The type of arrangement you choose will most likely be dictated by where the arrangement will be. For the holidays, arrangements generally fall into four categories: low profile, garlands, tall focal, and short focal.

Types of Arrangements

Low profile are perfect for centerpieces and are low to allow guests to talk to each other across the table. Depending on the table shape and length, they can be round or long. Candles and/or lanterns can also be incorporated into these types of arrangements.

Garlands are a great option if you have a very long table or are working within a budget. If you need most of your table space for dishes, you might want to choose a thinner garland that just adds a line of texture down the middle of your table. Garlands can be all or mostly greenery such as ruscus, eucalyptus, pine, or cedar. From there, you can add woodier herbs such as rosemary and thyme, pine cones, or flowers to pick up the colors in your room or add seasonal festivity.

A tall focal arrangement is perfect on a table in a large foyer to welcome guests or in the corner of the buffet table. You could go with appropriate holiday colors or choose a palette that compliments the home or room that the arrangement is in. These type of arrangements can be three-sided so the flat side backs up against a wall or all-the-way-around. The all-the-way-around variety, when tall enough, can be used as a centerpiece as it allows people to see under the arrangement while talking to other guests.

A small focal arrangement is a good choice for smaller entryways, a guest room, a powder room, or anywhere that you would like to add a pop of color and a festive spirit. These can also be used as centerpieces for smaller/round tables, or several can be used for longer tables.

Thanksgiving Flowers

I love Thanksgiving arrangements because of all the fun textural items that can be added. Mango calla lilies, red roses, orange gerbera daisies, bronze mums, and burgundy dahlias, bring gorgeous fall tones. Add a combination of cat tails, chocolate queen ann’s lace, wheat, dried lotus pods, hypericum berries, salidago, or bupleurum, and you have a unique arrangement from fall’s bounty.

Christmas Flowers

Of course red and green reign supreme in Christmas Arrangements, and mother nature has no shortage of offerings. Almost every flower comes in red such as roses, gerbera daisies, lilies, mums, and carnations. The winter season adds another layer of dark greenery that look and smell like Christmas–pine, cedar, spruce, fir, and juniper. Put these together in unique and whimsical ways. Maybe add beautiful white calla lilies for a more romantic contrast or sparkly ornaments and “ting ting” for playful festivity, and you’ve got a special arrangement to grace your home for the holiday!

Hanukkah Flowers

Mother nature doesn’t have a lot of flowers that are naturally blue, but what she does have are beautiful! Blue delphinium bring a bright royal blue that lends height and dimension to arrangements. Hydrangea come in dark and light blue hues, offer a lot of bang for the buck, and lend an elegant garden-style touch. Blue thistle is long lasting and adds fun texture, or you could try white anemones with their gorgeous blue centers. Whether you’re looking for a tall focal arrangement or a shorter centerpiece, there are plenty of holiday flowers to choose from!

Of course we are here to help! Just give us a call, and we’ll help you come up with the perfect holiday flowers!

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Most of our red roses are sourced from Colombia and Ecuador. Rose production for Valentine’s Day begins as early as October, with growers cutting back their plants to maximize their yield for Valentine’s Day. According to Virgin Farms’ interview with Rafael Santillán, an Ecuadorian flower farmer, “Throughout the year, about 1 to 1.1 roses are produced per plant, per month. For Valentine’s Day, three red roses per plant are produced for the Valentine’s Day harvest…”

After the roses are harvested, they’re transported to the airport in vehicles with controlled temperatures of between 35-39 F. Since the flowers are out of water, this helps prevent them from wilting.  According to the Miami International Airport, MIA receives 91% of the flowers flown into the US. From January 1st through February 14th, 1.4 billion floral stems will travel through the Miami International Airport, with over 30 cargo planes arriving daily. Once the flowers arrive, they’re inspected by border control for disease and parasites, then sent off to florists and wholesalers in all corners of the nation.

Because so many more red roses are needed for Valentine’s Day compared to other times of the year, the farmers have to start harvesting them early. Red roses start arriving in the US in the beginning of January for Valentine’s Day. This means they could be out of water for 2-4 weeks. During the year, we carefully source our roses to ensure they are long-lasting. We just can’t make that guarantee for red roses during Valentine’s Day because of how far ahead they need to be harvested. 

If you’re looking for something romantic and want to try something different than traditional Valentine’s Day Red Roses, maybe choose roses in another beautiful color such as lavender or pink. Of course you can never go wrong with our ever popular Valentine’s Designer’s Choice! Our designers are incredibly skilled at creating unique and beautiful arrangements using a variety of flowers that are both in season and locally sourced, even during the winter. We can, of course, still include beautiful red roses with other flowers for a very romantic design! Here are just a few examples of what our designers can do!

Photo credits: CBS News, Fantasy Floral

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I’ve never been the type to make New Years’ Resolutions. If I do, I always start strong on January 1st…and fall flat on January 2nd. So instead, I’ve started thinking about my goals more abstractly, in a wider sense that can be applied to almost everything with ease. I’m able to meet the goals I set because the end result is flexible and open to interpretation.

I also try to use the last year as a jumping off point; if a certain thing went well for me this year, it’s a way to congratulate myself and keep doing that thing well.  For example, this year, I’ve let my creativity and sensibility as an artist grow thanks to learning how to design flower arrangements. I want to keep that creativity up in the new year, so my goal will be to do as many artistic and creative things as I can, whenever I get the opportunity to do so.

Above all, though, I find it important to think about the impact I want to make on the world around me. This year has shown me that more than anything, a simple act of kindness can turn someone’s day around. This morning, I was pulled over on the highway due to a minor fender bender, and I was freaking out a fair bit while on the phone with my mother. A gentleman pulled over and asked if there was anything I needed; even though I ended up turning him away, his patient smile and kind words were enough to settle my nerves and get the car moving. 

This year, I want to be like that gentleman who pulled over for me. My biggest goal is to be kind, whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself. I want to make sure that if there’s someone in need of a friendly smile and some gentle words, I’ll be able to give it to them. I hope that the year ahead is one of peace, and I hope that we all get a chance to give and receive some kindness.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from all of us at Fantasy Floral!

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Slight of Hand

Our arrangements are stunning in person! Sometimes a photo does not do justice to our arrangements, which is why we have relied on stock photos. Recently we decided that the natural beauty of our arrangements is more important. The added bonus is that our photos don’t set unrealistic expectations. Seriously, count the stems in the vases of some of those stock photos compared to the flowers! Or those flowers at the top of the arrangement that don’t look like they’re attached to anything—a little like elongating Gigi Hadid’s hand.

Wonderful Idiosyncrasies

If you have ever tried to arrange flowers in a vase, you quickly realize that flowers are like people—they don’t always do what you want them to do. You might want that sunflower to face front, but it is going to curve right no matter what you do. A talented designer knows the quirks of each flower and has learned to work with their idiosyncrasies so that each arrangement is balanced and artistically beautiful. Our own photos represent the wonderful idiosyncrasies of flowers, not unreal photoshopped perfection. And isn’t that one of the reasons we love flowers?!

Updating Our Website

Not only are we replacing stock photos with our own photos, we’re also generalizing the descriptions. This way we can focus on the look and feel of an arrangement instead of specific flowers. Sometimes we aren’t able to source specific flowers, especially if they are out of season. Sometimes the flowers come in, but they’re not up to our standards of quality.

The “Frankie,” a lovely arrangement of hot pinks and greens, is a good example of the changes we’re making. The stock photo and original description contained hot pink peonies. Peonies are only in season for about 6 weeks in the spring so I would take the arrangement off the website by the middle of June. But that combination of vibrant colors is stunning, and we get other premium hot pink seasonal flowers throughout the year such as ranunculus, dahlias, and zinnias. Now the “Frankie” will be up all year round. These are the photos you will see on our website of variations we have done using peonies, ranunculus, zinnias, and cymbidium orchids. The arrangements all have the same look and feel, but the flowers differ in each arrangement.

Sustainability and Signature Designs

In our quest for sustainable practices, we source flowers from local regenerative flower farmers. As a result, we receive so many wonderful flowers that you will never see in stock photos. This is another reason we are transitioning to our own photos, and it is the reason we encourage our customers to choose our Signature Designer’s Choice. It allows our designers to use absolutely gorgeous flowers that you might not have heard of such as scabiosa, gomphrena, chocolate lace flower, monarda, or fuzzy teddy bear sunflowers! Most of our long-time customers love this option. As they say, “Work your magic! We love every arrangement we’ve received!” For those customers that really like to know the kind of arrangement they are ordering, we are happy to provide options, like the “Frankie,” for you!

As we update our website and transition to our own photos, we’d love your feedback!

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The History of Holly

What we think of as “normal” holly is actually just one member of a much larger genus of plants! All 570+ members of the Ilex genus can be referred to as holly, and the genus includes both evergreen and deciduous plants. “Normal” holly is Ilex aquifolium, and it has those bright red berries and spiky leaves that have become a universal symbol of Christmas.

The use of holly as a Christian symbol began in medieval times. The plant’s spiky leaves evoke the crown of thorns worn by Jesus, and the plant maintains its vibrant color throughout the cold winter. Ancient Celtic peoples also used holly to celebrate the winter solstice, revering its beauty during the darkness of winter. When considered in tandem, it’s no surprise that these two separate traditions led to holly being the symbol of winter holidays!

Holly in the Modern Era

Today, holly retains its status as an iconic Christmas symbol, even as the holiday has become more popular in the non-Christian mainstream. Its vibrant red and green colors match with the red of poinsettia plants, the green of fir trees, and of course, the red of Santa’s suit! Lots of people use holly in place of mistletoe, whether that’s by mistake or because they like the look better. If the plant you’re standing under has red berries, that’s holly!

For me, the place where holly shows up the most around the holidays is in music! The obvious one is “Deck the Hall,” originating from a Welsh tune with lyrics added in 1862. (Fun fact: the plural “Deck the Halls” is a later variation that didn’t show up until thirty years after the original lyrics were written!) My personal favorite is “The Holly and the Ivy,” a traditional British carol dating back to the early nineteenth century. The first verse concludes with the line “Of all the trees that are in the wood, / The holly bears the crown,” and to me, that could not be more true! And you can’t forget “Holly Jolly Christmas,” even if holly’s just used for a rhyme. 

Have I sold you on holly yet? If you’d like some holly jolly holly in your holiday dinner centerpiece, just give us a call!

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An evergreen is exactly what it sounds like: it’s a plant that keeps its foliage all year round! They’re the opposite of deciduous plants, which lose their leaves every winter and grow them back in the spring. Today, I’m going to spotlight how evergreen plants find their uses in arrangements.

Fir

You’re probably familiar with fir trees as the typical Christmas tree, but did you know that these branches have a place in arrangements too? Both Frasier and Douglas fir boughs make great additions to arrangements. There are all sorts of other fir varieties that we love to use as well. And since they’re so evocative of Christmas, firs look especially lovely in a centerpiece for a holiday dinner!

Pine

With longer needles than that of the fir trees, pine makes a beautiful addition to winter arrangements! The needles have a unique look that lend themselves to more artistic arrangements. They also help to make an arrangement feel more natural and almost garden-grown. We don’t just use the needles, though! The iconic pinecones can also be used in arrangements, and they’re perfect for achieving that fall and winter vibe!

Cedar

Cedar boughs have a distinct shape from firs and pines, and they tend to be lighter in color as well. These beautiful branches lend themselves to arrangements of any kind, not just holiday flowers! If you’re looking to send a birthday or anniversary arrangement but want to take advantage of beautiful winter plants, cedar may be the branch for you!

Juniper

You’re probably most familiar with juniper from its fragrance and its bright blue berries, but this plant also looks gorgeous in floral arrangements! The leaves have that classic evergreen look to them, and the berries complement arrangements with cool hues quite well. Plus, the berries have a frosty look to them that just screams winter!

Mistletoe

There’s no plant more evocative of the holidays than mistletoe! (Except maybe holly…but that’s getting its own post!) This plant, which grows parasitically on other trees, is a great addition to a holiday arrangement. The white berries of American mistletoe complement the whites of winter. A perfect pairing for a romantic holiday arrangement!

If you’re curious about the evergreens we have in stock or want to order an arrangement with them, just give us a call!

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Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by a Marine Corp Reserve Major Bill Hendricks. His civilian job was Director of Public Relations at Warner Brothers Studio where he befriended Walt Disney. Disney actually designed the first Toys for Tots poster (below left). Today, Toys for Tots distributes toys to 7 million less fortunate children.

We have a huge box in the shop that we would love to fill. You can drop toys off anytime between now and December 10^th. As a thank you for your kindness, we’ll send you home with a beautiful flower!

If you don’t have time to buy and drop off a toy, we’ve got you covered! We have a virtual donation box through Amazon. Just click here or scan the QR code below, choose a toy, and it will be delivered to our local Toys for Tots hub. Easy!

Many thanks, and we hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

~Your Fantasy Floral Family

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We continue to explore ways to implement sustainable practices at our shop. One of the most damaging things to the planet in the US floral industry is flying in 80% of our flowers from other countries. That’s why we are so excited to source some of our flowers from local regenerative family farms. I follow many flower farmers on Instagram, but one of my favorites is @BlossomAndBranchFarm. Last fall she posted this reel about creating arrangements out of dried elements during the winter when fresh flowers aren’t growing.

For me it’s the floral equivalent of canning. Homesteaders living off the land grow an abundance of vegetables so they have enough fresh produce to eat during the summer and enough to can and store to eat in the winter. I know a chef who is dedicated to only selling food that is locally sourced. A customer was complaining that his hamburger didn’t have a tomato on it. The chef patiently explained that tomatoes don’t grow in Virginia in January.

Obviously using only dried elements during the winter isn’t practical for us, but the idea has really stayed with me. This year we are experimenting with adding more dried elements to our arrangements as we find a balance between practicality and sustainability. Here are some of the dried elements we have in the shop!

Grasses

One thing we love to utilize in arrangements is texture, and grasses are an excellent way to add some! Most plants get brittle and crisp when they’re dried, but pampas grass and miscanthus grass stay soft and fluffy! Zebra grass’s unique markings make any arrangement stand out, and we also love to use bunny tails for little pops of texture.

Greens

Greenery isn’t just green! When dried, some of the foliage we use in our arrangements take on completely new colors. For instance, grevillea, which can be tinted orange or red, fades when it’s dried, bringing a muted color to the arrangement. And while most people think of the green, shiny side of magnolia leaves, we love to use the brown, suede-like underside as well! 

Grains

Grains are another dried element we love to use in arrangements! While the main use of wheat, millet, and sorghum is food, they also have a place in the floral world. These grains give arrangements a rustic look and can even be dyed to take on unusual colors!

Seeds

Seeds come in all shapes and sizes, and we love to use them all! The unique shapes of seedbox and lotus pods lend themselves to artistic arrangements. Pinecones are a symbol of fall and winter, and we especially love to use them in holiday centerpieces! 

As you can see, dried elements come in a variety of colors and textures. They will be a fun addition to our winter and holiday arrangements this year!

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Orange Flowers

Mums and daisies come in gorgeous fall colors, including orange. Gerbera daisies, roses, snap dragons, and lilies also come in beautiful shades of orange.

Black Flowers

While Mother Nature doesn’t give us any true black flowers, there are many dark maroon and purple flowers that look almost black. Some of my favorites are dahlias, calla lilies, scabiosa, and columbine.

Green Flowers

The bright green color in so many drawings of pumpkins is an easy color to find in flowers. Some of our current favorite bright green flowers are green ball dianthus, button mums, bells of Ireland, and green cymbidium orchids.

Unusual textures

Our designer’s love to use unusual textures within arrangements. It adds uniqueness or whimsy or artistry that sets our arrangements apart. Thistle has been a shop favorite, but we also love safflower, safari sunset, hypericum berries, grevillea, and sorghum.

If you’re treating others this Halloween or just want to trick out your coffin with festive color, give us a scream to place your Halloween flowers order!

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Earlier this year, Toys for Tots began to prepare for a holiday toy shortage. Due to supply chain disruptions all over the world, industries of all kinds are facing shortages; the toy industry is no exception. In addition to donating toys, you can donate directly to Toys for Tots on their website.

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