Betsy's Bloomers

Shop Local for Valentine's Day!!!!

2012-02-01T10:19:00.002-05:00

Tamara's Centerpiece's

2012-01-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Cornucopia

2011-11-15T12:10:00.002-05:00

With Thanksgiving next week, we wanted to offer a special on a flower filled cornucopia. Regularly starting at $45.99, to say thanks we are offering it for $30.00. Local delivery or pickup only, flowers may vary.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T14:50:00.002-04:00

Photo by: Jimmy Ho Photography

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Photo by ONE Photography

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday: New GATOR Ornaments Arrived!

2011-09-14T09:30:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Photo by Dawn McKinstry Photography

Wordless Wednesday: Gators Edition

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Olivia and John: A July Wedding

2011-08-26T08:00:00.002-04:00

Olivia and John were married on July 2, 2011 at The Thomas Center. Our friend Jaime, at Sweet Serendipity Photography captured the day perfectly (as usual!). Below are some pictures from their big and some of our behind the scenes photos too.

Olivia's bouquet was made up of hand-tied ivory and yellow roses. I love that you can see The Thomas Center in the background of this photo, so beautiful!

For their outside ceremony, The Plant Shoppe provided a fabric accent to help frame the ceremony location. We also provided two larger arrangements, which were later moved inside for the reception. Chair markers were used on each row and were made up of a black ribbon and accented with yellow flowers.

For their reception, Olivia and John had centerpieces made up of cylinder vases with arrangements on top accented with hanging crystals. I love that there were also flowers inside the vases as well!

And finally, one last picture by Sweet Serendipity.

Congratulations Olivia and John! Thank you for letting The Plant Shoppe be a part of your big day. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Ceremony and Reception: The Thomas Center
Photographer: Sweet Serendipity
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Whitney and Kevin: Part II

2011-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

As mentioned in the first post, one of my favorite things at my Sweetwater Branch Inn wedding was my flowers--from my bouquet to the centerpieces, I loved them all!

The ceremony was held at the gazebo outside, with two larger arrangements made up of a mix of yellow, blue and white flowers placed on the columns. These arrangements were later moved to the buffet and harvest tables. I love that we were able to use the same pieces for both the ceremony and reception!

My husband and I really wanted to incorporate a sand ceremony into our ceremony program. However, I wasn't exactly sure where to even purchase colored sand or the container that we would pour the sand in. The Plant Shoppe once again came to the rescue! Betsy was even able to order yellow and blue sand, which went perfect with our colors.

In case you were wondering exactly how much I loved my bouquet, this picture with our officiant, Chad Reed, sums it up perfectly.

Finally, here's a picture of two of our favorite guests at the wedding.

Check back soon, there's lots more wedding updates to come! :) As you can tell, it was a busy summer at The Plant Shoppe!

Ceremony and Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Bryant's Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Photo by Pure Photography by Lindsey Tropf

Whitney and Kevin Part I

2011-08-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

If you've been reading The Plant Shoppe's blog for a while, you might know that it's not always Betsy who is posting...it's one of her former brides! Well... actually a former bride as of two months ago. My husband, Kevin and I were married on June 11 at Sweetwater Branch Inn... and if I had to pick my absolute favorite thing about the day... at the tip top of my list would be my flowers.

When I had my first consultation with Betsy, I told her a few things about me... I wanted a Southern wedding and my dream centerpieces had something to do with mason jars and hydrangeas. For almost a year, I went back and forth changing my mind, until finally I said, work your magic, do whatever, and if it could be in a blue mason jar, I would be in heaven. Betsy took my vision and made it come true--I burst into tears of joy when she brought me my bouquet!

I hope you will enjoy a few pictures from my big day... and since my wedding had lots of things from The Plant Shoppe (flowers, sand ceremony items, invitations and place cards), I've made it into two parts.

My bridesmaids and I with our bouquets. The girls had hand-tied blue hydrangea bouquets, while mine was made up of yellow roses, peonies, and blue hydrangea.

A close up of my bouquet

The gorgeous centerpieces. Blue mason jars (available for rent from The Plant Shoppe) with hydrangeas, yellow roses, solidago, and white spray roses.

The cake accented with blue hydrangeas and yellow roses.

Ceremony and Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Bryant's Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Friend

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Beginning today, The Plant Shoppe is joining in a worldwide blogging trend called Wordless Wednesday. Instead of posting a blog filled with words or a story... we will post one single picture that can tell a story all on it's own. Whether it's flowers, plants, invitations, Gator gear or other things we have in the shoppe, we hope you will enjoy our new Wednesday tradition! :)

How to stay out of the dog house....

2011-08-15T08:00:00.008-04:00

Since it's Monday, we wanted to share with you a little flower humor... and to remind you, that while that special man in your life does his best to pay attention, there are some things that you just might have to remind him of from time to time ;)

While attending a Marriage Weekend, Frank and his wife, Ann, listened to the instructor declare it is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.

He then addressed the men. Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?

Frank leaned over, touched Ann's arm gently, and whispered, "Gold Medal All-Purpose, isn't it?"

And thus began Frank's life in the dog house.

So to the ladies out there, remember, sometimes you just have to remind that special man in your life exactly what types of flour and flowers, you like. And, if my husband is reading this.... here's my favorite (but only if they are ordered and delivered by The Plant Shoppe!!)

Happy Monday and have a great week!

Rachel and Phong; A March Wedding

2011-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Rachel and Phong were married back on March 20, 2011 at the Baughman Center and had their reception at the Best Western Gateway Grand. I love Rachel's bouquet, which was made up of white calla lillies with red roses inside. The bouquet was accented with some silver as well.
Her bridesmaids bouquets, which are also shown below, were made up of hand-tied roses. I'm loving all the red--so beautiful!

At their reception, Rachel and Phong's centerpieces were made up of three cylinder vases filled with floating red tulips, red orchids and red roses. I love the variety each vase brings to the table. Did you know these vases are available for rental? Contact us for more information!

Our friends at Platinum Digital Video also posted a blog about Rachel and Phong's Wedding! You can see it by and watch a video teaser by clicking here!! They posted this beautiful photo collage of the wedding and reception and we had to share it with you!

Photo posted on Platinum Digital Video's blog

Congratulations Rachel and Phong! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. Thank you for letting The Plant Shoppe be part of your special day!

Ceremony: The Baughman Center
Reception: The Best Western Gateway Grand
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: The Flour Pot
Videographer: Platinum Digital Video

Andrew visits The SWAMP

2011-08-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

When Abbey was a baby we found all kinds of cute places/ways to take pictures. So that Andrew doesn't become the typical "second child" I came up with a fabulous idea for a fun picture. So we loaded up the family and headed up to the stadium.

Andrew at 10 weeks & 2 days took his first trip to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Going up there we looked like the typical family visiting where mom & dad went to college and hanging out at the stadium to take pictures. Little did all the people staring at us know, that we live 1.5 miles from the stadium.

Katie and Michael, Part II

2011-07-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

Hello and happy Friday! As a follow up to yesterday's post, we wanted to show you some of Jimmy Ho's photos from the event. You can see more of Katie and Michael's wedding on Jimmy's blog by clicking here.

Katie's bouquet was made up of beautiful mini purple calla lilies that were hand tied with fabric from her dress.

Here's another great shot of her bouquet...

Katie's bridesmaids had a similar look, except they carried bouquets of white mini callas. You can also see Michael's boutonniere, which was a purple calla lily, while his groomsmen wore white ones.

Congratulations Katie and Michael!! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. Thank you for letting The Plant Shoppe be a part of your big day!

Ceremony: Queen of Peace
Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Jimmy Ho Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Publix

Katie and Michael: Part I

2011-07-28T08:30:00.000-04:00

Katie and Michael were married back in February at Queen of Peace Catholic Church and had their ceremony at Sweetwater Branch Inn. This first post is going to showcase their reception decor.

The centerpieces at the event were made up of six white milk glasses vases, filled with a mix of purple flowers. Below is an example of two different tables.

Up next, on the appetizer table for their cocktail hour, we have a beautiful arrangement with curly willow accented with some purple orchids.

And finally, I love this picture of the guest book table. Not only can you really see the white vases and flowers, but you also can see a sneak peek of the gardens at Sweetwater - so beautiful!

Be sure and check back for our next post, showcasing the bridal party's bouquets! :)

Ceremony: Queen of Peace Catholic Church
Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Jimmy Ho Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Publix

We're Back!!!

2011-07-10T12:26:00.006-04:00

Have you missed our frequent blog posts? It's no secret that we haven't posted in a while, but that's because we have been busy little bees at The Plant Shoppe. Lots of things have been happening around the shop in the last few weeks. Baby Andrew is growing and a little over 2 months old, Abbey is about to be SEVEN and Whitney (that's me!) got married! So.... we apologize that we have been a little absent on the blog, but get ready, we have lots in store to share.

So, be sure and follow along as we update and share all the exciting things we have been doing. Also, be sure you are following us on Facebook for contests, updates, and exciting things that are coming!

In the meantime, check out what we can make... isn't this perfect for a summer surprise!?!?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

2011-07-04T11:14:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th of July! The Plant Shoppe hopes that you have a great day with family and friends, enjoying a cookout, fireworks and hopefully a day off from work, while celebrating this great holiday!! :)

To all of those who have served or are currently serving in our Armed Forces, thank you for your service to our country. Have a great holiday everyone!!

Happy June!

2011-06-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that the year is almost half way over? 2011 is definitely flying by. While June is usually a nice summer month filled with family vacations, barbecues, weddings, pool days, etc, there's also quite an important holiday in June too: Father's Day!

It's never too early to place an order for that special dad or father-figure in your life. There's lots of options and many ways that The Plant Shoppe can help you make the perfect Father's Day gift. We can make a special arrangement, send a favorite plant, or send one of these....

A JUNK FOOD BASKET

That's right, we can take your dad's favorite junk food and make an arrangement just for him that's edible. I know my dad would want some Turtles, Whoppers, Peanuts... you get the idea. Why not combine a flower arrangement with some candy?!? We also also accent your order with Thornebrook Chocolate. Yumm!

Call us today to advance order your Father's Day gifts... after all, there's only 18 days left :)

Sarah and Chris: An April Wedding

2011-05-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sarah and Chris tied the knot on April 3, 2011 at Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club. Jaime at Sweet Serendipity Photography was kind enough to share with us some pictures from the big day.

Here's a shot of the fabulous bride and her bridesmaids with their hand-tied bouquets of yellow tulips.

Check out some of the ceremony decor that we were able to provide. The above arbor is available for rent for any occasion and the best part is after your ceremony, the flowers at the top can be moved inside to serve as reception decor! It definitely makes a great backdrop for any event!

And, finally, take a look at their beautiful cake by KB's Kake Kreations. Now that looks yummy!

Thank you Sarah and Chris for letting us be a part of your big day! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!!

Ceremony: Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club
Reception: Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club
Photographer: Sweet Serendipity Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: KB's Kake Kreations

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you a Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to the all those who have served, are serving or have given their life defending our country. Today we honor your sacrifice and dedication. Thank you for defending our great country and the many freedoms that we have. Happy Memorial Day!!!

Baby Andrew is Here!

2011-05-17T07:55:00.004-04:00

The Plant Shoppe is pleased to announce the newest member of the Gardner Family:

Andrew Joseph

He was born at 4:33am this morning (May 17), 7lbs, 12 oz, 20 inch. Momma and Baby are doing well. Congratulations to Betsy, Terry and Big Sister Abbey! Yay!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T11:17:00.004-04:00

The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you a Happy Mother's Day! Whether you are a mom, mommy-to-be, aunt, grandmother or mother-in-law, we hope that you have a great day filled with lots of love, happiness, relaxation and, of course, flowers.

Oh Baby.... Our Blog/Facebook Contest

2011-05-07T18:11:00.007-04:00

Did you know that The Plant Shoppe's family is about to get a little bit bigger? To celebrate Betsy and Terry's newest addition that is due this week, we are having a Blog/Facebook contest.

Can you guess Baby Andrew's actual birthday, actual weight, or actual time of birth?
All week long, you can either comment on this blog post or our Facebook page for a chance to win. The closest person to guess each category will win a $20 gift certificate to The Plant Shoppe.

Here's our contest rules:
1. One entry per person per category
2. A date, weight, or time can only be guessed once. Ex: If someone guesses he will arrive Friday, May 13, that day is no longer available for an entry. If a date/weight/time is entered twice, the entry will go to the person who submitted first.
3. Each person can win one category. If you guess all three correctly, you will win one gift certificate, the other two will go to the next closest guess.
4. Have fun and be creative!

Here's our only hint.... Betsy's actual due date is May 14.

We look forward to seeing your entries and hope you are as excited about this week as we are. Once Baby Andrew is here, we'll announce our winners (probably a day or two after).

GOOD LUCK!

Shower Cake: Ms. Debbie
Photo by Yume Photography

Holidays You Should Know About...

2011-05-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is quite a busy holiday-filled week for us at The Plant Shoppe. Did you know that there are THREE, that's right THREE holidays this week?

Teacher Appreciation Week. Take some time this week to say thank you to your son or daughter's teacher. We know it's not easy to have almost twenty children in a classroom and educating them. It definitely takes someone special. Be sure and make sure your teacher knows you appreciate their hard work... and you can show it too! Here's a great example of what we can do (and deliver too) to that special educator.

Nurses Week. Nurses Week is celebrated May 6-12, however the actual holiday is May 6. Make sure that special nurse knows you appreciate them. After all, where would we be without them? It takes a special person to work with the sick. Wouldn't they love this?!? I know I would!

Mother's Day. Just a reminder, Mother's Day is this coming Sunday. Be sure and contact The Plant Shoppe (early too) to place your order. We will be delivering all week... but we are CLOSED on Sunday! After all, we have families too! Wouldn't your mom love this?

We look forward to hearing from you this week! :)

A Bouquet Fit For a Future Queen

2011-05-02T20:00:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that the fairytale wedding happened last Friday. While I was very excited to see the dress... which turned out to be everything I was hoping, there was something else I was interested in. You guessed it, the bouquet.

Each one of her flowers had a beautiful symbolic representation. The bouquet was made up of lily of the valley, Sweet William flowers, hyacinths, ivy and myrtle. Lily of the valley represents the return of happiness, while Sweet Williams represent gallantry. Hyacinths symbolize consistency of love and ivy stands for fidelity, marriage, friendship and affection. Finally, the most symbolic for Royals was the myrtle. The specific myrtle in her bouquet was from the same bush that Queen Victoria planted in 1845. Queen Elizabeth even used it in her bouquet in 1947! Now that's some symbolic and classy history! Did Princess Catherine start a trend in wedding bouquets for the next few months? Only time will tell...

10 Things You Should Know About Mother's Day

2011-04-26T08:00:00.002-04:00

Did you know Mother's Day is just around the corner? Here's 10 tips, suggestions and hints from The Plant Shoppe to make your Mother's Day gift a hit!

1. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8. Yes, this is earlier than usual.

2. We are NOT open on the actual holiday (remember, we have families too!)

3. We suggest not delivering flowers on Sunday (aka Mother's Day). Why might you ask? Mom is not home! She's either at church, with family, at a restaurant, you name it... she's anywhere but home! You wouldn't want your beautiful arrangement to sit outside all alone, would you?

4. Mother's Day flowers can be sent all week long. We recommend sending flowers May 2-May 7. For example, my momma is going to be getting flowers on that Wednesday... totally unexpected, yet early enough for a surprise.

5. We do wire out services. Does your mom live in California? That's okay we can help! The Plant Shoppe can help you find a florist and wire your order to a nearby florist. Easy as pie!

6. Order early! Does your mum have a favorite flower or you have something specific you want to send? Place your order early to make sure we are able to accommodate your needs.

7. Spice up your order... add a balloon, chocolate (yum), stationery, and other goodies to your order.

8. What if my mom does not like flowers? Have no fear, we have plants. Again, order early to ensure we can accommodate your needs.

9. What if my mom lives in Gainesville? We can deliver... or you can stop by the shop and pick up the order and deliver it yourself... that's sweet! :)

10. Don't forget aunts, grandmothers, mother-in-laws, you wife (if she's a mom), expecting moms, etc. You can celebrate them with this holiday too!

Call The Plant Shoppe today and we'll work with you to create the perfect arrangement/gift for your mom!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you and your family a Happy Easter!

We hope that you enjoy the day with family and friends and your Easter is filled with lots of chocolate bunnies, stuffed Easter eggs and of course, flowers.

Also, as a reminder, don't forget that tomorrow starts Administrative Professional's Week! Be sure and place your order early!

Do You See What I See?: Advice For Brides

2011-04-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

Are you a bride-to-be or a future bride to be? Or maybe even a new mom getting ready to decorate a baby's room and you need the perfect color combination? Either situation you have probably have had an experience like the one below:

You pick out the perfect color combination... maybe it's a sunflower and sky blue. Or maybe it is periwinkle and honeydew... and then this happens... you try and explain it to a man. They look at you clueless... they have no clue what you are talking about... and their next question is probably something along the lines of what about just yellow and blue or pink and purple?

That's where this awesome chart comes in....

This little chart says it all. The woman on the left sees so many different and interesting colors in the color scheme... however, the man sees the the colors of the rainbow... blue, yellow, green. That's it.

So brides, our advice... keep this in mind when dealing with your groom, hubby, or favorite man in your life. They can't help themselves... they just don't see it.

Calling All Bosses!

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Administrative Professional's Day is on the horizon? Don't worry... The Plant Shoppe is here to help you celebrate that special administrative professional in your life. We know you are busy with work, multitasking and keeping the office running smoothly... so let us help you say thank you to your amazing assistants!

Place your order early to guarantee delivery. You can also add a balloon, chocolates, stationary, or other gifts from the shop to make your arrangement say THANK YOU!

Administrative Professional's week will be celebrated April 24-30, 2011, however, the actual holiday is April 27. Below are just a few examples of arrangements perfect for that special employee.

Call The Plant Shoppe today or visit our website for more information and to confirm your orders!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! Did you know that Easter is NEXT WEEKEND? This holiday has definitely snuck up on me, but have no fear, The Plant Shoppe is here! Check out this awesome arrangements that we can do for that "somebunny" special in your life :)

This bunny arrangement is definitely perfect for ringing in the Easter holiday. I love, love, love the vase and the tulips! This definitely would bring a happy vibe to anyone at the office or even at home too!

We also have the featured arrangement below too! This is more of a traditional Easter arrangement with a cross in the middle.

And finally, if you are more of a plant lover, we have Easter lilies!

Be sure and contact The Plant Shoppe early so you are able to get the arrangement of your choice! Don't forget, we deliver too!

Erin and Luke, Part II

2011-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so we are a bit behind in the blogging world... but, that's because we have so many exciting things going on around the shop! After all, we have Easter, Mother's Day, Administrative Professional's Day all coming up....and of course weddings.

As you might remember, Erin and Luke were married March 19. This Part II in of their wedding, starting off with an awesome cake by Ms. Debbie!

That's right folks, this is a WATERMELON cake! How creative! We were able to add hydrangea accents to the cake, but just looking at this makes me hungry!

Up next is a peek at the groom's boutonniere, which is mainly made of cotton.

Here's another example of where mason jars were a part of the ceremony decor.

Here's a candid shot we were able to get of the bride with her bridesmaids and their bouquets! I love how the bride's bouquet matches the bridesmaid's dresses.

And finally, another one of our favorites, Erin's wedding favors: a variety of homemade jams in mason jars. Erin and Luke's engagement pictures are also on the tag of the jars!

Congratulations Erin and Luke and thank you for letting The Plant Shoppe be a part of your special day! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Stay tuned... more wedding and holiday blogs to come in the next few days :)

Ceremony: Private Location
Reception: Private Location
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Ms. Debbie

Erin and Luke: Part I

2011-03-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

Erin and Luke were married on March 19, 2011 at their private home in Newberry, Florida. We were so excited to not only provide bouquets, boutonnieres and table centerpieces, but also outdoor floral accents on her cake, wreaths, and chairmarkers!!

Below is a picture of the bride and bridesmaid bouquets before leaving shop. The bouquets are made up made up of roses and hydrangeas. Yes, that's real cotton in those bouquets! The bouquets are also hand-tied with burlap.

The guestbook table contained arrangements made up of half gallon mason jars filled with a mix of coral and yellow flowers. Erin made the guest book table banner, which is made out of burlap triangles.

The barn and gates were accented with grape vine wreaths.

And finally, pint-size mason jars filled with flowers served as chair markers.

Check back soon for part two, including another awesome cake by Ms. Debbie! Congratulations Erin and Luke! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Cake: Ms. Debbie
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Personalized Stamps--The Perfect Gift for Brides

2011-03-28T12:00:00.003-04:00

It's no secret that we are in the midst of wedding season. If you drive by Gainesville wedding venues, you will probably find a wedding. With my own wedding only two and a half months to go, I know that soon I will be writing thank you notes to guests for shower gifts, wedding gifts, vendors, pretty much to everyone I know. Which got me to thinking.... I need one of these:

What is that you might ask? It's a PSA Personalized address stamp: the perfect gift for any bride to be. I can't imagine having to write my address on every single envelope I have to send--that just seems like too much work! And, I don't want an ugly address label either! These stamps are perfect--they even have collegiate versions, monograms, you name it. The stamp looks like this: and it's small and compact... and perfect for your home office and can definitely be used after your wedding. This little stamp can even be used to create personalized stationary too. See... it really is the perfect gift! And, if any of my friends are reading this... hint hint ;) For more information, pricing, designs and more, check out The Plant Shoppe's website.

Ana and Chris: A February Wedding

2011-03-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ana and Chris were married on February 19, 2011 at Sweetwater Branch Inn. Our friends at Platinum Digital Video did a blog post about their wedding a few weeks ago. They were able to catch some gorgeous shots and video of Ana and Chris's big day, including some great photos of their beautiful rose centerpieces and of Ana's bouquet. Check out the pictures that we borrowed from Platinum's blog below.

If you interested in having a videographer at your wedding, contact Platinum Digital Video. What a great way to help you remember your wedding day forever. You can even click here to see more of Chris and Ana's big day, as well as a video sample on Platinum's blog.

Congratulations Chris and Ana and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Ceremony: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Footstone Photography
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Connie and Michael

2011-03-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

As promised... another wedding to share! Can you tell it is the start of wedding season?!?

Connie and Michael were married on March 5, 2011 at a beautiful ceremony at The Vineyard in Gainesville. The church was decorated with beautiful red rose arrangements as well as rose centerpieces. Red roses also accented their beautiful (and I'm sure absolutely delicious) five-tier wedding cake. Check out some of the pictures below:

Did you know that we rent out vases for centerpieces and other wedding decor like the two pictured above? Contact us for more information on rentals for weddings and other events.

Congratulations Connie and Michael! We wish you a wonderful life together! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day! :)

Ceremony: The Vineyard
Reception: The Vineyard
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Planner: ADORE Weddings and Events

Lisa and John: A March Wedding

2011-03-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Have you been missing our wedding updates? Well... there's lots of them coming this week... so here's our first!

Lisa and John were married at The Baughman Center on March 5, 2011. They had a beautiful reception at Sweetwater Branch Inn. Their colors, teal and lime green, were accented with beautiful hydrangeas, tulips, and green hypericum. Check out a few pictures below:

And finally, check out this gorgeous cake by Ms. Debbie. We added the hydrangeas, as a topper and an accent on the side. Look at that beautiful detailing!

Congratulations Lisa and John! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness! Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day! Check back again this week, because we have LOTS of wedding updates coming your way. If you are a bride, be sure and contact us on how we can fulfill your vision for your special day!

Ceremony: The Baughman Center
Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Ms. Debbie's Sugar Art

SPRING is HERE!

2011-03-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

If you are in the Gainesville area, there's one thing that is happening right now it's... SPRING!!!

What better way to get ready for Spring than by coming to our Spring Plant Sale! YOU are invited to come take a look at a variety of indoor and outdoor plants and herbs! What a great way to spend your Saturday or Sunday! Some of the plants you will find this weekend include hibiscuses, bougainvilleas, areca palms and ficus trees--examples are pictured below. Decorate your home or office with a bit of greenery this Spring... trust us, you'll be glad you did!

The plant sale starts at 8am.... see you there!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

Top of the morning to you! We hope that your have a fantastic, flower-filled and of course green (pinch free) St. Patrick's Day! To get into the spirit, below is part of a famous Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

GO GREEN on Thursday!

2011-03-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Are you getting ready for Thursday? Are you proud to be Irish? Spread your Irish cheer this St. Patrick's day by going GREEN with a Shamrock plant in one of our great Blumeboxes. Blumeboxes, like the one pictured below are made from recyclable materials! You can make your Blumebox arrangement even greener by sending a shamrock plant!

Do you know what a shamrock plant is? Shamrock plants are plants that have leaves that are divided into three leaflets, like the one pictured below. Shamrock plants are grown from a bulb and have a long lifespan. They are the perfect plant to send to a friend, display in an office, or decorate your home all while spreading some Irish cheer and good fortune!

Spread some Irish cheer this Thursday and send a festive Shamrock plant in a GREEN Blumebox. Contact us for more information!

Wedding Invites: An Easy Decision

2011-03-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hello world! As most of you know, my name is Whitney and I'm actually one of Betsy's brides (June 11--95 days to go to be exact...but really who's counting?!?!). While I usually don't write blogs about my own wedding planning, this blog is dedicated to (thanks to Betsy) the easiest wedding decision I had to make... picking out my invitations.

When I first met with Betsy during my flower meeting, she mentioned she also did invitations--can you say one-stop shopping? I was instantly sold... plus, if you order your flowers through The Plant Shoppe you can get your invitations 20% off (I'm also a self proclaimed coupon or discount addict). I knew I found the jackpot.

I'm here to tell you that ordering invites through The Plant Shoppe is the easiest thing EVER. First, you start off by visiting our website by clicking here or coming into the shop and taking a look at our invitation books. Our invitations vary by style, price, color... you name it, there's something for everyone. Here's me looking through the books and picking out my invites:

After I found my dream invites (which just happen to be pictured above), Betsy and I talked details--what I wanted it to say, the fonts, addresses, etc. literally... so easy! I opted for an additional invite service that includes the company printing the inside and outside envelopes for you. That's right, my invites came PRINTED with the names and addresses on the outside envelopes, return addresses, you name it the works! About a week and a half later... my invites came (and yes, I drove as fast I possible could to the shop to get them).

Aren't they gorgeous?!? I'm seriously in love with how beautiful they turned out!

So future brides and brides to be... there you have it. Let The Plant Shoppe help you do some one stop shopping with flowers AND invites! Take it from me, it will be the easiest decision you'll have to make during your entire wedding planning process :)

Tulips, Tulips, Everywhere!!

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tulips are my absolute favorite flower! They are unique and definitely a staple that spring is coming. Tulips make great arrangements and when I think of tulips, I think Mother's Day. The Plant Shoppe will have fresh tulips weekly until Mother's Day, so contact us on how we can create a beautiful arrangement with tulips.

Did you know that three billion tulips are grown each year in the Netherlands? Below are some pictures from one of the tulip farms in Amsterdam. Two thirds of the tulips grown at this farm are exported to the US and Germany. Tulips are planted in late October or early November and are ready to be harvested in the spring.

TAG... You're IT!....Photography 35's Wedding Scavenger Hunt

2011-02-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

We are so excited to be working with Photography 35 on their wedding scvanger hunt. Snap one tag and you can win a free in-studio engagement session complete with one share image from Photography 35. Snap all 12 tags and you will be eligible for prizes from each participating vendor! Now how cool is that?!?!

For more information, check out Photography 35's blog. And, of course... good luck!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

2011-02-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

We have been playing cupid all weekend, and we are up bright and early to get ready for today because it's.... VALENTINE'S DAY!

The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! Whether your Valentine is your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, son or daughter, friend or pet... we hope you have a day filled with love, chocolate, and flowers :)

Now.... back to work we go!

Anthuriums: A Valentine's Day Plant

2011-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Since we just did a post about the green flowering plants we have in the shop, we wanted to be sure and tell you about our anthuriums as well! Check this out!

Yes, you are seeing correctly, the flower of the plant is HEART shaped! How cool is that?!?!

Anturhiums are fairly easy to maintain and produce long lasting flowers year round. There's even over 1,000 different kinds out there in the world! Why not say "I love you" with this special plant that has a heart shaped flower. This unique gift will definitely score you points with your special person and make all others green with envy! Contact us for more information!

Valentine's Day Contest with 105 The Game!

2011-02-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

This past Wednesday we visited 105 The Game! to be a part of their Valentine's Day Contest! We were so excited to be one of the sponsors for this year's event. Below is morning show host, Jeff Cardoza, who even "scored" an arrangement to take home for his wife.

For more information and how you can enter in the Valentine's Day contest, check out 105 The Game!'s website by clicking here.

Remember, there are only three days left until Valentine's Day... there is still time to contact us for arrangements, flowers, plants and more!

GREEN with Envy

2011-02-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

Last week the groundhog predicted an early Spring...what is more spring than some greenery in your home or office? Flowering plants can make a beautiful gift from a friend to a boss. And, guess what? We'll deliver it too! Our shop is currently filled with green and we just had to share some of our beautiful plants with you! Check back soon for more flowering plants :)

This is a Peace Lilly. It's also one of the easiest plants to grow. It does not need direct sunlight, however you should keep it close to a window (about 6-8 feet away).

If yellow is more your thing, check out this beautiful yellow orchid.

And finally, we have this exotic bromeliad.

Contact us today so we can help you make all your friends green with envy by ordering one of our flowering plants :)

For Men's Eyes Only

2011-02-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

We know Valentine's Day might not be your absolute favorite holiday. We know you'd rather be watching football, basketball or doing something with your buddies than sitting down and figuring out what to get that special lady in your life. Well.. we are here to help! Check out these tips which can make sure you totally make your sweetheart's day this year.

Schedule a home delivery for your flowers this year. Set the mood for a romantic weekend and have your delivery arrive at your house rather than on Monday between the hours of 9 and 5.
Send your Valentine flowers on Friday. How jealous will her office be that she got HER flowers in advance. Plus, she'll know you weren't doing that annual last minute planning--you thought ahead. Score!
Sending your valentine her flowers and treats early means she will feel loved ALL weekend and Valentine's Day.
Instead of the traditional, "Happy Valentine's Day" on your card... great creative... write "Just Couldn't Wait Until the 14th"
Bottom line: unexpected surprises generate more excitement and you will score more points with your honey.

So what are you waiting for??!?! Contact us now, so we can work with you to create that special surprise for the one you love. Oh and, you're welcome :)

Let us be your CUPID!

2011-02-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Let us be your Cupid this Valentine's Day! Whether it's roses, carnations or your sweetie's favorite flower, we can be your messenger of love on Monday, February 14th. When deciding what exactly to send your honey-bunny we, with the help of some other Gainesville vendors, we have made this the easiest decision yet.

With the help of Thornebrook Chocolates we can send a box of chocolate, a heart shape boxed of chocolate, and more. Just simply request this when placing your order.

We can also send handmade candy truffles from Simply Delightful Confections... yumm. The assorted flavors in this box include Chambord, Vanilla Bean, French Strawberry, Bailey's Irish Cream, Passion Fruit, Brandied Cherry and Cappuccino. They are all hand made with butter from France and Chocolate from Europe.

Finally, Dream Day Cakes has given you several options. Above, we have a trio of candy truffles. They also have cake truffles available for purchase too!

Also available from Dream Day Cakes are large fondant covered cookies. Yum! These are available with or without sticks.

Also, check out these Kake Truffles from KB's Kake Kreations. We can deliver these with your arrangements in either 2 or 4 packs. Feel free to stop by and take a look for yourself... they are yummmmy!

Contact us for pricing information and how we can help make your Valentine's Day complete! Remember, there's only 10 days left...

Painting the Roses Red

2011-02-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

When I think about roses, I think of love, Valentine's Day, and the movie, Alice and Wonderland. Strange isn't it? Don't ask me why, but when the Queen of Hearts sings the song "Painting the Roses Red" it always made me wonder... what other colors could roses come in?

In honor of February, here's some interesting rose trivia... and a reminder of what exactly to get that special someone for Valentine's Day (hint, hint: flowers!)

Red roses are the traditional symbol for love and romance (awww!) Red roses are a way to say "I love you!" and symbolize beauty and perfection.

Pink roses are often given as a symbol of admiration. It can also be a symbol of grace and elegance.

Yellow roses symbolize happiness and friendship. It's not uncommon to send or send a bouquet of yellow roses to symbolize friendship or joy.

White roses represent new beginnings and are often used in weddings (example: the bride's bouquet). White rose arrangements can also be used as a symbol of remembrance.

Orange roses represent the Florida Gators... just kidding--orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and desire.

Finally, lavender roses symbolize enchantment and also love at first sight!

There you have it, some flower trivia to start your month of February....and to serve as a reminder, that there is the perfect rose out there for you to send your special someone--whether it's love, friendship, enchantment or admiration! Contact us for more information and how we can help you out this Valentine's Day!

Bride's Choice 2011

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

We are pleased and so excited to announce that we were chosen to receive WeddingWire's Bride's Choice Award for 2011. This means that we are among the top 5% of wedding professionals nationwide.

Thank you to all of those who made this happen! We look forward to continuing to help bride's create their vision for their big day. Remember to contact us to find out how we can help you with floral arrangements to wedding invitations!

Gainesville Wedding Expo (Part II)

2011-01-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's been a few weeks since the blog has been updated--my computer decided to take a complete crash and was in the shop for almost two weeks (ugh!). However, now it's back and there are a ton of things to update on... first up, The Gainesville Wedding Expo.

We had such a great time meeting over 950 guests and brides-to-be. If you don't believe there were that many people there, take a look at the line outside The Phillips Center, waiting to get in....

See... told you so!

Below are some of the flower displays and other accessories from the expo. Once again, a big thank you to The Grande Event, for letting us borrow their beautiful table linens!

These are just a few pictures from throughout the day. It was great meeting everyone and talking about their upcoming weddings. If you are a bride-to-be, contact us, so we can help you create your vision for your big day! Also, don't forget that we also offer invitations as well!!

2011 Gainesville Wedding Expo

2011-01-10T02:35:00.001-05:00

We had a great time at yesterday's Gainesville Wedding Expo. There were 950 people who attended the expo, many of them brides-to-be!! Here's a sneak peek at just one of our displays... more to come soon! A big thank you to The Grande Event for supplying us with beautiful linens to accent our arrangements!
Also, did you know that it's only 35 days until Valentine's Day?!?! It's never to early to start thinking about an arrangement for your special someone! Contact us for more information!

Are You Getting Married?

2011-01-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Are you a bride to be? Let us help you complete your vision for your day with beautiful details you will remember forever. Watch the video below for a sneak peek at some of our wedding flowers from past events.

Wedding Flowers

Don't forget to stop by and see us on Sunday at the Gainesville Wedding Expo!!! Tickets are still on sale and can be purchased here. We look forward to seeing you then!

Calling All Brides to Be!

2011-01-02T09:15:00.001-05:00

Join us next Sunday at the Gainesville Wedding Expo!! Come meet with over 40 vendors and register to win door prizes. The event will be held next Sunday, January 9 from 12-5pm at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door! Join us and plan your wedding in a day! :)

You have a Once in a Lifetime Chance to Plan Your Dream Wedding in One Day, under one roof, at the beautiful Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Experience a Gainesville Tradition at an Extraordinary Venue! Consult with Over Forty of Our Area’s Finest Wedding Professionals, Enjoy Delicious Samples, Register for Prizes and experience a fun-filled Runway Fashion Show presented exclusively by Jay’s Bridal. Relax and Be Entertained in the comfort of an 1,800 seat Theater

Be sure and check out the website for more information and ticket purchasing information. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

Can you believe it's 2011? The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you and yours a fantastic new year! We look forward to continuing to provide with you amazing flowers and other treats. Get ready, 2011 is going to be a great year! And of course, Go Gators! :)

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2011!

Ring in the New Year with Flowers!

2010-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have fabulous New Year's Eve plans? Are you having a big bash to ring in 2011 or attending one? A beautiful arrangement from The Plant Shoppe is just what you need to make your night even better! Below is just one example of the flowers that we can make for your special night. Contact us for more information on how you can ring in 2011 with a beautiful arrangement! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

We would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We hope that you have a great day celebrating and enjoying the holiday season! May your day be filled with lots of holiday cheer, beautiful flowers and lots of peace and joy.

From our family to yours.... Merry Christmas from The Plant Shoppe

It's Not to Late...

2010-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Are you searching high and low for that perfect arrangement for Christmas? Do you need one last gift for that tough person on your list? It's not too late to order flowers or an arrangement from The Plant Shoppe! Hurry, contact us today! We will deliver in the Gainesville area on Christmas Eve!!!

FACEBOOK SPECIALS!

2010-12-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

That's right... if you haven't heard... we are having a FACEBOOK SPECIAL just in time for the holidays!

Below is our regular Facebook special. You can get this gorgeous arrangement for $20 when you use the code: FACEBOOK SPECIAL when placing your order!!!

Next up, we have our DELUXE Facebook special. This arrangement is $35 and is the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table!

For more information, contact us or check out of Facebook page. Please allow two hour notice when placing and order. This is too good of a deal to pass up... so we'll see you at the shop! :)

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

2010-12-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

On the twelfth (and final) day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me...

HOLIDAY WREATHS

Did you know that we have the most gorgeous stock of holiday wreaths available at the shop? These would look absolutely amazing on the outside of your home or inside accenting your holiday decor. Contact us today for more information on how you can get one of these beautiful wreaths.

PS: We can even deliver these as a gift for someone on your Christmas list :)

We hope you have enjoyed the last twelve days as we have brought you lots of gift ideas for all of those on your Christmas list! It's not too late to for us to help you figure out what to get for that one tough cookie on your Christmas list! Contact us for more information and to help us help you give the perfect gift! :)

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

2010-12-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

On the eleventh day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me...

FLOWERING PLANTS

Are you looking for something to spice up your home or office that is a bit different? How about a flowering plant? Below are some of our beautiful plants that we have in the shop. Whether it's a daisy, Christmas Cactus, or orchid, there is something for everyone! Contact us for more information :)

The Tenth Day of Christmas

2010-12-19T08:10:00.000-05:00

On the tenth day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me...

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA

Since today is the tenth day, we thought we would mix it up a bit and give you some interesting facts about holiday flowers and traditions.

CHRISTMAS/EVERGREEN TREES: Did you know the first person credited for bringing a tree inside the home was Martin Luther? Before this, people would just decorate with a few branches here or there, but Martin Luther was credited with being the first! How neat! The evergreen tree is also considered to be symbolic of everlasting life since it does not go dormant or die in the winter. Pagans during this time made evergreen wreaths as a symbol of everlasting life.

MISTLETOE: Before mistletoe was used to steal a kiss from that special someone, it was a scared item of the Celtic and Norse. It was originally hung over the door to protect them against storms and evil.

HOLLY: Holly was scared to the Romans and originally used to honor the God, Saturn (God of Agriculture and Harvest).

POINSETTIA: Poinsettias association with winter and Christmas are said to come from a Mexican legend. The legend status that a child, with no means for a grander gift, gathered weeds from a roadside to place at a church alter on Christmas Eve. As the congregation witnessed a Christmas miracle, the weeds turned into beautiful and vibrant red and green flowers. In today's society poinsettias are said to symbolize good cheer and success and bring wishes or mirth and celebration.

The Ninth Day of Christmas...

2010-12-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

On the Ninth Day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me...

PERSONALIZED STATIONERY

Did you know that we have personalized stationery products? These are just two examples of some of the amazing personalization that we can offer. Stop by our website today to have a look! These would make a great present for anyone...especially for those that are still on your shopping list :)! Products range from thank you notes, note cards, paper and more!!! Take a look today!!!

The Eighth Day of Christmas

2010-12-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

On the Eighth Day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me....

CHOCOLATE AND FLOWERS

Yes, that's right... we put two all time favorites together to make one amazing gift. We can take your beautiful floral arrangement and Thornebrook Chocolates to it and make it EVEN better. Call us today to find out more how we can make your arrangements include this tasty treat! :)

The Seventh Day of Christmas...

2010-12-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

On the seventh day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me...

GATOR ITEMS

Stop by or call to find out about some of the great Gator items we have for sale! Items range from ornaments, the Florida Goal-Liner cookbook, tailgating supplies, flags and more! There is definitely something for every Gator fan--especially if you are heading to the Outback Bowl to watch the Gators play on New Years :)

The Sixth Day of Christmas

2010-12-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

On the sixth day of Christmas The Plant Shopp e shared with me...

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS

If you are looking to add some extra pizazz and style to your tree this year, check out some of our holiday ornaments. These ornaments are on sale and many are 75% off! What a great deal! Below are just a few examples of our selection...so stop by and have a look today! :)

The Fifth Day of Christmas

2010-12-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

On the fifth day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me....

HOLIDAY FLAGS

It's getting a little chilly outside as the winter weather is starting to roll in, so what better way to decorate the outside of your house than with our holiday flags? Below are some pictures of the flags we have in the shop. Stop by or call for more information and let us to help you to add some holiday spirit to your home.

PS: ALL FLAGS ARE 50% off!!!! Be sure and take advantage of this awesome deal! :)

The Fourth Day of Christmas

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

On the fourth day of Christmas, The Plant Shoppe shared with me....

OUR HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS!

You can view a video of TONS of examples of our holiday arrangements by clicking here. Also, special thanks to Denise for making this video just for us! :)

And after all, who wouldn't want to see this smiling face delivering you a beautiful arrangement!

The Third Day of Christmas...

2010-12-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

On the third day of Christmas, The Plant Shoppe shared with me....

BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIAS

Order some of our beautiful poinsettias for the inside or outside of your home or office today! These gorgeous flowers also make great gifts.... and we can even deliver them for you too! Contact us for more information!

Also, did you know that poinsettias are not poisonous... UNLESS you eat 500 POUNDS of the leaves!!! Poinsettias will not harm your or your family... unless you are allergic. See... you learn something new every day! :)

The Second Day of Christmas...

2010-12-11T08:00:00.003-05:00

On the second day of Christmas, The Plant Shoppe shared with me.....

Personalized Stamps!

Did you know that we carry PSA Essentials stamps? These stamps can be customized with your name, monogram, favorite college team, sororities, etc. You can use them as a return address stamp or even create personal stationery! Additional colors are also available. How cool and creative is that?!?! Below is a picture of the actual stamp, with an example of one of our favorite stamps.

While we are Gator Fans, stamps are available for other colleges as well. For more information on our stamps, contact us!

The 12 Days of Christmas...

2010-12-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! It's been a few weeks since we have updated the blog and that's because we are so busy getting ready for CHRISTMAS! During the next 12 days, we are going to showcase some of our awesome things in the shop. From invitations, flowers to decorations or tailgating supplies, we have something in the store that is perfect for each person on your shopping list. So without further adieu... we present...

THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS......

On the first day of Christmas The Plant Shoppe shared with me..... awesome invitations for your holiday parties.

Below are a few examples of our holiday invitations. We can assist you with picking out the invite and customizing it with your information. All you will need to do is pop it in the mail! Contact us for more information on how we can help you get ready for your bash!

Check back tomorrow for day 2 and see what other exciting things we have in store! :)

Gators + Food = Best Present EVER!

2010-11-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! It's Black Friday... one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Are you stumped about what to get that special Gator fan in your life? Do they already own every orange and blue item there is? Well.... we have the solution for you!

The Florida Goal-Liners are currently selling their amazing cookbook, Gator Championship Recipes. This is the perfect gift for the Gator cook in your life. All procceds from the book will go support Gator Athletics. The book even contains Gator stories too! What a great gift! The book is $19.95 plus tax and can be shipped too!!

Please contact The Plant Shoppe for more details or the Florida Goal-Liners website!

Happy shopping and GO GATORS! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Plant Shoppe would like to wish you and your family a...
Happy Thanksgiving!!
We hope that you all have a great holiday (and lots of yummy turkey and delicious dishes) with family and friends.

And....if you are going shopping tomorrow on Black Friday....we wish you lots of great deals and bargains too :) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Florida Goal-Liners 31st Birthday

2010-11-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Last week the Florida Goal-Liners celebrated their 31st birthday at the Best Western Gateway Grand. The Florida Goal-Liners is an organization that promotes and supports the University of Florida Intercollegiate Football Program and the University of Florida Fightin' Gator Football team. You might remember a few weeks ago, we featured a post about their annual fashion show.

The Florida Goal-Liners were started back in 1979, and to help celebrate their birthday, Ward Pell, one of the founding birth mothers attended the celebration along with eight other original members. Ward Pell first came to UF with her husband, Charley Pell.

To celebrate the event The Plant Shoppe provided centerpieces and 80's styled corsages. The corsages pictured below are made up of orange carnations, blue curling ribbon, and accented with gold footballs.

The centerpieces were made up of a floating orange gerbera Daisy in a lotus bowl, accented with blue marbles.

And finally, pictured below is Ward Pell, founding birth mother, wearing one of our corsages.

To find out more about the Florida Goal-Liners, click here. Congratulations, Florida Goal-Liners on 31 years, we wish you many, many more.

Location: Best Western Gateway Grand
Flowers: The Plant Shoppe

Fun with Flowers!!

2010-11-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Do you know what Gainesville club loves flowers more than we do? If you were thinking of the Gainesville Garden club, then you are right! Each month the club offers an activity for their members called Fun with Flowers. During this class, members are supplied with the supplies and guidance to create a featured arrangement. For the month of November, Betsy was asked to teach the class of 41 members and helped them create a beautiful fall arrangement. Check out the pictures below of some of the members working on their beautiful works of art.

For more information on the Gainesville Garden club, visit their website by clicking here.

Christine and Willie

2010-11-15T08:00:00.003-05:00

Christine and Willie were married on November 6, 2010, holding their ceremony at Westminster Presbyterian Church with their reception at The Women's Club. Here are some photos from their big day!

For the altar area of the ceremony, two white and green floral arrangements were placed on two columns. The arrangements were later moved to the reception site and used to accent the head table. These white columns are just a few of the many different ways to showcase gorgeous arrangements on your special day and are available for rent. Contact us for more information!

For the reception centerpieces, three calla lilies were placed in vases that were accented by crystals and two small votive candles.

Moving onto the bridal party, the groom's boutonniere was made of Bells of Ireland.

Below is a picture of the bridal party's flowers. The bride's bouquet (far left of the picture) is a hand-tied bouquet made up of pearl-accented stephanotis featuring green hydrangeas and green hypericum. The bridal party's bouquet's were hand-tied bouquets of white hydrangeas with green hypericum.

And finally, below is a picture of Christine with her bouquet! I love that you can see how excited she is in this picture!!!

Congratulations, Christine and Willie! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness! Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day!

Ceremony: Westminster Presbyterian Church
Reception: The Women's Club
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we celebrate the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by serving and protecting our country. Thank you to all those who have served our country, past and present. Without you, we would not be able to enjoy the countless freedoms that we have.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Kelly and Michael, Part Two

2010-11-09T08:00:00.008-05:00

Kelly and Michael's fall ceremony and reception at the Thomas Center featured great details that accented their beautiful theme for their October 30 ceremony.

First, the bride's bouquet:

Kelly's bouquet was made up of hand tied bouquet of persimmon, orange and burgundy roses, hypericum, accented curly willow.

Next, the flower girls...

Kelly's two flower girls walked down the aisle with a silk flower wand accented with ribbons. The flower girls also wore gorgeous wings which we provided coordinating ribbon accents and flowers.

Of course, you can't forget the ringbearer and his ride...

Since he was a baby, he rode down the aisle in the wagon! This is a great way to incorporate little ones into the wedding party who might not be at the walking age yet.

Finally, the cake!

Kelly and Michael's had a three tiered cake from Publix. We added flowers as a topper with a few accents on the side.

Congratulations Kelly and Michael! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Ceremony/Reception: The Thomas Center
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Publix

Kelly and Michael, Part One

2010-11-08T08:00:00.006-05:00

On October 30, Kelly and Michael were married at the beautiful, historic Thomas Center in Gainesville. They had some really creative ideas incorporated into their gorgeous fall ceremony, so I'm going to break up their special day into two parts, the decor and the details.

Today's post focuses on the decor.

First, for their ceremony, they had Sheppard's hooks to lead the way to the ceremony location. The markers were made up of a beautiful ribbon with an orange daisies & roses.

Next, for their guest tables, gerberas were also used and accented by a floating willow. Fall leaves were also included in the centerpieces.

Finally, the couple had a Wishing Tree! The tree was located outside and was made up of a curly willow tree for guests to hang their wishes on (paper leaves). I absolutely love it, don't you?!? The picture below shows a few leaves on the tree and a guest hanging their leaf.

Check back tomorrow for more of Kelly and Michael's fall wedding including the bride's bouquet (my favorite), cake pictures and more!! :)

Ceremony/Reception: The Thomas Center
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Cake: Publix

The Florida Goal-Liner Fashion Show 2010, Part II: Fashion

2010-11-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hopefully you enjoyed the decor photos from the fashion show! Were you able to guess who the the show's special model was?

The one and only.... ABBEY! Here is Abbey looking oh so cute in Gator fashion courtesy of Miracles Maternity Boutique. And... of course, with each fashion show, you must have...

an outfit change! Here's Abbey in another cute Gator outfit.

Other special guests at the show included both Alberta, and the First Lady of Gator Football herself, Shelley Meyer!!

Remember, you can find out more about the Florida Goal-Liners by clicking here
Go Gators!

Location: The Atrium
Florist: The Plant Shoppe
Fashion: Miracles Maternity Boutique

Florida Goal Liner Fashion Show 2010, Part I: Decorations

2010-11-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone! My name is Whitney and I'm so excited to be bringing you my first post via Betsy's blog! So, here it goes:

On September 29, The Plant Shoppe participated in the Florida Goal-Liner Fashion Show. This awesome orange and blue event took place at the Atrium. During this event, club members and local celebrities were able to strut their stuff, looking fabulous in some awesome Gator gear. We provided the decor and flowers. Check back at our next post (Goal-Liner fashion)!

For more information on the Florida Goal -Liner club, click here to visit their website.

Can you guess who modeled for the event? Check back to find out! :) Until next time, Go Gators!

Location: The Atrium
Florist: The Plant Shoppe

Whitney - coming soon to a computer near you!

2010-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

So, as you can tell I have been slacking on writing blog posts. There is just so much going on, and so much I want to share, and such little time. When one of our brides offered to help, I figured why not. So, here is Whitney.
She will start blogging as soon as I get her some info to blog about. I hope you enjoy her enthusiasm as much as we do.

Love Wedd: A Bridal Boutique

2010-10-14T15:15:00.004-04:00

Less than one week from today is the big day!

"Love Wedd: A Bridal Boutique” will open its doors.

Wednesday night, October 20th, at 6:30pm!

Brides can sample food from Olive You Catering and desserts from Dream Day Cakes. Browse the staging areas and designs of Keith Watson Productions and The Grande Event. Get ideas from the stunning arrangements of The Plant Shoppe. Enjoy the music and atmosphere provided by G-NYS Entertainment, and meet with all 14 of the area’s top wedding vendors!
RSVP for the event at our event page on Facebook…

( http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123541697701625&ref=ts ).

Final Expo Pics

2010-09-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, I am sure you are tired of pictures of Abbey, but there are so many great ones. These are from Footstone Photography, and I just had to share them. I love this action shot of Abbey Twirling.
Here are all the stunning models, before stepping onto the stage.
Here is one of our bouquets that the models carried while on the runway. This one is made of pink roses, with a mixed pink boa.

Russell Martin Photography

2010-09-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some pics that Russell Martin Photography provided to me of Abbey at the fashion show. How cute is she?

Our Little Star

2010-09-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Abbey stole the show, the fashion show that is:

Here is a a close up on Abbey's Hair done by Graceful Strands.

Who knew her hair could be so curly?

Solutions Bridal Expo

2010-09-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

For the show we decided to continue the dress theme. Pink & green were the colors of the day.

Here is a close up of the dress.

Many people asked what the point of the dress is. Just something fun.

Playing Dress Up

2010-09-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

What to do with two, 6 yr olds, when they come to the shoppe before a play date? Dress them up in wedding dresses of course. Abbey and Maddy got to try on the dresses one day over the summer. If I could catch all the giggles and market them, they were so silly.
The last pic is to cute, as the top fell off Abbey, and she now has a Hello Kitty Wedding dress.

Booth Inspiration

2010-09-08T06:00:00.006-04:00

Many have asked.....where did I come up with such a great idea for our booth? It all started with a picture, and it just kind of went from there. I talked over the idea with my mom, a few good friends, Flowers Central (where I buy my flowers), Paul at Jay's Bridal, and Jeff at JS Photography. It truley was a group project.

Here is the inspiration picture. It is a design by Jerry Sibal , that was featured in Florist's Review Magazine.

I then asked Paul to lend me a hand, or should I say a dress. Here are the dresses as they looked when I first got them.

Denise at Chef Brothers Catering helped me style the dresses and helped the day of the show by taking names.

Gainesville Wedding Expo Fall 2010, Part 2

2010-09-07T06:00:00.005-04:00

Here are a few of the fun shots we took in our floral dress photo booth.

Gainesville Wedding Expo Fall 2010

2010-09-06T06:00:00.005-04:00

We were once again a proud participate in the Gainesville Wedding Expo, on August 29th, put on by Jay's Bridal. For our booth this time I decided to do a little something different. A photo booth with dresses provided by Paul at Jay's Bridal, photos by JS Photography, and flowers by us, The Plant Shoppe Florist. I think fun was had by all who got their pictures taken. All together I believe over 350 pictures were taken. Here are the dresses, ready for participates to jump in the frame .
An up close view of the white dress. We used hydrangea, baby's breath, roses, carnations and fuji mums as the fresh flower component. Crystals, feathers, and dried grevilia foliage painted silver added to the bling.

The pink dress had roses, stargazer lily, carnations, pink mink protea, and hypericum. Feathers and crystals were used to add to the fantasy.

Blogging?????

2010-09-05T20:19:00.004-04:00

We have had an incredible summer and somehow I have not kept up the blogging. Between the weddings, parties, and invitations we have created there has not been much time to blog. That and having Abbey at work with me for three straight weeks didn't help much. I will try to do better, so in no particular order I hope you enjoy the upcoming posts.
Abbey is holding a bouquet she made, while I was working on flowers for the Gainesville Wedding Expo. It was a hand tied bouquet of hydrangea, carnations & statice. She sprayed the hydrangea fuchsia.

Aster: September Flower of the Month

2010-09-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

Asters are a versatile flower, in both the garden and for the florist. There are different colors and sizes available. These are called monticasino asters, which are used as a filler flower in vase arrangements.

These are larger asters considered Japanese asters, they are more of a focal flower.

Gladiolus: August Flower of the Month

2010-08-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Gladiolus are a bulb plant which creates a linear flower stock. The flowers are available in a variety of colors, that include res, pink, yellow, purple, orange, white and bi-colors.

Modern Impressions by Angel

2010-07-08T11:32:00.003-04:00

This is a Newsletter I just got from Photography 35:

Not that long ago, we processed photographs in a traditional darkroom. Today we use digital technology to do the same process. Just as with photography, paintings have moved into the digital age. Modern Impressions combines the quality portraiture of Photography 35 with the artistic brush of Angel Pachkowski. Her paintings use the same brushes and techniques as a traditional artist, just done with a modern medium. Whether it is from your family snapshot or a portrait created at Photography 35, let Angel create a Masterpiece for you.

Call the studio 352.371.9735 to schedule a painting consultation.

Visit our website at: Modern Impressions.

Here is one she did of Abbey, based off of a Norman Rockwell painting.