Flowers from the Rainflorist - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Celebration Month at Flowers From The Rainflorist...look at what's new!

This month is a Great Month of  Celebration for us at www.Flowersfromtherainflorist.com. Our website has been revamped and now has even more  security features for your protection. Shopping online just became easier as well as safer with the safe guards we have increased so that  your online order is even more secure. “We know online shopping is a major concern, that's why we felt it was important to provide you with Ft. Lauderdale's safest website for Flowers and gifts for local and out of town delivery” states Marie D, the Head of the Internet division of Flowers From The Rainflorist. 

Today was really exciting at the shop…..Our selection of the finest wines, champagnes and imported beers arrived ! Since we are the only Florist in our area that is officially licensed from the State of Florida Department of Alcohol and Tobacco to sell and include wines, beers and champagnes in baskets or along with flowers  …we had to celebrate by small tastes!…after all, we don’t sell cookies and cakes until we have tasted them, so we had to test out the bubbly.. We popped a bottle of bubbly to mark this special occasion and everyone got to have a “ taste”.  Very refreshing!

We have a large selection for the most discriminating tastes and are ready for delivery throughout the Ft. Lauderdale, Sunrise and the entire greater Broward County area. Now your special gift can be even more outstanding. Not only can our professional designers deliver one of a kind couture flower arrangements, we can now compliment it with a cold bottle of Perrier Jouet or Dom Perignon or Grand Reserve Merlot or Pinot Grigio , Chardonnay or a rich Cabernat Reserve……We even carry a nice blend with an interesting history of seven grape vintners  who came together to create an awesome Zinfindel wine..It’s called 7 Deadly sins. Reading the label is entertaining whether you partake or not.

If you are a  fan of Imported beers,or have a favorite  beer connoisseur in your life,  we have a special  beer bucket with a selection of Guinness  and Harp for the man that has everything. And with football season in full swing, this makes a great home tail-gating gift.   

So come by…we’re a great place to pop in and grab a quick gift of flowers , wine and other goodies for yourself, especially if you have been shopping on Black Friday, Pink Saturday or whenever!

Flowers From The Rainflorist is A Winner in A World-Wide Competition!

We have winners! Finally, after a day of waiting for votes to be counted, re-checked and cross checked, a Big Sigh of relief has been heard around the world! The winners of the world-wide competition for the most interesting design of twelve roses have been announced. The nail biting competition was sponsored by the Flower Chat Group, the back-bone of the Real Florist Community, and participants all submitted unusual designs, traditional designs and outlandish designs hoping to be a winner and to be able to display the winning badge on their web-site. Looking at all of the entry’s, it was easy to see “personalities” in each one. The world wide community had ten days to look at each entry and to make their votes count. Albert Cortes of Flowers From the Rainflorist is in the top twelve winners from around the world and we are so proud of him.

Albert designed an intriguing arrangement of red roses, kiwi vines, monstera leaves and sword leaf in a design that was to honor his family's Conquistadors history.

The submissions were limited to other Real Professional Florist, some with years of experience and some who have never competed before but who are the Real Experts on Flowers. Voters were limited to Real Florists from around the world who are part of the Real Florist Community.

Flowers From The Rainflorist is proud to have received significant votes to be a top twelve winner! This is a Great Honor to have Real Professional Florists look at Albert’s design and chose it as a winner! Enjoy Albert's Design!

VIP Party with the Duchess Fergie at Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock’s Ambassadors of Rock< Tour, a global concert series featuring top artists and bands stopped at Hard Rock Live this week with the Duchess Fergie. The prettiest part of the Black-Eyed peas performed solo at Hard Rock Live but before her performance, she popped in at Hard Rock Cafe for an appearance at a VIP party. She presented a check to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital from a part of her evening performance. This check for  $20,000  is going kids' care facility down the road from the Hard Rock in Hollywood!

The Floral Artisans at Flowers From The Rainflorist were called upon to decorate the room with red roses...lots of red roses..... and we had our first opportunity to work with the experienced crew of 2rProductions, who did a phenomenal job of creating a lounge atmosphere with trendy furniture and rich  fabric draping that changed a Cafe into a lush  looking lounge. The tables glowed, the klippen sofas were comfy and the bourgie lamps really set the tone for "lounging" in style. Add some Pantone chairs and everything was ready for our flowers. Their rental equipment is awesome for any party and this was just perfect for the VIP's gathered at the Fergie Lounge. 

Ambassadors Rock Tour with The Duchess Fergie

Society of American Florists Convention

After twenty years in the Floral Business, Flowers From The Rainflorist finally had the opportunity to take part in the SAF convention in Palm Beach at the Breakers Hotel      this past week. What a treat to be able to meet up with old friends and to meet new ones…some of us only knew each other through forums but we have chatted online for years, so to meet face to face was really awesome. Although the name Society of American Florists would lead you to believe that it is only open to the retail florist, wholesalers, growers, suppliers, educators and independent designers from around the world are members.

I was able to attend several conferences but the most informative was one led by Renato Cruz Sogueco, Chief Information Officer of the Society of American Florists, who led the group in a hands-on “blog” crash course…….it was so informative that my note taking wore my pencil down to it’s nub…yes a pencil in the high tech world of blogging. Kind of funny isn’t it…must be an age thing. 

During the convention, new varieties were submitted from Floral Farms across the world to the SAF Outstanding Varieties competition for SAF and were judged on performance, foliage, fragrance, durability and color….the room was so powerful in it’s beauty that many other guests staying the hotel asked to be allowed to come into the room to enjoy the view. There were many “ohhs and ahhs” and it brought many of the attendees back to earth on the importance of how flowers impact consumers. Eufloria Flowers received the Best In Class ribbon for their new spray rose Flash Night. Just beautiful!

And  Green Valley Floral won Best in Show for it’s beautiful Oriental Lily Robina.

 I’ll be posting the dates over the next six months when we are able to have these beauties available to us.

Just walking to each seminar was a visual treat as Professional Florists from all over the country come to these events and donate their time and lots of energy to creating awesome designs. A few that we saw the first morning were in the corridor leading tto the morning breakfast and one outside our first roundtable.

Other seminars that I was able to attend were Digital Deadbolt, Thinking on Your Feet, Sustainability, Idea Swap and new products on the market.

 I was able to meet the new CEO of FTD, Mark Goldston and listen to his new perspective on the growth of the company. He is youthful and it was invigorating to listen to his perspective of our industry.All in all the Convention was well worth traveling up to Palm Beach.  Next year will be the Societies 125^th Annual Convention and will be held at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort Phoenix, Arizona.

Bringing the Outside In …….with a Miniature size Volcano Plant From Hawaii

Volcano Plants Have Arrived at Flowers From The Rainflorist!

Do you need a gift for someone who has absolutely no “green thumb” or the time to take care of a green plant….or are you looking to improve the air quality of your own home or office by incorporating plants but just don’t have the time or want the expense of plant maintenance? Consider the easy to care for Volcano plants. One might be the perfect solution for your dilemma. 

Flowers From The Rainflorist just received their first shipment of Volcano Plants directly from Hawaii and each plant is unique and provides it’s own habitat for growing. At full growth, each plant will only reach about 8-10 inches which make them a great gift as a  starter plant for the Bonsai Gardener. The plants are grown on a lava rock, also called Hawaiian Volcano rock and the varieties available include bromeliads, red and  pink anthuriums, and green or variegated scheffleras. These plants also help keep the indoor air clean while being easy to care for! They put water vapour back into the air, while  absorbing heat and filterering dust and harmful substances out of the air.

To maintain these plants, all that is needed is a shallow dish, a cup of water and some filtered bright light. They actually thrive on bright filtered light which is perfect for offices, small spaces in the home and are especially nice for those that practice feng shui décor and want to add a special element to their decor.

We welcome you to stop by and take a look at these fun plants and maybe you will want to take home a gift of paradise for yourself and one for a friend! They are certainly the gift that keeps on giving.

For more info on how plants improve your home and office décor we suggest you visit  http://www.healthygreenatwork.org

                                                                   

Meet the Buzz in our Design Room

Flowers From The Rainflorist  has  a buzz in the Design Room and everyone is asking who it is…well we’d like to introduce Albert Cortes to all of our customers today. Albert has joined our team of Floral Artisans as the lead Designer and he is already turning heads with his creative designs and interpretive work.

Albert started in the floral industry when he was seventeen as a driver for a Latin Flower Shop in Miami until the owner discovered that Albert's gift of design was needed in the store more than on the road. A few years later, he added to his design experience when offered an opportunity to assist a pastry chef at the Grand Café where he was able to combine flowers and cakes. What a great combination! After his apprenticeship with this famous Chef, Albert was able to take his “design on the road” and travelled extensively doing free-lancing across the country from New York to Boston, and Denver to San Francisco designing in  upscale venues until he was discovered by a Floral Shop in the Castro District where he stayed for several years creating designs for parties, weddings, home décor and furniture staging.   

We are fortunate that the sounds and spices of South Florida lured  him back and Flowers From The Rainflorist is excited to have him join our family! Come in and introduce yourself to Albert and have him design your next party, wedding or special floral gift and share the excitement with all of us at Flower From The Rainflorist. 

Meet Albert Cortes 

                and some of his work!                                                                               

Seminole Hard Rock's High Roller Party has a 60's theme!

When it comes to treating the High Rollers to a party at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino you can bet that the walls will Rock and the High Rollers  will Roll.......after all, they  know how to have a good time. That is an easy bet to win! Combine the partying nature of the Hotel with the Beatle Mania Band, psychedelic linens from Over the Top Linen and flowers from The Artisans at Flowers From The Rainflorist, the night was awesome and filled with lots of good times. Oh, and did I mention the great food from the world reknown Chefs.?..well, when you talk about excellent food, Seminole Hard Rock Chef's are right up there with the most highly regarded Chefs in our City...... they really know how to treat your palate to mouth watering treats at their buffets. It is no wonder that the room was filled with over 500..yes 500 High Rollers partying and having a grand time. The walls were lite up with psychedelic flowers, the tables were accented with flower child blooms reminescent of the 60's and the band played all of the Beatles hits...

 Psychedelic "wall" flowers                                                                    The other side of the room

Guest tables                                                                                        The whole room!

Buffet Designs                                                                                         Lots of Buffets for 500 guests!

This room is huge!                                                                                   Our "Yellow Submarine" Gerbera Daisies

So now you can see just a few reasons why so many folks like "playing" the "games" at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. You can stay in the Hotel, gamble whenever you feel like it, sample the food in any one of the dozen restaurants, visit the Okalee Historic Seminole Tribal Museum, swim in the waterfall  pool or sit under one of the Chickees with a drink and enjoy the view or just come out and play and and become a High Roller!  If all the activity and partying become to much for you, just turn the corner enjoy the Spa on site !

Call Flowers From The Rainflorist and we'll deliver flowers for your room or any event that you are planning...we're the Floral Artisans when you need Flowers at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino!

December 12th is Poinsettia Day! Send something red...or white...or pink...or cinnamon colored!

Well it is less than a month away from Christmas day and you have probably already seen someone in your office or neighborhood receive a lush healthy looking red, white or  pink poinsettia plant being delivered by their Local Real Florist. But do you know anything about this gorgeous plant?

The poinsettia is named after  Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first American Ambassador to Mexico in the 1820's and who during his travels there, discovered a red blooming plant along side of the road, brought cuttings back to his greenhouse in South Carolina and the story begins. Since then, over 100 varieties are available with red being the most frequently purchased. In 2004 ..alone...a total of over 61 million poinsettia plants were sold.Contrary to old wives tales, they are not poisonous.Poinsettias represent more than 80  percent of all potted plants sold during the holidays.

But even as a Professional Florist for almost twenty years, I really never gave them much thought...we got them in the store for Christmas, we sold them, we took home the few that were left over and planted them and now have a yard with some pretty plants that require a little bit of care but that bloom every year..even when we are not as careful of them as we should be. Recently my path crossed that of Joe Mioux of Mioux Florist and Greenhouse in Carlyle, Illinois who has an amazing greenhouse and stories to match. He graciously shared pictures of his seedlings and their growth with me and I want to share them with you. Listening to him talk about his little seedlings and watching them grow, and his stories of gas heaters failing and having to make emergency runs in the middle of the night to keep the plants from harm have increased my respect for the growers and for the pretty red ( and white, pink and cinnamon ) poinsettias. Here are a a few of Joe's pictures of his babies, toddlers and now teenagers ready for delivery to you from us at Flowers From The Rainflorist. 

 Cuttings                                                                Some starting to grow                              

                                                              Getting a little bigger                                           

                                                               4 months old...wow a lot of green!

  What color will they be???                                            A hint of color                                      

                                                                      Almost ready for your house                     

                                                                                    Snowy White                                                                     

 And lastly a new favorite that we will be carrying......the peachy/cinnamon...makes me think of cinnamon buns on a cold day.....and of course a cappuchino!

 Call us if you'd like more information on the care of your plant and we will gladly offer it to you even if you did not receive a healthy Mioux poinsettia from Flowers From The Rainflorist.

When "Free" really isn't "Free"

What does getting something for free mean to you?...to me, it means I do not pay for it, I am not charged for it, the real price for it is not raised to accomodate giving it to me for "free" and it is not a "free" such and such" with an added "whatchamacallit added at the end of my order  to cover the cost of giving me something for "free". Free means it is mine for no charge...simple isn't it? Well at least that was what I understood until I ran across the 1-800 Flowers ad that reads "Free Shipping" . So the assumption is that it is "free", right?. Here I am thinking, "wow...how do I offer my customer this great "free" thing..after all,I have labor costs, gas costs ...oh yeah..gas that is currently over $ 3.15 per gallon and soon to increase, anyway lots of costs to be able to give a "free delivery" to my customers to compete with 1-800 flowers. My customers will be thrilled to save money, won't they? So I figure I'd better investigate this a little further because no matter how I crunch my numbers, I can't seem to make this "free" thing happen without a serious loss. So I talk to other florists, look at Floristdetective.com and it seems like the "free" thing really isn't "free" after all. In fact, so many Real Professional Florists...the ones that do design, have flowers in their shops and actually know what time of year you can get Amaryllis in Texas or sunflowers in Michigan......well they have formed a pettition to urge that the FTC to investigate this "free" offering because when you read the fine print....it isn't really "free" anything after all. Flowers From The Rainflorist has joined this petition and we are urging the  FTC to Investigate 1800Flowers.com "Free Shipping"offer.

What 1-800-Flowers.com is billing as "shipping" for florist delivered items is actually a service charge they keep.  According to their contract with florists, the price a consumer pays for a florist-delivered arrangement includes a $7.99 delivery fee.  That means, for a $39.99 arrangement, $7.99 goes toward delivery, and $32 is for the flowers.

As a wise Real Florist said "Let's review that--the prices shown on 1-800-Flowers.com's website include a delivery fee, in addition to the $12 "Shipping" fee they are discounting.  Hiding a delivery fee does not make it free, and many, many florists take issue with this practice of adding and discounting a false "Shipping" charge as providing free delivery." Amen to that. So when you are ordering online and you get offered a "free" delivery  take the time to look closely at the fine print....better yet, call your Real Local Florist and get the best deal in town!

A request, signed by over 100 local florists (signed by most bloggers here at FloristBlogs.com) has been sent to the FTC.  You can read the full complaint, and see the signatories, at Florists Urge FTC to Investigate 1800Flowers.com "Free Shipping".  1-800-Flowers.com is not the only online order broker to try the free delivery deception.  Visit Florist Detective for more background on the Free Delivery Ruse.
 

Love, flowers and online florists