Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
It’s wedding season, which means it’s time for unforgettable memories and an endless supply of pictures, videos and . . . flowers! Without fail, most weddings utilize flowers in center pieces, bouquets, and floral arrangements. Though these beautiful floral pieces are stunning in the moment, they tend to wither away after a few days. Well, what if I told you that you can preserve your wedding flowers for years on end! Though this task may sound labor intensive, truly it’s so simple and easy that anyone can do it.
Let’s begin:
- Though it may seem silly, for the best results of your pressed flowers, you’ll have to condition them. Conditioning is simple; cut your flower stems at a 45-degree angle and place them in water for 24 hours. This way they will be fresh and ready for you to press the next day!
- Once they have been conditioned, you’re going to cut your flowers, so you’re only left with the tops. You can utilize any part of the flower as well; Use the leaves from the flower’s stems! Add greenery to create dimension to your pressed bouquet as well. Have fun with this part as these are your wedding flowers and you want to remember the best aspects of your bouquet! (Remember, the larger the flower the harder it is to press. If you have a large focal flower you want to press, try using individual petals instead.)
- Once you’ve chosen and cut your flowers, you will want a heavy stack of books at the ready! Laying a piece of parchment paper down on the inside of your book, you will place your various flowers on the parchment. The order doesn’t matter as you’re going to move these after they’ve been pressed. Once you’ve arranged the flowers to your liking, place parchment on top of the flowers as well. You will have two pieces of parchment in total, sandwiching your flowers.
- This is the hard part! Close your book and layer two or three heavier books on top (if you don’t have books at the ready, you can use glass pans, bricks, or heavy rocks!) Now, leave your flowers in a dry and dark space for two to three weeks.
- After two to three weeks, carefully open your book and look at your beautiful, pressed creation. These flowers should be flat and dried out completely. If they’re not yet, close your book and keep pressing!
Now, this is where the real fun happens! Use your flowers to create a dried floral piece that can be used for decoration to remind you of your special day. Arrange your flowers in a design that you like and if you’re feeling extra crafty, add a beautiful photo from your special day. Nestle the design into a picture frame. There you have it, a beautiful, pressed creation to decorate your home with for years and years!
Shop all your wedding floral needs at Price Chopper/Market 32 Floral Department!
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
Happy July! Summer is a wonderful time of year for so many reasons; the sun is shining, the air is warm, the sky is blue and it’s the perfect season to tend to potted plants. Caring for plants is a great hobby for the summer, but it may be overwhelming to decide which plants to tend to successfully. If you’re a beginner in plant care, fear not, I can help! Here is the beginners guide to (successful) plant growth.
African Violets: A beautiful flower for the summer season that is easy to care for! The African Violet requires a lot of bright indirect sunlight, as it enjoys warm temperatures and minimal water. It’s better to have slightly damp soil, rather than soggy soil as it will rot the roots of your plant! Though the flower’s needs are minimal, make sure you don’t water the petals of your African Violet, or it will brown and wither. Focus solely on the soil! Fertilize your flower every other week to ensure proper plant health.
Peace Lilies: Who knew Peace Lilies were an easy flower to tend to? Well, now you know! This beautiful and elegant flower requires warm weather, but not direct sunlight! Find a good spot that’s near a window, but not directly in front of one. Peace Lilies don’t require constant watering; they require water once their soil has dried out from their last watering. While watering your flowers, make sure your soil is damp, not soaking! Over watering will rot the roots of your flower, which will inevitably kill the plant. Your Peace Lily also requires fertilization every two weeks.
Ivy Plant: Last, but definitely not least, is the Ivy plant! This beautiful plant is growing in popularity as it’s used frequently for its “aesthetic” look. If you’re looking to follow a popular trend right now, or you just think it’s beautiful to look at, caring for Ivy is simple! This plant requires a lot of indirect sunlight. If you’re a beginner plant owner and don’t know what the term “indirect sunlight” is, it’s okay! Indirect sunlight is something that interferes between your plant and the sun itself. In most cases, your “medium” or barrier between the sun and plant will be a window. If you find that your plants are drying out and withering, use sheer curtains as an extra barrier. As well as a barrier, your Ivy’s soil will need to be watered once your topsoil is no longer damp. Don’t over water though, as it will lead to root rot. Fertilize every month, and voila! Ivy maintenance has never been this easy!
There you have it, with this guide you’re now a master plant owner! Shop all your summer floral needs at Price Chopper/Market 32 Floral Department!
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
Roses are one of the most popular flowers for a wedding, and it is easy to understand why! Their vibrant colors, beautiful and decadent smell and variety of shapes make the rose an easy choice for any wedding décor. That being said, roses are only beautiful for a few days until they start to wither away and feel dry once they are cut. You don’t have to watch your flowers wither away to nothing; it’s easy to give your roses a wonderful and useful second life!
Roses have many benefits as their oils are wonderful for soothing of the skin and scalp, removing clogged pores, toning skin and are rich in vitamin A, B, C and E. Utilizing roses in your everyday routine is a great way to aid your skin care routine! Because summer is the most popular season for weddings, and roses are one of the most popular flowers for weddings, getting your hands on leftover roses may be easier than you think!
To make a hydrating and cleansing rose water, you’ll need:
- Rose petals (the more fragrant the better!)
- Distilled water
- A heavy bowl
- A pot
- A spray bottle
Let’s Begin:
- Take your pot and fill it with distilled water (I would say 1-1 ½ cups)
- Once you have your water in the pot, pluck your rose petals, place them in the water and submerge them completely. (Remember, the more water the less fragment the roses will be! If you have one cup of water, add one cup of roses or more.)
- Now, you’ll place your pot of roses and water on the stovetop and place a bowl over the roses, so they won’t float to the top of the pot! Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot, it should be heavy enough to keep the petals submerged, but light enough to float.
- Then, turn on your stove but don’t bring your water to a boil with the flowers – we don’t want to burn the roses. Bring the roses to a low simmer for twenty to thirty minutes (or until your petals have lost color!)
- After you have simmered your roses, begin to strain them through a mesh or wired strainer into another bowl.
- Once your water has cooled you can transfer your rose water in a spray bottle to have it on the go!
There you have it! An easy and simple way to repurpose your wedding flowers that most likely would have been thrown out after your wedding!
Shop all your wedding needs at Price Chopper and Market 32 Floral Department.
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
Summertime is approaching faster than ever and what better way to beat the heat than with an ice-cold glass of lemonade? Nothing! Even though lemonade is a wonderful drink, it can taste a bit boring at times. Practically everyone knows the signature flavor of lemonade, as it’s a classic summer staple, so why not mix it up a bit!
Simple syrup is an easy and exciting way to create a different taste to any drink. The possibilities are endless when creating this quick simple syrup. Add virtually anything to create a fun and unique take on a drink that we all love! Add fruits, herbs, spices, and flowers to simple syrup.
That’s right, flowers can be used to flavor simple syrups! Their floral and decadent scent can easily be mimicked into any drink. Though not every flower can be used in simple syrup, lavender is a popular flower that is commonly used in lemonades, coffees, teas and so much more!
If you would like to try a fun simple syrup that adds some excitement to your summer, then follow this recipe that breaks down how to create the perfect staple syrup for your summer!
What You Need:
- 2 or 3 Teaspoons of Edible Lavender (Dried or Fresh)
- ¾ Cup of Granulated Sugar (You Can Use Honey as Well)
- 1 Cup of Water
Instructions:
- Pour your cup of water into a pot and bring to a boil.
- Once your water is boiling, pour your cup of sugar in the pot along with 2 or 3 teaspoons of lavender.
- Bring your mixture to a simmer. (You don’t want the sugar to burn as your lavender steeps!)
- Stir the sugar until it’s completely dissolved and let the liquid simmer even more.
- Wait 10-15 minutes to acquire the perfect lavender taste, best suited for you! (Feel free to taste test and play around with flavor intensity in this step.)
- Strain your simple syrup with a mesh strainer (double strain to ensure no buds!)
- Once your syrup has cooled fully, place the syrup in a bottle and store in the fridge. (Your simple syrup will last for two weeks!)
- Add desired amount of syrup to any beverage.
There you have it! An easy and carefree simple syrup that takes minimal time and adds an exciting, new flavor to any drink. Replace lavender with fruits and other (edible) flowers to create a variety of syrups all summer long! Shop all your simple syrup making needs at Price Chopper and Market 32.
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
Wedding season is in the air! A magical day filled with beautiful dresses, delicious desserts, stunning décor and . . . flowers! With every wedding comes the important decision: What flowers are going to be used to create your picture-perfect day?
Brides have been known to carry bouquets to ward off bad luck on their special day. Whether you believe this, or you just think they look pretty, a floral bouquet is an elegant way to add some personality to your wedding.
As the years have passed, it’s become more common for brides to create a beautiful bouquet of flowers that’s perfect for their liking. Though this may seem like an easy task, there are proper steps that go into bouquet assembly to create the most attractive bundle of flowers. If you’re planning on DIYing your own bouquet for wedding season, here’s a helpful guide to get you started!
To create a beautiful bouquet, focus on four key elements: focal flowers, fillers, linear flowers, and volume focal flowers. Each element will ensure a lively and stunning bouquet that will impress your guests!
Focal Flowers: A focal flower is, essentially, your base. Usually, a base is created from one to three flowers. From there, you create a bouquet that is centered around those flowers. The focal flower(s) is the crème de la crème of your bouquet! Normally focal flowers are larger in size and the most attractive flower of your bouquet. Examples of popular focal flowers: roses, hibiscus, and sunflowers.
Fillers: A filler usually is something that is used to cover or fill unwanted or awkward gaps. It may add color contrast to the bouquet, but essentially, it is aiding the focal flower! Popular fillers: baby’s breath and eucalyptus. Small and easy to find, fillers are wonderful for creating dimension and texture.
Linear Flowers: Though it’s not necessary, a linear flower(s) is a quirky addition to add flare in a bouquet. Linear flowers are used to add height, which may not always desired. Popular linear flowers: campanula, snapdragons, and gladiola. Linear flowers are an easy way to add texture and dimension to a bouquet. But be careful! Too many linear flowers could take away from your actual focal flowers. Utilize linear flowers graciously.
Volume Focal Flowers: Last, but definitely not least, volume focal flowers! These are meant to bring the entire bouquet together nicely. Volume focal flowers consist of small bundles of beautiful flowers. Typically, these flowers should be simpler. They accent–but don’t take away from–the focal flower(s)!
Creating a beautiful bouquet doesn’t have to be stressful! Follow this guide and anyone can create a showstopping flower creation effortlessly. To alleviate wedding stress, shop Price Chopper/Market 32 Floral Department for all your unique floral needs. Good luck!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
The beauty of summer is now surrounding us. From the full, bright green trees to colorful flowers planted on the lawns of our neighbors and local businesses, there is so much to smile about. If you are interested in adding some summer fun to your lawn, you have come to the right place. We have a few tips on how to make the outside of your home look fabulous, one plant at a time. While this will require some work and patience, you will be thrilled by the outcome.
- Do Some Research: What type of flowers or plants are you interested in having outside your home? Hanging plants? Flowers that must be physically planted? Having an idea of what you are looking for will help before you go shopping.
- Clear the Ground: If you chose hanging flowers, then water them and you are all set! However, if you bought potted plants, it is time to get started. Make sure all weeds and rocks are fully removed from the ground.
- Measure Where to Plant: It is important to set the plants down to get an idea of where you want your plants and how far apart they should be placed.
- Start Planting: Smooth soil with a rake before planting. Once completed, dig a hole the same length as the container the plant was in. Once the plant is in, fill with the soil you just dug out.
- Time to water: Water at the base of your plants and then add bark mulch. This will help retain the water moisture.
We hope your new plants bring some beautiful color to your yard!
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
June: The kickoff to summer and National Red Rose Day which falls on June 12th! Red roses are the oldest flower known to man and have been referred to as a symbol of love and passion. They are one of the most popular flowers for weddings and holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. With summer creeping up on us, so are the various festivities that come with the season. Picnics, weddings, birthday parties and graduations are all the perfect events for a stunning bouquet of roses. Varying in six different colors, roses don’t only have to be a romantic gesture. A flower which represents love, friendship, happiness, gentleness and admiration, roses can be a showstopper for any event!
Dating back to over 35 million years ago, roses have continually evolved and spread their beauty across the world. Not only are roses used to adorn a beautiful centerpiece, but they have been used for medicine, skincare, perfumes and teas.
The rose shares the title of National Flower among three states: Iowa, North Dakota and New York. The decadent scent and vibrant petals are perfect any time of the year, especially in June!
Roses are beautiful in all shapes, shades and sizes which is why Market 32 and Price Chopper have them readily available in our floral section every day. Shop in store for pre-made bouquets of beautifully arranged roses or use our online services, DoorDash and Instacart. Order a unique and hand-crafted bouquet of red roses adorned with lush greenery and fresh baby’s breath. Our online ordering allows customers to send personalized cardettes for any occasion which is sure to warm the hearts of the receiver.
Happy National Red Rose Day!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
The days are getting shorter, nights are longer, and the air is much colder. This time of year can be tough, but we have a way to bring some color to your home! At Price Chopper and Market 32, we take pride in our beautiful floral department and have incredibly talented teammates that are readily available for assistance.
We have a wide variety of flowers and colors available year-round, including Pompons, Poinsettias, Sunflowers, Roses, Bouquets, and much more. Whether you are celebrating the holidays, a birthday, anniversary, or another milestone, these flowers also make for the perfect gift. With the proper care, our flowers last for a couple weeks at a time and are sure to bring some happiness to your home this winter season!
Pompons:
We have an array of pompons in our floral section. Colors include purple, lavender, yellow, pink, white, green, and tie-dye. Interestingly, pompons bloom in various forms. Some can resemble daisies and others can look like buttons. They are the second most-sold flower worldwide, only outsold by roses. Be sure to stop in today for your fresh bunch of poms!
Roses:
Show your love this holiday season with a fresh bouquet of roses! Did you know that we also sell single roses? Well, now you do! Stop by your local Price Chopper and Market 32 and be sure to check out our beautiful rose options with varying colors.
Bouquets:
We have stunning bouquets that can be given for any occasion, or just to add some joy in your home. If you cannot find what you are looking for, our florists can create custom bouquets as well.
Don’t wait any longer! Head to our Floral Page to browse through our stunning selection of flowers.
Brighten Up With Our Floral Department!
Plants are essential to the world we live in. It’s been proven that plants and nature help us maintain a positive mood. They’ve been known to relieve stress and create a calming atmosphere. Whether they’re prettying up a home office or bringing your kitchen space to life, plants can play an important role in brightening up everyday life!
The relaxing aura of ornamental plants is great for a work environment, as they allow for sharper focus and more productivity when compared to an environment devoid of these influences. Working around flowers and plants can lead to a more efficient performance completed with greater accuracy.
Not only can ornamental plants lead to better workers, they can also increase energy and are great for a dose of natural endurance. When people feel livelier, their mood and performance will be elevated. With this improved state of mind, the task at hand receives stronger energy and greater thought, which can create a higher-quality finished product.
Along with their ability to increase one’s mood, plants are also aesthetically pleasing. We love to light up the indoors with flowers! Items such as fresh bouquets, roses, daises, poms, carnations, gerbera daisies, and lilies are some of our favorites. They’re perfect for brightening up any countertop or table space. If you’re working from home during this time, we suggest some yellow daisies on your newly designated work desk!
Plants can help us see the brighter side. Our Floral Department is a big believer in this! Grab some flowers next time you stop in to see us, and check out our fresh Pinterest board Pinterest board for some flower-y inspiration.
Be well!
Source: ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/
Happy June to you gardeners! Summer is in the air. By now, you should be enjoying some of the fruits of your labors, or annuals of your labors! Color is abounding in your garden, and on a warm day with a nice breeze, your yard or home has the fragrant scent of Spring in it. Now is the time that many people are ready to do their summer planting.
June is the time of year where the past meets the present along with a glimpse of the future. How so? Many of your flowers are just finishing up their bloom, while others are fully strutting their glory, and then again, some are just ready to burst with a rainbow of colors!
One hint that you may not have tried is to include a bed of succulents. They add a sturdy and hardy base of color and are beautiful to look at as well. If you need some other suggestions to enhance the color spectrum of your garden, consider some Coreopsis, Marigolds, Periwinkle, Hollyhock, Sunflowers or Shasta Daisies.
Also, try to do your watering at cooler times of the day after dusk to prevent quick evaporation. It’s not only the wise thing to do, but will help with your water bill as well. Don’t forget to pay attention to your lawn too. I’ve heard tell that so much attention is being paid to the garden, that sometimes, the beauty of green grass is lost in the mix.
Remember that gardening is a wonderful family tradition for many. If you have children, consider including them in this seasons planting. Remember to take pictures of your garden for Facebook and show it off to your friends.
Either way, have fun. Happy Gardening!