In Victorian times, each flower communicated some sort of sentiment much like they do today. Sending someone a floral bouquet with the hope that they love it and want to display it in their home or workplace is the intention of most givers. Sending something fresh and colorful to a loved one or friend on a birthday, anniversary or holiday is a customary practice in many parts of the world particularly the United States.
Flowers have been the focus of celebrations around the world for centuries. Known for their beauty and healing properties, they’ve been used to flavor foods, enhance perfumes and cosmetics, adorn hair, and decorate homes and gardens. Whenever someone wants to send well wishes, they select a floral arrangement and card to send to a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker.
Veterans Day honors ALL American Veterans, for their loyal service to their country. We at The Flower Factory would like to show our true appreciation to our American Soldiers with a detailed timeline of the events of The Great War from 1914-1919.
July 23 – Austria-Hungary makes demands on Serbia for retribution. Serbia does not meet demands.
July 28 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia begins mobilizing its troops.
September 5 to 12 – The advancing German army is stopped before Paris by the British and French at the First Battle of the Marne. The Germans dig in and four years of trench warfare begins.
October 19 to November 22 – The Allies defeat the Germans at the First Battle of Ypres.
December 24 – An unofficial truce is declared between the two sides at Christmas.
February 4 – The Germans begin to use submarines against Allied merchant ships around the island of Britain.
April 22 – Poison gas first used by Germans in attack on Canadians at Ypres, Belgium. April 25 – The Allies attack the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Gallipoli. This campaign will last over eight months and will end as a victory for the Ottomans and the retreat of the Allies. May 7 – The Lusitania, a luxury British passenger ship, is sunk by a German submarine. 1,195 civilians were killed. This act sparks international outrage and contributes to the United States joining the war against Germany.
February 21 – The Battle of Verdun begins between France and Germany. This battle will last until December of 1916 and will finally result in a French victory. February 25 – Fort Douaumont falls to Germans in Verdun battle.
July 1 – The Battle of the Somme begins. Over 1 million soldiers will be wounded or killed.
January 19 – The British intercept the Zimmerman Telegram in which Germany tries to convince Mexico to join the war. This will result in the United States declaring war on Germany. March 8 – The Russian Revolution begins. Tsar Nicholas II is removed from power on March 15.
April 6 – The United States enters the war, declaring war on Germany.
January 8 – President Woodrow Wilson issues his “Fourteen Points” for peace and an end to the war. March 21 – Germany launches the Spring Offensive hoping to defeat the Allies before reinforcements from the United States can be deployed.
July 15 – The Second Battle of the Marne begins. This battle will end on August 6 as a decisive victory for the Allies. November 1 – Americans breakthrough German Defenses at Meuse. November 11 – Germany agrees to an armistice and the fighting comes to an end at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
June 28 – The Treaty of Versailles is signed by Germany and World War I comes to an end.
The Flower Factory wants to thank all of our servicemen who have served, or are currently serving honorably. We encourage all of our friends to take some time this November 11, to say ‘thank you’ to a soldier or veteran you may know or one that you might see. A simple ‘thank you for your service’ are actually five words they truly appreciate hearing.
The Flower Factory in Tarzana, CA- has given me the opportunity to share a personal ghost story from my childhood during this Halloween season.
As a child my sister and I never really went trick or treating, it was not something that my family celebrated. I remember wishing I could experience the fun that my friends all seemed to have during Halloween- dressing up as ghosts and goblins and collecting bags of candy.
One of the things that we did celebrate was the fall harvest which I remember not being as fun, but still was a reason to celebrate, so as a kid I was happy to participate.
One night my family and I went to a harvest party that was being celebrated on a farm which was owned by a friend of my dad’s. This farm was very large maybe 20-25 acres, so as a kid this was a perfect place to go exploring.
At the far end of the property was an old barn that stood 2 stories tall and was not used anymore but for storing and keeping hay dry for the animals. My sister and I snuck into the old barn to play on the bales of hay and had been enjoying ourselves jumping from one to another without falling to the ground.
We became exhausted after about 30 minutes of laughing, jumping and trying to scare each other, so we rested on one of the hay bales. Just then we were both brought to a complete silence by a loud screech that pierced the air above. It sounded very similar to a female human voice and was coming from different parts of the barn, and since it was pretty dark, we could not pinpoint where it actually was- but it definitely was above us.
Believing it was a ghost; we started to run out of the barn- and were immediately stopped by the farm owner who had watched us slip away earlier. He was just outside the broken down barn door- and he stood there with a very concerned look on his face asking us why we were running scared.
We screamed for him to let us out, that there was a ghost in the barn. As we said this to him- the screaming voice let out another shrill screech- we both went pale, and the farmer’s face became like stone. He looked us both in the eyes and said that he thought we must be right.
My sister and I then stood behind the farmer as he peered up into the barn and yelled: ‘Tulip, is that you?’
We both looked at each other and then back into the barn- to see what or who it was that he was calling to. As we did, two glowing, large white eyes appeared just above the bales of hay that we had been playing on.
Getting ready to run as fast as we could- the man said the woman’s name again- “Tulip…Tulip!”
Soon- the eyes of the ‘ghost’ got bigger and closer and the loudest whooshing sound filled the air. We could actually feel wind coming from the barn door towards us, and I remember my heart was pounding out of my chest. When it finally appeared; we witnessed a Great Grey Owl flying out of the barn and landing on the farm owner’s forearm before it let out that very familiar screech once again. He then looked at us and let out the biggest and deepest belly laugh we’d both ever heard.
I can say at that moment I was very relieved, that we were not about to be eaten by a ghost or a goblin, but at the same moment, I was kind of disappointed that we didn’t really witness a ghost. She and I began to laugh again and my heart began to calm down.
He explained that he nursed the owl back to health when it was very young- after he had found it lying helplessly in a field of Tulips. The owl and the farmer had become very good friends, and he told us that he never even attempted to train her. The bond they had just developed naturally, as he was her caregiver when she needed one the most.
That night we didn’t trick or treat, but what we did get, was our very own scary Halloween story to tell our friends who had been trick or treating all night. I wouldn’t trade it for all the candy in the world…
We at The Flower Factory want to wish all of you a happy and safe Halloween this year. If you happen to see a ghost named Tulip, tell her we said hello!
We at The Flower Factory would love to help you celebrate one of the most important days of your life. Our creative and talented staff will make sure that your day is as special as you have always dreamed. In an effort to ensure your day is perfect we’ve put together some questions and answers that will help in organizing and planning for the big event:
How far in advance should I contact the florist when ordering wedding flowers?
Flowers are one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. They set the mood and tone for the event and will be remembered for years to come. Many florists can accept only a set number of weddings on a given day, so it is important to contact your florist well in advance to begin planning. A good rule of thumb is to contact your florist at least three months in advance. However, if your wedding is going to be an exceptionally elaborate event, take place during peak wedding season or fall on a holiday, then six months to a year is not too soon to contact your florist. This will allow the florist to begin looking for any props or specialty items you might need. Wedding flowers can be highly specific and colors often have to be very precise, so florists need advance notice to place flower orders.
Will a florist work within my budget?
Yes. Be honest about your budget on the initial consultation so the florist knows what to recommend. By taking your budget into consideration from the very beginning of the planning process, the florist can give you the best advise on how to place the flowers for maximum effect and what types of flowers will be the best value to achieve your desired look.
How much of your budget should you expect to pay for your flowers?
First, remember that everything is relative to the city where you will wed, to the season in which you will wed, to the length of your guest list, and so forth.
To give you an idea, we’ve collected the percentages for a 150-person guest list and a 10-member bridal party.
You’re likely to spend…
55 % on reception table centerpieces and other misc. decor elements of the reception 14 % on the bridesmaid bouquets 12 % on ceremony decorations 7 % on your bouquet 5 % on the boutonnieres 5 % on the corsages 1 % on the flower girl’s basket 1 % on your tossing bouquet.
What should I bring to the flower shop when I have my wedding consultation?
The more information you can provide the better your florist will be prepared to offer creative suggestions. Your florist will want to create a spectacular and memorable event for you. Anything you can bring will be beneficial. Pictures that depict what you have in mind are extremely helpful. Bring a photo of your dress and a sample of the fabric or lace if you have it, as well as swatches and photos of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Also think about what ‘style’ of wedding you want. If you are not sure, your florist can offer suggestions based on your wedding plans so far.
What can a florist do to help me stretch my ceremony and reception budget?
Besides suggesting specific types of flowers that will work within your budget, a professional florist can offer helpful suggestions as to what flowers might be used at both the ceremony and reception. A few examples: bridesmaids’ bouquets can become table decorations; the bride’s bouquet can become the head table arrangement; the pew markers can become festive bows on cars or doors; altar designs can flank the buffet or cake table, etc. Florists are overflowing with creative ways to make use of your budget and flowers wisely.
Tips & Suggestions:
Be sure to inquire if your florist has done weddings at your ceremony and/or reception sites before. If so, he or she may have pictures of arrangements done at your site and will be knowledgeable about what sizes, shapes, and colors work in the space. If not, he or she should be willing to scope out the space and familiarize him or herself with any limitations. At the very least, bring along some sort of photo (a press kit or pamphlet) in case she or he has never worked a wedding there before, so that you’re starting with an idea of the space.
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to buying red roses. Marrying around Valentine’s Day? Expect a significant increase in the price of a single stem.
Trust us: arrangements of cool contrasting colors (think mint green and cherry red) are definitely vivacious. But when picking a palette, make sure the flowers will suit your wedding style and colors. Bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch with you when you meet your floral designer so she has a good starting point.
Consider the season in which you are marrying when deciding on which flowers you want in your arrangements. Marrying in summer or in a humid climate? Go for hardy flowers that won’t wilt, such as sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, lilies, and hydrangeas. Avoid gardenias, lily of the valley, tulips, and wildflowers.
Remember: size matters! Be sure your bouquets aren’t too heavy or too hard to carry. Trust us: you won’t want that burden. And don’t choose the bridal and attendants’ bouquets without regard to style of dress or body shape. A delicate nosegay will get lost against an elaborate ruffled dress, for example, and a small bride will be overshadowed by a massive cascading arrangement.
Be sure your bouquet isn’t too fragrant — you don’t want to be sneezing down the aisle! Some of the most fragrant flowers include freesia, lilies, lilacs, tuberoses, gardenias, and lilies of the valley. Go lightly on these blooms.
Don’t assume your florist will have access to your ceremony and reception site early on in the big day. Make necessary arrangements — get written permission and a key, if need be — to ensure that everything is coming up roses before you hit the aisle.
Be sure to coordinate the delivery time of your bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres with your photographer’s arrival — you’ll want them to be worn or held in formal pictures.
Have your flowers delivered boxed with cellophane and well misted — that way they’ll look fresh through your ceremony and reception. Check out each bouquet and remove any damaged blossoms. And don’t leave them in the sun’s path — direct sunlight will speed up the wilting process.
If you’re keeping bouquets in vases of water to maintain freshness before the ceremony, don’t forget to dry the stems thoroughly before handing them out to the girls. You don’t want big water stains on the front of all the dresses moments before they take the aisle.
You don’t have to toss the actual bridal bouquet — many brides have their florists create a smaller tossing bouquet for the traditional ritual. It is an extra fee so be sure to pick a low-maintenance arrangement. There’s no need to break your budget on this bouquet.
These days, florists are actually more like event designers. You may be able to get decorations like balloons, streamers, lanterns, and chairs from your florist. Dealing with one vendor rather than four or five may alleviate some stress.
No matter what the size of your wedding, we offer exceptional service to help you in selecting the flowers you will need on your special day. We will work within your budget and strive to assist you in all your wedding needs.
We at The Flower Factory look forward to meeting with you and your fiance! Don’t forget to schedule your consultation today!