Too Good to be True?

This Valentine's Day don't be fooled by the "too good to be true" ads on the radio and TV.  Promises of a dozen roses for less then the cost of a pizza, are tempting, but don't always live up to what you expect.  When you order flowers you picture a perfect arrangement all done up with greens, maybe a little baby's breath, possibly a bow, and of course the flowers you love.  A lot of the 1-800 numbers who are giving those low rates will either A.) deliver your flowers in a box or B.) Take a cut of your flower money and pass your order off onto a florist to fill.


Now box flowers are not all bad.  If the love of your life LOVES to arrange flowers and has dreamed of working in a flower store all her life but never had a chance..... boxed flowers may just be the way to go.


But if the love of your life does not know a daisy from a button mum then this may not be the best way to go.  Flowers ordered from a local florist are all hand arranged by people who love flowers and are lucky enough to work in a flower shop.  They know the right amounts of not only flowers and greens but flower food and water.


That brings me to the containers... what kind of vases do you have laying around for a rainy day?  Do you have a vase big enough to hold 2 dozen roses???  A florist will make sure that the vase your flowers come in are arranged so that they are not to crowded and not flopping around wildly.


Okay so she loves to arrange flowers and she has all sizes of vases and containers just waiting for the boxed flowers to arrive.  So here comes the delivery van down the road, that's perfect just in time for the big day, and there is the little delivery man with the box of flowers.  What's this?  Nobody home?  Oh well here are your flowers, as the little delivery man lays the box by the door.  No problem right?  WRONG.  Most of these flowers are without a water supply.  What happens to flowers when they are thirsty class?  If you said they wilt you would be correct.  Better yet our coolers are kept at a nice temperature that helps keep our flowers healthy and happy.  What is the temp in say New York today?  If it's colder then 40 degrees then those flowers are in for a long day.  If it's colder then 30 degrees then say goodbye to those pretty blooms because once they freeze they are gone for good.  What about Arizona?  How about some nice dessert heat for those roses?  No water and hot temps are not a good combination for the heartiest of flowers.  


We will discuss Brokers and Order Taking florists in our next blog.   Be on the look out!  It will have some good information.  But first here is a great commercial about those box flowers.  This one Teleflora ran last Mother's Day.  We are also a big fan of the Christmas one if you have time to surf You Tube later.  Watch for their latest ad during the Super Bowl this year.