FLOWER FIX
BOUQUETS Your Way By Erinn Figg
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Photos by Troy Glasgow
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t’s getting close to that time of year, when love is in the air and florists feel the burn as thousands of orders for Valentine’s Day roses start blowing up their phones. Here’s the thing about Valentine’s Day roses, though: Anyone can click a button online or dial a florist and order a dozen roses. But it takes some creativity and a little extra thought to customize a bouquet specifically for your significant other. With this goal in mind, we tapped into some local florists for ideas on how to skip the done-to-death roses and make a Valentine’s Day bouquet truly special.
Mix it up “Men don’t have much imagination so they often just go get roses, but really — especially for couples who have been together for a while — the big thing during the past five years has been mixed flowers, as opposed to just red roses,” said Wayne Darling, who owns Darling Flowers with his wife, Jeanette. “The number one thing these days is cut flowers, which are harder to arrange than red roses: it takes longer, it takes more heart, it takes more skill, and that’s what they want.” Debbie Crawford, marketing director for Pugh’s Flowers, said mixed bouquets for Valentine’s Day are a popular order at Pugh’s four retail locations as well. “Flowers that are particularly popular include lilies, gerbera daisies, alstroemeria, tulips, snapdragons, stock, bells of Ireland, and mums,” she said. Both florists say customers usually request a token rose (or several) in their mixes as a touch of Valentine’s Day symbolism.
Get sentimental For married couples, both Darling and Crawford say many customers bring in their wedding photos and request a bouquet that reflects those flowers. “These are people who are going the extra mile. They’re not just coming in and plopping down money,” Darling said. Or here’s a concept: If you don’t know, ask your significant other what his or her favorite flower or color is. There’s no shame in asking, and it shows your special someone that you’re putting some thought into your Valentine’s Day gesture. “Many people order a mix of their significant other’s favorite color,” Crawford said. “Or, yes, they’re requesting the same flowers they had at their weddings.” For special orders, such as mixed bouquets or specific colors or flowers, both florists advise ordering early — the earlier, the better. Most good florists can accommodate special or even exotic floral requests, but not on Feb. 13 or 14, when they’re making literally thousands of deliveries.
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017
Colorful spring blooms and bright colors are on point for Valentine’s bouquets. Bouquet Pugh’s Flowers.
Think outside the vase Darling, whose company won The Commercial Appeal’s 2016 Memphis Most award for Best Florist, doesn’t believe in “cookie-cutter arrangements.” As such, many of his arrangements are distinctive and highly creative. One of them, Modern Mix, includes a tiered mixture of gerberas, sunflowers and a row of roses in a bamboo box. Another one, Clustered Roses and Grass, features a bowl of roses encircled by long grasses. Meanwhile, Pugh’s, voted Best Florist in Memphis by Memphis Flyer readers in 2015, has a Garden of Roses arrangement that presents eight rows of fresh-cut roses mixed with greenery in a rustic wicker basket. These are just a few ways to take the traditional Valentine’s Day rose offering to the next level — ask your florist for new ideas.
On a budget? No problem If money is tight, but flowers are crucial, you still have floral options on Valentine’s Day. “For those on a budget, a cube-style base with a mix of fresh stems is perfect,” Crawford said. “We can also create a beautiful wrapped flower arrangement in the store for those who don't want a vase.” Communication also can go a long way. Don’t be ashamed to tell your florist that you’re on a budget, Darling said. “Walk in and tell them what you want to spend,” he said. “The good florists will tell you how you can still have a great Valentine’s Day on just $10 or $20.” For example, he said, a bubble bath filled with a $10 bag of rose petals, accompanied by a heartfelt hand-written card can go a long way in the romance department.