Flower Factor: A Lifestyle Blog From Aboutflowers.com

Photo Courtesy Teleflora

Ghosts, goblins, jack-o-lanterns and witches are appearing everywhere in the spirit of Halloween. What used to be a simple time for children to Trick or Treat has turned into a major holiday with all the trimmings. Young and old alike enjoy this crazy time and the more festive the better!

In addition to elaborate costumes, outdoor decorations and displays, you can have a great time for Halloween with flowers. Simple but clever arrangements can be just the right touch to complete a table setting, cheer a friend at work, or maybe sit on your favorite teacher’s desk. Fun or ghoulish, it’s up to you and your personality which interpretation you choose. Read More

Flowers for the kitchen

Having guests to my home is something I truly enjoy. I like to cook, set a nice table and fuss over small details that show my guests that I am excited they came. One of those very special details is fresh flowers. For me, that is as important as planning the menu or making sure the house is in order. I am one of those people that have at least a small vase of fresh flowers in my home all the time. Usually placed on the kitchen table, they make me feel good and things just don’t feel right if they are not there.  So you can imagine that when I am having company I “kick it up a notch.”

The dinner table is always a focal point and I usually put some extra effort there. It could be formal in the dining room or more casual out on the porch but either way I would never consider not having flowers as part of the setting.

Fill a collection of bottles with blooms

A collection of vases or bottles is my favorite choice of containers and I fill them with individual blooms depending on the time of year or what color theme I am working with. Sometimes I pick the flowers first and then work everything else to match or I could do it the other way around. Setting the table is the fun part. Working with different combinations of linens, flowers, dishes and glassware is creatively challenging and the end result usually turns out beautifully. Read More

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. The coolness and crispness in the air enhanced by the beautiful colors all around me. The changing leaves, especially in Virginia where I live, set a background of gold, orange, brown and red everywhere you look. Yet as much as I look forward to the traditional and expected signs of the season I love the spirit of adventure. Exploring beyond the predictable and discovering enchanting hues makes the fall season even more invigorating. I’m not afraid to create color palettes that are unique and give even more dimension to my fall décor. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired too.

Image courtesy of Pantone.com

For 2012 we first look at the Pantone top ten colors of the year for direction. Tangerine Tango was number one and we’ve been seeing this cheerful dynamic hue everywhere from fashion to home décor all year and there is no stopping it now. I have to admit to including a pair of Tangerine Tango shoes to my current wardrobe and I love them. However, we won’t see this luscious color with its predictable companions of gold and brown alone this fall. Splashes of Indigo and Midnight creep into the palette for a new level of sophistication. Gold for fall is more yellow brighter than in past years. Magenta and fuchsia make an appearance just to liven things up. Both blued and yellowed greens introduce a fresh approach to the season, creating a background that is unexpected and fresh. Soft grays and beiges complete an earthy, happy palette.

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Photo Courtesy Teleflora

There is nothing sweeter than a little flower girl walking down the aisle spreading her petals in the path of the beaming bride. Usually the young lady chosen for this task has some close relationship to the bride and for many they hold their breath in anticipation as they watch her wind her way to the ceremony spot. I have seen many different versions of this trip down the aisle over the years. Once, the little girl ran out of petals so decided to stop right there and go back and pick them up to use again. A shy little one was so frightened she clung to the Maid of Honor all the way, yet another so very brave as she lifted her head and smiled brightly to all watching her. Read More

Gerbera, Lilies and Roses - Photo Courtesy Teleflora

As Father’s Day approaches I wonder how we ever got to the point where we assumed a gift of flowers or plants is more for women? When you think about it, most growers, florists, designers and gardeners are men.  And even more interestingly, many men choose flower gardening and flower arranging as a hobby totally outside of their professional careers.  I have been in the floral industry a long time, and I have never seen a man receive flowers where he did not break out in a big, face-consuming smile. I think sometimes the gift can be even more appreciated because it is unexpected.  We automatically think of flowers for Mom on Mother’s Day, but it takes a creative thought to get to the same decision for Father’s Day. Read More