Spring Fever for Flowers!
Many of us here in the Northeast long for spring, but the weather has not been very cooperative. We’ve had some serious snow lately, and more is predicted during the week. I guess this makes us all appreciate the warmer weather when it eventually arrives. It seems...
Having a Beautiful Birthday Party
When our two daughters were little, as soon as the Holidays were over, I began planning birthday parties. With their birthdays in January and February, only three weeks apart, the task was sometimes overwhelming. How many things can you do with little girls in the...
Snow & Roses Don’t Mix
Surely there is a good reason why Valentine's Day is in February, but whoever decided the date clearly did not consider the shipping logistics involved with the month. As we head into the high holy (for the flower market anyway) V-Day weekend, once again a major...
Measuring Up A Rose
All roses are not created equal, but just exactly how does one measure the difference? The flower industry uses a measurement to gauge the size and value of a rose that at first glance may not appear to matter to you. All roses in the wholesale flower market are...
Fundraising with Flowers – Plan on it!
While most are still recovering from the extended holiday and the new year, the wholesale flower world is gearing up for the biggest event of the year. Valentine's Day is the high holy day for growers, wholesalers and of course flower retailers which can make or break...
Fundraising with Wholesale Flowers
As a member of Greek Life at Rutgers, I know how difficult it is to set up fundraisers that actually make a good amount of money for the chapter. We've tried everything from selling candy (which most people just ate), to considering volunteering as a group for medical...
What to Expect When Expecting (Wholesale Flowers)
For many, the thought of buying flowers directly from the wholesale flower market sounds like a daunting task, possibly because they have no idea what to expect. If you have only ever purchased flowers from your local retailer or received arrangements as gifts ready...
Wholesale Roses for Two?
It may come as a surprise to anyone who has not seen or purchased roses out of the wholesale market, but wholesale roses are not sold by the dozen! They are almost always sold in pre-bundled packs of 25 stems. It is one of the few cut-flower industry standards that is...
Speaking the Unmentionable in Filler Flowers
Baby’s Breath is a filler flower that I hesitate to mention to customers. Just hearing the name can produce a very strong negative reaction. One self-proclaimed “flower snob” that I spoke with recently said she would never consider using something as boring and passé...
Fall is for Fundraising
With the annual trek back to school comes the sudden and urgent need to raise funds for the year, as groups increasingly diversify their approaches to include digital assets amid shifting donor preferences. Sports teams, band, and choir groups, dance schools, PTOs,...
New Fall Flowers
The last two cool evenings here in the Northeast remind me that fall is almost here. Soon we’ll smell wood smoke in the air and be decorating our front porches with brightly colored chrysanthemums, Indian corn, cornstalks, and pumpkins. While I’ll be delighting in the...
Staying Green in the Wholesale Flower Industry
As stated in the latest issue of the SAF (Society of American Florists) publication Floral Management, the Green movement in the wholesale flower industry is alive and well. The Florverde® certification for the Columbian flower industry is more than 12 years old. With...
From Russia with Love?
In the Northeast, we enjoy four distinct seasons. I try to take in the individual beauty of each season, and to fully appreciate the wonderful changes happening around me. I find that I dress, decorate, and even cook seasonally. Certain flowers call out to me at...
Really Wild Flowers
Our family owns a vacation home in the Catskill Mountains. We love our summer treks to “The Cabin”, where we all enjoy the blissful peace and solitude found in this place. While some of us enjoy swimming, fishing, and catching snakes (especially our son!), I...
Weed-Whacking Calla Lilies
Crazy as it may seem to Americans, the Calla Lily is considered a weed in many of the African countries where it originated. Also known as the Pig Lily in South Africa, it grows in large clumps and must be cleared before construction projects can begin. Grown from a...