15 Days to V-Day: White Flowers

At 15 days out from Valentine's Day, we're studying white flowers and their meanings today.

White flowers are stunning in their sheer simplicity and are therefore, according to Teleflora, symbols of purity, innocence, and modesty. An all-white bouquet is the epitome of elegance and chic sophistication.

For the loved one in your life who dazzles you by his or her purely genuine heart and life, consider any of these possibilities:

> Anemone (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Freesia (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Hydrangea (image courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Larkspur (image courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Oriental lilies (image courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Roses (image courtesy of flirtyfleurs.com)

> Stock (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Tulips (image courtesy of flowermuse.com)

Note: It's best to order well in advance of the holiday rush so you can ensure that you get the flowers that will make your Valentine's Day as perfect as possible.

Disclaimer: Not all flowers pictured may be available. Always call to inquire for availability of specific flowers and colors. 

How Our Houseplants Meet Your Needs

Because of Houseplant Appreciation Day on January 10, Paul Wood Florist has been focusing on green and blooming plants this month. With only three days left in the month, we want to remind you to brighten your indoor spaces with plants. Spring is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than to get your green thumb going early?

Many local greenhouses and nurseries focus on houseplants during the month of January. We've decided to join their ranks, and we'd like to invite you downtown to Old Town Fort Collins to visit our shop. We've taken the last couple of weeks to do some rearranging in our showrooms, to make our plants and dish gardens more accessible, and we think you'll love the results.

Visit us or call to inquire for the kinds of plants you need, whether 

> easy-to-care-for or higher maintenance;

> low light or high light;

> drought tolerant or water loving;

> hanging baskets, tabletop containers, or floor plants;

> pet- and child-safe;

> tropical and exotic or comfortably familiar; or

> any other criteria you may have!

Celebrate houseplants with us!

20 Days to V-Day: Purple and Lavender Flowers

Today marks 20 days and counting to Valentine's Day here at Paul Wood Florist. That's less than three weeks away! Remember to order early so you have the most options and the freshest flowers available to you, and so you can pick up your arrangement early to avoid the rush on February 14!

Our topic today is purple flowers, in all shades from lavender to deep indigo or red-purple, depending on your preferences.

Teleflora says that purple flowers represent royalty, dignity, and admiration for accomplishments or successes achieved. Lavender, on the other hand, is a softer feminine shade that symbolizes grace, elegance, and refinement. A delicate color, often considered the most precious because of its rarity, lavender sends a message of enchantment (as in, you are or remain enchanted by your loved one).

To send a message of soft satisfaction with the one you cherish most, consider these choices:

> Alstroemeria (image courtesy of shutterstock.com)

> Anemone (image courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Carnations (image courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Heather (image courtesy of flowershopnetwork.com)

> Iris (purple image courtesy of wholeblossom.com; indigo of flower-arrangement-advisor.com)

> Larkspur (both images courtesy of fiftyflowers.com)

> Lisianthus (image courtesy of shutterstock.com)

> Roses (image courtesy of florabundance.com)

> Stock (image courtesy of flowershopnetwork.com)

Note: It's best to order well in advance of the holiday rush so you can ensure that you get the flowers that will make your Valentine's Day as perfect as possible.

Disclaimer: Not all flowers pictured may be available. Always call to inquire for availability of specific flowers and colors. 

View Our Valentine's Day Category

Our Valentine's Day category went active on our website last week. View it here to see the floral designs, plants, and dish gardens we have created especially to send your messages of love and romance.

You have the opportunity to browse our Valentine's Day page early, to order early, and to arrange for early pickup or early delivery to avoid the hectic rush that will consume everyone else on February 14.

Don't wait until then. Your loved ones deserve to celebrate Valentine's Day longer than just a single day!

And coming soon . . . our featured Valentine's Day 2014 designs! Stay tuned!

25 Days to V-Day: Orange and Yellow Flowers

We're continuing our countdown to Valentine's Day with discussions of the significance of flower colors. We covered green earlier this month. To mark today as 25 days until V-Day, we're talking orange and yellow flowers.

According to Teleflora, orange flowers symbolize passion, energy, and enthusiasm. Orange sends a vibrant, confident message to the recipient. Yellow flowers represent joy, happiness, and friendship, and make a sunshiny statement.

Consider these possibilities as bright, sunny additions or as unique, unexpected focal points:

> Asiatic lilies (orange courtesy of fiftyflowers.com; yellow courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Daisy poms (orange courtesy of danisaflowers.com; yellow of wholeblossoms.com)

> Gerbera daisies (orange courtesy of fiftyflowers.com; yellow of wholeblossoms.com)

> Roses (orange courtesy of comments20.com; yellow of wholeblossoms.com)

> Sunflowers (just yellow) (image courtesy of florafreshinc.com)

> Tulips (orange courtesy of colourbox.com; yellow of my.opera.com)

Note: It's best to order well in advance of the holiday rush so you can ensure that you get the flowers that will make your Valentine's Day as perfect as possible.

Disclaimer: Not all flowers pictured may be available. Always call to inquire for availability of specific flowers and colors. 

Life-Saving Indoor Plants

Did you know that the majority of us spend 90% of our time indoors? (One thirty-minute walk every day, plus ten to twenty minutes of being outside when you dash to your car in the mornings and evenings, and between errands or appointments, adds up to forty to fifty minutes of outdoor time a day. That means it's a ratio of 35/36, or 97.2% of the minutes in our day that we spend indoors!)

Did you know that the air quality in most households is well below safe levels, due to prevalent chemical compounds like 

> benzene (found in paints, inks, plastics, cleaning solutions, rubber, and more);

> trichloroethylene (or TCE, found in inks, varnishes, lacquers, and paints, among other things);

> formaldehyde (found in paper products, fuels for heating and cooking like kerosene and natural gas, and cleaning agents); and 

> toluene (found in disinfectants, printing ink, adhesives, and rubber, among other things)?

Did you know that many of these chemical compounds are considered both toxins and carcinogens? And that the very definition of "carcinogen" is "a substance or agent causing cancer"?

Did you know that when introduced into an indoor space, plants 

> decrease the presence of chemical compounds and carcinogens by 50-75%,

> increase productivity and focus by an average of 12-20%,

> decrease stress by an average of 12%, and 

> increase creative output by an average of 15%?

We at Paul Wood Florist understand how important it is that you be healthy and productive in your indoor spaces. If you have to stay inside, why not bring something in from the outside that will drastically improve your air quality? Come in to our shop today to find the perfect plants to brighten your bedroom, office space, and every other room in your home and work place. We promise to educate you about how to care for your purchases.

Think of it as a long-term investment on your health and well-being. The dividends alone make the investment worthwhile!

Resources

Burchett, M. "Towards improving indoor air quality with pot-plants --- A multifactorial investigation." 2009. https://www.ngia.com.au/FinalReports/NY07018_Towards_improving_indoo_%20air_quality_Potplants.pdf.

"Carcinogen." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcinogen.

"Green Plant Benefits." Green Plants for Green Buildings. http://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/green-plant-benefits/.

Gromicko, N., and K. Tarasenko. "Plants and Indoor Air Quality." 2014. http://www.nachi.org/plants-indoor-air-quality.htm.

"Why Go Green?" Plant Culture, Inc. 2011. http://www.plantcultureinc.com/whyGreen.html.

30 Days to V-Day: Green Flowers

We begin today, our 30-day mark in the countdown to Valentine's Day, with the color green.

Green flowers make a fresh, unexpected statement, whether combined in a mixed bouquet with other colors or by themselves. There's something startlingly beautiful about a green flower.

Fellow floral blogger Stephanie White with Bloom Nation says that green flowers symbolize wishes for health and fortune, as well as renewal, youth, and springtime. Teleflora adds that green flowers represent resilience and optimism.

Why not recall memories of youthfulness, or send an uplifting, life-giving message to a loved one with green flowers this year? Consider these options:

> Anthurium (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Bells of Ireland (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Cymbidium orchids (image courtesy of fabiovisentin.com)

> Fuji [spider] mums (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Hydrangea (image courtesy of growersbox.com)

> Hypericum berries (image courtesy of wholeblossoms.com)

> Leucadendron (image courtesy of florabundance.com)

> Roses (image courtesy of thegreenhead.com)

Combine any of these with lush foliage and greenery, and you'll have the makings of a fresh, unique arrangement.

Note: It's best to order well in advance of the holiday rush so you can ensure that you get the flowers that will make your Valentine's Day as perfect as possible.

Disclaimer: Not all flowers pictured may be available. Always call to inquire for availability of specific flowers and colors. 

What Flower Colors Mean

It's automatic to reach for red flowers, or flowers in shades of red (hot pink, light pink, white), on Valentine's Day. After all, most popular flowers come in beautiful shades of red across the spectrum, from Gerbera daisies to carnations to lilies to the age-old traditional rose.

But what if you don't consider yourself traditional? What if you don't want to be predictable? Would you like to make a statement other than the same one everyone else is making?

We at Paul Wood Florist can help.

As part of our countdown to Valentine's Day (V-Day), we've decided to showcase other color options, and their meanings, along with sample flowers, so that you can choose the most significant, appropriate colors for your loved one this year. And if you do decide to stick with the traditional red, at least you'll have considered all the other possibilities and made an informed decision: that's absolutely fine, too.

We'll start tomorrow, at our 30-day mark out from Valentine's Day! Enjoy!

Starry Nights & Twinkle Lights Bridal Show

Find Paul Wood Florist at the 8th Annual Starry Nights & Twinkle Lights Bridal Show at the Tapestry House on Sunday, February 23, 2014.

The show opens at 12 noon and concludes at 4 p.m. that afternoon, and will feature dozens of wedding vendors for consideration, including photographers, caterers, cake specialists, music options, officiants, honeymoon destinations, and more.

Register here at the Tapestry House website to attend and participate.

More information about Paul Wood Florist's booth to come, so stay tuned!

35 Days & Counting to Valentine's Day!

Our show rooms at Paul Wood Florist have taken off Christmas for the year and are spending the next few weeks putting on Valentine's Day instead. We have a collection of beautiful themed vases and containers, as well as plush stuffed animals, table and hanging decorations, silk arrangements, and chocolates.

With thirty-five days to go, join us to see how we create the magic of romance between now and Valentine's Day!

Green Plants Sale Today and Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that Paul Wood Florist in Old Town, Fort Collins, is celebrating Houseplant Appreciation Day today and tomorrow with a sale. All green foliage plants are 20% off regular price.

Please also note that we have extended hours today only, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tomorrow, we are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Come in to Paul Wood Florist to browse our greenhouse! The sale ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow!

20% Off Green Plants Sale Friday and Saturday!

Tomorrow is Houseplant Appreciation Day. To celebrate, we at Paul Wood Florist decided to have a two-day sale, which we feel is an excellent way to celebrate many occasions!

All green (foliage) houseplants are 20% OFF Friday (the 10th) and Saturday (the 11th) this week ONLY, which gives you an extra day to celebrate with us! Come in and browse our greenhouse for inspiration.

Celebrate Trivia Day with Flower Trivia

January 4 is Trivia Day! In honor of the occasion, Paul Wood Florist is celebrating with floral-related trivia.

Did you know . . .

> that rose blooms are edible and taste like green apples and strawberries? (Note: Commercially grown roses have often been chemically treated --- do not ingest!)

> that Biblical lore says that there was a white rose in the Garden of Eden that blushed red with shame when Adam and Eve caused the fall from grace?

> that life jackets used to be made from dried sunflower stalks because they were a buoyant material?

> that a certain type of crocus produces the spice saffron?

> that the daisy got its name from its yellow center's resemblance to the sun and was formerly called the "day's eye," which eventually became shortened to "daisy"?

> that the language of flowers used to have great significance for people in England in the Victorian Era?

> that the herb basil means both "passionate love" and "passionate hatred" in the language of flowers, depending on the meanings of the other flowers and greens in the same bouquet or arrangement?

> that the botanical name for baby's breath is gypsophila, which means "love chalk" because it prefers chalky soil?

> that women tend to prefer pastel-colored roses, while men tend to prefer red roses?

> that almost 60% of all fresh cut flowers grown in the United States are grown in California?

Credit to www.growerdirect.com and www.angelfire.com for these tidbits!

50% Sale on Christmas Wrapping Up

Here's hoping you and yours had a wonderful Happy New Year's yesterday!

Just a reminder that our non-perishable Christmas merchandise and poinsettias are still 50% OFF and selling quickly. If you had in mind to come in and pick up ornaments, garland, Christmas ribbon, owls, or anything else for half off, or if you've been out of town for the holiday season but meaning to get around to it, please do so soon.

We hope to see you at Paul Wood Florist before the Christmas sale ends!

*Disclaimer: Please note that the owl ornament pictured has been extremely popular this year and is no longer available for purchase. Come in to the store to see our other selections!*