Flower Factor: A Lifestyle Blog From Aboutflowers.com

One of the things on my bucket list was to go to the Kentucky Derby, and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity last year. And boy, I was not disappointed!

As a floral designer, I have always been excited by the tradition of the Garland of Roses presented to the winner. I had no idea about all the other flowers before, during and after the race.

The minute I got off the plane in Kentucky and walked into the terminal, we were greeted with every ticket area decorated with red roses.

On the moving escalator, a huge floral arrangement of probably 150 red roses lined the walkway every 10-ft. I counted about 24 arrangements! The red roses continued at the car rental desk, and the lobby of our hotel had flowers everywhere.  Read More

Every Valentine’s Day floral arrangement is an expression of love. As a florist, it is truly a privilege and honor to see how people love and be a part of their love story. Here are a few examples of different ways flowers show affection and reveal part of your sweetheart’s personality:

Some Valentines carefully select each blossom for their beauty and meaning. The card messages that accompany these bouquets melt my heart. Each flower in this hand-tied bouquet was chosen for its meaning: alstroemeria symbolizes “devotion,” ranunculus “radiant charm,” tulip “perfect love,” and stock “lasting love”.

Some Valentines celebrate the contemporary and gravitate toward an arrangement like this one with trendy metallic accents. Elegant cymbidium orchids and spray roses are surrounded by foliage with eye-catching whispers of gold in a compact design.

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This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday, making it the perfect opportunity to surprise your sweetheart at work. Pavé floral designs and flowers in keepsake coffee mugs are two great options for Valentine’s Day flowers, especially if your sweetheart works in an office. Here are a few ideas sure to inspire you this Valentine’s Day.

For the love of your life, a modern pavé design of red roses shaped as a heart makes a bold declaration.

If your sweetheart enjoys gardening, you cannot go wrong with a heart pavé of succulents and lisianthus.

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With the new year, it’s human nature to reflect on the passing year. In 2017, we celebrated prom and Valentine’s Day in a big way. We showed the true power of flowers through Petal It Forward, randomly surprising people with flowers in more than 465 cities in all 50 states, and by participating with Wish of Lifetime on a “Cupid Crew,” delivering Valentine’s Day roses to seniors in assisted living communities. We got an inside look at the U.S. Postal Service’s new Celebration stamps, showcasing a corsage and boutonnière. And we saw some really neat trends, including Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year, “Boroccan” weddings, flower crowns, kokedamas, and much, much more.

Thank you to our contributors for their trend-spotting and sharing their floral expertise. And a great big thanks to YOU for reading and sharing the ideas on all things floral.

And now, please enjoy our look back at some of the most popular Flower Factor posts of 2017:

Wonderful Wristlets: Prom is such a special time! As a florist for more than 40 years, we have seen the prom corsage design change over the years. Even with all the change, flowers continue to be the star of the corsage, also known as “wristlet.” However, over the past couple of years not only has the flower been the main component of the wristlet, ribbon and flower accents have become a great way to add personality and make your wristlet uniquely yours.

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The holiday of love can be a stressful event. Couples together for years are on the hunt for a new twist on the flower gifting. Those in a new relationship are wondering how to send the correct message without being over-zealous or too remote. Singles raise their hand and ask, “What about me?” There’s no need to be a Valentine’s Day amateur. Everyone can feel like a Valentine’s gifting pro with a little help from your flower friends.

Flowers can convey a gentle caress, a big bear hug, a simple “you’re special,” or a grand “I love you.” Which message is correct for you? Florists around the world are at the ready to help you navigate the flower world to find the perfect floral gift with just the right amount of romance and unique creativity.

Let’s start at the beginning with young love (no matter the age). A bright palette of sunshine hues is sure to make the recipient smile. Male, female, young, old – everyone likes to receive flowers. Add a creative wrap at the base and you are on-trend with textured style.

Photo Courtesy Florists’ Review magazine

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