Twigs Blog from Yerington, Nevada

What I Didn't Know Then.......

2011-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

If you would have told me before I opened my shop that I would be worried about my SEO , Meta tags, social media, blogs and video I might not have believed you!

It's a crazy fast moving time for small businesses like mine. It's not good enough to simply open your door, put an ad in the local paper & wait for your customers to come in.

It's a smaller world where my customer or colleague could be from anywhere in the world.

I have customers in the military viewing my website ordering Valentine flowers from Pakistan, accomplished floral designer/teachers from all over to inspire and teach me on Facebook,

and you right here on my blog reading this today.

Exciting isn't it?

It's overwhelming sometimes when I think about all I have to know & understand to be relevant in today's world. Just ten years ago cell phones looked like walkie talkies and you still picked up a phone book to find a number- now your cell phone will do the searching for you, while you check your email, text, watch a YouTube video, and maybe even order Birthday flowers from Twigs!

It IS exciting!

I'm so glad I'm a florist in 2011

I have a front row seat.. no, even better as a small business owner

I'm PART of IT!!

now if I can just keep up...

Tuesday Tips for Houseplant Success.

2011-08-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Calathea
(kal-uh-THEE-ah)

Light-these plants only need a moderate amount of light.

No direct sunlight needed filtered light is best. Too direct of sunlight will change the leaf color and cause burning of the leaves.

Water- Prefers moderately moist soil. Water toughly when

just the soil surface is dry to the touch. Do not allow plant to stand in water.
Temp- warm 70-75 degrees

Tips for Success- Calatheas have a very high humidity requirement to prevent browning of the leaf tips. Too high light, excess fertilizer and fluoride can also cause browning. Avoid over- or under watering.

Your soil for Calathea should be highly organic and well drained. Use plenty of coarse material in the soil mix to help water flow through. A commercial cactus mix is fine

Never allow roots to be soaked with standing water but they do enjoy continuous availability of water in their soil. Water often to obtain this condition (with perfect drainage)

You can propagate these plants by separating them into sections and pot the sections. Do this in the spring when you check them for re-potting.

These plants thrive with humidity you may have to create an artificial environment to accommodate this. This is done by putting the pot on a tray filled with rocks or pebbles. Also, you can actually just run a humidifier near them.

Remember, this is a jungle plant

Wedding Design Show!

2011-07-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

In May I had the opportunity to attend a design show hosted by Greenleaf Wholesale in Reno.

The presenter, Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD,CFD, PFCI dedicated this show to weddings and

specifically.... bridal bouquets!

The first Design- a hand-tied bouquet in lavender and yellow, all flowers are cleaned and ready to go, then added to form a sheaf shape- it came together QUICK!

and here's the finished bouquet- Yellow mini callas & yarrow together with lavender lisianthus and asters Notice the little bit of yellow in the center of the asters? If you're ever unsure about what color goes with what.. just look to nature for the answer.

***************************************************************

Here are a few of my favorites..

A vibrant hot pink and purple bouquet featuring iris, gerbera daisies and luscious peonies.

Look at us in the background.. so SERIOUS!

Beautiful tropical feel bouquet featuring big green antherium, orange carnations (yes carnations!)

hypericum berries and ... can you guess what that other orange flowers is?? (I was surprised - as many of us were, when she told us what she used!)

Beautiful romantic bouquet with peach roses, pink peony & lavender wax flower. Can you imagine these colors with lavender bridesmaids dresses?

Classic white rose bouquet with a little extra pearl detail- notice the leaves? they are stenciled. Imagine stenciling a lace pattern, or what about pinstripes? There are as many possibilities as you can think of!

Joyce is demonstrating a hand tied bouquet for over the arm. That big green 'flower' at the base of the bouquet is actually made of tropical leaves.

An asymmetric pink and brown bouquet using orchids, antherium, magnolia leaves (the underside) and fiddle head fern.

Here's the bouquet up-close and personal...

It's always a good time at a design show- re-connecting with fellow florists, learning a few new things, and sometimes.. (ok .. I confess MOST times) picking up some new materials to experiment with!

Grill it Up!

2011-06-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Gourmet du Village is in the house!
With Father’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to share our new products for the grill!

Fajitas anyone?
We have wonderful seasoning mixes, grinders full of wonderful flavors and a fajita pan that would be an awesome addition to any dad’s grilling collection!

Any Brie lovers out there?
Then check out our Brie baker which is perfect for both the grill and the oven!

Can’t forget dessert!
Check out our tasty Sorbet Mixes for a wonderfully refreshing desert that’s so simple and oh-so refreshing!

So, stop by and pick up that special something for dad, and who knows? You might just find something you decide you can’t live without!

Got Grads?

2011-05-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe that Graduation time is already upon us!
In fact, some Universities and Colleges have already unleashed their Graduates!
Here at Twigs, both Tracey and I are celebrating the advancement of
High School Graduates.
How about you? Got Grads?

Your local florist is a great source for finding something for that special Graduate in your life.

Whether it’s a Kindergarten Graduate, Middle School Graduate, High School Graduate or College Graduate; from stuffed animals to balloon bouquets, laptop skins to presentation bouquets, we have something for everyone!

So, stop by or visit us online!
We would love to help you choose something to congratulate that special Graduate in your life!

Lysa

Favorite Things- Second in a series

2011-05-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

For many people, when asked what some of their favorite things are, food items are at the top of the list.

Here at Twigs, we’re no different! In fact, our last post was all about chocolate! Make sure to check it out as well.

Today’s first “Favorite Things” feature is “Too Good Gourmet”.

If you’ve ever browsed around Twigs, you’ve seen these delightfully packed goodies which are made from quality ingredients which are carefully selected by this mother/daughter team.

We at Twigs like to feature these goodies in our Gourmet Planter Baskets which are a big hit around Mother’s Day, Valentine's Day and the fall & Christmas season!

We often have a selection of cookies in stock along with some flavored teas.

So, whether it’s cookies, chocolate covered pretzels or wonderfully flavorful tea you’re after, Too Good Gourmet has something for everyone!

Second on our list today is “Gourmet du Village”.

Gourmet du Village is dedicated to bringing truly elegant, gourmet tastes and recipes to home kitchens around the globe.

Gourmet du Village dip mixes have been a staple here at Twigs since our beginning.

Many of you are familiar with this wonderful product and have your favorites which we are happy to supply you with!

We are excited to announce that we have some wonderful grilling products from Gourmet du Village on their way to us right now!


Stainless brie baker for the BBQ!

cast iron skillet set also includes wood tray, seasonings, & mitt

Keep your eye on our Facebook page as we will let you know when they arrive!

In the mean time, stop by or visit our website, Facebook page or Twitter account and say “hi”!

We love hearing from you!

Lysa Humildad

Favorite Things - First in Series

2011-03-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

We all have favorite things, don’t we?

You probably already know that in addition to flowers, Twigs has all kinds of other things. Today we thought it would be fun to share with you some of our favorite goodies, namely, CHOCOLATE!

First up is Twigs’ “signature” chocolate from Graffiti Zoo.
By “signature” we mean that we have carried it since we opened our doors.
Graffiti Zoo chocolates are wonderful, whimsical chocolate barks which use all natural ingredients, come in a variety of flavors and are made here in the United States.

Don't forget a portion of Graffiti Zoo profits benefit the Conservation Endowment Fund of the

American Zoo & Aquarium Association


Graffiti Zoo Chocolates $1.98 (0.9oz) $3.98 (2.4oz) and $6.98 (4.5oz)

If you haven’t tried any yet, we encourage you to do so today!

(on their own or in our Chocolate Sampler bouquet shown below)

Our Chocolate Sampler bouquet starts at 36.95

Second on our list is the well-known Godiva chocolate bar.
We carry four varieties of these wonderful confections as our “staples”.

$3.75 per 1.5oz bar

If you’ve visited our website, www.YeringtonFlowers.com, you’ve probably noticed these delights in our Chocolate Indulgence bouquet which always seem to be in demand for Mother’s Day.

Our Chocolate Indulgence bouquet $49.95

An added bonus to these chocolates is that they make a decadent sugar free bar for those who need to moderate their sugar intake. And you guessed it; we have them in stock, ready for purchase!

Next up are the Cote d’Or chocolate bars from Belgium.
Let’s just say, “OMG”?!
These chocolates are Yumm-o!
Smooth, silky and melt in your mouth.
Who doesn’t like Belgium chocolate anyway?
You absolutely MUST try one!
We have a fresh batch on the way.

And finally, last on our list, but certainly not least, are the Andrea Stainer chocolate “infusion” bars.
These amazing, innovative chocolates are new to us here at Twigs.
They come to us from Italy and are absolutely “mind-blowing”.
The company uses a patented technique of infusing various flavors into the chocolate so that you experience the flavor combination in every bite.
The flavor combinations they’ve come up with are unique and seemingly limitless!
We have several to choose from and encourage you to do so today!

Andrea Stainer infused chocolates are $5.50 each (1.7oz bar)

Well, there you have it; the first blog post in our “Favorite Things” series.
We hope you enjoyed it and more importantly, we hope you’ll stop by soon and try one of these decadent treats!
Not a local? No problem! Send us an email or Facebook us and we would be delighted to send you any of these wonderful products via the good ol’ US postal service.
Until next time- Lysa

My ValentineI

2011-02-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it’s almost Valentine’s Day!
Just the other day, my (teenage) children were reminiscing about making Valentine “mailboxes” in kindergarten and how much fun it was.

As I listened to their conversation, however, I was a little saddened to hear my 15 year old son remark about how a child’s “popularity” was based upon how many Valentines he/she received.

Then I thought about how I have taught them how to view Valentine’s Day.

In our home, Valentine’s Day is one more opportunity to show
people that we care about them. Every year, we spend time making Valentines for the people we hold most dear. Whether it is cookies, cupcakes, cards or trinkets, we pour our love into our Valentine treats so that each of our “Valentine’s” will know how special they are!

Here at Twigs, we delight in providing for all of your Valentine needs.
Whether it is flowers, chocolates/cookies, balloons or trinkets, we have what you’re looking for!

How about surprising your co-workers with a beautiful, wrapped carnation? Perhaps your children would be delighted with a special stuffed animal, a decadent chocolate bar or box of cookies.
Your Secret Pal might love any of the above or perhaps enjoy a bath fizzy and martini mix…or perhaps, a delightfully scented candle.

Wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your special “someone” with a balloon bouquet?

Is it Roses you want? Well, we have those too!!! Beautiful, red roses and plenty of other lush colors!

Whatever your heart desires to show your Valentines that you care, we have it here at Twigs!

Please Give us a call- We would be happy to create something

special for your Valentine!

775.463.1052

A Special Day

2011-01-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody! This is Lysa, finally, posting another blog entry. Where have I been for the last few months? Sheesh!

Anyway, with “the Holidays” behind us and a New Year in full swing, I was reflecting about what days are really special to me and wondering what days are the most special to you.

In our home, we make the biggest deal over birthdays. I hold the belief that the day each of us came into this world is a very special one. (Wouldn’t that mean that every day is special then? Hmmm…I’ll have to think on that one some more!) Suffice it to say that in our family, birthdays are the days we “go all out” for one another.

Since Twigs is all about celebrating special days and special people, I thought it would be great to get input from all of you out in “blog land”! What day do you consider the most special for your friends and loved ones? We’d love to hear from you so post your comments! It should be fun!

I Love Thanksgiving

2010-11-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

BF-- Before Flowershop- I used to make a big deal over the Thanksgiving holiday & dinner. Now, I wish I could but just don't have the time I use to have. I miss it , I really do, the fuss- the menu planning- the house smelling scrumptious for days while I prepare all the goodies.

I think I may plan on having a 'modified' version of our traditional Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year- of course nobody knows this except me.. and now all of you!

I'm planning my table.. I think I may do something dramatic this year with tall centerpieces fall leaves, red pomegranates & roses (to compliment my Grandma's red glass , and maybe some pine for greenery.

we have lots of great centerpiece specials at Twigs. Our popular centerpiece special , A Market centerpiece designed with fruits, flowers and leaves in a darling low market basket.(it's brand new!) and of course the traditional Cornucopia shown below.

What are your plans this Thanksgiving?
We would love to hear from you!
Tracey

ps- support & share the Twigs blog by subscribing & sharing on facebook or twitter!

We've Launched a New Blog!

2010-10-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

We have just yesterday launched our new blog- Prom Flowers!

I've looked around the web at many different websites and blogs devoted to prom and I'm so disappointed to find hardly ANYTHING mentioned about the wonderful flowers and accessories available.
SO..
I'm looking forward to posting about all things Prom and of course Flowers. I will also be featuring posts on related information such as limo services, great places to have that special prom dinner, tips on your prom night hair from our local salons and lots and lots of new corsage designs.

CLICK HERE to go to our new blog & when you get there make sure to share it with your friends on facebook or twitter!

Fall Decorating

2010-09-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying I love Fall- The scents of spiced apple and cozy oven meals, the colors & textures of the outdoors as it changes.. It inspires me to get inside and spruce up my poor neglected house!
This week at Twigs our pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn will be ready for sale at the shop, so I thought I would collect some of my favorite fall decorating ideas from around the web & share them with you.

Do you have some unusual jars around the house?
You can fill those babies up with all kinds of great things that instantly say FALL is HERE- leaves, nuts, or candy. (no snitching!)
Complete the look by adding leaves, mini pumpkins and votive candles (how about votive candles IN the mini pumpkins?)
This is also a great idea for a fireplace mantle...

How about outside?
Check out this Indian corn pitchfork! ha ha
Just secure the corn with wire and you can hang it like this or lean it against the wall on your entry way or porch.

LOVE these stacked pumpkins (below)- you will have to secure them by impaling them with sticks or a dowel. Paint your house numbers on them!

Love this outdoor pumpkin "light fixture"! Perfect for those of you who have wonderful backyards or patios.

OK.. this witch is too fun! You might see her cousin on MY front porch!

Until next time- happy decorating!
Tracey

Have you met Lysa?

2010-09-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

A Little About Me

Have you ever noticed that people are so drawn to people? Take celebrities for instance. How do they even become celebrities? By people taking an interest in people! How many of you check out the biography or profile pages of blogs and/or web sites you’re interested in? I sure do!

I’m no celebrity; however, Tracey has asked that I share a little about myself for all of you who follow Twigs’ Blog.

My name is Lysa Humildad. I am a wife and a mother of three biological children and spiritual mom to many others. I have many interests and passions which often lead me on various endeavors

Currently, I am “stationed” at Twigs. Twigs is a wonderful little shop located in Yerington, Nevada. Many of you know Twigs as your local florist. However, Twigs is about so much more! Twigs offers a variety of gifts and goodies which are all about making people feel good.

One of my own passions is to influence people in a positive way. I love beautiful things and I love to surround myself with things that make a positive impact on my life. And I love to share those things with others. At Twigs, I am able to do just that!

I have been here at Twigs for about six months now. It has been a blessing to work with Tracey and to help her in her business. Not only am I blessed with beautiful surroundings, but I am able to come along side Tracey and encourage her. Working at a job isn’t about the pay check, although it certainly helps! It’s about what we can bring to the work place, the community and the people around us. I hope that I have been as much of a blessing to both Tracey and my community as they have been to me!

With warm and fragrant thoughts until next time,
Lysa

3 Years!

2010-09-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating with an open house this weekend! Make sure you stop by to see all the new fall and everyday gifts, plants, flowers and goodies. It doesn't matter which day you come, we will have some of our new cracker spreads and chocolate for you to try.... AND for the first 20 customers- a special goodie bag! Thank you for these first 3 years!
We LOVE you- hope to see you!

A Year of Flowers?

2010-08-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

YES- You could be the lucky winner of a Year of flowers from Twigs!

It's simple really- Just enter your name in our drawing during our anniversary celebration September 10th and 11th.

How it works:
The winner will stop by Twigs during the first week of each month to pick up their lovely wrapped flowers (valued at $25) designed especially for them, using a variety of seasonal flowers and foliage.

Good luck!

Lazy Days

2010-08-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

As a child I never really understood the phrase “The dog days of summer”. As an adult, I’ve never really thought about it, until now.

Upon embarking on the adventure of working at a flower shop, Tracey informed me that summer time was the slowest season for a florist. I see what she means!

However, when I stopped to really think about it the other day, I realized that the same was true for me when I owned my own food business. Summer was our “slow” time.
The other day I brought this topic of conversation up at the dinner table and my youngest daughter was baffled. “Why is it that way, Mom?” was her question to me. My husband’s reasoning was that a lot of people are vacationing and that because we live in a small town, we notice it more. Living in a small town may have something to do with it, but I don’t think that is the whole reason.

After giving the situation considerable thought, I realized that part of it is that we’re “conditioned” to think about flowers and seasons in a certain way. We have traditions which affect the way we see things. We automatically think about flowers around the holidays, birthdays, weddings and sometime anniversaries. And usually, we think about them in the context of gift-giving. However, most of us rarely think about them for ourselves. How many people do you know who order flowers for themselves; for the sheer pleasure of it?

Working at Twigs has been a blessing to me in many ways. One specific blessing has been that I sometimes get to take “left-over” flowers home for my enjoyment. I am thankful for that blessing because I have realized that the flowers bring not only beauty, but joy to my home.

If you’re in need of a little “pick-me-up”, I suggest taking a trip to your local florist for a few fresh flowers. Most florists are happy to sell individual stems and would be glad to see you!

And as an added note, florist flowers last longer than garden flowers. I don’t know why, but it’s true! I had some Calla Lilies that lasted TWO weeks in a vase!

Hope to see you soon!

“Floriography” 101-Part 3

2010-07-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

Last time I shared about the meanings of some more obscure flowers which might prove difficult for a florist in Northern Nevada to obtain. So today, I have decided to share about three more common flowers; ones which are more readily available to that florist in Northern Nevada!
The first one is the prominent Sunflower. I call it prominent because they are so easy to spot, both in a garden and in the wild. They are tall and stout, and in my humble opinion, they are quite regal. Have you ever noticed how the Sunflower’s head seems to droop or bow? This is because every day the Sunflower’s head does a 360 rotation. Every morning the Sunflower’s head starts out facing east. As the sun rises and moves from east to west, so does the head of the Sunflower! At the end of the day, it moves its head back to an eastward position to await the sunrise. This is one flower who is devoted to the sun! It only makes sense that in the flower-giving world, the Sunflower is a symbol of homage and/or devotion!

Another beautiful flower common to the floral industry is the Gladiolus. Its root word, gladius, means “a sword”. No wonder I find this flower to be quite majestic looking! The Gladiolus symbolizes strength of character. So it seems quite fitting to me that this flower is often used in funeral arrangements. What a wonderful way to honor someone who was strong and of good character.

And finally, I would like to talk about the Iris. No garden is complete without it. In full bloom, the bud fans out and is, thus, often called “the flag flower”. Each petal, as it fans out, provides a nice landing pad for the insects which come to pollinate it. The design of its bloom is very specific to the pollination process. With many flowers, much of the nectar necessary for pollination falls off as the insect removes itself from the bloom, but this is not so with the Iris, thus, making it quite hearty. In the flower-giving world the Iris is a symbol of faith and wisdom. No wonder I have always loved Irises!

Oh! And by-the-way, Irises come in a variety of colors and is often referred to as “the rainbow flower”! Interesting, indeed, if you’ve always thought that they only bloom in blue or purple!

With many warm and fragrant thoughts,
Lysa

“Floriography” 101-Part 2

2010-06-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I shared some interesting information about the meanings and significance of the colors of roses. Today, I have decided to share information about three other flowers/plants which are a little more obscure. I hope you find it as interesting as I did!

The first flower on my list is the Forget-Me-Not. It is usually a tiny blue flower with a white or yellow center, but there are over 90 species of Forget-Me-Nots, thus, many variations.

There is a bit of folklore surrounding this tiny little flower. It is said that while Adam was busy naming all of creation, this tiny little flower, fearing it would be missed, cried out, “Forget me not O Lord!” And God replied, “That shall be your name.” Another lengend suggests that when Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden, the little flower cried out, “Forget-Me-Not!” and has been called by that name ever since.
Regardless of how it got it’s name, the Forget-Me-Not is a symbol of remembrance. In Victorian times, it was a symbol of “faithful love”. Today it is often given on behalf of loved ones who have passed on.

The second flower on my list is the Water Lily. When I think of the Water Lily, I usually invision a lush tropical area with a pond full of Lily Pads floating around with these beautiful, colorful flowers. The Water Lily invokes a feeling of tranquility within me.
Upon researching this flower, I found that there are over 70 varieties, and that as well as being beautiful, they are very hearty. In fact, they are considered to be an invasive flower! Once they inhabit a body of water, it is very difficult to get rid of them! It almost makes me want to dig a pond on my property and fill it with Water Lilies so I can enjoy their beauty all of the time!
In the Flower Industry, Water Lilies signify eloquence. I’m thinking that the next time my daughters perform in a dance recital I might just give them some of these beautiful flowers!

And third on my list is Ivy. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Lysa, Ivy isn’t a flower!” Yes, I know that. But it is often used in the Floral Industry for it’s ornamental and green qualities. Some Ivy have berries which grow on them making them even more attractive to the eye. In Victorian times, Ivy was often given as a gift to a very close friend. It’s significance of true/strong friendship stands today.
In recent years Ivy has received some negative criticism because of its tendency to take over the area in which it grows. However, recent studies have shown that certain types of Ivy used in medical experiments actually kill cancer cells! Very interesting indeed!

I am finding that researching flowers is quite fun as well as interesting! I hope you’re enjoying all that I am sharing!

With warm and fragrant thoughts until next time,
Lysa

Pictures from Memorial day 2010

2010-06-03T12:19:00.001-07:00

A few images of the 2010 American Legion Memorial Day ceremony. A big thank you to Kathryn for sending me these pictures.

The wreath of red carnations, white lilies and spider mums and blue iris.

The American Legion Post 9 Yerington NV

Memorial Day

2010-05-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

When my two sons were members of the local Civil Air Patrol cadet program, they participated in the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Memorial Day ceremony as part of the color guard. Jeff and I went to watch our sons march along with a small hand full of people there to honor their loved ones.

I'm proud they were able to be a part of the Civil Air patrol and have the opportunity to honor and serve those that gave their lives for our country and their families. That experience changed the way we as a family celebrate, no.. observe Memorial Day.
Our boys are older now and have moved on from the cadet program. Now I have the opportunity to honor and serve by providing fresh flower wreaths for the VFW and the American Legion Memorial ceremonies.

I encourage any other florist reading this to step up and create something from the heart to show your thanks and respect.
A beautiful wreath is placed at the tomb of the unknown solider every Memorial Day. Aren't the solders buried in our own hometown cemeteries, who made the same sacrifices due the same respect?

“Floriography” 101-Part 1

2010-05-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of weeks, several people have come into Twigs and inquired about the meaning of certain flowers or rose colors. Not having all of the answers, I decided it would be fun, as well as wise, to do a little research about the subject.As we all know, the internet has a plethora of information and I was able to find many interesting facts about flowers. In fact, the amount of information available threatened to be overwhelming! Desiring to help our readers and not overwhelm, I decided that sticking with the basics would be the best way to go!
Starting with basic rose colors, I discovered that I was misinformed about a few! Now, that’s not to say they haven’t changed over the years. Flower meanings seem to follow certain trends, but there are some that have remained “tried and true” over the years. I wonder how your knowledge fairs!

Let’s begin…
Red Rose: Most commonly expresses love. The deeper red roses signify passion. A little less known fact is that red roses also signify recognition of success; congratulations.

White Rose: Signify innocence and purity and are often used in weddings. A little less know fact is that they also represent reverence and worthiness.

Pink Rose: Represent admiration and sweetness. I think of my daughters when I see pink roses. However, a deep pink colored rose represents gratitude and thankfulness.

Yellow Rose: Most often represents friendship and caring. However, if you know someone who is embarking on a new journey or “starting over”, yellow roses are perfect as they represent New Beginnings!

Peach Rose: Usually sent as an expression of gratitude but can also express sympathy.

Orange Rose: Enthusiasm and/or desire! After all, the two usually do go hand-in-hand!

Purple Rose: Deep admiration or love at first sight! When was the last time you received a purple rose? A deep purple rose also represents royalty.

Wow! I didn’t intend on devoting this whole note to roses, but it certainly turned out that way! Hence, “Part 1” in its title! Next time, I will spend a little bit of time talking about the meanings of many different flowers. I hope you enjoyed our bit about roses.

With warm and fragrant thoughts until next time!

Floral Bliss

2010-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

It is said that floristry is the most romanticized profession there is. Upon first hearing this I wondered why it is so. After a bit of reflection, I realized that it actually makes sense. Flowers are, after all, associated with love and beauty, peace and tranquility. It’s only natural that a person would view owning or working at a flower shop in a “romantic” light.
I have been in several different flower shops over the years and have realized that certain ones did, indeed, invoke a “romantic” feeling within me. Thinking back, I realize the reason I felt that way was because of the ambiance the owner had created within the shop. The shops where the owner took great thought and care to create a welcoming atmosphere are the ones that made me feel “warm” and excited about returning.

I have been working at Twigs for a little over a month now. I began Easter week, sailed through Administrative Assistant’s week, and have now tackled Mother’s Day week! The atmosphere is wonderful! Upon entering, one is filled with a sense of peace. It is definitely one of my job’s “perks”!
Don’t misunderstand, floristry is hard work. The aim of the business is to please the client; and aim to please we do! Holidays are the busiest times for florists and can certainly become hectic. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, knowing that we have delivered bouquets full of joy to the wonderful people in our community, every bit of hard work is absolutely worth it!

With peace, joy and fragrant thoughts until next time,
Lysa

How do you Feel?

2010-05-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Upon pondering the feelings fresh flowers invoke within me, I have wondered how many people truly realize that flowers do, indeed, provoke an emotional response within us. And I wonder, too, if we ever stop to ask, “why’?

Since working at Twigs, I have had the occasion to bring fresh flowers home with me. Upon doing so, I have realized that they bring me great joy. As I set them about my house, I can’t help but feel light-hearted. Amazingly, they even prompt me to want to dust my house so as they aren’t mingling with filth!
After setting them about, I am immediately filled with satisfaction and the sudden urge to pour either a hot cup of tea or a glass of iced tea (which ever our temperamental Northern Nevada spring weather elicits!) Thus, reminding me that there is a strong connection between man and nature.

Yesterday, Tracey and I spent the afternoon filling the shop with beautiful green plants and flowering plant baskets. When we were finished, I turned around to survey our work and immediately felt like I was in the middle of a beautiful English garden! What a great feeling-and I get to do this every day!

All this leads me to one final question…How do flowers make you feel?

With fragrant thoughts until next time!
Lysa

Mother's Day Window

2010-04-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

I don't know how many of you have driven by Twigs since Sunday and noticed the photographs displayed in the front window.

These are pictures 'borrowed' from my mom's photo album of my mom and I when I was a toddler (Yes mom, you'll get them back!)

These Three were taken when I was about 10 months old and were taken at our house in Whittier, California. Shown below are Photos taken 'back east' in Milford Connecticut.

This is my favorite picture- four generations are captured in this photo. My Great Grandma Julia Davenport, Grandma Grace Gill, My mom Julia Bezayiff and a future mom.. ME.

Happy Mother's Day mom! I love you....xx00

2010-04-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Allow me a moment to acquaint myself with you if we haven’t ever met. My name is Lysa (Humildad) and I have lived in Yerington for nearly seven years now. Previously, my mom and I owned The Heart’s Desire Café and gift shop. Those three years were a wonderful time of getting to know many of you. However, after helping Tracey out here at Twigs for the past few weeks, I realize there are so many of you I have never met before! Suddenly, this small town seems so much larger!
Upon discovering that I love to write, Tracey asked me to do some “blogging” about what it’s like working in a flower shop. The whole “flower thing” is new to me as I am a “foodie” by nature. However, it didn’t take me long (only a day or two) to realize that food and flowers are very similar in nature.
Both convey much to our human emotions. Just as most of us have our favorite comfort foods, we also take comfort in certain scents and flowers. This is often true without our realizing it. If we think about it for a minute, I’m certain we can all think of a scent or flower that brings back warm childhood memories, the feelings of a new love, or maybe that certain floral fragrance grandma wore?
Yes, working here at Twigs has brought back many fond memories for me personally!
Warm and fragrant thoughts to you until next time!

It's Spring Cleaning time!

2010-04-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

I just placed an order for some wonderful products, and I can't wait to tell you about them!
Laundry Soap! I know, you must be thinking.. huh??? But imagine washing your bath towels, favorite sweaters, or sheets in an all natural detergent like Herb Blossom, Lavender or White Lilac?
We can't stop there! Dryer sachets in packs of 3 each good for 5-6 loads (or keep one in your linen closet)
Shea butter lotion and hand soap to keep by the kitchen sink. Candles that last for 40 hours and are hand poured soy. Yummy scents too- New England Woods, Baked Apple, White Lilac, Lavender, and Ripe Melon
One product that caught my attention is Spring Chicken Rub (below)- Rub this into your sore muscles and feel warm soothing relief (it's like a sports rub but smells much better since it's scented with cinnamon)
Made with Cassia and peppermint essential oils & heat expressed calendula oil.

These goodies *should* be here in about 3 weeks-

PS- I love the name of this company- Sweet Grass Farm... I hear that and I get an image of quilts & pillowcases pinned to a closeline (in a grassy meadow ..why not?.. I'm daydreaming) gently fluttering in a warm spring breeze. (( sigh))

Round II

2010-03-27T07:14:00.001-07:00

My Entry is Rose Swirl designed in a circle of curly willow. Enjoy

I used 24 Sweetness Roses
Cherry Follies spray roses (additional flower #1)
white mini calla lilies (#2)
and white sterling range (#3)
Curly willow
Lily grass
seeded eucalyptus
Variegated Pitt (in the pot)
and a little Lemon leaf
Voting Starts TODAY and ends April 3rd (next Saturday)
Click Here to Vote

I'm up against Belvedere Flowers of Havertown Pa.
Their design is a beauty all in yellow. Congratulations on your nice design! Watch this video and some of their others on their You Tube channel.

The other poll going on is between two southern California florists
Every Day Flowers in Tustin Ca. and Avante Gardens from Anaheim. Pictured below is the entry from Everyday Flowers. (Nice Job Lin! Congratulations) Please be sure to check out their video on the Everyday Flowers You Tube channel.
Cathy from Avante Gardens created this design (featured below) using the beautiful woven leaves their shop is known for.
View videos and cast your vote in poll II between Avante Gardens and Every Day Flowers.

Twigs Wins First Round!

2010-03-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

The results are in- Twigs wins first round!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported me and voted!

The voting is split 3 ways: 33% 1st Judge, 33% 2nd Judge, and 33% popular vote (that's where YOU come in!)

Now I need to get to work on Round 2- below is the new recipe.

2 Dozen roses
- 3 other flower types (designer's choice)
- 4 foliage varieties
- 1 twig type material (willow, blooming branches, etc...)
- Container of designer's choice
(Optional) you may use limited accessories as an accent to the flowers, such as ribbon, decorative wire, flower jewelry, etc., but cannot be over used or take away from the flower design in any way.
Must be in a single, deliverable unit
Roses MUST be the prominent flower and occupy at least 60% of the floral visuals.
Designs must be shown on all sides (in 360 degrees)

I'm competing against Belvedere Flowers in the East VS West poll

the two remaining shops, Avante Gardens, Florals Unique in Anaheim CA
and Everyday Flowers in Tustin CA, are matched up in the Battle of California!

I'm looking forward to seeing what these talented designers are going to do in this next round!

It was suggested that I should 'get out of my comfort zone'
well... you asked for it!!!

I'll have a picture and new video up on Sunday!

March Madness isn't just about basketball!

2010-03-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm one of the designers in the first March Madness Battle of the Floral Designers! Round one is currently underway with eight designers from across the US competing in four contests- the winner from each will continue on to the next round. My entry for the first round is pictured above. My competitor in this first round is Hollyhocks Florist and Gifts from St Louis, Mo.

Click Here to view a short video of the designs and cast your vote. The other polls are also open for viewing and voting- join the fun and vote for your favorites!

We all used the same flowers as we created our entries, the container choice was left up to each of us, as long as the completed design could be moved as one unit.

-5 tulips

7 carnations

-5 gerbera daisies

-3 hydrangeas

-7 roses

-5 snapdragons

-3 dendrobium orchids

-1/4 bunch of statice

- 4 types of greens (foliage of choice)

-1 twig type (birch, curly willow, pussy willow, flowering branches

- Colors in your choice

It's a lot of fun going head to head in a competition using our creativity with talented designers from far away. Click on the business links below to view their websites!

Poll I
Twigs VS Hollyhocks Flowers and Gifts
view video entries and vote
Poll II
Affairs to Remember VS Avante Gardens
View video entries and vote

Poll III
Everyday Flowers VS Mums and More
View video entries and vote
Poll IV
Anytime Flowers VS Belvedere Flowers
view video entries and vote

New for 2010 Prom!

2010-03-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

We have received a shipment of brand new
prom bracelets..Take a peek!
Featured above is the Ice beaded bracelet with ivory spray roses, lavender orchids and a touch of green accent flowers.
Also new for this year are the Gum Drop bracelets featured below in Licorice, Cotton Candy and Icy Mint. After prom gently remove the flowers (we can show you how) and it's ready to wear everyday.

The Athena Cuff can be worn either just below the elbow or just above. Your choice of flowers, ribbon and crystal gems are added to complete this design.

We will be adding more new corsage designs in the future.
Check back to see pictures of the Mermaid Cuff-Custom designed with aluminum wire, sea glass and pearls and Fantasy Daisy- a single Gerber daisy accented with custom wire and bead leaves.

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

2010-01-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to bring a new line of candles that you can also use as MASSAGE oil!
Skinny Dip candles is a company founded by mother and daughter team,
Karen and Laurel Porter from
Missoula Montana. (Read their complete story here)
That's right! Made in the USA.

Here is a Skinny Dip scent preview!

Sex on the Beach - Just like the drink of the same name (Ambrosia scent)

Seduction - A sexy and sultry scent that combines french vanilla, amber and musk

Pomegranate Fig - Hard to describe, but an absolutely incredible scent! -- a rich, exquisite fragrance

Feeling Flirty - A playful and flirtatious scent that smells just like Victoria Secret's incredibly popular Love Spelltm fragrance

Pamper Packs make a perfect gift for anytime! They include a Skinny Dip candle and complimentary lip balm and bath salts wrapped in an organza bag.

Our Christmas Specials are going FAST!

2009-12-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

We have come up with some great specials for you this year, and they are going fast!

Twigs Christmas Specials 2009
Holiday bouquets & Keepsake gifts

*Cup of Christmas Treats……………………..........42.95
An over-sized cup and saucer is filled with yummy holiday cookies,
chocolate, tea and more
.
*Christmas Peace or Christmas Love...............................................36.95
A keepsake angel tea light is featured in an arrangement with long lasting
Carnations, mums and Christmas pine and holly.
*Christmas Soda……………………………….................................................24.95
Our Ice cream soda with two Sweet Tart flavored candy canes.
And a single rose ‘cherry’

*Christmas Puppy………………………………...............................................36.95
A favorite- a darling puppy made with over a dozen fragrant white
carnations, sits patiently on a bed of Christmas pine and holly.
*Seasonal cube bouquet………………………………..........….................34.95, 46.95, 57.95
a glass cube filled with our favorite flowers and seasonal greenery.

Centerpieces
Christmas Cheer………………………………...............................................32.95
WoodWicks Candle Centerpiece………………………………....................….44.95
Family Traditions -The classic, with lilies, carnations, mums pine cones,
glass balls and ribbons!
1 candle………………………………...........................................................39.95
2 candle………………………………...........................................................49.95
3 candle………………………………............................................................59.95
Candle light Magic………………………………............................................74.95
An elegant candelabra holds fresh roses, lilies and other seasonal
flowers and holiday greenery, and festive red candles on either side.

Ready for Christmas!

2009-11-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

We have been busy changing the shop from everyday to Christmas. Take a little tour to see lots of exciting new gift ideas!

Goodies galore! Chocolate covered grahams, Christmas teas and hot coco in hats,
taffy and cookies and more...stuff them in stockings
(especially your own!)

Mary Lake Thompson printed flour sack towels (each with a recipe on it)
and aprons, pair them with one of the latest
Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.
Whimsical candy garden stakes and yummy candles.... (above)

Christmas is the time for some WELL DESERVED pampering..
actually, isn't ANY time good??
Tropical scented body scrubs and lotions, hot and cold
therapy slippers, and neck warmers
.

Please Join us November 27th and 28th for our Open house-
Enjoy a cup Mulled Cider while you shop and visit. Our new cheese ball mixes will be ready for you to try too. (shown below)

Enter your name to win one of 3 prizes-
Grand prize- Pamper my Feet basket: a pair of our sumptuous new slippers and a foot spa kit.
1st runner up- Cup of Christmas Treats: our over-sized cup and saucer filled with Christmas greenery and delectable treats.
2nd runner up- an art glass WoodWicks candle

Hope to see you all here!

New Balloon Bouquets for Birthdays!

2009-09-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have been putting together a few new birthday balloon bouquets!
Not all of these are pictured on the website yet, but we hope to add more in the
weeks ahead. Here's a sneak peak!

Disney Birthday Princesses…..........25.95
1 princess cake shape, I heart and 1 round 18” matching happy birthday Mylars, 5
Pastel printed happy birthday latex and a balloon weight.
Balloon weight
Happy Birthday Critters-……........ 32.95
1 Gator shape ,1 Turtle shape, 2 18” HB matching round, 3 super agate latex tied to a
balloon weight.
Singing Happy Birthday bouquet….....22.95
1 singing Mylar (any design),5 printed happy birthday latex (assorted colors)
Balloon weight
Sweet 16.…........27.95
Pink, black and silver collection has 1 number 16 shape, 2 18” matching happy
Birthday Mylars, and 5 pink printed happy birthday and black latex, and a
Balloon weight.
Birthday Smiles.......27.95
2 smiley bubble balloons, 2 18” matching happy birthday Mylars, 5 printed
Happy birthday latex and a balloon weight.
Birthday Flowers-..........23.95
1 water can shape, 2 18” matching HB rounds, 3 geo blossom flowers
Balloon weight
Garfield Birthday............25.95
One Garfield in a cake shape, 2 18” matching happy birthday Mylars, 5 printed
Happy birthday latex and a balloon weight.
Pink Cupcake.........22.95
1 cupcake shape, 2 18” matching happy birthday Mylars, and 5 pink latex (3 printed
Happy birthday) and a balloon weight.
Holy Cow! -........23.95
(Another birthday)
1 black cow shape, 2 18” matching HB rounds,3 black latex, Balloon weight
Birthday Stars.....27.95
1 birthday star cluster, 2 18” matching happy birthday Mylars , 2 silver star Mylars and
a silver weight. (coming soon!)

If you are a fan of Twigs on Facebook- check your notices for
a special balloon bouquet
introductory discount & password!

Show your school spirit!

2009-09-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Homecoming Mums are a curiosity here in Yerington, but in Texas they are a long time tradition. I asked my florist friend Tammie Thomas of Boyd Texas, to give us the inside scoop!

"Homecoming mums are a BIG deal here in TEXAS! Actually a REALLY big deal - In most cases, the BIGGER the better!

The more Blinkity Blink, Blink you can get on the thing - the higher your status goes... (as far as Texas Royalty is concerned)"

"In the beginning... Homecoming mums were small a fresh flower with a few ribbons - a football trinket if your man was a football player and a megaphone if you were a cheerleader. This tradition dates back to the 1920s."

"But wait.. there's more.. in the 1960s, A wonderful and innovative florist in Cow Town Texas - (AKA Fort Worth) decided her daughter would have the most school spirit and the BIGGEST homecoming MUM - hence the homecoming mums began being made from silk flowers with additional items added to signify what activities the students were involved in."

"The Homecoming mums have not only evolved into a HUGE tradition in Texas, the mums themselves have also become HUGE - Some cost over $400 (yes I said $400.00) AND why not? These magnificent floral and ribbon sculptures become fine works of art that will adorn any girls wall in their room!"

Tammie Thomas

www.YourOnlineFlorist.com

940.433.3336

makescents@earthlink.net

A quick search of 'homecoming mums' turned up 2 other interesting blog posts..
A North-westerner's reaction to the homecoming mum tradition-in Life in the
Lone Star State

And The Human Flower Project (a great blog about all things 'flower'
around the world)
writes about students at Permian High School in Odessa, TX. This school was the subject of the best seller 'Friday Night Lights'.

Our Christmas Puppy is famous!

2009-07-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

Our Christmas Puppy is featured in this month's issue of Florist Review magazine! Every July, Florist Review features wonderful Christmas creations by florists across the US and sometimes beyond. I love seeing what others are doing for their holiday specials. Florist Review does a great job featuring the talent represented by all these shops.

Many florists are now displaying their own unique designs on their shops' websites or blogs.
Remember to look for a local shop when you need to send flowers across the miles, especially when you want something special and unique! Of course, we are always here to help you.

Florist Profile:Glenholme Florist in Beverely, East Yorkshire UK Part 2

2009-06-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

In our previous blog post, Karen shared a little information about her town and it's history, In part 2 her training and wonderful accomplishments. (Karen pictured below with her husband,Ruarigh)

"I left school at 16, went to the local college for a year to do day release Floristry till I was old enough to go to The Welsh College of Horticulture for two years leaving with a Diploma in Floristry and Flower production with a Distinction pass. As part of the course I did a work placement for 6 months at Shirleys, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK. On completion of my course I then ventured to the US for four months work experience at Flowers Wayne Jones, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Upon returning from the US I returned to work in the family business where I have been ever since. I went on to obtain my ICSF (Intermediate Certificate of the Society Of Floristry) then my NDSF ( National Diploma of the Society of Floristry) with distinctions. This is the highest floristry qualification in the UK which I achieved in 1992, quite an achievement at that age (23).
"After gaining my qualifications I trained and eventually became an examiner for the Society of Floristry and for three years taught Floristry at all levels at the local College. Currently my energy is focused primarily on the family business, helping to develop and move the business forward, more recently developing an e-commerce web site to make buying much easier for our customers."

I have entered and been successful in floristry competition in the past, but now get more pleasure encouraging the younger members of staff to succeed.
Our shop won the national competition of “Retail Florist of the Year” in 1996 out of over 500 entrants. This was an incredible accolade and something we will be ever proud of.
"We have had the great privilege of creating flowers for the Queen twice! The first time was in July 2002 when she was visiting Beverley. We created two separate presentation bouquets and flowers for the tables where she and the Duke had lunch. In March this year a bouquet presented to her on her arrival to the local City of Hull was created by us.

What do I enjoy most about being a florist is the diversity of it, the challenge of being creative and providing flowers for people at the most important and memorable times of their life. Making people smile is a wonderful reward."

Karen- I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity to share your story with my blog readers!
Thank you so much-

You can find Glenholme Florist on the web at www.glenholmeflorists.co.uk
and you can follow Karen on twitter @GlamFlowers

Jennifer & Cole - Hoye Canyon Wedding

2009-06-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

Jennifer & Cole were married today in the beautiful setting of Hoye Canyon, just south of Wellington. Pictured below is the West Walker River that runs through the canyon.
You can just imagine how much more beautiful the canyon is- especially in late spring.

Jennifer choose pale yellow and sage as her colors, I added rose yarrow, white scabiosa and lavender statice to accent her bouquet. The finished bouquets reminded me of a Nevada
sunrise over the purple hills.

Pictured below is a collection of Jennifer's wedding flowers.
In the basket are two of the four bridesmaids bouquets. Resting on the glass is the maid of honor bouquet with chocolate cosmos added. (Jennifer's bouquet was similar to this with more roses and cosmos added) All the bouquets had a chocolate satin ribbon wrapped around the stems.
In the back is an example of the wildflower bouquets for the tables.

Florist Profile: Glenholme Florist in Beverley, East Yorkshire UK (Part One)

2009-05-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

I've often been curious about florists in other countries and what their shops are like. What flowers are popular? Do they share some of the same social traditions we have like prom? Are they required to have special training? A million other questions come to mind, and I wish I could sit down with a
latte' and talk shop for an afternoon. Instead, I'm fortunate to have the next best thing, an online interview!
( even better because I get to share with you)

Recently I've been in touch with Karen, a florist in the United Kingdom.
Karen has graciously agreed to share with us her story and a little about
what's going at Glenholme Florist .

I asked her to tell a little about what her store is like and where she is located. I was also interested in the type of floral selections she offers to her customers.
So, in her own words...

"The town of Beverley is located on the north-east coast of England, 30min drive from the sea. We are a historical market town full of history and fantastic old buildings. We have two magnificent churches, one being the Beverley Minster."

"To the west of the town we have an amazing expanse of pasture land that holds the racecourse, a golf course, an ancient disused mill and has cows freely grazing that can wander across the road at will!
We still have two local markets selling fresh produce and various other products twice a week in two separate market places. The population of the town is approx 29,000 which has increased rapidly over the last few years with developments of much more modern town housing and living."

"Our most popular floral gift is definitely the aqua-packed hand-tied bouquet (flowers arranged by us, tied ready to go straight into the customer’s own vase and gift-wrapped with a cellophane bubble holding water at the base so the flowers don’t dehydrate), although more modern, structured designs using a limited number of more choice/ tropical flowers are becoming increasingly popular."

"The most popular flowers are still roses and all varieties of lilies, with more tropical flowers becoming popular such as anthuriums and strelitzia to suit the newer more minimalist new homes."

"A lot of our flowers are imported from Holland, although we do like to stock as many locally produced flowers as we can, when seasonally available. Tropical flowers are imported from all other corners of the world. Prom is very different here I think to in the US, it didn’t exist when I was at school and only really evolved slowly over the last decade. Unfortunately flowers at the moment don’t play an important part and is something we are looking at to promote to the youngsters."

I hope you enjoyed your virtual field trip to Beverley's finest flower shop!

In Part 2 Karen will be talking about her required schooling to become a florist, and her many accomplishments including the ICSF (Intermediate Certificate of the Society Of Floristry) ,NDSF ( National Diploma of the Society of Floristry) and providing flowers for the Queen!

Karen is available to answer any questions or read comments you may have about her shop, her town or if she would like a few house guests! (just kidding)
Please leave a comment or question and we will get back to you right away. You can also follow Karen on twitter at GlamFlowers

Celebrate Mom

2009-05-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is upon us and I wanted to remind everyone about
our super sweepstakes we have going on!
the last day to enter is May 9th -this Friday
If Mom lives here in Yerington send one of our new
bouquets, created just for Mother's day. Our Spring
Cube (below) is filled with the scent of springtime!

.
Funky Flowers is a fun bouquet made in a
cheerful felt tote bag. It's made with
long lasting classic flowers such as
carnations, alstromeria, and daisies.. with
seasonal garden bloom accents.

This Blooming Basket(above) with gourmet goodies is a great combo for any
mom who likes to garden, the plants featured can all be planted outdoors later

When sending flowers out of town remember these
simple tips to avoid disappointment:

Get all your information together before
you place an order.

* Make sure you have the full address including
zip code.
*The phone number and cell phone too if possible.
*Please let us know if the address is a business or
home, and if it is located in a gated community.
*Make sure mom will be at home and not
gone for a mini vacation!
*consider an alternative to your first choice-special
flowers may not come in, or we may be unable
to get a certain vase.. anything can (and does)
happen.
*last but not least.. DON'T PROCRASTINATE!
order your flowers as soon as you think of it!

Look for a real florist in the area- many online
listings are not flower shops at all- just call centers
who collect orders and for a fee send them out.
the Florist Detective has more information about
how these call centers operate and more.

Locate-a-flowershop is a great directory to use -no phonys!

April SNOW showers?

2009-04-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well we all know about April showers bringing May flowers,
but SNOW showers?
Last week the weather here was absolutely gorgeous-
we barbecued every evening.
Imagine my surprise waking up this morning and
seeing this. I felt like Ralphie (Christmas
Story) looking out his window on Christmas morning!
A few more pictures-

As I type this, outside the sun has risen and the snow is quickly melting, and falling from
the trees. It will be a beautiful day- in the high 60's according to my computer.

The beautiful images of the early morning saved in our memory, like a dream.

Pass around the smiles!

2009-04-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I sent a Traveling Kindness Bouquet to our
local hospital, South Lyon Medical Center, for the Easter weekend.

As you can see,this particular bouquet had a little extra personality!

It's a Blossom Buddie-and he has several other flower friends: A pink rose, white
daisy, yellow daffodil, pink peony and orange mum, all with their own unique
personalities!

I can't help but wonder how each person reacted as they were given the
bouquet to enjoy.

New Creations for Prom 2009

2009-03-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some of the beautiful flowers from this year's Prom!

I have to say a big THANK YOU to Brittany (and date) for letting us take their picture.
Don't they look great?

Her turquoise, black and white wristlet used the Laser wristlet and matching
turquoise leaves. I think those colors really set off the white roses and hyacinth florets.

Aubrey's rose corsage (below) featured 'Sun City' yellow roses and white hyacinth nestled in satin and sheer ribbons with sparkly rhinestone accents. Thank you Aubrey(and mom) for sending your picture!

Blue was popular this year. We used blue delphinium, ribbons and rhinestone sprays along with pristine white roses and freesia with a splash of silver for the corsage below.
Lavender freesia were featured in a corsage with Magic lights. Freesia is a wonderful flower for prom because of it's beautiful fragrance. Some of our other favorite prom flowers are Dendrobium orchid florets, sweetheart and spray roses of all colors, hyacinth florets and mini gerbera daisies.

Let's not forget about the guys! Below are a few of the boutonnieres we did.

Be sure to check out our NEW Prom Flowers blog!

2009-03-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Gelato roses wait to be delivered to four young ladies from their
mom. The message?
Just because

New for Prom!

2009-03-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

We are getting in new bracelets from Fitz Design for prom this year!
They come in different colors from pastel beaded Ice Cream to glitzy
sequin Laser.

You can personalize your flowers with Keepsake crystal jewel flowers, butterflies,
hearts or sparkly jewel clusters.

Other Prom information-

more tips for selecting your corsage&bout

I found an entire blog dedicated to the wrist corsage! I thought I would include the link
because it has a few different tips for preserving your prom flowers.

YHS Prom is March 28th!

2009-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

Prom is right around the corner, and we have lots of beautiful floral creations
for your special evening!
Elegant white miniature roses, freesia, and hyacinth
florets are heavenly scented and compliment any dress color (especially when we
coordinate ribbons and accent jewels to your outfit)

The lavender wristletts feature Magic Lights -tiny fiber optic lights
come in lots of colors and can be turned on and off with a hidden
switch. (ckick on pictures to see a larger image)

Go for something more daring- This 'floral epaulet' (above) is crafted with purple aluminum
wire and features stunning bi-color daliahs and purple rhinestone accents. It will stay in place
all night with it's adhesive bandage backing.

Whatever your prom style - the possibilities are only limited
by your imagination!

Check out more Prom ideas and pricing!

Sexy Shoes for Valentine's Day

2009-02-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

What could be better than cute shoes filled with lush roses?
maybe shoes filled with roses and orchids?
Whatever you choose,
these Shoe Divas specials are sure to please the most finicky
shoppers on your list!

Romantic Valentine Gifts

2009-02-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

We are Ready for Valentine's Day... are you??

Have you found that perfect Valentine gift yet?
We have luxurious Italian soaps, Tub Tea, Spa Card bath salts,
cuddly bears, and delicious chocolates! (even, chocolate soap, if
you need to be 'good' and stick to your diet!)
Take a little tour of Twigs and see how you can be inspired!

If something has caught your eye please give us a call
at 775.463.1052
We will wrap it up and deliver it to your
Valentine!

Valentine Excitement!

2009-01-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

We have lots of fun things going on this coming month-

With cooperation from the Bad Show on KSVL we are sponsoring a Valentine Trivia contest! Brush up on your knowledge of all things Valentine and listen to the show from now until February 11th. Answer the Valentine Trivia question of the day and you are entered to win a Valentine bouquet of one dozen long stem roses, a yummy box of chocolate and a Valentine balloon delivered to your sweetie on Valentine's Day.

the Bad Show airs every Monday and Wednesday at 4:00pm on KSVL 92.3

We are also a part of Blooms in HI-DEF a sweepstakes sponsored by Media99 (my website people) to win a 42" LCD HD TV. It's simple, just go online and order your valentine a bouquet of beautiful flowers and you are automatically entered to win. You can stop by the shop to enter personally too.
All winners of the Bad Show Valentine Trivia contest are also automatically entered in the Blooms in HI-DEF sweepstakes.

Manny the YHS Lion!

2008-12-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Introducing Manny the Lion!

This little lion was created especially for Yerington High School .. and yes you guessed it, their mascot is the LION! So, who better to name this little guy than the students? We sponsored a 'Name the Lion' contest earlier this month, lots of students submitted some great names (thanks to all of you!)
The winning name, Manny, submitted by Amanda Blaine was chosen LIVE on the Bad Show by Mr. Darrington and Mr. Boschart!
Congratulations Amanda!!

The Bad Show airs every Monday and Wednesday at 4pm on our local station, KSVL 92.3 FM.

Manny is a perfect gift to send to your favorite athlete to wish them good luck or to the coaches as a thank you for all they do.

Check out the details in the Mason Valley News!
(there's a great picture of us too!)

Dozens and Dozens of Roses!

2008-10-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

Recently I entered an international design contest sponsored by Flower Chat, THE place for real florists to share and learn about our industry.
The contest theme was 'A dozen ways to send a dozen roses'
Many talented designers from across the US, the United Kingdom and Australia entered and for a whole agonizing week we were all judged by our peers.
My entry, shown below and entitled 'A walk in the woods' featured Milva roses, twigs (of course!) Hypericum berries and fall foliage.

.
I just found out today
that my entry is one
of the 12 winners picked!

Congratulations to all the winners! Please, take a look at all the diverse designs and enjoy the talent!
The Conquistador twelve- Submitted by Flowers from the Rainflorist-Fort Lauderdale, Fl
Luscious Love- Submitted by Felicity Flowers and Gifts- Felicity, Ohio
Tangerine Twist- Submitted by Belevedere Flowers -Havertown, PA

Ready for Fall!

2008-10-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

We've been getting ready for Fall!

Take a little tour of our shop and see what we've been up to!

Happy Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Zuinoga!

2008-09-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Erika and Carlos were married September 22, 2007
The ceremony took place at the Jeannie Dini Cultural center and
the reception at the Casino West's lovely convention center.

Her colors were a rich blend of peach and burgundy-perfect for an early fall wedding.

Continuing with the fall theme, the reception flowers were a mix of tall
moss and twig stands with colorful fall mums and foliage, and
twig wreaths surrounding a candle lit glass bowl.

Twigs First Anniversary!

2008-09-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kay Prida the winner of our gift bag!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by, especially to
you who came by on Saturday and offered your support and help
with our flood!

We looked out early Saturday morning and saw a big puddle of water
in front of our shop, as we looked a little closer we realized it was coming
from under the front door!

Apparently the water line from our hot water heater broke during the early
morning and by the time we discovered it our little shop had a couple
inches of water all through the sales area, the workroom, and even in the flower cooler!
We worked like crazy and by about 10 that morning we had most of the water out-whew!

I'm happy to report there was very little damage!
Barbi and Terri from State Farm- thank you both so much for lending us your fan and coming out on your Saturday off to check on us!

Anniversary gift bag give-a-way!

2008-09-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to come by and register to win our super sized gift bag!
Valued at 125.00, it's filled to the brim with all kinds of our
best selling products..

A WoodWick candle, Spa Comforts Herbal Hug and Midnight Mask,
Graffiti Zoo chocolate, and our new candy, Lemon Meringue Pie Candy, a
box of scented drawer liners and soap, SeedBalz,
seasoning trios from Gourmet Du Village,
a Spa Card, and a penguin Magnitude all stuffed
into one of those great printed canvas tote bags....
whew!!

We will pick the lucky person Saturday (9/6) at the end of our first annual anniversary
celebration. Be among the first twenty people to visit us on Friday or Saturday and you
will receive a special surprise!

Mallory and Tyler

2008-08-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Mallory and Tyler were married this Saturday at the Mason Valley Country Club. Malory choose plum and dusty green as her colors and an outdoor casual Greek theme for the reception.

The bridal party flowers were a collection of daliahs, Black Bacara roses, orchids, calla lilies, and seasonal accents like seeded eucalyptus, green millet, feverfew and lisianthus.

I had fun creating the handle for Malory's bouquet.
It was made out of curly willow tips tightly wound around the existing handle and secured with tan bind wire.
The attendants bouquets were hand-tied nosegays with a curly willow accent.

New everyday designs!

2008-07-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

Two new designs I��m excited about are Bay Breeze and Hummingbird Garden.
Bay Breeze is a combination of our roses and orchids arranged with tropical palm foliage, grasses and bamboo. Send someone on a tropical vacation !
Hummingbird Garden features a rustic basket with an assortment of larkspur or delphinium, daisies, Lisianthus , and a fragrant oriental lily arranged as if they were growing in a garden bed. A humming bird and birch branches give this design the perfect finishing touch.

Danielle & Ben - Garden wedding

2008-07-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Danielle's Bouquet was a mix of Oriental lilies, roses, calla lilies and lisianthus with wispy veronica and ivy tendrils.

Her bridesmaids bouquets had fragrant freesia, roses, minature carnations, calla lilies and were featured in a leaf covered cone with a handle made from curly willow.

Congratulations Ben and Danielle!

Joanne & Rick - Wedding on the Comstock

2008-07-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Joanne and I researched period 1890 bouquet styles and decided on a nosegay in red and pink,
with red Freedom roses, pink Freesias, and other seasonal accent flowers. A soft pink ribbon accent with love knots tied in the streamers completed her bouquet. I had to include a picture of their rings, aren't they unique?

The wedding took place at the historical Gold Hill Hotel only minutes from Virginia City Nevada.
Wedding photography provided by Monica Coleman from Anytime Photography by Revelations , and period attire from TuxTown located in Carson City.

Gooseberry Patch recipe!

2008-07-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

I found this great summer time recipe in 'A pinch of this and a dash of that' recipe book by Gooseberry patch. If you haven't looked at one of these books before, let me tell you, they are filled with great recipes, tips and anecdotes.

Chicken Salad
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1T. Fresh parsley,chopped 2/3 cup walnuts,chopped 2Tgreen pepper,
chopped 2Tcelery,
chopped 1/3 cup carrots,salt, to taste
chopped 1t Fresh dill,
chopped 1t black pepper mayonnaise, to desired moistness

Boil chicken until done, about 1-1/2 hours. Cut chicken into bite-size cubes. combine chicken, parsley, dill, green pepper celery, carrots, walnuts and crushed black pepper. Add mayonnaise to desired moistness and salt to taste. Refrigerate a few hours and serve in a decorative bowl lined with leaves of lettuce. serves 4

For those of you that are familiar with Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, New titles I'll be getting are; Church Suppers, Kids in the Kitchen Year round Fun, Super-fast Slow Cooking, and Harvest Kitchen.

Traveling Kindness Bouquet

2008-06-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for new ways for people to enjoy flowers in their daily lives.
Recently I came across something truly wonderful, a traveling kindness bouquet! The bouquet starts with one person and gets passed to another 'who could use a little joy' and so on.

How many people could be touched in a day or two with a little beauty and kindness? I think the possibilities are endless.

If you would like to start something wonderful please give us a call at 775.463.1052

New summer flower designs

2008-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Our Ice Cream Soda is a fun design
to give someone at this time of year!

Made of more than a dozen fragrant white and pink carnations. Notice the pink carnation
'strawberry sauce' and the red rose 'cherry'!

Our Rose Trio
is a twist on the regular rose bud vase. I love to use the new bi-color roses like Cherry Brandy (hot pink and peach) or Queen Amazon(white with a hot pink edge)

Celebrate Summer!

2008-06-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

School is out, the garden is blooming with late spring flowers and early summer breezes carry the scent of newly cut lawns. It's time to get out and enjoy those summer days and maybe bring a little bit of summer inside with you with a simple bouquet of garden flowers.

I've made a list of a few of my favorite cutting flowers:

Cosmos- these delicate flowers are great dropped into little vases (or old bottles) lined up on a windowsill.

Shasta daisy,Snapdragons, and Tea Roses look great in old Mason Jars with Lambs ear added for soft texture.

Fennel or Dill are great in bouquets too, as well as other herbs such as rosemary, mint, and sage.

One thing I like to do is clip branches and vines (Honeysuckle!) and use them as a way of making the stems secure in the container I'm using.I put them in first, sometimes bending and submerging them under the water and then add the flowers.

I've also been known to steal interesting foliage material from the veggie garden!

I encourage you to bring in some flowers, put them in one of those containers you've saved in your back closet (You know the ones I'm talking about!) and put them where you can enjoy their beauty all day.
It will give you a lift!
I promise