Ashley, MI Florists

Ashley Flower Shop News

White House florist to demonstrate her 'floral diplomacy' at Houston home show - Houston Chronicle

Outdoor Living Show When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8Where: Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards, 2000 EdwardsHighlights: Other speakers include KonMari consultant Ashley Barber, Houston Chronicle design writer Diane Cowen, High-Tech Texan Michael Garfield and FloodFrame CEO Tasha NielsenTickets:$10 adults, $9 seniors, children age 12 and younger get in free; h-townhome.com Her book is project based, with vivid photography and detailed instructions to guide you through dozens of floral arrangements. Organized by emotions, chapters include tranquility, charm, nostalgia romance and dreams, and the bouquets themselves have inventive names, such as Dancing Daffodils, Here Comes the Sun and Green Bean Casserole. Before her Houston visit, the Washington state native spoke with the Chronicle about her White House experience, the transformative power of flowers and her new book. Q: I love the term you used in your first book, “Floral Diplomacy.” Do you think most people consider how flowers affect us on that level? A: I have this background in policy and policy analysis, so I’ve always looked at language and analysis as a tool for problem solving and conveying messages. I saw the potential to use flowers in the same way. Flowers have a long history of conveying meaning and metaphor in so many cultures. I handled flowers for state dinners, and my first one was for India. I used the Indian peacock as the emblem. It’s significant in Indian culture … and we used vivid apple green and purple and fuchsia — the colors of the peacock — as a jumping-off point. I would craft a story about how all of these things could come together to honor the guest country and blend in the best of American culture and tradition. Q: What events were the hardest to do? A: The state dinners always had the highest stakes, but the most complicated project would be the White House Christmas because of the logistics with 55 different trees and miles of garland. We started with an inspiring theme — my favorite was “Simple Gifts” in 2010, the first Christmas I worked on. Christmas was a year-round project for me. I never stopped thinking about what special projects we could do. ... https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/gardening/article/Floral-diplomacy-15090514.php

Flowers are a great last-minute gift — but be sure to send the right message - Seattle Times

Daisies are good to send to someone who has a casual, free-spirited style, Amy Merrick says in her new book, “On Flowers: Lessons From an Accidental Florist.” (Tif Hunter) Ashley Greer, owner of Atelier Ashley Flowers in Alexandria, Virginia, said clients tend to get stressed about their flower choices. “Some people are very self-conscious when it comes to flowers and their impressions,” Greer says. “People think that the flowers they use at an event or that they send are a direct reflection on them. And they want to be careful that their arrangement reflects their taste, their style and the occasion.”AdvertisingCondolence flowers may be what people most obsess about. “When you are sending something for a funeral you want to be sensitive,” Greer says. “Sometimes people say they don’t want to send anything that looks fun. They prefer something white and green.”Dowling, whose studio is in Alexandria, says condolence flowers “don’t have to be all white. Having flowers that are soft and comforting and focus on texture is a good way to go. Make them personal, and possibly reflecting a certain flower the person loved. Then they can really evoke the sense of a warm hug.”New York flower designer and illustrator Cathy Graham says her go-to sympathy flowers include a paperwhite plant and a white or blue hydrangea plant that could bloom for a few weeks. “You don’t have to do all white, but I would not use bright, festive colors.”Don’t overlook household pets when you are creating a bouquet or arrangement to send to someone, says Graham. “Lilies and other flowers are bad for cats,” says Graham, who worries about that with her own two ginger cats, Reggie and Cheddar. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals publishes a list of plants that are poisonous to pets. img data-ratio="1.50037" data-caption="Included in this Atelier Ashley Flowers design for a baby shower are ranunculus, which mean radiant charm. It never hurts to let a woman who is about to give birth know that she is radiant, owner Ashley Greer says. (SKC Photography)" class alt="Included in this Atelier Ashley Flowers design for a baby shower are ranunculus, which mean radiant charm. It never hurts to let a woman who is about to give birth know that she is radiant, owner Ashley Greer says. (SKC Photography)" src="https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-780x520.jpg" srcset="https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-300x200.jpg 300w, https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-768x512.jpg 768w, https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-780x520.jpg 780w, https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/design-flowers-ba15b5bc-00a9-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58-1560x1040.jpg 1... https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/shop-northwest/flowers-are-a-great-last-minute-gift-but-be-sure-to-send-the-right-message/

Penticton woman treasures dried flowers sent from war front - Penticton News - Castanet.net

Photo: Colin DacreDried flowers inside a framed photo of Reid Brennan.Janice Ashley was moved by a war flowers article on Castanet because it reminded her of the dried flowers her uncle, Reid Brennan, sent her mother, Jacquelin Swain, back in 1943.He sent the flowers with a photo while he served in Italy during the Second World War."On the back of the picture frame is an old yellow thing saying 'picked at a town north of Sangro River. Dec. 1943,'" said the Penticton resident.The flowers have been with Ashley since she inherited it from her mother who had it with her for years."I think they were poppies, I'm not sure," she said.Brennan returned home safely from the war and got married, but the conflict affected him."I think of how terrible it was for him and how it changed him. He wouldn't talk about a lot of it for a long time." Brennan has two children, a son and daughter, but Ashley says she doesn't know where they are. Last she remembers, they were from Sudbury, Ont. https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/269792/Penticton-woman-treasures-dried-flowers-sent-from-war-front

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Top Photography And Design Books - Forbes

Playing roles in front of the camera and behind, as stylist, make-up artist and hairstylist, Sherman transforms herself with each shot. "Rooms With A History"RizzoliRooms With A History by Ashley Hicks (Rizzoli) charts the English designer’s creative process and showcases his furniture, interior and artistic designs. Hicks is the son of aristocratic decorator David Hicks, who’s best known for using geometric designs, vibrant colors and mixing modern designs and antiques in his iconic projects. "Linda McCartney: The Polaroid Diaries"TaschenLinda McCartney: The Polaroid Diaries (Taschen) features the late photographer’s candid polaroid works from the 1970s through the 1990s including of her husband Beatle Paul McCartney."Flower Color Guide"PhaidonFlower Color Guide by Darroch and Mikey Putnam (Phaidon), founders of New York-based floral design firm Putnam & Putnam, features 400 flower types organized by color and includes tips on flower care and design. Putnam & Putnam has become the in-demand florist for weddings and fashion shows working with people like Gwyneth Paltrow , Chrissy Teigen, Jason Wu and Brandon Maxwell to create organic arrangements in their signature dusty antique color palettes. "Dior By Peter Lindbergh"TaschenDior By Peter Lindbergh (Taschen) showcases the late photographer Peter Lindbergh’s photography for the French fashion house Christian Dior. Included are shots of actresses and brand ambassadors Marion Cotillard and Charlize Theron, models Alek Wek, Karen Elson and Amber Valletta as well as many never-bef... https://www.forbes.com/sites/natashawolff/2019/11/18/holiday-gift-guide-2019-the-top-photography-and-design-books/

Flower etiquette has changed dramatically over time. But the type you give still sends a message. - The Washington Post

A get-well bouquet could channel a favorite place, pastime or dream.[Obama party planner Bryan Rafanelli shares his secrets for a memorable bash]Ashley Greer, owner of Atelier Ashley Flowers in Alexandria, Va., said clients tend to get stressed out about their flower choices. “Some people are very self-conscious when it comes to flowers and their impressions,” Greer says. “People think that the flowers they use at an event or that they send are a direct reflection on them. And they want to be careful that their arrangement reflects their taste, their style and the occasion.” Condolence flowers may be what people most obsess about. “When you are sending something for a funeral you want to be sensitive,” Greer says. “Sometimes people say they don’t want to send anything that looks fun. They prefer something white and green.”Dowling, whose studio is in Alexandria, says condolence flowers “don’t have to be all white. Having flowers that are soft and comforting and focus on texture is a good way to go. Make them personal, and possibly reflecting a certain flower the person loved. Then they can really evoke the sense of a warm hug.”New York flower designer and illustrator Cathy Graham says her go-to sympathy flowers include a paperwhite plant and a white or blue hydrangea plant that could bloom for a few weeks. “You don’t have to do all white, but I would not use bright, festive colors.”Don’t overlook household pets when you are creating a bouquet or arrangement to send to someone, says Graham. “Lilies and other flowers are bad for cats,” says Graham, who worries about that with her own two ginger cats Reggie and Cheddar. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals publishes a list of plants that are poisonous to pets.The main thing with flowers is don’t overthink them. “People are so touched by your making the effort to send flowers that pretty much whatever you send will be appreciated,” Graham says. SKC PhotographyIncluded in this Atelier Ashley Flowers design for a baby shower are ranunculus, which means radiant charm. It never hurts to let a woman who is about to give birth know that she is radiant, owner Ashley Greer says.Anne Chertoff, chief operating officer of Beaumont Etiquette, a New York consulting firm, says it’s always a good idea to check on religious practices and customs. “People like to know the rules,” she says. “They can think about the message they want to get across. Then it’s up to them if and when they want to use the rules or break with them.” For instance, flowers for a funeral often center on lilies. But she says instead of flowers, it’s customary for Jews to send or bring food to the homes of the family who aren’t supposed to cook during the shiva, which lasts seven days, and also to feed people who come to pay respects to the family. “I’m Jewish, so I would send an edible arrangement,” she says. Amy Merrick, a flower designer who ran her own studio in Brooklyn and now focuses on events and teaching, says she’s found that many customers don’t have a very good knowledge of the varieties of flowers and place more importance on the style or mood of their arrangements. “The average person does have an interest in what flowers represent, but not in the historical context,” she says. People are sending their own messages, choosing them based on the personality of the recipient and the personality of the flowers. “I think buying a bunch of daisies signifies this is a sweet, free-spirited personality, whereas an orchid has a more elegant feel to it,” Merrick says.Tif HunterDaisies are good to send to someone who has a casual, free-spirited sty... https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/when-you-send-flowers-what-message-are-you-sending/2019/11/05/61d33abc-f1e2-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

9 Fabulous Flowers To Plant To Remind You Of Your International Travels - TravelAwaits

You can also spot these gorgeous blooms at festivals around the United States in the spring. Tulip Time in the aptly named Holland, Michigan, is the best known of them all.One of the great things about tulips is that they can be grown from bulbs. That means that once you plant them in your garden, they can come up year after year. Though most people think of single tulips in bright yellow, red, and pink hues, there are actually many varieties of tulips, including double, fringed, and multicolor.Pro Tip: Remember that to enjoy tulips in the spring, you’ll need to plant them in the fall.Where To BuySome large stores such as Costco and Home Depot carry tulip bulbs. If you want to order them online, Breck’s and Holland Bulb Farms offer large selections.2. Irises -- FranceThe national flower of France is the beautiful iris. These delicate blooms are the model for the symbol of the French monarchy, the fleur-de-lis. There are some 300 flowers in the iris family, with colors ranging from quite subtle to very vibrant. We especially love the purple and blue varieties.Areas around the Loire Valley offer many wonderful places to view irises; there is even a sightseeing circuit you can follow to see them.Like tulips, irises can be grown from bulbs.Where To BuyGilbert H. Wild... https://www.travelawaits.com/2493621/flowers-to-remind-you-of-international-travels/?pv=related_list

East Lansing flower shop customer honors late wife by giving anonymous gift - Lansing State Journal

TJ and Camille, Jocelyn, 13, and Katarina, 11.TJ was diagnosed with autism at age 2, Shuster wrote in his essay, and Jennifer, who had studied journalism at Michigan State University, put her career on hold to stay home with her children."If it wasn’t for my wife our autistic son would not be where he is today," Shuster wrote. "His success and progress is mostly because of his mama."Shuster's letter resonated.In an email, the anonymous customer told Van Ark his own marriage had come with "career disappointments and multiple re-locations across the country, problems with relatives, miscarriages, and health concerns.""The marriage itself never, ever wavered," he said. "We were going to be together no matter because no matter what we faced, we would face it together, and that’s how it was when she died: we were together."B/A Florist staff delivered the roses to Jennifer Shuster on Feb. 24 at East Lansing City Hall, where she is a clerk.She's never received a flower arrangement that "extravagant," Jennifer Shuster said in an email to the State Journal.The story behind it brought her to tears, she said."...it forced me to slow down during my busy life and think about the life of a woman I never knew," Jennifer Shuster said in the email.The anonymous customer has already discussed continuing to gift flowers to another couple next year, Van Ark said."I guess the way I see it is, she was truly the love of his life, and even though she's not here in body she's no further away in his heart," she said.Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/03/04/east-lansing-flower-shop-customer-honors-late-wife-anonymous-gift/4884506002/

Gardening: Succulents not only save water and money, but offer other benefits - OCRegister

Beaucarnea ‘Gold Star’). I was also introduced to a whole new line of hybrids known as Mangaves (man-GAH-vays) that were created in Zeeland, Michigan, by plant breeder Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens. Mangaves are intergeneric crosses between Manfreda, a genus of deciduous sidereal succulents, and Agave species. While crafted in Michigan, these hybrids are meant for mild winter climates such as our own, although there is considerable variability among Mangaves and some do tolerate sub-freezing temperatures.The extradordinary Mangave ‘Kaleidoscope,’ for example, can survive temperatures into the mid 20’s. Arching, gently toothed, lance-shaped leaves show off bands of red, green, and yellow upon which congruous rosy red spots are scattered. If its foliage was not enough to recommend this cultivar, it also sends up lightly scented green flowers in summer than attract hummingbirds.It needs to be said that the growth rate of Mangaves is significantly faster than that of agaves. Mangaves, like agaves, also self-propagate by means of pups or offsets so that you will have more of your selected cultivar in due course.The challenge in designing a garden of succulents is to exercise restraint since the exotic looks of many succulent species make them ideal as accents or standalone subjects, like precious works of art. Given this embarrassment of horticultural riches, the ability to combine and balance their forms and colors is a rare talent.The Getty Museum roof garden is instructive when it comes to tastefully filling your yard with succulents. Although this garden is massive in size, the designer confined plant selection, primarily, to tree aloes (Aloe bainesii), apple cacti (Cereus spp.), candelabra trees (Euphoriba ingens), century plants (Agave americana ‘Variegata’), beavertail cacti (Opuntia spp.), and golden barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii) with patches of red and blue ground cover succulents added here and there for good measure.If you visit smgrowers.com, you will find a listing of retail nurseries near you which, upon request, will special order any of the plants grown by San Marcos Growers.Tip of the Week: Several plants with blue foliage that I had never seen before captured my attention at San Marcos Growers. Since blue is the rarest flower color, there is a gap in the horticultural color spectrum that is nicely filled by plants with blue leaves which may explain our attraction to them.Blue bush (Acacia covenyi) is an Australian native which, if relatively short-lived like many Acacia species, is hardy down to 15 degrees. This large shrub or small tree, growing quickly to a height of twenty feet, may be planted in all soil types, even clay, but should be watered sparingly, if at all. Eucalyptus ‘Moon Lagoon’ is another blue-leaved beauty. It does not exceed 12 feet in height and its foliage is perfect as a bouquet filler, as well as being highly suitable for an everlasting or dry flower arrangement. Next among the blue-leaved brigade is skyscraper Senecio (Senecio ‘Mount Everest’). The name of this plant was clearly given tongue-in-cheek since it grows to only three feet tall. However, its leaves are virtually identical to those seen on the ubiquitous blue chalk sticks (Senecio serpens) ground cover, and so the comical idea of giving a moniker representing outrageous height to this related, if still not very tall, cultivar came to be. Finally, Big Bend yucca (Yucca rostrata ‘... https://www.ocregister.com/gardening-succulents-not-only-save-water-and-money-but-offer-other-benefits

Upper Dauphin’s Macklin Ayers, Steel-High’s Mehki Flowers selected to Pa. Football Writers’ Class 2A All-Stat - PennLive

Pa. Football Writers’ Class 2A All-State team.Fleming, the nation’s top recruit who signed with Ohio State last week, is one of eight Tigers to be selected, including a trio of linebackers in Michigan State-bound Cal Haladay, Preston Zachman (Wisconsin) and Max Tillett (New Hampshire).Southern Columbia won its third straight PIAA championship earlier this month, defeating Avonworth 74-7 at Hersheypark Stadium.Fleming caught 72 passes for 1,538 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final season to become the state’s all-time leader in yards and receiving touchdowns.Since 2009, sports writers who cover high school football around the Commonwealth have overseen the all-state process. Players are nominated in all six classifications, and then a statewide ballot is issued to afford all writers the opportunity to cast their votes.Upper Dauphin’s record-setting athlete, Macklin Ayers, joined Steel-High’s Mehki Flowers on the team’s defensive side. A tremendous two-way talent, Ayers accounted for 3,230 yards (1,960 rush) and 48 touchdowns at quarterback.The Tri-Valley League player of the year also contributed 107 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions as a linebacker, guiding the Trojans to a District 3 title and state quarterfinal berth against Southern Columbia.Ayers set single-season ... https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/football/2019/12/upper-dauphins-macklin-ayers-steel-highs-mehki-flowers-selected-to-pa-football-writers-class-2a-all-state-team.html