Many of us here in the Northeast long for spring, but the weather has not been very cooperative.  We’ve had some serious snow lately, and more is predicted during the week. I guess this makes us all appreciate the warmer weather when it eventually arrives.
It seems like every March I start trying to make my [...]

When our two daughters were little, as soon as the Holidays were over, I began planning birthday parties. With their birthdays in January and February, only three weeks apart, the task was sometimes overwhelming. How many things can you do with little girls in the winter? They had pretty much had it with Valentine’s Day [...]

Surely there is a good reason why Valentine’s Day is in February, but whoever decided the date clearly did not consider the shipping logistics involved with the month.   As we head into the high holy (for the flower market anyway) V-Day weekend, once again a major snow storm is roaring across the country.  This is going [...]

Black Magic Rose

All roses are not created equal, but just exactly how does one measure the difference? The flower industry uses a measurement to gauge the size and value of a rose that at first glance may not appear to matter to you.  All roses in the wholesale flower market are rated by the length [...]

For many, the thought of buying flowers directly from the wholesale flower market sounds like a daunting task, possibly because they have no idea what to expect. If you have only ever purchased flowers from your local retailer or received arrangements as gifts ready for display, then this is your opportunity to peek into the [...]

It may come as a surprise to anyone who has not seen or purchased roses out of the wholesale market, but wholesale roses are not sold by the dozen! They are almost always sold in pre-bundled packs of 25 stems. It is one of the few cut-flower industry standards that is widely [...]

Baby’s Breath is a filler flower that I hesitate to mention to customers. Just hearing the name can produce a very strong negative reaction. One self proclaimed “flower snob” that I spoke with recently, said she would never consider using something as boring and passé as Baby’s Breath! When I attended a [...]

The last two cool evenings here in the Northeast remind me that fall is almost here. Soon we’ll smell wood smoke in the air and be decorating our front porches with brightly colored chrysanthemums, Indian corn, cornstalks and pumpkins. While I’ll be delighting in the wonderful outdoor sights and smells of my favorite [...]

In the Northeast, we enjoy four distinct seasons. I try to take in the individual beauty of each season, and to fully appreciate the wonderful changes happening around me. I find that I dress, decorate, and even cook seasonally.
Certain flowers call out to me at particular times of the year, and help me [...]

Our family owns a vacation home in the Catskill Mountains. We love our summer treks to “The Cabin”, where we all enjoy the blissful peace and solitude found in this place. While some of us enjoy swimming, fishing, and catching snakes (especially our son!), I particularly enjoy the beautiful scenery, and studying and collecting the [...]