The final round is happening NOW for the Eugene Register Guard’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers vote for their favorite local businesses, vendors and locations! Our voters got us through round 1 with 4 other florists and now we need your help to make us #1! You can vote every day until March 11. The “Favorite Florist” category is under the Business and Retailers section. Click here to vote!
I love going to Pottery Barn. Mostly I go and dream of what my house might look like if it weren’t covered in toddler toys, a stroller parked in the corner and the ever present pile of laundry. Ok, maybe it still wouldn’t look like a Pottery Barn showroom…
We were actually at Pottery Barn because they invited us to be a part of their Bridal Event so we joined other local vendors and spent the evening chatting with brides about all of the fun new floral trends for the year.
Ranunculus was the star of the show at last night’s Bridal Event. It was displayed in the bridal bouquets and centerpieces but really got bride’s excited as a ring, corsage & boutonniere. Ranunculus is in its prime right now and is a great alternative to roses with its peony-like petals.
The exotic pincushion protea took best supporting actor because of its uniqueness. We made everyone touch it so they knew it was real!!
Shirley and our manager, Tami, headed out to the Elton John concert on Thursday nights with an amazing view of the stage. They said it was absolutely spectacular and Sir Elton put on a stellar performance. At the end of the show he even took the white rose Tami handed him and held it up to the crowd! He signed both Tami and Shirley’s tickets (see picture) and they captured a guitar pick thrown out to the crowd. Here are a few shots from the concert and a little video, too…
Tami & Shirley (with husbands) don Elton-esque glasses
Sir Elton signs Shirley & Tami's tickets
Elton says "thank you" to Eugene
Elton slides across the piano & then picks up our rose
Shirley's autographed Elton John ticket
Zodiac sign: Known for their gentleness and patience, those born under the zodiac sign of Pisces excel at understanding themselves and others more than any other birth sign. A water sign with an open heart, generous spirit and compassion, it’s not surprising that Pisces tend to be popular with all kinds of people. Easygoing and affectionate, they lead with emotion rather than rationality and are more often ruled by instinct over intellect.
Birth Sign Flower: Send a Pisces flowers that convey your great admiration and appreciation, while still keeping in mind that their personality can be uncomfortable with grand gestures of affection or a flower arrangement that feels too bold or showy. Alstroemeria, with their delicate blossoms and miniature lily-like appearance capture just the right mix of generous beauty and quiet splendor. With the fish as their symbol, it should come as no surprise that Pisces feel comfortable with plants that grow naturally around water, like bamboo, in their home or office, though their emotional sides perk up with bright daffodils around. Water lily flowers are the technical flowers for Pisces: stephanoits, jasmine, lilac, narcissus and gypsophilia
Sir Elton John is in Eugene, OR tonight for a stop of his “Greatest Hits Live” Concert Tour. Dandelions Flowers was thrilled to be asked to create floral designs for Elton’s dressing room and lounge. This is one of the first major events at the Matthew Knight Arena and Elton’s first trip to Eugene. They asked for simple and chic cubes of roses and an elegant, vibrant vase bouquet in style with Elton’s personal flowers in his home. We had so much fun working with them and look forward to working with them in the future!
Shirley even got her groove on while helping to design with Elton-esque glasses!!
With so many people enjoying roses this week here are a few pointers on extending their vase life or finding them another purpose. 
1). Recut the stems every 3 to 4 days. This ensures that the roses are able to drink up the water.
2). Keep water levels high and change the water completely every few days. You may even want to wash out the vase or container. Many arrangements are designed in a floral foam that soaks up the water (much like a sponge) but also needs to be checked for water.
3). Remove foliage from the water as this can breed bacteria.
4). Roses enjoy cool temperatures so keep your bouquet in a nice shady spot away from heat sources (including your tv or laptop)
Tip: Wilting roses can be revived! Try this – trim off about an inch from the bottom of its stem and then submerge the entire rose under water in a sink or bathtub. Allow the stem to absorb water for about 20-60 minutes before returning them to their vase.
Want to give your roses a “second life”? Here are some creative uses I think are really fun:
What ideas do you have for keeping your lovely gift around for an extended time? We’d love to hear!
Our first shipment of orchid plants have arrived for Valentine’s and WOW are they beautiful. Our orchids are grown here locally in Oregon at Nielson Orchids in Waldport. We will be carrying 6″ and 4″ potted orchids as well as an assortment of cut orchid stems- both cymbidium and dendrobium varieties. Order early if you want these exquisite blossoms for your Valentine because they are popular and GO FAST!!
Give us a call for pricing and to order at 800.577.9787 or view arrangements with orchids at dandelionsflowers.com
Also…check out our tips for Orchid Care…
These orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or for corsages in the spring. There are two main types of cymbidiums – standards and miniatures. Where summer nights are warm (above 70 F), only miniatures can be recommended, because many are more tolerant of heat and able to flower in warmer weather.
Display in a cool spot out of direct sunlight while in bloom. Keep plant at 50-60 degrees F at night until buds are mostly open; 65-75 degrees F during the day and after buds open. Plants can tolerate 45-85 degrees F, but blooms fade sooner at higher temperatures. Place plants outdoors after risk of frost. Plants tolerate full sunlight if placed outdoors in early spring, otherwise, place in partial shade during mid-day.
Water/Fertilizer: Wait until the soil is dry before watering your orchid- usually 7-10 days. Saturate soil and allow to drain- do not let the plant stand in water. Instead of fertilizing at full strength once a month, many experienced orchid growers use the weakly, weekly method. Apply a 1/4 strength fertilizer each time you water and apply the fertilizer after watering. Putting fertilizer on dry soil can burn the roots.
Humidity outdoors is usually sufficient during the summer, except in dry climates, where evaporative cooling in a greenhouse is necessary. Keep humidity at 40 to 60 percent during the winter, especially if plants are in bud. Keep the air moving to prevent fungus (Botrytis) from spotting the flowers. During hot, dry weather, spray foliage in early morning to allow it to dry by evening.
Plants must be subjected to a temperature change of at least 20-30 degrees F between day and night during summer to set the buds for the next season. Plants will bloom at about the same time each year.
Potting is usually done in the spring after flowering, usually every two years or when the potting medium decomposes. Shake all of the old potting mix off the roots, dividing the plant if desired. Pick a water-retentive potting mix; medium-grade fir bark with peat moss and perlite is a common mix. Select a pot that will allow for at least two to three years of pseudobulb growth before crowding the pot, while planning on placing the active growing pseudobulb(s) of the division farthest from the side of the pot. Spread the roots over a cone of the mix in the bottom of the pot and fill the container with medium, working it among the roots, tamping firmly. Single backbulbs need not even be placed in mix until new growth and roots are noted. Keep shaded and warm until new growth sprouts, and pot as above.
For the best Valentine’s Day experience, stick with a brick-and-mortar flower store to ensure the best customer service and quality assurance. You don’t have to sacrifice convenience at all because most florists make the ordering process easy with online shopping…even SAME DAY DELIVERY!
Here at Dandelions, we pride ourselves on our 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed policy and believe that our customer service and design expertise is what sets us above the rest. From a classic arrangement of a dozen red roses to a customized bouquet in the cutting edge trends, our design team makes every arrangement and is hand-delivered by our great drivers.
Need those flowers sent out of town?? Yup…we’ve got you covered there, too. We’ll do the legwork for you and work with another local florist to get your special flowers delivered with care.
So next time you Google “florist Anytown, USA” don’t forget to add the word “local”- you’ll be glad you did!
Dandelions Flowers & Gifts 