Don't Outsource Your Mother's Day Flowers

With Mother's Day right around the corner we are in full swing at The Secret Garden.  Every year we select containers and fill them with flowers to create our own unique designs.  You can visit our website to see our full selection, we are adding to it as we get names for our creations from our Facebook Friends. 


We decided this is a good time to inform our followers about the benefits of buying from a local florist vs a national company.  


For Valentine's Day our Friends at the 3/50 project wrote and amazing article all about this and we will be sharing some of their information with you.  

So here is what all of that means to you.  When you call a national company they keep the "processing fee" and 20% of the order. You pay them XX dollars and they take out the processing fee and the 20%.  Then they use wire services such as Teleflora, FTD, Bloomnet, and a few others to find a local florist to send your order too.  When your order arrives at the florist it will say something like this:  YYY Arrangement $35.50, price includes delivery, fill as similar as possible.  Now the florist takes out the delivery fee, in most cases about $9.00, the price of the labor it takes to create your arrangement about 20%, and the cost of the container.  Leaving a small amount for the flowers the florist can use to make your arrangement look like what you have seen on the screen.  This is where most of the florists run into problems, they are not able to make the arrangement look like the picture with the amount of money given.  They end up using less flowers, a smaller container, or sending the order to another florist because they are unable to create it to their satisfaction.

What this means to you:  You will receive less then what is promised by the order taker.  You may not receive the arrangement you ordered.  Or your order may not be delivered at all if the florists in that area are unable to fill the order.  This is where the complaints start.  

How to avoid these issues.  Call a local florist, or order online direct from them.  You can do a quick search engine search to find a florist in the area you are needing your flowers delivered too.  When using this method always check the website for a physical address, this insures that you are ordering from a local florist and not an order taker in disguise.  This may take a few extra minutes but it will be worth it in the end, we promise.  

When you call your local florist they can tell you what they have to offer, they can describe the arrangements to you, and insure that your flowers can be delivered when you want them.  You will also receive the full value for your money.

So this Mother's Day, do not outsource your flower order, call a local florist. 

For more articles like this check out our Too Good to Be True Series. 

Article 1, Article 2.  Or our blog on order takers.  

Thank you for supporting the local florist in your community.  

Introducing DIY Special Events

Weddings are one of the best things about being a florist.  Helping the bride find just the right flowers to express her unique style is an amazing experience.  So you can imagine our disappointment when more and more brides were deciding to go the Do It Yourself route and not let us share in their special day.  So we had to come up with a new way to take part in special days.  We are proud to announce the creation of DIY Special Events.  

Our Mission Statement:  DIY Special Events is committed to providing the freshest flowers for your event.  We want your special event to be one to remember forever.  Backed with years of knowledge as a retail florist we can help you create the day of your dreams.


What We Offer:  We offer a wide variety of fresh cut flowers at bulk prices.  This allows you to stay within your budget for your big event. Your flowers will be inspected for quality, processed in floral solution, and stored in our floral cooler. We will provide you with the care and handling information needed to keep your flowers fresh. 

Packaging:  Your flowers will arrive in bulk packaging.  You will need to process the flowers upon receiving them.  This may include removing rose thorns, allowing flowers to open, and keeping the flowers in floral solution.  Some flowers require more time to open and we will provide you with that information before your order.  


Free Consultation:  A free ordering consultation is provided.  We suggest you call us at 217-875-9038 at least 90 days before your wedding to make your appointment.  At this consultation we will get the list of flowers you wish to order, write you out a price quote, and answer questions about our services.  We will also provide you with a checklist so that you will have everything you need to care for your flowers.  All orders must be paid in full at least 3 weeks before the arrival date of the flowers.  We will notify you of your order date at this consultation.


Paid Consultations:  For a fee, you can schedule an appointment with one of our bridal consultants.  We will work with you to determine the flower count you will need for your event.  By going over the bouquets, center pieces, and your needs we can provide a flower count and estimate for you.

Hybrid Weddings:  This is the perfect package for an event with many layers.  For example, we can complete your wedding and church flowers, and you can complete your reception work.  We have several levels of hybrid weddings and can discuss these at your free consultation.  We suggest you schedule this consultation at least 4 to 6 months prior to your wedding day.  If you choose this option a deposit will be required to hold your date.


Visit our website at DIYspecialevents.com or our blog for more details, ideas, and flower selection. 

A Tweet Gift

So we have had this birdcage hanging out for a while now.  We pick it up and look at it and wonder, what can we do with this?  Well yesterday Carol decided it was time to spruce it up and make something springy in it.

She took some of our spring silk flowers, a robin, and a nest to make this cute arrangement.  Now our bird and cage are ready for a new home.  It's so much fun to see something transform into an arrangement.  Just a few little touches took this cage from drab to fab.

We invite you to do the same.  What is laying around your house that you just don't know what to do with?  Need ideas?  Bring it in and we can help you make something that you will treasure.  We can even use your piece and design something for you if you are not the designer type.  Let us "recycle" something old and turn it into something fresh and new!

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.

So as you can see proper care will help keep your Easter Lily lasting longer and insure it looks beautiful on Easter morning.  As a florist we will insure that we take good care of your Easter Lily before it even arrives at your door.  We will monitor the water, light, and temperatures for you.  Not to insult the big box stores but when you see them sitting in the doorway and the pots are dry you know that they are not receiving the proper care.  You may pay a little more at a florist for your poinsettia but you will get more in return.  Remember the old saying, "you get what you pay for."?  Well in this case that is 100% true.

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.

April Showers

Meet "April Showers" our arrangement of the month for April.  These cute little ceramic rain boots are just so adorable!  The little butterflies on the toes are perfect for spring.  Daisies are the flower for the month of April so paired together they are perfect for the month of April.  Send this arrangement to a friend or loved one today by calling us at 217-875-9038.  


We do have VERY limited quantities available so don't delay, call us today.


Price as shown $34.99.

Introducing: Prom Registery

Prom is a special time in any teens life, the dress has to be perfect, the shoes match to a tee, and now it's time for the corsage.  Don't leave it up to chance ladies, come into The Secret Garden and register your colors today.  


Every year it happens, the guys come in and pick out corsages for the ladies.  We ask, "What color is the dress?".  They answer with something like, "I don't know, I think it's a blueish color."  So we dig for details, "What color are her accessories, silver or gold?".  "I'm not sure." they say.  Well avoid all of the guess work this prom and register with us.


We will get your name, school name, prom date, match your ribbon to your dress for you, and find out what kind of flowers you would like.  You can even narrow down the bracelet choices for him if you would want.  We will give you a card letting him know that you are registered.  When the time comes he can bring in the card and you will be all set!  


Be sure to stop in at least one week prior to the event so that we can get all of your details before it's time for him to shop.  


Don't wait stop in today! 


The Secret Garden
1215 E. Pershing Rd.
Decatur IL
217-875-9038