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Dried Peonies

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Beautiful Blooms

Gifting flowers for Valentine’s Day is a universal language of love, but most flowers also have a specific meaning. Love, passion, friendship, admiration, and loyalty are just some of the messages flowers can send. 

From the timeless choice of romantic red roses to an arrangement filled with a beautiful selection of flowers, what message do you want to send your loved ones this Valentine’s Day? Whether you want to tell someone that they are your forever Valentine, thank your best Galentines, or even offer a random act of kindness to a neighbor or co-worker, flowers are sure to bring joy!

To make a significant statement for your romantic partner, splurge on a big and bougie arrangement. Barbara Keller, owner of All A’ Bloom, recommends lilies, tulips and roses together for lots of drama, and a fantastic smell. “The red roses signify love and romance, pale pink oriental lilies represent passion, and the red tulips mean my feelings are true,” she explains. Barbara also suggests using the floral designer’s guidance when ordering flowers to get the best selection. “Our customers love the designer’s choice arrangements,” she says. “As the person giving the flowers, it gets you the best reaction, and the recipient will think you outdid yourself by giving this gift!” 

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating all the people you love, including your gal pals, BFFs and favorite family members. Keller, a fan of trendier, more unique designs for sharing with your friends, has a low and lush arrangement perfect for all those special relationships. In-season options for a platonic gift are bountiful: stock flowers represent a happy life, white hydrangeas mean grace, pink cremon mums represent friendship and wax flowers signify best wishes of lasting success. All A’Bloom is working on adding a full list of traditional flower meanings to their website for customers who are interested in learning more about the “secret language” of flowers.

A lovely hand-tied bouquet may be the perfect gift on Valentine’s Day (or any day, really) for a co-worker, neighbor or new person in your life.

For some ‘just because I am thinking of you’ flowers, Barbara recommends purple gerbs which represent closeness, green trick for feelings of affection, purple snapdragons signifying magic, and green hydrangeas which mean a fresh start.

Flowers can also be preserved and displayed to cherish past the life of the flower. Drying flowers preserving them as keepsakes or used as décor is easy. Here are simple tips for drying them at home:

  • Air drying is the most common method used to dry flowers. Secure groups of small bouquets and hang them upside down. This can take up to three to four weeks to complete and to be fully dry. Air drying is great for making decorative accents for your home.
  • Pressing flowers involves using something heavy to lay on top of the flowers to squeeze the moisture out of it. Pressing is a great way to dry flowers for keepsakes or artwork.

Visit All A’Bloom at 5 SE 3rd Street or at allabloomflorist.com

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