Florists' Review E-newsletter

February 2017  Is this email not displaying correctly? Try the web version.

DESIGN IDEA: KNOW YOUR ROOTS Leanne Kesler, AIFD, PFCI, director of Portland’s Floral Design Institute, shares a creative idea for whimsically incorporating root vegetables into floral designs to mimic bulb flowers. Click here to discover her design techniques and watch the three-minute how-to video. BARBARA “BOBBI” ANN BRUNSTEIN ECKER BLATCHFORD, AAF, AIFD, PFCI  August 24, 1931 - February 3, 2017 Bobbi Ecker Blatchford, celebrated floral designer and mentor extraordinaire, is being remembered by her florist friends around the world. Click here to read more about Bobbi’s remarkable life and career. FLORIDA FLORIST’S DESIGNS APPEAR ON NETFLIX SHOW If you’ve caught any episodes of Netflix’s family drama Bloodline, you’ve probably noticed that the Rayburn family has a penchant for flowers. Click here to read about the florist who creates the arrangements for the show — Darenda Darnell-Garbarz, AAF, AIFD, FSMD, owner of Designs by Darenda in Homestead, Fla. — and read about her fun gig. THAT’S A LOT OF PLANTS! Check out how a Spanish company in Lisbon, Portugal, is using 1,000 plants to enliven it employees’ workspace, increasing productivity, lowering stress and improving morale. Click here to check out the amazing office photos and to read more. HOW PLANTS CLEAN THE AIR Scientists at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands explain how plants purify the air of toxins. Find out how it happens here. ENCOURAGE YOUR CUSTOMERS TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH FLOWERS Thanks to the marketing efforts of many floral industry organizations, including the Society of American Florists and The Sun Valley Group, Women’s Day (March 8) is growing as a flower-giving holiday.  Check out these websites to obtain free promotional materials: https://safnow.org/trends-statistics/consumer-research/womens-day-resource-center/ http://www.thesunvalleygroup.com/thesunvalleygroup/WomensDay.cfm FTD ANNOUNCES 2017 EDUCATION PROGRAMS FTD University has announced its 2017 education offerings designed to help FTD Florists strengthen their business and design skills. Click here see FTD’s entire schedule of classes and to register. RETAIL SALES FORECASTED TO INCREASE IN 2017 The National Retail Federation recently released its 2017 economic forecast, projecting that retail industry sales will grow between 3.7 and 4.2 percent over 2016. Click here to get more details. MOTHER’S DAY BEFORE VALENTINE’S DAY? In Norway, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day are often only a couple of days apart, and sometimes, they fall on the same day! Find out how Norwegian florists handle the holiday blitz. Read all about the craziness here. POLLINATING DRONES Japanese scientists are studying the use of robotic “bees” to pollinate flowers as the number of real bees declines. Click here to learn more and watch a 50-second video. VALENTINE FLOWER GIVEAWAY IN KENYA The Kenya Flower Council delivered joy to patients at a women's hospital in Nairobi on Valentine's Day. Click here find out more about the event. BRANCHES & BLOOMS A step-by-step guide to creating magical centerpieces, wreaths, garlands and other unexpected arrangements. by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo This newest book from the wildly creative owners of Studio Choo in San Francisco and authors of the wildly popular The Flower Recipe Book and The Wreath Recipe Book features 100 inventive floral arrangement projects to design with flowering and leafy branches throughout the year. Included are detailed ingredients lists, clear instructions and hundreds of step-by-step photos — plus tutorials covering basic techniques, sourcing and flower care information. Softcover. 272 pages. BAB217 – ONLY $19.95 Click here to order or learn more about this must-have instructional guide.

Christina Burton-Fox AIFD floral artist & instructor