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Thursday, April 22, 2010

How To Book Your Wedding Florist

Flowers are a precious part of your wedding. Yet, it is unbelievable how many couples don't know how to book their wedding florist. So, when do you start booking your wedding florist? Is a month enough time? Definitely not. You should be thinking about your florist about eight months in advance. After a month of browsing around you should have selected the floral for your wedding reception.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Florist

A few key things to consider when selecting floral are the colors and venue layout. The floral company you choose to go with will need to understand the layout of the venue where the reception will be held. This is important for logistics with perishable items. Most florists work in a localized area to increase their turn around time. Also, your florist needs to understand what you need with flowers. A common question they will ask is, " how many tables need centerpieces? " Depending on the time of year usually determines the color used. Spring relies heavily on pastels, while Autumn ties in great with vibrant oranges and deep reds. The florist you choose should have recommendations as to seasonal flowers that work with your budget and colors.

So, you have selected your color, banquet hall, and floral store, now what? What do you take to your first floral appointment? Make sure you bring sample pictures of how you envision your wedding reception. It is a good idea to show them a photograph of your wedding gown as well as a picture of your bridesmaid's dresses, a sample of the fabric is even better! This will get them thinking of possible floral colors that work nicely with your details. You want your florist to be aware of the colors that they are working with, so they better understand your needs.

While at your appointment, you should be proactive by asking questions. An important question you can ask is to see a portfolio of their recent work. While looking at their portfolio you will get a sense of their style. Ask your florist about any suggestions they have in mind for your reception. You don't have to listen to their advice, but it might be helpful as they are an expert in the industry. Also you might just simply like their recommendations better. When you have a full explanation of the service they will be offering, make sure that you ask for their service fees. Yes, fees are plural. Most of the time your florists will add extra services to better fit their client's needs.

As you are planning your event make certain that you don't forget the small details. Your floral artist needs to know the exact location of where the flowers will be delivered. It might be helpful to give them a map a week before (some facilities have confusing layouts). Try to be flexible with your order. This way, if something goes wrong with your flowers, they can be changed last minute. It is always a good idea to have a second choice in chosen flowers.

In conclusion, ideally you start booking your florist roughly eight months before your wedding date. The earlier you start planning for your wedding the better the outcome (and the less stressed). Before placing that final order with your florist, you should be able to see what the flowers will actually look like on your big day. If you do not have such an opportunity, reconsidering your floral choice might not be a bad idea.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Bouvardia, Gardenia, Oriental Lillies, Jasmine.........they all smell devine.....thats all I'll say on the matter.......

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Vertical wall garden in Sydney

Vertical Gardens have really become fashionable in the last few years. They are a fantastic idea for city dwellers who dont have a lot of space but still want a garden. They can be anything from small pots hanging from a wall or they can be huge spaces covering entire buildings. Like I've said in previous blog posts, we at Botanics Florist Sydney are not just Sydney florists but we are horticulturists also. We have over 20 years experience in growing and selling plants commercially for the Australian garden market.

We have developed our own version of the vertical garden which we have made available to anyone who wants such a garden. Each garden is made in individual panels and can be made to specific size. Each panel is attached to the wall individually and watering systems are installed to take care of moisture.

The thing that amazes everyone with our Vertical garden is that it has absolutely no soil and the plants grow in a Geo Tech fabric. It really isnt that remarkable tho, just go out into any forest and take a look up and around. You will be surprised at the number of plants living in the forks of tree branches, clinging to the trunks of trees or growing from cracks in the cliff faces etc, some plants have evolved so that they are perfectly happy in this situation. Orchids are a good example of this, most orchid species do not require soil in order to grow, which obviously makes them a perfect choice when thinking of a vertical garden.

Things to consider before vertical gardening
You first need to consider if the postion of your garden is going to be suitable for vertical gardening. This can include by laws etc if you are living in an apartment.

You then need to consider plant selection. Good plant selection is vital if your vertical garden is going to not only survive but flourish.

Another consideration is maintainance of the garden. Vertical gardens are not low maintanence but they also are not high maintanence either. Approx 1 - 3 hours a week needs to be spent on caring for the garden, although this isnt a lot, it is crucial.

If you would like to find out more about our Vertical Gardens for Sydney then give us a call on 02 9569 3232 or email us at orders@botanicsfloristsydney.com.au. We be happy to talk to you about whether a vertical garden will suit your postion and be more than happy to provide you with a quote. We will train/advise each customer on how to get the most from their gardens.

Caring for your cut flowers

One of the most often asked questions we get at Botanics Florist Sydney is "how do I care for my flowers". I hope you find the following tips useful.

Upon receiving your delivery of flowers, find a suitable clean vase and fill it to about 2/3 with cold tap water.

Add and disolve the flower preserver that we supply with your flower delivery.

Cut approx 2cm off the base of each flower stem, like humans, when plant stems are cut they start to heal over, re-cutting allows the flower stem to drink more water.

If you can, wash the vase each day with a weak solution of bleach and water and re-fill with freash water, then again re-cut the stems of your flowers before replacing them into the vase.

As flowers finish in the arrangement, take them out and discard them as allowing them to remain will increase bacteria levels in your vase and can effect the life span of the remaining flowers.

If you have liilies in your vase, remove the pollen stamens as the flowers open to avoid the pollen staining your clothes or furniture. If the pollen has dropped then sticky tape is handy to remove the marks.

If you have Hydrangea in your vase, take the flower heads and immmerse them in water for 5 mins every couple of days. On alternate days, if possible, mist the flower heads with water. Tropical flowers such as Orchids enjoy a regular misting of water also.

If your flowers are in an arrangement containing floral foam (green stuff), then all that needs to be done is to top up the water every couple of days. Stick your finger into the foam to check that it is wet.

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