Secretary’s/Administrative Professionals Week

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Tracy

Secretary’s/Administrative Professionals week begins April 23 and runs through April 27. Not sure what to do for the person who does it all for you? Of course a beautiful arrangement of flowers is the tried and true way to tell someone how much you appreciate what they do throughout the year. However, if you’re looking for something in addition to a bouquet we have some ideas!

  • Bonus pay – double pay for the day or a card with a check and an amount you feel comfortable with.
  • Theater tickets – NWI has many theater options and of course Chicago is less than an hour away. Or if the theater is not your assistants cup of tea, then a movie package for your assistant and their family with spending money for popcorn and drinks.
  • A day off – who wouldn’t want a day off? With pay of course!
  • Do you have an assistant that loves sports? Get them tickets to a local sporting event.
  • Gift baskets – the possibilities here are endless! You can fill the basket with: Wine & Cheese; Coffee & Tea; Chocolates; Relaxation items; Fruit; and the list goes on and on. Use your imagination, you know your assistant best! (We have gift baskets!)
  • Gift certificates – favorite restaurant or spa package for a massage, manicure, pedicure etc…

And with each of these ideas add flowers as the icing on the cake! Flowers go with anything and are that one step further to show how much someone is appreciated. Give us a call today! We have great gift and flower ideas! Schultz Floral, Gift and Garden, 219-464-3588.

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Prom Traditions: The Garter

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Tracy

Where did the Garter Tradition originate?

The garter tradition began with wedding ceremonies during the 14th century in Europe. Wedding guests believed that having a piece of the Bride’s clothing would bring good luck. The guests would rip pieces of fabric from the bride’s dress destroying the beautiful garment. You can imagine the bride did not like this too much so she began throwing other items to her guests one being her garter. She would toss the garter into the crowd however, the drunken men became a problem for the bride. The men would sometimes become impatient and try to remove the garter themselves. Thus, the custom of having the groom remove and toss the garter to the men began. In earlier times the man would remove the garter with his teeth. There are still weddings today where this occurs but the more traditional removal is with the hands.

In recent years garters have also become tradition at Proms. The garter is worn on the right leg, mid thigh, is mostly for decoration and is meant to be removed by the girl. Wearing a garter at Prom can mean that the girl and boy are together as a couple. The girl gives it to her date to wear on his arm and the boy gives his tie to his date to wear around her neck. These signs signify they are a couple.

The garter can also be used as a memento. The girl may keep her garter as a keepsake of the night or she may give it to her date to keep as a remembrance of the evening.

Some schools hold a “garter dance”. This is where the girl removes her garter, throws it to a waiting group of boys and dances with the one who catches the garter. I’m not sure if this is the best of practices and it has garnered some controversy over the years.

Some view the prom garter tradition as an unwholesome symbol and see it as a “tacky” fashion statement. Whatever your preference – to garter or not to garter – remember to order your prom flowers early at Schultz Floral, Gift and Garden!

 

 

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Where Do the Flowers Come From

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Tracy

So, you’ve bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Do you ever wonder where the florist gets the flowers to make your bouquet? At Schultz Floral, Gift and Garden we use five different vendors to supply us with fresh flowers and plants weekly. There are other vendors that provide specialty products however, only five specific vendors are used on a continual basis. Throughout most of the year, these vendors are able to furnish us with locally grown flowers and plants, a fact we are especially proud of because the flowers you receive from us are fresh and long-lasting. During our busiest times such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, School dances etc… our designer’s and staff estimate the amount and kinds of flower that will be needed before the big events. However, occasionally demand outweigh our supply and the vendors are called upon two to three times a week to ensure that you have the flowers you want and the freshness you deserve. Many times we will have special orders. The other day we had a request for two separate plants of Daffodils. We did not have any in the shop so we called one of our vendors and the customer had the Daffodils the next day. When a special request is must be filled the same every effort is made to accommodate. Most of the area florists network with each other and are more than happy to help when they can. There have been occasions when we have needed a dozen special color roses for a pick-up order within 30 minutes. This doesn’t give us enough time for a vendor call. A simple call to another florist asking for their assistance will do the trick.  We do the same for other florists. Next time you order flowers take a minute to wonder where your flowers came from…

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Rose Color Meanings

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Tracy

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Do you know the meaning of the color of roses you’re sending? The color of just one rose can reveal your most sincere and true intentions. However, sending the wrong color of roses may lead to spending Valentine’s Day alone. For those of you contemplating what color of roses to send, below is a guide to rose color meanings. Shop Valentine’s Day Flowers

Red Rose: This is the ultimate symbol of romantic love and eternal passion while proclaiming respect and the creative spirit of love. Red symbolizes true love stronger than thorns, and is known universally as the lover’s rose.

White Rose : Humility, purity, innocence and linked to young love – sometimes referred to as the bridal rose. Also symbolizing truth and reverence, it sends a message of loyalty. Give this to someone you hold in high regard.

Yellow Rose: Friendship, joy and caring. Give a bouquet beautiful yellow roses to fill someones day with warmth and sunshine.

 

Pink Rose: Nothing seems as delicate and elegant as a pink rose. Pink represents gentility, femininity, and refinement.

 

Orange Rose: Fiery orange roses are a great way to express admiration and attraction with a hint of passion and excitement! Orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and desire.

Lilac/Purple Rose: Found love at first sight? Purple roses send a message of love at first sight. They are mystical in nature and symbolize enchantment and desire.

Multicolored Roses: You may want to send more than one message in a bouquet. Red and orange roses show your true love and passion. White and yellow can symbolize a pure, joyful friendship.

Now that you know, you can make the right choice and enjoy this Valentine’s Day with the ones you care about the most!

Shop Valentine’s Day Flowers

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Use Your Local Florist

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Tracy

When ordering flowers you may be tempted to visit a 1-800 site or one of the many other express delivery online flower stores. While these sites look inviting and proclaim superior service, let the buyer beware. Whether you are ordering flowers to be delivered in Indiana or Alaska your best bet is to order through a local florist rather than a flower broker. Local florists know what’s available, give suggestions and have professionally trained designers. Yes, local florists have delivery charges whereas many of the flower brokers tout ‘no delivery fees’. However, if you look closely these sites add in a ‘service charge’ of upwards of $14.99. When you talk to your local florist you can find out if delivery is available that day, whether or not your flowers can be delivered in the morning or the afternoon and in some cases you may be able to ask for something special to be added during the delivery. We had a delivery where flowers were to be sent to one person every day for three days. The sender asked if it was possible for the delivery driver to give the recipient a ‘big hug from me each day’.  This was a condolence situation and something that was out of the ordinary delivery responsibilities. The request was discussed with the person who took the order and the delivery drivers and we did our best to accommodate the wish.  This was something that couldn’t have been arranged through a flower broker. I also did some investigating into these sites and found a statement on one that said, ‘…many florist arrangements come in a vase’. Meaning your flowers may be delivered in a vase or they may be delivered in a box. Does this mean they are fresh? How long have they been in this box? A local florist will give you a choice if you want your flowers in a loose bouquet, in a vase, in a box, etc… and will price the arrangement accordingly. Another site I looked at did have a $20.00 discount on their arrangements however, when viewing the identical arrangements on local floral shop sites the every day price is already the lower discounted price. The flower broker increased their prices by $20.00 then provided a $20.00 discount. In reality there is no savings. When I placed an order on this site and the Schultz Floral, Gift and Garden site for the arrangement Make Me Blush – Dozen Long Stemmed Pink Roses (with the discount on the flower broker site) the prices were $90.18 for the flower broker and $83.44 for Schultz Floral, Gift and Garden (includes tax and delivery charge).

Know what you’re getting when you order flowers, order from your local florist. A simple online search by city, state and then the term florist will garner a list of florists in the area you wish to send flowers.

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Poinsettias Are Not Poisonous

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Tracy

Poinsettias are highly popular this time of year and are a beautiful accent to decorating and entertaining. However, during the holidays there continues to be an annoying rumor that makes its way through the community. The rumor is that the poinsettia plant is poisonous. Not true! While the genus (Euphorbia) to which the poinsettia plant belongs does contain some highly toxic plants, the poinsettia itself is NOT toxic. Some sources attribute the rumor about the dangers of poinsettia leaves to a case of poisoning in 1919 that led to the death of a two year-old child. At the time, the cause of the poisoning was incorrectly determined to be a poinsettia leaf. According to POISINDEX (the primary resource used by the majority of poison control centers nationwide) a child who weighs 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach a potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant.

So decorate to your hearts content!  Try mixing things up a bit by displaying a poinsettia wreath or cut flower poinsettias in addition to the traditional poinsettia plant. Just remember, if you opt for cut flower poinsettias you will need to sear the cut stems with a flame to stop the milk sap from seeping out of the plant (the stem will still absorb water).

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In Lieu of Flowers

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Tracy

Meant for Charity but the Bereaved Family Pays the Emotional Price…

There is a common misconception concerning the phrase ‘In Lieu of Flowers, contributions may be made to…’. Most people believe, when reading this phrase in an obituary, that the family does not want flowers sent in memory of the deceased. This is incorrect. This phrase simply means donations are another option if you choose not to send flowers. The phrase ‘Please Omit’ is a request for no flowers.

Studies have shown that flowers increase feelings of compassion and happiness, and people feel less depressed and anxious around flowers. Heartfelt expressions, including flowers and plants, can help soften the sorrow for grieving families. Flowers and plants are an important visible sign of support and can have a positive impact on the family during their time of need.

A study entitled, “The Role of Flowers and Plants in the Bereavement Process,” was performed by The American Floral Endowment and was jointly funded by the SAF Florist Information Committee. When surveying the bereaved, the study found that receiving flowers was the third most helpful show of support during the grieving process. The first being family and friends and the second was sympathy cards. The study also focused on Funeral Directors. When surveyed, the majority of Funeral Directors stated they did not like doing funerals without flowers because the setting was cold. The visual displays of flowers and plants can brighten an already dark time for the family and bring warmth to a funeral or memorial service.

Flowers can also play a functional role during the grieving process. The study found that looking at the cards to see who sent the flowers was a comfort and the actual arrangements provided family members with something to talk about during the visitation. Flowering and foliage plants are also viewed as a living memorial to the deceased. Family members will take these home after the service as an ongoing remembrance of their loved one.

What are some other phrases that can be used in place of ‘In lieu of flowers…’?

  • Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to….
  • Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
  • The …. Memorial has been established for those wishing to contribute.
  • As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to….
  • The family has designated the …. for memorial contributions.
  • Remembrances may be made in the form desired by friends.
  • Memorial contributions may be made to….
  • Flowers are welcome. Contributions may be sent to….

Charitable contributions are a noble gesture however, sending a floral offering following the death of a loved one extends your support and provides caring and warmth to the bereaved during and after the services.

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Goody Basket/Gift Basket

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Tracy

Goody basket or gift basket, however you describe it these are great ways to show someone that you care about them. We all enjoy receiving them and giving them. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gift that comes in baskets of all sizes and shapes, is delicately wrapped in layers of paper and ribbon, and holds the bounty of a seemingly endless array of presents? Opening the gift basket is however, the main feature. Tearing through the paper and sifting through each present one by one is more fun than getting to the tootsie roll center of a lollie pop!

The anticipation of receiving gift baskets, once they start coming, is almost as fun as receiving them. Gift baskets can be created to be given routinely to anyone on your list. Sending a college student a basket twice a month filled with fresh fruits, coffees, teas, chocolates, etc… is a great idea. You can also personalized gift baskets for the dark chocolate aficionado, candle lover or the wine enthusiast in your life.  Say thank you, I’m sorry and I love you with a gift basket. Special occasions and holidays become more joyous with baskets filled with memorable, festive items.

Send one out today just because and make someone smile!

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