A Christ Baptist Church MacGregor Downs Wedding – 8/11/12

On August 11, 2012 North Raleigh Florist created the flowers for a bright and playful wedding in the new chapel of Christ Baptist Church. This wedding was the first to be held in this gorgeous chapel. The reception followed at the MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary. Flowers used include pink gerbera daisies, white daisies, white and green buttons, red hypericum berries, white garden roses, white hydrangea, pale pink roses, and white bouvardia.

The bride’s bouquet was all white with pale pink accents hand-tied in a piece of lace from her grandmother’s wedding dress.

The bridesmaids bouquets were more colorful with bright pink gerberas tied in royal blue ribbon.

Each bouquet was accompanied by “How Great Thou Art” for the bridesmaids.

The altar included a center focal altar piece, two candelabra attachments, and an attachment to the unity candle. There were also two sets of columns containing a traditional altar piece and three ferns.

 

Along the aisle were pew markers containing gerbera daisies with white bows and playful greens.

The inside doors to the chapel were adorned with two wreaths.

Near the inside doors was a guest book accented with a live fern.

The outside of the chapel was also adorned with two wreaths.

At the reception, we were able to reuse the altar pieces from the church fireplace décor.

Each table was accented with a colorful bubble bowl and candles.

College Blues

When a child moves away to college, whether it is 20 or 1,000 miles away from home, the transition can be stressful on both the parents and the new student. As if the trauma from going from home cooking cuisine to dining hall “fast food” isn’t bad enough, homesickness can start to kick in after a few weeks.

Most parents look for a way to make a connection with their child between weekend visits and holidays aside from the ordinary phone call. Sending a care package is the perfect way to let your NC State, Meredith, or William Peace student know you are thinking about them. It is also great for those without cars on campus who could use “some of the good stuff” the student store just doesn’t carry.

Too far from your child’s college to deliver a care package yourself or just want to make them feel special?

We have the solution! Have North Raleigh Florist deliver a custom fruit and gourmet basket, picnic basket, junk food, or chocolate basket to your student’s dorm!

Gourmet Gesture – Starting at $25.00

Chocolate Lover’s Basket – Starting at $59.95

Junk food basket – Starting at $79.95

Home Run Basket – Starting at $79.95

Other great options to send include a plant or college themed arrangement! We can do red and white for NCSU, maroon and white for Meredith College, and green and white for William Peace University.

Dish Gardens starting at $25.00
(Pictured $50.00)

Wolf Pack Arrangement – Starting at $45.00

And the Metro Bravo Award Goes to…..

North Raleigh Florist!

We are extremely honored to be voted one of the best florists in the area and given a Standing Ovation by the readers of Metro Bravo Magazine!

Metro Bravo Magazine is a monthly magazine about North Carolina from the “triangle to the coast”, with the mission of informing consumers where to find the best service, events, and products. Once a year the magazine asks their readers to vote on the best local businesses around, and the awards are rated as Standing Ovation for 1^st place, MetroBravo for 2^nd place, and Honorable Mention for 3^rd place.

We salute the other winners in the wedding and event planning industry for their accomplishment:

WEDDING RINGS
Standing Ovation
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Triangle-wide
MetroBravo
J.M. Edwards Jewelry, Cary
Honorable Mention
Reliable Loan, Raleigh

WEDDING CAKES
Standing Ovation
Edible Art, Raleigh
MetroBravo
Sugarland, Chapel Hill, Raleigh
Honorable Mention
Sweet Memories Bakery, Apex

WEDDING REGISTRY
Standing Ovation
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Triangle-wide
MetroBravo 
Belk, Triangle-wide
Honorable Mention
Quintessentials, Raleigh

STATIONERY
Standing Ovation
Taylor’s of Raleigh, Raleigh
MetroBravo
PaperBuzz, Raleigh
Honorable Mention
Salutations Fine Stationery and Gifts, Chapel Hill

HAIR SALON
Standing Ovation
Douglas Carroll Salon, Raleigh
Salon Blu, Raleigh
MetroBravo
Lux Salon, Raleigh
Honorable Mention
Samuel Cole Salon, Raleigh

CATERER
Standing Ovation
Ladyfingers Catering, Raleigh
MetroBravo
Mitchell’s Catering & Events, Raleigh
Honorable Mention
A Southern Season, Chapel Hill

Check out the rest of the winners in Part 1 and Part 2!

Flowers at the 2012 London Olympics

The 2012 London Olympics kicked off last week as citizens around the world tuned in and rallied in support behind their athletes to take gold. Countless hours of planning and preparations go into every detail of the ceremonies and games. One detail often over-looked by spectators are the hundreds of thousands of fresh cut flowers, plants, and trees that have gone into beautifying the Olympic Games from start to finish.

North Raleigh Florist always notices the flowers in every occasion. Here is what we found…

100 Day Countdown:

The motto for the London Olympics is to “inspire a generation” and London has left no detail untouched. In the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony a set of Olympic Rings were presented by London 2012 chairman Seb Coe at Kew Gardens. The rings were comprised of over 20,000 flowers and could easily be seen by passing planes.

Olympic Park:

Two years of development and research went into creating the UK’s largest man-made wildflower meadow in the Olympic Park Gardens surrounding the stadium. Over 150,000 late summer blooming flowers have been planted and include cornflowers, tickseed, corn marigolds, star of the veldt, Californian poppies, prairie flowers, and plains coreopsis.  In addition, over 4,000 trees and 300,000 wetland plants also adorn the park.

Opening Ceremony:

The Netherlands team has earned every moment of attention they have received for their sharp and detailed Opening Ceremony attire. The perfect finishing touch to their outfits was the large, bi-colored, parrot tulip corsage/boutonnière adorning their jacket’s lapel. The design is simple with a long stem and no greenery. This is a look not commonly seen in US corsage/ boutonnière fashion and is very clean and modern. The Netherlands are well known for their Tulips and other bulb flowers making this floral fashion statement a terrific nod to the region’s agriculture sect.

The Winner’s Circle:

All medal winners are presented with a bouquet of flowers during the Victory Ceremonies. In the 2012 London games 4,400 bouquets comprised 100% British grown flowers and herbs will be awarded. The contents of the bouquets include the traditional English Rose, but in fun bright modern colors with accents of mint, rosemary, English lavender, and wheat. Everything about these perfectly selected, fragrant bouquets designed by renowned UK florist, Jane Packer is the epitome of contemporary English garden.

Remember to keep your eyes peeled while watching the Olympic Games this week because you never know where more flowers might show up!

Looking at Landscapes

What are good rules for your outdoor landscape? Are there any rules to follow? At North Raleigh Florist we have a few guidelines to make your outdoor landscape look and feel like a natural tranquil garden.

Our first rule of thumb is to create harmony! Having a garden that is too busy with too many different types of plants can be harsh to the eyes. Staying with plants that have similar colors, textures and size can be alluring and draw appeal to the area.

When selecting plants for your outdoor landscape consider the following:

1. What will the plants maturity size be? Too often plants are purchased because they are small and cute, and the gardener ends up with a 5 foot plant that started out as a small 6 in plant. So always double check to see what the maximum maturity height and width will be, so that you have the proper space allotted.
   
2. How will the plant look in the space that you have provided for it? Make sure to consider all ready existing plants that may surround you new addition. Having enough room and making sure to stay in a color theme.
   
3. What color scheme will you choose?? Having too many color schemes can also be very distracting and busy looking. The Staff at North Raleigh Florist likes to use cool and calming colors in their personal outdoor landscapes. Colors like Silver and Purple or Silver and Blue having calming effects and are very neutral.
   
4. What types of features do your plants have through out the year?? Will your plants bloom throughout different seasons or do you have your plants on a rotation. Having your plants on rotation you will have some that are green during one season but bloom during the next so that you will always have something that is blooming.
   
5. Where will your plants be planted? Keep in mind how much sun or shade, rain and even what type of insects you might have inhabiting your outdoor space.
   
6. Does your outdoor landscape have a natural look?? Having decorative rocks can make a big impact on any landscape while giving it interest and character and adding a more natural look than placed barriers.
   

These are just a few of the guidelines the staff here at North Raleigh Florist likes to go by when planning and planting our outdoor landscapes. Let us know what kind of guidelines you go by write us a comment on our blog so that next time we can share your ideas with everybody too!!

BIG 2012 Trend – Carnations

So we all know about the carnation and the typical stereotype, simply put everyone thinks of them as a cheap flower, but we are here to break that stereotype!

Biggest trend of the New Year?? That’s right it’s the carnation and it’s making a big comeback!!  From A-list Celebrities like Martha Stewart to your everyday local flower shops, we are seeing the trend coming to a head.

When high-quality carnations are tastefully arranged, they can be an eye-catching, sweet-smelling, long-lasting addition to any bouquet. When arranged in a bouquet they can resemble a peony. The carnation is so much less expensive than the peony that you can have a larger bouquet. They are also a perfect compliment to peonies in any bouquet.

Carnations come in a variety of colors that can be stunning!! Light yellows, whites, pale pinks, hot pinks, light and dark purples and even a few variegated that add a lovely spark to any bouquet.

Carnations express love, fascination and distinction, and every color carries a unique meaning:

• White carnations suggest pure love and good luck
• Light red symbolizes admiration
• Dark red represents deep love and affection
• Purple carnations imply unpredictability
• Pink carnations carry the greatest significance, beginning with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love

Hibiscus

Chinese Hibiscus can be purchased in the colors you prefer.  They may grow up to 4 feet high and flower the length of the stem.  The University of Florida states that they need at least a half day of direct sunlight.  Most hibiscus bloom year round in Florida.  In other locations they die back to the ground in the winter, and you will need to cut the canes back to the ground while they are dormant.

Hibiscus, is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae.  This flower could easily have its own section because of the many different uses this plant has from landscaping, paper-making, beverages and as a food.  The hibiscus flower is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world; Malaysia, India, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Cambodia, etc.  The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees.

Landscaping; many species of hibiscus are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs, and are used to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

One species of hibiscus, known as kenaf, is extensively used in paper-making.

Used as a beverage, teas made from hibiscus flowers are known by many names in many countries around the world and are served both hot and cold.  The beverage is well known for its color, tanginess and flavor.

Use as food, dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico.  It can also be candied and used as a garnish.  The Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable.

Symbolism and Culture, hibiscus species represent nations:  Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.  The red hibiscus is the flower of the Hindu goddess Kali, and appears frequently in depictions of her in the art of Bengal, India, often with the goddess and the flower merging in form.  The hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship.

The red hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Tahitian women.  A single flower, tucked behind the ear, is used to indicate the wearer’s availability for marriage.

Health Benefits, the tea is popular as a natural diuretic; it contains vitamin C and minerals, and is used traditionally as a mild medicine.

Dieters or people with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic.

A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.  Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 8.1 mmHg in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 mmHg drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage.

In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, hibiscus, especially white hibiscus and red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), is considered to have medicinal properties.  The roots are used to make various concoctions believed to cure ailments such as cough, hair loss or hair graying.  As a hair treatment, the flowers are boiled in oil along with other spices to make medicated hair oil.  The leaves and flowers are ground into a fine paste with a little water, and the resulting lathery paste is used as a shampoo plus conditioner.

THE BEST SUMMER FLOWERS

Are you looking for the “BEST” summer flowers?  A few words that should be helpful while shopping for the “BEST” summer flowers; thrives on heat, drought tolerant, perennials, reseeds easily, blooms freely, and flowers that are appropriate for Zones 6-8 (southeast).

The best summer flowers perform well throughout the summer so that you can stagger your flowers and enjoy colorful blooms all throughout the year.  They have good heat resistance so that they can keep their flowers vibrant.  While the best flowers are hardy, you’ll need to remove dead flowers to get the best performance.  North Raleigh Florist has listed below a few of our recommendations:

Summer Performers:

Black-eyed Susans are among the best summer flowers because of their love for sunny weather.  Although considered a wildflower, we often use black-eyed Susans in gardens for their bright color.  Because they efficiently reseed themselves, we treat them like perennials. Black-eyed Susans look much like daisies with flowers with brown or black centers and bright yellow petals.  They are heat tolerant and bloom during the hottest part of summer through autumn.  Texas Department of Horticultural Sciences advises that cut flowers, in water, will last six to ten days.  Black-eyed Susans attract butterflies.

Black-eyed Susans

Coreopsis, or daisy, grows aggressively and is native to North America, so the flower has already adapted to the weather conditions.  It is one of the best summer flowers for beginners because the daisy is very hardy.  Clumps of coreopsis will grow nearly anywhere there is soil and sun.  Heat doesn’t bother it, and coreopsis self-sows prolifically, with new clumps appearing yearly, often in places far away from original plants.  These can be easily transplanted to different spots.  Flowering in late spring and continuing through early fall; coreopsis comes in orange, maroon, red and variegated types.

Coreopsis / Daisy

Salvia Splendens, this flower will not thrive well during mild summers.  Give them moderate water so that they can grow strong root systems.  This flower produces spikes with a red salmon color, and the Van Houttei variety produces maroon flowers mixed with scarlet-orange.

Salvia

Daylilies, especially the Stella De Oro, can bloom for a very long period, from late May to the first frost, making them one of the best summer flowers based on their hardiness.  Daylilies can also take a beating during the summer without losing their flowers.

Daylilies

Calibrachoa Hybrids perform reliably during the summer so that you can plan your summer blooms.  Calibrachoa hybrids are like petunias, but hardier, producing small flowers that last a long time, including the entire summer.  If you have unusually hot summers, try planting the Tequila Sunrise, a flower with bright orange and streaks of yellow.

Calibrachoa

Mandevilla consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines.  Mandevilla is native to Central and South America and many Mandevilla comes originally from the Serra dos Orgaos forests in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The genus was named after Henry Mandeville (1773-1861), a British diplomat and gardener.

Mandevillas develop spectacular flowers in warm climates.  The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, and red.  As climbers, Mandevillas can be trained against a wall or trellis to provide a leafy green and often flowering picture of beauty.  Mandevilla is often grown as an attraction plant for wildlife.  Known animals and insects that frequent Mandevilla are butterfly, bees, beetles and hummingbirds.

Mandevilla

Heat-Tolerant Flowers:

Portulaca (moss rose) is among the showiest and easiest of these types to grow.  Both single and double forms produce blooms of many brilliant hues.  Portulaca adapts to poor soil, and reseeds easily.  Portulaca is a succulent (holds water well) and great to put by a mailbox where you may not get out to water as often. 

Portulaca

Lantana thrives and flowers well in hot conditions, even growing in the narrow spaces between concrete and brick sidewalks.  Gazania blooms freely throughout summer, thriving on heat and drought.  It’s very effective in rock gardens.

Lantana

Heat-Resistant Flowers That Multiply:

Yarrow is another field flower showing up in home gardens.  Also known as achillea, this plant spreads so prolifically that gardeners may find it a nuisance plant after a couple of years if it’s not contained.  It produces feathery, fern-like leaves and tall stalks with flower heads made up of tiny florets.  Yarrow is usually white or yellow but can also be found in pastel shades of pink and purple, and deep red or maroon.

Yarrow

Coneflower is a true prairie plant and welcomes all weathers and soil conditions.  It self-propagates well but stays more contained than other self-seeding plants.  Also known as Echinacea, this plant flowers in midsummer and continues through fall, sending out tall stalks with flower heads of drooping rosy purple petals surrounding bulbous orange-brown centers.  Coneflower can be found in additional colors of white, orange and maroon.  Dead flower heads attract finches, which favor their seeds. 

Coneflower

Statice, also called sea-lavender, statice has leathery, gray-green clumps of leaves at its base, with branching, almost leafless stems.  Its small, delicate flowers appear at the tops of these arm-like structures and are protected by a papery envelope.  Statice spreads easily and flourishes in hot, dry conditions and many types of soil.  It prefers full sun.  Flowers may be white, pink, purple, blue, lavender or rose.  We use cut statice often at North Raleigh Florist as a cut filler flower in floral arrangements.

Statice

Heat Tolerant Perennial Flowers:

Russian Sage, a woody plant, grows up to 4 feet tall, with spiky stems covered with blue-lavender flowers.  Foliage consists of tiny gray-green leaves.  It loves heat and needs very little water.  Russian sage blooms from early summer through autumn.  These do best if cut back to about 6 inches when dormant.

Russian Sage

Verbena, grows about 10 inches tall and flowers may be many colors.  Use them as edging plants or in hanging baskets.  They do not need much care and over watering will damage them.  You will need to pick off dead blooms or they may stop flowering.  If that happens, clipping the top of the stems will promote new flowers. 

Verbena

Veronicas, come in many colors and various sizes.  They have few problems and tolerate most climates.  Some varieties grow low and make good edges or borders; others grow in clumps up to 3 feet tall.  They bloom mid-summer through autumn.

Veronica

 

Coneflower, described above, is also a heat tolerant perennial flower.

Father’s Day Blog

Happy Father’s Day

 

“Happy Father’s Day” means more than a happy day

Within those words lie lots of things we never get to say.

It means we love you first of all,

Then thanks to all you do.

It means you mean a lot to us,

And that we honor you.

But most of all, I guess it means that we are thinking of you…

Your happiness on this, your day, with pleasure and with love.

(Author Unknown)

Father’s Day is a day that brings many families together to celebrate the value and gifts of fathers.  This may be the first Father’s Day for a new dad, or it may be a yearly occasion of togetherness for a grandfather and his children and grandchildren.

Gifts for Dad are always a topic of conversation for families.  What to give Dad?  We have created a short list of a few ideas and suggest that you keep it simple.

          1.  Does Dad love to Barbecue?  Gourmet baskets for the barbecuing Dad; a collection of his favorite sauces and marinades, along with his favorite party snacks.

2.  Is Dad a Sports Lover?  A collection of gifts from his favorite team, such as a hat or sports jersey, or even sporting event tickets.

3.  Does Dad love to build?  Consider tools or gift certificates to local home improvement stores.

4. Does Dad love to garden?  Outdoor plants and blooming plants are always a favorite to the avid gardener.  Masculine-themed arrangements are great for Dad on Father’s Day as well.

Father’s can certainly be hard to shop for, but every dad has some passions that you can build a gift around. Rather than just giving another tie this year, lets commit ourselves to getting Dad something useful or memorable.

North Raleigh Florist can create the perfect collection of gifts to show your Dad you are thinking of him. Even is he is across the miles from you on Father’s Day. Just give us the wish list and we will take care of the delivery and all of your concerns.

Business Gift Solutions

Does your business utilize floral services? Have you ever wondered what benefit a florist could provide to you? Flowers speak volumes and they can be a great asset to many aspects of your business.

Employee Relations
Need a way to say thank you to your employees for all the hard work they’ve put in? Say it with flowers! Many different occasions are fitting for flowers, ranging from celebrations of newborns and birthdays to comforting employees when they lose loved ones, even if the funeral is out of town.  When an employee completes a large project or gains the status of “Employee of the Month or Year,” flowers are a perfect way to thank them, celebrate their accomplishment and brighten up their office with a vase full of color!

Client Relations
Are you having trouble closing that big deal? Did you make a mistake that you need to remedy? Use flowers to help solve your problem. A delivered floral arrangement goes a long way towards building and maintaining relationships with clients. Sending flowers to a wavering customer can help to put them at ease and show you care about them on a personal level, potentially sealing the deal on an important purchase.

 

When you fall short of expectations, this can sometimes diminish the relationship you’ve built over days and years. Many people send flowers to help repair personal relationships, so why not follow the trend to use them to help fix business relationships? Flowers sent with a personal note can easily show the depth and truth behind your apology.

Events
Is your company missing an important event? You truly can be there in some capacity just by sending a gift with a note that expresses your sentiment in your absence. Sometimes, this can actually be a useful gift for the event itself. A centerpiece for the food table or head table, perhaps? How about a basket of goodies for the attendees of a smaller event? The possibilities are endless.

Forming a partnership with your local florist can help you build positive relationships with employees and clients both, and even help to network when you are unable to attend events. North Raleigh Florist already manages multiple corporate accounts and has many business-centered flower solutions. Give us a call at 919-847-3381 and we’ll be happy to help you craft a plan to strengthen your business with flowers.