NYC Valentine’s Day Flowers & Gifts: A New Yorker’s Survival Guide

Roses, chocolates, gourmet baskets and mixed flower arrangements by Starbright in NYC and throughout the world will clearly deliver the desired message to a loved one on Valentine’s Day.   Flowers in concert with Godiva or Baci chocolate is a safe bet.  Even better, for the person who believes “one day is not enough to display my love for you”, is a blooming orchid plant guaranteed to excite for weeks to come.  For the person who believes “one day is not enough and I missed my chance to declare my love by jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch”, is a standing order of flowers to be delivered weekly or monthly (contact us for more details).

Tips on what not to do; the no-nos of valentine’s day gift giving.  Do not send a gift containing a thinly veiled message of “you’re fat”.  Examples of these are edible arrangements, gym membership or gift certificate to diet centers. Do not send a gift of flowers that travel in a box across the country.  Imagine how you would look and feel after a long airplane ride followed by a holdover in a warehouse, followed by handling by a freight operator working a double shift on a holiday somewhere.  The same holds true for those flowers.  Instead of delivering a smile and message of love, they deliver a lesson in mortality.  The number one no-no for Valentine’s day is to forget about it all together.  Avoid this tragic mistake by ordering your gifts from Starbright early and painlessly.

This public service memo is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design, voted “The Best Florist of New York City”.  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

Dress You Up In Berries!

Starbright was recently honored to be a part of an upcoming event whereby we were given a design dress style and told to make it a reality out of an assortment of berries.  A female cloth mannequin (we nicknamed the “Material Girl”) was adorned with a rainbow tour of berries (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries).  Our designer given the task, was hesitant of creating a dress form out of fruit. However, once she got into the groove, the progression was at a fever pitch.  I received many accolades for this creation, but I can’t say I deserve it. To our designer: Please take a bow for a job well done.   The final product is worthy of Vogue.  Here’s a pictorial evolution of a beautiful island of fruit that screams “you must love me”.

 

 

I’ve been told that this post might be misleading as many people associate the material girl with Madonna.  I assure you that wasn’t my intention.  Nor was it my intention to include ten of Madonna’s song titles within the body of this post.  Read back and see if you can find all ten hidden song titles.

Seriously folks, the good people at Driscoll’s, producers of the finest berries in the world asked us to produce the dress form for an upcoming food & fashion event show in lower Manhattan.  Driscoll’s provided the berries and the concept.  Starbright provided the talented designers to get it done.

 

Starbright Floral Design is a florist in Manhattan (New York City).  Our design studio is located in Chelsea (a NYC neighborhood) in the heart of the Historic Flower District on 28th Street.  We offer same-day delivery of flowers in Manhattan and everywhere else in the USA.  Gorgeous flowers, masterfully designed by Starbright Floral Design.

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com. where you will learn more about our organization and the work that we do.  (or you can call us at 800.520.8999)

2011: The Flower Year in Review…

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Starbright Floral Design is a florist in Manhattan (New York City).  Our design studio is located in Chelsea (a NYC neighborhood) in the heart of the Historic Flower District on 28th Street.  We offer same-day delivery of flowers in Manhattan and everywhere else in the USA.  Gorgeous flowers, masterfully designed by Starbright Floral Design.

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com. where you will learn more about our organization and the work that we do.  (or you can call us at 800.520.8999)

Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 16,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Our Creative Director in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl Parade

Our very own Tom Sebenius (Creative Director – Starbright Floral Design) is once again in Pasadena to oversee the production of several floats at the Rose Bowl Parade. Every year at this time we celebrate Tom’s creativity and what he brings to Starbright. You can be sure that every member of the Starbright Team will be glued to their TV sets to see these amazing floats strolling through the parade to the amazement of all.

Here is a pictorial behind the scenes look at Tom’s work on the West Coast. We are all really proud of you Tom!

Starbright is proud to encourage all the members of our team to maximize their creative potential.  Tom has been a part of the Rose Bowl parade since long stemmed roses were taller than he was… A lifetime dedicated to this floral extravaganza.  Tom is one of the most reviewed floral stylists on the web and he always gets five stars!  We are proud to have Tom on our team.

Starbright Floral Design is a florist in Manhattan (New York City).  Our design studio is located in Chelsea (a NYC neighborhood) in the heart of the Historic Flower District on 28th Street.  We offer same-day delivery of flowers in Manhattan and everywhere else in the USA.  Gorgeous flowers, masterfully designed by Starbright Floral Design.

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com. where you will learn more about our organization and the work that we do.  (or you can call us at 800.520.8999)

Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

December Birth Flower: Poinsettia

Poinsettias and Christmas seem to go together like peas and carrots.  This association hasn’t always been the case.  Its roots stem from Mexican legend.  As legend has it, a child who could not afford a proper gift to offer the Christ child on Christmas Eve was left to pick weeds from the roadside. The child was told that any gift given in earnest and with love is valued in God’s eyes. When the child placed the weeds onto the church altar, they miraculously bloomed into a poinsettia with its bright red flowers.

Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and Central America, where they may reach heights of sixteen feet. They are named after the first United States ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett.  A physician, politician and an avid amateur botanist, Dr. Poinsett sent samples of the plants to the U.S. in 1825 and by 1836 the plant had become commonly known as the poinsettia.

The Aztec Indians prized poinsettias (pronounced oohahargh-do in their native tongue) and considered them a symbol of purity because of their brilliant red color.  The Aztecs made a reddish dye from the flowers of the poinsettia.  They also made a medicine said to fight  fevers from the sap of the plant.  One common myth of the plant is that its sap is poisonous.  Although not tasty, it has not been found to be poisonous.

Today every festive holiday party is sure to contain the popular plant.  Its brilliant colors are sure to brighten any venue.

Shop for Poinsettias in NYC here.

This scribe is brought to you from all of us at Starbright Floral Design.  We are big supporters of all things to eradicate Leukemia.  We hope that you will join us in contributing to this fight.

If you would like to read more about Starbright, who we are and the scope of the work that we do, please visit our website.

If you would like to place an order for flowers (worldwide delivery), please visit our e-commerce portal.

Happy Holidays to all!

The Starbright Team

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

October’s birth flower: Good for the Eyes and Good for the Soul

The Marigold is the October birth flower.  Its list of uses is as long as its rich history.  However, its use in floral arrangements is not advisable.  Marigolds do not survive for long when cut.  Accordingly, birthday flowers for October babies play off the rich color of the flower and autumn floral arrangements are the norm.

The Marigold is native to southern Europe but do well in North America as well.  Seeds planted in April take root in any type of soil in full sun or medium sun locales.  Practically no care is required other than weeding and pruning. Marigolds bloom from June until the first frost kills them.  However, their death is short lived reappearing with young plants in the spring.

Religious Worship:

In India, the marigold is considered a sacred flower.  Hindus devote the marigold to gods and goddesses in religious ceremonies.

Medicinal Uses:

Plant pharmacological studies have indicated that Marigold extracts have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory qualities.  Marigold solutions have been used topically to treat acne, reduce inflammation, control bleeding, and sooth irritated tissue.  The petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried or used as a replacement for saffron.  Eaten in salad, Marigold petals have been shown to relieve abdominal cramping and constipation.

Demonic Evictions:  Sixteen century herbalists used the marigold to remove evil spirits from one’s head while simultaneously strengthening eyesight.  According to folklore, all Linda Blair and Emily Rose needed was a blossoming marigold plant placed in her bedroom (ironic that a marigold is needed in a rose bedroom).  Once the girls stared at the marigold petals their demons depart and would return to the wonderful little girls they were before their demonic possessions.  Coincidently, children throughout the New York area have been growing marigolds in classrooms and day care centers as classroom projects since I was a kid.  The stated scholastic reason is that it teaches the kids about germination.  However, many teachers have been heard branding our children as “little devils” (mine of course, can only be mistaken for angels).   Perhaps there’s something else going on.

This scribe is brought to you from all of us at Starbright Floral Design.  We are big supporters of all things to eradicate Leukemia.  We hope that you will join us in contributing to this fight.

If you would like to read more about Starbright, who we are and the scope of the work that we do, please visit our website.

If you would like to place an order for flowers (worldwide delivery), please visit our e-commerce portal.

Thank you!

The Starbright Team

In a Day’s Work

All in a day’s work at our flower emporium… We hope you like the photos!

The shoes were the centerpieces at this event!
Tropical Flowers Galore!
Bouquets of early autumn...

From time to time we keep a camera at our design table to bring you the latest photos of our work.  These are actual pictures of compositions as they come off our design table and we post them to give  you inspiration for the next gift you send, the next event you host or even for your wedding day.

Please feel free to visit our website at www.starflor.com where you will gain a bit of a broader perspective on our work at Starbright Floral Design.

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 will be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright delivers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers, plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloons and the like we are also a 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: starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City –

 

At Finovate: A Starbright Demo

Exciting times at Starbright Floral Design!  We have been honored to be a part of the Finovate Conference at Pier 92 on Wednesday the 21st of September.  Our Senior Partner (Nic Faitos) will be available to the press during the conference.  We are excited  to be a part of this program and to be involved in new and creative ways to bring our services in front of millions of loyal customers across a variety of platforms.   Read on for some thoughts and ideas of what lies ahead!

We’re excited to announce that Starbright will be featured in a live demonstration in front of nearly 1,000 top banking executives at a conference called Finovate (meaning innovation in financial services).  Why would a florist be shown in a demonstration to bankers?  Because we just began a new marketing program designed to reward our best customers with offers linked to the debit or credit cards from their banks or card issuers.  It’s called a card-linked offer.  The company we partner with to create card-linked offers is Cartera Commerce, who is demonstrating its solution at Finovate, and asked Starbright to participate.

So what exactly is a card-linked offer?  Well, it’s very similar to another type of offer most consumers are familiar with: the Daily Deal.  Every day, many of us get emails from companies like Groupon or Living Social with discounts on products and services from local merchants.  While Daily Deals can help a local merchant get a lot of publicity and drive one-time sales, they aren’t very good at helping merchants reward their best, most loyal customers for their patronage.  That’s where card-linked offers come in.

As a business that focuses on building lasting relationships with our customers, Starbright sees value in programs that “thank” our loyal customers for shopping with us.  Card-linked offers are the latest and most innovative way to do that.  Why?  Because the offers are linked to the cards consumers already have and value.  So instead of having to pay up front for a Daily Deal and print out a voucher that may expire, card-linked offers reward our customers after they buy flowers in a currency they value – whether it’s cash back, points or frequent flier miles – right back on the card they used!

For example, American Airlines customers can now register a credit card, use it when they purchase flowers from Starbright, and earn frequent flier miles.  Imagine that – buying flowers to fly!   Our offer is also available to Priority Club™ rewards cardholders from Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), who can register a credit card, use it with Starbright, and earn bonus rewards points to use for free stays at a Holiday Inn or Crown Plaza Hotel.

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 will be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright delivers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers, plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloons and the like we are also a 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: starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City –

September Birth Flower: The Aster, Beware!

The Matsumoto Aster

The September flower is the Aster which in the language of flowers means love, faith and wisdom.  However, since 1918 the Aster worn on your lapel signifies something entirely different and could lead to unforeseen consequences.  An Aster on the lapel signifies your unity and membership in the insurrection.   Its revolutionary symbolism originated from the Hungarian revolution of 1918 dubbed the “Aster Revolution”.

Revolutionaries in Hungary wore it as sign of solidarity with the rebels of the revolution.  The revolution was short lived but the Aster’s symbolism has lived on.   Rumor has it, an Aster worn on your lapel today will generate and FBI probe and possibly a trip to Guantanamo (note to those with no sense of humor: this is a joke!)  The Aster is known as a hardy flower but surely does not do well under water boarding conditions.

Certain varieties of the flower have been used medicinally for their pain relieving qualities.  According to ancient lore the burning of the Aster leaves protects against snake attacks.  Perhaps the use of the Aster by revolutionaries was not a random act but a calculated survival tool.

Regardless of its meaning, Aster flowers provide a beautiful addition to a fall flower garden. When so many other flowers are at the end of their growing season, the hardy asters continue to thrive.  Their brilliant colors and scent brighten up any landscape or floral arrangement.

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 will be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright delivers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers, plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloons and the like we are also a 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: starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City –