Village Gardens

Saying thank you hasn’t really changed that much over the years, but as our world has grown, new ways of saying thanks have emerged.  While saying thanks with a small gift or a bouquet of flowers will never go out of style, there are some different ways of saying thank you in 2010.

The first is via email.  Many people fire off a quick “thanks” email when someone helps them out, especially if the help comes in the form of email.  All it takes it hitting reply and saying “thank you!”  In the past, people often had to speak in person to get information they need.  Saying “thanks” was then done in person.  It’s a bit less personal via email, but at least the courtesy is still there.

Some people see texting a “thanks” as even more impersonal than email.  However, with the major increase in texting among everyone (especially young people, but people of all age text), text thank yous are not uncommon now.  It’s not the most personal or best way to tell someone you appreciate what they’ve done, but it can be acceptable in some circumstances, such as for something minor. 

While both of these technological ways of saying thanks have become more popular in 2010, there’s nothing like saying thank you in person.  For the really big thanks, adding flowers, candy, or a small gift is certainly still appropriate.  Overall, of course, the main thing is being sincere and truly appreciating what the person did for you.

It’s difficult to stay cool in the oppressive summer heat, but you can do some things to help turn your patio into a nice, cool oasis.  That way, you can enjoy your beautiful backyard in the evenings while watching the stars come out or while enjoying a nice dinner with friends.

To create your cool patio oasis, you only need a few things.  The first is patio furniture.  You’ve got to have somewhere to sit, after all.  You don’t have to spend a lot on this patio furniture—you can get folding chairs fairly cheap at most stores.  However, if you plan on spending a lot of time on your patio, you may want to invest in a nicer, more comfortable set of chairs and perhaps a table as well.  You could also purchase a glider or even install a porch swing.

You also need some lighting.  While most homes have some kind of outdoor light above or near the patio, it’s often harsh lighting.  You may want to get some outdoor lanterns or even some torches to light.  Most torches double as insect repellant, which is handy.  Candles can also make for nice lighting.  If you have the budget for it, you may even want to invest in a small metal fire pit.  While the heat these fire pits produce may not be exactly welcome in the hot summer months, they do give you the chance to make tasty S’mores to snack on.

Some nice green plants can put the finishing touches on your cool oasis.  You may want to hang baskets of ivy or flowering plants like Moss Rose around the edge of your patio.  Flowering plants in pots can add some nice color, and the fragrance from these flowers is always welcome.  Of course, you can also add other small decorative touches such as bird feeders, wind chimes, and more.  It’s your patio oasis—make sure it reflects your sense of style!

While a romantic picnic outdoors is certainly nice, sometimes the weather doesn’t permit it.  Other times, the bugs are just too much.  However, a nice alternative is an indoor picnic, especially for those who aren’t exactly the outdoors types.

Planning an indoor picnic is easy.  First, select the location.  You can push the furniture out of the way and use your living room or dining room floor, or you can spread your picnic blanket over your bed and use that.  Any indoor location works.  For the small and intimate, you can even have an indoor picnic in your laundry room or in a large closet.

Next, decide on the food.  Indoor picnics aren’t limited by cooler space or the transportation of food.  You can have hot, cooked food right from your own kitchen, or you can go with sandwiches or other traditional picnic foods.  Drink, too, is completely up to you—lemonade, water, soda, or something more romantic like champagne or wine.

That’s all you need.  Just pick a time, invite your significant other over, and enjoy your indoor picnic!

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.

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor entertaining.  Whether you’re just having a few friends over or hosting an outdoor party for your entire family, getting out of the house and enjoying an evening outside can be a great change of pace.  Of course, you do have to do a little planning before hosting an evening outdoors, and that includes decorating.

Since you’re going to be outdoors, why not take advantage of the décor already there?  Setting up your table near your beautiful flower beds or garden can be a great way to bring in the greens and other bright colors.  For your table, cut a few fresh blooms from these flowers and place them in a vase.  Alternatively, you can order a nice arrangement that compliments the colors of your garden and flowers.

You can also bring the summer flower décor indoors.  If your guests will need to go through your home to get to your event, place a few vases of summer flowers around your home.  If they’re coming in through a gate, you can put a small table near the entrance with summer flowers on it.  If you need to put a sign up directing guests to the back yard, you could attach a few flowers to it or put several pots of flowers around it.

By letting your summer flowers spread out from the table, you’ll be creating an overall motif that will really impress your guests and show off both your gardening and your decorating skills.

It’s a foregone conclusion that sending your mom flowers on Mother’s Day is a great idea.  What isn’t such an easy decision is picking the flowers to send.  Sure, there are a number of different arrangements specifically designed for Mother’s Day, but many of these bouquets use different flowers.  Which ones are right for your mom?  Here are a few tips for selecting the perfect flowers for your mother.

Is she a girly girl?  Some women are more into pink, bows, and hearts than others.  If your mom is what many would call a girly girl, she would enjoy any arrangement that features a cute animal, bright pink and purple flowers, or other traditional “girl” type things.

If, on the other hand, your mom loves gardening or working outdoors, you might want to look for a live plant or an arrangement that she can later plant outdoors.  This has the extra advantage of giving her a gift that will last for years instead of only a few weeks or so.  Every time she sees the lovely plant you got her, she will think of you.  If you want to get her a traditional bouquet, however, you might want to go with one that comes in a rustic basket and features bright blooms like sunflowers.

Anyone creative or artistic will like arrangements made up of very colorful flowers or exotic flowers.  You can also pick one of the wilder or expressive vases instead of a traditional glass vase.  Ask your florist to really get creative here or look at mixing and matching some flowers that you don’t traditionally see together.

If you know your mother’s favorite color (and every child should!), you can always base your flower selection around it.  Selecting flowers in that color and surrounding them with complimentary colored blooms can make the decision process easier, especially if you have a trained florist helping you.

These tips should get you started on the right path to selecting an arrangement that fits your mom’s personality.  If you need more help, consult with your florist.  He or she an help you create a custom-made arrangement that is perfect for your mother.

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.