Flowers

The Meaning of Flowers: What Does That Bouquet Say?

Filed under: Decor, Green

We use flowers to say so many things, from "I love you" to "I'm sorry" and everything in between. Humans have been using flowers to express and punctuate feelings since the dawn of time and so over the eons certain flowers have come to symbolize certain things. The meanings of flowers can vary based on culture, context, and occasion but here are some popular blooms and their most commonly associated messages.

Roses
The Romans and Greeks both associated roses with goddesses of love (Aphrodite and Venus) and although roses today are most often used to express romance and passion they can have other meanings as well.

Red -- Love, Passion

Yellow -- Friendship, Jealousy

White -- Humility, Innocence, Purity

Pink -- Gratitude, Admiration, Happiness

Dark Crimson -- Mourning

Tags: awards-main, bouquet, decor-pedia, floral, flowers, luxist-awards, main-pedia

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Luxist Gets an Education in Flowers at Camelback Flowershop

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Services, Lux Tips

While ~~enduring~~ basking in the solarific heat of a Phoenix summer we stumbled upon the Camelback Flowershop. Tucked in between a cafe and a Cuban restaurant there was little on the outside to give away the splendor within, but once inside we knew we had found another portal through the looking glass. After the first bouquet we gifted earned us unheard of accolades, we had returned to the florist to find out exactly how she makes her magic. Armed with a cappuccino from the shop's own maker, we sat down with owner Teresa Wilson, and in addition to learning a few things about sepals and stems we also learned that Camelback Flowershop doesn't sell flowers – it sells fragrant high fashion.

Gallery: Luxist Visits Camelback Flowershop

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Tags: arizona, camelback flowershop, florists, flowers, phoenix

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Lifestyle Expert Mar Jennings' Best Gardening Tips

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Gardening and lifestyle expert Mar Jennings.

Few understand gardening better than Luxist Awards Panelist Mar Jennings. Mar is the in-house lifestyle expert and correspondent for Better TV and is the home expert for the Fine Living Network. Mar also appears on the Today Show, ABC, Fox, CNN, and many other national and local networks across the country. He is also the author of Life on Mar's: A Four Season Garden (S&J Publishing, $39.95).

In an exclusive interview with Luxist, Mar shares some of his best gardening tips. According to Mar, it is not too late to roll up your sleeves and get to work in your garden.

Luxist: It is already late June. What can someone plant now?

MAR: You might be surprised---and I meet many gardeners who think they're too late.

I recommend focusing on accent pieces where the garden seems bare. Ground cover plants and plants that come in small containers are the best options for getting you in and out of the garden quickly when it's so hot out. Any plant that blooms early in the Spring and has spent flowers is perfect for planting in summer because they will be focusing their energy on growing and not on flowering-plus most will be on sale. Another great bet is succulents.

What can be planted now for full sun and what do you recommend for partial sun? How about no sun?

MAR: Your local garden center can further advise you of things that are particularly good for your area, but here are some sure-fie items that I make use of:

Full sun: Decorative vines such as wisteria or trumpet vines, anchors for your garden such as dwarf boxwoods, and ornamental grasses.

Partial sun: Hydrangeas, hydrangeas and more hydrangeas are ideal. (Not that I'm biased or anything.)

No sun: When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. A full-shade garden can be as wonderful as a full-sun garden. Discover the endless varieties of ferns and hostas, intertwined in any shady area. These create height, texture and interest in an otherwise overlooked place. Introduce moss onto garden structures and stone walkways as an added feature that will increase in charm over the years.

Is it too late to plant vegetable plants?

MAR: For some things, yes. But don't give up! Lettuces, tomatoes, peppers and herbs can be started now---but not from seeds, but by planting the small plants already started. Another reason I love to encourage people to plant vegetables in the summer is because children are out of school and can be involved in the process---a learning experience for them and a family activity for you.

Tags: awards-main, decor-pedia, flowers, gardening, gardening-tips, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Mar Jennings, outdoor living, outdoor-entertaining, outdoor-entertainment, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, outdoors

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H.Bloom Launches Weekly Flower Service in Manhattan

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Services, Art

In search of the perfect gift to celebrate a birthday, Mother's Day or another special occasion? Look no further than H.BLOOM, an online floral company based in Manhattan which offers a weekly subscription service.

"We heard over and over from people who love flowers, that they can't afford expensive arrangements on a regular basis," says Bryan Burkhart, the 35-year-old co-founder of H.Bloom. "It is also a great gift because it is the gift that keeps on giving."

Gallery: More from H. Bloom

Burkhart and co-founder Sonu Panda, who met as undergraduates at the University of Pennsylvania, launched the business after noticing there was a need for a premium floral product available online. "We saw that there was no 'Barney's of flowers' online---there was only K-Mart," says Burkhart. Their business model is much like that of Netflix, as there is no long term commitment. It is easy to pause the service or direct the delivery to someone else.

Tags: Florist, Flowers, H.Bloom, Manhattan, New York, OnlineShopping, orchids

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Orla Kiely Cut Flower Leather Burdock Bag

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Orla Kiely's handbags have always had an infusion of vintage inspired designs and modern appeal. Her vibrantly colorful iconic floral pattern is one that any handbag enthusiast can spot from across the room and become instantly drawn to. I was happy to see that Kiely's online shop recently made available the SS2010 Handbag collection for purchase. This new line still encompasses the floral pattern that sets her apart from other designers while having a healthy mix of subdued earth tone and electrifying in-your-face-bold colorways.

One of our favorites, is the understated Cut Flower Leather Burdock Bag.With a buttery chocolate brown as the backdrop, the little white flowers stand out beautifully. This bucket style bag has a generous interior without the bulkiness and added weight of a large leather bag. In addition to the typical interior pockets, there is a top handle and detachable shoulder strap to be worn across your body. Price: $598.

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Tags: flowers, handbag of the day, leather handbag, orla kiely, OrlaKiely

Valentino Summer Flower Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Valentino Summer Flower Tote is another femme-fatale, dynamite bag from Valentino's particularly womanly spring collection.

This very nearly lip-shaped tote is decked in supple nappa leather flowers in bright, bold colors which captivate and catch the eye. The unusual color combination is fresh and lovely, calling to mind images of a hot summer day, a glass of lemonade and some very red lipstick. The use of black increases the intrigue of the bag, giving it a gothic edge. One could see a celeb like Dita Von Teese carrying this to complement a lacy or chiffon ensemble.

The bag is especially large (21"W X 12"H X 8"D), and could even be used overnight. It features a magnetic snap closure and metal feet, a black polyester-satin lining and a 16" drop detachable shoulder strap. We'd hate to see a bag like this wasted on work, and hope we'll catch someone brave enough to take it down the red carpet.

The Valentino Summer Flower Tote is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $2,690.

Tags: flowers, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, tote, Valentino

Lily Lodge Flowers the Antidote to Boring Red Roses on Valentine's Day

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Tired of overpriced not particularly beautiful red roses that often don't even open for Valentine's Day? Maybe your significant other doesn't even like roses? One woman I know married the man who finally figured out her favorite flowers were tulips and showed up with a bouquet of her favorite flowers rather than roses on Valentine's Day. Regardless of the reason, there are options available for those who want to give truly beautiful flowers to that important person in your life.

Ariana Lambert Smeraldo the owner of Lily Lodge, a spectacular flower shop in Los Angeles, California is no stranger to designer style. She was appointed West Coast Director of Stores and Public Relations of Bottega Veneta in 1998. It is not surprising that her store offers so much more than just the run-of-the-mill red roses. Just like many grandmothers have whispered to their granddaughters over the years that the women who choose Bottega know that their own initials are enough, Lily Lodge offers up floral arrangements for those with quiet but exquisite taste. Ariana understands that a combination of beautiful raw materials, a trademark style and understated elegance will always be chic.

Gallery: Lily Lodge Flowers

Tags: antiques, bottega veneta, BottegaVeneta, flowers, roses, valentines day, ValentinesDay, vase, vases

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Nymphenburg Chrysanthemums

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The Nymphenburg chrysanthemum is an incredibly intricate example of porcelain art. The flowers are made from more than 300 petals modeled by hand in wafer-thin porcelain. The chrysanthemum flower has a long tradition at Nymphenburg and some archive samples date back to the 18th century. Those were much smaller than the almost originally sized flowers created in 2009. The limited edition of 25 flowers encased in ornamental wooden boxes are created to be close to nature by porcelain masters who have undergone special training and have steady hands and lots of patience. They sell for around 1,500 euros.

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Tags: art, flowers, nymphenburg, porcelain

Luxury Bouquets Tailored to Your Mother

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art, Holiday Guides

We chatted with 1-800-FLOWERS.com bouquet designer Juiie Mulligan about what makes a Mother's Day bouquet really special and luxurious.

She gave us some tips and told us all about spotamom.com, a 1-800-FLOWERS.com project which recommends different bouquets for moms by "type;" like a New Mom, a Pet Lover Mom, a Foodie Mom, and so on. Have a look through our gallery to see all Julie Mulligan's elegant and cheerful designs, get tips (such as adding flowering branches to a colorful bouquet like she did at right), and plan a decadently beautiful floral gift for your mother this year -- even if she's the type who already has everything she wants, including flowers.

The site also allows readers to share stories about moms they know and win $100 gift certificates. If you have a good Mom story, enter it by April 29th and she (or you) could even win a Beaches Resorts trip to Jamaica or the Turks and Caicos.

According to Julie Mulligan, luxury is all about personalization.

Gallery: 1-800-FLOWERS.com Designs and Tips for Mother's Day

Tags: 1-800-FLOWERS.com, flowers, julie mulligan, JulieMulligan, mothers day

Diptyque Spring 2009 White Candle Coffret

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Ultra-luxe Parisian parfumeur Diptyque is offering a White Candle Coffret gift box (above) for Spring 2009 evoking the fresh scents of the season. The three scented mini candles offer a "fragrant harmony of floral and herbal notes", comprised of Roses, Freesia and Lierre (Ivy). Presented in a crisp white box, the trio can be burned together or individually; each candle burns for 30 hours. Roses "evokes the world's most universally loved flower", Lierre "evokes the branches of ivy leaves running on the walls of an antique house", and Freesia "presents the scent of delicious, peppery white flowers wafting in the air of a beautiful spring morning." Priced at $98, the Coffret is available at the Diptyque stores in San Francisco and New York, as well as select boutiques. The firm was founded on Paris' famed Boulevard Saint-Germain in 1961.

Tags: Candles, Diptyque, Flowers, Paris, Roses, Spring

2/12/09 Valentine's Day Contest: Flora2000's Free Bouquets

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services

Here's one last chance for a Valentine's prize. Flora2000 is giving away three Valentine's Days bouquets, to be sent as gifts. Just fill in this sentence: "A romantic thing I would do for my valentine would be ... " and enter here. Winners will be announced on the morning of Thursday, February 12, so enter quickly!

Tags: contest, flowers, free, valentine, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay

Teleflora's Rubies & Roses Sweepstakes

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Seems like everywhere I turn I'm seeing ads for sweepstakes involving jewelry or other high-end prizes. It must be the two-fold punch of a sagging economy (spend money! win stuff!) and Valentine's Day. So indulge me -- or yourself, if you win -- because here's another: Teleflora's Rubies & Roses Sweepstakes. Select Teleflora rose purchases will be delivered with a game piece and PIN. The sender and recipient both can enter to win these prizes: Grand -- $60,000 ruby and diamond necklace; 100 winners -- $600 14k gold ruby and diamond heart-shaped pendant; 1,000 winners, $150 10k gold diamond and created ruby heart-shaped pendant. Official rules here.

P.S. Not sure your guy knows which flowers to send to you? Send him this.

Tags: contest, contests, flowers, roses, rubies, sweepstakes, Teleflora, Valentine, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay

Same-day Flowers to 150 Countries

by Meg Massie (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

If you're like me, you might have had a panic attack when you finally realized that it's already the middle of December and you haven't done any holiday shopping yet. If you're even more like me, then you're hopeless when it comes to picking out gifts for friends and family. Thankfully, there are some classic standbys out there to help you get through your holiday shopping with as little stress as possible.

In this season of extreme home decorating, everyone can appreciate a lovely flower arrangement. Flora2000 is a high-end flower delivery service offering same-day deliveries to 150 countries, and I'm in love with their bouquets. Even if you've put off your holiday shopping until the last minute, you can still get gorgeous gifts sent out ahead of Santa's sleigh. Whether you're ordering flowers for local delivery or overseas shipment, you'll be amazed by Flora2000's speedy service, and the arrangements are top-of-the-line.

In addition to over 3,000 floral arrangements, Flora2000 offers a wide selection of gourmet gift boxes and chocolates.

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Tags: chocolates, christmas, flora2000, floral-arrangements, flowers, gift-baskets, gifts, holidays, roses

Limited Edition Flowerpower Desk Fan

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The Flowerpower fan has been around for awhile now but for people who like a little floral energy indoors to help deal with the heat of the summer there's a new addition to the Flowerpower family: the Flowerpower desk fan. Modern, whimsical, and funky, with a definite hippie vibe, the Flowerpower fan design is safe for kids (blunt blades and a safety switch that shuts it off when an obstruction is detected) and features a motor that's both especially powerful and especially quiet. The floor version of the Flowerpower fan is available in several color options but the latest limited edition desk fan only comes in black. £205

Via Switched On

Gallery: Flowerpower Fans

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Tags: desk fan, DeskFan, fan, fans, flower, flowerpower, flowers

Arim Candle Holder and Bud Vases

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

These Arim Candle Holder and Bud Vases are inspired by contemporary influences combined with ancient Turkish forms. Mouth blown out of lead-free crystal, the slim stems and pastel coloring fits well with their name (arim), which in Turkish means "sweetheart." It's too bad they don't make a variety of sizes, as I'd love a grouping all bunched together with white blooms in each, but that's not to say one as part of a summer centerpiece wouldn't be gorgeous also. They are only available in two colors, green and blue, and are actually quite tall at 14". $215 each.

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Tags: arim, bud, bud vase, buds, BudVase, candle, candle holder, CandleHolder, candles, crystal, flowers, holder, karim, karim rashid, KarimRashid, rashid, vase, vases

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