RoseSource.com

Flowers For The Perfect Sweet 16

2010-12-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

Time flies by so quickly. Before you know it, your darling little girl is turning sixteen. Surely you remember her birth day as if it were yesterday. She wants to have a birthday bash that will go down in history among her friends, and you want to give her that party. Along with finding the perfect venue, DJ and presents, you will need amazing flowers to make a statement. We have flowers for any occasion, including a sweet sixteen that will make that sweet sixteen even sweeter.

Among the amazing selection of roses, we also offer an endless assortment of flowers that will be a perfect fit for your daughter. Flowers that will arrive to your specified destination, specially shipped just for you. The varieties of flowers include:

Asiatic Lilies

Fresias

Lily Oriental

Mums

Orchids

Carnations

Birds of Paradise

If none of the above is the perfect choice for your daughter’s special day, without doubt we will have just the right bouquet, arrangement or even single stems that will fit in with the theme of your daughters amazing party.

While most teenage girls don’t always understand the significance of flowers, they will understand the beauty and that extra special something that only a beautiful flower arrangement can add to any special occasion. That extra special touch will help you ensure that just the right ambiance and balance is found. You can even have a custom bouquet made just for her, with smaller matching ones that can go home with the guests as party favors. The possibilities are endless.

In addition to flowers there are many other things that you can do to make your daughter’s sweet sixteen party something that she will remember for the rest of her life. Perhaps you go shopping with her for just the right dress, or have a special father-daughter dance. You can choose the theme together, and use this special time to bond with your daughter as a young adult instead of the young child that she was.

Whatever theme or color scheme you have decided to go with, RoseSource has the perfect flowers to accent the party. The varieties come in all types of sizes, shapes and colors; the only limit is your imagination. Our wholesale flower specialists can assist you with any questions that may arise. We ship to 50 US states and payment is made simple via credit card or PayPal. The only work you have to do is in deciding which flowers you want, leave the rest to us.

Best Floral Options For Destination Weddings

2010-12-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

The ring has been presented, the date has been set and your colors have been chosen. As a couple, a destination wedding was the final decision. If you are going to Bermuda, Cancun or a beautiful beach in the United States, the question of who is going to do the floral arrangements will come up. From the table centerpieces to the bridal bouquet, the flowers need to be perfect. A bride does not need or want to worry about her flowers getting to the wedding on time and in perfect condition. Providing a large variety of flowers and wedding arrangements, RoseSource.com is the solution to any flower needs that a soon to be married couple may have. Whether you are having a small get together for your wedding, or a lavish affair, RoseSource.com can provide the most beautiful and fragrant flowers that any bride could wish for on her wedding day.

The choice of which type of flower you are going to choose is ultimately yours, but if you are having a destination wedding, you will want to consider the location. Not every flower is ideal for every type of geographic location. You do not want your bridal bouquet to wither before you get down the aisle. With pre-arranged wedding flowers in a variety of styles, from magical to fairytale, we can help you find the perfect arrangement that will compliment your style and the theme of your wedding. You can even leave the delivery up to us. We ship via specially designed FedEx boxes, where your flowers are shipped in a temperature controlled environment, insuring a quick delivery of long lasting blooms.

We guarantee that your flowers will arrive on time, and in perfect condition. And once those flowers arrive, all you or your designated helper need do is take them out of the box and proceed with your wedding. With the flowers already arranged, and a double back up guarantee, your flowers will arrive in presentation condition, ready to be set out and enjoyed.

Destination weddings are special for everyone. The people that are there to celebrate with you have often travelled great distances to share your special day with you. With everything in place, your destination wedding of your dreams will go off without a hitch. The memories of this day will last a lifetime and your flowers will leave an impression that will not soon be forgotten.

Flowers For Fundraisers

2010-12-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

Are you part of a group that participates in fundraising activities? Fundraising activities are extremely important for causes to continue to do the work that they are established to do and to do it well. Selling flowers for a fundraising event can be a very lucrative, popular and fun way to raise funds for your charity. Fundraising with flowers can bring in money during nearly every holiday in the calendar year, simply choose your charity and when you would like to raise funds. A few holidays seem to be even more successful than others, though they all do very well for flower fundraising activities.

· Christmas: Selling a Christmas arrangement with the proceeds profiting the charity of choice can be extremely popular. Due to the time of year, individuals who enjoy giving gifts that give back will like this idea as it will appeal to both their philanthropic as well as their aesthetic sides.

· Valentine’s Day: Who doesn’t want to spoil their sweetheart on Valentine’s day? It is the most popular day to receive roses. Why not surprise her with a bouquet that benefits a local charity.

· Mother’s Day: Another day where flowers are very popular. Selling Mother’s Day arrangements for your cause will make the Mom in everyone’s life proud. You can advise fathers to have their child color a picture to attach to the vase and they will have a present that is beautiful now and for many years to come.

Promoting your fundraiser with flowers will be crucial to the success of the fundraiser. You will want to pre-sell as many arrangements as possible. This can be achieved by sending word out via email, traditional mail and even flyers. Don’t forget to get the entire family involved, your children can hang up flyers in the neighborhood and them to their school. Your significant other can take a few flyers into work and pass them around, or even use their social network to let people know that the fundraiser is being held. Make it a contest among those that are selling the flowers to fundraise, offering a great prize or incentive for the person who sells the most. You will be amazed at how many flower arrangements can be sold and how much money can be made.

When participating in a flower fundraiser, you will want to ensure that you purchase the flowers through a reliable and reputable company. RoseSource.com is reliable and professional, providing quick shipping via FedEx. The flowers are farm-direct. When you are looking for quality flowers at affordable prices, there isn’t a company that can deliver the same quality and customer service as RoseSource.com.

Mother's Day Flowers

2010-03-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you are a kid, your momma is your angel, if you are a teenager, she is your best pal and if you are an adult, she is your best secret-sharer. Throughout her life, she has been playing different roles in your life to make it smoother and easy-going. She has showered you with love when you needed it the most; she has been the stress reliever when you were overstressed due to your forthcoming examinations, she has been your support when all other people around you were underestimating you, she has been the shoulder to cry when you had a break up. You can look back at any stage of your life and find your mother standing by you with that never fading smile of hers.

Let this mother's day be an ultra special day for not only your mom but your grandma too. Make them feel that they hold the most special place in your heart. Here are few tips exclusively for making your mother' day special.

· You can interview your mother. Let her feel how much interest you take in her life. Ask about her childhood, her kindergarten friends, her teenage, her first crush, her favorite job, the day you were born and any other thing that you feel must have been special in her life. End this conversation by expressing love and empathy for her.

· Arrange the best get together you can arrange for her. Invite all the people who you think hold special positions in your mother's life. Order a special cake and flowers for her and arrange a barbeque.

· Take your mother for a shopping spree and buy her all the things she had been longing for.

· You can also arrange a trip for both of you to some place of your momma's choice.

· Nothing else would touch her more than a hand made gift. Bake a cake for her. Arrange a vase full of flowers and decorate the entire house. Design a card and make a wooden jewelry box for her. Create a small party place on your terrace and enjoy with your mom and fill it with Fresh Cut Flowers.

· Arrange a small get together with all your siblings and create a beautiful ambience using old photo albums of her. Share your joys and your memories - laugh and enjoy your time together. At the end of your party gift your mother with the best family photograph you have, that too specially framed according to her choice.

· Take your momma for lunch to the restaurant where she used to give you a treat when you were a kid.

· If for any reason you can't be with your mother on this special day, make her realize her importance by sending her a bouquet of flowers along with a special cake and box of chocolates with a handmade greetings card that includes a very loving message exclusively for her. Also, leave a voice message to her specially to wish 'mother's day'.

· If your momma is a card player, remember to invite her for the family card game. Make her feel special by serving her favorite snacks and drink with your own hands. Also, make up your own coupon book and offer to help her any work she needs to be done.

Valentine Fundraising Ideas - Love Is In The Air And Everyone Will Just Love These Valentine Fundraisers Too!

2009-12-15T06:41:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day falls on 14th February.

So what fundraisers will make your heart skip a beat? Here are some great valentine fundraising ideas to get you going.

On Valentine Day lovers traditionally exchange cards, gifts and other small tokens of their love and commitment to each other. These can be jokey or serious and there is lots of potential for charity fundraisers to muscle in on this market.

Sell Valentines Roses

My love tis like a red rose.
Robbie Burns

Ever since medieval times the red rose has been the symbol of love the world over. Selling roses singly or by the dozen can therefore be a major earner on Valentine’s Day.

The difficulty is getting hold of them, as of course it is a major day for every florist and nursery in the country. If you can get hold of roses, and you will probably need to have made arrangements some time in advance, then you are pretty much guaranteed success.

RoseSource.com has a pretty large selection of packages, ideas, pre made bouquets and combo boxes that can offer you the right and perfect fundraising flower seller event.

Take orders in advance or sell them singly from a stall at the exit of your school or workplace. Alternatively have a table in the local shopping mall or high street. Rosesource.com will provide you the necessary information on the product; packages, colors and composition of the products you decide to buy for your Fundraising event.

You may also like to tour the local restaurants in the evening. Many couples will be out having a romantic dinner. Who better to help their candle-lit canoodling than you, by offering them (with the restaurant manager's permission) the chance to buy a single red rose bouquet or a dozen red rose bouquet.

Another option is to team up with a your online provider like RoseSource.com and suggest a donation to your group for every rose purchased as a marketing opportunity for them. In return you might like to offer your services on the day helping to deliver roses and other bunches of flowers. Valentine’s Day is obviously a very busy 24hrs for flower industry so this offer may be quite attractive to an overworked flower seller. Get you deal set up well in advance however and don't let them down.

Choose in advance the type of flower and type of bouquet you want to sell, according to the budget of your community, group and target. Rosesource.com offers you a variety of packages for every pocket, weather you want to have them ready and assemble as fundraising bouquets or if you want them bulk flowers to prepare you own do it yourself fundraising flowers.

Rose bouquets are a fantastic way to begin your fundraising season. Based in our experience, the most profitable time to plan your fundraising event is for Valentine, Mother’s Day.

The stems of the roses are 18 - 24 inches long in assorted color selections. We offer red, or an assorted solid color single, 3 stems, 6 stems and dozen roses with filler and clear sleeve plastic sleeves.

Bouquets come with a plain, clear sleeve and a packet of preservative.

We provide you fresh cut and prepared for your event roses and other flowers and fillers.

Upon arrival your roses have gone through inspection and they are fresh. The roses are properly hydrated for the trip they will last no less than 10 days after you get them.

Fundraiser Facts:

* Risk Free
* Simple and easy to sell
* Affordably priced-establishing selling prices and profit that YOU choose
* Exceptional Quality - 100% satisfaction guaranteed
* Suggested selling methods
* Personalized and customized boxing
* Care instructions

Now is the perfect time to order Holiday Flowers from RoseSource.com

2009-11-23T06:12:00.001-08:00

Christmas is coming! Why decorate your own place with the same things that everyone else has? It will be fantastic if you can say that you made your own Christmas decorations. Your family will love the beautiful Christmas arrangements you create, and you will love the low prices. It is not difficult to make your own unique Christmas decoration. It does not have to be complicated, if you have the right place to start you off.

Flowers are a fabulous expression of warmth and caring. Flower arrangements for Christmas should represent a tradition and opportunity to spend quality time together with your family. Fresh-cut flowers from RoseSource.com help fill the your home and the holidays with joy. Express your own creativity and style with flower arrangement this holiday season.

You can check online floral websites to search for ideas you will love to use for Christmas Flowers decorations or browse www.rosesource.com to search for unique and creative floral design ideas. Don’t delay… check out the enormous selection of farm-direct flowers and read the step-by-step instructions on combining any assortment from our huge selection of wholesale flowers to create your Christmas flower arrangements.

With RoseSource.com you’ve found the best online company to provide the finest quality flowers anywhere… and as always the freshest and greatest selection of wholesale flowers for Christmas. And for you NON-Do-It-Yourselfers, check-out our pre-made Christmas bouquets and centerpieces perfect to fill your home this holiday season with zero preparations as we take care of the work, not you!

There are many ways to ring in the holidays with flowers this year. They range in style from gerberas to roses. Both come in classic Christmas colors: red and white. An arrangement of these flowers make for gorgeous centerpieces and will give Mom or Grandma an unexpected warm thrill. All the Christmas Bouquets and Christmas Collections from RoseSource.com are offered in red and white and a perfect complement to provide that special holiday warmth for the family.

Perhaps the best Christmas gift for Mom this year is a bouquet of flowers delivered directly from our award-winning farms in South America to her door! The holiday season sees a beautiful array of cold-weather flowers that are in bloom that Mom would absolutely adore.

Be thankful to the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate it with flowers everywhere. Nature doesn’t stop for the holidays. Shops may close, but nature is always on the move. Flowers for Mom and the whole family will add warmth and majesty to any home.

Order online: www.RoseSource.com or call for personal assistance: 1-866-969-7673 (open late 7 days a week).

Happy Holidays,

Your Friends at RoseSource.com

Rose Petals - the Best Choice for Your Wedding

2009-10-27T08:37:00.001-07:00

When choosing which rose petals to buy for your wedding, you need to define when and where you will be using them and if there are any restrictions imposed by your venue. Then take into account the advantages and disadvantages of each of them, to help you reach your decision.

For Outdoor Use - you will need a natural, biodegradable petal. Many parishes have banned the use of rice and paper confetti as they are not good for the environment. You have a choice of fresh rose petals.

For Indoor use - you need to check with the venue if there any restrictions.

Flower Girls - you may want to have your flower girls toss petals and any type will do as guests do not usually give these too close an examination.

Table Decoration - Fresh rose petals are good for table decoration as they look romantic.

Tossing Petals - if indoors, then silk petals are probably the best choice because of cost considerations and appearance. If outdoors, then you should choose any of the natural alternatives mentioned above.

Now that we have discussed the different choices available, here are the pros and cons for each type.

Fresh Rose Petals need to be obtained on the day of the wedding or the day before and also need to be prepared just before use.. The upside is that they are all-natural and biodegradable, but the downside is that they also break down fast and they may not look so great later in the day. Another disadvantage is that they can stain clothing and tablecloths, and can also be slippery, so you and your guests need to be extra careful.

School Fundraising with Colored Carnations

2009-10-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Involving children in a school fundraising project is a practical way to teach them fiscal responsibility, time management skills and business strategies. Selling colored carnations is one of the easiest and most lucrative school fund-raising projects, because they are simple to manage and appealing to a wide consumer base. Teachers or parents looking for a winter fundraiser can sell pink carnations and red carnations as sentimental Valentine’s Day flowers. Colored carnations make appropriate fundraisers in the spring, as they are a colorful way to welcome the new season. Consider these fundraising ideas to help determine whether selling carnations can be an easy and lucrative project for your class.

1. Sell something that appeals to the masses. Everyone from school- age children to adults seems to catch the love bug around Valentine’s Day. Flowers are a great way to express that love and appreciation, and pink carnations or red carnations specially suitable choices, as they are inexpensive, hearty and long lasting. Students will be interested in giving carnations to other students, and parents can purchase flowers from their children to show their support.

2. Teach gratitude through your school fund-raising project. Although the primary goal of a s chool fund-raising project may be to earn money, it can also teach students other important lessons- specifically, that of appreciating their role models. Purchase assorted carnations and teach children to give them to their parents, grandparents and teachers who have made a difference in their lives. Have the sale around Mother’s Day or Teacher’s Appreciation Day to further drive this point home, or run the fundraiser at any time of the year to illustrate that appreciation should be a daily part of a person’s life. Encourage students to purchase flowers for their friends and write notes explaining how each friend has made a positive contribution to his life.

3. Expand your client base. Who says that only students can purchase products from a school fund-raising project? Having a fundraiser like a carnation sale is a great way for children to solicit participation from other people in the neighborhood. Neighbors, friends and grandparents may want to purchase flowers for themselves or for others. Because carnations are not difficult to carry, children can carry them home from school and distribute them easily. Flower wrapping paper and plastic sleeves are inexpensive additions that can increase the value and beauty of the bouquet while making the carnations easier to handle.

4. Consider your merchant’s needs. Likewise, young children who are asked to sell a wide variety of products are likely to mix up their orders, causing headaches for both students and customers. Having a fundraiser with pink, red or even colored carnations will limit the amount of products that are for sale and will minimize confusion during order fulfillment.

When planning a school fundraiser, one must consider the profit margin, the ease with which the project can be executed and the lessons that can be learned by fundraiser participants. Carnation flowers make fabulous school fundraising products because they are affordable, easy to handle and can teach children valuable lessons about showing appreciation. What more could any teacher want?

Calla Lilies and Roses Bridal Bouquet Ideas for Every Bride

2009-10-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

The details involved in planning a wedding are often overwhelming. Coordinating photographers, invitations, seating arrangements, music, menus and a location to hold the event are only some of the arrangements that need to be made. In addition, every bride has her own idea of how her wedding should be, how her dress should lay, how the music should sound and how her bouquet should look. While many decisions are time consuming, choosing a bouquet doesn’t have to be. By selecting a calla lilies and r oses bridal bouquet, every bride can relax with the knowledge that she will have a classic and sophisticated bouquet that will look stunning throughout the event.

There are many designs and color options from which to create a beautiful calla lilies and roses bouquet, making certain that every bride will find one that she loves. The great variety of roses available means that brides can choose peach and orange roses for a spring wedding, pink or hot pink for a summer wedding, brown and yellow for a fall wedding, or red or lavender for a winter wedding. Colored roses can match a seasonal theme or be ordered to match bridesmaids’ dresses. Any color rose will be elegantly accented by delicate crisp tall calla lilies or charming mini calla lilies, depending on the bride’s style preference.

Just as ro ses come in many colors, so too, do calla lilies. A calla lilies and roses bridal bouquet can offer a dramatic monochromatic look or a vibrant multi-colored appearance. A lovely idea for a contemporary bouquet is to have white or cream colored roses intermingled with orange mini calla lilies in a tight-packed bouquet tied with a salmon colored satin ribbon. Another elegant option is to use various pastel colors such as rose peach, rose pink, rose cream and rose lavender and combine them with white calla lilies and a silver satin ribbon. Such a bouquet will add wonderful contrasting color to a sparkling white wedding dress without drawing attention away from the bride.

From the simple to the lavish, a bouquet of elegant calla lilies and roses can be created easily, making your wedding planning that much easier and less stressful. Given the wide range of color choices every bride will have an easy time finding the right combination for her dream bridal bouquet.

Petal Tips

2009-10-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

Create a "Picture Perfect" moment straight from the movies! Just imagine you & your new hubby leaving your wedding ceremony, blissful...you are being showered by beautiful fresh rose petals.

* Will guests know what to do...when to toss your rose petals?

* Will your photographer capture the moment?

* You can have a "Picture Perfect" rose petal toss with very little effort! A few simple things to consider.

* When should you have the petal toss?

* The toss is often done on the steps of the church as the bride and groom walk outside.

* If you are having an outdoor wedding location you may consider having the toss during your recession from the ceremony.

* We have known many brides that choose to do their toss at the reception site as the wedding party enters and is announced by the band or DJ.

* Some even choose to toss at the first dance.

* Remember, it is your special day. It should be exactly as you dreamed it would be.

How to distribute your Rose Petals?

* If you're plan to do the petal toss during your recession, each guest should receive an organza bag, clear petal bag or cone filled with petals at the same time that they are handed the wedding program. You will need about 1 cup per sachet or cone.

* For a traditional toss outside the church, place the cones, clear petal bags or organza bags filled with your petals & place them in a shallow box or basket.

* You can fill your bags or cones 1 day ahead of time if using our fresh rose petals. Simply store them in a cool, dry & dark place until you need them.

* Place the boxes or basket at the exits of the ceremony where attendants and ushers can hand them out.

* You can also choose to have ushers hold large baskets full of loose petals. As your guests exit the ceremony site the ushers can instruct them to take a small handful for tossing. This normally takes about 1 cup per guest.

Guests: How to use the petals?

* You want to make sure your guests know exactly what to do with their petals once they have them.

* If you're using petals loose from a basket after the ceremony, your ushers can simply spread the word as they encourage guests to take a handful to toss.

* Some of the most successful tosses are those where the couple attaches "instructions" to the toss packet. The tags can be printed out on your home computer and don't be afraid to have some fun with it.

Here's one suggestion:

"To toss in the air & sprinkle around To shower the newlyweds so that joy will abound. When [bride] and [groom] exit as a pair, please toss your petals high in the air!"

Final Tips

* If you're still concerned about capturing the moment perfectly, consider giving special instruction to a select group of people who can lead the way and ensure your success.

* Consider asking the groomsmen, your younger cousins or even a few of your high school friends.

* Simply ask them to be sure to toss the petals...even cheer or whistle at the right time. All of the guests will follow suit and you'll have your magical "Picture Perfect" moment!

* Make sure your photographer knows what your plan is for the petal toss, so that moment can be captured for you to enjoy for years to come...It is truly a magical moment!

* Your photographer may also play a part in making sure guests are gathered and ready for your grand petal toss or getaway.

Finally...Relax, have fun & enjoy every magical moment!

* Remember to e-mail us a photo or two of your petal toss...we would love to see them & even post them on our site if you agree to it!

Calla Lilies: Exotic Beauty for Any Occasion

2009-10-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

"The calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower -- suitable to any occasion."
(Katherine Hepburn in Stage Door - 1937)

Originally cultivated on the beautiful coast of southern Africa, calla lilies (aka calla lillies) are stunning and dramatic flowers. Additionally, the strength and durability of calla lilies enable them to hold up perfectly as part of a centerpiece or wedding bouquet and to be enjoyed long after the event is long over.

Calla lilies are available in a multitude of shades and colors from pure white and sunny yellow to vibrant orange and luscious red. With so many fabulous choices, calla lilies can be used in virtually any flower arrangement to create a dashing, sophisticated look. Consequently, it is not surprising that calla lilies have become the flower of choice for both interior designers and event planners; their durability, longevity, and array of breathtaking colors make calla lilies a fantastic choice for decorating both homes and special events.

When choosing calla lilies, it is important to understand the different styles offered. Mini calla lilies (also commonly referred to as mini calla lilies) are usually about 15-18 inches tall and are available in a wide range of vivid colors. A full size calla lily can be as tall as two feet and is usually white or yellow. The taller variety is generally only available for a few months during the summer, making them a truly exotic and striking selection.

With their exquisite dagger-shaped leaves, calla lilies are an eye-catching way to decorate any event. They are frequently found in a robust pink color and are often as a complement in bouquets with other varieties of white, red and yellow flowers. Calla lily arm bouquets are popular among brides seeking a graceful, serene look. With a calla lily arm bouquet, the bride cradles the long-stemmed flowers in the crook of her arm as she walks down the aisle. Calla lilies are also ideal flowers for a "clutch wedding bouquet," where the bride holds the flowers in her hands. Both of these bouquet options create a sleek, classy bouquet and a simple, polished look.

When cutting calla lilies, it is best to cut the flower when the spathe (the leaf-like part of the flower) is already fully opened or at least partially opened, but while the pollen is still present. Once cut, you can keep your calla lilies dry at a temperature of 40° F for as long as three days, or if kept wet they will remain radiant for as long as a week. Cut for weddings and parties, calla lilies can be taken home by guests and enjoyed for days after the event.

Enjoy the beauty and originality of these outstanding flowers today!

Make the Most of Exquisite Lilies for your Wedding Flowers

2009-10-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

The lily flower is unique in its attractive star shape, vibrant colors, and distinct fragrance. It can easily be the focal point of your wedding bouquet or table centerpiece, or serve as a supporting cast member in an assorted arrangement. Most lilies fall into one of two categories (not counting the calla lily): Asiatic or oriental. Asiatic Lilies are springtime flowers that come from Central or Western Asia and are not scented. Oriental lilies are from Japan; they bloom in the late summer; and they have a wonderfully pungent aroma.

One sophisticated idea for lily bouquets is to create an all-white look. You can design a beautiful wedding bouquet of white lilies using either an Asiatic lily theme or an oriental lily design and hide the stems with white ribbon for a complementing look. Add a splash of color with a gold or peach ribbon. You can also choose to make the bride\’s lily bouquet white and make the bridesmaids’ bouquets a different solid color of lilies, like bold red Asiatic lilies or sunny yellow Asiatic lilies.

If you\’d rather design a bouquet with lily accents, you can mix and match these luscious flowers with many other gorgeous blooms. Here are some recommendations:

·Orange Asiatic lilies, red gerberas, and yellow Fuji mums.

·Pink oriental lilies, pink daisies, and pink roses.

·Yellow Asiatic Lilies, yellow snapdragons, purple hydrangeas, and purple asters.

·Red Asiatic lilies, red roses, yellow roses, and white calla lilies.

You can also use these ideas for table centerpieces. Lilies truly light up any centerpiece arrangement with their bold and stately composition. Here are some great ideas for using lilies with the following wedding color combinations:

·White and peach: Combine white Asiatic or oriental lilies with peach roses or bright orange rose

·Pink and chocolate brown: Mix pink Asiatic Lilies, white calla lilies, and white roses in a vase covered with chocolate brown and light pink satin ribbon.

·Orange and purple: Include orange Asiatic lilies, orange roses, purple asters, and purple hydrangeas into your table centerpieces. Another idea is to omit the orange roses from this mix and place orange rose petals around the centerpiece instead.

It’s no wonder that lilies are symbols of majesty and purity. Lily flowers are a wonderful addition to your wedding if you are looking for something dramatic but not overdone.

Planning Your Wedding - Advice from An Insider

2009-10-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

What to do when your future mother in law wants to do your wedding flowers??

As a floral designer for over 6 years- we have seen the stress of planning a wedding can take on the bride- and her family. Whenever there is high emotion and money involved- stress is sure to follow. There are some strategies that can help relieve the anxiety involved with planning your wedding and working within your budget.

Find out first who is paying for what and how much. Keep in mind that anyone who contributes money will feel entitled to express their opinion- sometimes loudly! So try and make clear what expectations are. Your future mother-in-law may want to help out- but she also might want her second cousins daughter in your wedding party. If possible try and pay for as much of the wedding yourself and not rely on anyone else.

Take a realistic look at how much money you have to work with- avoid going into debt. Most important- Have a budget!

Be honest with your wedding professional- tell then how much you want to spend and have them help you give you the biggest bang for your buck. They know their field and what is possible and affordable. We know from experience that most creative people want to do their best work for you- and want your wedding flowers to be spectacular or your wedding dress to suit your body type. It is a business but most bridal shop owners, wedding photographers or florists I have met all have pride in their work- if you are getting a sense that they don't or feel like just another dollar sign then move on and find some one else.

Ask our advice- we know our stuff! We have seen hundreds if not thousands of brides and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't. I remember one year when a famous Kennedy got married- and pictures of his bride were all over newspapers and magazines of her holding a wedding bouquet of solid lily of the valley. We had DOZENS of brides walk in wanting this exact look. This is great if your are getting married in the 3 week window in June when lily of the valley is available. Any other time it is imported from Holland and packs a staggering price tag. For a 1/10 th of the money I could have given those brides stunnin a live band at your wedding reception. With a limited budget you will have to make choices. If you want to have 350 people to your wedding- you may have to have chicken and not surf and turf for your guests. Something will have to give. Some good advice- you will be looking at your wedding photos for the next 50+ years. I would invest money into anything that shows up in those photos. Get the best photographer you can afford- do not give this job to your brother or friend who took a Learning Annex course in Photoshop. Good hair and makeup. I suggest nothing TOO trendy in a head piece unless you want to suffer the jibes of your children… and grand children. Do not skimp on your bridal bouquet. This will be staring back at you for years in an 8x10 glossy. Your wedding attire- gets a lovely dress and something nice for your groom.
Anything else is really is just icing on the cake.

Trust me - you may regret spending all your money on a custom designed wedding cake. You will not regret beautiful and professional wedding photographs. It varies from person to person- but certain things really don't matter and some do- I will share my opinions on this. Your dress, wedding photos, your bridal bouquet, location, grooms attire MATTER. Bridesmaid dresses, bridesmaid's flowers and other wedding flowers, wedding cake, head table flowers, table centerpieces, food less but still count! If it’s not in the wedding photo that will be above your mantle- it probably doesn't matter.

Find our how much money you have to work with, who is responsible for what- make a plan and stick to it. Remember all weddings are beautiful and all wedding days are perfect- Try not to let the stress of money ruin the panning process for you. Best Wishes on your Wedding Day!

How to get your boyfriend to propose

2009-09-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

The million dollar question – you are both in love, you are crazy about him, you've been enjoying a good relationship for quite a while (a few months or seven years – and you know this is it. You are ready and you want it to happen, but it just seems as if he has all the time in the world, so how are you going to get your boyfriend to propose? Here are a few tips that will guide you in getting your boyfriend to propose:

1. Mention weddings and marriage in a general way from time to time, talk about close friends you have who are happily married. Talk about how happy they are together.

2. Point out your shared interests, values and common goals. Open his eyes so he'll realize that you're the one for him.

3. Create opportunities: arrange romantic situations that could be a suitable time for him to propose: dinners, weekend vacations, any thing that can be the perfect scene for your boyfriend to propose.

4. Magic – use your unique and individual style to show him you love him and that you are the perfect girl for him. This special intermix, what you may call magic, is just being a true good friend and expressing it by action, words and any other way you find appealing.

Remember: when you want to get your boyfriend to propose, be patient, act wisely and don’t forget to enjoy the pre-engagement period of your relation.

Get Him To Propose

2009-09-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

Wedding flowers

The trickiest question of all: how to get him to propose. It has been your dream ever since, you've always waited for your prince of charms, and finally he has arrived and you have even been enjoying a beautiful relationship for quite a while. But he isn’t showing any signs of doing anything about it. You decide it is time to make a move and get him to propose to you, and make you the happiest woman in the world. So – what to do?

First – stay cool, happy and merry. Men don’t like when women who act nervously; in fact it is the first thing to scare them away. Second – although you have a target in front of you, be a good and loving friend as you have until now – don’t get out of you skin to get him to propose to you. Any drastic changes might seem a little strange. After practicing 'acting casual and natural', the time to add your little spicy act has come.

Your magical sentences should be entwined with your daily conversations and we have gathered a few examples especially for you: Remind him how good you feel together. Point out how well you work as a team. Talk about future plans, such as a joint vacation next summer, moving to a new house or other future events. Mention your close friends who are married and how happy they are together. Express excitement and interest about weddings and all things that are related to the subject: get enthusiastic about the engagement ring of a friend (don’t forget to make sure your boyfriend is around), make a note of pointing out to him engagement rings in the shop window while passing by, but of course, do it in your in a natural and calm way.

Use these tips and ideas to create your unique way to get him to propose to you. Good luck!

Wedding Decoration Ideas

2009-09-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

Beautiful wedding decorations add style, fun, and drama to your wedding day. If you love a particular mood, or simply want to create a gorgeous and memorable setting, you need to think in the following areas to decorate and think about using wedding flowers.

Ceremony

•Entrance
•Aisles, Pews and chairs
•Altar
•Special touches around the church

Reception

• Entrance
• Gift table
• Tables and Centerpieces
• Chairs • Buffet table
• Cake table and cake

Tips for Choosing your Wedding Decorations:

Wedding ceremonies and receptions take place just about anywhere including boats, mansions, marinas, gardens, restaurants, scenic locations, and churches. Each area provides ample opportunities for setting the scene and creating a mood with elegant wedding decorations. First, ask yourselves what style and mood do you both want for your wedding day. Are you casual, sophisticated or romantic? You may decide you want a traditional evening wedding ceremony with lots of candles and wedding flowers, or you may decide on a contemporary setting with silver and white balloons, floating orchids and an ice sculpture. Second, it is important to know your budget. This gives you an idea of how many decorations you can reasonably incorporate into your wedding. Remember that careful planning is necessary to avoid costly mistakes. If budget is an issue, choose only two or three wedding decorations or decorating ideas that really add visual impact. Third, take several photographs of the site to reference as you read through the above ideas. Try to imagine where you could use each idea. It will become clear which decorations will be successful and which ones are unsuitable for your particular setting.

Consider these items when choosing and creating your wedding decorations:

• Color Scheme
• Available Space
• No. of Guests
• Mood/Theme
• Time of Year
• Time of Day
• Location/Setting
• Family Traditions
• Budget

Consider decorations for these areas:

• Altar/Pews
• Flowers
• Gift/Cake Table
• Favors
• Bathrooms
• Guestbook/Pen
• Food/Cake
• Tables
• Guestbook
• Getaway Car
• Chair Backs
• Walls/Doors
• Banisters
• Accessories
• Ceilings/Floors

Keep in mind that locations that are already very festive or decorative may require less, or even no wedding decorations at all! To save money, have friends or relatives transport your ceremony decorations such as flowers, pew bows, or candelabras to your reception site.

With a little imagination, you'll be amazed at how easy and affordable it is to create a unique day that you and your guests will remember for a lifetime.

5 Tips for Decorating Your Fall Wedding on a Budget

2009-09-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

You've got your fall wedding dress. You've chosen your wedding photographer, tasted 100 different wedding cakes, picked your fall wedding location and you've mailed out your save the date magnets and wedding invitations. Any chance you can keep to your budget as you put the final touches on your fall wedding decorations? Absolutely. Here are five fall wedding decorating tips to help you do exactly that.

Fall Wedding Budget Decorating Tip #1: Take Advantage of Nature

One of the most often cited reasons for choosing a fall wedding is the outdoor beauty that defines the season: the gorgeous shades of scarlet, pumpkin oranges, rustic browns and reds create a fiery sunset whether your choose a morning, afternoon or evening fall wedding. Take advantage! Maximize nature. Choose an outdoor location for your fall wedding near a wooded area right after the leaves change, somewhere with tree-lined mountains in the background. There need not be a church or reception area. There need only be chairs divided into two groups creating a natural aisle and facing in the direction of the most brilliant vista view, the foreground of which will be lit up by the bride and groom.

Fall Wedding Budget Decorating Tip #2: Make Centerpieces Serve Double Duty

You can maintain your fall we dding budget by hundreds when you make your wedding centerpieces serve double duty as wedding favors as well. Pyramids that break apart into gifts for each place setting, baskets full of wedding favor gifts, and other arrangements that easily transition into individual wedding favors at the end of your fall wedding reception are the best way to bring beauty to your day and savvy to your budget. Create fall centerpieces that allow your wedding guests to take home a little piece of your special day.

Fall Wedding Budget Decorating Tip #3: Harvest Themed Weddings

Fall is harvest season, and with that means that nature has given us tons of big beautiful crops... and free or cheap wedding flowers as well. Why not use them to decorate your fall wedding on a budget and create a harvest themed wedding? Big pumpkins and gourds can serve in place of wedding flowers, decorating the cake and gift table, or even serve as wedding centerpieces. You may even choose to serve tiny stuffed pumpkins as appetizers or use them as soup bowls for the opening course. Pick a fall color and pull the whole thing together with matching tulle, satin ribbon and table cloths, all of which can be had for a bargain at your local fabric store.

Fall Wedding Budget Decorating Tip #4: Do It Yourself

Just like anything you need to do on a budget, it makes sense to decorate your fall wedding yourself. Let the wedding planner go. Ignore protests that you need a coordinator or a florist. Search in the internet for wedding flowers, farm direct flowers and do it yourself flowers and pick out the freshest blooms of the season. Get your bridesmaids and flower girl working to make the boutonnieres and bouquets. Put your skills and talents to work: if you can sew, make some decorations if not your wedding dress. If you can cook, consider making some of the food for an outdoor fall wedding or even baking your own wedding cake. Make it fall wedding cupcakes! It's your fall wedding. When you do it yourself, you make sure it's done right and for a price you can afford.

Fall Wedding Budget Decorating Tip #5: Be Unexpected

Don't let the trappings of tradition force you into buying things for your fall wedding that you neither want nor need. You'll find that if you question many of the expected characteristics of a fall wedding, many things will simply fall off your wedding budget because they are unnecessary. You don't need to buy out the local wedding supply store or perfectly recreate a celebrity wedding. Make it unique by making unexpected choices in your fall wedding decorating ie. Fall color roses, gerberas, sunflowers, alstroemerias, callas, hydrangeas, bells of Ireland, hypericum berries, Asiatic lilies and make sure that your money is spent only on things that serve to highlight you and your new spouse.

Autumn is Here and the Perfect Wedding Flowers need to be picked!!

2009-09-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Autumn is the perfect time of year to get married with the beautiful scenery and rich fall colors. Autumn is a time of year that symbolizes and celebrates prosperity and abundance, what a perfect way to start a new life together. For an earthy couple or couple that enjoys gardening, a harvest wedding is a unique Autumn wedding idea where you can celebrate the things you love.

Nature can take center stage when choosing your fall wedding colors and decorations. Natural fall colors such as reds, browns, deep greens, golden yellows, burnt oranges, burgundy, maroon, dark purples, and gold are all wonderful choices when choosing your bridesmaids’ dresses and other decorations.

Your decorations can focus on the abundance in nature; roses, calla lilies mango, calla lilies purple, Asiatic lilies, orchids, berries, green hydrangea, bells of Ireland, gerberas, kangaroo paws, squash, pumpkins, gourds, twigs, apples, and corn. You could have elegant centerpieces filled with fruits and vegetables that your guests could take with them after the reception. Bowls could be filled with floating candles shaped like apples. Pumpkins could be hallowed out jack-o'-lantern style but instead of scary Halloween faces you could have designs, leaf shapes, or wedding symbols like rings, doves, a cake, or a bride and groom silhouette carved into them. Small gourds and squash could be arranged on a mirror tile around a large candle.

Other decorating options include: swags and garlands of fall leaves and berries, corn stalks arranged elegantly and tied with raffia or ribbon, wicker baskets full of homemade looking jams, jellies, fruits, rose petals and applesauce, arbors or trellises entwined with grape vines and white lights. Your invitations can be decorated with the same harvest themes, rubber stamped leaves, apples or other fruits and vegetables or you could have invitations on elegant stationary embossed with gold leaves. Rose petals could be scattered on the buffet table and guest tables. Your wedding bouquets could consist of roses, hypericum berries, calla lilies, wild flowers, greenery and fall leaves.

The perfect location could be an apple orchard, farm, vineyard, or even a local Bed and Breakfast or Inn. Any place will do as long as you decorate with nature's abundance in mind. You could offer hay rides to your guests around the orchard or farm.

The Autumn harvest menu could include squash, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, apple pie, apple crisp, apple sauce, roast vegetables, roast turkey, breads like pumpkin, apple or zucchini, platters of grapes, berries, cheese and crackers, and don’t forget an autumn must have – apple cider and donuts.

Special wedding favors for an Autumn Harvest theme wedding could include small jars of homemade jams, jellies, applesauce, pickles, mustards, or sauces. Other options could be caramel apple kits; bread mixes in a jar or bag, muffin mixes, seed packets, or chocolates in wrapped in foil leaves. Make sure to attach special tags thanking your guests for joining you on your special day.

An Autumn Harvest Theme Wedding is an elegant and earthy way to celebrate your new life together with the abundance and prosperity of the season. Your guests are sure to appreciate such a unique celebration.

Stunning Wedding Bouquets for the Big Day of your Life

2009-09-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Wedding in the absence of flowers is like a garden without blooms, and the flowers are as important as other wedding essentials.

The wedding bouquet, in particular, which you carry on your big day, needs special attention and planning. The right wedding bouquet must complement your dress and at the same time should not detract.

A simple and elegant wedding bouquet is a great accessory to complement your gorgeous gown and smiling face. If a wedding bouquet is too flashy or showy, your dress may not receive the attention it deserves. However, that doesn’t mean that your bridal bouquet should be plain, white and boring.

Pretty Pink

This collection of 18 sweet and unique pink roses will be a hit with every bride. Give it to your bridesmaid or carry it with you throughout your big day.
The stems of the roses are completely covered and tied with pink satin ribbon, which will make your bouquet look more elegant and decent.

Vibrant Fall

This vibrant flower bouquet is hand–tied with a wonderful combination of black magic red roses, mango mini callas, hypericum berries and circus roses. This amazing collection of flowers is especially suitable for a fall wedding.

Choosing the Best Wedding Flowers

2009-09-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

A wedding cannot be considered fitting without flowers, the difficulty lies in the wide choice you may be faced with and the costs involved.

There are so many flowers solutions to choose from and numerous purposes for flowers during a wedding to consider, that it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start.

Before you proceed, consider the costs; these will vary according to the intricacy of the flower arrangements, the magnitude of the wedding party and the type of flowers you will be choosing.

For tighter budgets choose amongst roses, carnations, flower fillers and daisies, while the more expensive flowers will be, orchids, callas, hydrangeas and peonies. In general, if you choose flowers that are in season, they will be fresher and less expensive.

The flower bouquets for the bridesmaids can be re-dimensioned as can the decoration of the reception tables, using seasonal flowers or rose petals as an alternative to the central flower arrangements.

Color schemes are now evolving from the traditional pale colors; the flower colors can range from white to bright reds and oranges.

Other alternative decorations are also becoming fashionable, such as fruit, grasses, herbs and garlands, giving a more natural setting to churches and receptions.

How to Pick fall wedding flowers and colors

2009-08-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. And if you are lucky enough to live in a place that has plenty of fall foliage then chances are fall is your favorite season. If you are engaged to be married and then a fall wedding with vibrant colors of the season and beautiful fall wedding flowers will be a beautiful day to remember.

If you are going with a specific Autumn theme then you can really take advantage of the beautiful and vibrant colors for breathtaking fall wedding flowers.

1. Step 1

Pick your colors. What you decide for your fall wedding flowers will depend on which colors you go with. There are several different color combinations for fall that you can choose from by looking around at what nature has to offer. You can easily choose from rich shades or burgundies, burnt orange, copper and gold just to name a few.

2. Step 2

Talk to your florist or flower provider like RoseSource.com. Both will be able to recommend fall wedding flowers that will compliment your wedding colors and each other. Common fall flowers perfect in yellow/orange hues include sunflowers, gerber, daisies, mango callas, burgundy, black magic roses, orange rose and hypericum berries .

3. Step 3

Add other outdoor elements. Adding small pumpkins and gourds to your fall wedding flowers will make beautiful fall centerpieces.

Wedding Entrance Dance

2009-08-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this wedding's party entrance into the church. Very cool and so much fun.

Labels: wedding flowers, wedding sample box, wedding in a box

Wedding Flowers - from a happy couple: Sarah & Joseph

2009-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that whenever anyone asked me where I got my roses I told them rose source! I am very glad that I took the "risk" of ordering them with you! I will continue to recommend you to anyone that is looking into buying online!

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Sarah & Joseph

Another Happy Customer´s Testimonial

2009-04-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

I would like thank you for all of your efficient customer service, prompt delivery & absolutely Gorgeous Quality Roses! They arrived without a hitch as you had promised by Wednesday with FedEx. It took no time at all to process the 100 roses as your company had stripped away most of the thorns. We did not have enough refrigerated space to store them, so I had to place the buckets of flowers on my lanai where it was cool. To my complete amazement & joy, not one of the roses had blown by Saturday but rather had opened to perfection! Excellent Quality Roses!!
My niece requested that I arrange for all of her wedding flowers, secure I was up to the task as I had worked for a few years at a floral shop after retiring from a career in medicine. They had a beautiful church wedding & Renaissance style reception outdoors. Her grandmother in Minnesota graced us by shipping to us the most beautiful extra large dried hydrangeas, vines of dried bittersweet, orange & white pumpkins to work with as our base. As we reside in Florida our yards were filled with a bounty of greenery like ferns, ivy, berry vines, African iris leaves, etc that I used to add to the vase arrangements. The vibrant Mariana roses set off the hydrangeas, ivy & greenery and matched perfectly with the orange berries used in arrangements and the orange pumpkins that were displayed. Also the Mariana’s & green swatch of hydrangea looked stylish with the copper wire I had chosen to wrap all of the groomsmen & fathers boutonnieres with.
Your follow up efficiency & phone call letting me know my order request for the very fragrant Arianna roses were able to be filled & getting my order processed to satisfaction was greatly appreciated. I arranged a dozen of the wonderfully fragrant Arianna roses inside a very large dried green hydrangea for the bridal bouquet and added a dozen silk rose buds with Swarovski crystals centered in them to add a little bling! It was very easy to secure the stems with silk ribbon & pearl pins as all the stems were very straight, unlike some roses I have worked with in the past. The bride was delighted with it! By the way, it also dried beautifully. I was able to preserve it for her several days after the wedding and your roses remain as beautiful as her wedding day with of course some discoloration from the preservative. The rest of the roses were used in combination for all of the 5 bridesmaid’s bouquets, church isles & reception flowers along with the dried hydrangea & ivy streamers. Again your roses held up perfectly, even made up days in advance and placed in water tubes. I am attaching some photos of your Wonderful Roses!!
Carla, I commend you for all of your excellent customer service and RoseSource.com quality products that helped me take pride in my labor of love on a budget. I received many compliments which I must pass on to you & RoseSource.com for providing me with such a quality product to work with. I have recommended RoseSource.com to family & friends and of course will return myself when the need for flowers in bulk arises again.

Sincerely,

Darlene
Lady Leopard Designs
Ocala, FL

Valentine's Day: A History in Flowers

2009-01-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

As a holiday recognized by couples and singles throughout the world, Valentine's Day has many different meanings to a variety of people. Valentine’s Day was originally named for Saint Valentine, a Roman Priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's decree that his soldiers could not marry thus making them better solders. Valentine preformed secret marriages, none-the-less, and was imprisoned for his treason. There he is said to have fallen in love with the jailer’s daughter, and he wrote her many love notes signed “Your Valentine”, hence the popular endearment known today.
As far as the actual day picked to celebrate the Valentine's Day Holiday, this has several origins. One explanation is that the Christian Church picked February 14th as a direct jab towards the pagan holiday of Lupercalia which celebrates the welcoming of spring. There was a Fertility Festival and a ritual where all the single woman of the village put their names into a hat and the bachelors of the village had to fish out one name per man. These names would be drawn together for the year in a courting ritual to try and make a love match. These couples, if they worked out, were also said to be more fertile together. The celebration of Lupercalia is what makes flowers an acceptable and cherished gift by many men and women today.
During the season there were many different varieties of flowers to choose from as a compliment to a Valentine's Day love note. Mostly, these include a variety of roses. Roses are an overarching symbol of affection and each color represents a different spectrum and stepping stone in a blossoming relationship. Given as a gift in celebration of a fertile year, both physically and emotionally, the rose connects back to Lupercalia in its different forms of expression. Just as the couples of the Lupercalia love match were getting to know one another during the blooming season, so can modern day couples get to know one another by showing their ever-growing affection through an assortment of rose choices.
This Valentine's Day don't just visit a Hallmark store and grab a trite card, learn from the fertile past and truly celebrate the bond you have with each other. By taking the time to both research and handpick through an assortment of different rose colors and varieties all with special meanings, you will show your loved one the devotion and time honored classiness that Roman's expressed in years past.
Visit the RoseSource.com Rose Gallery to see our wide selection of rose colors and varieties.

RoseSource.com: MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

2009-01-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Since our first visit to the Taxoalo community, RoseSource.com has seen and felt the issues of the people. We have decided to address their problems the best way we know how and to the best of our capabilities. Our visits have accumulated into a deeper understanding of the communities needs, which we've taken to the outlaying communities by seeking the support of the people in Quito as well as other organizations so they may better understand this issue. At RoseSource.com we are committed to continue educating communities and obtaining the support needed to improve the living conditions of this community in Ecuador. Which is why during the holiday season, when caring and giving are most important, we propose to help those in need. By buying from RoseSource.com you will be acknowledging and helping the people in Taxoalo.

For every flower you buy during the Valentine's Day Season of 2009, RoseSource.com will donate US$ 0.02 cents to the Taxoalo community. We are seeking the support from our American customers and friends, we repeat, per each stem bought for St. Valentine’s Day at RoseSource.com, by typing in the code RS-TAXOALO with your order before signing out, RoseSource.com will donate funds to the Taxoalo community. Our purpose in donating is to create a fund to help improve the school’s sanitary infrastructure and to start a development project aimed to achieve the community’s self-sustainability. Every flower bought can bring us closer to our ultimate goal of helping these people. We’ve already received an immediate, from the heart response from a young Ecuadorian couple, Santiago Chacon and his wife. Every year they donate gifts and candies to the boys and girls of the poorest rural areas of Ecuador.

On Sunday, December 14, 2008, thanks to their support, we were able to deliver 550 gifts consisting of bags of treats, blankets and food to the children of Taxoalo and the surrounding communities.

Let's not let our efforts and the compassion derived from our actions, stop this New Year. Take the time to donate and help with RoseSource.com, you won't regret it.

RoseSource.com… Getting involved with the community in Ecuador

2008-12-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

Her name is Noemí, she is 20 years old and she is from Taxoaló, an indigenous community settled at the Western Andes in Ecuador, close to the town of Sigchos at 3 hours from the capital city Quito.

She is the oldest of 8 kids and her parents just became 45 years old. She left her town when she was 12 years seeking for better days in the big city unfortunately her first experience was not a good one, victim of abuse and mistreated for over 5 years.

At the age of 17 she decided to change her life. I believe fate brought her into my house looking for a job, eager to move forward and achieve her goals. Since that very moment, both my family and I have supported her to study and obtain her diploma as a dressmaker.

The day of her graduation we were invited over to her house, a humble place to celebrate along with her family and neighbors, her important achievement… to finish school and become the first one in her family to have access to the “opportunities” offered by the Western world.

What a wonderful trip… for three hours we were surrounded by the most amazing landscapes of the Ecuadorian Andes, breathtaking canyons and rivers, green mountains where the farmers work the land. When I arrived along with my wife and my two little kids we were overwhelmed by the extreme poverty Noemi’s family live in as well as all the members of the community and the region.

RoseSource.com deeply concerned with this reality in Ecuador, decided to bring the Christmas Spirit and happiness especially to the kids of the area… toys, candies and clothing were handed out among the farmers and their families.

We want to continue and commit our efforts and those of our customers to promote development programs as well as to generate opportunities aiming to improve Noemi’s family living conditions as well as the community’s.

This is our first approach to this community, we will keep you updated of our progress and in due time we would ask our customers for their support to this noble cause. You can never start to imagine how hard their life is… LET’S HELP THEM!!!!!!

Rafael Pacheco

President

RoseSource.com

For more pictures please go to this link.

Frequent Asked Questions

2008-08-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

How to choose what flowers to use?

Flowers should be picked according to your wedding colors, but it does not necessarily mean that you have to match the flowers' color to the dresses.

Flowers should be complimentary and contrast nicely.

Which flowers go with certain themes?

Most flowers can be use with multiple themes; a theme is often communicated by what surrounds your flowers - linens, containers, etc. - rather than by the flowers themselves.

Are flowers available seasonally or year-round?

Currently, seasonality is less of an issue since flowers are grown all over the world. Roses are available year-round. Once you have made your selection, ask our experts if seasonality would be an issue for your flowers.

How is the delivery process?

Being a Farm-direct company, once you place your order our farms start working on it and the flowers are transported by FedEx from Ecuador directly to your door, avoiding changes in the flowers' temperature and assuring the freshness and quality of our flowers.

What should I do when the flowers arrive?

As soon as you get the flowers, cut the stems at an angle and place them in lukewarm water and add flower food. Let them settle and re-hydrate for at least 8 hours before you start working on your arrangements. Place them in a cool place (i.e laundry room or basement) and away from direct sunlight.

Do-it-Yourself

2008-07-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of a wedding surrounded with thousands of flowers? Well, it has never been easier; all you need is a little imagination and our astonishing farm direct flowers… I am talking about do-it-yourself arrangements.

The first step is to choose the wedding colors this will help you find the flowers that will coordinate and complement your wedding attire.

Useful Hint: Always choose flowers in various sizes and shapes. You want shapes that are different yet still complement each other.
This same principle applies to color. A simple round bouquet can be used for a bridal bouquet or a bridesmaid bouquet.

Choose larger flowers for your bouquet like roses, lilies and carnations. Make sure you order plenty; you can always use the extra flowers for corsages, the toss away bouquet, boutonnieres, etc. Make sure to include greenery and fillers not only are they part of your bouquet’s background but also they come handy to fill in the gaps and your bouquet will appear full.

Always have plenty of ribbon, lace or beads as well as a hot glue gun and/or glue sticks to attach the ribbons and floral wire. You will need a bouquet holder for each bouquet you will make, as well as a stand to place your bouquet while you are arranging the flowers.

First place your bouquet holder in the stand. Place the flowers against the holder and visualize how you want to put the flowers. Place the flowers next to each other and see how they look together. Start cutting your flower stems off the bushes. Start at six inches. It is better to cut them too long than too short.

Now proceed to place four of the main flowers you have chosen for your bouquet, place them along the outer edges of the holder, also place the greenery behind each of these flowers (like a cross shape), take one large flower and place it in the middle of the holder, right in the center.

Now you can decide which flowers to use next. Keep using your main flowers and arrange them around the center into a square, they should form an angle toward the four cross flowers and a bit below the center flower. It should look like a three- layered bouquet. Keep filling around the layers by placing them on top of the first four flowers of the cross. Cut them a little shorter and make sure they are not covering the first layer. You can also add ribbon or beads around the holder.

These simple steps on how to make your own bouquets and floral arrangements will save you money on your wedding. It just take the right flowers and your imagination…

Farm Direct: Too many advertise it…. Few are able to prove it

2008-07-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

In the flowers business as well as in other type of business, there are thousands of producers, marketers and specialized stores offering to deliver the best product to their customers.

There are several marketing strategies used to reach the final consumer, some of the following are among the most used ones:

The freshest product in the market
The most inexpensive one
The best quality
The most beautiful flowers
The largest variety
Next day – delivery
We satisfy every one of your needs
Free-shipping
No additional charges

Videos and instructions for flower care and handling. There are many arguments used to increase the sales and benefit our companies, but few of us are really concerned about the quality of the product we are promoting and selling.

Unfortunately, due to the size of the market the general criteria among companies is that it is not important to loose a customer even if the product did not satisfy the customer’s requirements affecting the confidence and credibility of the general and final consumer who wants to purchase flowers but feels disappointed since he/she is not getting what was promised through the advertisement, it gets worse when it comes to buying on-line.

We at RoseSource -as well as many other professional companies- use some of the same marketing strategies to reach our customers, but what differentiates us from the others is our daily goal THE CUSTOMER’S SATISFACTION THROUGH OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. This statement barely mentioned in the marketing strategies reflects our staff’s commitment with the customers allowing us to steadily grow and consolidate within the flower market.

It is not our intention to be identified as a big company - what eventually would mean important commercial recognition - but as a company that is not looking to grow at our customer’s expense. We are capable to demonstrate that we are a Farm-Direct company.

We have realized that thanks to our positioning in the United States and Ecuador one of our strongholds is the ability to work every order from the FINAL customer directly with each of our associated farms. What does this mean? Let’s explain in more detail:

The above chart clearly explains that the time the flower travels is much less, this implies great advantages for the product and our customers, such as:

No hydration issues whatsoever since the traveling time of the flower decreases substantially.
We greatly diminish changes in the flower’s temperature preventing the flower to be impacted by the current weather at the different stops.
We avoid the unnecessary handling of the flower and the subsequent damages resulting from the excessive stops and moving of the boxes by the carrier.
We certify that the flowers are transported from our farms to straight to our customer's hands. The labels in our boxes are the warranty of the true and real origin of our flowers. Along with FedEx we are the pioneers in developing and implementing this program from Ecuador.

Those who are involved in the flower business know that the first two statements above warranty the quality and base life of the flower.

RoseSource.com recognizes the efforts made by other companies to provide good quality products. Our intention with this Editorial is to reassure our customers that our daily goal is to fully satisfy their floral needs, and that our business principle is no different from what we advertise: we are a 100% Farm Direct Company.

This differentiates us from a large amount of companies that present themselves as Farm Direct but in reality are parts of a commercialization chain.

We will continue illustrating our consumers in several flower related topics that we hope would be of great interest.

Rafael Pacheco

General Manager – South America

rafael@rosesource.com

Getting Married? Choose the Right Flowers

2008-07-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

The most astonishing and gorgeous flowers can create a stunning ambiance at your wedding ceremony. When it comes to choosing the right flowers for your bouquet you have to consider what type of wedding will fit accordingly to your style… are you a glamorous bride, bohemian bride or a classic bride.

Provide our flower experts with information about the bridal party attire to match the colors, as well as the color of the gowns to be worn by the mothers of both the bride and the groom, these helpful hints will allow us to captivate the attention of your guests with unique and innovative designs.

Always remember, don’t choose flowers that could overwhelm your figure. Petite women should select smaller bouquets whereas taller women can select bigger and more robust bouquets

It is very important to figure out a color theme for your wedding, but be very careful to choose from those colors that will complement but not contrast with the color of the bridesmaid dresses. Rich ambers, oranges and reds complement fall weddings, while silver, gold and cranberry suit winter affairs perfectly. Pale pink, blue and green work well for spring weddings, and rich beach colors or citrus shades work well for summer soirees.

If you're celebrating your wedding in a small space, select flowers with less fragrance such as orchids, dahlias, stay away from gardenias or freesias.

Depending on the colors you chose, many of the floral arrangements used at the ceremony (Altar flowers) can be reused for your reception décor.

How to: Make your arrangement last longer.

2008-07-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

The questions people ask the most when purchasing flowers are "How do I take care of them?" and "How long will they last?" A little extra care can mean a big difference. The base life of most floral arrangements is from 4 to 7 days depending on the types of flowers and the care they've received.

What to do?

1. Always make sure you are buying your flowers from a reputable source.

2. Make sure that flowers are well wrapped for protection. If for some reason you cannot put the flowers in water immediately, keep them in a cool place and away from direct sunlight.

3. Cut the stems at an angle, remove the excessive foliage and avoid the leaves to fall into the water to prevent bacteria formation. This provides a bigger area for the stems to take up more water.

4. Use lukewarm water. Flowers open up better since lukewarm water contains less oxygen avoiding the formation of bubbles in the stem that may block water intake. Tulips and other spring bulbs can be placed in cold water. Make sure you are using clean vases, remember that bacteria kills the flowers.

5. Ask about flower food. If not available use a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of white vinegar. This will help the flowers to feed properly and the buds to open. Flower food also keeps bacteria at bay and lengthens the life of flowers (bacteria blocks the stem and prevents the water uptake).

What not to do?

1. Do not put flowers near ripening fruit since the ethylene gas released ages the flowers prematurely. Dying flowers also release tiny amounts of ethylene gas, remove them from the vase.

2. Do not pierce the stems or use blunt scissors as this will inhibit the water intake by destroying the flower's water vessels causing bacteria and stressing the flower.

3. Do not add aspirin, bleach or copper coins into the water, they don't work and they do more harm than good to the flower.

4. Do not place flowers on bright sunlight as this will allow bacteria to grow. Keep them away from central heating.