Flower Factor: A Lifestyle Blog From Aboutflowers.com

When planning flowers for their weddings, one of the most overlooked details by brides is the corsage. In years past, the corsage held an important role in weddings, adorning the wrists and shoulders of the mothers of the bride and groom, grandmothers, special guests, even the bride herself could be found wearing a beautiful corsage. With changing traditions and trends, the corsage, which was all but forgotten, is making a comeback. The options for flowers-to-wear for weddings is better and more beautiful than ever.

The traditional wrist corsage can now include keepsake-worthy jewelry made specifically so that your professional florist can easily add the flowers of your choice, which can later be removed, leaving a beautiful bracelet to wear over and over again.  Read More

During the Society of American Florists’ Outstanding Flower Varieties Competition last September, a panel of floral experts evaluated 184 types of flowers during one of the floral industry’s biggest flower competitions. They awarded 11 “Best in Class” ribbons to the flowers that earned top marks in their category, such as best rose or best carnation. Earlier, we looked at five of them, including the Best in Show and People’s Choice pick. Here is a look at three more. This is the second in a three-part series.

Best Potted Flowering Plant: African violets make delightful gifts for any occasion. ‘Ingrid’ is hailed as the “start of a new generation” of African violets. The judges adored its perfect pink, semi-double flowers and its full, lush leaves.

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For floral table decor, bridal bouquets, floral jewelry and more, go gaga for the Pantone Color of the Year 2017 “Greenery.” This choice is so versatile and complementary to so many other floral color palette inspirations. Pantone describes Greenery as “a refreshing and revitalizing shade, symbolic of new beginnings.” Florists are excited to see this color hit the forefront, as green is a way to add freshness and impact to floral designs.

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What a year! We had a blast showing the country how good it feels to give and receive flowers through “Petal It Forward.” We showed how flowers are a small, yet powerful gesture for recognizing achievements. We celebrated exciting wedding and event party trends, a long romantic Valentine’s Day weekend and even Super Bowl Sunday. Thank you to our contributors for sharing their expertise. And a great big thanks to YOU for reading and sharing our ideas on all things floral.

And now, please enjoy this trip down memory lane as we look back at the top Flower Factor posts of 2016:

Flowers Create Connection: In response to new data reaffirming the science behind flowers’ ability to improve moods and lessen anxiety, the Society of American Florists and florists nationwide hit the streets on October 19 in 234 cities in all 50 states to hand out tens of thousands of flower bouquets to busy commuters. This “Petal It Forward” effort was meant to not only brighten the day of those receiving the bouquets, but recipients were also given a second bouquet to share with someone who needed a lift.

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One of my favorite annual events is the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) Symposium. Held in mid-summer, it is a chance for florists, floral designers, and flower lovers from around the world to gather and share. This year, Orange County, California, was the destination. Just imagine, five days of flower-filled inspiration with 1,000 of your favorite flower loving friends. The AIFD Symposium 2016 was a true floral paradise.

As I attend the workshops and presentations, and study the displays, I look for commonalities and speculate on the coming floral design trends. This year did not disappoint. Turning to my magic crystal ball to forecast the trends for 2017, I’ll be watching for transparency in design, longer cascading bridal bouquets, lush arrangements and dramatic flower walls.

Stacey Carlton, AIFD, and Shawn Foley, CFD, presented an amazing program, Couture Collective. Throughout the presentation, they spotlighted the impact of transparency on design. Personally, I loved the photo opportunity presented by their Plexiglas backdrop. Or, should we call this a “front drop”? Either way, I love their creative touch in the world of floral design. Read More