Ikebana in Phoenix

David Payne opened Payne and Morrison Florists in 1964 and shortly thereafter his interest in the Ikebana style began. For those of you that are not familiar with Ikebana it is a Japanese style of flower design. It developed from a need to show ones faith in heaven by offering arranged flowers at the temple. There are three main lines that represent heaven, man and earth. The use of form, rhythm, color and texture guide how the three main lines are arranged. Although there are strict guidelines to Ikebana, over the centuries many sub-styles have developed to allow broader expression. Windblown, Floating and Freestyle are a few of the sub-styles that have become popular. David heard of a class for florists in Phoenix being taught on Japanese design. He signed himself up and “arm-twisted” his designers into attending. They turned out to be seven of the ten students. Dave was the only student to continue after the first unit. He eventually became an instructor himself and over the years has helped develop the Ikebana culture in Arizona. He even designed the Ikebana displays at the Phoenix Art Museum for many years.

Today Payne and Morrison Florists remains one of the best Phoenix area flower shops to order Ikebana arrangements from. You can find a “freestyle” arrangement on the web site now but soon there will be a tab just for Ikebana.

Please stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix or go to http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

3 Wedding Saturday

This last weekend we did three weddings at Payne and Morrison Florists. They were all very distinct from each other and we all had our favorite for different reasons. I decided I would post the pictures for everyone to see and find out what other people outside of the shop thought.

First is the classic off-white wedding.

The bride carried these roses with stephanotis and eucalyptus filler.

Next is more of a country style cascading mix of flowers: hydrangeas, calla lilies, yellow gerbera daisies and ivy filler.

Last, we have the modern but simple hot pink roses with stephanotis, eucalyptus and lemon filler.

Please post a comment to let us know which one you like best. Thank you for your time and stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix, Arizona or visit http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

Summer Flowers

As summer settles in around Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix we can’t help but think about vacation. Maybe it’s the 110 plus temperatures that make trips from the past sneak into your head.
Are your favorite memories of vacation of the beach? Thinking about the sun, the sand, the sea breeze and all the different flowers up and down the coast?
Or do you think back on the countryside? Rolling hills covered in grass and wild flowers. All of the friends and family that you love to visit when you go back.

No? Well, the tropics must be your taste. Where dressing up means a new swimsuit, roughing it means finding new trails through the jungle in a Jeep and working for dinner means snorkeling all day.

No matter what your best memories are of summer vacation you can have a little reminder of it around your house. Just stop by your local florist and let a designer custom build you a vacation style arrangement. Or, you can send a little vacation to someone near or far with a beautiful fresh flower bouquet.
Please stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix, Arizona or visit http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

Father's Day Gifts

If you haven’t found that perfect gift for dad this year go to your local florist. It is so easy find a gift for your father when you talk to a designer. You will be surprised by the options you find. Gift baskets, plants and flowers can be customized for any taste and to meet any budget.
Gift baskets are always good for Father’s Day. A basket with dads’ favorite food and snacks are the easiest route to take but there are other options. Take in your own container like a lunch box, ice chest or tailgate grill, and have the florist fill it with gifts that fit a theme like golf or grilling. You can even pick out a custom container like an older body style truck or root beer mug at the flower shop. Whatever you pick for a gift basket your dad will love it because it will have a personal touch to it.
Plants are also a great choice. Plants come in all sizes and price ranges. You can keep it simple by picking out a few small plants for a dish garden or send a large floor plant in a nice ceramic pot. You can also get creative with something like a baseball container with a plant in it (like an ivy for a cubs fan) to put in dads office or game room.
Of course you can always use your local flower shop to send dad flowers. This is quite possibly your easiest option. Just let your florist know what your dad is into, like baseball, bar-b-q, golfing and tell them how much you want to put into the flowers. The designer will take care of everything else for you from there. Most arrangements sent to dad will usually come in a keepsake container that he will have for years to come.
Please call or stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix, Arizona or visit http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

Rose

Roses are the royalty of the flower world. No other flower is so widely accepted and loved. What other flower has not only clubs and societies but also has its own national month, a war named after it and was the symbol of an empire?
Throughout history roses have been loved the world-over. The Greeks have a story that has not just one god creating this flower but several gods and goddesses making it. The Romans imported roses from China and they became a status symbol for the wealthy. They used the petals as confetti, put them into bath water, filled rooms with them to be used like carpets and used them in many other ways including religious ceremonies. Everyone who saw Gladiator remembers all the red rose petals showering down over the arena floor.

England continued this love of roses, they even made it the national symbol. All over America there are Rosevilles, Rosewoods, Roseviews and any other way you can name a town after a rose. America even made June the National rose month.
Today you can buy roses any time of year and in almost any color. An arrangement of all roses in a vase is classic but a few roses also look great as the focal point in a mixed bouquet. Roses are not every girl’s favorite flower but I don’t know of any girl that will complain if they get a beautiful bouquet of roses as a gift.
In honor of June being the national rose month, we at Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix, Arizona are offering a discount on all of our roses. Please stop by our shop, call or visit our website http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ to see different styles of rose bouquets.

Dress Up Your Room

Ever pick up one of those home décor magazines, start flipping through and just get discouraged when you see how awesome some houses look inside? I did the other weekend, but flipping page after page, I noticed one thing. The majority of these pictures had flowers in them, from simple centerpieces on tables to huge custom bouquets. No matter how the room featured in the picture was designed, the flowers seemed to add that final touch to the rooms.
Flowers always add an extra element to any room for any occasion. The different types of media know this, not just magazines. Take note of how many times you see flowers in a movie, off in the corner, at the reception desk of a hotel lobby, sitting on the kitchen counter, they are everywhere. Turn on the TV and pay attention to how many times you see flowers in the show you are watching and in the commercials. If the scene takes place indoors the odds are that you will see some floral decoration somewhere in the room.
So, why am I going on and on about how you see flowers in all of these settings? Well it sounds too simple but flowers are the best way to dress up your room. You don’t have to be an interior decorator or spend a fortune to give your home that feel of luxury. Just go down to your local flower shop and take a look at what they have, even talk to one of the designers about what look and color you want, and see what they can come up with.
Please come by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix Arizona or visit us at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Mothers Day Shop Drama

This year we tackled Mothers Day with a refined plan from many past years of going through this holiday. Everything was set up for a smooth Mothers Day week. Monday went great, good orders coming in and awesome team work. Then Tuesday came around. Got to work early and noticed water dripping in one of our coolers, one of the units was icing up. Dealing with this, it took a while to notice the phones were not ringing. Called our phone company with my cell and they let us know that we would see someone out by 2:00. Thank goodness for cell phones, we had the calls forwarded to mine. We still couldn’t receive wires or process credit cards. Right about now I started to see the perfect storm mounting on the horizon, just waiting for the power or water to go out. So after dealing with the phones it was back to the cooler. We moved all the flowers to our back room cooler and had to shut down the front. After a couple of hours it was deiced and we transferred all the flowers back, along with all the new flowers that had come in. All this time we were running out all of our cell phone batteries. Sometime around noon Deanna reminded us all about Mothers day 2003 when the phones went down. That year Dave Payne cut off the tip of his finger and had to leave Deanna in charge while he spent the rest of the day at the emergency room. By the way, Deanna was pregnant and all kinds of smell were setting her off. Back to Mothers day 2009 at Payne and Morrison, the phones were back up by about 1:30 and everyone still had their digits. So half way into the week I hope we got the speed bumps out of the way and it is full speed ahead now.
Stop into Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix, Arizona or visit us on the web www.payneandmorrison.com .

Mothers Day Gift

Buy your mom Flowers. No really, no matter what else you do for Mother’s Day, buy her flowers. Every list you can find for best Mother’s day gifts have flowers at the top. You can go big and get her an upgraded vase with beautiful flowers or even fill a custom container with flowers, like a picnic basket that she could use for a long time to come. If you had something else in mind for mom this year get some flowers to go with it. If you know your mom’s favorite flower, that is a safe bet to include with any gift, but there are several other options. If you are buying jewelry some roses would go great. Get purple, orange or yellow roses they always look beautiful. If your mom’s favorite color is red go with tulips instead of roses. Sending your mom to the spa? Put the gift card into a loose bouquet of mixed flowers. This relaxed, beautiful gift will set the tone for the main spa gift. The flowers also will be around for several days after to remind her of her great day at the spa. If your mom doesn’t like to go to the spa, get her a home spa pack with a vase of stock. This flower has several blooms per stem, it is very fragrant, and comes in many colors. Whatever your gift happens to be just stop by your local florist and ask them what they have to go with it.
Alright you get the point. Flowers make a great Mothers Day gift or they make any Mothers Day gift better. So give mom flowers this year.
Please stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix Arizona or visit our website at www.payneandmorrison.com .

How Much To Spend On Flowers

I have been noticing a disturbing trend lately. People have been coming into our store and talking about how they were at another florist that was too expensive for them. Flowers come in all price ranges so I don’t understand how a florist can’t find the right product for their customer. For 45 years Payne & Morrison Florists of Phoenix Arizona has been able to make customers happy with quality flowers at with budget.
A couple of weeks ago a guy came in form a local high school, obviously stressed out. When we asked him what we could help him with he said he needed a corsage and boutonniere for prom. We tried to find out what color, style and kind of flowers he was interested in but all he could talk about was cost. I asked him how much he was looking to spend and he replied “could you make me a deal since I am buying both from you?” I told him that we would be able to find something for him if would just tell me about how much he wanted to spend. He asked “can 25 or 30 bucks get me anything?” I told him absolutely. It was like a weight lifted off his shoulders. I asked him why he was so surprised and he told me that he had just came from a florist that flat out told him they could not do anything for him unless he spent at least 30 dollars for each item. I was shocked. I remember being a high school kid that had to go buy flowers. It is intimidating for a young man to go into a flower shop where he doesn’t really know what he is supposed to do. Then end up with something that a girl he likes is going to be happy with. I realized why this guy seemed so stressed. He thought he didn’t have enough money to buy prom flowers or that he was going to end up with something that his date would think was cheap. I am glad the guy came to us and we were able to make him happy instead of him going away thinking florists are too expensive.
Last week I had a young bride-to-be tell me that she met a local florist at a show and went in a couple of weeks later to talk wedding flowers with her. After going over what the customer wanted the florist came to her with a bid of ten thousand dollars. The customer told her that was close to the budget for the entire wedding, and the florist actually got upset with her. This Bride is very laid back and easy to work with so once again I was shocked. She is very flexible in the flowers and greens used and was open to all kinds of styles. In other words, there is plenty of room to work with to come up with a great product at a price that works for the customer.
These two situations really bothered me. Florists are having a hard enough time these days. Yes the economy is slow but flower shops also have to compete with huge grocery store chains. People pick up inferior quality flowers at their closest grocery store. When they are disappointed with the quality they get these people will never think about going to a florist. Not to mention those same grocery stores are setting in on the holidays that keep florists going during the slower months. One chain set up tents to sale cheap, low quality flowers at Valentines Day. So how could florists be so naive as to send customers away with the impression that if you don’t break the bank you can’t afford top quality flowers. Of course when you can afford to go all out on flowers it is amazing what a florist can accomplish but it is just as important to make flowers look great at any price range.

Please stop by Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix Arizona or visit us on the web at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Farmers Market

If you are from a city or town that has always done a market count yourself lucky. For most kids growing up in a city or suberb they never get the benefits of having a market. The northeast coast and west coast have had several succsesful markets for a very long time and it is finaly catching on in the cities as well. Farmer’s markets are a great way to get to know your community and help small local busineses as well.
Growing up in Phoenix, we never had a farmer’s market to go to, but we saw what we were missing on our California vacations. All over California there are farmer’s markets, to the point that you could find one somewhere every day of the week. The first couple we found on accident just out for a walk. Then we made a point to try to hit one when we first got to town to do our shopping. It was great to start vacation with all this fresh local produce, and ofcourse some fresh flowers for our room.
Over the last few years there has been a farmer’s market craze in the greater Phoenix area. After the success of other street type festivals it is no surprise that farmer’s markets are finally becoming widely available. The farmer’s markets have been getting more organic and authentic, less commercial booths and more local people selling their products. One thing that has been missing however is flowers. Most phoenix area markets didn’t have fresh flowers. This is why Payne & Morrison Florists started to set up at Momma’s Organic Farmer’s Market and hopes to have the time to participate in more soon. It is great to see all the shoppers and other market workers that are attracted to the flowers in the middle of the market. Flowers somehow just seem to complete the farmers market. Once summer comes to the Phoenix area the markets will be in their off season but up north they will continue all summer. People looking for a quick get away from the Valley heat can go to markets up in the pines.
You can find local farmers markets on the internet, or your local paper will usually run a list of them. If you have never been to one you are missing out on a great way to find good local produce and support small businesses in your area.
Please stop by Payne & Morrison Florists in Phoenix Arizona or visit us online at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Wedding Centerpiece

Today everyone is looking to save money where ever possible. Well, if you are getting married there are many ways to save a dollar here and there but butting out stuff from your big day is not always the answer. For example look at the centerpieces. Don’t leave them out of the budget completely, just dress up your tables for less. There are a few ways to save on centerpieces and still look great.
The first thing to do is rent. Renting silk arrangements is the most cost effective way to go. Yes, bouquets can be rented, container and all. It was very popular for a while to rent flowers for the entire wedding so just doing the centerpieces isn’t that strange. You can save a lot of money and not worry about the flowers dying before the reception. If you still want real flowers on the table you can rent the container. Instead of having 20 glass globe bowls after your wedding pay a discounted rate, let your guests take home the flowers and the florist take back the bowls. It does not matter if you rent the entire centerpiece or just the container it is quickest and easiest way to save money.
Another way to save on centerpieces is to go simple. Simple is very in-style today. A large vase with several of one type of flower in it is a common thing to see and it looks great. Use this to your advantage. Take a large vase on the head table with ten large sunflowers coming out of it and a simple yellow bow on it. Then at all the other tables have a small single bud vase. Put a single stem of yellow daisies, which will have two to four flowers on it in the vase. This will give you great color throughout the hall without spending too much. To save even more money rent the vases and buy the flowers loose. You might want the florist to arrange the big vase so that it shows well but the other flowers can be done on your own. Have someone involved in the wedding clip the stems and fill all the table vases for you. Just ask your local florist for a flower that will match your color scheme and any special instructions if you are going to do them yourself.
Please visit our website at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Tulips

One of the favorite springtime flowers is the tulip. Every flower has a history behind it but few are as unbelievable as a tulip. This simple flower that stands for love, life and death was the cause of one of the biggest flower crazes in history.
In the 1630’s a time known as Tulipmania was spreading across Europe. The Tulip was introduced to Holland in the 1500’s from Turkey and Persia. There was a story in Persia that says tulips formed from the blood of a young man that killed himself after finding the girl he was in love with dead. This story is less amazing than the true story of what happened in Europe once the flower got there. The tulip became a symbol of wealth by the 1630’s. Yes, a simple flowering bulb as a symbol of wealth. There was such a demand that people were selling off most of what they owned to buy a tulip as an investment. It is reported that bulbs were fetching the equivalent of anywhere from 20 to 60 thousand of today’s dollars. Could you imagine trying to decide between a Mercedes and a tulip bulb?
Well, the tulip is a beautiful flower and thankfully it is affordable today for anyone, not just the very wealthy. There is a wide variety of tulips to choose from these days but the best ones still come from Holland. Whether you are looking to buy a bulb plant or a fresh cut tulip, if you can find a florist that imports them from Holland you can enjoy the beauty that drove one of the biggest flower crazes of all time. The tulips that come over today are still one of the best symbols of springtime, beauty, life and love that you can find even if you are not paying 20K for them.

Please visit our website at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Green Florist

Naturally you would think that a florist would be a green company but that is not necessarily the case. A flower shop can easily be a very wasteful place if a few steps are not taken to prevent it.
The biggest way that a florist can be environmentally friendly is to recycle. Every day flowers are shipped all over the world in cardboard boxes. On an average day your local flower shop will get two to three boxes of flowers in. By the end of the week you are looking at ten to fifteen boxes. This number is significantly higher on holidays. Each box also has news paper inside to help protect the flowers. If someone doesn’t separate these recyclables out they just end up in the trash with all of the stems and old flowers. At Payne and Morrison Florists in Phoenix we have had a system in place for many years to help this process. We have a cardboard table out back that all boxes are stacked on. These boxes are broken down and put into a recycle dumpster that we pay for. We also have paper only cans by the flower receiving station, and by the office. All of the shipping news paper, office paper and the paper that plants come wrapped in goes into these trash cans to be recycled. Another thing that can be recycled by a florist is glass. Not just broken glass in the shop, but good vases as well. If a guy buys his wife flowers for their anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and her birthday, that is a minimum of four vases a year. This doesn’t sound like a problem at first but in just a few years and you end up with a couple of cabinets full of vases. A lot of people bring their vases back in so that we can reuse them. A few regular customers will bring them in a box at a time.
We are also looking into new ways to help us be just a little more green. New types of floral foam and other products that we use in the store are coming out to help us with this. We recently had a power regulator installed to help save energy at the store. This regulator should help the store run more efficiently, especially our coolers with summer just around the corner.

Please visit our website at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Corsage

We are a local Phoenix florist that has several high schools around us. This makes our Prom season last for a few weeks. I remember when just thinking of this time of year made our designers’ fingers hurt. Corsages have come a long way since then.
The corsage was originally a single flower or large cluster of flowers worn on the waist, shoulder or the bodice of a dress. Today they are worn on the wrist, ankle, on a finger, in the hair or attached to a dress. Actually the only limit to a corsage is imagination. Gone are the days that Prom season would bring the same style of corsage over and over again with different flower and ribbon combinations. The new styles and accessories that have come out are making corsages a whole new art form.
Flowers are always increasing in availability and variety and this bodes well for corsage making. Many flowers were too big for a corsage or just big enough for one flower and not much else. Over the years mini flowers have added to the variety of corsages. Everyone knows about mini-carnations, and mini-roses but the mini-gerbera daisy, a flower that can be found in almost any color, even two tones have become very popular over the last few years. Although they are not flowers, bamboo, bear grass, berries, and even herbs are fresh products that are being used very creatively in corsage making. Going into your local florist is the best way to see what creative piece they can come up with to satisfy your need.
In the last few years, there have been a lot of new products created to add to the design of a corsage. One of the biggest trends is how you wear the corsage. It can be worn on a two inch wide pearl bracelet, on a silver or gold wire necklace or ring, attached to the dress or even stuck directly to your body. With a designer that has jewelry making background the possibilities are endless. There are also small accessories that can be added to corsages these days. From feathers to rhinestones, from designer lace to fiber optic tipped strings that come in any color.
Imagine going to your prom with your favorite flower in your hair lit up by pin points of light that match your dress. A delicate silk choker with that same flower in the middle; spiraling down your arm is a slim silver wire with more flowers that have small rhinestones that also match your dress. To top it off you have a small anklet of flowers that match your shoes to a tee. For less than you spent on your dress, your floral works of art would have everyone admiring you on the dance floor.Please visit us at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Prom Night

Today Prom Night is a high-dollar event with live bands and the newest fashions displayed, all held at a premier location. It seems like proms keep getting bigger and more elaborate over the years but they are really just getting back to the roots of Prom Night.
Prom is originally from Europe where it is known as the Promenade Ball. Every year there would be a ball held just for teens. In a prominent ball room all of the young people from wealthy families would parade in while being formally announced to the room. This ball was an opportunity for a young person to declare they were of a dating age and show themselves off for the night. The young women would buy new gowns of the latest fashion and the young men would be in formal dress of the times with the newest accessories on display. There would be live music that they would dance to throughout the night while they got to know each other. Families that were close to being affluent but not quite there yet would use this opportunity to introduce their child to other teens that they would not meet other wise. The Promenade was a very important, highly anticipated event.
In early America, the tradition was carried over on a smaller scale. It was a formal event that left out many teens that came from families with less means. These families that were left out started to hold their own version of the Promenade. They would organize formal tea parties at the local high school or college. The teens would be invited and would be told to wear their Sunday best. They would wear a simple corsage like they would to church. There was no big production, no fancy establishment, or expensive clothes. This simple event spread all over the country. Soon, every year at the local school the Prom was held in the gymnasium or even cafeteria.
After WWII when more Americans were enjoying a booming economy, the Prom started to evolve once again. One teen girl after another started to buy the new dresses for the annual dance. Soon it became the norm again to out and buy the hottest fashions by big name designers. Today, there is a planning committee that comes up with a theme, finds a hot spot in town to hold the Prom, and if they are lucky, hire the band. Young women have makeup and hair professionally done. The corsage and boutonniere are custom designed to match the dress and tuxedo. The Prom is once again the major event it was as the Promenade Ball.
For the latest floral fashions please visit our website http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

The Easter Lily

The Lilium Longiflorum, Bermuda Lily, or as you probably know it, the Easter Lily is the purest symbol of Easter that you can find. When spring rolls around we are bombarded with the symbolism of Easter. The bunnies, colored eggs, baskets and candy are everywhere for a couple of weeks but the Easter Lily, which ironically gets the least amount of promotion, best represents the spirit of Easter.
The bunny gets the most face time these days but few people could tell you why. The goddess Eostre, who represented fertility, new beginnings and springtime was said to have a pet rabbit that laid colored eggs. In the 1700’s the Germans brought their tradition of Oschter Hawes to America. Kids would make homemade nests to put in the house. If they were good, a hare would leave them colored eggs in their nests. These symbols have taken root in Easter, a springtime holiday that stands for resurrection because they have that common link of spring and rebirth. Over the years candy companies have gotten into the mix by taking these symbols of bunnies and eggs and making chocolate rabbits, and sugar eggs. Today we are left with baskets nested with candy and the center piece of the bunny. After we are finished taking out all the candy we go on the highlight of the day, the Easter egg hunt. I love all of these things about Easter but the real meaning is distorted along the way.
The one symbol that is deeply rooted in the true spirit of this holy day is the Easter Lily. This lily is originaly from Ryukyu Island in Japan. It was brought to us in the U.S. by WWI soldier Louis Houghton in 1919. He brought a suitcase of them home and just gave them away. Thankfully for us today he gave them out on the Oregon coast, a great place to grow them. When WWII dragged the U.S. into the fight we stopped buying Easter Lilies from Japan. So almost overnight, the Easter Lily industry in America was born as the result of two wars.
The Easter Lily starts out as a hard bulb that gets buried in the ground to remain dormant until the season is right for it to sprout. It grows strait up towards heaven and finally blooms into a pure white trumpet. The Easter Lily stands for purity, hope, life, and virtue. What could be a better symbol for Easter? So make sure this spring you give some Easter Lilies to go with all the baskets, candy and eggs. Remember there is only about a two week period to buy this precious symbol of purity, life and hope.
Please visit us online at www.payneandmorrison.com .

Don't Forget the Flowers

Too many people these days forget about flowers. Flowers are a good gift for any occasion but all too often we forget that they are an option. Show up with them or have them delivered, either way flowers make a statement few other gifts can.
Guys going on a first date or apologizing for something usually are the ones that think of flowers. These occasions are perfect for flowers but most guys should buy them a little more often. Unlike other gifts that men like to buy for women flowers are easy to pick out. Just go into a flower shop and pick out any flowers for a loose bouquet or tell the designer how much you want to spend and what color the girl you are buying for likes. The florist will take care of the rest. Either way she will love it when you show up with this beautiful gift. Flowers are also relatively inexpensive compared to other gifts. The reaction you get from flowers is close to when you give a small piece of jewelry but you will spend a lot less money. Guys can save time and money, not to mention score big points when they pick up flowers.
Most of the rest of us only think of buying floral gifts on the usual times like Valentines and Mothers day. There are many other times that flowers are a great gift. House warming parties can be hard to find the right gift. Not sure what taste the person has, just buy an arrangement that has seasonal colors in it. They can have it out for a couple of weeks as people come by to see the new house. The vase the flowers came in can be used as needed over the years by the proud new home owner. Any other time that a congratulations, get well, thinking of you or just because type of gift is called for, flowers are the answer. You don’t even have to be around, just call your local florist and have them send your gift anywhere in the world. With all of the different flowers and container combinations your options are really endless. So the next time you find yourself having a hard time thinking of what to give someone as a gift, go to your florist and see what they can come up with for you.
Please visit our web site for more ideas www.payneandmorrison.com .

Easter Flowers

Nothing says “It’s Easter” like flowers. A simple way to put you into the right mindset going into Easter is to go buy a nice springtime arrangement or some fresh loose flowers for the house. When you wake up and one of the first things you see is a bright bouquet on the table you can’t help being happy.
Easter to me is about new beginnings and being thankful for our pasts. When I was growing up my favorite Easters were spent up north. The family would load up and drive from Phoenix up to Payson. We would join our family up there and go to a spot by a stream or a meadow for our lunch. The fresh air and wild flowers just seemed to complete the day. Most of us have similar memories from our childhood. Now as an adult we seldom let ourselves slow down enough to really enjoy those types of moments. Instead of driving out of the city to help relax yourself just stop by the local florist.
Some lilies, tulips, or daisies on the table go a long way to reminding you about the important things in life. This little extra touch of color around the house can help to slow you down and give you a little piece of Easter every day. So go down to your florist, get some fresh spring flowers and for the next couple of weeks remind yourself why Easter is special to you.

Please visit our website http://www.payneandmorrison.com/

Quality Plants and Flowers

Everywhere you look these days people are selling plants and flowers. Your local grocery store, the home repair store, mega retail nurseries, and anyone else with half a reason is selling plants and flowers. With so many places to choose from how can you make sure you get quality for your money?
The best way is to find a good local florist that you can trust.
Florists make sure they keep flowers in stock that are of the highest quality, usually importing them in from the best places in the world. It is just good business. Bad quality flowers don’t last. You can keep them looking fresh by putting them into a cooler but as soon as they come out they quickly wilt. This is what you get at your local grocery. They buy the lowest quality flowers in bulk, price them at their normal mark up and pass the savings and poor quality on to you. If the florist were to buy these bad quality flowers and send them out in their deliveries people would stop buying from them. Could you imagine getting flowers for congratulations on your baby and before you even got home the flowers were dead? Not only would you not be impressed but you also would remember to not use that florist. So when you go into a florist to buy fresh flowers you can count on them being high quality. If in doubt you can just ask the florist. They will be happy to guide you to the flowers in the shop that best suits your needs.
Plants are much the same story. Your local florist will usually know the best local greenhouse. The two will develop a great partnership over the years that benefit the customers. Buying plants that are grown locally by a quality greenhouse ensure that the plants are healthy and have been well taken care of. The local home care store does a similar thing with plants that the grocery stores do with flowers. They often have plants on hand simply because it is what corporate headquarters sends out to them. If the plants were not meant to be in your climate or if they were handled poorly while being shipped, they usually will not last long once you get them home.
There are a couple other advantages to going into your florist. One is that you can talk to someone that deals with plants and flowers every day, not just the person assigned to the floral department at that given time. They can answer your questions and give you helpful advice about what you are looking for. Even if you come up with something they have not heard before your florist would love to find the answer for you. The other benefit is that they can get just about any special requests for you if given enough time. Sometimes they can get what you are looking for that same day if the plant or flower is available. If you find a local florist you can trust they can take care of all your plant and flower needs.
For more information please visit us at www.payneandmorrison.com .

How To Make Flowers Last

When people find out you are a florist one question that pops up all the time is “How do I make flowers last”. Or they tell you different ways that they have heard of to make arrangements last longer, like adding a penny, sprite, or an aspirin to the water. So here is a quick top seven for anybody interested.
1. Change the water daily. This is the simplest way to make flowers last longer. Nothing like fresh clean water to help keep the flowers drinking. Hydrated flowers are happy flowers.
2. Cut the stems at an angle. Cut your flowers before you first put them in water if you buy them loose. Also cut them every couple of days. Make sure to use sharp scissors or shears, be careful not to crush the stems. This tip also helps with the water intake.
3. Buy fresh flowers that are still in bud. When you look at the flowers at your local florist, the wide open ones always look the best but don’t buy them. If the flower is already open it won’t last that long. You want the flowers that are still in bud, or not open yet. Make sure the flower is still firm as well. You can enjoy them opening when you get them home.
4. Cleanliness is key. You want to put your fresh flowers into a clean container or vase. Like in rule #1 clean water is very important. So if your vase is dirty your water is dirty. Any bacteria can speed up the decay of flowers.
5. No leaves under water. The leaves will start to decay and contaminate your water. It cannot be said enough flowers need clean water.
6. Don’t over heat your flowers. Keep them as cool as possible. Do not set them in direct sun light, keep them out of the draft from your heater. If you work in a kitchen and someone sends you flowers do not set them over the serving line. Well you get the picture. The hotter flowers get the quicker they will open and begin to wilt.
7. Feed your flowers. Once again fresh clean water is the best thing for keeping flowers fresh. If you want to put something in the water make sure it is food. Your local florist will have some on hand. You can also find some good recipes on line.
These are the best ways to make sure you get the most of your flowers and enjoy them as long as possible. For more about flowers please visit us at www.payneandmorrison.com .

payneandmorrisonflorist

Getting Married?
What to look for in your Florist
One of the worst things you hear of when people talk about planning their wedding is that after all the planning and money spent, just before the “Big Day”, the flower shop they chose closed its doors. Just at the peak of all that stress and planning you have a bomb dropped on you. This is why the number one thing to look for in a florist for such an important day is dependability. Longevity for a florist tells you a couple of things.
One, you can count on the fact that they know what they’re doing. If they didn’t take care of their customers over the years they wouldn’t have survived in a very competitive field. There are new flower shops opening all the time, going to churches and businesses to under bid whoever has been providing their flower needs. So, if you are not taking care of your customers someone else definitely will. The longer a florist has been around the more you can be rest assured that they will be doing their best to make you happy.
Two, you know that they will be there for your “Big Day”. Staying power in a flower shop is like a security blanket for you. This is true for any vendor you look at when it comes to weddings. As you are planning your wedding you will hear many people say things like: “The bakery closed a week before…”, “We couldn’t find our Photographer after the wedding…”, “I could see my dress hanging in this abandoned store…”. So many people develop a fear of losing one of the key companies for their wedding. This is why the best way to narrow down the many vendors you look at while planning your wedding is longevity.
Please visit our web site at http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .

We are Payne and Morrison Florist

Hello all, we are a florist in Phoenix Arizona. We have been around since 1964. We are starting this to help people answer every day questions about flowers, unique gift ideas, and just to help people get to know us. We hope we can serve you as soon as possible. You can find us at Mama’s Organic Market on Sat. March 21st located at Northern Ave. & 91st Ave., come in our store at 7146 N. 35th Ave. or check us out at http://www.payneandmorrison.com/ .