Wednesday, July 31, 2013

4 Amazing Summer Flowers.

There are so many amazing summer flowers that it is hard to narrow it down to just 4. I am basing this particular list on our favorite flowers to get from our local growers.

1.) Sunflowers- Sunflowers are probably the ultimate summer flower. But I have to stop right here and make a confession... I never used to be a huge sunflower fan like Vincent van Gogh. I thought the brown centers made them look dead. [I will spare you a Doctor Who reference here.] But these days sunflowers come in a wide variety of different sizes and colors. Varieties like the Ring of Fire and the Strawberry Blonde have nice ornage and red tones to them. But the traditional yellow petals and black center and the lemon toned kind, will always be the most popular.

2.) Mini Calla Lilies- Mini Callas are an elegant  flower for any arrangement. I know the white variety is used a lot for weddings. But they come in all sorts of colors- white, yellow, dark red, and (my favorite) burnt orange. They look fantastic in a vase by themselves or nestled in a mixed arrangement with any of the flowers on the list.

3.) Liatris- Liatris is such a versatile flower. They are tall and have tiny, soft but spiky florets. They come in white, and lavender. Liatris is perfect at adding height to arrangements.

4.) Dahlias- I don't even know where to begin with this flower. This is probably by far my favorite of the group. Dahlias come in a wide range of types and colors. They can come in bright happy peppy colors like yellow, orange, pinks, and even some bi-color varieties. Or they can come in deeper more somber hues like the elegant black dahlia that is really rich red. There is a type for every mood and fancy.

There are many more summer flowers that can go on this list. Every week we have new bunches that catch our eye and strike our fancy. For more ideas about these summer flowers and others, check out the Pinterest board.

What are your favorite summer flowers to see?

Monday, July 29, 2013

A pictures worth a thousand words.

Hi everyone! Can you believe this cold snap that we are having here in Northwest Ohio? Yesterday they said it was the coldest summer day on record.

It has been busy here at D.S. Florist. So instead of writing about it I though That I would show you some of the cool things that we have going on! :)


 Above are some lovely bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres for a wedding this summer. Very vintage looking. 
 An arrangement using Australian flowers like Kangaroo Paws and Pincushion Protea with a drift wood base. 

 An fun centerpiece with Calla Lilies and Eucalyptus in a lantern
For a vintage Hollywood sample dinner with our friends at Michael's Catering.. We love the GIANT Oscar. 
Some days you just need a visit from a friend. My dog Pippin came for a visit. 

What interesting things have you been up to? 
 Jennie
Staffer
D.S. Florist. 

Friday, June 21, 2013

7 Fun activities with flowers

It's summer! Summer means swimming, playing outside until the streetlights come on, and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. Especially for children, summer is a time of freedom and exploration. Summer is also a great time for some family bonding. 

If you are looking for fun things to do with your children, here is a list of fun activities that you can do together:

1.) Grow a flower- Using a Dixie cup, and some soil, plant a seed or two in the soil. Poke several holes in the bottom so that water can drain. Water a little each day and see how long it takes for the flower to sprout.

2.) Visit a flower shop- Take a field trip to your local flower shop to look at all the flowers and plants that they have. Ask the florists and staff about care tips for flowers at home. Buy some loose flowers like daisies, carnations, alstromeria to take with you!

3.) Make an arrangement- After your trip to the flower shop you and your children can make arrangements! You will be surprised to see what neat arrangement children come up with.

4.) Botanical Gardens trip- Take another field trip to the Toledo Botanical Gardens. Explore all the different types of garden areas and see how they use different plants and flowers in each one.

5.) Coffee Filter Flowers- This fun art project is lots of fun but probably best done outside. Using markers, color lightly on the coffee filters. Then lightly moisten the filters which will cause the colors to run together! As you let them dry in the sun, take green construction paper to make a stem and some leaves. then glue the two halves together. Voila! You can put the flowers on the refrigerator, back door or on their walls.

6.) Magic Flowers- This takes a little time. Take bud vases or clear glasses filled with water. put in a few drops of food coloring of choice, then, putting a fresh cut at the bottom at an angle, stick a white carnation or daisy chrysanthemum in the vase. Kids will be amazed to see the flower change color as it drinks water.

7.) Art Museum trip- For centuries artists like Claude Monet and Georgia O'Keeffe have been inspired by nature and flowers. Take a visit to the Toledo Museum of Art and meander through the galleries. Look at the works of world class artists and discuss how they perceive nature. Then at home children can create their own artworks based on nature and flowers.

I hope that this gives you some fun ideas for summer activities. I have at one point or another done all of these activities and I had a lot of fun. If you try any of them, let me know how your experience went down in the comments. (And as always, you can look at my inspiration board for this blog.)

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Summertime!

I know it is already the middle of June but I can not believe that it is already summer. Maybe it is because it is unseasonably chilly yet, here in Ohio. Maybe it is because I haven't really done many of the summery things yet. Maybe it is because the summer growers haven't started making their rounds yet. I don't know but I am having a hard time registering this time as "summer." But summer means quite a few things when you work in the flower business

Summer in the flower business means weddings. We have lots of weddings coming up and June is a very popular time for weddings since it is perfect for outdoor locations.  It is also a good time for business parties.

Another sign that it is summer is having our local growers return. we have several local growers that are able to come all year round because they have hot houses to grow flowers in. We also have several that still have plantings outside who start coming towards the end of June. It is so much fun to look through their vans and pick out stunning dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias, and so much more. Sometimes they even bring vegetables by. It is so great to finally be able to get summer flowers that are grown right here in the Toledo area.

Summer also means that garden flowers are out. People who stop by the store look for interesting vases or for tips on how to arrange flowers at home. People are also looking for sunflowers. Sunflowers seem to be one of the most popular flowers of the season. They are bright and cheerful and come in various sizes, shades, and styles.

Summer is truly an interesting time to work in a flower shop. There is so much to see and do. There are so many interesting flowers that are coming in. I think there is so much for us to look forward to!

What summertime thing are you looking forward to the most?

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

One of my favorite quotes for the Flower Shop to use for newsletters, Facebook, emails, etc., is
"[The] earth laughs in flowers."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote says everything that I feel about my job. Flowers are fun, festive, and spunky. Most of the people that I have delivered flowers to have been excited to get an arrangement. They look joyful and pleased that someone has thought of them.

I agree with Mr.Emerson. If flowers were to be any sort of expression of the earth, they would be laughter. Pure, exuberant, throw-your-head-back, wildly musical laughter. Flowers are great that way. They are care free and spirited.



White and purple Calla lilies. 

My favorite color hydrangea: White!

Mixed arrangement: a semi paved.


Well we are currently in the process of rearranging the store. It's time to give the store a face-lift now that it is June. I will hopefully have some pictures of all the awesome tweaks and lifts that we are doing in the store. As always, you can take a look at the Pinterest board that goes along with this post by clicking here.
If you could only have one flower in an arrangement what would it be?

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A wish for you

Happy New Year!

I can't believe how quickly the holiday season has come and gone. It felt like one minute it was  Christmas day and then the next minute it was New Years Eve. And now we are several days into the New Year. Where did all that time go? What happens to it?

Does anyone else feel let down after the holidays? We have two weeks of shopping, family, parties, and a million billion other exciting things. And then... poof! It is all over and we have to shift back to real life. After the magic and mystery that surrounds the Christmas season, real life feels just so... real. We head back to work, back to school, back to the grind. Turn off the carols, tear down the tree, eat the last cookie and then move on. It just doesn't seem fair that it ends so suddenly.

But this is the start of a brand new year. This year anything can happen. It has yet to be defined. It is still brimful with amazing possibility. And that is pretty exciting. It's like one last present from the universe.

I have some wishes and hopes this year for you...
I hope you live each day to the fullest.
I hope you more than survive, I hope that you thrive.
I hope you see something so beautiful that it makes you heart-wrenchingly happy.I hope that you do something that you love whether it is a job that you adore or a hobby that you are passionate about.
I hope you take advice from children. Their perception of the world lacks all the complications that adults see.
I hope you accomplish all the projects and and goals that you set for yourself.
I hope you make new friends or reacquaint yourself with old ones.
But all these hopes and dreams can be summed up in one final wish.
I hope you are happy.

Happy New Year!
Jennie
David Swesey Florist.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Stop and Smile

Hello! Welcome! Put your feet up and stay awhile. I am sure we will have many great things to talk about. :)

I have searched ye olde interwebs many times over to find you some interesting things to look at, to bask in, and to smile at. You will find many great and spectacular wonders on which to feast your eyes and soothe your soul. So sit back and relax and lets get this party started.

First off I would love to tell you about the Piano Guys. Have you heard of this Youtube group already? They travel all over the country and the world to create visual and musical works of art.They do a hysterical Star Wars Themed light saber duel. They do a beautiful mash up of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Tis a Gift To Be Simple."  And then there is my personal favorite... Their cover of Coldplay's song Paradise which they renamed Peponi. Watch below and just bask in the beauty of it.
A piano and cello on a cliff. I would be terrified for them if it weren't so beautiful. We have been listening the CD in the store and it is amazing. (Sadly we don't sell it so if you are interested click here)

This quote by Eleanore Roosevelt made mom and me laugh.
"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall."
This surprisingly thoughtful and poetic Tweet from Jim Carrey.  

Finally this picture made me smile. :)

What are some things you have found on the internet 
that has made you smile this week?

Stop and Smile this week! I promise the world will notice.
Jennie
Staffer
David Swesey Florist