Recent Weeks

Let us take stock in all that has transpired in the last few weeks.  First, the remainder of September and most of October were truly amazing days for South Jersey Florist.  Our customers have spoken, and they say they  like what we are doing in this shop.  However, the end of October had a rather nasty surprise.  Hurricane Sandy decimated the East Coast.  The storm sent high flood waters that wrecked neighborhoods, damaged property with its high gusting winds, and killed over 80 people.  Our hearts go out to those affected by the storm.

But, now that the storm has passed the clean up process can begin.  I would like to take a moment to say how proud of my state I live in.  New Jersey has already begun its recovery process, and you can see "RE-DO AC" stickers already popping up everywhere.  We know that everyone is working hard to get life back to some semblence of normalcy. We are here to help.  However, some lives will forever be changed.  We are here to help.  Send a friend, loved one, or complete stranger flowers in the difficult time to brighten their day. We are South Jersey Florist, and we are here to help.

Autumn Season means Autumn Flowers

The autumn season brings with it the freshness of crisp, cool air, the glow of rich, warm colors, and an abundant harvest of floral materials. As the leaves begin to display their brilliant hues, we find ourselves irresistibly drawn to the natural symbols of fall pumpkins and gourds, dried wheat and cattails, berries and pods, and of course, vibrant fresh flowers and your local professional florist has just what you need to complement your seasonal decorating theme.

We can celebrate the bounty of autumn and simultaneously welcome our guests with a seasonal wreath of dried and permanent materials placed on the front door. A circular frame of grapevine or twigs can be embellished with any combination of fall leaves, preserved eucalyptus, artificial blossoms or fruits, and grasses or pheasant feathers, all coordinated with a patterned ribbon.

Bountiful Rose Bouquet

We have all seen pumpkins carved into jack-o-lanterns, but a fresh pumpkin can also become the container for a novel autumn centerpiece.  

Fresh flowers for the autumn season include soft-textured red or green amaranthus, velvety celosia, tall purple liatris, a variety of asters in a wide range of colors and sizes, bristly orange safflower, cheery golden sunflowers, delicate montbretia, and crunchy yellow or purple statice. Of course, roses, alstroemeria, carnations and gerberas are available year round in a palette of autumnal hues such as orange, red, burgundy, and gold. For an interesting contrast in form and texture, consider using the waxy, mahogany-toned hypericum berries (better known as St. John's Wort), or bright red-orange bittersweet on it's tendrilled stems.

Perhaps the quintessential flower of autumn is the chrysanthemum, which is available in a tremendous selection of colors, sizes and shapes. "Spray" chrysanthemums feature several individual flowers on one stem, whereas "disbuds" have their lateral shoots removed as they grow, resulting in one, large flower at the top of the stem. Football mums, spider and fuji mums and "Red Rovers" (with a large, reddish- rust colored, daisy-type flower at the end of the stem) are all examples of disbuds. Spray chrysanthemums are available as "cushion" or "daisy" types, as well as small, round "button" varieties, and anemone-flowered, or "duet" styles, which feature semi-double, ruffled centers.

Spray chrysanthemums are one of the best flower values around. They are inexpensive, they have many blossoms per stem, they offer a huge choice of colors and styles, and they are long lasting, often enduring for up to two weeks or longer in a vase. It's no wonder they have been so popular for so many years.

Bring the blaze of autumn colors into your home or send some to someone you know. Call or visit your local professional florist to see what's been harvested for you!

The Fonzie of all Flowers

Re-posted from: http://www.gagsfactory.com/2010/12/29/funny-flower-pictures/

Stairway to Heaven

A dozen red roses spiraling upwards as the reach for heaven and stars. Each rose can be accentuated with a diamond tip to bring a sparkle to the eye. This bouquet is set in a 5 inch cube vase and surrounded by a Ti Leaf to give it a greater artistic flair.

Round 1 Winner of Best of the Press

Please help us reach our new goal: "Best of the Press" of The Press of Atlantic City. We made it into the Top 4 and just entered the second round of voting. Please go to the following website on July 5th. Thanks in advance!http://pressofac.upickem.net/engine/YourSubmission.aspx?contestid=61171

Let The Stars Be Your Guide For A Floral Birthday Gift

Everyone has been here: wondering what to get a woman for her birthday gift and having no idea. Everything seems so impersonal and cliché. You don’t know what size to buy, where to shop, or even what she really wants. Gift certificates, candles, and most everything else seem impersonal, and you want it to be special. Then it hits you. Send flowers! Perfect! You can make it more unique by matching the flowers to her astrological sign.

Flowers mean a woman is extraordinary. They are not practical, nor are they functional. However, that’s the charm. They serve one purpose: to tell a woman she is important to you. They are gorgeous, smell amazing, and are sure to make her smile. Isn’t that the entire idea?

Tulips Great For Aries To take the gesture of sending flowers and really make it exceptional, match the flowers to her zodiac sign. Imagine her face when she learns the birthday flowers you sent were designed specially for her. Grandmothers, mothers, girlfriends, or whomever she may be, when her birthday rolls around it’s time to invest in something that will express how much she means to you. By matching the flowers to her sign, you can turn this one-size-fits-all gift into something spectacular! So, what’s her sign?

Aries are passionate ladies born between March 21 and April 19. They are traditionally adventurous, confident, and enthusiastic. Red roses are the perfect flower for an Aries, as are tulips. These vibrant flowers are sure to please such a vivacious woman! Send a classic arrangement of only red roses or mix it up by adding white tulips for a more romantic gesture. You can also match tulips to an endless list of other flowers, such as Stargazer lilies, for a cheerful, friendly display on her birthday.

If your birthday girl was born between April 20 and May 20, she’s a Taurus who are typically patient, conventional, and warmhearted. To really impress her, give her a bouquet including lilac, sweet pea, or Lily of the Valley.

Delicate, sweet-smelling flowers like these will tell this home-lover you truly understand and treasure her. Fragrant lily of the valley would go well with gently hued blooms that don’t overpower it and creating a visually appealing and fragrant bouquet. It has a small, light bloom, much like sweat pea and lilac. Combining it with more considerable blooms, like roses or calla lilies, allow them to be noticed while creating a bouquet worthy of this loving lady.

Gemini’s were born between May 21 and June 21. They are talkative, intellectual, and eloquent. Goldenrod is ideal for this witty woman! Goldenrod is a versatile flower with a deep, saturated yellow orange hue. It can be paired with stargazer lilies for a bright, festive arrangement or with other autumnal colors for a monochromatic look. Either way, the beautiful goldenrod is a welcome addition to a birthday arrangement for a Gemini!

Iris, hydrangea, Queen Anne’s lace, or ferns would make a perfect gift for a Cancer, whose birthday falls between June 22 and July 22. Cancers are traditionally loving, imaginative, and intuitive. Ferns are a hardy and practical plant that requires little maintenance and will add flair to any room or office. Queen Anne’s lace is a light, feathery flower that is paired beautifully with white roses for an understated, elegant look that will not go unnoticed by a sensitive Cancer.

Leo's Love Sunflowers The sign of the Lion, or Leo, are people who are typically extroverted, creative, and generous. Their birthdays are between July 23 and August 22. Great ideas for flowers would be carnations, peonies, or anthuriums. Brightly hued blooms will suit this larger-than-life woman perfectly!

Virgos were born between August 23 and September 22. They tend to be practical, modest, and meticulous. Flowers that compliment a Virgo are St. John’s Wart, chrysanthemum, and violet. These subtle blooms will complement the aesthetic of an unfussy Virgo.

Libras are romantics whose birthdays lie between September 23 and October 22. They are traditionally social and charming. Orchids, gardenias, and tuberose are just the thing to please an elegant Libra on her birthday. For example, orchids are a stunning stand-alone flower that can be potted and enjoyed for years, or it is easily incorporated into arrangements due to its simple, yet striking bloom. Also, tuberose and gardenias are lovely choices that will speak to the romantic side of a Libra!

The sign of the Scorpio is classically determined, sensual, and passionate. Their birthdays lie between October 23 and November 21. If your special woman were a Scorpio, a bouquet including hibiscus or peony would surely do the trick! Hibiscus and gerbera daisies have dazzling blooms that ideally reflect the passion of a Scorpio!

If her birthday is between November 22 and December 21 she is a Sagittarius. Straightforward and optimistic, she is a playful individual who is also good-humored and honest. Carnations, foxtail lilies, and blazing stars (liatris) would make an ideal gift! Unique and lively blooms such as these would certainly bring cheer to an already good-natured Sagittarius!

Capricorns were born between December 22 and January 19. Capricorns are usually traditional, practical, and ambitious. Flowers that match the sign of the goat are jasmine, snowdrop, and African violet. These unexpected flowers will surely surprise her and make her day! However, they are also fairly low-key blooms. It would be a good idea to mix them with more eye-catching flowers to complete the arrangement.

Aquarius Arrangement Independent Aquarius’s birthday falls between January 20 and February 18. They are forward-thinkers who are honest, loyal, and unconventional. Flowers such as the stargazer lily or bird of paradise will definitely please this quirky gal! The Stargazer and the Bird of Paradise are both famous for their striking blooms, much like the Aquarius is for her personality!

Pisces are creative, compassionate, and intuitive. Their birthdays are between February 19 and March 20. Jasmine, lilacs, and Madonna lilies are great ideas to include in a birthday bouquet for this unworldly individual. These unpretentious flowers will suit a Piscean who will appreciate them for their subtle splendor.

Attention the Soon-to-be-Married

South Jersey Florist now advertises on theKnot.com, the internet’s most-trafficked one-stop wedding planning solution. But, you can always call (            609-404-1110      ) to make an appointment with our wedding coordinator for that personal touch! 

Spring Time Ideas

Spring Floral Decorating Ideas

• Decorate your brunch table with votive candles interspersed among several vases of spring blooms. Guests can each take home a small vase as a party favor.

• Line your entryway with beautiful blooming spring plants. A wreath of spring flowers on your front door is a fabulous finishing touch.

• Decorate each place setting at your table with a different flower variety. Include each variety in a vase for your table centerpiece.

• Garnish hors d'oeuvre trays with spring flowers.

• Ask your florist to make a design in a teapot or a cluster of teacups. Or place a small bloom on each saucer when serving tea.

• Fill a traditional wicker basket with mixed spring flowers to use as a centerpiece. For a charming effect place smaller baskets and candles next to the flowers. This can also be done with clay pots.

Flower Suggestions

Spring flowers include: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, iris, daisies, lily of the valley, violets, pansies, lilies, mini carnations, gerbera daisies, pussywillow, and flowering branches such as forsythia and cherry blossoms.

Starts at $49.99

Stir up St. Patrick's Day smiles with our lucky floral libation. Inspired by the popular Irish cocktail, our florists hand-arrange the freshest green carnations and poms with alstroemeria and fresh greenery, inside a keepsake acrylic martini glass. To complete the recipe, it's accented with green apple picks they'll think came straight from the city of Dublin. Sláinte. 

Lucky

$49.99

Make them feel like a lucky dog -- surprise your favorite lad or lass with our playful puppy-shaped St. Patrick’s Day arrangement. Crafted from fresh lime green carnations and cheerful poms, he's accented with a jaunty top hat and green ribbon, ready to make Irish eyes of all ages smile

Valentine’s Day Aftermath: Don’t Give Up After a Bad Bouquet

This Article was written By Gina B. Kellogg and found in the Florist Chronicles Blog.

Chances are, if you received a gift for Valentine’s Day, you received flowers. After all, statistics for 2011 showed that 40 percent of all purchases were for fresh flowers. And chances are, the blossoms you received brought a smile to your face for many days after their arrival. But for a few recipients, the only emotion they received from their gift was disappointment — from the moment their blossoms arrived.

Traditional Red Rose Valentine's Bouquet

Unfortunately, many givers this past Valentine’s Day (as in holidays past) didn’t understand the importance of buying flowers from a local florist. Instead, they saw and heard ads on TV and the radio. They noticed banner advertisements alongside their Facebook profiles. And they called or clicked and ordered.

Flowers for Sale From Faraway

Most of the ads in the national media were for companies known in the florist industry as “order-gatherers” or “wire services”. In other words, they are not florists. They are simply companies that take orders. These companies hire thousands of individuals sitting in cubicles all over the globe to accept and handle these orders.

Once they process your credit-card number, these companies begin contacting florists near the recipient’s home to try and fulfill the order. In handling the transaction, these businesses either add a fee to the cost of the original bouquet, increasing the price substantially over what a local florist probably would have charged for the same arrangement. Or the company offers to pay the florist a low-ball fee to create and deliver the bouquet — often at such a reduced rate that the florist makes little to no profit if he or she accepts the order. As a result, many reputable florists simply say no to such requests. However, some florists do accept these orders, and because those florists receive such a decreased reimbursement for the bouquet, they may include fewer and less expensive flowers than the giver originally ordered.

The resulting floral arrangement often looks nothing like the original design ordered.

Flower Blossoms in a Box

Then there are the companies who advertise prolifically with images of gorgeous, bountiful bouquets in stylish vases overflowing with massive blooms. It’s only in the fine print that the purchaser may discover that these bouquets are sent in a box, without a vase, without water, without cold packs and without any of the other tools that a reputable firm uses to prolong the life of fresh-cut flowers. Recipients simply receive a box of flowers — often drooping, wilted, broken and faded.

Pink Rose

Flowers, Failure and Facebook

This Valentine’s Day was no different. Well, actually, it was different in that it was worse. It turns out that at least one of the major order-gathering firms, ProFlowers, was accused of allegedly sabotaging small local floral shops by placing ads on Google that proclaimed the retailers were “sold out for Valentine’s Day” when online shoppers went searching for local florists. Thus, consumers who might have used local brick-and-mortar stores ended up turning to the online order gatherers because they believed they had no other option for their last-minute orders.

Rose and Ribbon Heart

On Valentine’s Day and the days after, the Facebook pages of some of the biggest floral advertisers in the world blew up with messages of disgust, regret and disappointment. Many of the people posting comments vowed they would never buy from those companies ever, ever again.

Unfortunately, many of them may also decide never to buy flowers ever again — from that company or any other. And that’s a crying shame. Because respectable, trustworthy, honest and talented florists all over the world will never be able to prove to those people that sending flowers doesn’t have to end with a recipient embarrassed to show off the otherwise thoughtful gift their loved ones went to the time and expense to send them. And those people will never experience the long-lasting value of buying quality flowers from a florist who doesn’t lower his or her standards to deliver a subpar product.

The Ease of Becoming a Floral Connoisseur

It’s a lesson you don’t have to learn if you buy your flowers from a florist with whom you’ve developed a trusting relationship. Even if you want to send flowers to some other city, you can find reliable, responsible florists you can call to create your bouquet. One of the easiest ways is viawww.Yelp.com or a similar site that offers consumer reviews. Simply search for a florist in the city in which you want flowers delivered. Another option, especially if you need to send sympathy flowers, is to find the name of a nearby funeral company and ask its director what florist he or she can recommend.

Stacked Red Roses

Reputable florists are in abundance, but most are independent businesses without the high-dollar marketing budgets to advertise on TV, radio or the web. So, the next time you see those expensive, ubiquitous ads, see them as a reminder that flowers are a lovely, thoughtful and appreciated gift. Then call or visit a local florist to discuss a custom-prepared bouquet that will perfectly fit your budget and reflect the recipient’s personality.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or “just because,” the result will be a loved one with a smile of absolute adoration and pure, unadulterated delight.

How about you? Have you had a good or bad experience with a wire service or local florist? Tell us all about it or share your own view point on the florist industry in the comments below…

Written by

Gina Kellogg

One more holiday under our belt.

Thanks to all of our customers and friends. South Jersey Florist had a very good holiday season despite the worldwide recession. I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day flowers, and still look at them for a few weeks to come.

Super Sunday

Happy Superbowl Everyone!

11 Days till Valentine's Day

Make sure you order your Valentine's Day arrangements soon!
2/06 - 2/11 one dozen roses in a vase: $69.99
2/12 - 2/14 one dozen roses in a vase: $79.99

Valentine's Day is Fast Approaching

16 days until V-day.  Please, make sure to get your orders in now!

Store Opened like Normal

As of today, we are back in business and working like normal after a splendid family vacation. We had some extra help today to help get back into the swing of things and to start putting Christmas away. All in all, its good to be home again.

Store Closing for Short Break

South Jersey Florist will be closed January 4th - January 9th, and will reopen for business as usual on January 10th. Everyone have a wonderful week!