April Newsletter

We want to wish you a very happy Spring.  Time to put the snow shovels away and start thinking of digging in your garden.  It has been a long time coming, this winter was so long and very cold.  Now it's time for the flowers to start blooming and the trees to start budding.  We started our spring by attending the Illinois State Florist Convention.  So many great workshops and classes it got our minds racing for the new season.  So many new things coming your way, including a new logo for the shop, a face lift for the inside of our building, a new website, and so much more.  It is a very exciting time at The Secret Garden and we will keep you posted! Easter Lily Care: Easter Lilies make a wonderful gift this time of year.  Chances are you will receive one or you may buy one for yourself.  Here are some tips on keeping your lily healthy so you can enjoy it all season. Keep the soil moist but be sure not to over water.  To check your water level simply put a lead pencil in the soil, if it comes out dry it is time to water.  The top soil will dry faster then the soil around the roots so this is a good way to see how moist the soil is. Cool steady temperatures will make your lily last longer.  Temperatures around 60 to 65 degrees are best.  Avoid warm and cold drafts from doors, vents, heaters, and windows. Your lily will bloom best in bright, but indirect sunlight.  Setting the lily in the window may "scorch" the blooms or the foliage.  This will make the lily bloom out faster and can give it long term damage and prevent it from re-blooming. Remove the pollen, yellow anthers, from your lily.  This will prolong the life of the blooms and help protect clothing, table cloths, and more from the yellowish stains caused by pollen. For tips on transplanting your lily when the time comes read this great article. Flower of the Month ~ Daisy  Daisies are the flower symbol for the month of April.  With thousands of varieties grown in the United States and Europe you are sure to find one you love.  Because they are such a hearty flower, daisies are a favorite of florists and buyers alike.  They have an excellent vase life, and look so bright and cheery people just can't help but smile! Arrangement of the Month As promised each month we will feature a seasonal arrangement, making flower giving even easier.  This month we are featuring these cute little rain boots filled with daisies.  So not only do we cover the age old "April Showers", we incorporated the Flower of the Month.  You can see this arrangement in our cooler or on our website while supplies last.  Don't miss out, order yours today!  217-875-9038 or stop in and visit at 1215 E. Pershing Rd.   Introducing DIY Special Events We noticed, in the last year or so, more and more of our brides were doing parts of their wedding in a DIY mode.  So we decided to cater to these Do It Yourself brides by developing, DIY Special Events.  Our website and blog are dedicated to these special brides and party planners.  We will also pair these sites with the expertise of our staff to help create the wedding, or event, of your dreams.  If you know a bride planning a DIY wedding please pass this information on to her.  We will thank you for it and so will she! Lori Barrett, ICPF Recently I became an Illinois Certified Professional Florist.  This was a great honor for me.  This makes 2 Certified Florists at The Secret Garden and this time next year Michael will make 3.  What does this mean for you?  This means that the florists at The Secret Garden have the knowledge that it takes to create the freshest and most eye pleasing designs in town.