about? I am fondly remembering the grapefruit sized, green, brain-like fruit that my siblings and I used to collect by the dozens each fall. 

I ended up having two boys and when they were little they did the same thing I did years earlier; they threw them at each other. Of course I yelled words of caution but it never slowed them down either.Around that time I started to collect the “brains” and used them for fall decorations in my house. Hedge apples have a pleasant smell and they are said to act as a natural insect repellant, although I am not sure if this is a proven fact.

I would gather several of them and place them into a carved wooden bowl or a natural looking basket. Next came the fun part, gathering the other things to go into my display. It varied each year but I would take a walk and collect natural grasses, colorful leaves or whatever captured my fancy. I would bring my “loot” home and create a unique looking arrangement each time. They even look great by themselves too. One year I dumped an armload of them into a wooden crate and placed it next to my front door for a colorful fall display.

Fall has always been my favorite season, and collecting my next batch of “brains” is something I always look forward to. Several days ago while I was out gathering some, it occurred to me that I didn’t even know the real name of these funny looking green orbs. After a little bit of searching I discovered they are called Hedgeapples and these non-edible, non-poisonous fruits come from a tree called the Osage Orange Tree.

As you read this article, you are either shaking your head saying, “Oh yeah, I know what she is talking about.” or quite possibly you have never seen a hedgeapple in your life. Either way, this autumn collect a few “brains” and create a beautiful fall display of your own! 

Source: http://www.flowers-and-garden.com/decoratingwithbrains.php

Ladies are no longer the only ones whom love receiving flowers. 60% of men surveyed by the Society of American Florists admitted that they would like to receive flowers on Valentines Day. Now, before you ring up an order of 99 red roses, follow this guide to choose a floral arrangement that even Mars the God of War would approve: 

• Occasions 
  Think back to the times when you would love to receive flowers: on your birthday, on special anniversaries, during down times, after a job promotion… there you have it.

• Colours 
  There are no hard and fast rules about what colours are appropriate for each gender but unless you are absolutely very sure that he is perfectly fine with pink and purple (even if he is absolutely secure about his masculinity, it is probably wise to add in several masculine-coloured blooms), stray away from effeminate colours like pastels, pinks and purples. There is no need to settle for the fail-safe blue, though. Choose, instead, flowers in strong, vivid and monochromatic hues like bright yellow, intense orange, fiery red and royal gold.

• Types of flowers 
  Like women, just about any kind of flowers – roses, tulips, lilies, sunflowers, orchids etc – are bound to touch even an alpha male. But the kinds that really appeal to them are flowers that are “sturdy” and “full of personality” like the angular birds of paradise, anthuriums or orchids.

• Floral Arrangement 
  Skip the fluffy big bouquets and head straight for the exotic, tropical or contemporary arrangements in linear or angular compositions. If this is your first time giving your man flowers, you can play it safe with a flower/plant dish that he can place on his desk at work or on his coffee table.

• Personal Touches 
  Incorporating his hobbies and interests into his floral gift will definitely earn you brownie points. If your man is into automotive, add in a car magazine. If he is a soccer fan, choose flowers in his team’s colours. If he is a game freak, insert a few video games that he had been hinting at. You get the idea.

Flowers are a way to let someone know you care, so it is no wonder that sending flowers is such a popular way to commemorate events, from the birth of a new baby to Valentine’s Day. In fact, flowers are also the top choice for letting someone know you’re sorry. However, not all flower bouquets are as nice as the rest. Before you send someone flowers, you may want to do a bit of research. 

Before you do anything else, take some time to think about the type of flowers that this person enjoys. While most people love red roses, there are a few who prefer colorful wildflower bouquets or exuberant sunflowers instead. 

Next, take a look at the different arrangements available. Some come in beautiful vases or include collectibles as part of the arrangement. Others come in simple vases that let the flowers shine. 

After you choose the flowers you want, it is time to send them to that special someone, right? Well, while you may be ordering from a reputable florist, that florist may not be the person actually choosing, arranging, and delivering the flowers. Instead, when flowers are being delivered to someone some distance away, the florist passes the task of filling the order onto a local florist. Ask who will be doing the actual delivery and find out if that florist has a good reputation. 

Once you send the flowers to the recipient, don’t be afraid to follow up. Many times, a disappointing bouquet is delivered, but the person who received it may be afraid to offend the giver, and doesn’t say anything. If you mention that you want to be sure the arrangement looks fresh and that it contains the proper number of flowers, the recipient will probably be much more forthcoming about the condition of the bouquet. If it sounds like there is a problem, follow up with the florist where you placed your order and the florist who filled it. After all, the person getting your bouquet should get what you paid for. 

Finally, you may want to consider sending a very different type of flower, a living plant. This way, your gift will continue to remind that lucky someone of the event the flowers were sent to commemorate long after a fresh bouquet would be a distant memory. If you are sending flowers to someone with a black thumb, you may want to try sending a dried floral arrangement instead.

Source: by: Gray Rollin

The beauty of flowers is that they’re so versatile – it’s hard to think of an occasion when they aren’t an appropriate gift and let’s face it, if you’re stuck for a gift idea, flowers are always a reliable fall-back solution. The only problem is that for most of us the world of flowers can be a mysterious and daunting one; not everyone is blessed with a florist’s expertise so knowing what to choose can be a bit of a challenge. 

For those who don’t necessarily fancy themselves as a budding Alan Titchmarsh, don’t be put off. Well chosen flowers really are a great way of expressing a whole range of sentiments from gratitude to congratulations to love. So have a look at the following tips and hopefully you’ll feel a bit more confident about choosing the right flowers to say exactly what you want to say. 

Romance – If you’re trying to woo someone or perhaps hoping to inject a bit of good old fashioned romance and spontaneity into your relationship or marriage, flowers are still one of the most effective tools of seduction. The obvious choice here are roses, the red rose in particular is still associated with love (it’s traditionally symbolic of passionate love) more than any other flower and as such still makes a good, classic choice. For something a bit different though there are plenty of attractive alternatives – Lilies, Daisies, Orchids and Wildflowers for instance are all associated with conveying a message of love. 

Congratulations – Obviously you’re looking to express something of the celebratory spirit here so consider going for bold, bright and contrasting colors that you feel really communicate a sense of fun and playfulness. 

Thank you – One of the most common sentiments behind floral gifts - flowers are ideal for expressing gratitude. There aren’t really any definitive rules here; the most important thing is that they convey a sense of sincerity and perhaps feel like you’ve put some personal thought into your choice. A casually arranged selection of some complementary flowers of your choice should be fine. Pink carnations are traditionally the floral symbol of gratitude. 

I’m sorry – There are few more consistently effective ways of getting out of the dog house than with flowers, somehow a floral gift makes it almost impossible for anyone to hold a grudge for too much longer. Go for arrangements of delicate warm tones and put a bit of thought into an accompanying note. 

Get well – Flowers can convey a sense of deeply felt empathy so they make the perfect gift to let someone know your thinking of them. Ultimately what flowers you choose will come down to a personal decision but you could bare in mind a couple of possible approaches: You could go down a couple of different routes here. Either stick with something restrained and tastefully serene or why not go for a more positive, uplifting message with a bold, vibrant arrangement. Bare in mind that ultimately flower-buying is a personal thing so don’t feel too bogged down by these suggestions. 

You still can’t go far wrong with flowers as a gift for almost any occasion. For those to whom the world of flowers remains a mystery, this brief guide should provide you with a few tips to cover all your gift buying needs.

Source: Katie Brown

For me, flowers are one of the most important aspects of a wedding. They bring color, life, and aroma to a wedding. They help make table settings more beautiful, and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Yet they can also be confusing for a beginner, and a budget breaker for many, as well as an excuse to spend your wedding sneezing for some. Before you order your flowers, check out these sites.

Source: About

I get quite a few emails from brides-to-be, asking me which flowers would be good to use at their weddings, flowers that won’t make them or their bridesmaids start sneezing and sniffling right in the middle of the wedding. I get enough of these requests that I thought that the subject warranted its own article.

Wedding flowers

First, flowers for a wedding ought to be bright, fun, cheerful, festive flowers. For example, I like “glads,” gladiolas, but I see them used at funerals all too often, so they seem out of place at a fun affair like a wedding.

The one thing you don’t want with wedding flowers is pollen! With wedding flowers very little pollen is good, and no pollen at all is by far the best.

Daises: For starters I would avoid using most of the daisy-related type flowers, daisies, gerbera, chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias, and sunflowers unless you know they’re pollen-free ones. There actually are quite a few chrysanthemums, dahlias and asters that are called formal doubles and that have no pollen. All of these formal doubled flowers will be ones with a very high number of petals per flower. What has happened with these flowers is that they have been hybridized so often that the pollen parts (the stamens) have turned into parts that now look more like petals (staminoids). All true formal double flowers will be pollen free.

Goldenrod flowers (bright yellow) are often used as fillers in arrangements and goldenrod is a daisy-ragweed relative and will shed plenty of allergenic pollen. Don’t use goldenrod!

Baby’s breath is a popular wedding flower, again, often used as filler between other larger flowers. Baby’s breath is grown and sold as single or double flowered. If you use baby’s breath, use only the doubled flowered types.

Roses: Florist type hybrid tea roses that are still in a closed bud stage and that are not especially fragrant are excellent choices and will shed no pollen. If using roses picked from the garden, choose only those roses with healthy green leaves, and pick roses that are still in the bud to half-open stages. Some free-flowering garden roses, such as the beautiful pale pink ‘Cecile Brunner’ roses, are always allergy-free and produce no pollen at all. The Banksia roses, which will be either yellow or white, are small, cute, come in dense sprays, and are also pollen free.

Pots of blooming hydrangeas, especially of the old-fashioned Hydrangea macrophylla type, are mostly pollen-free and are good choices to use. Pots of blooming double tuberous begonias, especially all the erect type cultivars, almost all of these are great, very large, colorful flowers and pollen-free. The fancy flowered begonias called ‘Reigers’ begonias are also pollen free and come in bright colors or white, yellow, red, salmon, and pink.

Lilies of all types can often now be purchased that are either simply pollen-free flowers, or else someone (who doesn’t have allergies), can carefully remove the brown pollen-bearing anthers on the tip of each of the six stamens in each regular lily…. watch this pollen as it will also easily stain your wedding clothes, especially anything white. Lilies that have had the anthers removed will be completely pollen free. ** A caution here though: sap from any and all kinds of lilies can cause a very nasty, long-lasting itchy skin rash…certainly nothing any bride would want on her honeymoon! With this in mind, watch out for the sap of all lilies and of Alstromeria too. Also, it would not be a good idea for a bride to even carry a bouquet of lilies, certainly not if she has skin that is in the least bit sensitive. Anyone helping with the wedding would be wise not to stick their hands into the water in which the lilies have been standing, as this water will have the sap in it.

Camellias: Camellias come in bright white, red, or pink colors and few flowers are more beautiful than nice camellias, however they are not easy to buy from florists. Still, a gardener friend may have some you could use if the season is right…spring and fall. If you can find them, there are many nice fully doubled, formal double type camellias that are pollen-free. These camellias will look fabulous floating in small bowls of water on tables.

Orchids: Very few orchids cause any pollen allergies and it is now possible to buy small pots of beautiful blooming orchids at quite reasonable prices. Occasionally there is some skin rash associated with orchids, so watch any and all sap from cut flowers. Individual orchids should have their stems in small tubes of water.

Although certainly not indoor plants, pots of growing pansy, viola, and impatiens also can look terrific and they are all very low allergy potential flowering plants. In California or Florida it might be possible to get large sprays of bougainvillea flowers. These now come in many colors, including bright white. Double bougainvillea flowers will have no pollen at all, and even the more typical types of bougainvillea will shed next to no pollen. Bougainvillea flowers are good too for using around perfume sensitive people, as they have next to no smell.

Lawns: If the wedding is to be held on a lawn, or if the reception afterwards is, I’d suggest that the lawn be mowed two to three days ahead of time, and that a lawn mower with a really good grass catcher be used.

Source: about

A guide to all the wedding flowers you’ll need

By Nina Callaway, About.com

Before you talk to your florist, put together a list of wedding flowers you’ll need. It will help focus your discussions, and help you stay within budget! (keep in mind that this is only a general checklist. You certainly don’t need all of the flowers listed here. You may also wish to add corsages or boutonnieres for other people that are special to you.)

Wedding Party
___Bridal Bouquet
___Flowers for bride’s hair
___Bridesmaid’s bouquets ___number of bridesmaids
___Different bouquet for maid of honor?
___Flower girl headpiece
___Flower girl basket decorations
___Flower girl petals to toss
___Groom’s boutonniere
___Groomsmen’s boutonnieres ___number of groomsmen
___Different boutonniere for best man?
___Mother of the bride corsage
___Mother of the groom corsage
___Stepmother corsage
___Father of the groom boutonniere
___Father of the bride boutonniere
___Stepfather boutonniere
___Grandmothers corsages
___Grandfathers boutonnieres
___Other

Ceremony
___Altar, huppah, or other central arrangements
___Pew or chair decorations
___Candles
___Other

Reception
___Entryway arrangements
___Centerpieces for each table
___number of tables
___Buffet table decorations
___Bar decorations
___Flowers to decorate passed trays (talk to your caterer about what they’ll need)
___Cake decorations
___Other

Source: About

Wedding flowers are one of the most important elements of your big day. Not only do they provide color and scent, but they symbolize life, growth, and rebirth. Good wedding flowers are also a conversation starter and after the food and dress, one of things guests will remember most. So how do you find the right florist to provide your wedding flowers, what questions should you ask them, and when should you sign a contract with a florist? Here are those answers and more.

Finding a florist for your wedding flowers

If you don’t already have a favorite floral designer, talk to your friends and family about who they’ve used in the past. You can also go to bridal shows, or simply look in the phone book. Make appointments to visit at least three different florists. When you visit the shop, take a look around.

Do you like the arrangements that are in the store’s windows?

Are the flowers in the cooler fresh and luscious?

Is the shop clean and organized?

Ask to see photographs of previous work

Ideally, your wedding florist will have vast previous experience as a wedding florist, and will have many photographs of previous wedding flower arrangements and bridal bouquets. Make sure that the pictures are recent, and comprehensive – not just one bouquet, but that they show all the bridal bouquets and centerpieces from a particular wedding.

Talk to them about your ideas for wedding flowers

Bring swatches of bridesmaid dresses, pages from magazines with bouquets and floral arrangements that you like, the type of container you’d like to use, and any ideas you may have. Make sure that the florist is receptive to your ideas, and that they are willing to listen to your vision. You’ll want to feel comfortable with this person – make sure that they are the one who will be personally responsible for your arrangements. You’ll also want to make sure that they think your budget is realistic for your ideas.

When to book your florist

This depends on how long you have to plan your wedding, but a general guideline is to start talking to your florist about 6 to 8 months before your wedding, and sign a contract with them about 4 to 6 months before the big day.

What you’ll need to know before you can book a florist for your wedding flowers

• You’ll need to have booked your ceremony site, and know how many arrangements you’ll need to decorate it.
• You’ll need to have booked your reception site, and know the prominent colors of the venue (so the flowers don’t clash)
• If you are doing floral centerpieces, you’ll need to know approximately how many wedding guests you are having, and thus how many centerpieces you’ll need. (Most round catering tables seat 8, 10 or 12 guests; rectangular tables generally seat 8 people)
• How many bridesmaids you are having, and the color of their dresses
• The number of corsages (for mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes readers or other special guests) and boutonnieres (for the groom, groomsmen, ushers, and sometimes readers or other special guests).
• If you’ll need separate arrangements for the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entryways, bathrooms, gift or cake tables, or buffet tables

Questions to ask the florist

• What is your design philosophy? Do you prefer modern arrangements or more traditional ones?
• Can I see examples of past work by the same person who will arrange my wedding flowers?
• How many other weddings and events will you do the same weekend as my event? (this gives you an idea of how much time and attention they’ll spend on your wedding flowers)
• What flowers will be in season and less expensive for my wedding? How can I maximize my budget?
• What ideas do you have for my wedding? What are the most successful ideas you’ve had for past weddings?
• Is it possible to see a sample of my centerpiece and/or bouquet?
• Will you deliver and/or set up my flowers? How long do you generally spend at a site setting up? Is there an extra delivery or set up charge?
• Is it possible to reuse the ceremony flowers as reception decorations? Will you transport them, or will we need to? Is there a transport fee?
• Are there any other additional or hidden costs I should know about?
• Do you have rental supplies (such as vases, urns, candelabras and potted plants) or do I need to use a separate rental company?
• If I need to add, subtract, or change arrangements or bridal bouquets, how long to I have to do so?
• Will you write up an itemized quote of what we’ve discussed?
• How soon do I need to put down a deposit to reserve your services? What is the minimum deposit?

Also, if you are having an outdoor wedding, you’ll want to ask what flowers will best stand up under the weather conditions. A bride who is sensitive to scents, or allergic to flowers may want to talk to the florist about scented or allergenic flowers so she won’t be sneezing down the aisle.

Source: About

While the average price of weddings in the United States has risen to more than $20,000 (and $40,000 in large cities such as New York), brides are finding creative ways to spend that money more wisely, and discovering cheap wedding ideas that help them save money. Here are some cheap wedding ideas for the flowers — ways to have a beautiful visual impact without spending a fortune.

* Use only in season and readily available flowers. Be honest with your florist about your budget, and have them recommend the most inexpensive flowers.

* Give your florist a general style and color scheme, and any “banned” flowers that you hate, but generally allow them flexibility so they can use what is in season and cheapest. There are some times when peonies cost a fortune, and other times when they are so cheap you can fill your hall with them. Make sure this flexibility will be reflected in your final price tag.

* Hold your wedding during the Christmas season or immediately after Easter when a church will already be decorated.

* Avoid holding your wedding in February when flower prices are at an annual high due to Valentine’s Day.

* Large arrangements on an altar will only be seen from far away. Use inexpensive flowers such as carnations, or large filling flowers such as snowball mums.

* Some people think they can save money by moving the ceremony flowers to the reception. However, keep in mind that many churches and houses of worship require you to leave any flowers. Florists also hate to do this because large arrangements are hard to transport, and can become easily bruised or damaged in transit. (It’s probably also least partially because it does cut down their bill.) You also will need to coordinate it so that the reception will not be held up by waiting for the ceremony flowers to arrive.

* Find a venue such as a park or garden that is already lush and beautiful.

* Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost, you’ll save a lot of money.

* Carnations are one of the cheapest flowers out there. A lot of people, myself included, really dislike them. But when they are used in abundance so that the blooms are packed together, they can be quite striking. Consider a low square table centerpiece of 20 carnation blooms with all of their stems and greenery removed.

* Talk to party rental suppliers about renting large potted plants such as tropical palms or ficus. They visually fill a lot of space, and will help frame your ceremony site or warm up your reception. Best of all, renting a potted plant is far cheaper than buying large flower arrangements. Also, you may consider purchasing these large plants and using them in your home afterwards to get more use out of them.

* More and more brides these days are arranging their own flowers such as bouquets of simple roses tied with a ribbon. Four or five pillar candles on top of rose petals makes an easy and cheap centerpiece. You can also easily create a centerpiece using wide shallow bowls filled with water and several floating gerber daisy blooms. If making boutonnieres and corsages intimidates you, these are generally inexpensive to order from a florist.

* Consider ordering flowers from an online wholesaler such as freshroses.com, Marisol Blooms, or Online Wholesale Flowers where you can get some of the best prices. Unlike at a florist, you will be responsible for all of the prep work of cleaning and trimming them, and keeping them alive until the wedding.

Source: About