Village Gardens

Some people say romance is dead.  But is it really?  Perhaps it’s not dead but it has simply changed form.  However, if you bring back the lost art of romance as it once was, you’ll find that you can impress your significant other like nothing else.

The first part of the lost art of romance is to set the mood.  Today, many people simply cook up a quick meal or order in, but if you truly want to impress your significant other, you’ll need to pay attention to the details.  How many people turn down the lights and eat by candle light any more?  Set the table with some tapers and put some tea lights around the room.  You may even want to play a CD of piano music or other romantic music, but remember to keep the volume down fairly low so that it doesn’t interfere with talking.

Flowers, too, are an important part of setting the mood and showing off your romantic side.  Buy her a nice bouquet of her favorite flowers or set them on the table to surprise her.  Remember, though, that you’ll want to move them off the table so that there’s nothing between the two of you that would impede talking.  During dinner, you want to be able to see each other.

If you go out, be sure to hold doors for her and, if at a restaurant, pull out her chair.  These small touches of chivalry may be lost on some women, but others will truly appreciate the extra lengths you’re going to.  Just be sure she’s going to appreciate them—if you know your girlfriend or wife isn’t into these types of things (some women aren’t), then don’t do them.

Romance may be something of a lost art in today’s break-neck speed lifestyle, but if you slow down and do a little work, you’ll find that you can bring it back and truly make an impression.

World peace: an impossible idea?  Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  Perhaps such a thing has already been achieved in some fantastic other world, a world watched over by King Rose and Queen Lily.  These benevolent rulers wasted no time in bringing peace to their kingdom and the world beyond, and they didn’t need any miracles to do it…only a dash of Miracle Grow.

King Rose’s first decree was that flowers were to be placed in every home and every building around the world on a regular basis.  These flowers were to be replaced as soon as they started to look worn or tired.  Flowers, the wise ruler knew, made people happy.  All one had to do was stop to smell them every now and then and much of that built-up stress, resentment, anger, negativity, and even tiredness would fade away.  Why, just the sight of a cheery bouquet of flowers was enough to make a person smile! 

Queen Lily looked around the world and saw people starving.  Seeing people go hungry broke the kind queen’s heart, and she called for farmers from around the world to come to her court.  She asked them how they could go about growing more food so that there would be enough for everyone.  The farmers answered that one way would be for people to grow gardens, but few people wanted to grow ugly vegetables.  The queen was distraught by this, for even though they weren’t as pretty, she loved her vegetable cousins as much as she loved her flower sisters. 

Thinking on this gave the queen an idea, and she called for her royal seamstresses.  Sewing day and night, they made beautiful flower dresses and suits for all the vegetables in the land.  After seeing the vegetables dresses to the nines, people around the world wanted them in their flower beds.  The flowers already there scooted over and welcomed their newly adorned vegetable friends with open arms, and thus hunger was cured.

Disease and illness was another threat to the world, but King Rose and Queen Lily called forth some of the more mysterious members of the flower community.  These members lived deep in the rainforests or on far-away peaks, but they came and donated their own special pollens and saps.  These ingredients were studied by some of the world’s top scientists and doctors, and soon, they were creating medicines to cure every type of disease out there.  Before long, patients who had been very ill were leaping out of their sick beds and dancing with joy.

And so it was in this magical land of flora that King Rose and Queen Lily achieved world peace.  Their people wanted for nothing, and it was all thanks to the glorious beauty of flowers.
 

 
 
Copyright 2010 Village Gardens Florist

Men, have you felt like (or been flat out told) that you failed at Valentine’s Day?  This holiday can be one of the most frustrating for guys because it seems like it’s a minefield.  Forget flowers?  You may be sleeping on the couch!  Got her chocolate?  Well, she eats them, but then she complains that you’re making her fat.  Uh-oh…is there any way to win?  Yes!  This year, don’t disappoint her.  Instead of focusing on what you get her, focus on the feelings behind each gift and activity.

Going out to an expensive restaurant for dinner, for example, may be an OK event, but what if you spent the time cooking her favorite meal?  That shows several things.  One, it speaks to your knowledge of what she likes.  Two, it shows that you’re willing to put in a little extra work to woo her.  It also gives you the chance to really show off your romantic side by sitting a table that features roses, candles, and good china (or at least something other than paper plates). 

Getting a gift to go with your bouquet of flowers (and yes, you should definitely send her flowers or bring a bouquet home with you) is a great idea, but again, the more personal the gift, the better.  If she likes stuffed teddy bears, great, but if she doesn’t, don’t pick one up just because it seems like you should.  Some women would rather get a box of chocolates, although if your significant other is dieting, this may be a bad idea. 

No matter what you do, don’t just do something because it seems traditional and expected.  Go out of your way to really think about each and every thing you plan for this Valentine’s Day.  Incorporate little touches like her favorite flower, favorite wine, or favorite activities.  Or do something unexpected.  For example, plan a romantic scavenger hunt that starts when she comes home and finds a single red rose with the first clue attached to it.  The clue could have her searching the bedroom for a gift and the next clue.  This clue might send her to a store where you’ve pre-arranged to have another gift waiting.  The clue there could send her to meet you at a restaurant for dinner.  It’s fun, different, and shows that you’ve put a lot of thought into Valentine’s Day.

Two-Lips Bouquet

Selecting the perfect flowers for Valentine’s Day may seem easy—go for the bouquet of a dozen red roses!  However, this traditional approach may not fit every woman.   In that case, how do you go about choosing flowers that make a great impression?

Choosing the right flowers often means knowing your recipient’s interests and tastes.  If they love roses, then yes, the traditional dozen roses is going to be perfect.  But if their favorite flower is the lily, they may really enjoy a nice arrangement featuring lilies more.  In this case, a mixture of roses and lilies might be the perfect Valentine’s Day arrangement.  Other flowers that make an impact include tulips, lilies, daisies, gladioli and larkspur. 

The container will make an impression as well.  For some, the vases can be as dramtic as the flowers themselves.  Choose a tulip shaped vase like our Two-Lips bouquet, pictured, to a vibrant red metallic vase, to a flower bouquet in a Miche purse she’ll use and personalize to suit her mood.  Definitely a great impression.

Florists can often create very romantic bouquets around any flower.  All you need to do is ask.  In fact, florists are so creative that you can usually get a winning arrangement no matter what requests you have—color, size, flower, accessory, etc.

When it comes to choosing flowers, put some thought into your selection, you’re sure to make a good impression with your Valentine’s Day arrangement!

For more great ideas visit our site.

Feeling like you and your partner just don’t connect anymore?  Does your romance seem to be stuck?  If so, putting together a little romantic weekend can be the perfect cure-all for a relationship that seems to be running out of gas.  It may not fix any serious problems you and your partner have, but if all you need is a little pick-me-up, it can be perfect.

So how do you go about creating the perfect romantic weekend?  Well, start by completely clearing your schedule, and let your partner know he or she needs to clear his/hers as well.  Nothing kills the mood like being interrupted or having things that must be done.  Set aside “us time.”  This may involve hiring a babysitter or sending the kids off to visit grandma and grandpa for the weekend, so be sure you make your plans early.

Next, have a plan.  Don’t go into a romantic weekend with the idea that you’ll make it up as you go along.  Decide on what activities you’re going to do.  Are you going to go out of town?  Even if you don’t leave town, booking a room at a fancy hotel can be a great idea.  Even if you’re only five minutes from your home, the different setting can really change the atmosphere.  Having room service is nice, too.

On the other hand, you may want to have a romantic candle-lit dinner at home.  While it will involve cooking, if you’re a culinary wiz, that only adds to the romance.  Get a nice bouquet of flowers for the table, light some candles, and turn on some jazz or other nice background music.  Dim the lights, serve the meal, and spend some time just talking or being with each other.

Surprises make a great addition to any romantic weekend.  Surprising him or her with an arrangement of flowers, with chocolates, or with any little sort of gift is a great idea.  The more personal the gift, the better, of course.  Go with what you know your partner likes.  If you want to add a little sizzle to the weekend, a gift of sexy lingerie or underwear can be a nice little hint of what you’ve got planned.

Above all, when planning a romantic weekend, make it all about the two of you.  Even if you don’t have the money to go all out and take your partner to a fancy restaurant or to an expensive event, if you show that you’re focused on him/her, that’s all that’s really necessary.  Turn off the cell phones, get away from the internet, and just enjoy each other’s company.  Taking the time to focus on your relationship is often all it needs to get that special spark back.

Valentine Miche Pink Cori

Choosing flowers for Valentine’s Day may seem like a no-brainer to most people—send roses!  While a bouquet of a dozen red roses is very traditional, it’s sometimes not very personal.  In fact, some people really don’t care for roses at all.  In that case, what do you do?  Here are a few tips for choosing the best Valentine’s flowers.

Tip #1: Make it personal.  If you know your significant other doesn’t like roses, don’t get roses.  Instead, get his/her favorite flower.  The more you can show how much you know your partner, the better.  Make your flower arrangement as personal as possible.

Tip #2: Don’t wait until the last minute.  Florists are going to have extra flowers on hand for the holiday, of course, but you still risk not being able to get what you want if you want until the last minute to order your bouquet.  The sooner you place your floral order, the better.  This is especially true if you do want a bouquet of red roses—they often sell out very quickly.

Tip #3: Get a potted plant instead of cut flowers.  There are several reasons why plants make good Valentine’s gifts.  First, men often appreciate them more than flowers.  Second, they last much longer.  Third, plants can be seen as a representation of your growing love for each other and something you can both enjoy for years to come…as long as you don’t get a plant that’s too hard to grow!

Tip #4: Buy your partner a packet of flower seeds.  If your significant other loves gardening, create a gift basket of flower seeds and various gardening tools.  The two of you can plant these seeds together and watch them grow.  Again, it’s another physical representation of your growing feelings for each other, plus it’s a fun activity to do after Valentine’s Day.

Tip #5: Ask your florist for help.  Florists are very creative people, and they can come up with some wonderful and non-traditional arrangements for any couple.  If you’re just not sure what flowers to get, ask for some help from an expert.  You’ll be amazed at what a great florist can create.

Everyone knows that flowers have power.  The sight of a bright bouquet can cheer us up even on the gloomiest of days, while the scent of certain flowers can bring back happy memories from our childhood.  However, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, the power of flowers shifts to the romantic. 

Harnessing the power of flowers to make your Valentine’s Day perfect doesn’t have to be difficult—most women, for example, will find a bouquet of a dozen red roses sufficiently romantic.  However, the traditional rose may not really show off your romantic self.  There’s not a lot of thought to put into roses, after all.  While you can’t go wrong with them, there may be a different arrangement out there that better says “I love you” to your significant other.

If you do want to go with roses, think about the color.  While different roses mean different things, you don’t always have to believe in these meanings.  Yellow roses may often mean friendship, but if your significant other loves the color yellow, he or she may appreciate them more than red roses.  A mixture of different colored roses can also break with tradition while still being incredibly romantic and showing off your creative side.  One idea would be to mix your favorite color with his/hers to create a bouquet that represents both of you.

Mixing roses with other flowers can create a different and visually stunning arrangement.  For example, surrounding red roses with purple larkspur, pink tulips, and some lavender orchids can highlight the roses and really make them stand out.  Lilies also look great when mixed with roses.

Of course, you might want to go with a completely different flower to express your romantic self.  If you know your significant other’s favorite flower (and you should!), a bouquet of these flowers may say much more than roses.  It would show that you know your partner’s likes and dislikes, which can go a long way in a relationship.  Tulips, orchids, lilies…any flower can be made into a great Valentine’s Day bouquet. 

You may want to add something to the bouquet as well.  Balloons, stuffed animals, or perhaps even a small box of chocolates can accompany your Valentine’s Day arrangement.  Just remember that the best way to express your romantic self is to truly be yourself and give flowers that have meaning to both you and your significant other.