Tag: alternative to roses

Roses – Creativity, Style and Love

A Sphere of Black Magic Roses
A lavander phaleonopsis orchid plant
A clutch bouquet of miniature calla lillies

Tom S. is our Creative Director and the Arbiter of Style for Starbright.  Tom sees into the future and keeps our design styles ahead of the curve.  For Valentine’s Day 2010 he has some thoughts to share and has written the article below… Enjoy!

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I stop to ponder Gertrude Stein’s famous quote, “A rose is a rose is a rose.”  During this time of year, our store is inundated with requests for red rose arrangements.  It is not atypical to have over 15,000 long stem red roses in our fridge during the week of Valentine’s Day.  While roses are gorgeous and will always remain a popular declaration of one’s love and devotion, I have to agree with Stein.  A rose really IS a rose.

Luckily, we are prepared with other creative and unique options that should appeal to most couples.  Why limit yourself to a vase of red roses?  During the Valentine season, the price of roses can be shocking.  Our wholesale cost goes up, supplies of the best roses become scarce and customers can see that reflected in the price of a dozen roses.  Instead of roses, consider sending a lush, hand tied nosegay of eggplant colored calla lilies.  With their sculptural shape that has been eroticized by artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and Robert Mapplethorpe, calla lilies should evoke a passionate response from any recipient.

Orchids are another option that will both delight and inspire.  The exotic shapes, textures and colors of the orchid speak to the tropical fantasies of many lovers.  During the winter months, wouldn’t it be wonderful to remind your loved one of your past trip to the islands?  Perhaps the flowers will help to promote a future trip.  One benefit of orchids that can not be overstated is their longevity.  While long stem roses typically last an average of five days, fresh cut orchids will remain lovely for up to two weeks.  An orchid plant can last months, and they are deceptively easy to care for.  For a masculine approach to the orchid, a floating cymbidium stem artfully arranged inside a glass cylinder is a very modern choice. This option is long lasting and costs about $25 less than a dozen roses.

If your other half is more traditional and may be disappointed if they don’t receive roses, let us become creative to come up with a special mixed arrangement.  Rather than the typical tall vase, try a tight and compact cube arrangement.  Not only will the flowers be easier to bring home, they will last longer!  Low and lush arrangements are a modern trend and appeal to most discerning costumers.  Hydrangea, tulips, and roses make a romantic mix certain to please even the most persnickety lover. Because the roses are being added to other flowers, the cost will be significantly less then a solo vase of roses.  While cost is often not the deciding factor when choosing a gift for someone special, in these times it is very nice to have some economical options.

As a floral designer, my opinion of roses may be negatively influenced by the scars and calluses I’ve acquired from years of Valentine’s Day thorns.  However, I have the unique opportunity to see the wide of variety of flowers available to customers during this romantic holiday.  While roses are certainly the star of the show, there are many flowers that are waiting in the wings for their moment to shine.  No matter what, when the flowers are sent with love, they transcend and aspire to more than Stein’s observation.  “A rose is a rose is a rose…” unless it comes from you!

About Starbright Floral Design: We are located in New York City in the heart of the historic flower district.  We are in a loft on the second floor of our building on 28th Street, right by Seventh Avenue.  We deliver to all of New York City ourselves (and beyond).  This holiday season we have some amazing Valentine’s styles for you to choose from.  Give us a call (800.520.8999), stop by (150 West 28th Street, Suite 201) or visit our website (www.starflor.com)

What Every Diva Knows….about flowers.

Vanda Orchids and Eggplant Mini Calla Lilies - By Starbright

An entertainer’s dressing room is their sanctuary.  It’s an oasis, where they can relax and prepare in total peace and tranquility.  Despite the sacred nature of this space, family, friends, and fans often want to invade this domain with floral offerings.   What most people don’t realize is that there is an art and a science to creating bouquets for such an environment.  You can’t just simply throw any random flowers in vase and send them over to Madison Square Garden for Beyonce’s green room.  Heaven Forbid!  There are several key choices that can be made to ensure the flowers are enjoyed and appreciated, rather than being sent directly to the dumpster.

  1. Keep it simple.  In most cases less is more.  This goes for both the size of the arrangement and the combination of the flowers.  If you do something too big, there is a chance the flowers won’t even make it to the dressing room.  Often the larger arrangements are left outside or in a separate dressing room.  When choosing the types of flowers, one or two varieties is usually best.  A lush bubble bowl of cream colored roses can make a better impression than a vase of mixed flowers.
  2. If you can smell it, don’t send it.  Many artists are fanatical about keeping their dressing rooms free from scented flowers.  Singers are especially known for this quirk.  It’s understandable that a sneezing or histamine fueled attack would want to be avoided at all costs.  For this reason, never send lilies, freesia, gardenia or tuberose unless they have been specifically requested.  Most roses acceptable due to the fact that hybrid roses have had the scent bred out of them.
  3. They’ve seen it all.  Most famous entertainers have been sent enough flowers to cover a Rose Parade float.  There probably isn’t a combination they haven’t come across.  However… that doesn’t mean we should stop trying to keep their flowers unique.  A celebrity flower order is the perfect chance for a floral designer to try that new technique they saw in a magazine or book.  Ask your florist if they have any unique varieties of orchids or roses they could recommend.  Perhaps the florist has an interesting or funky vase they could fill with a bold bouquet of hydrangea.  It never hurts to ask.

Flowers are a great gift for celebrities and us regular folks alike.  It just takes a little extra care and thought to make the perfect addition to a diva’s dressing room.  While roses may be thrown at their feet, you don’t want to have your roses thrown in your face.  Remember to keep it simple, scentless, and special and your flowers will be the toast of the town!

This article was contributed by Tom our Artistic and Creative Director.  The direction of floral design that Starbright takes is determined in no small part by Tom’s personal creativity.  His contributions in all areas of the company and his design elements have been an inspiration to us all.

Starbright Floral Design (starflor.com) is located in the heart of New York City; on 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue.  We are in the heart of what has been known for over a century as the Historic Fl0wer District.  Many have dubbed us as The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps because of our contributions to the Hiospitality and Special Events markets.

Give us a call (800.520.8999) or visit our website to learn more about us.  We would love to be of service by delivering the most amazing flowers to your loved ones – in New York City and beyond!

Calla Selina - by Starbright Floral Design
Calla Selina - by Starbright Floral Design

Every season brings a bloom that is really special and unique to that time of the year.  Miniature calla lilies are certainly the flower that captures everyone’s heart in the season of harvest.   The mini calla lily is available year round and grows in a multitude of colors.  They come in classic white, raspberry, yellow, dirty ivory, plum, eggplant and so many more.

In the fall there are three or four tones of what we would call the colors of mango, or the colors of a sunset and they are most amazing!  One of these varieties is the Selina, which is photographed above. Give us a call and ask about it!  It is a fun flower and with a stem length of 90 cm it is longer than a long stemmed rose!  Do you want to get really creative with a gift to someone?  Send them to someone special, in a plain glass cylinder with clean lines.  The “wow factor is beyond anything you can imagine!

Don’t forget that we deliver flowers, gifts, balloons, and any other imaginable display anywhere around the world – but some of our flowers are exclusive to our own inventory in New York City.  We will always do our best to help you select the right gift.  Give us a call at 800.520.8999 or visit our website.  We will always look forward to hearing from you!

Your friends at Starbright Floral Design – and “The Official Florist”