Yes "WE" Do SYMPATHY

Birthday Flowers

Hoping to send a birthday surprise that's bright and beautiful? A gift that will be a true delight when delivered to someone's home, and an eye-catching display at their workplace? Then there's nothing quite as magnificent as a bouquet of fresh, colorful Birthday flowers. After all, Birthday flower arrangements are "one size fits all." Whether the recipient is a good friend, a spouse, a beloved family member or an office mate, a Birthday flower delivery will always say, "This is your day – and I'm thinking of you."Would you prefer to send a more personalized bouquet of flowers for a birthday. Consider adding a balloon, a box of luscious chocolates or even an adorable teddy bear. Florafino's has the perfect gift for birthdays of all ages; celebrating a 1st, 16th, 21st, 40th or 50th birthday is a very special occasion so send flowers today!

Hanging Gardens

Hanging plants are a great way to add a splash of color to your porch or patio. Fuchsia, morning glory, ivy geranium, petunia and begonia are just a few of the many annuals that are especially well-suited for growing in hanging baskets. Because the sides of the hanging basket are exposed to air, which can dry out the growing medium, annuals grown as hanging plants need special attention when it comes to watering. With the proper care and attention, you'll be able to enjoy your annual hanging plants for as long as possible.

1.-Situate your hanging basket in a location that will provide your plant with the appropriate amount of sunlight for its plant type. Place "Full Sun" plants in a location where they will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Hang "Partial Sun" plants in a location that receives up to six hours of filtered sunlight each day.

2.-Water your annual hanging plants generously to prevent their growing medium from drying out. Water the plants from the top until the water drains through the hanging basket to ensure that the moisture is reaching the roots of the plants.

3.- Fertilize your annual hanging plants every other week with a water-soluble fertilizer like Blooms Plus, Miracle Grow or Grow More. Make sure to follow the directions on the fertilizer package when fertilizing your hanging plants.

4.-Deadhead flowering hanging plants by pinching off the spent blossoms to encourage your hanging annuals to produce more blooms.

5.-Prune discolored, diseased or dead foliage from your annual hanging plants, as needed, to keep them looking green and healthy. Sharpen and sterilize your pruning shears before pruning your hanging plants.

Ready for SPRING?

Snow crocuses get their name, as they are the earliest of spring flowers. They often burst into bloom, while snow is still on the ground. These hardy flowers will begin to grow with a warm spell in late winter or early spring. If it snows again before they bloom or during bloom, that's okay. They will be unharmed. It only takes a few days growth to blossom into the first bright colors of the year.

Plant crocuses singly, or in groups. We do not recommend planting a large number of them close together, as they will rapidly multiply. In a year or two, that small group will become a major clump of attractive plants, regardless of how many you plant together. Fortunately, Crocus tolerates overcrowding.

Plant Crocus corms in the fall. Select a sunny location where the soil is not too wet or soggy over winter and during spring. Most importantly, select a spot where you can see them from a window of your house. You don't want to miss the first show of the year!

A Weekend to Remember-This Valentines Day

SUNDAY February 14, 2010 is Valentines Day

Don't Let Sunday stop you this year. We Deliver all week long for Valentines Day and on SUNDAY. So order for that someone special early.

Find perfect Valentine's Day gifts for everyone in your life. For a friend to say thank you for being in my life and being there for me, for a co-worker just to say thank you, for your mother for caring for you your whole life, for your wife to say I love you and for the love and support you have given me, for your sister for always listening to me when needed the most, for a nurse to say thank you for the care you have given me, for your father for the love and strength he showed you, for your brother for always standing by your side, for you grandparents for spoiling you over the years, now its time to spoil them:). Valentines day is just not for all loved ones but for ones that have showed you love, care, strength, support and help through your whole life.

Send Someone Flowers, Chocolates and Balloons this Valentines Day not just for love and romance "but all means do" but for those who have cared for you and loved you in others way.

JUMBO AMARYLLIS

Planting
Plant bulbs in a nutritious potting compost, many are available pre-mixed. Plant the bulb up to its neck in the potting compost, being careful not to damage the roots. Press the soil down firmly to set the bulb securely in place after planting.

Placement and Watering
Plant the bulb, or place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light since heat is necessary for the development of the stems. The ideal temperature is 68 to 70 degrees F. Water sparingly until the stem appears, then, as the bud and leaves appear, gradually water more. At this point, the stem will grow rapidly and flowers will develop after it has reached full growth.

Flowering Period
Bulbs will flower in 7-10 weeks as a general rule. In winter the flowering time will be longer than in spring. Set up your planting schedule between October and April with this in mind. To achieve continuous bloom, plant at intervals of 2 weeks for stunning color in your home or garden.

After-Bloom Care
After-Flowering. After the amaryllis has stopped flowering, it can be made to flower again. Cut the old flowers from the stem after flowering, and when the stem starts to sag, cut it back to the top of the bulb. Leaf Growth and Development. Continue to water and fertilize as normal all summer, or for at least 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow. When the leaves begin to yellow, which normally occurs in the early fall, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove the bulb from the soil. Bulb Storage. Clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40-50 deg. F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples, this will sterilize the bulbs. Store the bulbs for a minimum of 6 weeks. Plant Again. After 6 weeks you may remove bulbs whenever you would like to plant them. Plant bulbs 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom.

Sweetest Day October 17, 2009

Sweetest Day is celebrated each year on the third Saturday of October. Although often thought of by many as a second Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day is actually a day meant to celebrate all the people who make your life special. It’s an occasion to make someone happy, a chance to celebrate and give gifts to relatives, friends, and associates. Sweetest Day observance originated in Cleveland in 1922. Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the help of friends, he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.

Primarily a regional observance celebrated in the Great Lakes region and the Northeast, Sweetest Day is gradually spreading to other areas of the country. People tend to take the Sweetest Day tradition with them when they move. Ohio is the top state for Sweetest Day sales, followed by Michigan and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida are among the top 10 states in sales.

Why Do Leaves Change Colors?

Every autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter.

Tree and plant leaves contain pigments that give them their color. Three pigments are involved in fall color:
~Chlorophyll — gives leaves their green color.
~Carotenoids — provide the yellow, orange, and brown colors
~Anthocyanins — give the red and purple colors. In contrast to the other two pigments, anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars in the leaf cells.

During the growing season, most tree leaves are green because they are full of chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, the process that enables them to manufacture their own food. The amount of chlorophyll is so high during the summer that the green color masks all other pigments present in the leaf. As the days grow shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf then become visible.

Certain colors of leaves are characteristic of particular species of trees.

~Oaks turn red, brown, or russet;
~Hickories turn golden bronze;
~Dogwood turns purplish red;
~Beech turns light tan;
~Red maple turns brilliant scarlet;
~Sugar maple turns orange-red;
~Black maple turns glowing yellow;
~Sourwood and black tupelo turn crimson;
~Aspen, birch, and yellow-poplar turn golden yellow.

Choosing your "Right" Wedding Season

Weddings are a time in your life when you want everything to be perfect. You want to choose time of the year to get married that fills all your needs. Wedding seasons can have an impact on any wedding.

Fall Weddings
Fall weddings are filled with color because of the changing of the leaves and it is leading up to Halloween and Thanksgiving. The weather is a bit cooler and outdoor weddings are less common. The beautiful changing colors as a backdrop to a ceremony are just beautiful.

Winter Weddings
Wedding seasons include winter. This is not a popular season for weddings, but some people do like the idea of having a wedding around the holidays. The thing that you have to remember about a winter wedding is that it is going to be cold and you may have to deal with the snow and wet weather.

Summer Weddings
Summer weddings are more popular because you can choose from many different dress styles and you could have the wedding outdoors or indoors. It is possible to have theme weddings such as beach weddings, tropical weddings or even country weddings. When you are thinking about the different wedding seasons, summer is usually the time the first one to come to mind.

Spring Weddings
When you are thinking about the best wedding seasons, spring time always comes to mind because the flowers are in bloom and it is never too hot for fancy dresses and tuxedos. You can easily have a wedding outdoors or indoors in the springtime as well as the summer. This is the time when almost every flower you want for your wedding is in season and you can choose any color you want.

Between the wedding seasons, you have to choose from, spring and summer are the most popular. Many times a winter wedding is planned as a destination wedding to somewhere warmer, while spring, summer and fall weddings can be planned at home. When you are planning your wedding date, you need to consider the weather at that time of the year, if you can get the flowers you want and if it is the best time for your guests to travel. In most cases, brides and grooms will choose spring or summer for their weddings.

"Go Green" with Green Flowers

Green is a natural color of the planet. Green flowers? Leaves are green, yes, and grass is green. But flowers? Yes, there are green flowers, a surprising variety of them, in fact. But why, you might ask, would one want green flowers. Green can be considered a neutral color in a garden, smoothing the transition between color schemes or diluting too strong a hue. Against yellow or reddish foliage, they stand out without clashing. Have I convinced you yet?

List of Green Flowers Typically Available

-Green Hydrangea

-Green Carnation

-Green Rose
-Green Button Mum

-Green Hypericum

-Green Trachellium

-Green Bells of Ireland

-Green Anthurium

-Green Orchids including: Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums, Phalenopsis, lady slipper orchid

-Green Dianthus

-Green Rununculus

-Green Fuji Disbuds

At Florafinos we love green! So lots of green is always available.