Vernal Equinox

Ah, Spring...this season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of flora and fauna, according to the Farmer's Almanac. Well here in the northeast, lower peninsula of Michigan, I concur that we do indeed have increasing daylight.  

Spring is also the time worms begin to emerge from the earth,  green buds appear, birds chirp and flowers begin to bloom, again this from the Farmer's Almanac.

Here in the northeast, lower peninsula of Michigan,  I am waiting for those worms to emerge, which in turn will bring those birds, so I may hear their chirps. I am waiting for those green buds to appear,  and knowing soon after, their flowers will bloom.  

Happy 1st day of Spring!!

SIGNS OF SPRING!!!

I am looking forward to the arrival of spring!  

Be on the look out for these sure signs of spring!!

 I love when these start showing up. I usually have gone through everyone of them. I make lists and lists of all the gorgeous flowers and plants that I would love to have.

I am not a real big fan of baseball, but this is a sign of spring, quite certain many teams have already started. GO TIGERS!!!!

I can't wait for these signs to start poking their little faces up through the snow.

This little feathered friend returning is always a wonderful site to see. It means spring to many of us.                            

A pot full of  Tulips brings Spring indoors!  How can you not think Spring when these are displayed!

This is just CUTE!!!  Have you ever gone into a Tractor Supply store and they have these huge troughs of baby birds for sale. That sure means SPRING to me.

Here is my reality! MUD!  MUD! MUD! After all of that snow melts, this is what awaits me outside. Yep, this means SPRING too.

This is where I am at now. Snow, and lots of it!

This is where I want to be!

Will SPRING ever arrive??

A Floral Occasion by Carol LaClair's Blog: Valentine's Day - High or Low Calorie???

A Floral Occasion by Carol LaClair's Blog: Valentine's Day - High or Low Calorie???: Valentine's Day is approaching, so for you, I have put together some HIGH and LOW CALORIE  items that you could gift or receive.    ...

Valentine's Day - High or Low Calorie???

Valentine's Day is approaching, so for you, I have put together some HIGH and LOW CALORIE  items that you could gift or receive. 

 Of course, me being a florist I am starting with this item first.  Not only are they beautiful to look at and the smell is heavenly, but they are very low in calories. I can almost guarantee that you will not gain a pound if you receive this gift.

This item here, HIGH in calories but always fun to receive. Every bite can be a surprise, from the delectable sweetness melting in your mouth or the instant projection reaction. 

You cannot go wrong with this gift item, very LOW in calories and also beautiful to look at . Tulips are the 2nd most popular flower to receive at Valentine's Day and are an expression of perfect love. One of my favorite flowers.

This item has no calories at all, in fact it will aid you in weight loss!! Your biceps will be getting a great work out with bare minimum  use. Just remember to switch over to your other hand frequently for a balanced workout. I would not recommend dish washing while wearing.

What can I say about this item? Looks scrumptious, smells divine and tastes yummy.  Really, home made baked goods are the ultimate even though they can be HIGH in calories.

Wouldn't this be FUN to receive!!!  LOW in calories and all you have to do is wait for your Prince to bring you  the other!!   I absolutely love this!

I found it!! Wear this on the other hand with the above ring and you'll be complete!! Caution, these items could cause injury to your partner, please remove while sleeping. Oh and absolutely no calories.

For that special person in your life. This set of tools are HIGH in calories, but can you imagine the fun when your honey asks you to bring him the 3/16th open end wrench and you hand him this!!  I'm betting he doesn't have a set of tools like these.

I want these tools!!  What is your favorite??

A Floral Occasion by Carol LaClair's Blog: Valentine Poll Results

A Floral Occasion by Carol LaClair's Blog: Valentine Poll Results: I recently did a quick poll on a Florist Facebook page. The question was, "What does a florist like to receive for Valentines Day?&qu...

Valentine Poll Results

I recently did a quick poll on a Florist Facebook page. The question was, "What does a florist like to receive for Valentines Day?" I had some really great answers and they all make perfect sense, so if your Valentine is a florist, here are some of the results to help you out. 

The majority of us florists would like to have a *Massage* after our Valentines work day.  Ranging from our backs,  to our hands and all the way down to our feet. Might as well go with an all body massage!! 

Next came a *Meal* prepared by you or *Dinner* out.  Coupled with the massage, you can't do wrong.

 * Liquor and a nice bottle of Wine* was next, followed by a mini *Vacation* or day off, after our hectic day of design.

  Of course some of us want *Flowers*, we love them!! That is why we do what we do.  *Candy/Chocolate*, the good stuff! and *Jewelry/Diamonds* are close together. 

An *Undisturbed Nap/Sleep* is on our list, along with coming home to a *Clean House*. 

*A long hot bath* is also wanted by a few of the florists. Ending the list, *No Snow/Good Weather, *Cash* in bank, *More business* and *Appreciation* for the work we do. 

The final request was for a Padded room!! 

For the Ultimate Valentine Day  Experience ever...Most of these requests could be put together, minus the padded room, unless!, never mind, we won't go there.  Who knows, you may be rewarded quite nicely for all your extra effort.

The Perfect Photo

Adjusting your favorite subject is tricky when trying to get the perfect photo. I first add my favorites to the back ground I want to photograph.

 At first, my favorite subjects will have a mind of their own on how they want to be photographed.

Sometimes one of my favorite subjects will try to be the main focal point.

.

A slight but assertive adjustment from the older subject helps to hurry along the process

Here we are!! Perfection!!  The Perfect Photograph!!

At least to me!!

Poinsettia Re-Design

YES you can cut the stems off of your Poinsettia plant, and YES you can put them in a vase for a very pretty display. Lets get started. Here is a sad looking plant, that just doesn't look good left alone in its pot.

I will cut the stems from this plant to make my design. The milky sap coming from the cut end of the stem, needs to be sealed, so the stem will thrive in a vase. We seal the end of the stem by holding it over the candle flame. The fire seals the end. This process does not stop the stem from drinking up the water. I do not know why, but it just doesn't!!  You don't have to worry about the sap coming from the sides of the stem where leaves have been removed, it will not affect the stem, so don't burn seal those.  Place the cut and sealed stem of the Poinsettia into a holding vase of water. I cut a few more of the stems from the potted plant. Sealed them all with the candle flame. They look so much better now in the vase then they did in the pot, where the plant was looking a bit spindly. 

I could leave them just like this and it would make a pretty display, but I want to use a larger vase and add in some greens and a few more flowers. 

First add to the vase the greens that you want to use.  I collected pine branches, boxwood and cedar. 

I added spray roses, green spider mums and green & white button mums. I wired up a few pine cones and added them into my vase.

So here we have a complete redesign of the Poinsettia. 

The cut stems of the Poinsettia plant will last more then a week in a vase. Another fact about Poinsettias is they are not Toxic as presumed. Copy this link to read more about this popular Christmas Plant.

      http://www.safnow.org/sites/saf/files/MarketingMaterials/SAF_Poinsettia_Flier.pdf 

Tis the Season

I have been reminded by a 4 year old what Christmas is all about. It's funny how a little ones point of view changes your own out look on what is really important this time of year. The conversation began while decorating the Christmas tree. Adelynn Grace informed me that it would be so cool to make cookies and deliver them to the neighbors. I asked her which neighbors she wanted to give cookies to and she replied very enthusiastically, every one on the street!! I played along with her discussing the details, really trying NOT to encourage her on this endeavor she had concocted. I came up with many excuses, telling her it would be difficult, time consuming, I even tried to change the subject a few times, but she was relentless, she even threw the love word in there. So I thought about it. She wanted to give something for the holiday season. She had the Christmas spirit and here I was trying to dissuade her. It was only cookies, they are not that difficult to make. We could wrap them up in pretty boxes or bags! I was getting excited now. We could set a limit to the amount of neighbors on the street that her little legs could walk to. So there it was, our plan now!! We would make the cookies!! They will be wrapped up with pretty ribbons and bows!! We will hand  deliver them personally!! So if you live on my street you will be seeing us soon,  and we will have a gift for you. It will be a sweet treat, but the sweetness will be coming from one very special little girl in my life, who I am so very proud of and who wants to share her Christmas spirit with you.
Merry Christmas!!

I AM GRATEFUL

I  am GRATEFUL for my family of course!!                   

              

              

but most of all these two beautiful little girls. Sure didn't know this kind of love existed until they did.          

  LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!! 

I am GRATEFUL in my life to be able to gather with my girls and create centerpieces for our Thanksgiving table.

I am GRATEFUL to be able to share with others my designs and to show off my up and coming designer, seen here posing with her Thanksgiving Centerpiece!!

I am GRATEFUL for my job. Creating beautiful design for others, whether they are happy occasions or sad occasions. It gives me great pleasure to design with flowers. Flowers bring happiness, love and warmth to any occasion. You know you are gonna smile when someone surprise you with a bright bouquet. You will feel love when your special someone brings you flowers for that special day. You will feel the thoughtfulness and warmth of receiving flowers during a very difficult time in your life or when you are not feeling well. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE FLOWERS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Perceived Value of Your Arrangement

I have $75.00 dollars to create an arrangement. Given no other instruction, but to please make it pretty. OK great lets begin. 

Lets start this with these 2 vases shown below. The tall glass vase is an inexpensive everyday vase, maybe 10" tall. The vase next to it is a specialty vase, aprox 5" tall and 3x the price. Using my budget I will create a design for both of these vases.

                                             
 I have selected my flowers for the taller vase

The flowers will be scaled down to fit the vase in a pleasing design. ALL of these flower will be used.                                                                                                                                                                              Below is the finished product. Pretty!! The over all height of this design is 25"give or take an inch.

                                                       

Floral Birthday Cake

Recently my mom celebrated her birthday, so I decided that I would make her a cake. Not just any cake but a floral decorated cake. Here are the beginnings to this design. I had already baked and frosted an angel food cake that mom told me that she had wanted.

First I chopped up 1/2 of the almond bark into smaller chunks for easier melting.

                             

Microwave for 90 secs at first then 15 secs there after till melted

                           
All of my ingredients for this recipe, along with the melted bark.

  

                                                                             
 I cut leaves off of the stems and coated the backs with the melted bark

 Next I cut and coated the Lisianthus buds, setting them aside to dry.

 

 The Lisianthus blooms were next, being careful to cover the backs of the blooms with the bark, so the flowers would not come in contact with the cake.

 

 Now I cut apart l green hydrangea into smaller florets. Some I dipped into the bark, and then I puddled some melted bark onto the wax paper, then placed the florets into it, making a small mound.

After all my material was coated with the melted bark, it was just a matter of waiting for it to completely dry and form the protective hard shell on the back of each bloom and leaf so the floral and fauna would not come in contact with the cake.

Finally all my material is ready to be placed onto the cake.

 Now the fun begins! My frosting had hardened over night in the fridge, so I was able to place, then rearrange the flowers and leaves into a pretty design that pleased me. Trust me, I did this many times!! 

More arranging and rearranging, when I found the perfect placement, I used some of the left over melted bark to secure it to the top of the cake.

Here is the finished product!

Happy Birhday Mom!!! <3

So I bet you are wondering, what happened to those raspberries?? 

Well I ate them!!