Tag: Flower Ideas

The Queen of Fall Flowers – The Chrysanthemum….

The chrysantemum is the flower that welcomes the fall season every year since the start of time…

Florists can tell that it’s autumn when chrysanthemums show up in the market. Their large, full heads are the embodiment of the last offerings of the warmer weather, and they are generally found in typical autumn colors- golds, bronzes, reds, oranges and yellows. Some chrysanthemums even lean towards brown, and the green varieties help unify both summer and autumn designs. Chrysanthemums, which are the most widely grown potted plant in the U.S., bloom towards late summer and throughout fall, further making them a perfect symbol of the season.

There are over one thousand varieties of chrysanthemum, which are part of the family Asteraceae. There are actually such an abundance of varieties within that category that they are further divided into thirteen sub-families. Sunflowers, spider and football mums, aster, carnations, gerbers, chamomile and daisies are all part of the Asteracea family! How they are further grouped is dependent upon the shape of the petals, which may lay flat, curl underneath themselves, be reflexed, or even only partially closed in the middle of the petal.

The chrysanthemum pictured is called a football mum, so named for its popularity in use for mothers’ corsages at American football games. Its petals, which are a dark orangey bronze, are a much lighter shade on their underside- a yellow-beige- which make it a visually interesting and quite attractive flower. Although one of the longest-lasting flowers available for floral design, (and gardening,) chrysanthemums have gotten a “bad rap,” in Europe, where they are widely used as funeral flowers, due to their inexpensive cost. In Japan, however, chrysanthemums have been cultivated for so long that they hold a revered place in Japanese history. The emperor’s throne is called the Chrysanthemum Throne, and the highest level of chivalry awarded to Japanese military is called the Imperial Order of the Chrysanthemum.

So next time you call Starbright for a fall arrangement, consider requesting that chrysanthemums be included. There is no more perfect flower than the “Queen of Fall Flowers.” In case you’re wondering, Aster, a member of this same family, is the September birth flower; chrysanthemums are the birth flower for November, officially bringing autumn to a close as the season gives way to winter.

One of the best orders our designers can be asked to fill is a seasonal arrangement. If you call  (800) 520/8999 or place your order online at www.starbrightnyc.com, during fall, we will be sure to make it all things autumnal, be that through the colors or the quintessential chrysanthemum!

Starbright Floral Design is a full-service florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District. We deliver flowers and all kinds of great gifts throughout Manhattan, all of New York City and to the rest of the country. Give us a call, stop by or visit us on the web. Many have said that we are the best florist anywhere!

DIY Flowers

In 1994 my wife and I had a dream of owning and operating a NYC flower shop.  What began as twinkle in our eyes culminated in Starbright.  Over the years we have been privileged to receive many accolades from our clients.  Whether it’s been a smile of approval by a happy recipient, or a flattering review online, we have been amazed by the kindness of others.  However, I am not a good enough writer to describe how I felt when a Starbright fan wrote  the following article for our blog.  Mark Twain said it best: “The form of a compliment has nothing to do with its value — it is the spirit that is in it that makes it gold or dross. This one was gold. This one was out of the heart…”.  With that in mind, I say thank you to Debbie and humbly present her story:

Boring. Click.

Boring. Click.

Boring. Click.

Predictable.  Click.

Boring. Click.

Boring. Click.

Maybe. Click.

Boring. Click. Boring. Click. Boring. Click. Boring. Click. Boring. Click.

Hmmmmm.

There’s got to be a new take on holiday arrangements somewhere in the universe, I thought, scrolling down the Google list. Not everyone can be happy with a triangle of red carnations intermixed with white spider mums and evergreen.

Uh huh.

Uh huh.  Seen it. Yep.

What?

Red ginger stems with glossy green foliage and seeded eucalyptus in a blue pleated ceramic vase? Click eagerly.

Ethereal white-flowered branches twining through bright red curly willow braches?. Click rapidly, heart a-flutter.

Orchids?  Dusty red orchids daringly played against the cleaner reds of roses and ginger and sited in front of a cherry paneled wall?

 

I had arrived in florist heaven. 

What was the name of this place?

Starbright Florist, NYC.  Sure.  Makes sense.

Starlight, star bright,

First star I see tonight. 

Wish I may, wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight.

I remembered Gippetto.  He got his miracle and apparently, I got mine.

I spent the next hour cruising through the gallery of photos, taking screen shots of floral designs that took my breath away. I labeled them “amazing white” and “spectacular white” and “incredible white, lime” until I realized these names would not help me distinguish the arrangements in my folder, and maybe I needed to be more informative about colors and styles and less giddy.

Wait.  You’re thinking THAT?  Of course I’m not a rival florist pirating designs.

I am the flower committee for my Midwest church – a big, Greek revival downtown church whose grandeur has been slowly diminished over the years by a declining neighborhood and a declining membership. My goal was to infuse a sense of freshness in the flower arrangements. Create new ones every season.  Invigorate the congregation. God or the pulpit could challenge their self-concept and shake up their sense of charity or forgiveness.  I  would challenge their sense of beauty. A creative outlet for me.  A means of rejoicing for them.

Well, maybe.

I soon discovered I was no Starbright designer.

And I lacked the right flowers.  I was using the silk flowers my predecessor had purchased 12-15 years ago in colors and selections that often did not appeal to me.

And there weren’t enough of them – not if I was going to create the impressive-sized arrangements needed for a 32’ by 27’ lobby or our giant auditorium.

And I had a one-time budget of $500. HA!  For silk flowers? I tried to guess what some of the Starbright arrangements must cost their patrons.  Starbright designers use their flowers exuberantly and imaginatively in distinctive vases that become part of the design. $500.????????  C’mon.

And then there was the irony. Going to all this work, searching for flowers, cruising all 600 entries of vases on ebay to find something distinctive for under $15. Frustrating myself with my own inabilities.  All for a small congregation. Did anyone care? Was I contributing to joy?

My first adaptation was an out-and-out steal of the Starbright design below.  But it was simple and I knew I could duplicate it. And I loved it.       

I bought the square glass vase, the white callas and clipped one deep red orchid from another new stem.  My artificial stems did not bend quite as gracefully as the real ones but I loved the clean lines, the straight of the vase against the curve of the stems, the illusion of the stems floating in mid-air, the tight, closed shape of the callas in contrast to the open bloom of the orchid. If anyone noticed this little gem I reproduced, they didn’t mention it, although the congregation as a whole recognized the fresh arrangements and expressed appreciation.

For winter, I wanted to attempt this arrangement.

I was transfixed by this design – how the red spikes echoed the design of the wallpaper, how the lime, purple and gray played with the rust and red tones in a terra cotta vase. It was so exciting. So dynamic in form, color and combination of flowers.

That I did not have any of these materials did not stop me. The substitutions were not always happy:  red twig dogwood sticks for the airiness of the red orchids sprigs; rust and gold foliage (marked down 75% at the floral wholesaler) for the rust-colored orchids; the hydrangeas with too much pink and not enough gray tones; and the total absence of the lime component. Of course I blamed the white background for the failure of the piece to come together You can see the result is pretty pathetic. 

So far, Starbright was in no danger of being usurped by a Midwest floral superpower.

This summer, however, I had better luck.  I wanted to imitate the gorgeous and very romantic wedding centerpiece on the Starbright site.  The height of the crystal vase and the size of the hydrangea globes read “lavish” and the contrast of the thin, soaring curly willow against the lushness of the flowers –I had to go for it.  And those gold lights shooting up the columns and picking up the gold tones of the gilt chairs.  Whew!  I wondered if God would bestow some gold-toned special effects for me. I knew He was good with haloes.

I had plenty of white hydrangea so I wired bunches together to get a similar, lush effect.  A local interior design store closing its doors marked its silk flowers down 75% and I loaded up on some beautiful blooms, including the large pale green lilies at the base of my arrangement.  It wasn’t Starbright quality, but this time I wasn’t embarrassed by my results.

In the spring, summer and fall, my real passion is perennial gardening. My favorite areas of the garden are those where the plants themselves create the clarity of the design by the contrast in their leaf size and texture and structure. In the photo below from my garden several years ago, you can see each plant distinctly – just as you can in the Starbright arrangements.

In contrast, the flowers in my white arrangement are pretty but messy. The design lacks clarity of form, an element the Starbright team excels at. I have found that clarity much harder to achieve with artificial flowers. I always have too few or not the right kind. Am I making excuses here?  You bet.

But just look at the Starbright design below.  Every bloom or branch is cleanly seen and makes its own statement while contributing to the harmony and beauty of the piece. And the blending of floral types – the tropical orchids and anthuriums with the traditional hydrangea. Plus the bare branches for contrast and strength.  I sigh with appreciation.

Over and over in the Starbright designs I noted the use of curly willow branches. I knew their soaring quality was perfect for the height of my church spaces. 

But when I called local florists and a wholesale distributor, I could never find them. And I couldn’t buy a wholesale lot online.  I didn’t need a 30-years supply.

But I wanted them and I was going to hunt them down.

OK – it wasn’t quite that dramatic.  Frustrated by my failure to find any, I called a florist friend who had just dismantled some wedding arrangements and had piles of curly willow branches outside his back door for the taking.

I hurried over, loaded them into my too small car and took them home to spray paint red. I was fond of two Starbright arrangements I had viewed over the past 12 months.  I would try to blend them.

Here’s that combination I discovered on my first visit to Starbright – the white floral branch with the red, curly willow branches.  You can see how each element is allowed to speak for itself, how the willow stems add structure and definition while the white branches soften.

In the second arrangement, the reverse occurs.  The density of the white flowers with the green foliage contrasts with the airiness of the red, curving branches.

My final product combined the density of the underlying white with the structure of the red, soaring branches which extended 5 feet into the air.

I will say, while my floral arrangements at church do create a little stir each season among the women, at least, this arrangement might have been too unorthodox. A little too modern.  Remember, I live in the Midwest. Only one person told me they liked it.  Even my husband withheld outright enthusiasm.

Two other quick inspirations from Starbright to share, then I’m done.

The photo below shows how Starbright influenced me to make the vase part of the statement of the design.  While I inherited some classic vases at church, they were all white or cream.  This green gladiola vase (a $9 ebay purchase; the base has a small crack) delivers a lot of punch in this summer design and makes the blue and fuschia flowers more vibrant. Plus it’s fun.

Finally, Starbright produces tight, close arrangements on a smaller scale that nevertheless avoid the canned arrangements of many standard florists.

Here’s the Starbright inspiration followed by my more humble adaptation.

So, Starbright, you are my muse site, offering me the stars even though I’m at the flashlight level.  But I’ll keep wishing on my star and maybe someday…

 This scribe is brought to you by Debbie, Starbright’s #2 fan (Sorry Debbie My Mom is #1).  Thanks again Debbie and I hope everyone enjoyed half as much as I did. 

Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district in a second floor loft at 150 West 28th Street.  Our services include local, national and worldwide flower delivery as well as consultation and execution of social and corporate events.  To learn more about us and the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.  You may also go directly to our online portal for ordering gifts at www.starbrightnyc.com or to our Event Gallery to see thousands of photographs from our recent work. You may also call us at 1.800.520.8999.  We are always thrilled to hear from you and to be of service in every way possible….

Our warmest regards,

The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps

Starbright Floral Design

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

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 –

Remembering: Our Grandparents

“To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.” Chinese Proverb.

National Grandparents Day is a national holiday celebrated the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year.  This year the holiday falls on September 11.

The holiday was created by former President Jimmy Carter by proclamation in 1978 (believed by many to be his greatest; some would say only; accomplishment as president). The statute cites the day’s purpose as: “…to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer”.

Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure.  They are the defenders of our family traditions.  They are the foundation upon which a strong family structure is built.  They provide a special kind of love that sets them apart.   Grandparents have the ability convey knowledge while providing a seeming endless supply of cookies.  However, despite their wisdom, some answers still elude them.  For example, my mother told me that one of life’s greatest mysteries was how the girl who wasn’t good enough to marry her wonderful son (my wife) can be the mother of the smartest grandchild (my son) in the world.  I guess my gene pool won out.

The official flower of the U.S. National Grandparents Day is the forget-me-not.  Interestingly, forget about giving the official flower as a gift on Grandparents day, it blooms in the spring and is not available.  Accordingly, seasonal flowers are typically given in appreciation to grandparents.

Happy Grandparents Day to all!

This scribe is brought to you by all of us at Starbright Floral Design.  The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps.  Flowers, Festivals and  Celebrations… It is what we do!

To visit our website: http://starflor.com/

Our E-Commerce Portal: http://www.starbrightnyc.com/ (to send flowers in New York City or worldwide)

Our number is 800.520.8999 – we look forward to hearing from you and maybe meeting you one day soon!

Should baseball ban players from wearing Jasmine flower wreaths?

Every now and again we like to present the fun side of flowers and to inject a bit of humor into our scribes.  The last time we did this, we brought you the genetically engineered Pearl Rose on April Fool’s Day 2011.  See entry here.  There are many baseball fans at Starbright and many teams are represented here.  The New York Yankees take center stage.  Our very own Ted Dee has some thoughts about baseball and how flowers can enhance performance  and the game.  Read on!

Major league baseball has been battling an image problem for years.  The problem stems from steroid use by players seeking to get an unfair edge over their peers.  The public’s outrage over what were perceived to be cheaters was real.  Players were heroes one day and villains the next.  Major League Baseball reacted (a little too slowly) to the problem by implementing a drug testing policy.  Baseball claims its policies are designed to create an even playing field bringing the game back to its pure days.  The federal government jumped on this hot button issue and have spent millions of dollars trying to prosecute Roger Clemons and Barry Bonds.  Steroids have been proven to increase strength and speed.  However, their effect on hand-eye coordination is believed to be negligible.  If Major League Baseball’s goal is to level the playing field and allow us to fairly compare today’s players to our heroes of yesteryear, then shouldn’t they ban substances proven to enhance a person’s hand/eye coordination?

Baseball players are always looking for an edge over their rivals.  Thus the growth of the silly nylon wrapped titanium necklaces worn by many of the Boston Red Sox players.  Those necklaces have not shown any benefits other than a placebo like psychological boost.  Yet, Major League Baseball spent millions in deciding whether a ban should be proposed.

It is undeniable, based on numerous studies, that flower scents have a real and quantifiable effect on the people smelling them.  Dr. Alan Hirsch, director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, has conducted numerous studies of the effect of various flowers scents on humans.  According to Dr. Hirsch, “Jasmine’s scent triggers beta waves in the front of the head…” and thereby increasing hand/eye coordination.  The scent of Jasmine has been proven to enhance athletic performance in sports requiring concentration and hand/eye coordination.  As a baseball fan eager to avoid another black eye on the face of the game’s legacy I urge the league to be proactive.  Waiting until a player dripping in Jasmine oil hits 100 home runs is too late.  Thus far, my warnings have fallen upon deaf ears at the commissioner’s office.  I hope something is done soon.  However, until something is done I will continue to send a bushel of Jasmine flower branches to the NY Yankees weekly.

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 –

August Birth Flower: Gladiolus (U.S.) or Poppy (U.K.)

Gladiolus

Gladiolus has been dubbed the flower of the Gladiators.   It represents strength of character, sincerity, generosity.  In the Victorian age with its secret language of flowers it was said to represent “love at first sight”. Gladiolus derives its name from the latin word for sword and is sometimes called the sword lily.  As a member of the iris family it contains about 260 species.   Only about 10 are native to Europe the rest are native to southern Africa.  The species vary from very small to the spectacular giant flower spikes you see in floral designs. The flower stalk of the Gladiolus contains an extended row of trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers, all of which face in one direction. Their colors include pink to reddish or light purple with white, contrasting markings, or white to cream or orange to red.

 

Poppy

All species of poppies are attractive and most are cultivated as ornamental plants.   In Europe the poppy is a common weed and found in many locales including Flanders, the setting for the famous poem by the Canadian surgeon and soldier John McCrae “In Flanders Fields”.  However, A few species are cultivated as sources of drugs and foods. The opium poppy is so widely used, for both drugs and food, that its worldwide production is monitored by international agencies. It produces opium, opiates, poppy seeds and poppy seed oil.

Poppies have long been used as a symbol of both sleep and death.  Sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy.  In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead.  Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep.

In the United Kingdom poppies are traditionally worn on lapels each November in remembrance of those who died serving their country (symbol coming from Flanders Field).  In November 2010 the U.K.’s prime minister and his aides wore the poppies on their lapels during a visit to China nearly causing an international incident and damaging relations between the two countries.  The Chinese took offense because the poppy reminds the Chinese of the many Chinese who died at the hands of the English during the Opium wars fought in the 1800’s.  The Chinese insisted the Poppies be removed.  The Prime Minister informed the Chinese that poppies meant a great deal to them and the English people and refused to remove them.

Artificial poppies (called “Buddy Poppies”) are used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a source of financial assistance to disabled veterans who assemble them.  VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans’ organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.   The minimal cost of Buddy Poppies to VFW units provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation’s veterans.

This scribe is brought to you by your friends at Starbright Floral Design… We are an enthusiastic bunch that spends our day making really cool compositions of flowers. Bright colors,  great designs and  amazing service to our clients is what we are all about.  Starbright is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District in a second floor loft space.  We spend our days making flower arrangements that we send as gifts on behalf of our clients.  People call us for a bunch of reasons (1 800 520 8999)… Sometimes to say “sorry”, other times to wish someone well during an illness or to congratulate on one of life’s major milestones.  Sometimes people call us because the caught the romantic influenza and they think someone is super sexy! We even get some really shy customers that don’t know what to say on  the card and need lots of help!

For world-wide delivery of flowers, be sure  to visit our website at www.starflor.com.  We would love to hear from you!

To place  an order for amazing flowers online go to:  www.starbrightnyc.com

Our warmest regards,

 

The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps

Starbright Floral Design, 150 West 28th Street, New York City.

We are on the SECOND floor!

1 800 520  8999

www.starflor.com

 

 

Marriage Equality: (More) Cause for Celebration!

I know exactly what I want my wedding flowers to look like.  Considering that I have met with and executed the flowers for at least a hundred brides during my career as a floral designer, I’ve definitely had the opportunity to formulate my own ideas about my big day.  It was only until a couple of weeks ago that the fantasy was granted the chance to become a reality.  The New York State Assembly voted to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples, thus allowing the dreams of countless loving couples to finally come true.   No, I haven’t recently become engaged.  I will still have to be content with making other people’s boutonnières and centerpieces.  However, now my pool of potential brides and grooms will include a lot more grooms and grooms and brides and brides!  Talk about a reason to celebrate!

Many times I am asked what the differences are between a same-sex wedding and the standard wedding we have been accustomed to.  Truthfully, there isn’t a difference.  Of course, if two men are getting married, it is likely I will not need to make a bridal bouquet.  Other than that, the differences are hard to find.  The emotions, politics, logistics, and ultimately the flowers are practically the same.  Color schemes are agonized over, seating charts are adjusted and the merits of orchids and roses are debated by couples no matter their gender or sexual orientation.

It’s important as a wedding vendor to keep compassion and equanimity in mind when dealing with gay and lesbian couples.  This new marriage equality should inspire equal treatment and consideration across the board.  Most couples will be looking forward to meeting and speaking with a vendor who is as excited about the big day as the couple themselves.  Florists would be wise to be inspired by the joy and new sense of validation and empowerment that their same-sex couples will exhibit while planning their wedding ceremony and reception.  What a beautiful gift our care and enthusiasm will be for these formally disenfranchised pairs.

Of course I am totally biased on this subject.  Growing up, I would have never thought that gay marriage would be a reality.  That certainly never stopped me from contemplating what color peonies I would match with purple Dutch hydrangea for my centerpieces.  I’ve also been blessed with a loving boyfriend who I know wouldn’t judge me for wanting to hold a bridal bouquet if we were to ever get married one day.  (Do you know how many bridal bouquets I’ve made???!!!  I get to have one of my own!!!)  I’m lucky that I’ll never have to risk meeting with a vendor who would try to talk me out of what I want and what I’ve dreamed about for my wedding day.  I hope and pray that the same will be true for all the other gay and lesbian couples who wish to celebrate their union with their friends and families.  Best wishes, Mazel Tov and congratulations to us all.

This scribe is brought to you by Tom Sebenius.  Tom is Starbright Floral Design’s Creative Director and has a part of the Starbright team for most of the modern history of our company. Tom has made countless brides happy and has created some truly magical Starbright moments.  Tom is our most published contributor to floral industry publications and probably the most reviewed floral stylist on all the major online review sites.  We consistently earn five-star reviews on the likes of Citysearch mainly through Tom’s insistence on quality and attention to detail.  A proud member of our team and  a true artist.  Everyone  at Starbright is thrilled that we will one day witness Tom’s ceremony and cannot wait to see  what his creativity brings out on THAT special day! Stay tuned….

Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district in a second floor loft at 150 West 28th Street.  Our services include local, national and worldwide flower delivery as well as consultation and execution of social and corporate events.  To learn more about us and the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.  You may also go directly to our online portal for ordering gifts at www.starbrightnyc.com or to our Event Gallery to see thousands of photographs from our recent work. You may also call us at 1.800.520.8999.  We are always thrilled to hear from you and to be of service in every way possible….

Our warmest regards,

The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps

Starbright Floral Design

 

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…