#mnflorist

[mnbear3]

I think we could all use a " warm up" this morning! Hope this Springy mix of lusciousness does it for you!#happysnowday #happywinter #happymonday #springblooms #springarrangement #myfavorite#mnflorist#valentines #valentineflowers #floristsofinstagram #bbrooksfineflowers #fleurology #ilovemyjob #wisteriadesign https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLkdF0ledN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mgn462q5lxw7

[preciouspetalsblog]

Flowers + their gift of Aromatherapy

It is likely that everyone has at one time or another smelled the scent of a plant; whether it is the scent of a pine forest, a bouquet of roses, a dinner prepared with spices, or the smell of freshly cut grass. Scents are seemingly endless because plants are all around us and therefore so are their aromas. It is true that scents play a large role in our physical and mental well being that we are often unaware of and they have an even greater potential to benefit our health if we become more educated with there uses. This is where the study of aromatherapy comes into play.  

Aromatherapy is a discipline that is geared toward a holistic approach of healing the body with the use of plants (Rodale). It seeks to find the balance between mind, body and spirit by using the healing benefits of plants through the use of their essential oils. To understand what aromatherapy means it is best to look at the word itself.  For example, when you break the word ‘aromatherapy’ into ‘aroma’ and ‘therapy’ its meaning is easier to understand.  The word ‘aroma’ is understood as “scent” or “smell” and ‘therapy’ is known as a “healing process.” So, ultimately it is known as: a process that uses the body’s sense of smell in order to heal itself.  

Aromatherapy’s main ingredient in the process of healing the body is the use of essential oils. Essential oils are derived from wild or cultivated plants (Wikipedia). Wild plants are preferred, as they yield the most active and best-balanced product (Ryman). The essential oils themselves are simply the oils that the plant produces naturally as an internal fungicide, pesticide, or externally as an attractant or detracting element. For example, a plant may produce a sweet smell in order to attract pollinating insects which is crucial for there reproduction. Or a plant may produce an odor to keep grazing animals away. Either way, these oils are known as essential oils in the aromatherapy industry. They are cultivated from roots, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, etc.

When essential oils are collected, they are used by the consumer in a variety of ways. Common uses include teas and lotions. There are 2 main methods of delivery for the essentials oils to enter the human body: liquid and vapor. When the body senses a vapor, it is inhaled and as the diagram below shows, the olfactory bulb reacts, and a message is sent to the limbic system of the brain. From there the brain controls the rest of the body and thus, the aromatic substance affects the human body.

  Not only are essential oils important in healing the body but also, the plants themselves. Some of the specific plants that are important in healing include Carrots, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Citronella, Garlic, Echinacea, Thyme, Dandelion, Lavender, and Peppermint. These are to name just a few.

As you know, carrots are a very important vegetable.  They have become one of the world’s most important root vegetables and are rich in nutritive and curative properties. They have been around for centuries and have been used as a blood cleanser, as well as a remedy for healing liver and skin problems, allergies, inflammation of the intestines and as a tonic for the nervous system (Ryman 75).  Essential oils that come from carrots come from the carrot seeds that have been crushed. Carrots are also beneficial for the body’s eyesight.

Aloe Vera is a wonderful medicinal plant that has a manifold of benefits. It is often used as a gel, or ointment lotion for skin abrasions or burns. The clear gel from the plant which has a high-water content of about 96% has been used for many years. Aloe Vera can be applied to the human body both internally, as an Aloe Vera capsule or externally as a lotion.

Both the leaves and the flowers of Rosemary are extremely aromatic which makes this plant a natural body stimulant. It is known as a cheerful herb and can be used for both mental and physical tiredness. Tea made from Rosemary is known to be beneficial to the human liver as well. Another use for Rosemary is to plant it in a vegetable garden to discourage pests from invading.

Citronella belongs to the same family of aromatic, oil- rich tropical grasses as lemongrass and palmarosa (Ryman 89.). It is a major plant used in the aromatherapy industry from which the essential oils are distilled from the leaves. It can be used as an insecticide as well as an antiseptic that can be applied to the skin to stop and itching. It is used a great deal in commercial preparations such as soaps, cleaning products and insecticides.

Garlic has been described as an aphrodisiac, as well as a treatment for a large variety of other conditions, including colds, coughs, high blood pressure, hypertension, diarrhea, rheumatism and snakebites (Boon 122). It is primarily use is to reduce high cholesterol.  The bulb is the part of the plant that is used medicinally. There are current studies being done to determine if the plant can be used as a tick repellant as well.

Common uses of Echinacea include resistance to colds, the flu and it is used on skin abrasions and ulcerations. Traditionally, the roots are the primary use, but the flower and leaf parts have uses too. It has been reported to lose its ability to stimulate the immune system if taken continuously for an extended period of time, so it is recommended to take a 3-or more day break after using it for a month or so.

Thyme is widely used for culinary purposes and it produces a very aromatic scent. It is used externally as an antiseptic and internally as a tonic for treating coughs and strengthening the respiratory system (Boon 255). Thyme oil is considered to be a moderate dermal irritant and strong mucous membrane irritant, so it is important that it is used in diluted forms.

Dandelions are often seen as weeds in our lawn, but they can be beneficial to our health when they are used properly. Common uses include fresh dandelion leaves in salads or on sandwiches, the roots as a coffee substitute, and the flowers in the making of wine.

Lavender has a very calming affect on the human body. It is used to aid those with restlessness, insomnia and the loss of appetite.  It is one of the safest and most widely used oils in the aromatherapy discipline. The flowers are the main part of the plant that is used.

Peppermint is a common plant in the American industry and well known for its flavor. However, it has other uses as well. When you do not perspire enough it has been said that you should frequently drink an infusion of elder flowers, peppermint and lovage; taken as a mixed herb tea (Vogel 318).

As you can see, Aromatherapy is an important part of keeping our bodies healthy and the more one learns about it, the more it can be applied and used to benefit our lives and the lives around us.

 Happy Smelling!

Reba

  Works Cited:

Boon, Heather and Smith, Michael. The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50

Most Common Medicinal Herbs. Ontario, Canada 2004.

 McDowell, Robert. Robert McDowell’s Herbal Treatments.

http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/. 2000-2007

 Rodale, R. The Healing Garden. Rodale’s organic gardening

 Ryman,Danilele. Aromatherapy. The Complete Guide to Plant and flower Essences for Health and Beauty. New York, 1993.      

 Vogel, Dr. H.C.A. The Nature Doctor. Switzerland 1991

 Wikipedia. Aromatherapy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy

[timbdesign]

Habits to Increase your Effectiveness on Instagram

  Getting started in the social media world can be overwhelming because every platform is different. My goal is to break down each platform and help you be more effective in whichever platform you choose. I’m starting with Instagram, mostly because it’s my favorite, but stay tuned for tips on other platforms coming soon!

Habit 1 – Post Regularly

There is nothing more disappointing than searching for brand or business on Instagram only to get to a profile that hasn’t been updated in months. Instagram is set up in a feed format, so if you aren’t posting consistently, people won’t see your work.

Habit 2 – Don’t Photo Dump

Photo dumping might be my biggest Instagram pet peeve. Someone joins and decides to post their last 20 photos of a lake vacation they took all on the same day. There are multiple reasons this is ineffective.  First, all of your content is getting put out at the same time, so if people haven’t found your profile yet, you’re wasting all of your photos. Second, if I scroll past six photos from the same person, I’m annoyed and might unfollow.  My advice for when you get up and running is to post three to four good looking photos and then get in the habit of posting one to two times per day.

Habit 3 – Post Good Looking Photos

Make sure you are giving your audience something nice to look at because attention spans are short and people don’t always read the captions. So if your photo is something that doesn’t look interesting or appealing don’t post it. Pay attention to the filters, don’t over do it, but if your photo is really dark or hard to see, by all means, lighten it! You want to present the most visually appealing content you can, so if it doesn’t highlight your business in the best way, maybe skip posting.

Habit 4 – Use Stories

I understand that not every moment of the daily grind is picture perfect, especially as a business owner. Your office isn’t always neat, your shelves aren’t fully stocked, and sometimes the food isn’t always pretty. That’s ok! Just because it’s not something you want to feature and have on your profile for months to come doesn’t mean people don’t want to see it. Use the story feature to give people a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes on on a day to day basis. Stories are a relatively new feature, but it’s spreading like wildfire. Make sure to tag your location in them for a chance to get on the “city” story. Tagging the location gives more people the chance to hear about you and what you’re doing. In your Instagram stories is also a place to highlight activities that might not be related to your business. For example, let’s say you’re a home builder and your feed is usually filled with “before and afters” or photos of completed projects. Your story is a place where you can post videos of the crew working, a little tutorial about your work, or a dinner with the team. People view these stories like crazy, and it’s a great place to be a little less edited.

Habit 5 – Use Hashtags

They aren’t going away! Get them on every post you have. I suggest industry terms, locations (city specific)  and variations of phrases people might use to find you. (example – if you are a florist in Minnesota you can use #floral #flowerdesign #florist #mn #mnflorist #mnflowers #floralarrangement #summerflowers #mpls #minnesota etc.)  I like to post the hashtags in a comment and use the bullets, so they are hidden. See below:

#floral #flowerdesign #florist #mn #mnflorist #mnflowers

I just think this keeps your posts cleaner and more visually appealing after all, that’s what Instagram is all about.

Habit 6 – Interact and have fun!

Interact with your followers. If someone posts, “wow, so pretty,” make sure to like their comment and throw them a “thanks!” It’s great to have tons of followers but if they aren’t interacting with your posts are you providing any value? Also be sure to get in there and like other peoples posts. Search locations of where your audience might be and like their photos. Scroll through your news feed and like photos of people you are following. People like attention and this is a great way to stay front of mind. Let’s take the florist example again. If they are located in South Minneapolis, I’d recommend searching the Minneapolis, Edina, and Richfield locations and liking and following people who post that as a photo location. Let’s say you like a couple photos from one person, and they see the notification. They check out your page and like your work, and the next time they order flowers guess who they think of? You!

Habit 7 – Don’t expect instant results and be prepared to shift

It takes a little while to build up an audience. If you expect an instant following, you might set yourself up for failure. BUT, if you are consistent in your posting and interact regularly, it will come. Use trial and error on different types of posts and see what works and post more of what gets positive responses. I like to play around with different times of day when I post as well as the length of my captions. If you have a business page on Instagram, they offer insights so you can easily see what posts are getting the most attention and who makes up your audience.

The post Habits to Increase your Effectiveness on Instagram appeared first on Tim B Design.

from Habits to Increase your Effectiveness on Instagram

[mnbear3]

Yes, it could have been a Dozen Roses, but this customer wanted to impress her Valentine! ❤️. Let us bring smiles to your Valentine this year!#wisteriadesign #valentinesday2019 #valentinesflowers #mnflorist #floristsofinstagram #bbrooksfineflowers #betternowthanlater #theknotpro https://www.instagram.com/p/BtKwOQyFGzr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mn0ady6rz6o8

[preciouspetalsblog]

Never stop learning...about flowers

As a florist there are always new tips & tricks coming into the market that propel me forward. The ideas themselves aren’t so earth shattering, in that if you follow samples A, B and C and pair it with 1, 2, and 3, you’ll be the most sought after florist in all the land. Rather, it’s a compilation of understanding the product that is being used, how it can be manipulated or paired with something I hadn’t thought of before and making it my own. Seeing new varieties of flowers, getting to know them by name, understanding their availability and working closely with my sales rep to get it at the right price, secure it for the next event and keep it fresh are just a few of the details I work out in my brain as I take it all in. Then, when I have created the fresh, new, custom design, the goal becomes taking beautiful images of it to share with my customer base. (All of this is of course, to be done in between answering the phone, taking out deliveries, dusting the shelves and taking out the cardboard!) But really, every bit of this process moves me towards my overarching goal; To be the best florist I can be for the community I serve. 

I bumped in to another florist the other day and her customer had made a unique request. She shared her ideas of how she was going to do this or that to make it work, and it made me realize that that’s what its all about. Getting creative, sharing ideas, trying new products and having the confidence to take on a new challenge when it comes your way. I love that she had to design an outdoor pot without using any branches or sticks. That’s 90% of what we typically use! But I have no doubt she knocked it out of the park without using a single stick.

Learning from others in the design room is probably my favorite way to learn. But if I’m not constantly bringing new ideas into the design room, my designs start to get same-old, same old. So, going to shows and seeing new products is absolutely worth it. There are no two ways about it for me. It puts me in a room with my peers and in the audience of a stage-worthy designer. I can bounce ideas off of those around me and jot down notes that are either good reminders, must- haves, or need-to-tries. It’s an opportunity to pump a little more heart beat into my design work. Plus, I love to take notes in my pretty floral-print journal.

It’s fair to say that I enjoy being the student just as much as I enjoy being the teacher. I teach monthly at the Koehler & Dramm Institute of Floristry and it is so great for a variety of reasons. It amazes me what a teacher can learn in the classroom. There are no two minds identical and seeing floral design through the eyes of a student, at any level, is unique and beautiful. 

There are times when I watch my 6 year old design at the shop and I love it. Not just because she is my child, but because it gives me insight to how she sees and works with the world around her. Being teachable, in all aspects of life, is a central focus I carry with me and hope to pass on to her.

Each lesson, whether as a teach in a classroom, in the seat of a design show, or along side the design table of my daughter is an opportunity to learn. And when it comes right down to it, I love to learn - especially about flowers. 

Reba

[preciouspetalsblog]

Why am I a florist?

Its a funny little business, the business of flowers. 

And it is a business I most assuredly love. 

Yes, I have to double wrap the flowers before they go out on wickedly cold days like today, but when Gary smiles ear to ear and tells you that he is a first time Grandpa this very day, you forget about the freezing temps! And I can tell you this much.... a grandpa doesn’t make many stops between home and hospital. But the one stop he does make is to the Flower Shop.

When first-time customer, Andy, calls ahead to check on the prices of rose petals, you know he’s already on his way, and he will be wearing his finest cologne. How can you not smile?

If William wants to make sure his Mom has flowers every month, that’s fine by me! Happy to keep your card on file Will.

Because, Lucy, dear Lucy called and wants to send flowers to her daughter who has been depressed and under the weather for days now. We get it. Anything to lift her spirits!

And if Jay has been buying flowers for his wife on New Years Eve for the last 36 years, you can bet I want to see him again this year and the next and the next....