bloom blogg

Grooms - an important part of the planning

2010-10-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

bloom boxx was honored to be part of the NYC launch party for "Staggered", a wedding web site geared for grooms. After great success in the UK, Staggered has launched their US web site - http://www.iamstaggered.com/usa/ Most people still think of a wedding as the "bride's" big day. Well a bride isn't a bride without a groom. bloom boxx is well aware that it is becoming increasingly more common to see grooms involved in the planning process, even when it comes to wedding flowers. Less often does the weight of the planning, and budget, fall on the bride's parents. In today's economy, many couples are taking on all of the planning, and footing the entire bill, themselves. Staggered brilliantly speaks to the groom audience, and bloom boxx is happy not just to have been part of the launch party, but to champion for Staggered's success for speaking to the ever important male segment of the wedding market. About the launch party, and within there is a link to photos: http://www.iamstaggered.com/usa/featured/we-went-and-threw-ourselves-a-party

Hot Color Alert - Purple!

2010-10-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we've noticed that color predictions see a surge in purple being used in weddings in the upcoming winter and spring seasons. We see nothing wrong with that! Purple is a color that works well during all four seasons. Flowers that come in shades of purple include lisianthus, irises, roses, delphinium, larkspur, stock flower, mums, carnations, limonium and statice. Colors that compliment purple well include pale lavender, hot pink, pink, bright green, orange, white, cream and burgundy. Never be afraid to use color, and look out for lots of purple in the upcoming bridal seasons!

Luscious Lisianthus

2010-10-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we're big fans of lisianthus. You've probably seen it and not known what it's called. Lisianthus is a sturdy flower that's available in shades of purple, pink and white. Because it's easily available and relatively inexpensive, it's a great flower to consider for your bridal scheme. Lisianthus looks similar to roses yet has a softer, more delicate appearance as its blooms have fewer petals. In fact, lisianthus work very well alongside roses as seen in the brides' bouquets here. Furthermore, lisianthus is less expensive per stem than roses, so using them is a great way to achieve the "look for less" when planning your wedding floral scheme.

Crazy for Daisies!

2010-08-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we pride ourselves in providing elegant, beautifully designed wedding flowers at sensible prices. In today's tough economy, many brides are challenged with having to carefully scrutinize their wedding budgets to get the most for their money. When it comes to wedding flowers, there are ways to have an elegant and sophisticated look without breaking the bank, and without having to feel that your flowers look "cheap". One way is to use daisies! Daisies are ready available year-round, and are inexpensive. Furthermore, they come in an endless variety of colors. A well-designed bouquet of daisies can be chic and elegant.
Shown here are 3 brides' bouquets using daisies. In one photo, we've created a classic hand-tied bouquet of bright pink gerbera daisies. Gerberas are sturdy, cheerful, and again, come in many colors. Because their blooms are large (3"-4" across), not a lot are required to create a bold, colorful bouquet. They are hearty blooms that make a statement simply grouped, no filler or greenery is required. Furthermore, they are not labor-intensive for your florist.
In the other photo, we've created two different takes on a bouquet of white daisy mums. These blooms are smaller than gerberas; however, when grouped in mass, they look quite elegant. Like gerberas, daisy mums are readily available in many colors and are overall easy to work with. Here we've created one classic hand-tied bouquet, finished with variegated greenery and a simple bow. The other is a more contemporary bouquet featuring a long, sturdy pale grey greenery called kochia cascading down from a dramatic mound of daisies.
Some quick internet research shows that the average bride's bouquet costs $80-$150. At bloom boxx, the gerbera daisy bouquet shown here would sell for $65 (including the jewel accents as shown, only $59 without!). Either of the white daisy bouquets would sell for $39. Save money without sacrificing style - use daisies!

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Flowers?

2010-08-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

In this tough economy, "DIY" is becoming a buzz word for wedding flowers and decor. We at bloom boxx certainly understand the need to find ways to save money, and in fact we pride ourselves on providing our clients elegant wedding flowers in New Jersey at sensible prices. That said, we would like to give food for thought as to why it's a good idea to let a professional florist take care of the flowers for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding event.

Experience. Sure, as with anything, a person can learn how to make a bridal bouquet or centerpiece. Maybe you already have a flair for having flowers look oh-so perfect when you put them together in your favorite vase. That said, a florist not only has the know-how and has a lot more practice. Remember that, like food, flowers are perishable and must be arranged last minute before an event - particularly items that will no longer be in any kind of water source such as corsages and boutonnieres. A florist can accomplish this much more quickly than someone less experienced. A wedding is filled with so many elements, so much to be done - dinners, rehearsals, photos, etc. - will you and your friends really have the time in those final days to properly arrange the flowers?
Skills & Supplies. A professional florist has the proper tape, wire, hot glue, wire cutters, clay and "magic" necessary when the unexpected happens. A stem in the bride's bouquet snaps during delivery, a centerpiece is knocked over during set up, a corsage freezes in a refrigerator that's too cold... these are very real things that can and do happen. Most consumers would never know this because a florist has the skills and means to fix these types of mishaps such that no one is the wiser.
Facilities. Flowers are shipped from growers simply cut from the bush. They have long stems, foliage and thorns. They must be cut and cleaned and put into fresh water with flower preservative for days before being arranged. Then they must be arranged and stored in a cold environment and/or a proper refrigerator. Then they must be delivered and installed. Are you really prepared with the proper amount of room in your home, especially if you are housing guests in town for your wedding? And do you really have an appropriate vehicle for delivery?

These are just a few reasons why you should let a florist handle your flower needs. We all know someone who puts together an amazing dinner, but you wouldn't ask a friend or relative to cater your wedding dinner. Grandma makes an amazing coconut cake, but you're not going to ask her to make and deliver your wedding cake. Similarly, it's not a good idea to try to do your own wedding flowers. These items all take experience, skill, and appropriate facilities in order to be done right.

For those brides who are feeling the pressure of a tight budget, bloom boxx will be posting cost-saving flower ideas over the next few weeks. Please be sure to come back to our bloom blogg for cost-cutting floral inspiration.

Striking Sunflowers!

2010-07-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Summer is the season for big, beautiful, beaming sunflowers! Often found at your local farmer's market, many people don't realize that sunflowers actually come in several varieties and can even be found in tones of orange, not just yellow. Shown here is the variety "Sunbeam" featuring a large, bright green center as opposed to the more commonly seen black center. Sunflowers grow tall, in some cases 7 feet or more. For visual interest, we decided to forego height and instead feature the big, beautiful flower heads "floating" in a low, wide glass bowl.

Hydrangeas

2010-07-05T14:48:00.001-07:00

Summer is hydrangea season. This time of year, it's so wonderful to see these big, vibrant blooms gracing yards in abundance all over town in gorgeous shades of blue, pink, purple and white. Hydrangeas have big, sturdy stems that can arrange easily in a vase, or be tied together as a bouquet for the summer bride. Though they flourish outdoors in the summer, they do need to be treated more delicately once cut from the bush. When arranging, remove any leaves that will be below the water line in the vase. Have clean, cool water treated with a packet of flower powder which is both flower food and antibacterial agent to keep the water clean. Give the stems a quick, smooth cut with sharp floral shears and insert immediately into the water. Be sure to keep the flowers in a cool room, out of direct sunlight.

Luscious Red

2010-06-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a dramatic burst of color at your wedding or event, go red. Red is a very strong color that invokes feelings of warmth, power, happiness, prosperity and celebration. Many flowers are available in red including roses, asters, carnations, and tropical flowers like torch ginger. Red works very well with white for a striking contrast, or as a bold complement to purple or pink (as seen here).

Shades of Pink

2010-06-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx we've been saying it all year, pink is in. Really, was it ever out? Brides can establish a celebratory, colorful mood at their weddings by using classic garden flowers in varying shades of pink. Seen here are roses, tulips, snapdragons, ranunculus and heather covering the entire spectrum of the pink palette from pale pastel tones to ultra bright fuschia. Making pink your wedding color shouldn't be considered traditional. Think of pink as classic.

Bargain Vases

2010-05-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we love a bargain, and we love to pass that bargain along to our clients. You can score great vase finds on clearance racks. Our favorite clearance racks can be found at HomeGoods, West Elm, and Pier One. Both of the flower arrangements here are in vases that, after mark down, cost less than $12 each. With flowers, the finished look is grand and seemingly expensive. The white vase has a lid, which we used to make a "sidekick" arrangement to add some interest and enhance the overall effect. Garage sales are another great source for inexpensive vases and interesting containers. bloom boxx firmly believes in achieving, as they say, the "look for less".

Life is a Carousel Ride

2010-05-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

bloom boxx was thrilled to participate in the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce's 2010 Carousel Awards Gala. We provided the centerpiece for the Chamber president's table, and we had a blast with the theme. Inspired by Asbury's historic Convention Hall, we included "patinaed" seahorses and a sailing ship which stood proudly at the very top. The entire top portion of our floral carousel tower was affixed to a battery-operated display stand meant to showcase dolls, so it actually spun like a real carousel. In addition to brightly colored flowers, we used moss and seashells to invoke the shore - and jewels and mirrors reminiscent of a merry-go-round. When throwing a party, flowers can be more than just an addition to the tables. They can be part of the fun!

bridal glam

2010-05-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

The wedding day is all about the bride. It's a day when she gets to feel and be treated like a princess. And, what's more royal than jewels? Even in today's economy, this doesn't have to stop with the ring. The glam look can also translate to the bridal flowers, without being expensive. Faux fur, plastic pearls, shiny ribbons and crystals are inexpensive, yet add a glamourous look - and a little whimsy.

Meee-oww!

2010-05-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

bloom boxx is thrilled to have once again made a floral display for our friends at Parlor Gallery, right here in our home town of Asbury Park, in celebration of and coordination with their new show, "Fancy". The show celebrates animals in art, and we had a ball with this concept. Verging on the literal, we used faux fur, feathers, and even faux eyeballs! See fresh blood-red roses oozing from the head of a teddy bear. We made bugs out of yellow carnations and feathers. In vases covered with white faux fur, note the illusion of whiskers is achieved with the poofs of grass swirling out the sides of puffy white hydrangeas. The largest arrangement we made features gerbera daisies, thistle, and brightly colored feathers. And if you look closely at the vase covered in faux brown mink, you'll see 2 dark eyes staring right back at you. Flowers are always add beauty, but they can also be part of the fun!

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/?page_id=1053

And the Bride Carried... a Salad

2010-04-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, that sounds silly. However, for a recent bridal show, bloom boxx decided to take our love of all things green in an interesting, beautiful "earthy" direction. Seen here, our bride's bouquet is made up of beautiful green vibernum, hypericum berries, moss and ivy. In addition to these floral items, this bouquet also contains fresh kale and rosemary! Keeping in mind that this IS in fact a bridal bouquet, and not salad fixings, we added a touch of glam by wrapping the stems in a beautiful green/brown fabric topped off with a leaf-shaped brooch featuring crystals in shades of green. The matching ring-style centerpiece uses the same flowers and "ingredients", yet replaces the kale with fresh basil and thyme. Have fun with flowers! Mixing other elements with florals is not only a way to do something a little different, it's cost-effective and in this case brings adds a lovely herbal fragrance.

Making a Statement with Flowers

2010-04-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

bloom boxx had the privilege of making a floral display recently for the Parlor Gallery in Asbury Park NJ. Currently the gallery is featuring "Dark & Lovely". Our color palette was inspired by the "Adam Wallacavage" Curio Wallcovering featured on the home page of Parlor Gallery's web site. The flowers used here are black calla lilies, blood red spray roses, deep aubergine carnations, and pale blue/green hydrangeas. To coincide with the show title, we not only used dark flowers, but we also invoked a macabre tone by incorporated dark feathers and wired twigs creeping all over the hydrangeas. Flowers are indeed lovely, and they can also be fun and interesting. Never be afraid to incorporate non-floral materials into arrangements.

If you get the chance, you have a couple of days left to see "Dark & Lovely" at Parlor Gallery. You can also see these works on their web site. This Saturday, April 24th, Parlor opens their next installation, "Fancy".

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/?page_id=1053

Branch Season

2010-04-11T13:34:00.001-07:00

Springtime means flowering branches are in season. Forsythia and cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere you look. Pussywillow has sprouted. Showy and dramatic, branches are gorgeous arranged by themselves, or mixed with fresh cut flowers to add height and visual interest. An arrangement of blooming branches is a great way to show off a unique or oversized vase. And, of course, cutting from your own yard is economical. You can "force" branches by cutting them from the bush, so long as it's above freezing outside. For more information on "forcing" branches, please follow this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086754_force-branches-bloom.html

Enjoy the spring weather, and bring some spring inside by displaying beautiful blooming branches.

The Scents of Springtime

2010-04-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday is one of many signs that spring, at long last, is finally here. And, this means that beautiful spring blooms are in season! Not only gorgeous to the eye, many spring flowers are also a treat for the nose and make a fresh, fragrant bride's bouquet. The pale pink peonies and beautiful hyacinths seen in this bouquet, which really pop thanks to beautiful hot pink anemones, add a delicious natural fragrance. Ahhh, spring.

Feather Fun!

2010-03-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, "bling" has been popular in use with flowers for weddings and parties. Crystals real and not so real, in many colors, are frequently seen in centerpieces and bridal bouquets. This year, feathers are making a comeback. Like crystals, feathers provide an element of whimsical fun. Feathers are also more cost effective. Seen here, we used black and white feathers in centerpieces for a sixteenth birthday party. Feathers add a little flash and a little fun for a reasonable price.

Perfect Pink

2010-03-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Pink is always in style, but this year pink is big. We found these amazing hot pink glass cylinder vases at Ikea. Sold in sets of 3, one collection features 3 different low and wide vases, the other features 3 that are more tall and narrow. Total cost for all 6? $32. Yes, again, that's $32 for all SIX. We used all of the vases together to make a dramatic pink statement on the table. Anxious for spring, we chose classic fragrant spring blooms in varying shades of pink: pale pink peonies, classic pink hyacinths, and bright pink anemones in addition to some fresh cut greens. At this price, you could allow dinner guests to each take home a vase of flowers after your party. And even though we're feeling the pink, you may be feeling another color inspiration this season. So you know, those same Ikea vases also come in other jewel tones: bright blue, ruby red, and emerald green.

Pretty Vases

2010-03-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, in the flower business, a vase serves simply as the container to hold the flowers. The blooms are the featured stars. Sometimes, it's good to let flowers serve as the accent to a vase that's beautiful and can stand out in its own right.

Here we see 2 gorgeous bottle-style vases. From gorgeous acid green pottery, "Yearning Desert" flowers flow naturally. The soft, velvety off-white blooms on subtle grey-green stems allow the color of the vase to really pop. Conversely, caramel brown "Robin Hood" gerbera daisies enhance this cream vase with a "moon surface" pattern - adding a touch of color without overpowering the wonderful texture that gives the vase such visual interest. For both, the flowers are simply gathered, cut, and placed loosely. The narrow neck of the bottles prop the flowers up perfectly, eliminating any need to properly "arrange" them.

2010-02-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

Alstroemeria lilies are beautiful flowers that are popular, inexpensive, and widely available. To help you pronounce the name properly, think "I'll-still-marry-ya". What's also great about alstros is that they last a long time - easily up to 2 weeks, sometimes longer. As always, be sure to keep the water full and refreshed. They come in a variety of colors from reds and oranges to several shades of pink. The alstroemeria lilies seen here were part of a "3 bunches for $10" purchase at the supermarket. This white variety is called "Virginia". A great value, easy to arrange, and simply beautiful all by themselves.

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Simple, Elegant Table Top

2010-02-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

A collection of small groupings of flowers make an eye-catching centerpiece, even on a large table. You don't have to be an experienced florist to quickly arrange them, and what a great way to show off interesting assorted containers. Note the interesting miniature "pitchers" and vases seen in this photo.

Go Green

2010-02-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

Fresh cut greens, usually used to compliment flowers as "filler" in arrangements, can be gorgeous as the featured stars. Furthermore, they're economical. Greens are usually less expensive than flowers. And of course you can cut greens from the bushes in your own yard!

Fall Color Palette

2009-11-01T05:01:00.001-08:00

At this time of year, as we see leaves changing color and falling to the ground, we often think that "fall colors" implies red, orange, yellow and brown. We see these colors everywhere in "fall" decorating schemes from the supermarket to the department store. And, what's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing! But, here's a take on adding some splash to a fall palette. Purple and bright green add pop to the traditional autumn tones, as seen here in this bride's bouquet and matching boutonniere.

Get the Mo$t for your Flower Dollar

2009-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we highly recommend taking advantage of "do it yourself" bouquets at the supermarket floral department. In our area, Shop Rite regularly offers "3 for $10" bunches of flowers. You get to choose whatever 3 bunches you want from the assortment. It's truly a great bargain.

Remember when choosing your bouquets to pick fresh flowers. The blooms should be open, but not fully open. When you touch the blooms (gently!), they should feel firm, and petals should not fall off. Foliage on the stems should look fresh and green, not brown. And, be sure there is no mold.

When you get your flowers home, you should "condition" your flowers before arranging them. Put tepid water in a bucket - think warm, but not "hot" - the temperature you would use to bathe an infant. Many pre-bundled flower bunches at the supermarket include those little packets of flower food attached to the bunch with a rubber band. Use it! The powder is specifically designed for flowers. It's a combination of anti-bacterial that keeps water clean and food to literally feed your flowers. If you don't have any flower food powder, don't sweat it. Remove all leaves from the flower stems that would be under water when in the vase. Also remove any outer petals that are bruised or brown. Then, give your flowers a sharp, quick cut with a knife or floral shears and put them immediately into the tepid water. Let your flowers soak up a fresh drink for at least an hour.

When it's time to arrange your flowers in the container you have chosen, use room temperature water. Again, use flower food powder if you have it. If not, put just a few drops of regular bleach in the water. This helps keep any bacteria from forming, keeping the water clear. Again, make a quick fresh cut on the stems and place immediately into the vase.

In the pictures you see here, 8 bunches of flowers were purchased. Working in soft pink and white tones, the task was to make 2 small arrangements to be placed on the table at a small family dinner party celebrating the birthday of an aunt. After making the 2 arrangements, there were a few stems and cuttings left over. We found a bud vase in the cupboard, and used the leftovers to make a small arrangement that was placed in the bathroom. A bonus bouquet! Total cost was less than $30 - using containers that were already in the house. Furthermore, there are 3 lovely little flower arrangements that can be sent home with the birthday girl, or any other guests, as gifts.

Pick fresh bundles, condition them, and use any leftover "scraps" - getting the most for your flower dollar!

giving credit where credit is due

2009-08-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Immersed in the new issue of Brides Magazine, I of course get most excited about the decorating and floral features. Nothing was less than gorgeous in the lengthy spread of flower inspirations that was broken down into color schemes. Superb designs, kudos to all those lucky featured floral designers.

That said, when I got to the "green" and "green blue" collections, my mouth just dropped. Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe the flowers designed by Ovando NYC. The bouquets and arrangements were elegant, understated, perfectly balanced, and pleasing to the eye - design technique perfected. At the same time, they were progressive, thoughtful, artistic, super chic.... definitely "out of the box". I am third generation in a family that's been in the flower business since the 1920's, and these flowers may be the most impressive I've ever seen. I highly recommend you peruse the latest issues of Brides. And you should also see Ovando's web site: http://ovandony.com/

The 2 photos featured here are not from the Brides feature, but they will give you just a glimpse of the skill and artistry mastered by Ovando designers. Given that bloom boxx serves NJ and NY, one might think I'm crazy to promote "the competition". To hell with that, I say give credit where credit is due. I know good flowers when I see them, and my hat's off to Ovando. Wow.

Elegant, beautiful, and FREE

2009-07-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Like Dorothy said after her journey to Oz: "... if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard...."

Well, when your heart desires some pretty blooms or foliage, your own yard is a great place to start! You can achieve a fabulous arrangement that's chic, simple, gorgeous, and FREE! For example, just look at these few branches from a Krauter Vesuvius Plum Tree. My good friends, Laura and Mike, were trimming (as in clipping, not decorating) the plum tree that flanks their front porch and were kind enough to offer me some of the cuttings. Simply arranged in a vase of water, look how stunning! And, branches such as these make it easy to achieve a sizable arrangement. What's more, foliage branches typically last several weeks. Just be sure to remove any leaves that will be below the water line, give the stems a fresh cut right before putting them into the water, and refresh that water every few days.

Flowers of the United States

2009-07-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

On this Independence Day, 2009, as we celebrate our nation and our freedom, it seems only appropriate to acknowledge some native American blooms. Originally from Virginia and now a New Jersey resident, I want to take a look at the official flowers of these two states.

The American dogwood, cornus florida, is native to eastern North America. They can be found in the region spanning from southern Maine to northern Florida, and west to the eastern portions of Texas up to southern Ontario. The actual flowers are the very small clusters of greenish-yellow petals in the centers, surrounded by the larger more visible "bracts" which are typically white. Some American dogwoods have pink bracts, and a few have red ones. The dogwood was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson, who grew them on his Virginia estate, Monticello, in the 1770's. But it wasn't until 1918 that Virginia lawmakers named the dogwood as the official state flower.

The common meadow violet, viola cucullata, is also referred to as the purple violet or blue violet. It is native to eastern North America from Newfoundland west to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Georgia. The violet's five-petaled flowers are typically "violet" in color, a blue-purple tone, though sometimes they are white. An interesting and unique fact about the meadow violet is that after flowering, the plant then produces a second set of blooms. This second set consists of small, closed flowers that look like buds. The violet's seeds are produced from these buds. Prompted by garden clubs across the "garden state", the New Jersey State Legislature voted in 1971 to name the violet as the official state flower. Wisconsin, Illinois, and Rhode Island also recognize the violet as the official state flower.

Have a terrific holiday weekend, everyone. Be thankful that we live a great nation that prizes freedom. And, wherever you may be celebrating, to quote an old phrase - be sure to "stop and smell the flowers".

In Defense of the Carnation

2009-06-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

At bloom boxx, we are and always been fans of the carnation. Carnations are hearty. They're fragrant. They last a long time. They're available in countless colors. They're naturally fluffy and beautiful in their own right. They're inexpensive. And any floral designer can tell you that they're easy to work with.

But the carnation, while remaining a staple of the floral industry, has fallen out of favor for the past several years. Along with baby's breath and mums, carnations have been considered passe. Perhaps over-popularized by supermarket floral shops and wire services such as FTD, carnations came to be considered common, boring, and certainly not fabulous. It's really unfair considering that the worst things someone can say about a carnation is that it's too popular and inexpensive.

Maybe it's a sign of the economy. Maybe it's a result of a "retro" trend. Probably a little of both, but it seems that the carnation is at long last poised for a comeback into good graces with the general flower buying public. And at bloom boxx we couldn't be more thrilled.

Let's sidestep for a moment and look at culinary comparisons. There was a time not long ago when a sophisticated consumer would roll their eyes at the very thought of ordering macaroni and cheese. That's food for kids that comes in a box. You can find mac and cheese in giant trays under heat lamps at buffets across the country. The savvy diner wouldn't be caught dead with it on their plate. My how times have changed. Mac and cheese, in various iterations, is popping up on fine dining menus everywhere, and sometimes at a hefty price. In Manhattan's East Village, there's now a restaurant that specializes specifically in macaroni and cheese. And, let's talk for a moment about hamburgers. Again, a staple comfort food item that some considered cheap, common, and not fabulous. Now, fine chefs are using superior cuts of beef, adding gourmet ingredients and charging plenty of $$ for... a burger. And, if you've attended a wedding or catered event lately, you've noticed that "mini burgers" have become the new crab cake. They're the new "must have" passed food item at any catered party.

So back to the carnation. Earlier this week, we had decided to blog about the carnation today. We are on the email list from Martha Stewart Weddings. Every day, we receive an email - the "weddings idea of the day". To our surprise and delight, this morning's email from Martha Stewart is entitled "Carnation Chic" and the tag line is "Long used as inexpensive filler, carnations have a chic style all their own when clustered in modern, minimalist vases." We knew this all along. See our white collection at http://bloomboxx.com/ But you don't have to take our word that carnations are fabulous in their own right because the goddess of all style herself has declared it so, just this morning. Hooray!!

Wedding Flowers - beautiful doesn't have to be costly

2009-06-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

We would argue that at least part of the "silver lining" that can be found behind our nation's current dark economic cloud is a new sense of consumer responsibility. Even those of us who are fortunate enough to still have our jobs are taking pause, and wisely so, before spending money - be it a meal at a restaurant, a pair of theater tickets, or a new car. Sure, to a degree, the crash of the economy has forced a reduction in spending. But, I think that deep down we all know that excess splurging and running up the credit card really wasn't a good idea, even when the economy was strong.

It is with pride that we announce the launch of bloom boxx. We appeal to the tasteful bride who desires beautiful, quality flowers for her wedding without spending a fortune. bloom boxx provides professionally designed, made-to-order fresh flowers for weddings and events at sensible prices. By minimizing consultation, keeping selections elegant yet simple, and eliminating production services, we are able to live up to our goal and provide a true value for your money. Please visit our web site to see our beautiful flowers and learn more: www.bloomboxx.com

We're also excited to get our "bloom blogg" on the web. Soon we'll be posting items that we hope our readers will find informative and entertaining. Information about flowers, trends, decorating tips, wedding planning advice - these are the kinds of things that bloom boxx will share with you here on the "bloom blogg". Thank you for visiting. Have a terrific day.