Luxury of Flowers: Bargain Prices

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How to Brighten Your Home, Office, or Loved One's Heart with Beautiful Fresh Flowers Throughout the Year and Spend a Lot Less than You Might Expect

The floors of Cleopatra's palace were said to have been carpeted with delicate rose petals, but you don't have to be a king or queen to bask in the luxury of flowers. You can enjoy the room-brightening beauty of flowers throughout the year, or send flowers often to someone you love for a lot less than you might think. Simply make flowers a part of your everyday life, and keep on the lookout for bargains. Use these helpful tips to get started.

Treat yourself once a month to a bouquet of blooms from your local florist or supermarket. You'll be surprised how a $7 to $10 bouquet can brighten any room.

While big bouquets are wonderful, a single perfect flower can be exceptional, too. For an elegant statement, display an individual rose, lily, or other gorgeous blossom in a bud vase or floating in a pretty bowl. It makes a tasteful accent when entertaining guests, especially if you're on a tight budget.

Most florists and garden centers carry delightful little blooming plants in 4" pots that are surprisingly inexpensive and can add color and charm to any desktop or vanity. Use your own basket, cachepot, or decorative paper around the pot. Add a touch of ribbon, raffia, or other natural accent for the finishing touch. Then, just keep the soil slightly moist (never wet or soggy) for days or even weeks of enjoyment.

A few different 4" plants can also be combined in a basket for a wonderful long-lasting garden. Use bits of Styrofoam beneath the pots to position them at the right height, with a little Spanish moss on top to help hide the pots and soil. Trim with a decorative bird or seasonal accents. Voila! What if one plant should fade before the others? No problem. It's easy replace any individual pot in seconds without any fuss or muss.

Think roses are expensive? Think again. You can pick up a single rose on your way to see someone for just a few dollars, and many florists offer medium rose dozens at great discount prices. Summer is a particularly good time for rose bargains. While prices vary depending on stem-length, blossom size, quality, and variety, it's not uncommon to find take-with rose bouquets for under $20 per dozen. And, with today's online flower shippers, you can send a dozen long-stem roses almost anywhere by next-day air for as little as $40 to $50, including delivery.

You'll find other fresh flower specials at most flower shops throughout the year, too. Just ask what's in season and an especially good price. Don't be shy. Good florists are proud to show you their freshest flowers and best values. Market bunches are particularly good buys when flowers are in season, such as tulips in late winter through early Spring and farm-fresh Gladioli in warm summer months. Fortunately, cut flowers now come from all over the world. So, there's almost always something special in plentiful supply.

Build your own bouquet. Whether for your own use or to give as a gift, individually selected flowers in a casual bunch or arranged in your own container can make a wonderful impression. Remember all those vases and bowls in your basement? They're reusable. So, put one to use today. Remember to choose flowers in coordinating colors. Include some foliage and "filler" to complete the look. A natural cluster in a clear vase is a good place to start, but don't be afraid to experiment and use your imagination.

Remember, some flowers and foliages dry beautifully. Favorites include Yarrow, Baby's Breath, Solidago, Cattails, and all sorts of wildflowers. All you need is a warm, dry place with good air circulation. Most flowers and herbs dry best when hung upside down in bunches. Use a rubber band to fasten them together a few inches from the stem ends. Remove excess leaves, and avoid direct sunlight to minimize fading. Then, wait two to three weeks. Discard any that don't meet your fancy. Spray the remainder with clear lacquer or hairspray to preserve them even longer.

For home decorating, don't forget silk flowers. They cost a bit more but last for months or even years. And, you can easily match them to your decor. Simply take a few pillows or fabric swatches to your local florist or craft store to pick out just the right shades. You can even change looks seasonally. Just store any unused silk flower arrangement in a plastic bag in your attic or basement, and it will be just as beautiful next year.

Bring the outdoors in. One of the best resources for fresh cut flowers is your own yard or garden. Clip a few blossoms, branches, or blooms weekly to enjoy inside your home. After all, why should all the flowers be outside your windows? You deserve some inside, as well.

In fact, that's what the luxury of flowers is all about -- remembering to bring the outdoors in. It's about a bouquet here, a colorful blooming plant there, and perhaps an individual blossom tucked somewhere else. But above all else, it’s about sharing flowers with others. So, treat yourself and someone special to the luxury of flowers this week. It doesn't have to cost a bundle. All it takes is a little care and thoughtfulness.

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Sponsored by 1-800-FLORALS florists. For more money-saving fresh flower ideas visit Discount Flowers Online and Next Day Flowers by Overnight Air.

This article may be reprinted on the Internet as long as the sponsorship and links above are included.

Choosing A Quality Online Florist

The first thing to look at when choosing an online florist is whether or not the company is a real florist. There are actually many companies that claim to be but are not. Instead, these companies are resellers or affiliates. This means they just take your flower arrangement order and send it to a florist. As a result, your flower arrangement might not be the best quality. You will also probably spend more to send flower arrangements this way. This is because you are paying the commission for the reseller.

Choose Local

An online florist can have a flower shop anywhere in the world. For flower arrangements to stay fresh, they cannot travel great distances. Therefore, choose an online florist with a shop in the area where you plan to send flower arrangements. That way, your flower arrangement will be fresh when it gets to the person you are sending it to.

It is actually easier to choose a local florist than you might think. First, go to a search engine, such as Google. Then, type in "florist" and the name of the city where you wish to send flower arrangements. This will bring up many different florists for the area. Some will then allow you to complete your order online.

If you still aren't sure about the florist, call. Ask the worker if they are a local business. Then, ask for directions to the shop. If the person is unable to give you directions, it's a sure sign it isn't really a local flower shop. You might also want to check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the florist has a solid reputation.

Choose Secure

When shopping online for a beautiful flower arrangement, you also want to be sure you are safe. This means you should only order a flower arrangement from a florist with a secure server. A secure server guarantees no one will be able to steal your credit card information. To be sure the web site is secure, look for a small "lock" symbol on the computer screen. It is usually in the bottom left corner of the browser. Sometimes, it can be found in the top right corner instead. If you don't see this symbol, don't shop with that florist. Your personal information will be open for anyone to find and to read if you do.

Choose Honest

When choosing a florist, you also want to work only with one that is honest with its customers. For example, a florist who claims to offer free flower delivery or to be tax-free is not being honest. The flower delivery driver has to be paid somehow. At the same time, taxes have to be paid. You will pay for the flower delivery and taxes one way or another. Either the flowers will be more expensive or, worse yet, you might get a low quality flower arrangement. A good florist will have all of this information on the website. You should be able to easily find out how much delivery costs and how much tax you will pay.