Tag: flowers in Manhattan

A bouquet En Plein-Air

Karl Albert Buehr - The Parasol
Karl Albert Buehr – The Parasol

Karl Albert Beuher was one of the early Chicago painters to adopt Impressionism. He joined other American artists in Giverny, France, to paint en plein-air in the commune established by Claude Monet. These impressionists developed a style that required quickness in order to finish a piece before the sun moved and the light changed. They wanted to capture their subjects, which were generally natural scenes, as the eye might see them. Instead of hard lines and lots of detail, Bueher’s brush delivered bursts of color and light that seem to illustrate a fleeting moment in time. He wants us to see ripples in the leaves instead of the angles in the bark. He wants us to see a sea of long grasses and field flowers instead of individual blades of grass and carefully represented blooms.

The art of floral arrangement is as varied as any art form. Last week, we showed you our Georgia O’Keefe inspired arrangements and how color and line can be used to suggest energy and emotions. This week we’re looking at another bouquet – this one designed on the same principles as Bueher’s  early works.

Wedding bouquets

We’re focusing on the impression of these flowers as a whole, instead of on any one individual “wow” flower.  There is a lightness represented in Beuher’s work that we wanted to capture. In regards to the design above, we wanted to create something genuine, unfettered, and at one with the scene. Something that would be memorable for the occasion, but serve to enhance the impression of the overall, rather than draw attention to itself.

Take a look at Beuher’s painting below and the flowers we selected to make up this arrangement. For our “plein-air” bouquet, we want to create a light and feathery texture similar to that of Beuher’s brush strokes. The vibrance of the colors in the artwork are also important. We love how shadows are created with vibrant shades of green and the pink – they create contrast we might describe as “lightness” instead of “brightness”.

 

Flowers used in bouquet

 

Each flower was carefully selected for it’s size, color, and texture. Our wind-swept bouquet of wildflowers is purely fantastical – few of these flowers are native to any one common region. Luckily, here at Starbright, we had no problem getting the flowers we wanted. Our selection included :
1/ Dusty Miller – The quaint name isn’t the only thing we love about this hardy foliage. With it’s silver-white color and soft texture, this leaf adds a wistful element to any arrangement.
2/ Stock – Noted for it’s heady, clove-like scent. This example of the variety, with double flowers, adds texture to our arrangement. Stock also is a symbol of a happy life and a contented existence.
3/ Astilbe – These remind us of wildflowers. The feathery stalks seem to float in this arrangement.
4/ Lisianthus – Native to equatorial areas of the American continents. This delicate, long-lasting, prairie flower has ruffled petals. They represent warmth and geniality.
5/ Dahlia – Sometimes called the “Queen of the Autumn Garden”, the dahlia belongs to the Asteraceae family which is noted for their star-shaped blooms and includes flowers lie the daisy and sunflower. Traditionally these flowers symbolize hope for an everlasting union.
6/ Freesia – Sweetly, citrus-scented and long-lasting, these graceful flowers are perfect for a bouquet. Each wiry stem can have up to 10 flowers.
7/ Ranunculus – The fine layers of petals give this weighty flower a delicate appearance.
8/ Muscari – Small and fragrant, the shape of these flowers is reminiscent of little bells.


Starbright Logo

 

Looking for flowers in New York City? Visit our Event Gallery for inspiration. Or see our daily selection at Starbrightnyc.com.

Georgia O’Keeffe and a Colorful Bouquet

Georia O'Keeffe inspired bouquet

 

Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by what she saw in nature – over here at Starbright, we’re inspired by her perception and the images she shared.

The painting above is Ms. O’Keeffe’s Music, Pink and Blue No. 2. This abstract expression of music has an informal balance that gently flows across the canvas to create a soothing rhythm. The pattern, created by repeating circular lines and colors creates the impression of layers. Even the color harmonies mimic music.  The deep pools of concentrated color create a base (or bass!) for the sweeping mid-values to stand out against. The orange and white splashes, which are only partially visible in the above image, add focus – like lyrics, they sit slightly towards the foreground of the painting and give the eye something to pivot around.

Armed with inspiration, it’s easy to interpret O’Keeffe’s interpretation back into the natural.  The medium – flowers.

The bouquet in the above image was composed of the following flowers:

 

flowers

1/ Ranunculus : These bright orange flowers have crepe-paper thin petals. We’re reminded of the layered feel of the pattern in Music. The bright color is creating bright points of focus in these arrangements. Ranunculus come in a brilliant variety of colors. Giving a ranunculus says “I am dazzled by your charms”.

2/ Calla Lily : These undeniably elegant flowers mimic the central shape in Music. The washed pink color also reminds us of the calming shades of pink in the painting. These flowers represent abundance and beauty. 

3/ Sweet Pea : These richly colored, sweet-smelling flowers come in a variety of colors and represent blissful pleasure. The flowers themselves are about one inch big and resemble butterflies with folded wings. We chose a purple shade.

4/ Rose : This rose variety has a color gradation effect in its petals – the outer petals are light pink and get darker near the center.  According to The Language of Flowers, a pink rose represents perfect happiness. 

5/ Cornflower : These brilliant blue flowers are often called bachelor’s buttons.  The name comes from an old folk tradition that claims if worn by a young man in love the flower can divine the feelings of his beloved.  Because of this tradition, the cornflower has come to represent hope in love.  We’re going to use these in the groom’s boutonniere. 

6/ Hypericum Berries : These smooth peach colored berries add another texture to our arrangement.  We especially like how clean they look against all the ruffled petals. 

7/ Thistle : Ok, these are a little out there for the inspiration, but the rich blue/purple color and spiky prickles add great color and texture.  The thistle is also a Scottish symbol of noble character – which we think is pretty fitting for a wedding.  

The inspiration can be seen throughout the bridal parties pieces.  Below is the groom’s and groomsmen’s boutonnieres.

Georgia O'Keefe inspired Boutineers

We had a lot of fun making these colorful pieces!

Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!

 

Starbright Logo

Starbright Floral Design began as a husband and wife team who had a passion for hard work and floral artistry.  Over twenty years later, we continue to stand by these founding principles. Looking for flowers in New York City? visit our Event Gallery for inspiration. Or see our daily selection at Starbrightnyc.com

 

 

NYC Summer Flowers Series: Gladiolus

NYC Summer Flowers:Gladiolus
NYC Summer Flowers:Gladiolus

Gladiolus

Gladiolus is the August birth flower.  It has been dubbed the flower of the Gladiators and a much-loved flower in NYC.   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.

For some great ideas on summer flowers in NYC please visit our website at http://www.starbrightnyc.com/ and take complete advantage of all the great flowers that the season has to offer!

Hope you are staying cool and are surrounded by the splendor and beauty of Gladiolas!

Sincerely,

Nicodemus Faitos and The Team at Starbright Floral

Our Creative Director Speaks at an Industry Conference in Florida…

Tom Sebenius is the Creative Director at Starbright Floral Design and for the better part of the past decade he has given direction and style to our organization with his eye, his creativity and forward thinking for what is next in floral design.  In the paragraphs below Tom shares his experiences from his attendance at the annual convention of the Society of American Florists.  The conference took place at The Breakers Hotel in September of this year.  Please read on!

Display of Floral Varieties at the Breakers Hotel

The Society of American Florists has been leading the charge in keeping the floral industry thriving and robust for over 129 years.  This important organization champions education, publicity, standards and practices, even going so far as lobbying for and sponsoring government legislation to entire floral community.  Growers, wholesalers, retail flower shops and ultimately retail shoppers all benefit from the efforts of SAF.   Starbright Floral Design has been a strong supporter and proud member of SAF for 16 years.

Last month I had the honor and pleasure to attend the 128th SAF annual convention in Palm Beach Florida.  Not only was I thrilled to be attending the convention to represent Starbright Floral Design but I was also asked to participate as a speaker during one of the educational sessions.  The topic I had to speak about?  “Why I Love My Job”.  How great is that!?!  Obviously, I had a lot to say.

Professional conferences should be required by law.  After three days in Palm Beach, I returned to Starbright with new found passion and vigor.  I learned so much, not only in the many sessions I attended but also just from communing with my fellow SAF family.  Being surrounded by people who share the same common goal and interest was energizing and very validating.  The career that I have spent the past 10 years pursuing had never felt more relevant or appreciated.  Seeing the shared excitement and enthusiasm throughout the venue was more than inspiring.

The people and their passion were definitely the highlight of conference, but I would be remiss if forgot to mention the flowers!  Flowers practically covered every inch of the gorgeous Breakers Hotel.  Roses, lilies, orchids, gerberas, clematis, sunflowers, and heliconia are just a fraction of the breathtaking blooms on display.  Not only were new varieties of flowers being showcased but also new vases and containers were on display.  I felt like a kid in a candy store!

My session of the conference was the last presented on the final day.  I was nervous but luckily I shared the stage with three wonderful women.  Kate Penn, the editor and chief of Floral Management magazine, the monthly publication produced by SAF expertly moderated our panel.  My fellow panelists speaking on the topic of job satisfaction were Ali Cruz from Fresca Farms in Miami and Yvonne Ashton of Mayesh Wholesale in Cleveland.  The talk was presented in an Oprah style format with Kate acting in the role of Oprah.  The members of the audience were encouraged to participate and ask questions during the proceedings.  It was such a fun experience getting to lend my thoughts on how business owners could improve the moral in their shops or wholesale operations.  Ali, Yvonne, and I were all so flattered to have been asked to speak on such an important topic.  It felt wonderful to have members of the audience come up to us afterward to thank us for our candid advice and observations.  It was clear that our session had been a success.  Thank goodness!

A Flower Display at The Breakers

The final evening of the conference was capped by an amazing awards dinner.  This exciting evening paid tribute to companies and individuals who have dedicated themselves to bettering the floral industry.  Hearing the stories of these men and woman brought everything I had learned to the fore.  I decided that I too needed to direct my action towards the greater goal of furthering the industry.  Not only were my efforts needed at Starbright, but I must extend my reach and push myself further and outside my comfortable boundaries.  Loving flowers is no longer enough; there is more for me to do and further for me to go.  With the support of my Starbright family, I look forward to learning more and lending my talents and efforts to create more excitement and interest in our industry.  Hopefully, I can inspire the same feeling in my co-workers and perhaps our customers as well.

You can bet I’m already looking forward to next year’s conference!  Thank you SAF!!!

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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 1.800.520.8999 end_of_the_skype_highlighting . We are always thrilled to hear from you and to be of service in every way possible….

 

Overwhelming “Thank You’s”

From time to time we get notes of thanks from our clients where they express their appreciation for the flowers that we deliver for them to their loved ones, their coworkers or to their business associates… Today I got a few more than usual and  I wanted to write about them just because the notes themselves were really cool and they mean so much to all of us.  Here is a sampling of what I received today:

So Bridgette writes:

Thanks Nic, I really appreciate it. I heard everyone thought the flowers were amazing. Thanks for the doing great work and making me look good. Have a great day, Bridgette

and then  there was this note to George from J. Peters.  Now granted it is a little over-the-top with enthusiasm:

Thank You so much George!!  You are such a great person to talk with…so informative, detailed,  and most importantly warm.    (just like the beautiful flowers you have delivered to people so they can smile).  I am so glad you were the one that picked up the phone!  You are the Best!!  will definitely pass it on about your amazing kindness and Starbright flowers!!! 🙂    I hope you have an amazing day!!!   THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!  🙂

All along the way whenever we hear from our clients it makes the work that we do, the arrangements that we create all the more worthwhile.  It is nice to know that we spend our days doing things that touch people’s hearts in such a meaningful way.  I truly believe that just as much as receiving flowers brings joy, the experience is duplicated when the recipient gets an enthusiastic “OMG, I cannot believe you did this for meeeee! Thank you soooooooooo much! I love the flowers!”  That is the business we are in and we love what we do!

A little bit about Starbright:  We are a retail flower shop that is located in Chelsea (a Manhattan neighborhood) in the center of the historic flower district.  You can visit our website at www.starflor.com or you can call us at 1.800.520.8999.  We are open and deliver flowers the same day that you order them anywhere in New York City or the rest of America seven days a week. 

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Starbright Floral Design – “The Official Florist of The City That Never Sleeps”

http://www.starbrightnyc.com/

 

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!

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 –

 

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 –