Sarasota Flower Shop News
Are Commercial Wildflowers Ever Truly 'Wild'? - The Atlantic
Tuesday, August 01, 2017Wildflower florists cater to customers eager to fill their events with local foliage. Her sister operates another William’s Wildflowers in Florida, one that supplies pickings from in and around Sarasota.The first goal of the New York operation is to expand native plant populations to help foster wildlife habitats. Roughly half of the money the business brings in after each event goes toward furthering planting efforts. But to maintain the operation, Andre also picks some of what she grows—and what she collects off uncurated plots of land—for wedding and special event orders. “I think I’ll always keep foraging, always keep that idea fresh in people’s minds—that this was from the wild, specifically picked for your wedding,” she says.To Andre, the only true wildflowers are the ones that grow without the help of a human hand. In the spring, when blossoms like black-eyed Susans proliferate in eastern New York, Andre wakes up early in the morning and forages along roadway patches to make most of her arrangements. But Andre relies on other sources of plants, too. Through summer and fall when untended and truly “wild” blossoms, by her definition, are harder to come by, she purchases more of her materials from local nurseries. She also draws from her own property, which was passed down from her grandfather, the business’s namesake. It is this plot of land that blurs the definition of wildflowers: While it is flush with a range of indigenous plants, left to grow as they please, Andre chooses which species are planted. Sprouts of tiny, purple inverted ice cream cones known as blue vervain, clusters of miniature tulips called turtlehead, and four kinds of aster—Stokes’, arrowleaf, New England and New York—are just some of the plants Andre tends to in her yard.This plot of land helps Andre navigate the challenge of maintaining a business with a primary goal of increasing a plant’s population, but then having to pick that very plant to keep the operation going. If Andre only foraged her stock, she would deplete the very blossoms she is trying to revive. “It makes me almost incredibly sad at times to have to cut down these flowers that are so beautiful and that bees are swarming around and loving and other pollinators are just in love with and the bugs ...” Andre trails off. So instead, she curates her grandfather’s property with a collection of indigenous upstate New York plants. The plot became a home for wildlife, and Andre pulls the small amount she needs for bouquets. And while they may not be as “wild” as their siblings on untended property, they allow her to avoid overplucking native populations. Besides, she points out, in the seven years the property was unattended, the land was overrun with garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, Ja...
Valentine's Day happenings in Bradenton-Sarasota - Bradenton Herald (blog)
Tuesday, April 04, 2017Wine pairing is available for an additional $20. The evening will include live music by a piano and violin duo. For details about the menu, visit cestlaviesarasota.com. Call 941-355-2323 to make reservations.1,364 number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced primarily chocolate and cocoa products in 2014, employing 42,043 peopleSource: U.S. Census Bureau ? The Polo Bar & Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, will offer a Valentine’s Day menu on Tuesday. The evening will include a performance by strolling violinist Laurie Vodnoy-Wright. To view the menu, visit pologrillandbar.com/valentines-day-2017. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 941-782-0899, ext. 2, or online at pologrillandbar.com/reservations.? The Table Creekside, 5365 Tamiami Trail South. Sarasota, is offering a special Valentine’s Day menu in addition to its usual dinner menu through Feb. 14. For details on the menu, visit tablesrq.com. For reservations, call 941-921-9465.13,765 the number of florist establishments nationwide in 2014Source: U.S. Census Bureau? Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 2001 Siesta Drive, has a three-course menu available through Feb. 19 for couples who can’t make it out on Tuesday. To view the menu details and make reservations online visit flemingssteakhouse.com. Call the Sarasota location at 941-358-9463 for more information. And if you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day, or you and your sweetie don’t have a ton of extra cash to splurge on a fancy meal, Dunkin’ Donuts has you covered. The coffee-and-pastry chain is offering fudge brownie swirl-flavored coffee and vanilla cupcake-flavored coffee in addition to two heart-shaped donuts; one is the Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Heart Donut, a chocolate-covered with raspberry filling, and the other is the Brownie Batter Crumble Heart Donut, with brownie batter flavored buttercreme filling, frosted with ch... http://www.bradenton.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/cravings-blog/article132032909.html
Sarasota detectives search for potted plant pilferer - Bradenton Herald
Tuesday, October 11, 2016Sarasota Police detectives are searching for a suspect in the thefts of potted plants and a metal bench worth a total of $1,000, according to a Sarasota Police Department press release.From a video released by the Sarasota Police Department, a man is seen walking into a courtyard at Awesome Orchids, 330 S. Pineapple Ave. No. 101, on after 2 a.m. on Sept. 15.Detectives say several potted plants were first taken between 5:30 p.m. Sept. 1 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 2, when the shop was closed. More plants and a metal bench, bolted to the cement, were taken between Sept. 14 and 15 after business hours.Anyone with information can call Detective Dan Riley at 941-954-7062 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477 or online at http://sarasotacrimestoppers.com. http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article104610291.html
Flower Art Festival - SRQ Magazine
Tuesday, August 30, 2016Vatican.For the second festival, Tonya and I traveled to Genzano by train and stayed at a friend's house, Alessandro Settimi, who started and sold two restaurants in Sarasota. His mother Simonetta took us in as her own daughters, feeding us the best homemade Italian food we ever had. In fact, she was the one responsible for the incredible tiramisu that was served when they first opened Matto Matto, which used to be in Burns Square.We spent most of our time at the Infiorata di Genzano di Roma and witnessed thousands of graceful and glamorous flowers of all colors being ripped apart by volunteers who separated the petals, leaves and seeds so the festival artists could use the parts as their medium to make carpets of flower paintings on the road surface Observing and meeting the artists was the main purpose of my trip as we prepare for the first Floralia Infiorata in the US this coming spring. It will be another ephemeral cultural event that affords visitors the opportunity to see the creative process from beginning to end. And just like the Chalk Festival, it will be no easy feat. Teams of volunteers will have to organize petal colors and materials into large baskets and throughout the night, they will have to help the artists place the petals in order to turn the street into a carpet of flower paintings by morning, but unlike the Chalk Festival that started from scratch, we head into our first Infiorata with some knowledge about such festivals.The Infiorata technique was invented in 1625 by a Vatican officer, Benedetto Drei, a florist and architect who headed the Apostolic Floreria. He used flowers to emulate a mosaic painting as an homage during the feast of the patron saints Peter and Paul of Rome. The art form now is celebrated throughout Italy, but the one in Genzano is the longest continuously running Infiorata festival, dating back to 1778.We were fortunate to attend this year during the Jubilee because the students, who normally create a mini-Infiorata at another time, got to present a few days earlier. By the time the professionals finished, the students’ flowers were starting to wilt and the wind blew some of the designs away. While standing in the town square at the fountain and viewing both streets, you could see the contrast with the professional exhibition that remained bright and the designs bold and the students' looking antiquated. Both were beautiful.The following day, a religious parade took place on the flower carpets with hundreds of people dressed in medieval and traditional garments. As a finale, the town children got to run over the artwork, blending all the colors and designs together. On my last day, I hiked to the top of the Molar, the highest peak of the Lattari Mountains, with pavement artist Vito Mercurio, where I got to see a panoramic view of where I had traveled for two weeks. It was a bittersweet ending. http://www.srqmagazine.com/articles/439/Flower-Art-Festival
Corpse flowers are invading the East Coast - Toledo Blade
Wednesday, August 10, 2016Because of the timing, most people who view the plant won’t smell much, but the sight alone is spectacle enough.The other two titan arums are in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Fla. Its first, named Seymour, bloomed a couple weeks ago. The second, Audrey, opened over the weekend. The names come from the 1986 movie about a man-eating plant, The Little Shop of Horrors.Horticulturists at the three botanical institutions hope to share pollen for breeding purposes, because the arum does not self-pollinate. Washington and New York have live webcams. Selby Gardens has Facebook updates.As with the Washington specimen, known internally as Charlotte to distinguish it from George, which bloomed three years ago, Audrey is currently in a coiled phase. The central spire, known as a spadix, is growing at about 6 inches a day while wrapped partially in a skirt called a spathe. This resembles a furled umbrella that is getting fatter by the hour. Botanically, the titan arum is the largest unbranched flower structure in the plant kingdom.Its flowering has become a hugely popular if not common phenomenon in botanical gardens around the world, not least because this plant draws thousands of ticket-paying visitors. Uniquely, admission to the U.S. Botanic Garden is free, and its grower, Elliott Norman, and plant curator, Bill McLaughlin, are simply thrilled to get visitors during the oppressive heat and humidity of high summer in Washington. Visitors are itching to take a selfie for their social media sites, they say. “It’s a bucket list for people to experience,” Mr. McLaughlin said.“A large, smelly bucket,” Mr. Norman added. He has been growing this week’s titan arum since 2010, when it was a pea-size offset of its mother bulb, or corm. Its bulb is now about 50 pounds, small for a blooming titan, but nothing about this plant has been predictable. Norman usually can figure out three months in advance if new growth will turn into a flower, rather than the more common and persistent leafy stalk. But Charlotte only gave him a couple of weeks notice. Its mother plant has yet to bloom.The plant is also growing at a rate and size beyond expectations, given the smallish girth of its bulb. As of Thursday morning, it was 79 inches high — the Florida pair are about 60 inches, the New York specimen 76 inches.“It took us by surprise, and its performance has been amazing; it’s far larger than expected,” Mr. McLaughlin said.When George bloomed in 2013, the horticulturists set up a step ladder after hours to get pictures and to experience the most potent period of odor. Mr. Norman, being an incurable romantic, took his wife along. “After the third wave we decided to leave. We thought the next one would cause us to fall off the ladder,” he said.Related Items: New York City ,new york ,united states ,north america... http://www.toledoblade.com/Gardening/2016/08/03/Corpse-flowers-are-invading-the-East-Coast.html
Carrollwood Florist Supplies Fresh Valentine's Day Flowers - MENAFN.COM
Sunday, February 10, 2019MENAFN - GetNews) Since 1992, Carrollwood Florist has been offering Valentine's Day bouquets and floral arrangements that are stylish and beautiful. Tampa, Florida - January 30, 2019 - With over 27 years of experience, Carrollwood Florist offers floral arrangements and bouquets that are stylish, fresh and beautiful. To make this Valentine's Day a special one, they offer unique Valentine's Day Flowers. 'We are your local, full service Tampa florist . We take pride in providing our customers with quality flowers, artfully designed arrangements and gifts for all occasions. From birthday flowers to Valentine's Day Flowers, we make everything special, said the spokesperson of Carrollwood Florist. You can rest assured that your order will be personally cared for by our in-house professional floral experts. 'There are many colors and varieties of roses available, and during the Valentine's season we stock some truly gorgeous colors, the spokesperson continued. 'Choose the option ‘Prettiest Color Available' to send the best from our cooler - remember, breaking the mold shows that you put some extra thought into your gift! Ordering early ensure... https://menafn.com/1098050086/Carrollwood-Florist-Supplies-Fresh-Valentines-Day-Flowers
Better Than Roses - The Newtown Bee
Sunday, February 10, 2019The Sunshine Bouquet Company began in New Jersey before branching out to Florida and Columbia, which allowed “Sunshine to provide efficient, rapid delivery to the United States.”Ms Brisch said Big Y also offers flower bouquets and potted plants from local farms, like Cavicchio Greenhouse in Sudbury, Mass. Since Big Y is headquartered in Springfield, Mass., its local farms are located in Massachusetts or Connecticut. Newtown Big Y Store Director Angelo Soto shared a list of all of its local farms, and those include Casertano’s Greenhouse in Cheshire, Connecticut Valley Flower in Hamden, Geremia Greenhouse in Wallingford, and Grower Direct in Somers.“There are so many local things to chose from,” said Ms Brisch.From choosing to support a conscientious company to finding ways to support local farms there is more to consider than just the color of a bouquet’s assorted flowers.Off-Season OptionsConnecticut-grown flowers can be hard to find in the winter.Natalie Collette of The Gardenist of Norwalk offers floral arrangements and designs, along with garden design support and maintenance, according to her Facebook page, The Gardenist. She mostly sells her flowers to local florists and people who contact her directly. A farmer florist, Ms Collette said she has private properties where she plants seasonal flowers, all organically. She harvests and creates bouquets along with maintaining a dahlia farm in New Haven. Growers in Connecticut, unless they have a greenhouse, do not grow flowers out of season, she observed. This makes it harder for local shops to maintain locally grown flowers in the winter months.When asked for ideas for alternative Valentine’s Day presents, Ms Collette recommended gifting a living flower arrangement or foraging for a bouquet of seasonal elements. Potted plants from a nursery also provide year-long enjoyment.“If it is a perennial, you can enjoy the plant from when you purchase it [until you] plant it in the spring,” said Ms Collette, who is currently selling house plants.Around mid-January, Evelyn Lee of Butternut Gardens LLC of So... https://www.newtownbee.com/better-roses/02102019
Alexandria Florist Invents Free Online Puzzle Game - The Zebra
Sunday, February 10, 2019District of Columbia. Originally designed as a game to be played in Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC, SillyPuzzles has now branched out as far as Florida and Texas with new puzzles being designed daily.To play the free game, players create an account and login to see nearby puzzles listed in order by distance from their phone. When they get near the designated puzzle location, a clue or question appears. Some are easy and require only that the player observe the point of interest and answer a question. Others require the use of logic to solve a math problem or a riddle.SillyPuzzles is free to play. There are no ads to view and players will not be subjected to any advertising unless they choose a puzzle that takes them to a retail merchant location that is indicated in the puzzle description. Premium Memberships may be available in the future.For more information. visit sillypuzzles.com. https://thezebra.org/2018/07/10/alexandria-florist-invents-free-online-puzzle-game/
The Blossom Shoppe Florist & Gifts Valentine's Day Ideas - Press Release - Digital Journal
Tuesday, February 05, 2019The Blossom Shoppe Florist & Gifts, the leading florist in Boynton Beach, features an impressive selection of Valentine’s Day flowers for a day filled with love and romance. Boynton Beach, Florida - January 29, 2019 - Being in the floral industry for over six decades, The Blossom Shoppe Florist & Gifts, the leading florist in Boynton Beach, has been providing exceptional floral arrangements and gifts backed by excellent customer service. They now feature an amazing selection of Valentine’s Day flowers to add more romance to the day.In our day-to-day responsibilities and hectic schedules, it is too easy to forget to celebrate the most important and enduring gift of all, the gift of love. Valentine’s Day is an important day set aside to refocus our affections and celebrate love, romance, and intimacy. Inspired by this, The Blossom Shoppe Florist & Gifts suggests a wide array of romantic and thoughtful Valentine’s Day floral arrangements to brighten the day of your love.“Presenting our unique Valentine’s Day floral collection is something we look forward to each year,” says the spokesperson for The Blossom Shoppe florist & Gifts. “Our team of talented designers creates beautiful... http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4131633