Month: December 2009

Happy New Year, now is the time for new beginnings and new opportunities. What surprises and delights will the new year bring? Make this the year you resolve to fill your life with flowers. Nothing brightens the day and lifts your spirits like a fresh bloom – or two or three or… Stop! Let’s not get carried away. Back to the plan, a resolve to fill your life with flowers. This can be a single blossom sitting at the sink to greet you as you do the dishes; or a fresh flower sitting on the desk as a reminder that there is life after work. The Volkswagen Company had it right when they added a budvase to the dash of their “Beetle”. Maybe you need a budvase in the bathroom so you can start each day with a flower smile.

In my world, the first weekend of December is dedicated to decorating the Christmas tree. Starting first thing in the morning with a strong cup of coffee to go, it’s off to the Christmas tree farm. The hunt for the perfect Christmas tree begins. Noble or grand fir, Douglas or pine… they are all so lovely, it is hard to choose. It must be tall and it must be skinny and of course, it must look lovely from at least three sides. There needs to be enough space between the branches for the ornaments to hang freely but not so much that it looks sparse. Finally, the perfect tree is found and placed in the living room. Now the fun continues. First the lights are strung and the angel placed on the top. Then, one by one the ornaments are hung and you will hear me once again declare, “It is surely the best tree ever!”

Amaryllis and Paperwhites, Poinsettias and the Christmas Cactus. There are so many wonderful flowering plants to choose from for your holiday décor. One of my favorite is the fragrant Paperwhite Narcissus. The delicate, star shaped blossoms are fabulously long lasting. Gather a few cut stems in a vase and fill the room with Mother Nature’s own perfume. A bowl full of potted bulbs will bloom for weeks bringing the illusion of spring time to brighten your festive days.

In 1999, we launched Flora2000 to bring you elegant and innovatively designed floral arrangements. The past decade has witnessed many changes; sensibilities have become keener, ideals more exacting and outlooks more sophisticated. Our all-new redesigned Flora2000 website is a testament to all of these.

Flora2000’s stylish new incarnation also features an array of brand new ingeniously crafted bouquets and centerpieces. Our beribboned, belled and tasseled arrangements are visual extravaganzas. We also have a range of delectable gourmet gift hampers which will put a wide smile on your loved ones faces.

Our new luxurious look and feel brings you a whole new experience but our essence and core values are still going strong – beautiful flowers and warm personal care. Checkout our new site at Luxury.Flora2000.com and let us know what you think about the change.

As you decorate your home for the holidays, don’t forget a fragrant evergreen wreath. Adorned with pine cones, shiny balls and luxurious ribbons, the wreath can coordinate with any home décor. Traditional, contemporary, eclectic, natural and covered with glitter, nothing conveys the essence of the season like a fresh evergreen wreath. This simple fresh greeting is sure to delight your guests and bring joy to your home.

Crystal lights twinkle in the trees. New fallen snow sparkles and glistens in the sun. Rhinestones and sequins, shiny gold balls, glitter, tinsel and bling galore; I love to brighten my winter arrangements with holiday trimmings. A dusting of glitter on the roses and carnations, an icing of gold, silver or copper on the pine cones, and the jewelry-like addition of sparkling rhinestones in the bouquets. The mantra becomes, “Glitter glitter everywhere!”, this is not the season for simplicity. We can all return to austerity and minimalism in January. For now, more is always better. Pass the glitter, please!

This time of year each and every day is full of visits, parties, dinner invitations and impromptu get-togethers. Whew! You have to be prepared for anything and everything. Start by stocking the pantry with cookies, crackers, tea and a few favorite bottles of wine. Make sure you have a selection of cheese, nuts and dried fruits and you will be ready for last minute food service with style. Now, for the important part – flowers! Yes, fill your house with flowers and you will be ready for what ever transpires. My favorite holiday décor is based upon a collection of small glass vases with coordinated blooms. They quickly transform a room into a celebration venue.

Every year I create beautiful candle centerpiece for the table. And, every year there is so much food that the centerpiece gets banished from the table. Why, oh why? Because it is tradition! Besides that, the food is on the table for just a few hours. Soon, the table is cleared and the centerpiece is returned to its intended home. A fresh flower centerpiece can be enjoyed for several days. Long after the dinner is eaten, dishes washed and leftovers put away, the centerpiece sits on the table as a reminding of the wonderful celebration. Now you know why I create a lovely centerpiece that gets banished – don’t you agree it is a very good tradition? Don’t forget, it is time to order your centerpiece today!

Little touches can make the home a cozy oasis in the winter months. For maximum impact, start with a welcoming burst of color greeting arriving guests at your home. A vivid wreath of rose hips says “welcome”. A coordinating basket says “stay awhile”. Add the scent of spiced tea and your home will announce, “I am glad you are here”. Set the stage, go outside. Now, open the door and come in…don’t you feel wonderfully welcomed? Little things make the home cozy for you, your family and your friends.