Meet My Florist - Sonoma Flowers

Meet My Florist Showcasing your local florist

FEATURING

SONOMA FLOWERS

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Meet My Florist Showcasing your local florist

Welcome to Meet My Florist magazine, a publication that gives you new insight into the wonders of your local flower shop. Your florist is an important part of your community. The following pages will provide you with information to help you better utilize your florist, and make you a more informed floral consumer.

Flowers are something that anyone can appreciate and everyone enjoys. Flowers always make a beautiful statement, expressing a wide range of sentiments to compliment any occasion. You can always make someone smile with flowers!

Choosing the perfect flowers for your occasion can be a daunting task. Let your florist guide and help you create the perfect arrangement. Your florist will help you express your sentiments with flowers.

This issue of Meet My Florist magazine features Sonoma Flowers. Sonoma Flowers gives you an insider’s look into their flower shop, and shares with you the many ways that they help customers with all their floral needs. In addition, you will get information about how to get more from your plants and flowers.

When you buy from a Mom and Pop business, you are supporting your community. Your local florist is another family in your community, your neighbor, and your friend. Our customers are our shareholders. We strive to make you happy.

Thank you for your support!

March 2019 | Š Meet My Florist Periodical

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SONOMA FLOWERS (707) 996 - 1696

Welcome to

SALLY (LEFT), JUDY (RIGHT), AND SALLY (BOTTOM) OF SONOMA FLOWERS

SONOMA FLOWERS

WE’RE HERE IN SONOMA, CA WITH SUSAN, SALLY, AND JUDY, OWNERS OF SONOMA FLOWERS JUDY: “Hi, I’m Judy and I started this flower studio in 1996. A couple of years after that my daughter Susan joined and then Sally a few years later. It’s been a nice family business for a long time. I had been growing vegetables and I wanted to learn about flowers. So, I learned about flowers and then started growing them. I sold them to florists around the area and it just grew from there.”

SUSAN: “I’ve always been artistic. I went to college, got my BA, and wondered, ‘What am I going to do now?’ My mother said, ‘While you’re thinking about it, come into the business-I need help.’ Still here eighteen years later.

“I used to describe myself as an artist without a medium, and then I realized working with flowers is artistic. And my clients love it! People have asked me what my style is, and I say it’s whatever you want.

But if I were to have my preference, I love the English Garden look-it’s whimsical, asymmetrical, has flow, greenery, textures, and interest.”

SALLY: “We’re a pretty boring family because we get along so well! One of the unique things about us is that we don’t have a traditional shop. We are a working studio, with a menagerie of animals running around the place. You can walk in, touch the flowers, and not feel like you’re going to break anything. We are artistic and funky.

have very high standards. We are creative in a non-traditional way, although we can do traditional. We are a full service florist, which means we do same-day deliveries, parties, events, weddings, prom, etc.

“We also have this thing that I call ‘loose fresh flower pickups’, where customers call us and pick up certain flowers. We buy them at the flower market and hand the bunches over so there’s not such a great mark up. Then they can do their own work. A lot of people are actually taking on their own weddings and designs.”

“We used to grow flowers but our demand was too much, so now we mostly grow greens to use as fillers. We do a lot of succulents. My dad grabs succulents from everywhere so we can put them into arrangements. Everything on this property is available. We’re growing viburnum, olive, variegated and Italian pittisporum, eucalyptus and lavender.”

[Susan] “We’re on one acre just outside the city limits. We are rustic and informal, but SONOMAFLOWERS.COM

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Keeping Plants Happy FERTILIZE every month. Most plants like a little boost to keep them looking their best.

DEADHEAD SPENT BLOOMS Keep the blooms coming by removing spent blooms from your flowering plants.

ORCHIDS are a plant category of their own. Water orchids sparingly with ice cubes to prevent blooms dropping from over watering (one ice cube a week).

REMOVE DECORATIVE WRAPPERS as soon as possible. Drainage keeps plant roots happy.

LESS FREQUENT but deep watering is most effective. Don’t let your plant sit in standing water; let it drain after watering.

GET THE LIGHT RIGHT Place your plants near light but never in direct sunlight.

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MANY BLOOMING PLANTS are meant to be outdoor plants. After the blooms are spent, find a happy home for your blooming plant in your garden or in an outdoor container.

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EXTENDING CUT FLOWER LIFE LOCATION MATTERS. Keep Flowers in a cool place and away from direct sunlight if possible. Avoid vents with blowing air.

PRESERVATIVE FEEDS THE BLOOMS. Add commercial plant food to the water every time you change the water.

TRIM OR REMOVE SPENT FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE. Keep your arrangement looking its best by taking out wilted blooms or leaves. This also prevents contamination of the water and increases the longevity of your arrangement.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WATER. Always remember to keep water levels up!

Change the water when cloudiness appears.

RECUT STEMS AFTER A FEW DAYS. Every few days, cut 1” from each stem at an angle to bypass clogged stems. Your flowers will draw water and the blooms will be happy longer.

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The Magic of Flowers & Plants There is nothing like the thrill of receiving flowers. You feel special: someone is thinking about you, wanting to lift your spirits and make your day!

Flowers touch all our senses, from visual vibrant colors to sweet fragrances. These powerful elements evoke pleasant memories of past times.

Flowers are timeless, and bring those sweet memories to the present.

Who isn’t thrilled by the brilliance of color, the richness of life in the garden! We give plants and flowers because we love the beauty of the outdoors. Giving plants and flowers as gifts brings the garden indoors for us to enjoy.

More to consider: Flowers can be a gift for anyone. From son to father, daughter to mom, friend to friend... tell someone they are special with flowers.

Give flowers at unexpected times. Giving flowers is a spontaneous act of kindness that will brighten any person’s day. Consider flowers as a thank you! Acknowledge all that someone has done for you by giving them flowers.

The bottom line: let someone know that you are thinking about them. Flowers always say, “I’m here for you!”

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SONOMA FLOWERS (707) 996 - 1696

Romance FLOWERS FOR

Flowers are a powerful way to express your caring and love. If you are looking to express only friendship, you can say that with flowers. If you are trying to say, “Just because,” you can say that with flowers too. If you want to say the big, “I love you,” you can proclaim your love with flowers.

Whatever you are trying to express, you can always say it with flowers.

BE SPONTANEOUS! Don’t wait for a specific occasion to send flowers... score big points on any day.

ROSES ARE FOR ROMANCE. Certain flowers come with meanings. The rose has always been a symbol of love.

SURPRISE THEM AT WORK. Brighten her day... really make her smile!

ADD A LOVE NOTE. Add a special card or hand written note to your arrangement.

TAKE THINGS UP A NOTCH. Add a box of chocolates or a special gift to your floral arrangement.

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LET’S

Celebrate

Celebrate Life’s milestones with flowers! Flowers add grace and elegance to every celebration. You can always celebrate the passage of a major milestones with flowers. Nothing beautifies a table better than flowers. No matter what your look, there are many possibilities for decorating with flowers. Let your florist decorate your gazebo, or make fabulous table centerpieces. Your florist will take your party to the next level.

CHOOSE A FOCAL POINT Do an impact arrangement on an entry table or as a centerpiece on a buffet table.

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USE AN EXPERT Get expert help from your florist, and your beautiful arrangements will take your party to a higher level.

DECIDE: ELEGANT OR CASUAL? Flower choices depend on the look you want to create.

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A STYLE FOR ALL

Occasions

ORDER BY PHONE OR ONLINE

Poppy Pop

Expression of Love

Spring Extension

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Church Box

SONOMA FLOWERS (707) 996 - 1696

Peachy Bliss

20680 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476 sonomaflowers.com (707) 996-1696

Box of Summer

Horse’s Main Arrangment

Pretty in Pink

Cala Explosion

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English Garden

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A LOOK INSIDE SONOMA FLOWERS

Let Sonoma Flowers create a personal floral design that reflects exactly what you want to say.

Whether it be a sentiment of love, condolence or encouragement, there is an arrangement out there for everyone. Flowers are also an excellent way to beautify your home. One person may prefer a contemporary tropical arrangement while another loves the tradition of a dozen roses.

Whatever your preference, Sonoma Flowers is there to accommodate you.

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Wedding

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our wedding day is one of the most special days in your life.

Organizing this event can become a major undertaking. One way to help ease the planning burden is to have your florist guide you along the way. Your florist will be happy to provide you with a free wedding consultation so that you can sit down and personally share your ideas, and discuss the flower budget.

Since every bride is unique, your florist will want to get to know you and your own personal tastes and style. Not everyone wants to have a traditional style wedding. Your florist can help you creatively express your personality or interests.

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PLANNING Be prepared with your wedding colors before meeting with your florist. Consider the style of wedding you’d like, and even the venue.

KEEP IT LOCAL & SEASONAL Choosing local and seasonal flowers is the way to go, and will give you more bang for your buck.

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REPURPOSE YOUR FLOWERS Don’t leave your ceremony flowers at the altar... take them to your reception! Aisle arrangements can be used for centerpieces or on the buffet tables. The bridesmaid bouquets can add color to a cake table or the head table.

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IF YOUR ARE REALLY SET ON A CERTAIN EXPENSIVE FLOWER. When your favorite flower is expensive, save on your budget by using it only in your bridal bouquet. You can substitute less expensive flowers into centerpieces or use only a small quantity of expensive flowers in select places.

BE OPEN TO VARIETIES AND COLORS Some of the more common flowers are available in a huge variety of beautiful colors!

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tribute

Sending sympathy flowers is an important expression of love and support for the grieving family, as well as an opportunity to honor a person’s life. When we think of a funeral as a celebration of life, what could be better than a room full of flowers? The beauty of flowers is symbolic of life itself, and is always an appropriate tribute to a loved one. Let your florist help you send the perfect expression of your sympathy and love.

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BE MINDFUL OF CULTURE. Certain cultures have very specific traditions. For example, Muslims won’t appreciate a cross, and Eastern Orthodox place the highest value on white flowers.

PHOTOGRAPHS ADD A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE. A photo image of your Loved one in a wreath of flowers can be a fitting tribute.

REMEMBER THEIR PASSIONS OR THEIR CAREER. If you know specific details of passions of the Loved one, your florist can incorporate a symbol of those passions, such as a baseball cap, or golf club.

FLOWERS ARE ALWAYS APPROPRIATE. Even if the family has requested donations to a specified cause, it always is appropriate to also send flowers.

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FLORAL TIPS FROM SUSAN [Romance] “I think the most romantic thing to do is the ‘Just Because’ bouquet.

Surprise them with flowers just because you’re thinking of them. We got a call from a customer who wanted us to make a big heart of red rose petals on the king sized bed at a really nice hotel. It was also her 50th birthday so we did a ‘50’ inside the heart.”

[Why Flowers] “Surrounding yourself with flowers can actually improve your mind and spirit. The beautiful colors and aromas bring you into a better mood and lift your spirits. When I have flowers I move them from my living room to my bedroom when I go to bed. That way I can smell them in the middle of the night and have better dreams.”

[Design Style] “My favorite design colors are earth tones with white. The look is rustic but the white adds elegance. Our designs use hydrangeas, lisianthus, roses, and rhubrum lilies. I love incorporating interesting leaves, herbs, pods, seeds, in our designs to show different textures. Even when we get wire orders we always add little extra touches that will make each design perfect.”

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20680 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476 sonomaflowers.com (707) 996-1696

March 2019 | © Meet My Florist Periodical