Many theories have been put forth trying to explain the relationship (the cause and effect) between flowers and the blissful emotions they generate. Today we begin a blog series that will take us on a journey through the therapeutic world of flowers in search of the answer to the question. Why do flowers make us feel good?
Seeing flowers in every color is an uplifting experience!
COLOR:
The first theory of why flowers make us feel so good is rooted in the psychological effects of color. Several ancient cultures (the Chinese, the Egyptians) believed they could heal ailments using color. This is known as Chromo-therapy. Still used in today’s holistic medicine, color has been shown to have an impact on one’s mood…
Blue brings calmness and serenity. There seems to be a mental association between night and the color blue. Several municipalities have even seized on the theory and installed blue street lighting. In 2000 Glasgow installed blue lighting to improve its landscape. It was later reported that the crime rate was reduced in areas that had blue lighting! In a similar effort to reduce agressive driving, Tokyo installed 152 blue lights on a stretch of highway in 2001.
Pink is associated with love and romance. There is even a shade of pink called Drunk Tank Pink. Click on this link to read all about this shade of pink!
Green is the color that symbolizes nature and the natural world. Researchers have found that green can invoke feelings of good fortune, health and tranquility.
Red is a bright, warm color that evokes strong emotions. Red is often associated with love, warmth and comfort. Red is also considered a strong, even angry color, that creates intense feelings, even excitement. Consider the many ways that the color red is used in a phrase or colloquialism: red-neck, red-hot, red-handed, paint-the-town-red, seeing-red, the-red-eye.
Every color imaginable is represented by one flower or another. Although it is clear from study after study that color has an effect on people’s moods, these effects are not always positive. What is certain is that any flower in any color will have a positive effect on those who receive and enjoy them. It might be a bit of a leap to say that flowers of one particular color have a more positive effect than flowers of another color.
The moral of the story? Send someone flowers! If you know their favorite color, then that is great! If not, all the colors are beautiful and you can send those. Flowers do make people happy and the bright vivid colors bring us joy and happiness. They lift us up, the help our spirits rise and most of all they make us smile. Send someone flowers today and sit back and wait for the phone to ring. The enthusiasm that comes through the telephone line will astound you! What other research do you really need in order to prove the point? That loud over-the-top, super-giddy “thank youuuuuuuuuu!” is research enough!
No matter the reason, no matter the occasion, no matter the moment, all of us at Starbright Floral Design are standing by waiting to hear from you and ready to help lift someone’s day. We are the feel-good experts! Helping people smile all over the world every day. Starbright Floral Design (that is us) is located in the heart of New York City (in the historic flower district) and because of our ties to hospitality in our great city we have been dubbed “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”.
You can visit our second floor loft at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201), you can call us at 800.520.8999 or you can learn all about who we are by going to our website at www.starflor.com. No matter where or how you reach out to us… We would love to be of service.
A tulip, known as "the Viceroy", displayed in a 1637 Dutch catalog. Its bulb cost between 3000 and 4200 florins depending on size. A skilled craftsman at the time earned about 300 florins a year.
Do you know a stockbroker or financial professional that has suffered losses recently? Cheer him up with some tulips! Here is the story and why things no matter how bad they seem can always be worse…
As we celebrate the end of tulip season for yet another magnificent year… I share with you a story about this amazing flower that is sure to surprise you. The financial bubble that came about was caused by tulip bulbs. It took place way before the bubble in the stock market, the housing market or any other bubble and subsequent bubble that you may know of.
It was tulip mania or tulpomanie to the Dutch. This was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which contract prices for bulbs of the recently introduced tulip reached extraordinarily high levels and then suddenly collapsed. At the peak of tulip mania, in February 1637, some single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman. It is generally considered the first recorded speculative bubble (or economic bubble).
The term “tulip mania” is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any large economic bubble.
The event was popularized in 1841 by the book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, written by British journalist Charles Mackay. According to Mackay, at one point 12 acres (5 ha) of land were offered for a Semper augustus bulb. Mackay claims that many such investors were ruined by the fall in prices, and Dutch commerce suffered a severe shock. Mackay’s book is a classic that is widely reprinted today, his account is contested.
Research on the tulip mania is difficult because of the limited data from the 1630s—much of which comes from biased and anti-speculative sources. Although these explanations are not generally accepted, some modern economists have proposed rational explanations, rather than a speculative mania, for the rise and fall in prices. For example, other flowers, such as the hyacinth, also had high prices on the flower’s introduction, which then fell dramatically. The high prices may also have been driven by expectations of a parliamentary decree that contracts could be voided for a small cost—thus lowering the risk to buyers.
All we want is tulips in a vase to enjoy them all season long! They still grow in Holland. Today tulips are a harmless flower that brings much joy and is considered by many the first sign of springtime. They are commercially available as cut flowers from September to May. In the off-months you can get them, but the quality is not great and they are pricier than at their peak season (March, April and May).
All of us at Starbright love tulips…
This post is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design (www.starflor.com). Sometimes we like to bring out “the fun side of flowers” by injecting some humor into our scribes. We truly hope you enjoy our reads and get to see flowers from a little bit of a different perspective. We sure do.
When you have some time, please visit our website and tell us what you think of the work that we do. If you would like to order a gift for someone, you can visit our e-commerce portal we always recommend Designer’s Choice as a great option to take the guess work out of ordering flowers for a friend, a loved one or a parent. We deliver flowers on a same day basis (open seven days a week) in the United States. Worldwide delivery is available (except war zones, jungles, desserts and merchant marine vessels in the open sea) within 48 hours.
We would love to hear from you! An alternative to our website is to call us (800.520.8999) or you may visit us at 150 West 28th Street (Second Floor). We are in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District. Pop on in! We would love to meet you!
Sending someone flowers? Having a hard time selecting from all the choices on all the websites? Too many pictures? Confused? We sure are!
Uninformed consumers constantly are placing orders for flowers from pictures online and then complain that the flowers do not “look like the picture”. They never will and it is an unrealistic expectation to think that they should. Here is why: Flowers are natural living blossoms that are not all made from a mold. The pictures were taken in a studio under the perfect conditions and designed to entice you to place an order by screaming “me! me! buy me!”. Some websites are so dishonest that they will “photoshop” adding colors and emphasis to the flowers so as you will buy something that really is impossible to recreate.
Florists are artisans. They are artists, they design, they have attitudes (like a chef in a kitchen cooking with a dose of imagination). Floral designers learn to imagine, create and combine colors and textures to make something bespoke (unique, custom) just for you. Florists are trained to make compositions that are one of a kind (not from a mold) and are made once and never to be made the same again. It goes against the grain of a true designer to ask him to copy a picture.
Can you ask a designer to copy the flavor and design style of a photograph? – Yes… all day long. To copy and recreate with exactness? hardly ever and with ZERO job satisfaction. Do you really want flowers for your loved one made by someone who hates what they do? Pictures to be copied (especially the ones in the silly little containers with smiley faces) take away the art, the creativity and the spontaneity that the designer has trained an entire lifetime for.
Starbright Floral Design, like every other florist these days, has a million photographs on our e-commerce portal for you to choose from and “yes” we will always do our best to recreate the photo (always adding some spunk, spontaneity and our own style) . It was a business decision that we had to make and we have offered flowers in the photo-catalog format displaying options for the past ten years… BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU that we did not become the highest rated (by Citysearch and others) florist in Manhattan by being the best at copying photos! Rather, in the crowded and highly stylized island that we live on where there is a new “in style” every afternoon, we committed ourselves to impeccable customer service and amazing styles with fresh blooms.
We are now offering that very creativity to our online clients with a twist… We are taking the leap to ask you to trust us. Let the inspiration of the moment dictate the flowers that your bouquet will have. Don’t stress over the decision of “do I like the Sunset Blooms or the Pretty Paradise?”. What really matters is that your special someone receives flowers that are fresh, last a long-long time are stylized but not contrived. They should remind the person of you and your great taste. It is like having your own personal chef in the kitchen cooking just for you . You never know what he will come up with, but you know it will be good!
Designer’s Choice Modern and Designer’s Choice Traditional are two new categories on our website that are designed to intrigue, surprise and give you our very best. Even if Starbright Floral Design (that is us) is not your florist, if you know someone who has built a name and has a reputation for flair, then PLEASE do not cripple their creativity with a picture. Just tell them: “Whip me up something great! She loves pink and green flowers!”
Designer’s Choice is a matter of trust and trust has to be earned. We invite you to give us a call and take a leap of faith!
Starbright Floral Design was started in 1994 and is the most reviewed florist on-line by all the major review sites. We deliver amazing flowers all over the place and at times that you would not think it is possible to get flowers on a same-day basis. Give us a call, visit our online event gallery or pop on by! We would love to meet you!
Starbright Floral Design Kicks Off the “Pearl Rose”. The Most Significant Product Launch since the advent of air travel and genetic engineered plants.
NEW YORK — March 31, 2011 — At a press conference at Starbright headquarters in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district, Nic Faitos , Starbright’s Managing Partner, in association with the Dutch Flower Marketing Association (an industry group whose mission is to promote flower buying throughout the world), announced the availability of the “Pearl Rose”. A new rose varietal conceived by creative minds and designed through many years of collaboration between the finest botanists in the world with Dr. Aprilia Anoitou as the lead scientist.
Today’s announcement that the “Pearl Rose” is available to retail customers of Starbright and volume licensing customers marks the beginning of the most significant product launch in our company’s history and perhaps since Barbara McClintock’s discovery of “Jumping Genes”. The “Pearl Rose” will be available to retail customers effective immediately. Availability to NYC organizations with volume license agreements will begin shortly as well. However, initial supplies are limited to retail customers. Volume customers will be supplied for orders FOB New York City for delivery before Mother’s Day and beyond.
Through chromosome engineering and radiation mutation, more fully discussed in the science section herein, Greece’s premier botanist Dr. Aprilia Anoitou was able to develop a rose with mollusk traits. The result is the growth of a white pearl within the pedals of a red rose. Different varieties of roses have yielded different levels of pearl quality. Currently the Pearl Rose is limited to the Darling Flame variety of rose. Accordingly, the price of the Pearl Rose is for upscale clientele.
Customer feedback through Starbright’s web site, starflor.com , guided product development. “This is a game changing product,” Faitos said. “It’s an incredible step forward in the floral industry with ramifications that are yet unknown but undoubtedly far reaching. Accordingly, in a press release under separate cover, we’ve announced the formation of a joint venture between Starbright and The Dutch Flower Marketing Association to fully explore the wide ranging uses of this exciting innovation.” Said Faitos.
First Users See Clear Business Value
Joining Faitos at Starbright’s headquarters was Poisson D’Avril, the president of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Greater New York.
“In the highly competitive and fast-moving hospitality industry, our advantage comes first from our people and second from everything NYC has to offer. You can add the Pearl Rose to the list of incomparable NYC attractions.” Said D’Avril. “Nic has allowed several of our higher end venues offer the Pearl Rose prior to its official release. The response has been extraordinary. Finally, something to give to that person who has everything!”
Original Science
“The ovules of a rose are megasporangia and typically develop into female gametophytes. These gametophytes give rise to egg cells which, in a typical rose holds the pollen.” Said Dr. Aprilia Anoitou. “In the transgenic rose, called the Pearl Rose, through chromosome engineering and radiation mutation, our team was able to develop a rose that behaves like a typical mollusk. The mature egg cells are split through chemical mutagens. The mature egg cells from radiated mollusks are combined with rose egg mutations through protoplast fusion. The genetic recombination leads the rose to secrete nacre similar to that emitted by mollusks. “ Dr. Aprilia Anoitou said. Transcripts of Dr. Anoitou’s full procedures are available by request to Pearlrosepress@starflor.com.
On the Road to the Future
“During the last decade, Starbright has built an impeccable reputation in the floral industry with unsurpassed customer service.” Faitos said. “Although we have been at the forefront of technology, the new product announced today is the most innovative product we’ve ever been involved with, and I believe it signals the beginning of a new wave of innovation that will have a profound impact during the next decade.” Said Nic Faitos, President of Starbright Floral Design.
Located in the heart of NYC’s flower district and founded in 1994, Starbright Floral Design has established the gold standard for customer service within the floral industry. The Company has grown steadily every year since its inception. The Pearl Rose and other innovative products being worked on currently, has Starbright on the threshold of exponential growth for the coming years.
Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance or information, journalists and analysts may contact pearlrosepress@starflor.com. To become a volume licensee, kindly contact pearlrosedealers@starflor.com. Visit us on the web at starflor.com.
A major announcement will be made by Starbright Floral Design at 7PM today. The event will be covered by industry and fashion editors. Press coverage will be extensive.
Starbright Floral Design has funded horticultural research in varietal roses. These varieties will be introduced at the press conference and will be posted on this blog as a press release immediately afterwards. Stay tuned for more details.
Roses will be available to our retail clients by tomorrow for purchase and to volume buyers for pre-Mother’s Day ordering.
Hope you visit back late this evening for the exciting news….
These thoughts are brought to you by The Official Florist.
The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design. We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District located at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201). To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.
You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide. We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.
Thank you for visiting our blog. Always “at your service”,
The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design
“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”
From an industry newsletter, we are sharing a bit of press coverage that we received recently. Our Creative Director, Tom Sebenius, worked with the production team of the Rachael Ray show to create some really fabulous bridal bouquets…
Read the post and click on THIS LINK to see the Rachael Ray excerpt!
These thoughts are brought to you by The Official Florist.
The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design. We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District located at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201). To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.
You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide. We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.
Thank you for visiting our blog. Always “at your service”,
The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design
“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”
Take special care of your ficus and you will have years of enjoyment!
Ficus trees are perhaps the most popular indoor decorative trees grown. The ficus benjamina – weeping fig – in particular is one of the most popular of the 800 species available. Their popularity is certainly not as a result of its easy care but rather, its beauty. Ficus trees are very temperamental requiring constant vigilance in its care. Ficus trees can become stressed by simple actions such as moving from one room to another or even from one end of a room to another. Proper ficus tree care is essential to keep these plants healthy. The ficus’ popularity, coupled with their temperament, was a motivating factor in launching Starbright’s exclusive Plant Care Maintenance Program.
Ficus Tree Care:
The ficus tree is a true creature of habit. It does not like change. Consistency is the key factor in its care.
Sunlight: Bright sunlight during the day, but should not be in full sun all day.
Temperature: The optimum temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Consistency is key-ficus trees should not place next to heaters or vents that create varied temperatures.
Watering: The soil should be kept moist but not wet, in a well draining pot to prevent root rot. The rule of the green thumb is to water after the top inch or two of soil has dried. Avoid overwatering your ficus! The most common mistake people make is to add more water once the leaves begin to turn yellow. This is the opposite of what you should do.
Humidity: Misting the tree frequently while it is young or adjusting to a new location, can help it maintain its humidity. Helpful time saving hint is to make a humidity tray by filling the plant saucer with gravel. The runoff water will evaporate through the plant, providing additional humidity.
Fertilizer: During growth periods, feed the plant every three to four weeks. Use a regular liquid fertilizer for indoor plants diluted to half the strength recommended on the package label. Decrease fertilizing in autumn and do not fertilize during the winter.
Trouble shooting leaf loss: Proper ficus tree care can help minimize leaf loss. Ficus trees commonly lose up to a quarter of its leaves after an environmental change. Diligent care can help mitigate additional stress. If leaves turn yellow just prior to dropping off, it is a sign of over-watering. Dull leaves may indicate a need for fertilizer.
These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist. The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design. We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District. We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201). To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.
You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide. We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.
Thank you for visiting our blog. Always “at your service”,
The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design
“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”
Bromeliads are members of a plant family containing over 3000 species. The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple. People have been using bromeliads for thousands of years for food, shelter and ceremonies by civilizations such as Incas, Maya and Aztecs. Europeans were introduced to the pineapple when Spanish conquistadors returned with the pineapple. The image of the pineapple became so popular that it was adapted into European art, sculpture, furniture and architecture.
The most popular office and house plant varieties are Aechmea fasciata (Silver-Vase, Urn Plant) and Guzmania Rana.
In general they are ideal indoor plants requiring very little care. The mother plant will generally only produce one bloom in its lifetime. Once it blooms it will produce new plantlets called “pups”. These pups will feed on the “mother” plant until they are large enough to set roots of their own and survive as a separate plant. The mother has done her job and will die off. The green, leafy top of a pineapple is in fact a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.
It can take a few years for the plant to reach mature blooming size. Once the plant reaches maturity you can force the plant to flower by placing the plant in a clear plastic bag and throw a ripe apple inside the bag for 7 to 10 days. The ripe apple will give off ethylene gas and will help force the plant to flower.
1) Sunlight: bright indirect sun. Ideally placed around windows with blinds.
2) Water: Keep the soil evenly moist. Watering once to twice a week is sufficient. DO NOT USE A METAL WATERING CAN. THE METAL IS TOXIC TO BROMELIADS AND WILL KILL THEM.
3) Temperature: Indoor temperatures are perfect for Bromeliads.
Replanting the Pups: Once a pup reaches one-third the size of the mother plant gently tug and separate the two plants. If the pup doesn’t pull away easily cut it where it attaches to the mother plant. Before potting your new plant, let the cut area dry out by letting it sit for a day (not in the sun). Using a mixture of peat moss and prelate pot up the bromeliad cutting into a small pot (do not over pot) and follow the instructions above. If all the potting and work sounds too much to handle ask Star bright about our Plant Care Services or do nothing and enjoy the plant as is.
These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist. The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design. We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District. We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201). To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com. You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide. We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.
Thank you for visiting our blog. Always “at your service”,
The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design
“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”
The Narcissus is synonymous to the Daffodil. The Daffodil is simply the English name for the flower which derives its name from the Greek mythological figure called Narcissus. Narcissus was a young man who was so obsessed with his own reflection in a pool of water that he fell into the water and drowned. The Narcissus plant first sprang up at the location of his death and thus the birth of the Daffodil itch. This Greek myth has led the Daffodil being a symbol of unrequited love. China has a somewhat different view of the Daffodil. It is revered and has become a symbol of Chinese New Year. It is said if it blooms on Chinese New Years, you are in store for extra wealth and good fortune for the year.
In moderate climates Daffodils flower among the earliest blooms in spring. Daffodils often grow in large clusters and cover entire hillsides. Their rhythmic movements in the wind inspired the famous poem Daffodils, by William Wordsworth. “…And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.” All Daffodil species have a central trumpet surrounded by a ring of six floral leaves. The traditional daffodil consisted of a yellow color all over. Today both in the wild and due to breeding, blooms range in colors to include yellow, white, orange, pink, red and green.
The Daffodil itch is not a term of endearment referencing the excitement of spring’s approach. Instead, it is a term used by florists describing the itchy skin condition caused by exposure to the sap of the Daffodil. The Daffodil contains alkaloid chemicals throughout making it very bitter and toxic if ingested. The toxicity is dangerous if confused for an onion and ingested. However it makes the Daffodil the perfect plant for those of you whose property has been overrun by rodents. Deer and all rodents will leave the Daffodil unmolested.
This scribe is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design, “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”. Along the way we try to find and write about the fun side of flowers. Starbright delivers flowers all over the world for the endless romantics everywhere.
Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide. Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.
Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in! We would love to meet you….
Passionately yours,
The Official Florist
Starbright Floral Design
Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District
We asked one of the members of our team that was with us for his first Valentine’s season in the flower business to chronicle his experiences through the week. Filled with humor and an appropriate dose of sarcasm we learned more about ourselves and what we do than we ever really expected to…. Step into our world for a behind the scenes look at the single craziest day of the year. Accountants call it April 15th, farmers have harvest time, to the florist it is Valentine’s Day…. “Thank you for calling Starbright, can I help you?”
St. Valentine was a martyr... May love and passion live forever!
-February 7th : One full week before Valentine ’s Day. All I’ve heard since I began work here at Starbright Floral Design, was the nightmare that is Valentine’s Day. I am a skeptic by nature and brimming with confidence that I can handle whatever challenges presented. I dismiss my coworkers’ warnings as tall tales and nothing to fear. Here we are 8:30 A.M. one full week before V-day and the sky is blue, the earth is still spinning on its axis, all is well. 9:00 A.M. I arrive to the scene of impending DOOM, Starbright Floral Design, 28th street, the flower district. The store is abuzz. Orders are coming in rapidly both telephonically and through the internet. 10:00 A.M. Staff meeting held discussing potential delivery problems. Plans are in the works to start delivering to accepting businesses, such as hotels, at 4:00 A.M. I spontaneously erupted in laughter. My laughter was not reciprocated nor well received. Is it possible this was not a joke? Four A.M.? The theme from the twilight zone is now deafening. Day ends without further incident. A busy day, but nothing too atypical. Can’t wait for relaxing carefree night at home.
-February 10th : A few days have passed since my last entry. Work has kept me busy. Orders are now appearing on my desk magically. The machine they call the Dove keeps printing what seems to be a copy of the Iliad. A continuous flow of paper is fed into the machine printing order after order. 10:30 A.M. Our purchasing department arguing over facts, figures and projections. The consensus is that this is going to be a big one. Fear and panic is abound. Last minute orders are frantically placed to suppliers in Holland and other flower growers throughout the world.
-February 12th : 9:00 A.M. Fearful of poor customer service as a result of taking orders beyond capacity has led to the decision to shut down the Dove. I come from a business background. The notion of turning away good and profitable orders was foreign to me. When I questioned the move my coworkers’ glares were like weaponized lasers. Management wasn’t as irritated by my inquiry. It was explained that the floral industry is customer service driven. Taking in orders that couldn’t be adequately serviced would result in unhappy customers. Accordingly, the net effect on the business, long term, would be negative. I understand the principle, but still believed it to be a premature and perhaps panic driven decision. 05:00 P.M. My coworkers are looking increasingly weary and disheveled. Some have clearly forgotten that personal hygiene is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and healthy work environment. Shaving appears to be a lost art to the men in the office (probably the women as well).
-February 13th: 8:00 A.M. The place is a flurry of activity. Hasn’t taken long to realize my Saturday night exploits were ill timed and will be regretted. Word to the wise, don’t drink and floral design on Valentine’s day weekend. I am unable to recover or catch my breath. 11:30A.M. Designers as far as the eye can see are preparing pre-Valentine’s day orders. Nerves are frayed. Niceties such as “Good Morning” or “Hello” fall upon deaf ears or are responded to with a grumble. Each designer appears to be genetically transforming into a snapping turtle. The phones are ringing incessantly with an ear piercing buzzing. Never realized how annoying the phone ring was until now. 4:30 P.M. the order goes out for all available hands to start cleaning roses. I had developed a case of laryngitis from the endless hours of phone calls rendering it painful to speak. I need to conserve my voice for V-Day. Accordingly I volunteer for the simple, mundane task involving a knife and thorny long stems. 6:15 P.M. The monotonous task coupled with exhaustion has led to blood shed. Several fingers have become victims of errant knife shavings. Several other fingers suffered from thorn inflicted wounds rendering their use painful. Luckily my middle digit was immune from injury and thus I was able to adequately express my feelings to my coworkers without the need for speech. 9:00 P.M. End of day staff meeting. Nic Faitos, President of Starbright and our valiant leader begins a pep talk to the staff that would hopefully last through the following day –V-Day. “Guys and gals, you are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. Your task will not be an easy one. I have full confidence in your devotion to impeccable floral design and customer service. We will accept nothing less than the full satisfaction of our customers. Let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. Good Luck and I’ll see you at 5:00 A.M.” I was inspired by his eloquent words and eager to meet the challenges of the following day.
-February 14th: 0500 hours V-Day. Proper preparation has made the beginning of the day a time to strategize and ready ourselves for the coming battle. I felt confident and prepared. 0530 hours –the first two delivery trucks are on the road. With any luck we’ll have them back and reloading by 0900. 01000 hours, the phones are unleashing an endless barrage of sound blasts. Oh the noise noise, noise! Everyone is working at a fever pace. There is no room for dilly or dally today. 01200 hours, the lunch crowd is now filing in. I think to myself, how much more can a person handle? It is not long before I get my answer. Several of the designers, both men and women, have been broken. Tears are streaming down their faces. I want to console them but don’t have the time, the energy or the empathy. I have to commit all my energy to the common goal. The flowers must be delivered and they must be beautiful! 01500 On a normal day I would be busy making dinner plans. Today I have been recruited to insure that our all business deliveries are made before 01700. The pressure is unrelenting. I have broken into a cold flu like sweat and have trouble focusing. The enormity of this logistics task quickly overwhelms me. Near tears myself, I call for backup personnel. 01800 hours, the corporate deliveries have been made. The second phase, home deliveries, is now well underway. The last minute business crowd is now filing in. I ponder if any of these last minute shoppers understood how challenging it was to give them that appreciative smile demanded of a Starbright employee. 02100 The day of days is coming to an end. I have travelled through the valley of blood, sweat and tears and come out the other side smelling like roses. I have a deep sense of accomplishment and pride. I can’t believe I doubted the enormity of the task. Twelve hundred deliveries in one day, made with grace, will not be forgotten soon. I guess the day is best summed up by the immortal words of Davy Jones: “now I’m a believer.”
Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide. Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.
Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in! We would love to meet you….
Passionately yours,
The Official Florist
Starbright Floral Design
Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District
Blooming Thoughts 