Find the right florist
Giving fresh cut flowers in person is always the best way to go. Sending by internet is ok too but in person is better. If you are giving personally, however, spend a few extra minutes and stop by a few shops to scope out what they have got. Fresh cut flowers in America all come from the same place, South America. Around your region, they also come from the same place, the local flower consortium. This is where your local flower person will usually be several times per week at 4am. Different flower shops have different styles so their flower selecting may be a bit different. You are looking for the selection of flowers that matches the person or event you will be giving them to. Here’s the tip; go to the shop that has designers in the back and their flowers in a refrigerated case. What you want to do is pick out the individual flowers that you would like to give and have the designers put them together. If you have a design idea or two ask the designer to do it for you. This works great and you probably have a flower shop you’ll use regularly.
Buying bulk flowers
There is nothing that says you cannot go to the flower consortium at 4am yourself. If you need a bunch of flowers go for it. Look for what you like but remember that these guys do like to sell and they sell larger amounts so have an idea of what you really need plaus a bit extra. Remember to pick up some greens and spray like baby’s breath or some berries or whatever is there that you like.
Design it yourself
Fresh cut flowers can be on the expensive side. If you are having an event and need a few displays try and do them yourself. It isn’t as hard as you would think if you follow a few quick tips. The container is important. With a wide mouth container, make sure you have something to keep the flowers in place at the bottom. Marbles or a piece of Styrofoam will do. The container matters but can be something unique to the event. It doesn’t need to be fancy but it does need to be nice. Before you start lay out the flowers you’ve bought: greens, spray, flowers 1,2,3. As each piece goes in cut it to the desired height you want it to be, but remember that if somebody else takes it home they may cut a little off the end to to keep them fresh so leave a little for them. Put each piece in short to tall as you like and be sure to be simple enough so that you can do each exactly the same. Also remember that tall is not always better so make sure you have parameters under control. If they’re for a table display, people generally like to see the people on the other side of the table.
Buy with a friend
If you are going to buy a simple flower bouquet you can probably get away with whatever a decent florist comes up with, but if you are generally a klutz when it comes to colors and designs do yourself a favor and buy with a friend that has at least some idea of color and taste. The colors that fresh cut flowers provide are very vibrant and can easily clash. If you’re picking the ones you like and you pick wrong you can easily look the fool.
