"For My Teenager"

I have so many wishes for you

I want you to be safe, smart,

cautious, and wise beyond your

years. Don't grow up too fast.

Come to me with your fears.

Get your feet wet with new

experiences, but never get in over

your head. Realize how capable

you are! Your possibilities are

unlimited. You are loved beyond

words, and I will love you beyond

all time. So many treasures await

you in your journey through life,

and being blessed with you

has been mine.

~Douglas Pagels

To my amazing remarkable SON...

Everywhere you journey in

life, you will go with my

love by your side. Forever

it will be with you. Truly,

joyfully, and more meant to

be than words could ever

say. You are the joy of my

life, the source of my dearest

memories, the inspiration for

my fondest wishes, and you

are the sweetest present life

could ever give to anyone.

I'll always love you, Son,

with all my heart. And I

couldn't be more proud of you

if I tried.

~Douglas Pagels

Unique Ideas For Party Flowers

Here are a few more simple and inexpensive ideas to add that extra special touch to your party:

Flower Napkin Rings/Guest Favors Ask your florist to create a floral napkin ring for each guest, or order a few extra flowers that match the centerpiece and simply tuck one into each folded napkin or napkin ring. Be sure to keep flowers in water until right before guests arrive and then cut the stem back to about 3 inches. Ask your florist about what kinds of flowers work best for this type of treatment.


Floral Place Cards for Each Guest Use small vases with one flower cut very short in each as place holders. The card can be glued or taped to the front of the vase, or nestled into the blossom itself. Another option is to glue each place card to a single flower blossom.


Dressed Up Candles Place votive candles on flower petals or a leaf. Add ribbons with flowers to candlesticks. Float flowers or fragrant flower blooms in crystal bowls.


Buffet Flowers Ask your florist to make several designs in different sizes. Place them throughout the buffet table to allow everyone to see the flowers up close.


Decorate a Cake with Flowers Ask your florist which flowers make the best cake decorations. Wash the flowers thoroughly and allow them to dry. Cut the stems to about 1 inch. Dip the ends into melted paraffin and allow them to dry before inserting the stems directly into the cake. Foliage or flat flowers such as pansies can be placed flat onto the cake.


Posies in the Punch Make a punch float by placing washed fruit or edible flowers into a tube cake pan. Fill with water to about 3 inches. Freeze it and pop it into the punch bowl flower side up as guests arrive. Make sure that you replace the float when the ice melts.


Garnishing Trays and Platters Line the tray or the edges of your serving platter with decorative lettuce leaves or kale. Use flowers as accents in the center or on a corner of the tray. This is a great way to disguise serving platters that don't match.



Information provided by http://www.aboutflowers.com/

http://www.southparkflorist.com/

Home Trends: Decorating and Entertaining

Consumers are seeking inexpensive, simple solutions to perk up existing living space rather than investing in complete home makeovers. Flowers are the latest and greatest trend in jazzing up living space and enhancing the mood and personality of every room in the house.


Whether you live in a studio apartment or four-bedroom colonial, the personal touches you add to your home make it uniquely yours. Whatever your style, flowers are the perfect way to add beauty and warmth, and create a space that reflects your personality.


Here are some examples of how you can achieve different looks using flowers:


For a soft, natural look, you could use loose, wispy arrangements of single-or multi-colored flowers placed in a glass bowl or vase.


For a calming effect you might try blues in every hue, reflecting the natural blues of the sea, space and sky.


Bold and bright colors with deep pigment saturation such as bright orange, hot red and lemon yellow have also enjoyed popularity in the home as dramatic and feisty punctuation marks for today's multi-cultural population.


Bring the outdoors in by mixing flowers with seasonal vegetation such as grasses or branches. To keep a natural look, ask your florist to use a clay pot or a woven basket as the container.

To fill a space you might try tall, full blooming shrub or tree branches placed in an urn on a pedestal, with lots of flowing greens.


Your florist can create a mixed flower arrangement that features small, delicate details that invites the discovery of all its components - perfect to make a space more inviting.


Let your florist help


Florists are problem solvers. You don't have to have specific flowers or designs in mind, just a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Be prepared to talk to your florist about the colors, looks and styles you like. Once your florist has your preferences on file, it will be easy for him or her to meet your future flower needs efficiently. You can even arrange for your florist to deliver flowers on a regular basis.


Brought to you by the Society of American Florists..