How To Help Your Easter Lily Last Longer

Easter lilies remain the most popular gift flower during the Easter and Passover season. White lilies have symbolized purity and spiritual renewal since before Biblical times and receiving one as a gift is a delightful way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

If you receive an Easter Lily as a gift you can enjoy your flowers over a much longer period with just a little bit of special care. Giving your Easter lily the correct amount of light water and providing the proper temperature will help your gift plant produce beautiful flowers over at least two weeks and possibly longer if it arrives with many young unopened buds.

How To Care For Your Easter Lily

Easter lilies like bright but indirect sunlight and cool temperatures so don't locate your plant in hot,direct sunlight or near heat vents. 60-65 degrees F is the ideal daytime temperature and the plants can take even cooler nighttime temperatures.

Moving your plant to an unheated room at night will make the blooms last longer and will keep the plants from getting stressed.

Lily bulbs and plants are poisonous so keep them away from children and pets.

Make sure to remove the yellow anthers from the center of the flowers. This is very important because those anthers will shed large amounts of sticky yellow pollen which will make the flowers wilt sooner. The thick pollen could also stain fabrics and furniture so don't forget this step.

Lilies prefer moist but not wet soil so under watering or over watering can be harmful. Check the soil every day and water whenever the soil feels dry.

Remove the plastic pot from its wrapping or basket when you water and let the water drain from the pot so the bulb will never be left in standing water. After the water has from the pot drained you can replace the cover.

When each Easter lily flower begins to wilt remove to make room for the new blossoms. If you skip this step you may find that some of the unopened buds will not mature because the plant will try to put its energy into making seed.

If you'd like to move your Easter lily to the garden when it has finished blooming removing the spent flowers will also help the bulb put its energy into making bulblets which will eventually grow into blooming lily plants.

Most people view Easter lilies as a "throwaway plant" believing that forced bulbs won't bloom again. But if you've followed the directions here you should be able to move it to the garden with no problems.

For instructions on growing your Easter lily gift plant in the Garden see my Xomba article:

Easter Lily Plants Don't Have To Be Discarded When The Season Is Over

Happy Easter!

Tips To Keep Your Valentine Rose Bouquet Affordable

A Valentine Rose bouquet is still the most popular gift to give a loved one on this special holiday. Red roses will probably always be the most popular choice but there are more affordable Valentine rose bouquet choices for people who want to give beautiful roses that don't break the bank.

Get Your Valentine Rose Bouquet In A Color Other Than Red

Red roses are in such demand for Valentine's Day that they will always cost more than roses of other colors. Yellow,pink,or white rose arrangements are usually priced lower than red roses. Mixed color arrangements,with or without red roses,are also usually a more affordable choice than an all-red arrangement.

12 Long Stem White Roses

Choose Short Stemmed Or Spray Roses For Valentine Rose Savings

Long stemmed red roses may be the Valentine standard but there are other types of roses available that are just as lovely. Short stemmed roses and spray roses are more affordable choices if you want to save a little money on Valentine roses.

Short stemmed roses have a fuller look than long stemmed roses and look beautiful in a round or square vase. Again,the savings can be substantial.

Most roses that are grown for the floral trade have one bloom per stem. Growers cut back stems of blooming roses to one bud so a larger flower will be produced. The effect can be dramatic but the extra care required to produce single long stemmed roses results in higher prices.

Spray roses are roses that haven't been pruned to one bud so each stem is allowed to produce several flowers. A bouquet of 12 spray roses could actually contain dozens of blooms. The flowers will be smaller but the full,lush look of spray roses resembles a bouquet your sweetheart might cut from her own garden.

Assorted Blooms of Spray Roses

Find A Valentine Rose Bouquet That Has The Vase Included In The Price

It's always a good idea to include a vase in your Valentine flower order,especially if you aren't sure whether the recipient has one. But adding a vase can add up to $20 to the price of a flower arrangement. Luckily most florists offer flower arrangements that include a vase for no extra charge. This can result in a substantial savings on a Valentine rose bouquet.

12 Assorted Roses With Vase

Why Are Valentine Roses So Expensive?

It's certainly not a myth that valentine roses cost more than those sold at other times of the year. Whether you order roses online or from a local florist the prices will be higher on Valentine"s Day. Some people may even be convinced that the suddenly high price of Valentine roses is simply a conspiracy to get people to part with more of their hard earned money in the name of love.

So are there legitimate reasons why roses cost more on Valentine's Day? The real truth of the matter is that that the consumer is not the only one who pays more for Valentine roses. Since Valentine's Day falls in the middle of the winter in the Northern Hemisphere most roses are either grown in greenhouses or shipped in from South American countries like Ecuador and Colombia. So of course the retailer will also be paying significantly more than usual.

Valentine's flowers starting at just $29.99 - Visit FromYouFlowers.com!

How Valentine Roses Get To The Recipient

Roses are carefully grown so they will be blooming in time for Valentine's Day. When the roses are still in the bud phase they are ready to be harvested and shipped. More workers must be hired by the grower to prepare the them and send them all over the world. The roses are flown in from South America where they are then shipped either to distribution centers,directly to the consumer, or to local florists for arranging and delivery to the recipient. All of this takes place in climate controlled conditions so the roses won't be subject to freezing or overheating.

Since Valentine's Day is the busiest holiday in the year for sending roses florists have to hire extra workers to prepare,arrange,or deliver the roses and to take telephone or internet orders. Because of the volume of business more people will probably be needed during the week or two before Valentine's Day to take telephone and internet orders and to provide customer service. Even local grocery stores may need more workers to fill the demand for Valentine roses.

When you order your Valentine roses online you usually have the choice of having the flowers packaged in a box and and sent to the recipient via UPS or FedEx or having a local florist arrange and deliver them. Either delivery method is subject to charges in addition to the price of the flowers.

To save money when ordering roses online you can take advantage of current offers like 1800Flowers free shipping or Save up to 15% - 30% + Get FREE Express Delivery at Honest Florist. When buying flowers from a local florist you can save a delivery charge by picking your Valentine roses up yourself and delivering them in person.

Out Of Christmas Gift Ideas? Try A Gift Of The Month Club

Monthly gift clubs can be a great choice when you want to give someone a "big" gift but you just don't have any ideas. Even the person who has everything will enjoy receiving lovely flowers or a yummy edible treat every month. These monthly gifts can be delivered in time for Christmas if you order today. (Seriously the last minute is officially here,so don't wait!)

12 Months of Flowers

For 12 consecutive months,on the 2nd Wednesday of the month,ProFlowers will send a seasonally selected bouquet.A free vase is include with the first shipment and shipping is Free!


* JANUARY: bouquet of Asiatic lilies and blue iris
* FEBRUARY: fragrant Oriental lilies in assorted colors
* MARCH: 20 stems of tulips in various colors
* APRIL: 20 stems of blue iris
* MAY: lilies, delphinium, asters, snapdragons, and mums
* JUNE: 36 purple carnations
* JULY: 25 stems of Peruvian Lilies(Alstromeria)
* AUGUST: 18 roses in mixed colors
* SEPTEMBER: mix of yellow roses, Peruvian lilies and more
* OCTOBER: 12 red, orange and yellow roses
* NOVEMBER: mixed arrangement of orange roses, Peruvian lilies and yellow asters
* DECEMBER: 8 roses, 6 carnations, 4 mini carnations, 3 white chrysanthemums, filler and greens

12 Months of Organic Fruit

The Cherry Moon Farms Organic fruit of the month club will provide your recipient with seasonal fresh fruit in generous quantities for a full year.

The first shipment is delivered to your recipient on the exact date you choose. A card with a personal message and a description of the gift can be sent to the recipient immediately. All subsequent shipments are delivered during the second week of each month.

Each shipment of fresh fruit is free ,saving you over $120.
* January: Organic Navel Oranges (5lbs)
* February: Organic Beurre Bosc Pears & Granny Smith Apples (5lbs)
* March: Organic Kiwi & Mango (3lbs)
* April: Organic Strawberries (2lbs)
* May: Organic Yellow Peaches (3lbs)
* June: Organic Bing Cherries (2lbs)
* July: Organic Red & Black Plums (3lbs)
* August: Organic White & Yellow Nectarines (3lbs) September - Organic Bartlett Pears (5lbs)
* October: Organic Imperial Comice Pears & Honey Crisp Apples (5lbs)
* November: Organic Fuji & Pink Lady Apples (5lbs)
* December: Organic Satsuma Mandarins (5lbs)

For even more ideas for edible gifts go to Cherry Moon Farms but don't wait. You need to order today to ensure Christmas delivery.

Last Minute Christmas Rose Arrangements For Same Day Delivery

Believe it or not,you can still order last minute Christmas rose arrangements and they will be delivered to the recipient before Christmas if you order now. Procrastinators still have a lot of choices left so relax and make sure you order today to ensure Christmas delivery.

Two Dozen Long Stemmed Roses

The 24 long stemmed red roses in this arrangements are shipped fresh from the South American fields. Roses are delivered while still in the bud phase so they will last much longer.

24 Classic Red Roses

This christmas bouquet of two dozen short stemmed roses in a square vase is similar to Teleflora's TFWEB390. This arrangement has a sleek,modern look.

Holly Holiday Bouquet

This Christmas arrangement arrives in a terra cotta pot. Bouquet includes 3 red roses, pine cones, faux berrries and holy.

Martha Stewart White Rose and Berry Bouquet

This arrangement designed by Martha Stewart features bright white roses accented with red hypericum berries and galax leaves. Suitable for use as a centerpiece.

If you need to have last minute Christmas roses delivered before Christmas you can still order until the morning of December 24,but I would advise ordering today to ensure your choices are available. All of these Christmas rose arrangements are arranged and delivered by a florist in the recipient's area.

Last Minute Christmas Flower Arrangement Ideas

Need to send a Christmas Flower arrangement? Afraid there's just not enough time? Even though Christmas is only one week away,there is still time to have fresh flowers delivered to friends and loved ones.All of the arrangements featured here are available for same day delivery,so don't panic. You should be able to find a beautiful Christmas flower arrangement
from one of these online florists.

Christmas Flower Arrangement

This Christmas vase arrangement arrives in a classic clear vase. Bouquet includes Red and white gerbera daisies, accented with evergreens and pinecones. Similar to Teleflora's TFWEB80

Holiday Star
This fresh arrangement of roses, carnations, Star of Bethlehem, cushion poms, holly and fragrant holiday greens includes a fun star pick. Arranged in a cut-out tin that can later be used as a holiday candle shade. Arrangement measures approximately 12 inches high and 9 inches wide

Holiday Tradition w/FREE Elegant Ruby Vase & Chocolates

The Holiday Tradition Bouquet includes 3 long stemmed red and 3 white South American roses,red and white carnations,white mums and Holiday greens. Delivered with a free ruby glass vase and chocolate truffles making this a complete gift.

Stay tuned for more last-minute gifts ideas. I'll be featuring more Christmas Flower Arrangements,gift baskets and edible gifts including chocolate and fresh fruit. I'll be posting here several times a day as long as gifts are still available so subscribe to the Flower Gifts Online RSS feed (It's the orange button at the top right of the page) to keep up with the latest Christmas gift ideas.

Christmas Floral Centerpieces From Martha Stewart and 1800Flowers

These Christmas floral centerpieces from 1800Flowers will provide the perfect accent for your holiday tabletop or to send as a gift. Nothing sets off a holiday dinner like a centerpiece with fresh flowers, evergreens and flickering candlelight. Be sure to look over the selections and click on the holiday coupon banner at the bottom of the page to save up to $10 on Christmas centerpieces from 1800Flowers. Same day delivery is available on all these beautiful Christmas floral centerpieces.

Martha Stewart Holiday Celebration Centerpiece

The Martha Stewart Holiday Celebration Centerpiece will help you celebrate your holiday dinners in style. Designed by Martha herself, this Christmas floral centerpiece features deep-red roses, lovely green incense cedar boughs, red ball-baubles, and pinecones are crafted into a fragrant centerpiece arrangement like a lovely forest garden.

    * Red roses are mixed with fragrant incense cedar boughs, pinecones,magnolia leaves, and accented with red  ball-baubles by a 1800Flowers select florist.
    * Large arrangement measures approximately 8.5"H x 23"W
    * Medium arrangement measures approximately 7.5"H x 17"W

Berry Merry Christmas™

Holly has long been one of the most important plants of the Christmas season,especially in the United States and the U.K. Holly is the perfect evergreen for wreaths and centerpieces since it is long-lasting and thrives in cold winter conditions. Holly is a traditional symbol of peace, joy, good luck and good cheer. According to legend, this decorative plant is also believed to protect a person from bad dreams, lightning, and evil spirits.

The "Berry beautiful" Christmas centerpiece features fragrant mixed evergreens and festive holly, accented with pinecones, ornaments, ribbon, and elegant taper candles.The centerpiece measures approximately 6" in height and 15" wide not including candle height.

This centerpiece is especially long lasting and can be enjoyed well into the new year.

White Christmas Floral Centerpiece With Candles

The color white has long represented perfection and purity, and signifies light, goodness and innocence. An all-white centerpiece will help you bring those qualities to your Christmas Dinner table.

This classic winter white floral centerpiece of lilies, carnations, roses and button poms, hand-designed by our select florists with taper candles and suitable for for an elegant Holiday celebration.
    * 1800Flowers select florists choose the freshest lilies, carnations, roses and button poms and add elegant 12"L white taper candles
    * Large arrangement measures approximately 8"H x 12"W x 22"L and includes 3 candles
    * Medium measures approximately 7"H x 11"W x 20"L with 2 candles
    * Small centerpiece does not include lilies and measures approximately 6"H x 10"W x 18"L ;includes 1 candle
    * Measurements do not include candles. Tapers are 12" tall.

Happy Poinsettia Day!

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day. The poinsettia, a native of Central America and Mexico was named for Joel Roberts Poinsett,the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett discovered the plants during a Christmas trip to Taxco, Mexico in 1828.

Ambassador Poinsett,a physician and botanist,was so charmed by the plant,known as Flores de Noche Buena(Flowers of The Holy Night), that he had several of them sent back to his home in South Carolina so he could grow them in his own greenhouses. For several years afterward he gave them to friends as Christmas presents.

By 1836 the plant had become a very popular Christmas plant in the United States and became known as the Poinsettia in his honor.

In 1851 Congress declared that December 12,the day of Poinsett's death, would be celebrated as Poinsettia Day in remembrance of the man who introduced this lovely plant to the American people.

A Fresh Balsam Fir Wreath Provides An Aromatic Welcome To Christmas Guests

Balsam fir wreaths are aromatic and long-lasting making them a popular choice for Christmas decorations. Whether you hang them on your own door or send them as a gift these fresh-cut balsam wreaths will help set a welcoming atmosphere for any Christmas gathering.

The evergreen wreath is an ancient symbol of longevity and continuity.It's shape represents the circle of life and is traditionally displayed at Christmas to represent the continuation of life through the darkest days of winter.

Vermont Balsam Wreath

This traditional hand-tied Vermont balsam wreath from Gardener's Supply Company has long-lasting color and fragrance because it's cut and hand-tied only after first frost, when the air is crisp and trees have hardened off. Your wreath arrives decorated with real pine cones,faux holly berries and a weatherproof, hand-tied, red bow.

Take 15% off your Gardener's Supply Company order of $25 or more! Offer valid through 12.24.09.

Burgundy and Green Christmas Wreath

This fresh-cut balsam fir wreath from 1800Flowers.com measures 20" in diameter and can be used indoors or out. Decorated with burgundy and green ornaments, realistic burgundy faux berries, and a burgundy and green bow.

FREE Shipping or No Service Charge on Holiday flowers & gifts from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving Arrangements|Autumn Roses

Thanksgiving arrangements featuring roses in autumn colors would make the perfect accent for your holiday table or to send to someone who's far away. Thanksgiving is the last holiday of fall and I always like to decorate with flowers whenever I can.

People in some areas are lucky enough to still be able to pick roses from their own gardens and of course that would be the best choice. But for most of us the weather is turning colder so we'll need to either pick up roses at the local florist or order them.

This Thanksgiving arrangement provides a riot of fall colors. This bouquet of a dozen roses with hypericum berries and greenery in bright seasonal colors is great for someone who loves to be surrounded with bright colors

With roses the colors of the changing autumn leaves the Orange Rose Mosaic bouquet will provide a memorable accent for the Thanksgiving table.Arranged in a square orange vase,these roses in shades of orange can be ordered and delivered the same day by a florist in the recipient's area.

The Giving Thanks Bouquet
with short and medium stemmed roses in autumn colors from peach to burnished orange is sure to convey a message of thankfulness and abundance. This orange rose bouquet comes in a designer orange glass vase.Delivered by a local florist. This rose bouquet is similar to the FTD Fall Giving Thanks bouquet.

Bountiful Rose Bouquet

The bountiful rose bouquet features roses in shades of peachy orange and ivory. Arranged in a ceramic pumpkin container that can be reused as a cookie jar,candy dish or for more flowers.

These Autumn Passages
flowers will bring a burst of color to your Thanksgiving table. This arrangement is actually two bouquets in one. Cranberry, fuchsia and brilliant orange roses are simply accented with red hypericum berries in one bouquet, and cranberry and orange roses with fuchsia spray roses, orange miniature calla lilies, dark orange Asiatic lilies and red hypericum berries in the other.

Both bouquets arrive arranged in a clear glass gold-banded vase to help make your autumn celebration special. The stems can be grouped together for one stunning table or sideboard arrangement or divided into several smaller bouquets to display throughout your home.