FLOWER TALK                                                                              Issue #18

• Environmentally Friendly Flower Arranging
• New Floral Shop in the Works
• Giving A Floral Arrangement
• Make This Easy Summer Thirst Quencher Arrangement
• Don't Forget to Visit my Newest Site
• Tell Us What You Think

Environmentally Friendly Flower Arranging

Flowers and plants add natural color and beauty to our indoor spaces, but they can also serve a much more practical purpose: helping to improve the quality of the air we breathe. Many plants can actually help clean the air by removing harmful chemicals and replacing stale, dirty air with clean, fresh air. You can create gorgeous floral arrangements that not only beautify your home or office but also help support your health.

If you spend most of your time indoors, you’re constantly exposed to chemicals that leech into the air from common synthetic materials including fiberboard, ceiling tiles, and carpeting. Indoor spaces also suffer from reduced ventilation and pollutants like artificial fragrances. Plants are one of the best defenses against these unhealthy environments.

The majority of air-cleaning plants do not flower, or have flowers that are considered insignificant, but there are several outstanding exceptions. The most notable of these is the Gerbera daisy. Gerbera daisies produce large flowers in brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges. The flowers last a long time after they’ve been cut, making them perfect for floral arrangements. Gerbera daisies are also one of the most effective plants for removing toxic indoor vapors.

Another beautiful example of a flowering plant that cleans the air is the chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums come in a wide variety of bright colors, last for a long time in floral arrangements, and are extremely effective at removing chemicals like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. Chrysanthemums are also widely available, so you can decorate and protect your indoor space with their charming presence all year long.

Tulips may not be available all year long, but their stunning flowers are well worth the wait. They come in an endless variety of colors and their shapes range from the simple, classic elegance of the traditional tulip to exotic parrot-leaved and peony-like varieties. In addition to their beauty, tulips also help remove formaldehyde and ammonia from the air.

Perhaps the most popular seasonal flower is the poinsettia. You can use their colorful displays in vases, wreaths, and in mantle-top arrangements. Poinsettia colors are no longer limited to the traditional red and white; they can now be found in creamy pinks and salmons, and gorgeous marbled varieties that combine two colors in one plant. Poinsettias last for a long time after cutting, and are good at removing chemical vapors.

Among non-flowering plants that are both attractive in floral arrangements and help cleanse the air are two varieties of ferns, the Boston fern and the Kimberly Queen. Their delicate, lacy foliage provides a gorgeous backdrop to upright arrangements and sprays, and the leaves help remove formaldehyde and add humidity to the indoor environment. Trim their stems regularly to keep them looking fresh.

Trailing plants can be a beautiful complement to floral arrangements in vases and other tall containers. English ivy, particularly the variegated variety, with its marbled green and white leaves, provides the perfect accent as it spills down the outside of your container. It will last indefinitely in water, and is one of the best plants for removing chemicals from the air.

Two of the most common and popular trailing houseplants, philodendron and golden pothos, are widely available, inexpensive, and look wonderful in tall arrangements. Like English ivy, they will last indefinitely in water (just remember to replace the water regularly), and are good air cleaners and humidifiers. Golden pothos, with its yellow-splashed green leaves, and variegated philodendron in green and white, work beautifully with flowers in a single color palette.

Floral arrangements brighten our surroundings and help relieve stress and promote relaxation. Choosing flowers and greens that not only look beautiful but help create a healthier environment is an excellent way to enhance your quality of life and make you feel good about the time you spend in your indoor spaces.

New Floral Shop In the Works

I have begun work on my new floral shop.  It will be called AFA Florals and will offer discount prices for floral arranging supplies.  I will be keeping my prices low so that many of you can take advantage of learning a new art in the form of flower arranging.  I want everyone to know how enjoyable floral arranging can be and hope that when the shop is finally ready and online you will take advantage of it.  I will be putting in a limited amount of supplies for the beginning, but if there is something you would like to see in the shop drop me a line and I can probably get for you within a weeks time.

Giving a Floral Arrangement

Giving a gift to a loved one or friend can be a difficult process. Sometimes it seems as if they may already have everything that they want or need. This can make them very hard to buy for. You want to make sure that they receive something special that they will enjoy. This is where floral arrangements come in. Flowers are a widely recognized symbol of a bond between two people. Floral arrangements are the perfect way to let that special person know exactly how you feel without having to put it into words.

Browsing the Internet can be a great way to learn about different types of flowers when you have little experience in buying them. You may easily find pictures of flowers that you have probably never even heard of before as well as pictures of your favorite flowers. One thing you will find is that in addition to the many gorgeous floral arrangements there are individual flowers available for purchase as well. The occasion you are trying to represent can help to determine the type of floral arrangement you should give.

There are many options when choosing the arrangement. The symbolism and the colors of the particular flowers in a floral arrangement can both be determining factors. It also depends on whether the arrangements are for you to send to someone, to use in your own home décor, or if the arrangements are for a certain special occasion. There are no limitations on the various kinds of flowers available and their many different arrangement possibilities. One thing you must consider is that if they are for someone that is special to you then they should be a direct reflection of what they enjoy. A floral designer can help you make the choice as well.

The colors that a person enjoys should be another determining factors when choosing the sort of floral arrangement to send. You want to make sure that they are colors that they enjoy. You also want to make sure that they suit their sense of style or personality as well. It is quite simple to find out the information you need through your conversations you have with them. Also, look for the colors that are prevalent in their home décor and this will let you know which ones they prefer. You must consider the meaning you want the floral arrangement to impart to the person you are sending it to.

If you do not know the meaning that a particular flower type or color just ask florist if one is available. If they are not, then a simple Internet search can easily give you the information you need. There is quite a bit of meaning attached to

Make this Summer Thirst Quencher Arrangement

To make your own arrangement just go here.

I am very proud of my newest website and hope that those of you who have not already paid a visit will do so soon.  If you want to know what the meanings various flowers is, or are making up a flower arrangement and want to express a particular feeling than Petal Picker is the place for you.  Want to visit my site now just click here.

Tell Us What you Think

We'd love to hear what you think of this issue!  Please send your comments, questions and ideas for upcoming issued to us at:  judybabb@artisticflowerarrangements.com

You could take a floral arranging course at your local college or
design school and easily pay $700 or more for training as a floral design specialist.  It could take you a year or more of having to do arrangements the way a teacher explains them instead of allowing you the freedom to experiment and unleash your own hidden potential.