Flowers& - May 2016

Flowers& may 2016 $5.50

www.MyTeleflora.com

STRETCH YOUR

flower power with up-to-date market savvy and inspired design strategies First, read all about the latest varieties and supply-chain trends Pg 16

Then, check out our design portfolio featuring the hottest flowers going!

Pg 30

contents

MAY 2016

features

16

The Market Report A sampling of the latest from the dynamic world of cut flowers.

By Bruce Wright

30

Fresh & Fancy Making the most of the latest and best flowers on the market.

Floral design by Gerard Toh AIFD Photography by Ron Derhacopian

2 MAY 2016

pg 32

on the cover In a simple yet sophisticated design that lets gorgeous flowers speak for themselves, Gerard Toh AIFD surrounded a stand of ‘World’s Favorite’ tulips with a ruffle of galax and ‘Gran Paradiso’ callas. The smooth stems of both kinds of bulb flowers are seen to advantage through clear glass. For more designs that showcase premium varieties, turn to pages 30-57.

contents

departments 8

F ocus on Design

10

Leaf Art

A Pair of Glowing Hearts

By Rich Salvaggio AIFD, AAF, PFCI

Aspidistra Roses

By Helen Miller AIFD

13

Inspired By...

Ombré

By Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI

58

Shop Profile

Celebration Flowers & Gifts, Canton, Ohio

By Marianne Cotter

64

I ndustry Events

What’s 65

pg 10

in Store

66

Where to Buy

67

Advertiser Links

68

Wholesale Connection

Flowers& Volume 37, Number 5 (ISSN 0199-4751).

Published monthly by Teleflora, 11444 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064, 800-321-2665, fax 310-966-3610. Subscription rates: U.S., 1 year, $66.00.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to Flowers&, PO Box 16029, North Hollywood, CA 91615-9871.

Copyright © 2016 by Teleflora. Printed in U.S.A.

4 MAY 2016

pg 9

Flowers& Publisher Editor Art Director

Rich Salvaggio AIFD, AAF, PFCI rsalvaggio@teleflora.com Bruce Wright Tony Fox

National Advertising Director

Peter Lymbertos

U.S. Subscriptions

800-321-2665

Foreign Subscriptions

818-286-3128

Advertising

800-421-4921

On the Internet

www.MyTeleflora.com www.flowersandmagazine.com

Advisory Board Teleflora Education Specialists Susan Ayala AIFD, PFCI, Riverside, Calif., Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI, Syndicate Sales, Fairfield, Ohio, Tim Farrell

AIFD, AAF, PFCI,

Farrell’s Florist, Drexel Hill, Penn., Jim Ganger

AIFD,

Kansas City, Mo., Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Bob Hampton AIFD, AAF,

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Dallas, Texas, John Hosek AIFD, PFCI, CF, CAFA, Surroundings Events and Floral, Verona,

Wisc., Alex Jackson AIFD, AAF, PFCI, Veldkamp’s Flowers, Lakewood, Colo., Vonda LaFever AIFD, PFCI,

Niceville, Fla., Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD, AAF, PFCI, AzMF, Designer Destination,

Tucson, Ariz., Helen Miller AIFD, CF, CAFA, Flowers and Such, Adrian, Mich., Darla Pawlak AIFD, PFCI,

Essexville, Mich., Julie Poeltler

AIFD, PFCI, IMF, CAFA,

Julie’s Fountain of Flowers,

Lone Tree, Iowa, Jerome Raska AIFD, AAF, PFCI, CF, Blumz by JR Designs, Ferndale, Mich.,

Tom Simmons AIFD, CCF, Three Bunch Palms Productions, Palm Springs, Calif., Gerard Toh AIFD, CCF,

Garden Trade Services, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Cindy Tole, Botanica Flowers &

Gifts, Greensboro, N.C., Kevin Ylvisaker AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, Mukwonago, Wisc.

Editorial Council Marie Ackerman AIFD, AAF, PFCI, Teleflora, Oklahoma City, Okla., Carol J. Caggiano AIFD, PFCI, A.

Floral Delivery Tray or Floral Carrier!

One carrier holds an average of 20 to 30 arrangements.

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Caggiano, Inc., Jeffersonton, Va., Bert Ford AIFD, PFCI, Ford Flower Co., Salem, N.H.,

Wilton Hardy

AIFD, AAF, PFCI, FSMD,

JWH Design and Consultant, West Palm Beach, Fla.,

Elizabeth Seiji AIFD, Edelweiss Flower Boutique, Santa Monica, Calif.

Customer service: For service on your magazine subscription, including change of address, please write to Flowers&, P.O. Box 16029, No. Hollywood, CA 91615-9871, enclosing a recent address label. For faster service, call 818-286-3128; Teleflora members call 800-421-2815.

focus on design

•j

Floral design by Rich Salvaggio AIFD, AAF, PFCI

•

Photography by Ron Derhacopian

A pair of hearts nestled in a bed of glowing Water Pearls sends a very special message.

1 1. Following the directions on the bottle, add water to dry Water Pearls and set them aside, allowing time for the Water Pearls to hydrate. Prepare the bottom of a square glass bowl with strips of packing tape, then attach two chunks of green or white Styrofoam with pan melt glue, positioned at opposite corners. (When the design goes into the cooler, pan melt glue could pop away from the glass; the packing tape makes it secure.)

Add Water Pearls to cover the Styrofoam. Mix in some artificial pearls (pink and ivory) for color and shine.

Pairing a larger with a smaller heart can suggest a loving tribute to Mom—her heart and yours. Mixing different Mooncarnations creates a richly hued texture.

2

2. The Oasis Floral Foam Heart comes pre-cut with a center heart that can be removed and used on its own. Both hearts, inner and outer, have a backing that protects the integrity of the foam. Cover the inner heart with medium-lavender Moonlite carnations on top. Add dark-purple Moonique mini carnations to the outside, the better to define the outline of the shape. Cover the outer heart with Moonshade carnations on top and outline it with Moonique mini carnations. As the Moonshade carnations open fully, they turn bluer, adding to the richness of the color mix.

8 www.flowersandmagazine.com

s

•

See this

how-to on

For product information, see Where to Buy, page 66.

Click Here

4

3. Impale the flower-covered hearts onto the chunks of Styrofoam with long wooden picks. For stability, use two wooden picks for each heart. The backing on the hearts makes it easy to insert a pick. Add submersible LED lights to the Water Pearls and, if you like, deck the hearts with a few glued-on ivory and pink faux pearls.

3

May 2016 9

leaf art

•j

Floral design by Helen Miller AIFD

•

Photography by Ron Derhacopian

• b

Foliage courtesy of Wm. F. Puckett

Do-ahead aspidistra roses provide an intriguing, longlasting focal.

Also showcased in this month’s Leaf Art design are two other simple techniques with aspidistra leaves. Each technique begins with a flat leaf and adds dimension and visual value: First, two variegated aspidistra leaves are each folded once like looped ribbon, and the loop secured with a staple. Second, off to the right, two more leaves are each folded inward along the spine and the fold secured with wire.

10 www.flowersandmagazine.com

1. Start by making a right-angle fold in the leaf, about two inches up from the bottom. You will need to break the spine of the leaf —you’ll hear it crack.

5

1

2

2. Turn the leaf away from you a quarter turn and fold it again at a right angle. You’re creating a knot at the center that supports successive folds in the leaf.

3. Keep folding. You will see the shiny front of the leaf on some folds, the dull back on others.

4. Keep going until you reach the tip of the leaf.

Bring it down and wire it to the stem, which secures all the folds at once.

5. A full-looking aspidistra rose requires two leaves.

Lay a second leaf alongside the rose and…

6. Continue with the same process of folding and turning until you have used up the second leaf, adding more layers of “petals,” and wire the second leaf to the first. You may want to trim the bottom of the leaves and tape the stems together.

6

3

4

MAY 2016 11

inspired by...

Ombré Ombré (meaning, simply, “shaded” in French) may be a fashion buzzword today, but it’s an idea with a history stretching back to at least the early 19th century.

That’s when a technique was first developed for printing fabric with colors that gradually fade from one hue to another, or from light to dark—as seen in these organza and taffeta ribbons from Reliant Ribbon.

may 2016 13

•j

Floral design by Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI

•

Photography by Ron Derhacopian

Even today the idea of “ombré” is perhaps best represented with textiles. Over time, however, the term has come to be used for similar effects in glassware, wall-painting, and other decorative arts. Lately it has stretched even further: do an internet search for “ombré” and you’ll see it as a trendy option for hair or even nails.

In floral design, “ombré” suggests a strategy long employed for a subtle, sophisticated, upscale look: within a narrow band of hues, a range of shadings can provide a sense of transition and depth. As always when using an analogous or monochromatic color scheme, along with contrasts in color value—from tints to tones to shades—contrasts in texture come to the fore.

Here, Tom has made the most of these contrasts, adding metallic accents that share a chromatic kinship with his flowers. These come in a range of yellow, yellow-greens and golds: oncidiums, dill, craspedia, freesia, ‘Yellow Pompon’ garden roses, mini green hydrangeas, pale green carnations, pale green feathery grass, and variegated ivy. The bouquet is made by inserting stems through a wire armature that mingles round and flat wire with different textures: aluminum wire, shiny flat wire, matte half-inch flat wire, and bullion—for still more contrast within the same color scheme. b

s

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14 www.flowersandmagazine.com

For product information, see Where to Buy, page 66.

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ROSES ON PARADE Garden style continues to lead the way in the market for cut roses: full heads, loaded with petals and opening wide. The red rose ‘Hearts’, bred by Jan Spek Rozen, represented by Conectiflor, is a classic example (above right). Though not brand new, in a world awash with ‘Freedom’ it still has a distinctive, trendy look. This year’s trend toward peach and apricot showed up at World Floral Expo at the DecoFresh Roses booth, in three gorgeous, nearly salmon-colored varieties with green-tinted guard petals: from left to right, ‘Gravity’, ‘Kahala’, and pinkish ‘Wild Look’. A light, grayish purple or lavender is also in demand, as evidenced by a notable variety like ‘Grey Knights’ from Ecuadorian grower Agrocoex. Green hearts are a novelty that persists, although it makes inroads only slowly, a welcome feature in a flamboyant introduction like ‘Crazy Eye’ (top photo, page 18) from DecoFresh. www.conectiflor.com, www.decofresh.com, www.agrocoex.com

1618www.flowersandmagazine.com 14 july 2010

A sampling of the latest from the dynamic world of cut flowers.

By Bruce Wright

HEAVENLY HYDRANGEA, YEAR-ROUND Hydrangea has become a must-have flower for florists and especially for wedding designers.

In northern climes, of course, hydrangea really comes into its own in the summer, with the biggest heads, the longest stems, and the most variety in color and flower form. But with the enduring popularity of hydrangeas, growers in Colombia and Ecuador have stepped up to the plate and are providing a year-round supply.

Among those available from Royal Flowers, for example, are ‘Pink Lemonade’ (top left), ‘Spring Green’ (near left), ‘Cotton Candy’ (at right), and ‘Aquarelle’ (below left), —all softly blended of pastel colors with tender yellow or pale green at the center. www.royalflowersecuador.com Mini green hydrangea has been one of the flowers answering the demand for bright green in the palette. The mini green is simply a flower head that’s been harvested before the blossom fully matures. Usually it’s white hydrangea—but at this year’s World Floral Expo, Colombian grower Valley Springs showed a mini green with a deeper, more intense tone, cut from blue hydrangea (below right). www.valleysprings.co

may 2010 May 2016 19 17

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OUT OF AFRICA Cut flowers shipped all the way from Africa to North America? Yes indeed. For years, Kenya and Ethiopia have served as major suppliers to the European and Russian flower markets, similar to the way Colombia and Ecuador supply cut flowers to North America. Now the Europeans and Russians are spending less, so that African growers are looking to expand their market. The strong dollar is favoring American buyers—and today, the logistics are coming into their own.

This past Valentine’s Day, flower volumes from Kenya to the US increased more than 50% over the year before. Ecommerce has played a role, with some buyers sourcing flowers directly from Kenyan growers. Currently, most flowers from Kenya arrive in the U.S. via the Dutch auctions— but Kenyan growers want direct flights, and more direct contacts.

They may be alarmed at the success of their competitors in Ethiopia, who have jumped into the market more recently, but with the support of their government, so that already direct flights bring flowers from Ethiopia to Los Angeles and to Washington, D.C.; a direct flight to New York is expected soon. Enhanced possibilities for sea freight also favor African flowers coming to North America.

Roses are the first flower associated with Kenya and Ethiopia, where they are grown at elevations to rival those of Ecuador and Colombia (high elevations produce the biggest blooms).

Only Kenya, however, has mountains as high as those in Ecuador—and only some of the farms in Kenya are that high up. The selection includes intermediate and spray roses, considered an especially good value.

Growers from both countries were in evidence at this year’s World Floral Expo. Sian Roses offered Kenyan-grown roses like apricot-tinted ‘Magic Avalanche’ and lavender ‘Nightingale’ as well as spray roses (all seen at far right). Spectacular, distinctive varieties including ‘Crazy Eye’ (top photo at right) were on display from DecoFresh, an exclusive group of Kenyan growers (see also Roses on Parade, page 16).

Besides roses, World Floral Expo exhibitor Florius showed hypericum from Ethiopia with the biggest berries you’ve ever seen, including green ‘Coco Bamboo’ and pink ‘Coco Casino’ (at near right), along with novelty veronica in the Smart series, with an intriguing flat tip. www.sianroses.co.ke, www.floriusflowers.com 18 www.flowersandmagazine.com

july 2010 20

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TULIPMANIA Some customers will always prefer tulips in solid colors and simple, classic shapes—but then, there will always be some who go wild for parrots, frills, and curvaceous novelties like ‘Liberstar’, a white tulip with incurving petals that could remind you of the center of a quartered garden rose. The “fancy” tulips may not develop the stem length of standard varieties, and typically are more expensive, because the bulbs themselves cost the grower more. But they perform just as well in the vase as the more familiar types—and nothing catches the eye or starts a conversation like ‘Liberstar’ or ‘Parkiet Rose’, a pale pink parrot with variegated leaves, both from Sun Valley. Yellow-frilled ‘Balroom’ and flame-like ‘Leo’ were both on display from Mayesh Wholesale at World Floral Expo 2016. www.mayesh.com, www.thesunvalleygroup.com 20 www.flowersandmagazine.com

SUCCULENTS GALORE Like sunflowers a few years ago, succulents have gone from a fad to a fixture—and as they do, we get more varieties on the market (just as sunflowers went from standard to couture, with red and brown varieties, Teddy Bears, and plucked sunflower heads popping up everywhere). The assortment from Dutch specialty supplier Holex includes such novelties as the Crassula hybrid Buddha’s Temple, with tightly stacked leaves forming a square column that eventually flowers at the top, or Echeveria setosa forma cristata, a fan shape topped with plump, furry leaves. www.holex.com

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ley Floral, Ocean View Flowers, and The Sun Valley Group—

BLOOMCHECK: NEW LABEL ON

have already been certified by

THE BLOCK Want to feel good

one of them, Veriflora. But Veri-

about how your flowers were

flora, although it has been in

grown—with respect for farm

existence for years, still covers

workers and the environment?

only those three in the U.S., and

And do you, or your customers,

only seven growers altogether

additionally prefer to purchase

(the others are in Central and

flowers grown in the US? If

South America). By contrast,

so, a new label makes it easy

more than 20 Colombian grow-

to check off both criteria at a

ers are certified Florverde, while

glance. It’s called BloomCheck,

more than 55 flower farms in

and it’s promoted as “the gold

Kenya are certified either KFC-

standard for sustainably grown

Silver or KFC-Gold. These labels

cut flowers and greens in the

mean business. The programs

United States.”

work with international organi-

Other countries of origin

zations like the Floriculture Sus-

have their own sustainability

tainability Initiative and Global

labels: in Colombia, Florverde;

G.A.P., and are benchmarked to

in Ecuador, FlorEcuador Certi-

their standards.

fied; in Kenya, the Kenya Flower

“There is value in communi-

Council’s Silver or Gold Certifi-

cating both origin and sustain-

cate. Obviously, U.S. growers

ability in one label,” says Kasey

can’t qualify for those labels.

Cronquist of the California Cut

International sustainability

Flower Commission, which

labels do also exist, and three

sponsors the BloomCheck label

California growers—Green Val-

and certification program. U.S. flower farmers already adhere to similar growing practices and regulatory oversight from a variety of federal and state agencies. More than 50 domestic growers already are registered to use the logo “Certified American Grown.”

At press time, three flower farms were certified by BloomCheck, and “a fourth on its way,” according to Kasey—all in California, but the hope is (continued on next page)

22 www.flowersandmagazine.com

THE GREEN STUFF Foliage might seem boring—unless of course you’re talking about Australian specialties like koala fern (top photo above), shown at World Floral Expo by Latitude 33, a company that facilitates the logistics of getting flowers and foliage from far-off places closer to you. “People come up and want to pet it,” says Latitude’s Steve Dionne. Then too, you could learn a thing or two about the everyday staples talking to someone like F.J. Trzukowski of Continental Floral Greens. Your leatherleaf, for example, might still have been grown in Florida, as has been the case for decades—or it could have been imported from Guatemala. The difference? Guatemalan, according to F.J., is usually a darker green, with a larger head size and more uniform leaves. It’s brought to a packing shed and graded there, rather than in the field, which can yield a more consistent bunch. Salal, another important product for Continental, has been more expensive of late, owing to warmer weather over the past couple of growing seasons. But did you know it comes in different lengths? If you’ve always bought long and all you need is tips, ask if you can get them for a lower price. www.latitude33flowers.com, www.cfgreens.com

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(continued from previous page)

for the program to go nationwide—and that participating growers will help to promote it to the public. The standards are high, involving specific, verifiable measures of both environmental and social responsibility.

And as with other labels, grower compliance with the standards set by the label is overseen by a third-party certifier.

That kind of credibility can go a long way toward convincing consumers that they should feel good about buying flowers grown in the U.S. The best news? Sustainability programs cost the growers money, but also result in savings. And, they tend to have a dramatic and positive impact on cutflower quality: best practices, best-quality flowers. www.bloomcheck.org, www.florverde.org, www.expoflores.com, www.kenyaflowercouncil.org, www.veriflora.com

SMALL FOLDABLE WATER TUBE Water tubes are wonderful for keeping stems hydrated—but there’s an alternative for single stems (or a slender bundle) that’s cheaper, lighter, less expensive, and actually holds more water. With a decorative covering, it could even be adapted to design applications—but mostly, it’s handy for cut stems in transit. “People were taking our Arrive Alive products and cutting them in half,” says Mimi Pacheco of Chrysal USA. “So now you can get them in three sizes,” cut to the S-Block shape that wraps nicely around stem ends. www.chrysalusa.com 24 www.flowersandmagazine.com

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER Flower growers, and by extension florists, have always been at Mother Nature’s mercy. Lately, however, she has taken some sudden, unpredictable turns—and if climate scientists are correct, we’re in for a long, bumpy ride.

Currently, the biggest impact comes when growers try to bring in bumper crops for holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. For growers in both California and South America, the past few winters have been unusually warm. For many crops, that means the time between planting and harvest is shorter than usual. A farmer who grows bulb flowers like lilies or tulips might reasonably decide to plant the Valentine’s Day crop later than normal—say, November 15 instead of November 1—so they won’t bloom too early.

But what if December then brings an unexpected cold snap, as happened in 2015? “This year about a third of our crop came in late and missed the holiday,” says Doug Dobecki of Sun Valley Floral Farms. If the crop is early, a grower can try to hold it in storage for the holiday (even though reputable growers don’t want to sell any flowers that are less than perfectly fresh). If the crop is late, however, there is no remedy—the flowers flood the market after the high demand has passed.

In Ecuador, on the other hand, warm, dry weather brought some Valentine’s Day crops in early this year—so early that a lot of flowers had to be dumped, says Dean Rule of Conectiflor, a company that represents leading breeders of rose and gerbera varieties. Again, reputable growers won’t store roses beyond a certain point— which means fewer roses and perhaps higher prices at Valentine’s Day.

Some crops require cold weather to produce harvestable blooms—even stems and leaves. Salal, for instance, is relatively scarce this year and is fetching record high prices owing to unseasonably warm temperatures during recent winter growing seasons, says FJ Trzuskowski of Continental Floral Greens.

And all crops require water. With the ongoing drought, California flower farmers are getting hit with new demands from local water districts to cut consumption—even though most California growers are already recycling and practicing conservation. Growers who exceed their limits can be punished with hefty fines.

Greenhouse growers may be less vulnerable to climate disruptions than those who grow flowers outdoors. But in California, as many as half of all flower crops are grown in the field or outdoors under shade. And in South America, even greenhouse growers typically don’t have the same heating and cooling systems found in North American greenhouses.

True, recent weather in both California and South America has been influenced by a temporary warming phase known as El Niño, which typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts between nine months and two years. But this time around, even El Niño is not behaving as expected. The scientific consensus is that we can expect generally warmer, but also more erratic weather in the years to come.

“You can’t predict anymore what is a bloom cycle,” says Pat Dahlson of Mayesh Wholesale. “I’m sure the growers are baffled.

We’re baffled. It’s harder to plan.”

The solution?

“We’ve always had to be flexible and resilient in this industry,” says Pat. “Now more than ever.”

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SPRING FOR RANUNCULUS Growers and marketers were on top of this one: ranunculus, recently one of the “it” flowers on social media for wedding flowers, became more widely available than ever this year, with the robust and extravagantly beautiful varieties from Italian breeder Biancheri now grown in California. (Warm weather made the crop late but abundant.) The wavy-petaled, multi-colored PonPon varieties (see pages 31 and 56) have made a big splash, but so have the smooth, huge-headed Clooney types, as seen here from Mayesh Wholesale and in deep maroon from Holex. The Japanese varieties, like multicolored red, white, and pink ‘Charlotte’ (middle right), sold by Mayesh, astonish with their beauty—and sometimes with their price. www.mayesh.com, www.holex.com GARDEN SPRAYS On their own or filling in standard rose bouquets with cost-effective elegance, spray roses are coming on strong—and as with standard roses, garden style is now the rule. Pale pink ‘Porcelain Lace’, at near upper left, is one of several varieties in the recently introduced Clustar line of spray roses, which features round flowers with a high petal count that “cluster,” together with a few buds, at the top of the stem. They come in a wide color range ideal for weddings and are supplied from Kenya by Latitude 33, among others. In California, Green Valley Floral has been ramping up production of spray roses including fragrant, creamy white ‘Clair de Lune’ (far upper left), coral and light pink ‘Madame Butterfly’, and quartered, light yellow ‘Quatre Coeurs’. www.latitude33flowers.com, www.greenvalleyfloral.com 26 www.flowersandmagazine.com

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BRIDAL FILLERS Have you seen ‘Estelle’, a cream-colored solidago (featured in the bridal bouquet, top photo)? A tiny, fluffy flower with white petals surrounding butter-yellow buds gives this filler flower a delicate, antique look. About two years on the market, it still has the allure of novelty and the practical appeal of heavy stems and outstanding durability. It comes from global breeder, producer and marketer Selecta Cut Flowers—which also supplies the new gypsophila series Pearls®, characterized by top-clustering flowers that range in size and habit from Petite (shown) on up. www.selectacutflowers.com 28 www.flowersandmagazine.com

HAVE AN ADVENTURE Nothing reignites your passion for flowers—or your customers’ passion—like finding something gorgeous and wildly out of the ordinary to play with. When was the last time you visited your wholesaler? Better yet, visit a cut-flower trade show! At this year’s World Floral Expo in Los Angeles, you could have had a close encounter with dyed phalaenopsis from Mayesh, ‘Madiba’ King protea with striking red petals from Latitude 33, or any number of extraordinary cut flowers from Holex, including thick-stemmed fritillaria, the delicate white bells of Solomon’s seal (polygonatum), or striped lisianthus in white and purple or an extraordinary new rose color. You could also have taken part in workshops with top Dutch designers—all without paying an entrance fee! Next year’s World Floral Expo will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. We reviewed several upcoming trade fairs in the February issue of Flowers&—but just in case, here are some websites for you to look at. Have fun! www.worldfloralexpo.com, www.floriexpo.com, www.agriflor.com b

30 www.flowersandmagazine.com 32 january 2012

Fresh Fancy

&

Making the most of the latest and best flowers on the market.

FRENCH TWIST Like so many things we call French, long-stemmed “French” tulips aren’t necessarily from France (these are California-grown)—but they do

have a certain Continental elegance. Three varieties share the spotlight here: ‘Cortina,’ dressed in rich color, plus ‘Avignon’ and ‘Renown’, both just beginning to color up. (‘Avignon’ will open to a deep orange glazed with pink, ‘Renown’ to a glossy mauve veined with magenta.) Diminutive, daisy-like matricaria forms a delightful counterpoint. Harmonizing beautifully with the warm palette of the tulips are ranunculus in the Pon-Pon line. The line includes 18 colors altogether, each with multicolored petals, partly green. Bred in Italy, Pon-Pon ranunculus have been in production since 2010, but are just now becoming more widely available than before. They are remarkable for a vase life of up to three weeks. A few Pon-Pons are gathered on their own in a smaller version of the dimpled, egg-shaped Lula Vase.

Photography by Ron Derhacopian

For product information,

see Where to Buy, page 66.

33 january 2012

t

Floral design by Gerard Toh AIFD

MAY 2016 31

Fresh Fancy

&

FILLER UP A sensational “filler” like ‘Sensy Pinacolada’ limonium, frilly white with yellow centers, deserves a place at center stage.

The construction of this bouquet also lets the ‘Gold Medal’ callas and ‘Catalina’ garden roses face outward, for a graceful presentation from the side. The gray velvet of Ecuadorian-grown dusty miller complements the yellow tones perfectly, in a textured white planter.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW At right, a classic look with a contemporary twist, perfectly suited to showcase new varieties of those oldfashioned favorites, carnations and baby’s breath (all in the same fluffy, high-performing flower family). New ‘Moonpearl’ mini carnations bring a lovely light lavender and a subtle variety of size and texture to the surface of a bouquet that also blends ‘Moonshade’ and deep-purple ‘Moonvista’ standard Florigene carnations. The finishing touch is added with a sprinkling of ‘My Pink’ gypsophila, with blooms ranging from pale to deep pink, all in a swirl-patterned glossy ceramic vase.

34 january 2012 32 38 www.flowersandmagazine.com 30 www.flowersandmagazine.com

Classic Twist with a

MAY 2016 33

Classic Twist with a

36 2012 34 january www.flowersandmagazine.com 00 www.flowersandmagazine.com

Fresh Fancy

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IN THE PINK Attention, wedding designers! These will come in handy when you’re looking for flowers in the perfect medium pink (not too soft, not too bright, blending nicely with white). All three bring classic, yet uncommon style to a bouquet.

‘Pink Panther’ callas come in short to medium stem lengths (from 30 to 60 centimeters).

‘Charmelia’ is one of two novel alstroemerias on the market that offer small flowers in a delicate spray (these are also called alstresia). ‘Constance’ is a David Austin garden rose with a delicious fruity fragrance; it holds its cupped shape nicely and goes from soft pink on the outside to blush pink on the inside. Here, pink acrylic nuggets inside stemmed glass candleholders reinforce the rosy hues.

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FORM AND COLOR Above, skillful color harmony and placement unites architectural and round flowers in a “mass” bouquet with unusual depth. The bouquet will evolve as the tulips grow and lily buds open. ‘Sorbonne’ Oriental lilies (dubbed Orchid Lilies by grower Sun Valley) mingle with ‘Gander Rhapsody’ tulips, a light pink overbrushed in white frost, with ‘Candy Scoop’ scabiosa, and with ‘Rainbow Obake’ anthuriums, creamy green with a pink spadix.

SOLID YELLOW ‘Golden Glory’ solidago is another “filler” flower that deserves a place in the spotlight. Filling the center of the bouquet at right with clustered gold enhances the impact of the smaller clusters around it: bright yellow tulips, ‘Beatrice’ David Austin garden roses, and ‘Gold Medal’ callas, collared with loops and streamers of variegated aspidistra. The radiant energy of the bouquet is well supported by the subtly flared cylinder vase.

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COLORS UNITED Combining tropical and temperate-zone flowers can be one way to dramatize the distinctive qualities of each by contrast. With the right choice of colors, they blend beautifully— as evident at left, in the mix of fluffy ‘Candy Scoop’ scabiosa and ‘Princess Charlene’ garden roses with shiny ‘Princess Aiko’ and pink-tipped, light green ‘Lime Light’ anthuriums—not to mention the variegated ti leaves that stand sentinel at the back. Lime-green kangaroo paws, curly ‘Green Wave’ Lauae fern, and rolled aspidistra leaves add the perfect finishing touches, in a pot with a dimpled gloss finish.

SUMMER IN WINTER At one time, delphinium and lisianthus were summer flowers exclusively. The design at right was created in January with gorgeous, tall white delphinium from Ecuador and white lisianthus from California, along with yellow ‘Catalina’ roses from Colombia, ‘Lime Light’ anthuriums from Hawaii, and kangaroo paws from Holland—all rising from a textured, metallic-finish ceramic vase.

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PARADISE GLOWS ‘Gran Paradiso’ is the name of the flaming orange callas that define one glowing tier of the bright bouquet at left. The callas surround a stand of ‘World Favorite’ tulips; the stems of both callas and tulips combine in an intriguing display through the clear glass vase, descending to amber river rocks and gold gravel, layered in the bottom of the vase like geological strata.

PARADISE FLOATS Called simply ‘Paradiso’, the white alstresia seen in the spare and striking design at right forms a delicate cloud (with stems stripped of their leaves), springing like a fountain from a bed of ‘Mayra’s Rose’ garden roses in the base of the vase. ‘Paradiso’ and a similar new variety in peachy pink, ‘Charmelia’ (see In the Pink, pages 34-35), each won major prizes last year. Together they represent a new type of alstroemeria, with smaller but more plentiful flowers on a spray and extended vase life. Shell-pink ‘Mayra’s Rose’ won first place in the garden-rose category at Proflora 2015. Key to this design is the shape of the reverse-tapered glass vase.

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YIPES STRIPES Above, striped pink Matsumoto asters sing out, along with daisy and button matricaria, against a background of darker colors. ‘Blackberry Scoop’ scabiosa brings its deep ruffled purple and white sprinkles to the mix; blue eryngium lends a rare hue and a spikey, spiny texture that serves as an intriguing foil for other flowers, making them look even brighter and softer. The splayed stems radiate naturally from the narrow openings of the green glass Geo vases.

THOUSANDS OF PETALS Scattered along a mantle or long table, groupings of fragrant garden roses signal the ultimate in romantic elegance—and make cherished takeaway gifts for guests. Silvered glass candleholders, used as vases, look like faceted jewels.

Featured here are strong pink ‘Ashley’, with firm, wavy petals, medium pink ‘Mayra’s Rose’, and pale pink ‘Princess Charlene’, along with two David Austin varieties: ‘Edith’—a slightly coral pink, yellow at the center—and one of the newest, ‘Charity’, creamy pale pink with a green center.

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GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT… Petals shaped like pasta— from linguine to fettucine—add a playful twist to some of the latest gerbera varieties, including yellow ‘Pasta di Mamma’, pale peachy-pink ‘Pasta Rosata’, red ‘Pasta Romana’, and bright yellow ‘Pasta Pennoni’. Painted wood boxes, inset with glass cubes, and accents of variegated aspidistra and bent equisetum reinforce gerberas’ clear colors and iconic, geometric form.

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Classic Twist with a

Fresh Fancy

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…WITH A CHERRY ON TOP One of the most striking introductions at last year’s Proflora trade fair in Colombia, scabiosa varieties in the ‘Scoop’ series from Danziger offer cushionshaped flowers with white anthers like candy sprinkles on top. ‘Cherry Vanilla’ also has whitetipped outer petals. What better way to showcase this stunning new variety than combined with ‘Black Forest’ callas—the darkest calla currently on the market—and wide Calathea ornata leaves—here turned to reveal the deep-hued back side, almost as black as the matte black ceramic rectangle that holds the flowers.

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IRIS ALOFT At left, the winged forms of ‘Telstar’ iris shine, combined with flowers in supporting and complementary tints and tones of blue, lavender, yellow, and purple. They include ‘Lavender Scoop’ scabiosa, ‘Moonpearl’ mini carnations, dahlias, fat round double-petaled ‘Orange Princess’ tulips (feathered and flamed in yellow, green and faint purple), ‘Cranberry’ callas in a true wine-red color, and the ruffled cups of yellow ‘Beatrice’ David Austin garden roses, with a fragrance rich in lilac, almond and myrrh. Dovegray dusty miller and amber river rocks subtly support the color scheme.

BRIGHT CURVES We love tropical flowers for their bright colors—but also for their striking forms. At right, the curving bracts of upright heliconias find an echo in the wavelike shapes of ‘Tropic Sunrise’ obake anthuriums, the markings on upright Calathea insignis leaves, the rolled ti leaves, and even the looped apple-green flat cane that binds it all into one spectacular display.

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FOLIAGE ON PARADE Some leaves upright, others radiating from the sides or serving as a focal in front, diversified foliage makes a strong—and long-lasting—statement at left.

Pointing to heaven are Calathea insignis leaves (also known as rattlesnake plant), foxtail and sword ferns, equisetum stems with their banded nodes and conelike tips, and two stems of Italian ruscus. Fatsia leaves and clipped palm fans accentuate the sides, while white ornamental kale defines a focal area, along ‘Green Trick’ dianthus and a single succulent rosette. In a sly touch, the only color other than green is the pink of variegated ti leaves, showing through the glass rectangle vase in a wood frame.

GREENLIGHT As ever in a monochromatic composition, an all-green palette brings texture to the fore—and what texture! Light green kangaroo paws, ‘Tropic Lime’ anthuriums, and hellebores all contrast, nestled in a bed of darker green palm fans, crocodile fern and ‘Green Wave’ Lauae fern.

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THE PURPLE NILE Standing upright to show off their glossy scales, blades of aptly named crocodile fern pick up the texture of the cross-hatched, metallic finish on the ceramic cylinder at left. With the light placed just so, it will shine through the leaves, enhancing the effect. The fern leaves are encircled with groupings of flowers that encompass an analogous range of color: purple hyacinths, light pink ‘Perle Rose’ callas, rosepink hydrangeas, a succulent rosette in grayed green purple, ‘Constance’ David Austin garden roses, and ‘Raspberry Scoop’ scabiosa, with touches of dusty miller.

BEAUTY CONTEST At upper right, you need plenty of splash to compete for attention with apricot-tinted dahlias and hot pink ‘Ashley’ garden roses— but ‘Sasha’, a bright green-and-white variegated hydrangea, has got it. These head turners must share the spotlight with golden orange ‘Irene Parrot’ tulips, streaked with red and green and richly adorned in ruffles and swirls. But ‘Irene’ is not yet in her full glory; in a few days, her stems will lengthen and her blooms dominate the composition.

INSIDE OUT Like a climbing, clinging vine, ‘Cranberry’ callas wind their way in a double spiral around an empty white ceramic pot that serves as a surface for display, resting on a base of floral foam in a larger contoured bowl.

The flower heads are secured to the top pot with small pieces of UGlu (UGlu Dashes cut in half), as are the loops of variegated lily grass.

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ROYAL PURPLES At left, Gerry has arranged five harmonious types of premium flowers in low clusters in order to enhance the impact of their rich hues and textures. The design shows the graceful stems of ‘Cranberry’ callas to advantage. The extra-large heads of dark purple ‘Viola Grande’ hydrangeas send a glow from the back. A mound of ‘Cherry Vanilla’ scabiosa nestles next to a purple succulent and a grouping of light green hellebores, accompanied by their own long, serrated, dark green leaves. On the other side, variegated aspidistra leaves are rolled and secured with UGlu. BLUE HEAVEN Calling attention to the snowy frills and smooth stems of fringed white tulips, Gerry has placed them against a backdrop of magnificent blue delphinium, rising from a bed of dusty miller; the gray tones of the dusty miller harmonize the white flowers with the textured silver vase. Succulents—a green aeonium rosette and a furry, light gray-green Kalanchoe tomentosa (also known as panda plant), edged with chocolate stripes— anchor the design.

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FANNING OUT At left, treating premium foliage with due respect, Gerry has made the most of sago palms (trimmed to a curvy shape), lily grass (curled into twin arcs, secured with UGlu), sword fern, equisetum, Calathea insignis leaves, White Mist foxtail fern, ti, fatsia and monstera leaves, all forming a majestic display anchored with a bright, wavy cluster of ‘Watermelon Obake’ anthuriums.

STUDY IN YELLOW, GREEN AND WHITE The green variegation in the petals of Pon-Pon ranunculus gives them an edge when it comes to blending beautifully with many other flowers—like the green and white hyacinths at right, about to burst into full glory. These two pair well with ‘Gold Medal’ callas, ‘Catalina’ garden roses, and ‘Golden Glory’ solidago in a fluted oval porcelain vase.

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OMBRÉ ARRAY Taking advantage of the natural gradations in hue to be found in Pon-Pon ranunculus, Gerry has so arranged them as to create an ombré effect, while showing their smooth stems to advantage. The basing of the design cleverly echoes the ranunculus stems and blooms, with ‘Sorbonne’ lily buds pointing in the same radial direction as the stems and transitioning from green to pink. The velvet texture and striking green and white variegation of ‘Sasha’ hydrangea perfectly supports the palette.

SMOKIN’ To call out the exotic beauty of cigar calathea blooms, Gerry placed a stand of them upright and surrounded it with ‘Tropic Lime’ anthuriums.

Below, the anthuriums mingle with gilded, velvet-brown magnolia leaves of a similar size and shape as the anthuriums. Giant, gilded monstera leaves collar this creation, supported by a ribbed gold vase. Loops of blue midollino tie it all together with a surprising yet effective final touch.

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shop profile

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By Marianne Cotter

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Photography by Jeffrey Sauger Photography

How do you make the journey from wedding planner to full-service florist and gift shop?

C

elebration Flowers and Gifts in Canton, Michigan, distinguishes itself by doing weddings from A to Z, starting from scratch. “Well,” you may say, “so do thousands of wedding planners and florists.” But Debbie Custer, who owns the shop with husband Gregg, begs to differ.

“You can call yourself a wedding planner and not do or own a single thing yourself,” Debbie explains. “A lot of ‘one-stop wedding shops’ just hire other services and rent the props. We own all the props and materials including centerpieces, chair covers, candelabras, backdrops, glassware and candles.

We do lighting and ceiling work as well. Our wedding service includes invitations, gifts for the bridal party, and even tuxedo rentals— basically everything short of driving the limo and baking the cake.”

To accommodate the extensive inventory of wedding props, about half of the shop’s 4,000 square feet is devoted to storage. The most popular rental item is a 27-inch, fivebranch candelabra. “It’s our most requested piece,” says Debbie. “No one else has anything like it.”

ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Debbie’s penchant for wedding work goes back a long way. After winding up two other careers— as a mother and as a math educator—she became her neighborhood’s unofficial party planner. “I always handled events for the neighbors,” she says. “For me putting together a party for 50 people was never a big deal.

So weddings and events were just a natural extension of my activities.”

Business kept coming her way and in

Celebration Flowers & Gifts Canton, Michigan Owners: Debbie and Gregg Custer Niche: Everyday flowers with wedding emphasis Number of employees: 3 full-time and up to 20 part-time in the summer to assist with weddings Square feet: 4,000, of which 2,200 is the showroom www.celebrationflowersandgifts.com and www.flowersandgiftscanton.com

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2004 she, along with husband Gregg, went into business full time as a professional wedding specialist. “This was four years before we opened the shop,” she explains. “We rented space in a professional park and worked by appointment only.”

Initially Debbie didn’t work with fresh flowers at all. “We started with all silk: silk flowers, silk trees, and silk bouquets, all rental,” she says. “Silk was really big at that time,” she recalls. “Then the economy changed, and people began spending more. Naturally, they wanted fresh flowers. So I started doing fresh based on my knowledge of silk. When it came to design basics—the color wheel, line and shape—it was an easy transition.

I just needed to learn how to handle fresh flowers, which I learned by taking a class.”

She enrolled in Michigan State University’s floral design program—but then she experienced an initial setback. “The university was a two-hour drive away,” she explains. “After I had purchased the textbooks, I dislocated my shoulder, which prevented me from driving for six weeks. So I kept the textbooks and began educating myself while taking as many classes as I could at local wholesalers and Teleflora Michigan Unit events.”

GOING RETAIL Flowers left over from the business’s many weddings led Debbie deeper into floral design, marking the beginning of a retail flower business. In 2008 Debbie and Gregg, who left a career in law enforcement, opened Celebration Flowers & Gifts as a retail store.

Today the business is incorporated as Wedding & Celebration Creations under the Custers’ ownership, but the shop operates under the name Celebration Flowers & Gifts. “We have always used Wedding & Celebration Creations for the bridal shows and wedding literature,” Debbie explains. “But when we moved into the retail center, the full name exceeded the allowable size for the signage! At first we used ‘Flowers & Gifts’ for the The sign outside Celebration Flowers & Gifts says it all: one-stop shopping for weddings and more. Inside, a polished counter makes a fine place for a family portrait with Debbie and Gregg Custer, daughter Megann Smith, granddaughter Madilynn Smith, and grandpet Otis.

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make it less generic for Internet searches.

Our new logo combines both: ‘Celebration Flowers & Gifts’ on top with ‘Wedding & Celebration Creations’ underneath.”

The shop’s busy wedding season begins as early as March and lasts through Thanksgiving and early December. “We hire a few extra designers during that period, but mostly we hire extra staff for setting up and taking down events,” says Debbie. The showroom floor has several niches that support the wedding business.

DON’T FORGET THE GROOM Most bridal shops feature décor that is feminine to the extreme, to the point where a groom might not feel at home. Celebration Flowers & Gifts honors its grooms and groomsmen with a gentlemanly tuxedo fitting area that features displays of top hats, shoes, and shirts along with a private fitting room. Sports posters adorn the walls. With grooms having parties of anywhere from four to twelve people who rent tuxedos, the space is easily justified.

SITTING PRETTY Not only are the Custers complete in their stock of wedding props, they are innovative as well, holding a patent on a chair cover of their own design. “We created a unique chair cover that has a cropped front panel that allows guests to sit more comfortably,” Debbie explains. “The design features two fabric panels that wrap around from the back and cross-cross in front of the chair, creating ‘front panel slack,’ as we call it. So when you’re seated you can slide your feet back under the chair. Our clients love it and it’s something our competitors don’t have.”

FROM FLOWERS TO FASHION The shop goes well beyond weddings, offering gifts and décor along with full-service floral. Debbie emphasizes the need to experiment boldly with different product lines. “Try bringing a new gift line into your shop,” she advises. “If it doesn’t sell, take it out—but then try something else.

Don’t be afraid to experiment.”

The Vera Bradley line of purses and accessories was a smashing success when it was introduced in 2012 and now occupies its own large section of the showroom. Deb-

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bie stocks all the top sellers and will specialorder any available item for customers. She adds new Vera Bradley products and lines as they are introduced. Over the last two years the company has added faux and real leather pieces to their lines, along with perfume, body lotions and candles.

“Vera Bradley has a tremendous following,” Debbie emphasizes. “A part of our clientele comes in just for Vera Bradley, and once here they may make other purchases.

The company does four releases a year and when a new line comes in we need a full-time person just to open all those zippers, pull out all the pads, and clean up.”

SCHOOL DAYS Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, which sits on the line between the towns of Plymouth and Canton, contains three full-sized high schools (Plymouth, Canton and Salem) on the same campus. With 5,500 students on one campus, tapping into prom and homecoming work is convenient and profitable. “Our graduating class has about 800 students each year,” says Debbie, “so we do big business in prom flowers.”

To get the graduation season off to a good start, the schools host a graduation show featuring local vendors (caterers, tent rental, florists, etc.). All proceeds go to the senior class party. “We host a prom open house at the showroom targeting the student population. We change our music, turn it up a bit, and serve refreshments,” says Custer. “We also advertise on the school website and in sports programs, plus we disseminate coupons in the school store.”

RUNNING WITH THE PROS Despite the lack of a formal floral education, Debbie walks as a peer among the floral elite, driven by her own desire to hone her skills. “I’ve taken numerous classes and worked side-by-side with world-renowned designers on events,” she says. “When you spend all that time with the best in the business you learn, and you learn, and you learn!"

The Custers place great importance on professional development and industry involvement. “While I don’t hold any industry certifications, I’m on the Michigan Floral As-

A line of Vera Bradley purses and fashion accessories (top left) has been a highly successful addition to the well-diversified line of gifts and decorative items at Celebration Flowers & Gifts. "You have to apply to become a Vera Bradley retailer," says Debbie Custer, "and they're very selective about where their products are placed." In turn, the shop is listed as a preferred retailer on the Vera Bradley website.

sociation board and I’m president of Teleflora’s Michigan Unit,” Debbie says. “We’re also members of the Society of American Florists.

We do a lot of shows, including the Great Lakes Floral Expo.”

“Florists need to realize that continuing education is a must,” says Debbie. “I don’t care how old you are or how many years you’ve been a florist. You suddenly learn a little detail from someone who figured out how to do it easier and now you can make a corsage in two minutes instead of five. It’s a win–win situation all the way around.”

FRIENDS AND FAMILY Debbie has done a good number of weddings for friends and extended family, including her own two daughters. Along the way, she has learned how to avoid misunderstandings in this type of situation. “My advice is to find out exactly what the bride and her family are looking for in terms of flowers,” she explains. “Then decide up front what you wish to give as a gift—usually a product, like the body flowers, or a dollar amount. After that, treat the rest of the wedding as you would any other client. The key is to clearly communicate what you intend to ‘give’ as your wedding gift. That eliminates misunderstandings and confusion.”

SANDWICH-BOARD MARKETING Despite the demands of the business, Debbie is still inspired by the romance of the flower trade. “We keep a sandwich-board sign on the sidewalk that reads, ‘If your name is Bob’—or Mary, or whatever the name is that week—‘come in for a free rose.’ When people come in to claim their rose, we ask for their email address. So we are able to build our list, and our customers get a free rose.

“One day a young man came in and said he and his girlfriend had been looking every day for her name, but it still hadn’t come up.

Well, that conversation turned into a story.

We put her name up on the board, and when the couple came in together, instead of handing her a single rose, we gave her a dozen roses—with a card from him that contained a marriage proposal!” Sometimes it’s the customers who remind us just how much flowers can mean and say. b

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industry events For the most recent additions to Teleflora Unit Programs, go to www.MyTeleflora.com and click on Design Education to access the Floral Event Calendar in the Unit Program section.

National and International June 6-30, Atlanta, GA ®

FloraMart (Pete Garcia Company) market dates for spring/summer 2017 merchandise (closed on Father’s Day, June 19), FloraMart. Visit www.floramart.com.

June 20-22, Chicago, IL International Floriculture Expo, McCormick Place.

Visit www.floriexpo.com.

July 3-7, Orange County, CA

December 5-16, Atlanta, GA

July 24, Midland, TX

FloraMart® (Pete Garcia Company) market dates for fall/Christmas 2017 merchandise, FloraMart.

Visit www.floramart.com.

WesTexas – New Mexico Florists Association, program includes Designer’s Choice with John Hosek, Horseshoe Arena. Contact Lee Ware at 432-530-7173 or Leeware81515@gmail.com.

January 10-12, 2017, Long Beach, CA The Special Event, Long Beach Convention Center. Visit www.thespecialeventshow.com.

January 24-27, 2017, Essen, Germany IPM Essen, Messe Essen. Visit www.ipm-essen.de.

January 27-31, 2017, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Christmasworld, including the new Floradecora.

Visit www.christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com.

Central Region May 17, Flint, MI

AIFD National Symposium: “Inspiration,” Anaheim Marriott. Call the American Institute of Floral Designers at 410-752-3318 or visit www.aifd.org.

Michigan Unit, Wedding Designs with Tom Bowling, Nordlie Inc. Contact Mike Anderson at 810-624-5018 or nordliemike@nordlie.com.

July 9-12, Columbus, OH

Indiana Unit, Everyday Designs with Gerard Toh, Kennicott Brothers. Contact Jackie Poe at 317-694-8562 or orders@theflowermarket.com.

Cultivate ’16 (trade show and educational sessions), Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Visit www.cultivate16.org.

July 11-22, Atlanta, GA FloraMart® (Pete Garcia Company) market dates for spring/summer 2017 merchandise, FloraMart. Visit www.floramart.com.

September 21-24, Maui, HI SAF Annual Convention, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.

Call the Society of American Florists at 800-336-4743 or visit www.safnow.org.

October 5-8, Quito, Ecuador Agriflor 2016, Centro de Exposiciones.

Visit www.agriflor.com.

October 19-21, Miami, FL Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association Floral Distribution Conference, Miami Airport Convention Center. Call WF&FSA at 888-289-3372 or visit www.wffsa.org.

November 2-4, Aalsmeer, The Netherlands FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer, FloraHolland.

Visit www.floraholland.com/tradefair.

November 2-4, Vijfhuizen, The Netherlands International Floriculture & Horticulture Trade Fair (IFTF), Expo Haarlemmermeer. Visit www.hpp.nl.

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June 21, Indianapolis, IN

Northeast Region June 22, Bloomsburg, PA Penn Jersey Unit, Mechanics with Tom Bowling, Dillon’s Floral. Contact Linda Bogarde at 215-547-4550 or flowersbyjennielynne@gmail.com.

August 16, Holyoke, MA New England Unit, Wedding Designs with John Hosek, The Delaney House. Contact Heather Sullivan at 413-785-5148 or heather@durocherflorist.com.

September 28, Amherst, NY Upstate New York Unit, Holiday Designs with Tom Bowling, Classics V Banquet and Conference Center. Contact Josette Vest at 585-657-8063 or jvest2@yahoo.com.

South Central Region July 16-17, Boerne, TX Texas State Florists Association Floral Forum, program includes hands-on party design workshop (7/16) and main-stage party program (7/17) with Tom Simmons, Tapatio Springs Resort & Conference Center. Visit www.tsfa.org.

July 24, Stillwater, OK Oklahoma State Florist Association, program includes Wedding Trends with Joyce MasonMonheim, OSU Alumni Center. Contact Lenzee Bilke at 405-341-2530 or madelinesflowers@sbcglobal.net.

July 31, Phoenix, AZ Arizona State Florists Association, program includes Trends with Gerard Toh, Black Canyon Conference Center. Call 602-795-0302 or visit www.azflorists.org.

Southeast Region June 5, St. Augustine, FL Florida State Florists Association Convention, program includes Creative Innovative Events with John Hosek, World Renaissance Golf Village Resort. Contact Len Beckett at 321-863-1871 or encore13@earthlink.net or visit www.floridastatefloristsassociation.com.

Western Region Oct 14-16, Helena, MT Montana Florist Association Convention, program includes Celebrations with Alex Jackson, Radisson Hotel. Visit www.mtfloristassc.com.

Oct 23, Denver, CO SAF 1-Day Profit Blast, Denver Airport Marriott at Gateway Park. Call the Society of American Florists at 800-336-4743 or visit www.safnow.org.

Flowers& Subscribers!

Did you know you can read past and current issues online?

Find out how!

Go to the digital library link at www.flowersandmagazine.com

what’s in store UPDATED CLASSIC Teleflora’s Vintage Ford Pickup—the foundation for a nationally advertised Father’s Day bouquet with bright flowers—looks just as good filled with succulents for something different. The roomy truck bed is 3½ by 4½ inches, and handglazed, hand-painted ceramic model sports a level of detail that gets smiles wherever it goes. Call 800-333-0205 or visit themarket.myteleflora.com.

SASHAY AWAY Renowned as a stress reducer and sleep aid, aromatic lavender needs no excuse—it’s a self-justifying indulgence. Organza bags filled with 20 grams of highly fragrant dried lavender from Provence make irresistible sachets, perfect for gift baskets, point-of-sale displays, or as a premium with a qualifying purchase. Call Above All Flowers in Rhode Island at 401-486-0525 or email aboveallflowers@mac.com.

HANGING BY A THREAD Rope-hung terrarium vases from W.G.V. (Wholesale Glass Vases) International come in three sizes: 9.5, 11, and 15 inches high. The rope has been slipped through the narrow neck and tied at the end in a secure knot. These are among a wide range of terrarium vases and an even wider range of containers and accessories provided by W.G.V. Call 866-678-VASE or visit www.wholesaleglassvasesint.com.

GET YOUR MODERN ON Contemporary style combines with sensual fragrance in the Neo Modern Candle Collection from DecoBreeze. Two wicks burn brightly in a base of premium soy wax, housed in a minimalist chrome glass container. Shown is the Blush candle with an Amber Rose scent; five other colors and fragrances are available.

Call 800-979-4FAN (4326) or visit www.decobreeze.com.

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where to buy For more information on merchandise featured in Flowers&, contact the supplier directly. Direct links to most suppliers can be found on the Flowers& website, www.flowersandmagazine.com.

Use the links under “Advertisers in This Issue” or the link to our searchable, online Buyers’ Guide at the top of the Flowers& home page.

ON THE COVER

‘World Favorite’ tulips, Sun Valley.

‘Gran Paradiso’ callas, Sande.

Glass vase, Modern Collections.

Amber river rocks and gold gravel, Vasesource.

FOCUS ON DESIGN, pages 8-9

Moonlite and Moonshade carnations and Moonique minicarnations, Florigene.

Oasis Floral Foam Shape, Heart, Smithers-Oasis.

Water Pearls and faux pearls, Accent Décor.

LEAF ART,

Sun Valley: Dahlias, iris, tulips including parrot and Redwood Grove longstemmed French tulips, yellow ‘Gold Medal’ callas, brassica (ornamental kale), daisy and button matricaria, eryngium, lisianthus, ‘Sorbonne’ pink lilies, hypericum, ‘Green Trick’ dianthus, and equisetum.

Valleflor: Tall Delphinium elatum, longstemmed dusty miller, and assorted succulents.

Wm. F. Puckett: Fresh foliage including variegated pittosporum, sago palm, palm fans, monstera leaves, foxtail fern, sword fern, fatsia leaves, galax, Italian ruscus, variegated aspidistra, and ti leaves and lily grass, plus Gilded magnolia and monstera leaves and White Mist foxtail fern.

IN THE PINK,

FRESH AND FANCY, pages 30-57

Fresh flowers and foliage throughout from the following suppliers: Alexandra Farms: Garden roses.

Danziger (breeder) via Galleria Farms: ‘My Pink’ gypsophila, ‘Sensy Pinacolada’ limonium, scabiosa in the Scoop series, and ‘Golden Glory’ solidago.

Florigene: Moon carnations, including new Moonpearl spray carnations.

Groflowers: Hydrangea including ‘Rose Pink’, ‘Viola Grande’, and ‘Sasha’ (green and white variegated).

Green Point: Tropical flowers and foliage including obake and other anthuriums; upright heliconia blooms; cigar calathea blooms; calathea leaves, crocodile fern and ‘Green Wave’ Lauae fern.

Holex: ‘Charmelia’ and ‘Paradiso’ alstresia (small-flowered alstroemeria), ‘Pasta’ gerberas, light green hellebores and kangaroo paws, and assorted colors of Pon-Pon ranunculus.

Sande: Callas including ‘Black Forest’, ‘Cranberry’, ‘Gran Paradiso’, ‘Perle Rosé’, and ‘Pink Panther’.

66 www.flowersandmagazine.com

Gold Ribbed Ceramic Tapered Cylinder, Vasesource.

pages 34-35

Stemmed glass candle holders and pink acrylic nuggets, Vasesource.

FORM AND COLOR, page 36

White ceramic pot, Modern Collections.

SOLID YELLOW, page 37

Clear Tapered Glass Cylinder, Vasesource.

COLORS UNITED, page 38

Ceramic Square Uneven Pot with Dimpled Gloss Finish, Modern Collections.

SUMMER IN WINTER, page 39

Textured, metallic-finish ceramic vase, Modern Collections.

PARADISE GLOWS, page 40

Glass vase, Modern Collections.

Amber river rocks and gold gravel, Vasesource.

PARADISE FLOATS, page 41

Clear Reverse Tapered Glass Vase and rocks, Vasesource.

YIPES STRIPES, pages 42-43

Green glass Geo Vases, Accent Décor.

page 57

WITH A CHERRY ON TOP, page 45

Black Ceramic Rectangle, Vasesource.

IRIS ALOFT, page 46

Amber river rocks and clear glass pot (cylinder with rounded bottom), Vasesource.

BRIGHT CURVES, page 47

Green wood frame with clear glass rectangle vase, Modern Collections.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, page 33

Black Ceramic Rectangle, Vasesource.

Painted wood boxes with glass cubes, Modern Collections.

page 44

FILLER UP, Textured white Square Planter, Modern Collections.

page 56

SMOKIN’,

FOLIAGE ON PARADE,

page 32

OMBRÉ ARRAY,

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT,

Lula Vases, Accent Décor.

pages 30-31

INSPIRED BY…, Ombré ribbons (page 13), Reliant Ribbon.

Mercury Glass Julep, Teleflora.

Silver glass candle holders, Vasesource.

White Dimpled Ceramic Cylinder, Vasesource.

White rectangular ceramic vase with swirl pattern, Modern Collections.

pages 13-14

pages 42-43

FRENCH TWIST,

pages 10-11

Weathered Oak Planter, Syndicate Sales.

THOUSANDS OF PETALS,

page 48

GREENLIGHT, page 49

Clear glass cylinder, Modern Collections.

THE PURPLE NILE, page 50

Ceramic Tall Round Planter with Engraved Criss-Cross Design in antique silver finish, Modern Collections.

BEAUTY CONTEST, page 51

Amber river rocks and Clear Glass Rounded Bottom Tapered Cylinder, Vasesource.

INSIDE OUT, page 51

White Contoured Bowl (on the bottom), 5 inches high by 10 wide, and Frosted White Ceramic Cylinder, 5 inches high and wide, Vasesource.

ROYAL PURPLES, page 52

Silver textured ceramic bowl, Vasesource.

BLUE HEAVEN, page 53

Silver textured vase, Vasesource.

FANNING OUT, page 54

Black ceramic textured square planter, Modern Collections.

STUDY IN YELLOW, GREEN AND WHITE, page 55

Porcelain Oval Flower Vase with Corrugated Gloss Finish, Modern Collections.

Featured Suppliers Accent Décor, Inc. Call 800-385-5114 or visit www.accentdecor.com.

Alexandra Farms.

Call 305-528-3657 or visit www.alexandrafarms.com.

Danziger Flower Farm.

Visit www.danziger.co.il.

Florigene Flowers.

Visit www.florigene.com.

Galleria Farms.

Call 800-383-2939 or visit www.galleriafarms.com.

Groflowers.

Call 786-472-5900 or visit www.groflowers.net.

Green Point Nurseries.

Call 800-717-4456 or visit www.greenpointnursery.com.

Holex USA. Call 877-293-2464 or visit www.holexusa.com.

Reliant Ribbon.

Call 800-886-2697 or visit www.reliantribbon.com.

Modern Collections.

Call 818-718-1400 or visit www.themoderncollections.com.

Sande Flowers.

Call 786-245-7776 or visit www.sandeflowers.com.

Smithers-Oasis.

Call 800-321-8286 or visit www.oasisfloral.com.

The Sun Valley Group.

Call 800-747-0396 or visit www.thesunvalleygroup.com.

Syndicate Sales.

Call 800-428-0515 or visit www.syndicatesales.com.

Teleflora.

Call 800-333-0205 or visit themarket.myteleflora.com.

Valleflor.

Call 305-433-4401 or visit www.valleflora.com.ec.

Vasesource.

Call 718-752-0424 or visit www.vasesource.com.

Wm. F. Puckett.

Call 800-426-3376 or visit www.puckettfern.com.

emporium EMPLOYMENT Florasearch, Inc.

In our third decade of performing confidential key employee searches for the floriculture industry and allied trades worldwide. Retained basis only. Candi­date contact welcome, confidential, and always free.

1740 Lake Markham Rd., Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 320-8177 / Fax: (407) 320-8083 E-mail: search@florasearch.com Website: http://www.florasearch.com

e q u i pment Refrigerators For Flowers

Combo walkins, storage, reach-ins 800-729-5964 www.flotaire.com

s c h ool s

advertiser links Advertisers’ websites are hyperlinked on the Flowers& website. Go to www.flowersandmagazine.com and click on “Advertisers in This Issue.”

Accent Décor, Inc. 800-385-5114 www.accentdecor.com Alexandra Farms 305-528-3657 www.alexandrafarms.com

29

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) 410-752-3318 www.aifd.org

27

Design Master Color Tool 800-525-2644 www.dmcolor.com

7

Dollar Tree Direct INSIDE BACK COVER 877-530-TREE (8733) www.dollartree.com/floral/559/index.cat FloraCraft Corporation 800-253-0409 www.floracraft.com Garcia Group Glass / A Division of the Garcia Group 800-241-3733 www.floramart.com

Portland, Oregon

5

15

BACK COVER

Green Point Nurseries 800-717-4456 www.greenpointnursery.com

6

International Floriculture Expo (IFE) 207-842-5508 www.floriexpo.com

25

Modern Collections 818-718-1400 www.themoderncollections.com

19

Nashville Wraps, LLC 800-547-9727 www.nashvillewraps.com

29

Royal Flowers 800-977-4483 www.royalflowersecuador.com

1

Seminole 6 800-638-3378 www.seminoleds.com Smithers-Oasis 3 800-321-8286 www.oasisfloral.com The Sun Valley Group 800-747-0396 www.tsvg.com

weddings John Toomey Co

(800) 421-0052

Wedding Aisle Runners Rentals & Sales

UPS Shipments

White Cotton Runners

23

Syndicate Sales INSIDE COVER 800-428-0515 www.syndicatesales.com Teleflora 800-333-0205 www.myteleflora.com

12, 61

Vasesource 21 718-752-0424 www.vasesource.com

MAY 2016 67

wholesaler connection Flowers& magazine distributors

Attention

Arizona Phoenix The Roy Houff Company

Kansas wichita Valley Floral Company

OREGON PORTLAND Floral Design Institute

California Fresno Designer Flower Center Inglewood American Magazines & Books Oakland Piazza International Floral Sacramento Flora Fresh San Diego San Diego Florist Supplies Santa Rosa Sequoia Floral International

Kentucky Louisville The Roy Houff Company

PENNSYLVANIA Pittsburgh Keystone Ribbon & Floral Pittsburgh Cut Flower Company

Florida PENSACOLA American Floral Wholesale of Pensacola Carlstedt’s, LLC

Louisiana Lafayette Louisiana Wholesale Florists Massachusetts Boston Jacobson Floral Supply Michigan Warren Nordlie, Inc.

SOUTH DAKOTA SIOUX FALLS North American Wholesale Florist, Inc.

Floral Wholesalers

Reward without the Risk we promise!

Tennessee Nashville The Roy Houff Company

Minnesota Minneapolis Koehler and Dramm

Virginia Norfolk The Roy Houff Company Richmond The Roy Houff Company

Georgia omega Hornbuckle Wholesale Florist

missouri st louis LaSalle Wholesale Florist

Washington Tacoma Washington Floral Service

hawaii honolulu Flora-Dec Sales

New York Campbell Hall Alders Wholesale Florist

canada burnaby, bc Kirby/Signature Floral Supply

Illinois Chicago The Roy Houff Company Normal The Roy Houff Company Wheeling The Roy Houff Company

Ohio dayton Nordlie, Inc. North Canton Canton Wholesale Floral

malaysia selangor Worldwide Floral Services

Sell Flowers& in your store! for extra profits Select any quantity— no minimum Whatever you don’t sell we buy back!

Yes, it really is that simple.

Call 800-321-2665

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68 www.flowersandmagazine.com

july 2010 70