Tag: calla lillies

An Event Planner’s Prespective on the Weekend..

Over  the years I have  had the honor to know and work with one of the true professionals in the Event Planning and Destination Management industry.   Anthony Napoli of Briggs NYC is a pro’s pro.  He is the go-to person for “everything Manhattan” and “everything beyond”.  His clients are in for a New York City experience like no other!  For more years than I can count on one hand we have had the privilege to be the florist for the events that are organized by Briggs.   Because of Tony and this amazing organization we have decorated at the United Nations, at Ellis Island, at Gotham Hall and countless other landmarks.

Tony has a unique perspective on this weekend and when I received Tony’s February newsletter, I asked him for permission to reprint it on our blog…  (thankfully he said “yes”!) – Apropos of Valentine’s Day, here is Tony’s perspective on what to do this weekend – enjoy!

“The stars have lined up for a multiple holiday weekend this February 12th to the 15th.  The festivities start off on Friday, February 12th the traditional date for celebrating Lincoln’s Birthday (before Congress passed the Monday Holiday Act – of course they left the Fourth of July alone!).  And that evening you can toast Honest Abe while watching the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Saturday is a major day to celebrate Mardi Gras or as we call it in NYC, Carnevale! Sunday is a double header: Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year’s – the Year of the Tiger! We can all rest up on Monday, Presidents Day! Happy Birthday George! So get out your patriotic songs, beads and doubloons, fortune cookies and dancing shoes cause it’s all “ashes ashes all fall down” for 40 days of Lent!. What a weekend!”

To learn more about Anthony Napoli and  his amazing team, please visit their website at www.briggsnyc.com.

About Starbright Floral Design: We are a full service florist located in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district.  We are  known as “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps” but this week Cupid took over and we are “The Official Florist of Romance”!  Give us a call at 800.520.8999 or visit our website at www.starflor.com.  We are open and delivering flowers all the time!

Hey Man! Love your flowers!

Pods, hydrangea and orchids

Low geometric vase with Orchids and Calla Lillies

Vanda Orchids and Steel Grass Sculpted in a Rectangular Vase

Whether you’re considering sending your man a gift for Valentine’s Day, a birthday or to congratulate him on scoring that new promotion, flowers can be a wonderful option.  The key is understanding a man’s taste and sending him the right message.  Will tulips tempt him?  Do rose make him rave?  Do orchids send him into overdrive?  Knowing how to present your man with the perfect arrangement can be a challenging proposition.  Unless you take advice from your favorite florist, that is!

Flowers have a perception of being feminine, soft, romantic and altogether un-manly.  Taking this into account, you have two options.  Either you can embrace the feminine quality of the flowers or you can ask their floral designer to highlight the masculine shapes and features of the florals being sent.

If you chose to embrace the feminine qualities of the flowers being sent, it’s important to still keep in mind a man’s taste and sensibilities.  Sending a pale pink bouquet of sweet peas may not be the best approach.  Instead, mix bold colored blooms with scented flowers that just might trigger memories of your favorite perfume.  Freesia, stock, and lilies can create a fragrance profile sure to lift his libido.  If the flowers are appealing to his nose as well as to his eyes, mission accomplished!

Romance is inherent when it comes to flowers.   Red roses have always signified the height of passion in the world of flora.  While roses have always been popular, when trying to impress your man, send don’t send him the standard vase of red roses.  Let us get creative.  Why not send a modern pave of red roses in a moss lined vase?  Or perhaps we can whip together a tight cluster of red roses and burgundy cymbidium blossoms in a silver cube vase.  Embracing the romantic symbolism of the red rose is very practical.  Even wiser is using this powerful bloom to full advantage and appealing to the male sensibility.

If it’s imperative the blooms you are sending have a masculine vibe, ask us for a simple, modern arrangement.  Men tend to dislike flowers that are too fussy or overdone.  Clean lines and architectural details are elements that are more likely draw a man’s appreciation.  Ask your florist to create a swirl of darkly colored mini calla lilies.  Or perhaps a simple hand tied bouquet of leopard spotted Mokara orchids would make your man’s day.  Using elements such as stones or metal wire can add a very rustic and manly esthetic to even the most delicate of blossoms.

Between your knowledge of your man’s taste and the help your florist should provide, the perfect floral gift is just a phone call away.  Call us at Starbright and we’ll be happy to help you create something truly special for that special guy.

ABOUT STARBRIGHT FLORAL DESIGN – We are a full service florist located in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district.  Our studio is located on 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.  You can learn all about the work that we do at www.starflor.com or by calling us at 800.520.8999.  We deliver our floral designs in Manhattan and around the world.  Give us a call for the most exquisite blooms you can imagine!

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)

A Happy New Year wish to everyone….

Candle Decor
The New York Public Library

Dear Friends and clients….

With the start of a new year and a new decade all of us have our sights set really high and our hopes even higher.  I truly hope that you were able to take advantage of every holiday moment and to take it all in with the proper proportions of love, family, joy, laughter and happiness.  When it is all over we create memories with those we love that will last a lifetime.

To the many lives that have touched our own and to those whose we have touched as well, we are truly grateful for all the opportunities of friendship and service that you have given us.  We thank you for teaching us all that we know and for all that we have accomplished with your support.  We are excited about our plans for 2010, for the services that we plan on bringing to you, the new ways that we will find to communicate with you and all the great flowers that will leave our stores to reach your special someones!

We wish peace, love, happiness, health and joy to everyone we have come into contact with…

With my warmest regards,

Nic and all your friends at Starbright Floral Design

The Official Florist (of the City that Never Sleeps)!

1.800.520.8999

http://www.starflor.com

Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  Our goal is to bring fresh flowers delivered to every home and every office for every special occasion – we fill every “just because” moment with passion for what we do!

Autumn Gardens are in Full Bloom

Autumn Garden

Our fall planting is in full bloom and it is time to enjoy the last flowers of the season before  the first frost… Above is a photo of  one or our more recent plantings at a residential tower in Manhattan. Enjoy!

Brought to you by Starbright Floral Design – we are located in the wholesale flower district on 28th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Give us a call (800.520.8999) or visit our website at http://www.starflor.com.  We would be thrilled to hear from you!

The Official Florist – Nf

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”

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