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How To Buy Flowers

Flowers touch the heart like nothing else. They're perfect for conveying feelings of warmth and caring for both holiday and personal occasions. With a little preparation beforehand, selecting the right flowers is quick and easy.

• Know floral displays
  Having a certain type of floral display in mind will help narrow down your selection process.
  Bouquets and arrangements come with flowers held in place with floral foam. The flowers may be arranged in a basket or a keepsake container.
  A vase arrangement can be flowers of one kind, or mixed flowers arranged in foam and presented in a vase.
  A hand-tied bouquet is delivered with the stems bound together and trimmed so that they are on a flat plane.
  A Dish Garden is a collection of green plants in a wicker or ceramic container. Silk flowers can be added for a perfect color accent.
  Green plants come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are easier to grow than others.
  Blooming plants also come in a variety of shapes and sizes...and also color. Season is a big factor in choosing a blooming plant. Ask what is in season when you order if you are not sure.
• Think pink (or purple, or red)
  Color is the biggest selling point for flowers and plants, bigger than fragrance. When selecting flowers or blooming plants consider the overall color the recipient would like.
  
• Speak the language of flowers
  Flowers speak the language of the heart. In Victorian times, each flower had a specific meaning.
  Choose an arrangement or bouquet that really "says" something to the recipient. Here is a list of the Meanings of flowers. Different colors of the same flower carry different meanings.
• Get personal
  Think of a particular aspect of the recipient's personality as your browse for ideas. For a gardener who loves to be outside, consider a dishgarden. Or an orchid plant for an orchid fancier.
• Consider the flowers' longevity
  Some flowers' life spans are longer than others. Long-lasting cut flowers include chrysanthemums, carnations, lilies, gladiolus and liatris; however, all cut flowers will live longer with a little TLC. Tests have shown that adding flower food to the water or foam helps to keep flowers fresh. For more information see our Flower and plant care tips.
• Don't leave holiday purchasing to the last minute
  Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas are the largest-volume holidays for florists, so don't leave your purchasing until the last minute. For the best selection of flowers and gifts, it's always best to order early, especially for cross-country and international deliveries.

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