Fall into savings

It's that time of year.  Time for the leaves to change, the temperatures to drop, and the sales to begin.  We are having our first ever fall sale.  All of our fall merchandise is now 20% off.  The sale runs through October 31st 2010.  Hurry in for the best selection.  All Silk arrangements including wreaths and centerpieces are included.

 

This time of the year family gathers around tables and tv's.  Now is the time to  get your home decor.

Our fresh arrangements and plants are not included in this sale.

Stop in and see what we have to offer.

The Secret Garden

1215 E. Pershing Rd.

Decatur, IL 62526

217-875-9038

Fall is here!

Here at The Secret Garden we love fall.  We love the rich colors, wonderful smells, and cooler temperatures.  Fall is such a pretty time of year and with the beautiful flowers in our cooler we get inspired. 

This design has been around year after year but our customers call to request it every year.   Created in a real live pumpkin this fall arrangement is sure to please.  Decorated with fall mums, red carnations, and fall leaves this pumpkin makes for a great centerpiece.  What a wonderful gift to send to the office, nursing home, or hospital. 

Call to order yours today, only available while supplies last.

217-875-9038

Or stop in and see us: 

1215 E. Pershing Rd.

Decatur IL 62526

Where does the time go.

Wow ~ Where does the time go.  I was just sitting here relaxing by the computer and noticed that this blog has been badly neglected.  I thought to myself... now what would the 31 day bloggers say about that!  So it is time to breath new life into the blog.


This page was set up to be a newsletter of sorts.  It would should have weekly updates and links to the other tabs you see above.  I wanted to showcase wedding work, talk about the industry, and so much more!  So why has this fallen by the wayside???  Well to be honest business is good and life is crazy.


Last month I started my ICPF classes.  This will give me fancy letters after my name and make me a Illinois Certified Professional Florist.  These classes focus on design principals as well as the business side.  I have enjoyed the first 6 classes and have gotten some great ideas and insight.  You may even see a few of these ideas pop up around Valentine's day, or sooner.  


Homecoming, weddings, funerals, and more.  This last month has been a whirlwind of events that are both joyous and somber.  That is the life a florist, you get tears of joy and tears of sadness all in one.  It makes you appreciate your own life changing moments even more.  


But alas homecoming has passed and now we rev up for the holiday season.  Gone are the bouts and corsages, income the wreaths and centerpieces.  I can't wait!!


So now I will go back to my challenge notes and make a new set of lists and charts so that I can return to the wonderful and fun filled, world of blogging! 


More updates to come!

Think Pink ~ October 2010

The Secret Garden invites you to THINK PINK this October.  For the entire month of October we will donate 10% of your purchase to Local Breast Cancer Research if you say "Think Pink" at the time of purchase.


How it all began:  Back in May of 2010 we were approached by the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure Decatur branch.  They were about to celebrate a milestone year of racing in Decatur.  They wanted a balloon arch and a balloon sculpture for the event.  We jumped at the chance to support this local cause.

After that event we started to think of other ways we could help.  We decide that because we always encourage people to "say it with flowers" we would do the same.  We came up with 3 arrangements and our fans on facebook helped with the names.  

Then we wanted to take it a step further.  For the people that just want to support the cause but may not be in need of flowers just yet.  So "Think Pink" was brought into the mix.  This lets anyone purchasing anything at our shop support the cause.   You can come in and purchase any item, say "think pink" and we will donate 10% to local breast cancer research.

So in walk the flamingos, okay really then came in a box marked "plastic livestock" but you get the idea.  These were perfect!  The Decatur Memorial Foundation provides the big, and small, pink birds and we sell them on their behalf.  You see them in lawns all over town and it really shows the communities support for this great cause.

They have really taken over the shop:

So this year instead of the traditional fall window we decided to strut our pink.  The pink ribbon from "The Race" and the march of the flamingos is on!  You really need to drive by and check this out, it looks so much better in person.

So remember friends to Think Pink at The Secret Garden all month long!

National Flower Week ~ September 19 - 25

Here is a holiday we really know how to celebrate.  National Flower Week falls on the 3rd week in September every year.  It is a week to celebrate flowers by planting seeds, decorating, or even wearing flowers.  So this week we encourage you to do just that.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate National Flower Week.

1. Buy fresh cut flowers and fill vases around your house.  You will see the difference it makes in your mood almost instantly.  It is very hard not to smile when you walk into a room filled with flowers.
2. Start working on your garden a bit more.  Plant some bulb flowers to come up in the spring.  Move your potted flowers inside for the winter.  Go out and see what you can find new to pot inside.  Use our Everyday House Plant Guide to select and care for your plants.
3. Send flowers to someone to brighten their day.  Nothing is better then a surprise.  Sending flowers for no reason at all lets that person know you are thinking of them, and you do not need a special occasion to do it. 

What other ways can you come up with to celebrate?  We want to hear from you. 

When & How to Re-Pot a House Plant

One of the questions we get a lot about house plants is when to replant.  The best way to tell is when the plant has stopped growing.  This lets you know that the roots have reached the maximum growth potential for the pot.  When the roots can no longer stretch and grow this can cause them to fight for room in the pot and cause the plant to become root-bound.  Root-bound plants will not grow and if they remain in the pot for too long may even die.  

When you do decide to re-pot your plant find a pot that is about 1/4" a size up from the one you are currently using.  If you are using a metal container make sure that it has a plastic liner.  Metal containers can rust and harm your soil.  This will help prevent the roots from growing faster then your plant.  The roots will stretch out in the new pot and stunt the growth of the plant.  Once the roots are comfortable your plant will grow once again. 

It is also a good idea to put something in the bottom of your pot.  If you put a small amount of packing peanuts in the bottom the roots will find them and cling to them instead of the bottom of the pot.  This allows the plant to grow quickly.  Once the roots have taken hold your plant will begin to bloom and grow once again.

Fill the pot about 1/3 of the way full with fresh soil.  Mix in any fertilizer that your plant is used to.  Some plants will require specific soil types or fertilizers. We use gardenguides.com to see what fertilizer works best.

You will want the plant to come close to the rim without spilling over.  Leave a small amount of room, about 1/4 of an inch, from the original soil and the top of the pot.  Gently break up the roots and soil.  This is very important if your plants are root-bound.  This allows the roots to start growing again.  If you have other plants to add you can do that now.  Make sure to leave room between each plant for the roots to grow.  

Add soil around each plant and pat it down gently.  The soil does not have to be packed tight.  A little bit of flexibility is good for the roots.  You may want to wet the soil now as well with small amounts of water. 

Finish adding your plants and add fresh soil around the top of the pot.  This is also a great time to trim off dead or broken stems and flowers.  

Your plant is now ready for a touch more water and a nice warm place in the sunlight.   To see our series of tips on house plant care go here.

We Can Do That Wednesday ~ Fundraising!

Did you know that The Secret Garden now offers fundraising events?

It's simple:

• Select the dates you would like the program to run.  Up to one month
• Spread the word to friends, family, and more.  You can use your organizations publications, website, and more.
• We do the rest.

We know that in a difficult economy traditional door to door sales are sluggish.  What if you could raise money without any volunteers, without the hassle of order forms or pick up dates?  The Secret Garden has made it easier then ever to raise money for your group or organization.

When a customer shops with us in store, over the phone, or even online they just need to mention your group or organization.  10% of the total order will be collected on your behalf.  At the end of the program you will receive a check for the collected amount.

We do not require participants to show coupons or cards, this makes it easier for them to shop.  Our offer only excludes wedding orders and orders shipping out of town.  We do not require a minimum purchase.  We do all of the record keeping for you and email you updates.  

If this sounds like the program you have been looking for contact Lori today.

Lori Barrett

217-875-9038

secretgardendecatur@gmail.com