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Your niece is approaching her twenty-first birthday and your dad was named bowler of the year by his club. You'd like to share your joy in these celebrations by giving a nice arrangement of flowers, but how do you get through the fog of ordering flowers?
Florists are in the business of helping us express our emotions through flowers. They create floral arrangements to help celebrate the joy and affection we feel at life's passages, special events, and holidays. All through the year florists give us ways to say "Get well;" "Thanks for your help;" "I'm sorry;" "You're special;" and "I love you."
You can help your florist create a special floral arrangement with just the right message by clearly communicating what you want to say, how you want to say it, and finally, how much you want to spend.
The San Luis Obispo Cut Flower Commission offers the following guidelines to ease communication with your florist:
You and the recipient
Start by telling your florist what the occasion is, particularly if it is something other than a well known holiday or event, such as a personal achievement, concern, or milestone in a relationship. Give the florist information about the recipient, such as age, gender, personality type, as well as your relationship with that person. Let your florist know what sentiment you wish to convey. He or she will be able to suggest the right kind of flowers which are traditionally used to express certain feelings. And of course, indicate if there are favorite flowers you would like used.
Colors
Particular holidays and occasions predetermine specific colors, but outside of tradition, floral color decisions can be made in several ways. You may wish to match or complement colors of the recipient's home, office, or wherever the flowers will be displayed. Certain colors may have special meaning to the individual or your relationship with them.
Monochromatic color selections can be quite striking, and are used for both modern, trendy arrangements as well as nostalgic Victorian effects. Be sure to let your florist know what color hue you prefer.
Arrangements of mixed colors are always good, and particularly if you draw a blank on color choice. They also reflect the way flowers grow in a natural or garden setting.
Style
Arranging flowers is like cooking food: There are many different themes and ways to prepare even standard dishes. However, certain "buzz words" conjure up images of particular styles. Here are some words that florists are used to hearing and which may help you communicate your desired floral style: Masculine/feminine; formal/informal; nostalgic/contemporary; country garden/stylized; loose, airy/tailored; bold, dramatic; tropical; unusual; seasonal; ikebana (Japanese style); European.
Size and shape
Tell the florist details of where the arrangement will be displayed, for example, on an office desk; in a hospital room; in the center of a conference or dining table; at an entrance hall. Vertical arrangements work best for office desks and hospital rooms where surface space is limited. Broader, more horizontal arrangements are more suitable for dinner or conference table centerpieces where they should be low enough to be able to see the person sitting on the other side.
Be sure to give your florist approximate dimensions of the arrangement, and whether it will have a "backside" (displayed against a wall) or be viewed from all sides.
Price
The price of an arrangement is determined by several factors. Usually, the more flowers, the higher the price. Some types of flowers are more expensive than others. Domestically produced flowers in season will cost less than many imported or unusual ones that are out of season. With ideal growing conditions in San Luis Obispo, many varieties of flowers are available year round. Discuss your price range with your florist, and he or she will be able to create a suitable arrangement, with colors you desire, to fit your budget.
Accessories such as balloons, stuffed animals, candies could increase the price of an arrangement. Vase and container price can also vary.
The total cost of your floral arrangement will typically include a design fee. Training, experience, and reputation of the florist will determine this, just as in any other industry.
Wire services offer the convenience of ordering an arrangement for someone in another city or state. There is a charge for the service. In addition, florists' delivery charges generally range from $5 to $10. Be sure to ask about these charges before finalizing your floral purchase.
We’d like to thank our friends at the San Luis Obispo Cut Flowers Commission for the above information. |