Blooming Envy knows how much work planning a wedding can be. So why make it harder than it has to be. Here are the top 5 reasons you need Blooming Envy for your floral needs.

1. Individualized, exclusive, personal service
2. Freshest flowers anywhere
3. Virtual flower arrangement preview
4. "Green" florist, we recycle and reuse everything we possibly can
5. Licensed and Insured

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Trending for weddings right now, and I am in love with myself, are succulent/herb plant centerpieces. Not only do you get beautiful table decor but also awesome favors for your guests. And they are "green"! Literally and the eco kind. I am sure we will be seeing a lot of these "recyclable" flowers around for some time to come and why not? They can be interpreted into almost any design and the natural green is a great neutral color to match with any design scheme. Are you jumping on this trend wagon?

Oh here I am again, January 1st, not only am I excited for what the New Year holds but giddy because my favorite parade of the year is on TV, The Tournament of Roses Parade. Of course I have my DVR on record because I know watching it once will not be enough for me.

This years theme was based on Dr. Suess's "Oh the Places You'll Go". The Rose Parade features 42 floats, 21 equestrian groups, and 23 marching bands from as far away as Japan. It draws a live audience along the parade route of one million people, 39 million Americans watching on television and hundreds of millions more watching in 220 countries around the world.

Besides the awesome floats in this years parade, it also included a heart touching reunion of a solider and his family, a live wedding atop the "Love Float" and British primatologist Jane Goodall who was quoted as saying
"My dream for this New Year's Day is for everyone to think of the places we can all go if we work together to make our world a better place".

I can't say I remember the first time I saw the parade but I can say that every year when I watch it I am in complete awe. So many flowers! And I know I've said this before but one day I would love to volunteer and be part of the beauty created on such a large scale. Below is a peak at what goes into each creation.

Did you watch the Tournament of Roses Parade? What was your favorite float?

Here are some more interesting facts about the Rose Parade:

• It takes 20 daisies, 30 roses or 36 marigolds to cover one square foot of a float area.
• Over 500,000 roses are used in the parade.
• Each of the millions of flowers you see is in its own vial.
• It takes 15 tons of steel along with 10,000 feet of chicken wire for the framework of a float.
• 600 tons of steel, 5,000 gallons of glue and 18 million flowers are used to make the floats each year. The Tournament of Roses is the largest consumer of flowers in the world, and flowers arrive from all over the world.
• The cost of flowers is included in the total cost of the float and paid for by the float sponsor.
• 935 peope spent 80,000 hours to manpower and plan the parade.
• Floats must collapse to no more than 16.5 ft. high, to pass under a freeway overpass/
• Natural materials, such as bark, seeds, leaves and flowers cover the floats.
• Length of parade is 5.5 miles, about 2.25 hours long at 2.5 miles per hour pace.
• Real fresh flowers are used. Different kinds of flowers may be used; however, one float used nothing but red roses.
• Floats are judged in 14 categories, with varying weights; the most important categories are those relating to floral usage. Winners are announced at 6 a.m. on parade day.
• Twenty-four awards were given for some 50 float entries before the parade started.

Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.
–William Shakespere, The Winter's Tale



Usually thought of as a spring flower, and for good reason, Daffodils are ususlly seen in season starting in late December and lasting though April. I am always very happy to see the first Daffodil blooms, sometimes there is still a bit of snow on the ground when they start to poke through. This is always a sure sing to me that winter will soon be just a memory.

Common Name: Daffodil
Botanical Name: Narcissus Pseudonarcissus (nar-SIS-is sue-do-nar-SIS-is)

Once again due to the wonders of greenhouses and the advancements in growing techniques, Daffodils are available wholesale year round as a cut flowers. There are as many as 60 different varieties grown in white, yellow and bi-color. Daffodils can have a single or double 1-3" corona white a 3-4" star-shaped back atop a 8-22' hollow stem. They are sure to add a cheerful feel to any arrangement.

There are several possible stories on how/where the daffodil gets its name. One of the most common relates to the story of the young man of Greek mythology named Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his own reflection that as he knelt and gazed into a pool of water, he fell into the water and drowned. In some variations, he died of starvation and thirst from sitting by the edge of the pool, transfixed by his own reflection. In both versions, the Narcissus plant sprang from where he died.

When cut, the trick is to keep the daffodils alone in a vase. Their stems secrete a sap that promotes the wilting of other flowers. If you must combine them, soak them by themselves for as long as possible, then rinse them and add them to the arrangement last without re-cutting the stems.

Interesting Fact: Daffodils are grown commercially near Brecon in Powys, Wales, to produce galantamine, a drug used to combat Alzheimer's disease.

So have you finished all your Christmas shopping? Or do you like to wait for the last minute rush? Either way Christmas is such a wonderful, magical time of year. I love sharing holiday traditions with my children, making cookies, decorating the tree and putting up the Nativity set. But most of all, I love seeing all my family. And what better way to make someone specila in your life feel extra treasured then to send them flowers. Even if you already bought their gift or if you are stuck for a last minute gift, send flowers! It sends the message of love and brightens the receivers home. Or better yet sign your loved one up for a flowers of the month club and your gift will be the one that keeps on giving. The best part, the size will always fit. If you want to send flowers this holiday call us or your local florist, we are here to help.

What is your favorite tradition/reason for the season?

Did you buy a Poinsettia this year? I did. It is one of my favorite holiday flowers. So I wanted to share with you a reprint of an earlier blog of mine regarding the lovely Poinsettia.

With Christmas right around the corner I thought I would share some information about a plant we will all be seeing a lot of very soon, the poinsettia. Poinsettias come in a variety of colors from traditional red and white to dyed purple, blue and even green and gold.

Common Name: Poinsettia
Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima

With its beautiful star-shape, poinsettia is a popular Christmas flower. In Central America it is called the "Flame Leaf" or "Flower of the Holy Night". A native of Mexico, it was brought here over a hundred years ago by Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico. Most of the poinsettias used these days come from California.

The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.

One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course they were teased by other children when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today.

Interesting Fact: The Poinsettia is NOT poisonous. It is mildly irritating to the skin or stomach and may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting if eaten. Sap in the eye may even cause temporary blindness but no fatalities have ever been documented. While it is true that the plant is not very toxic, those sensitive to latex may suffer an allergic reaction and it is therefore not advisable to bring the plants into the home of sensitive individuals.

The origin of this myth could be found in the fact that many plants of the spurge genus are indeed toxic. This misconception was spread by a 1919 urban legend of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a poinsettia leaf.

A winter wedding. So many fun possibilities. And since there are a limited number of off season weddings yours will sure to be remembered. Don't let the cold weather deter you. BE Beautiful, BE Unique, BE Yourself. Here are some "cool" ideas from Blooming Envy if you are planning a winter wedding.

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC. Chrysanthemums are considered one of the four noble plants among bamboo, the plum, and the orchid. It was once believed that drinking from a stream that flowed between Chrysanthemums would help a person live to be 100. From this myth came Chrysanthemum tea, wine and medicine to encourage a healthy, long life. The chrysanthemum is also an edible flower.


Common Name: Chrysanthemum, Mum
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum indicum

Modern cultivated chrysanthemums are much more showy than their wild relatives. The flowers occur in various forms, and can be daisy-like, decorative, pompons or buttons. This genus contains many hybrids and thousands of cultivated varieties. In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available, such as white, purple, green, orange and red. Over 140 varieties of chrysanthemum have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

In general the Chrysanthemum symbolizes love, cheerfulness and optimism. It is also the birth flower for November, hence the reason to feature this flower this month. They can provide a wide variety of colors and textures to any floral design. Although they are thought of as a fall flower, chrysanthemums are available all year as a cut flower. The best part, they are super affordable.


Interesting Fact: It was once thought that bringing a Chrysanthemum indoors meant a wishful death.

Thanksgiving, a day to stop and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, a day to spend time with family, a day for good food and gorgeous table arrangements. But if you are like most people I know, the gorgeous table arrangement may have slipped your mind. Well, I have a quick and easy idea to help you out, think Cornucopia.

Ever since I was a kid the Cornucopia has always captured my interest.  I guess even then I was drawn to things floral and decorative. The cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment and commonly in a large horn-shaped container. Not only do cornucopias make lovely centerpieces at Thanksgiving they are great for the DIY'er.

How to make a Cornucopia:
First choose a container. If you don't have a cornucopia you can pick up a wicker or grapevine one at most craft stores. Or you could use a basket or even a burlap sack. Next choose any combinations of fruits, vegetable, nuts and seasonal flowers that you like. Collect and use things you have around the house; apples, oranges, pumpkins, gourds, potatoes, dried Indian corn, fresh or silk flowers, you get the idea, be creative and use your imagination. Then take your container and place it where you want to display it. You could choose to place a table runner, place mat or such underneath the container. If you are using a basket you could choose to tip it on it's side to create a spilling effect similar to the cornucopia. Finally arrange the items you found, in and around your container, start with your larger items. When you are happy with the placement of your items, sit back and enjoy.

We would love to see pictures of your "Cornucopias". Please post them on our Blooming Envy Facebook Page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

OK, so me and winter are not the best of friends. Granted, I was born and raised here in WI and I don't see moving anytime soon. I have also been know to bundle myself up on occasion and try to make the best of what mother nature has to offer. Regardless, I consider myself a fairly tropical person. I prefer the warm weather and when it turns cold outside I can't help but think about the spring, the warmth of the sun, the new growth of the flowers and trees and of course the fun new color trends in fashion industry. Although I am not a fashionista, these color have a huge influence on wedding trends and thus trickle down to us floral designers.

Where does one look for trending colors? Pantone is the go to source for such answers. Who is Pantone you may ask? Well Pantone began as a commercial printing company in the 1950s. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, though sometimes in the manufacture of colored paint, fabric, and plastics. The idea behind the PMS is to allow designers to "color match" specific colors when a design enters production stage.


Are you planning a spring wedding? Do you need some design inspirations? Or are you just curious what colors will be big in spring, check out this awesome video by Pantone. What is your favorite color?