Category: Just Arrived

November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemums, flower with an identity crisis…

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb in the 15th Century BC.  The flower was brought to Japan in the 8th Century and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal.  The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th Century and named from the Greek for “Gold Flower”, a reflection of its original color.

The Chrysanthemum - November Flower....

These days the flowers come in various forms and can be daisy-like, decorative pompons, or buttons.  In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available such as white, purple and red.

In the United States, Chrysanthemums are identified as cheerful holiday flowers.  Fall arrangements and Thanksgiving Day Flowers in NYC and throughout the country incorporate Chrysanthemums in their decor.  However, many European countries (France, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Croatia) have identified Chrysanthemums with death.  Accordingly, their use in floral arrangements is limited to funerals or on graves.

Other Uses:

Be sure to bring Chrysanthemums with you when taking a walk in the jungle.  The flower is considered a natural source as an insect repellent.  The Pyrethins when extracted and applied on the skin in an oil suspension or as a powder can be lethal to insects such as mosquitoes.  The Chinese have used the flower for its antiseptic and antibiotic qualities for centuries.

Starbright Floral Design is located  in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are in a second floor loft space from where our customer’s orders get dispatched.  To learn more about our organization and the work that we do, we would like to invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Either way, we would be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright deliverers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers and plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloon and the like; we are also the go-to florist for events (both corporate and personal).  Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations…. It is what we do!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

 

Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

website: starflor.com

to order flowers: www.starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

July Birth Flower: Larkspur

The Larkspur

Never heard of it?  Ask a cowboy and chances are you’ll get an expletive filled description of this beautiful flower.   The flower is low maintenance and grows freely in the wild.  It’s when it makes its way to grazing pastures that cowboys have a problem with the larkspur.  It is highly poisonous to cattle and has led to untold numbers of deaths.  The larkspur is a tall beautiful flower variation of the delphinium.  The long spike of the flower reminded people of the nose of a dolphin.  Delphinium is Greek for “dolphin”. The spike also reminded some people of parts of the lark, thus the name larkspur (Shakespeare referred to it as lark’s heel).  Like characteristics of the people born in July the flower stands for lightheartedness and levity.

The larkspur is a great addition to any tall floral arrangement.  Its tall, beautiful spikes come in a variety of colors and accentuate the beauty of all its surrounding flowers or can stand on its own.   The flowers typically bloom in the summer months between  June and September.  Found throughout the world today, its origin can be traced back to the birthplace of civilization, Greece. Shortly after the death of Achilles, at the behest of Athena (Achilles’ mother) it was decided that his armor was to be given to the bravest Greek warrior.  Having proven himself in battle repeatedly and even personally rescuing the armor and body of Achilles from the Trojans, Ajax was the odds on favorite.  To the dismay of most, particularly Ajax, the armor was awarded to Odysseus instead.  Dejected and disgraced, Ajax killed himself.  The Scarlet larkspur began to grow where Ajax’s blood was spilled.  Today, the scarlet larkspur occurs naturally in coastal climates. Canyons and its surrounding areas are a favorite for the Orange larkspur. Blue larkspur is common in the southeastern United States.

Aside from its aesthetic qualities, larkspur has medicinal value as well.  The seeds are ground to a powder and used to treat toothaches.  In the civil war, soldiers used the powder in their hair to kill lice.  Transylvanians used the blue variation of the flower to ward off witches.  New Yorkers include it in their floral displays to ward off the blues.

These scribes are brought to you by Starbright Floral Design.  We are a premier florist in New York City located in the heart of the Historic Flower District.  We deliver flowers for any occasion worldwide.  Our loft is located on the second floor (Studio 201) at 150 West 28th Street.  You may visit us online at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Or better yet, you can pop in and visit us in person!  We would love to meet you and hear from you as well!

Don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook so that you can keep up with all that is happening in our world and see all kinds of beautiful floral compositions form right before your eyes!

We are thrilled to be of service to you….

The Official Florist of the City That Never  Sleeps

Starbright Floral Design

1.800.520.8999

starflor.com

Our Work: Our Latest in Floral Compositions

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Check out the photos in this album they are the latest additions to our website in our Event Gallery.  We invite you to visit our site at www.starflor.com where you can click on  the EVENT link to see our entire portfolio of over 2000 photos of our actual work.

By clicking on the GIFTS link you will go to our e-commerce portal where you can select from a wide array of gifts to send to your friends and loved ones.  Some of the flower selections that are in our gift section  are available for delivery on a national level, while others (Starbright Exclusives – Modern and Starbright Exclusives – Traditional) are available in our own delivery area of Manhattan.  Looking for something but cannot decide what flowers to send?  Designer’s Choice is a great alternative!  Here is a link to a past blog entry that talks about why Designer’s Choice is your best selection and why this is where you get the best value in flora.

About Us: Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are located at 150 West 28th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues in an amazing loft space – Studio 201).  We have been serving the corporate, special event and hospitality industries since 1994.

To gain a broader perspective on who we are and the work we do, we invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com.

See you soon!

Nic and the entire Starbright Team…

April Birth Flower: The Daisy-The most commonly picked flower by slaves?

Welcome to the fourth month in the calendar… Another birth flower has arrived.  With springtime everywhere, we are introducing the flower of the month of April (and for those of you who have been following us, this is no April Fool’s joke) – The flower of the month is the common daisy.  Read on!

 

The Everyday Daisy - April's Flower of the Month

 

 

Daisies belong to the Asteraceae plant family.   The Asteraceae family dates back fifty million years and includes over twenty thousand varieties. The family name derives from the Greek Aster, meaning a star shape.  The name daisy derives from the phrase Day’s Eye.  It’s a reference to the English daisies routine of closing their petals at night and opening again at daylight.  The Daisy’s meaning is said to be purity and innocence.  However, to Roman soldiers it often meant the difference between life and death.  The English daisy was widely used by the Romans for its astringent properties. Roman armies would have their slaves pick daisies incessantly in order to extract the juice.  Bandages were soaked in this juice and would help bind battle wounds.  Today the phrase just out picking daisies is not in reference to some forced labor but rather to depict a relaxing free time experience.  The term pushing daisies refers to the wild flowers that would sprout in the mound of dirt covering a fresh grave and signifies death.

English daisies have white, off-white, or sometimes slightly pink star-spread petals and a yellow center, with green stems and leaves.  Many varieties of daisies are clearly identifiable members of the daisy family with the typical English daisy appearance, such as the Shasta Daisy or Chrysanthemum.   Others like the popular Gerbera daisy (African daisy) have some of the identifiable traits such as central florets.  You can find its flowers in yellow, orange, pink, peach and red; they are prized for their large heads, long outer petals and intense colors. Dahlias, however, have the star-shaped petals without central florets.   Other varieties of daisies aren’t even flowers but edible plants such as artichokes.

Just a few thoughts  and  words about our sponsor… Blooming Thoughts is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are located in New York City in the heart of Manhattan in the heart of the Historic Flower District.  The wholesale florists on our block open at about 5am.  Give us a call and if you are up early, we will be happy  to give  you a walking tour of the flower district.  It is a great place to catch the scents and colors of the season.  I always tell people to walk our block at least four times a year so that they can enjoy and appreciate the seasons.

If you are not up that early, you can find us online at www.starflor.com or by stopping by and visiting us anytime before 8PM (seven days).  We are located at 150 West 28th Street in Studio 201.  Or you can give us a call at 800.520.8999.  We would love to hear from you!

The Official Florist

News Press Release

Starbright Floral Design Kicks Off the “Pearl Rose”.   The Most Significant Product Launch since the advent of air travel and genetic engineered plants.

NEW YORK — March 31, 2011 — At a press conference at Starbright headquarters in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district,  Nic Faitos , Starbright’s Managing Partner,  in association with the Dutch Flower Marketing Association (an industry group whose mission is to promote flower buying throughout the world), announced the availability of the “Pearl Rose”.  A new rose varietal conceived by creative minds and designed through many years of collaboration between the finest botanists in the world with Dr. Aprilia Anoitou as the lead scientist.

Today’s announcement that the “Pearl Rose” is available to retail customers of Starbright and volume licensing customers marks the beginning of the most significant product launch in our company’s history and perhaps since Barbara McClintock’s discovery of “Jumping Genes”.  The “Pearl Rose” will be available to retail customers effective immediately.  Availability to NYC organizations with volume license agreements will begin shortly as well.  However, initial supplies are limited to retail customers.  Volume customers will be supplied for orders FOB New York City for delivery before Mother’s Day and beyond.

Through chromosome engineering and radiation mutation, more fully discussed in the science section herein, Greece’s premier botanist Dr. Aprilia Anoitou was able to develop a rose with mollusk traits.  The result is the growth of a white pearl within the pedals of a red rose.  Different varieties of roses have yielded different levels of pearl quality.  Currently the Pearl Rose is limited to the Darling Flame variety of rose.  Accordingly, the price of the Pearl Rose is for upscale clientele.

Customer feedback through Starbright’s web site, starflor.com , guided product development.  “This is a game changing product,” Faitos said.  “It’s an incredible step forward in the floral industry with ramifications that are yet unknown but undoubtedly far reaching.  Accordingly, in a press release under separate cover, we’ve announced the formation of a joint venture between Starbright and The Dutch Flower Marketing Association to fully explore the wide ranging uses of this exciting innovation.” Said Faitos.

First Users See Clear Business Value

Joining Faitos at Starbright’s headquarters was Poisson D’Avril, the president of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Greater New York.

“In the highly competitive and fast-moving hospitality industry, our advantage comes first from our people and second from everything NYC has to offer.  You can add the Pearl Rose to the list of incomparable NYC attractions.” Said D’Avril.  “Nic has allowed several of our higher end venues offer the Pearl Rose prior to its official release.  The response has been extraordinary.  Finally, something to give to that person who has everything!”

Original Science

“The ovules of a rose are megasporangia and typically develop into female gametophytes.  These gametophytes give rise to egg cells which, in a typical rose holds the pollen.”  Said Dr. Aprilia Anoitou.  “In the transgenic rose, called the Pearl Rose, through chromosome engineering and radiation mutation, our team was able to develop a rose that behaves like a typical mollusk.  The mature egg cells are split through chemical mutagens. The mature egg cells from radiated mollusks are combined with rose egg mutations through protoplast fusion.  The genetic recombination leads the rose to secrete nacre similar to that emitted by mollusks.  “  Dr. Aprilia Anoitou said.  Transcripts of Dr. Anoitou’s full procedures are available by request to Pearlrosepress@starflor.com.

On the Road to the Future

“During the last decade, Starbright has built an impeccable reputation in the floral industry with unsurpassed customer service.” Faitos said. “Although we have been at the forefront of technology, the new product announced today is the most innovative product we’ve ever been involved with, and I believe it signals the beginning of a new wave of innovation that will have a profound impact during the next decade.” Said Nic Faitos, President of Starbright Floral Design.

Located in the heart of NYC’s flower district and founded in 1994, Starbright Floral Design has established the gold standard for customer service within the floral industry.  The Company has grown steadily every year since its inception.  The Pearl Rose and other innovative products being worked on currently, has Starbright on the threshold of exponential growth for the coming years.

Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance or information, journalists and analysts may contact pearlrosepress@starflor.com.  To become a volume licensee, kindly contact pearlrosedealers@starflor.com.  Visit us on the web at starflor.com.

 

Ficus Trees: Moody but Gorgeous

Ficus Trees...
Take special care of your ficus and you will have years of enjoyment!

Ficus trees are perhaps the most popular indoor decorative trees grown.  The ficus benjamina – weeping fig – in particular is one of the most popular of the 800 species available. Their popularity is certainly not as a result of its easy care but rather, its beauty.  Ficus trees are very temperamental requiring constant vigilance in its care.  Ficus trees can become stressed by simple actions such as moving from one room to another or even from one end of a room to another.  Proper ficus tree care is essential to keep these plants healthy.  The ficus’ popularity, coupled with their temperament, was a motivating factor in launching Starbright’s exclusive Plant Care Maintenance Program.

Ficus Tree Care:

The ficus tree is a true creature of habit.  It does not like change.  Consistency is the key factor in its care.

Sunlight: Bright sunlight during the day, but should not be in full sun all day.

Temperature: The optimum temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Consistency is key-ficus trees should not place next to heaters or vents that create varied temperatures.

Watering: The soil should be kept moist but not wet, in a well draining pot to prevent root rot. The rule of the green thumb is to water after the top inch or two of soil has dried. Avoid overwatering your ficus! The most common mistake people make is to add more water once the leaves begin to turn yellow. This is the opposite of what you should do.

Humidity: Misting the tree frequently while it is young or adjusting to a new location, can help it maintain its humidity.  Helpful time saving hint is to make a humidity tray by filling the plant saucer with gravel.  The runoff water will evaporate through the plant, providing additional humidity.

Fertilizer: During growth periods, feed the plant every three to four weeks. Use a regular liquid fertilizer for indoor plants diluted to half the strength recommended on the package label. Decrease fertilizing in autumn and do not fertilize during the winter.

Trouble shooting leaf loss: Proper ficus tree care can help minimize leaf loss. Ficus trees commonly lose up to a quarter of its leaves after an environmental change. Diligent care can help mitigate additional stress. If leaves turn yellow just prior to dropping off, it is a sign of over-watering. Dull leaves may indicate a need for fertilizer.

These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist.  The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201).  To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.

You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide.  We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.

Thank you for visiting our blog.  Always “at your service”,

The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

t.800.520.8999

starflor.com

The Chinese Money Tree: Luck be a Tree Tonight

The Chinese money tree is a succulent ornamental houseplant that is said to bring luck to its recipient. Chinese money trees are aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance trees ideally suited for homes and offices.  Many people who decorate in the Feng Shui manner tend to incorporate this plant in their designs because of the five lobed leaves.  A Chinese money tree that has leaves in clusters of seven is considered especially lucky.  Another benefit of the plant for the busy office executive is that its leaves are edible.  No longer is time a reason to skip a meal.  Just reach over and grab a leaf!

Money Tree
NYC Money Trees-A Great Plant of All Seasons!

History

The Chinese have always believed strongly in the usefulness of lucky charms or symbols.  The Chinese Money tree is one of these symbols of luck.  Several stories tell the tale of origin of this tree’s symbolism.  One tale tells of a sculptor who placed fake money on a tree in order to trick villagers into cutting it down for him.   However, the tree was soon revered by the villagers as sacred.  It was believed that cutting it down would lead to their doom.  When the sculptor attempted to cut it down, the villagers paid him not to harm the tree.  Another story tells of an elderly man who gave a peasant a purported special seed.  The man told the farmer to plant the seed and water it daily with beads of his own sweat until it sprouted.  Once the seed sprouted the fledgling tree required drops of the farmer’s blood for survival.  The peasant did as he was instructed and the resulting plant grew up to be a “money tree”.  The peasant found that by shaking the tree, coins would fall to the ground.  Repeated harvests led to the peasant becoming rich.  The tree became a source of perpetual wealth.  The story can be taken literally.  However, today it is taken to mean that to become rich, it must be through hard work and one’s own sweat and blood.  The Money tree is a popular gift during the Chinese New Year.

Tree Care

1) Water:  Chinese money trees aren’t water hogs.  Typically they require a light watering once a week.  Feel the soil, if it is dry, time to water.  Do not spray mist.

2) Light: A young tree should not be subjected to direct sunlight.  Indirect sunlight for 4 hours a day is sufficient.  Mature plants can tolerate direct sun but prefer indirect.

3) Temperature: Chinese money tree grows well in typical indoor temperatures (60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit).

4) Pruning:  Remove any damaged or dead leaves regularly thereby promoting new and healthy growth.

5) Fertilizer: Like any houseplant, a dose of fertilizer now on occasion is beneficial.  Be careful not to over fertilize.  Better to not fertilize rather than fertilize too much.

6) Repotting: The container of the money tree should not be undersized.  Typically every couple of years it’s time to repot the tree into a larger pot.  Make sure there are adequate drainage holes.  Inability to drain could lead to root rot.

This scribe is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design, “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”.  Along the way we try to find and write about the fun side of flowers.  Starbright delivers flowers all over the world for the endless romantics everywhere.

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.

Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in!  We would love to meet you….

Passionately yours,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

March Birth Flower: Oh That Daffodil Itch

Daffodil - Springtime is here!
The Daffodil Blooms as the First Flower of Spring

The Narcissus is synonymous to the Daffodil.  The Daffodil is simply the English name for the flower which derives its name from the Greek mythological figure called Narcissus.  Narcissus was a young man who was so obsessed with his own reflection in a pool of water that he fell into the water and drowned.  The Narcissus plant first sprang up at the location of his death and thus the birth of the Daffodil itch.  This Greek myth has led the Daffodil being a symbol of unrequited love.   China has a somewhat different view of the Daffodil.  It is revered and has become a symbol of Chinese New Year.  It is said if it blooms on Chinese New Years, you are in store for extra wealth and good fortune for the year.

In moderate climates Daffodils flower among the earliest blooms in spring. Daffodils often grow in large clusters and cover entire hillsides. Their rhythmic movements in the wind inspired the  famous poem Daffodils, by William Wordsworth.  “…And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.”  All  Daffodil species have a central trumpet surrounded by a ring of six floral leaves.  The traditional daffodil consisted of a yellow color all over.  Today both in the wild and due to breeding, blooms range in colors to include yellow, white, orange, pink, red and green.

The Daffodil itch is not a term of endearment referencing the excitement of spring’s approach.  Instead, it is a term used by florists describing the itchy skin condition caused by exposure to the sap of the Daffodil.  The Daffodil contains alkaloid chemicals throughout making it very bitter and toxic if ingested.  The toxicity is dangerous if confused for an onion and ingested.  However it makes the Daffodil the perfect plant for those of you whose property has been overrun by rodents.  Deer and all rodents will leave the Daffodil unmolested.

This scribe is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design, “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”.  Along the way we try to find and write about the fun side of flowers.  Starbright delivers flowers all over the world for the endless romantics everywhere.

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.  Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.

Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in!  We would love to meet you….

Passionately yours,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

The Secret is Out! The History of Valentine’s Day (who created it and why)

For the endless romantic in all of us...
Valentine's Day.... Monday 14 February 2011

Those in the know claim that Valentine’s Day holiday celebrations are derived from Roman tradition. Many pagan traditions, such as Holloween, were adopted in some form by Christianity.  One legend has it derived from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis.  The festival involved the young women of Rome placing their names in an urn.  The young men would then draw a name of a woman who would be their sexual companion for the year.  In 496 AD the Pope in Rome declared it a Christian holiday to be observed on February 14 in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who died in the third century.  The Roman Emperor Claudius II issued an edict forbidding marriage for young men.  Marriage made men emotionally attached to their family, therefore weak soldiers.  It is said Valentine was a Roman priest who was murdered because he held secret marriages in opposition to the emperor’s edict. Thus 14th of February became a day for all lovers and Valentine became its Patron Saint.

England climbed aboard the love train by the 18th century.  Gift-giving and exchanging hand-made cards on Valentine’s Day had become common. Hand-made valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts became popular and handed to one’s love interest.  The tradition spread to the American colonies.  However, it wasn’t until the 1840’s when greeting cards were commercially produced that the holiday really caught on in the United States.  The first mass producer of the card were the brain child of Esther A. Howland.  The conspiracy theorist in me finds it extremely peculiar that the first mass marketer of Valentine’s Day, in an age when women’s rights were reserved to the right to keep quiet, was a woman.

Is it possible that Valentine’s Day was created by the sisterhood of women for the benefit of women for generations to come?  Here are some statistics:

85% of Valentine’s Day greetings cards are purchased by women-average price $1.99

75% of Valentine’s Day flowers are purchased by men-average price $85

75% of Valentine’s Day chocolates are purchased by men-average price $25

72% of Women polled would break up with their love interest if no gift is given on Valentine’s Day (the other 28% would accept a gift the day before or day after instead).

8% of men polled do not celebrate Valentine’s Day (100% of those men are alone)

Conclusion:  Valentine’s Day, from Roman times to today, created by women for women.  For that florists throughout say THANKS!

This scribe is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design, “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”.  Along the way we try to find and write about the fun side of flowers.  Starbright delivers flowers all over the world for the endless romantics everywhere.

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.  Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.

Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in!  We would love to meet you….

Passionately yours,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.co

 

Carnations – The Comeback Flower of January

Birth Flower of January
The flower of choice for January Babies!

Welcome to our new feature that will appear once every month… We will introduce you to the Birth-Flower-Of-The-Month.  Much like there is a Birthstone for every month, there is a Birth-Flower too!  January is the month of the Carnation.  Over the years this is a flower that has truly taken a bad rap.  “Too FTD”, “Too common”, “Grandma’s flower”, “No carnations please!”.  As florists we hear this all the time…  BUT with new breeds of carnations coming out, new hot colors (purple, green, fuscia, and more) and with the evolution of design styles, carnations have made a big comeback, not to mention that they are the “Official Flower of January Babies”!

We did a little research on the history of the carnation, its origins and how to care for them… Read on!  We hope you like the thoughts we have to share.

The birth flower for the month of January is the Carnation. Its scientific name, Dianthus Caryophyllus, is derived from the Greek-“dios” and “anthos”.  The literal translation being “The Flowers of God”.  Carnations have been around for about two thousand years longer than the person receiving them.  Carnations are known for their sweet clove like fragrance, their ruffled appearance, hardiness and wide array of colors.

Carnations will grow up to 3 feet high with green-gray foliage.  They bloom mainly during the cool times of year, particularly early winter.  The cut flowers have been known to last up to a month with proper care.

Carnations are utilized for festive occasions as well as somber ones.  You’ll find them at birthday parties, weddings, parades, festivals and funerals.   Accordingly, carnations are the top producing crop in the floriculture worldwide.

Thinking about sending someone carnations?  Don’t forget the significance of the color beyond its aesthetic value.  Carnations take on many meanings depending upon their color.  Pink Carnations signify a mother’s love.   Deep red carnations indicates love.  A white carnation indicates friendship.  However, be careful of the yellow carnation.  It signifies disappointment or disdain.

Six easy steps to keep your carnations looking fresh and bright:

1)  Clean out a vase with soap and water. Bacteria left in the vase from a previous floral arrangement may cause the carnation to wilt prematurely.

2) Pour 1/2 cap of bleach into the vase. This should kill any bacteria missed while cleaning.

3) Pour 1/2 can of lemon-lime soda into the vase. Fill the empty can with warm water and pour the water into the vase and soda. The combination of lemon-lime soda, bleach and water will act as a preservative.

4) Remove any leaves from the stem of the carnation that are below the water in the vase. Cut the leaves with scissors or pull them off.  Hold the stem of the carnation under the water in the vase. Cut 1 inch off the bottom of the stem with the scissors. If the vase is too narrow to cut the stem in, use a separate bowl of warm water to cut the stem.

5) Place the carnations in the prepared vase. Set the vase in a cool room away from bright sunlight for 24 hours. This encourages the carnations to take in as much water and preservative as possible, which helps the blooms last longer.

6) Replace the water and preservative every three to four days or if it becomes cloudy or dirty. Remove any dead leaves that fall into the water and remove and dispose of any flowers that begin to wilt.

Hey you receivers of yellow carnations just jump on Facebook and let us in on the reasons you generated such passion in a negative way.

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.  Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.

Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in!  We would love to meet you….

Passionately yours,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

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