We were asked by an exhibitor at the Restaurant Show at Jacob Javits Center to transform their oversized exhibit area into an enchanted forest. The materials we used included bamboo, willow branches, moss (by the ton), all kinds of ivies, sod, and anything else you can imagine that fit the genre. Take special note of the glass table with the Snake Plant inside the base! The photos below are of our work in progress… We hope you enjoy!
Starbright Floral Design is a full spectrum floral and decorating organization. We deliver gifts all through Manhattan and beyond as well as plan and execute events of all types and sizes. To visit our website, you can go to www.starflor.com and you can also call us at 800-520-8999. We hope to hear from you soon!
Orchids give us so much majesty and beauty that they sometimes are intimidating and we feel that we cannot take proper care of them, or that we do not have a “green enough thumb” to be able to care for an orchid. We shy away from the most majestic flowering plant simply because we do not feel competent or capable of caring for it. Well for all the glory that orchids give, they do not ask for very much in return. Here is a primer on orchids to help you over the initial fear…
FIRST – Come to Starbright (or any other reputable florist in your area) and purchase a Phaleonopsis orchid plant. They come in a variety of colors but the most basic white or pink will do. Remember that you are not buying this orchid as an expert or as a connoisseur, but rather as a novice trying to learn and to gain confidence that the plant can actually survive around YOU!
When you go home, place your orchid plant in a brightly lit room, but away from direct sunlight. The orchid loves to bask in the sun but the more sun you give it the faster the blooms will open and eventually lose their petals. You want a room that has sunlight but where the rays of the sun never hit directly on the plant. Room temperature is fine. In most cases if you are comfortable so is your plant. This holds true for ANY plant (for the most part). Also try to keep you plant away from sudden drafts. A burst of cold air or hot air will certainly not help the orchid at all.
So far it is pretty simple, right?
Now make sure (at least for your first orchid) that you have a pot with good drainage. Most orchids (phaleonopsis for certain) do not live in a swamp and if the water sits in the pot and does not drain, you are killing your plant. So make sure that your pot allows excess moisture to escape.
Lastly – do not bother your plant. The less you do for your orchid the more it will give back. This is because there is not much that you can really do to care for the plant and in reality the plant requires very little care. Water is about the only thing that it needs.
My advice to folks is instead of water; give your orchid ice cubes. That is right – ICE CUBES. Why? Well for one, because when ice melts it becomes water. It is a slow watering process because the ice melts slowly and it allows for the roots of the orchid to drink the water as opposed to the water running through the plant. You also do not run the risk of the water ever building that swamp I mentioned earlier at the bottom of the pot. So your orchid will get the water it needs and it will never be too much. In most cases if the environment is not too hot or too dry, a handful of ice cubes a week will do.
Eventually the blooms on the plant will begin to wilt. As they do, clip them off because they are unsightly. As time goes on all the blooms will have opened and they will all have wilted. Eventually there will be nothing left but a bare stem. Depending on what stage you had purchased your orchid in (how many blooms were open already, etc), this process should take no less than three weeks and in many cases an orchid will last over two months.
At the end of that period you should feel confident that orchids can in fact survive around you! Hopefully you found enjoyment in caring for a live plant that gave beauty every day. Now it is time to experiment! No time to lose…
What do I do with that long stem that is bare and just sticking out of my pot?
Can I get my orchid to re-bloom?
What other orchid varieties are there?
What colors can I get?
Where do orchids come from?
There is a whole new world out there ready for you to explore! It is a lot of fun and you can delve into it as much or as little as you want to. Short of being a professional “orchidologist”, there are orchid clubs you can join, websites and books you can read from and there are even artists and photographers who have become known around the world simply because of their love for this magnificent plant.
You can go as far as you want to, or you can stay close to home. Either way, it is a relaxing and enjoyable journey or hobby – depending on how you define it.
Here are two orchid websites that you should consider visiting:
I have found them to be informative and worthy of your interest.
Do you have a question? Send me a note at nic@starflor.com. I will always be happy to hear from you and share some thoughts. You can even visit our website (www.starflor.com) or call us at our store at 800-520-8999. Reach out to us any way you would like to. We will always be happy to hear from you and to help however we can.
A little bit about Starbright Floral Design – We are a full service florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District (on 28th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues). We are open every day and most evenings till 8PM (Sunday until 6PM). We deliver all over the world and can help you in selecting your gift to fit any taste design or budget.
Starbright was voted on Citysearch.com as the Best Florist of New York City in 2009. We are the most reviewed and highest rated florist in New York.
TheKnot.com has also rated us as The Best Florist in New York City to partner with for wedding and bridal Florals.
We thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you!
St. Valentine’s Day is only three days away. The red rose invokes the passion of the season and as I was walking in the store today, I took a random photo of one of the 8,000 roses that were in the background. I hope you like it and I hope it and all the other red roses in our store make every Valentine a Happy Valentine!
About Starbright Floral Design… We are a full service florist located in Chelsea. We are in the middle of Manhattan’s Wholesale Flower District and we deliver flowers in our city and all over the world. Give us a call at 800.520.8999 or visit our website at www.starflor.com – We will be thrilled to hear from you and happy to be of service!
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!
A Sphere of Black Magic RosesA lavander phaleonopsis orchid plantA 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 Valentineseason, 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 eroticizedby 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 witha 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 mixcertainto please even the most persnickety lover. Because the roses are being added to other flowers, the cost willbe 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 thisromantic 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)
Recipients receiving their awardsA wonderful night of fun, dance and dinner!
Following the Starbright Floral Design Sponsorship of the Hotel Excellence Awards and the Silver Plume Awards, MVP/NY sent out the following press release. NOTE: To learn more about Starbright visit our website at www.starflor.com
New York (February 2, 2010): On February 1, 2010, MVP/NY hosted the 2009 Hotel Excellence Awards (HEA), the hospitality industry’s most prestigious awards, at the grand and luxurious Cipriani Wall Street. More than 500 guests and honorees gathered to recognize the hospitality industry’s service to New York City, which became the top domestic tourist destination in 2009. In addition to the Hotel Experience and Silver Plume Awards, which honor the top hotels and individuals (and the only industry awards sanctioned by the Hotel Association of New York City), New York City’s “top cop” Ray Kelly was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hotel Experience Awards winners among hotels with 500 rooms or more were: The New York PalaceHotel for Best Concierge Service, The Westin New York at Times Square for Best Room Amenities, The Waldorf=Astoria for Best Hotel Restaurant, New York Marriott Marquis for Best Family-Friendly Hotel and Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers for Best Business Services. The Best Overall Hotel Experience award went to The Westin New York at Times Square. In the 500 rooms or less category, The Plaza won for Best Concierge Service, TheSt. Regis New York won for Best Room Amenities, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park received the Best Hotel Restaurant award, Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square and Omni Berkshire Place tied for Best Family-Friendly Hotel, Millennium Broadway Hotel New York won for Best Business Services and The Plaza won for Best Overall Hotel Experience. In addition, the venerated Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Silver Plume Awards winners included David Moreno of Gramercy Park Hotel for Chef Concierge of the Year, while The Trump International Hotel & Tower New York had a big night with Loida Diaz taking home the Concierge of the Year award and Suzie Mills named Best Supporting Manager of the Year.
A hugely successful Silent Auction featuring over 100 donated items was held benefiting four charities: Les Clefs d’Or Foundation, the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges’ Charitable Fund, the Hotel Association of New York City Scholarship Fund and the ITM Hospitality Fund.
Composer Andrew Lippa joined cast members from the brand new Broadway production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY entertained the audience. Manhattan City Music provided music for the gala affair throughout the night.
The 2009 HEA was sponsored by Benjamin Steak House, BICE Ristorante, Bloomingdale’s, CityPass, CitySights NY, Deva Spa, Empire State Building, Harbor Experience Companies, Gray Line New York Sightseeing, John Barrett, Lalique, Loehmann’s, Madame Tussauds, Starbright Floral Design and Wempe Jewelers, and many others.
About MVP/NY
Morris Visitor Publications New York (MVP/NY) is a division of Morris Communications Company. MVP/NY’s market-leading visitor publications include IN New York and Where® New York magazines, QG: New York City’s QuickGuide, Where GuestBook® New York and IN New York Map. Reaching every segment of the visitor market—from leisure and family to business and luxury travel—MVP/NY products appear at more than 300 of New York’s most distinguished hotels, visitor centers and high-traffic attractions, private clubs, airports, on New York Water Taxi boats, Amtrak trains and Acela VIP lounges and in upscale corporate housing, generating an annual readership in excess of 34 million. For more information, log on to www.mvpny.net and www.innewyork.com.
A photo op with the award winners and presentersCatching up with great friends at the Westin Times Square table...
On Monday night the 1st of February the top hotels in New York City were honored for their achievements in travel, tourism and service to all those who visit our great city.
NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly received a lifetime achievement award. New York City is now “Officially the Safest Big City” in America (and probably the world)!
Hotel honors were given for everything from the Best Overall Hotel Experience , The Concierge Desk of the Year, and even the Most Family Friendly Hotel in all of New York (both big and small). Yes, we have hotels in all sizes in New York!
Starbright was honored to be a sponsor of the Hotel Experience Awards this year and for every year since their inception (the better part of a decade). The awards evening was held at Cipriani’s Wall Street and there were well over 500 in attendance. Many have called this event “The Oscars of the Hospitality Industry” and I for one attending last night agree. It was a fun night, a night of making new friends and catching up with old ones.
Floral decor was provided by our very own Creative Team at Starbright. We presented a short cylinder vase with a ti leaf wrapped on the inside (so that the water and the stems were not visible). Each centerpiece had twenty stems of balm dendrobium orchids and about ten stems of vanda orchids (in lavender).
To top off the evening? It was my personal honor to be selected to give the award to The Most Family Friendly Hotel in the over 500 room category. The Marriott Marquis won this category and it was a dream come true when my close personal friend George Ntim (Director of Guest Relations) received the award on behalf of the property.
The complete press release and better photos of the event will be on this scribe soon… But for now – enjoy!
You can always find Starbright Floral Design at www.starflor.com. We are known as “The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps”. Starbright offers the highest quality blooms imaginable and compositions of flowers that come from all five continents. Gift-giving deliveries can be made anywhere in New York City (in most cases within an hour) and beyond Manhattan pretty much anywhere. In addition, we have decorated for some of the most amazing events that have ever taken place in all of New York’s venues… To learn a bit more about the work that we do, give us a call or visit our website!
Click on THIS LINK to learn more about IN NEW YORK and all the great work they do. We love ’em!
Every color of the spring rainbow is in season! A little bit of springtime in the middle of a cold winter day… Smiles are always in season! Visit our website at http://www.starflor.com or call us at 800.520.8999. We have millions of ways to make your loved one smile! We would love to hear from you and thrilled to brighten someones day!
Tulip season has begun and tulip colors are now at their peak. Just imagine a color and there is a tulip in that tone!
The Starbright page on Facebook is waiting for you to become a fan!
This year, like every year, Tom S. (Creative Director at Starbright Floral Design) takes a two week sabbatical and goes home to California. While there he works with the organizers of the Rose Bowl Parade and directs the floral decor of several floats. This year he helped create three floats and two of the three won major awards!
Check out the photos that Tom shared with us of his great work! We are so proud to have him on our team! For many of our clients, Tom has directed their weddings, their corporate events and even retail displays throughout Manhattan. Tom is an integral part of our organization, a graduate of Fordham University, one of our most commented team members on Citysearch and just a great human being.
All of us love Tom and we love working with him. We hope you like his work as much as we do! Go Tom!
Look at all these amazing colors that Cymbidium Orchids come in!
It is January and that means that orchids from Holland are back in season! They are available in an amazing array of colors! Selecting the colors you like is probably the hardest part!
Orchids make great gifts, modern stylish and striking floral compositions… They are also used for corsages, bridal bouquets, etc. Give us a call at 800.520.8999 or visit our website at http://www.starflor.com. Ideas galore!
May the year that just started, be the best ever for everyone!
Blooming Thoughts 