Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Steve's 2nd Annual "12 Days of Christmas" begins December 13th

2011-12-08T12:40:00.000-05:00

The Suspense is building. Christmas is coming. Yet, more shopping needs to be done. What better way to finish your shopping for Christmas than with Steve's "12 Days of Christmas" Promotion. This is like "Groupon on Steroids". This promotion consists of 12 days of holiday savings. Each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas, Steve's is featuring one item on "SUPER SALE" for that day only. These amazing deals are a secret, as Steve decides what we will feature on Sale next. To be notified of these great holiday specials for Steve's "12 Days of Christmas", you can sign up for our e-mail blasts @ www.stevesflowers.com, text: STEVESFLOWERS to 22828, call us @ 317-787-3431 and ask one of our sales representatives to sign you up, or even better, stop in every day from December 13th through December 24th to actually see the item featured. These deals are available at both our Greenwood and Indianapolis locations. Don't forget, our staff won't know what items are on sale until the next day too. So, stop in and take advantage of the Holiday Specials, and bring your Spirit too.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Steve's Flowers and Gifts.

Steve Huth Owner

Small Business Saturday is November 26th

2011-11-23T11:47:00.001-05:00

First, there was Black Friday. Then, there was Cyber Monday. Now, there’s Small Business Saturday^®, a day to support the small businesses that help fuel the economy and invigorate communities.

Steve's Flowers and Gifts pledgesto support Small Business Saturday^®.

Smallbusinesses help the economy, create jobs and preserve the uniqueness of localcommunities. That’s why Steve's Flowers supports Small Business Saturday. We’re encouraging our employees and customersto shop at their favorite local businesses on November 26, and help fuel smallbusiness growth. So watch the video, get involved and pledge your support at: facebook.com/ShopSmall

As a 2nd year participant in Small Business Saturday, we are enticing customers by offering 50% off everything in the store for that day only. An amazing chance to get great quality, unique items, and gifts for a great price. This is available at our Indianapolis and Greenwood locations.

Why support Small Business Saturday?

SMALLBUSINESS IS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE U.S. ECONOMY:

Source: U.S.Department of Commerce, Census Bureau and Intl. Trade Admin (2007)

Asof 2007, small firms:

· Represented99.7 percent of all employer firms

· Employedjust over half of all private-sector employees

· Paid44 percent of total U.S. private payroll

· Generated64 percent of net new jobs in the previous 15 years

· Createdmore than 50 percent of nonfarm, private gross domestic product (GDP)

SMALLBUSINESS IN MARATHON TO KEEP UP WITH PUBLICALLY TRADED COMPANIES:

Source: The AmericanExpress OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report (March 2011)

Smallbusinesses have lost substantial share in the U.S. economy over the past 14years. In 1997, publicly traded firms represented 2% of firms and contributed43% of the jobs and 55% of business revenue. Now, large publicly traded firms,though still just 3% of U.S. businesses, employ 53% of workers and generatenearly two-thirds (64%) of business revenues.

SMALLBUSINESS OWNERS SPLIT ON OPTIMISM, BUT SEE A SALES SILVER LINING
ON THE HORIZON

Source: The American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor and OptimismReview (Spring 2011)
In the spring of 2011, 49 percent had a positiveview, while 48 percent held a negative view, for a net optimism score of just +1. Additionally, more business owners said they thought sales overthe next six months would be higher compared to a year ago (50% vs. 39% in2010).

BUY-LOCALCAMPAIGNS BOOST SMALL BUSINESS SALES

Source: Institute forLocal Self-Reliance (January 2011)

· Independentretailers that are in communities with a “buy local” initiative reportedrevenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere

· Independentretailers that are in communities with a “buy local” initiative saw a 5.2%increase in holiday sales, while those elsewhere reported an average gain of0.8%

· Morethan half (55%) of business owners who live in cities with an active “buylocal” initiative said the campaign created more existing-customer loyalty

LOYAL CUSTOMERSARE VITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Source: The AmericanExpress OPEN Small Business Monitor (Fall 2010)

· Therecession hit small business owners harder than their larger counterparts.Consumer spending dropped more at small businesses relative to largerbusinesses. Small businesses lost market share and are still 4% below the sharethey held before the recession

· 54%of small business owners say what they need most to help grow their business is“more customers,” instead of tax cuts (23%), access to capital (14%) and theability to hire more employees (6%)

· Tohelp boost demand, small companies are focused on two key strategies: deepeningrelationships and creating value for customers

CONSUMERS SHOPSMALL TO SAVE THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES

Source:The American Express OPEN Small Business Saturday Consumer Pulse (July 2011)

· 93%of U.S. consumers believe it’s important to support the local small businessesthat they value

intheir community

· 87%believe that small businesses are a critical element of the overall U.S.economic health

· 89%agree that locally owned, independent businesses contribute positively throughtaxes and jobs

· 73%consciously shop at small businesses in their community because they do notwant them to close

MORESMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE BECOMING TECH SAVVY

Source: The American Express OPEN SmallBusiness Monitor (October 2010)

Businessowners are getting creative in their marketing. Three in ten indicate they useat least one social media platform; Facebook is by far the most popularplatform, with 27% of relevant businesses on board. By comparison, only one inten business owners were using online social networking to market theirbusinesses a year ago.

So, this Saturday, November 26th. Remember the small local business down the road that employs your neighbor, friend, or the person who sits next to you at church. Join the Small Business Movement. Shop Local.

Fall Has Arrived, Time to Prepare for the Holidays

2011-10-20T09:04:00.000-04:00

The Fall brings us a multitude of vibrant colors that define the season. With tree leaves of orange, red, and brown hues, the fallen leaves that cover the ground, the beauty of the fall season is something that only mother nature could produce. We can capture a little bit of that beauty and splendor that only fall brings by adorning our homes and living spaces with fall flower arrangements.

Fall and Thanksgiving Floral Decorating Ideas

Flower Holidays, Occasions & Parties - Thanksgiving Flowers

Accessorize a large table by placing a long, narrow centerpiece in the center of the table. Add a few smaller accent pieces or candles on each side of the arrangement for an added effect.
Ask us to create a centerpiece in a treasured family vase or bowl, or in seasonal pieces such as a cornucopia or a utility vase surrounded by dry corn cobs.
To create a lot of drama and variety, place a topiary at one end of the table leading to a cluster of small potted plants, then two smaller topiaries with candles leading to a tray of votive candles and flower petals, and so on...
Ask us to use vegetables or fruits as accents in your floral arrangement.
Garnish your serving trays with flowers and greens.
Scatter colorful fall leaves, flowers and votive candles along the center of your dining table.
Float flowers in crystal wine glasses.
Place a single long-stem rose on each plate to welcome your guests to the table.
Decorate small desserts with flowers or make an ice ring with flowers to chill champagne or wine.
Ask your us to design the arrangements for your buffet table on several different levels to keep the eye flowing all along the table.
Place a garland of fruit, flowers and fall foliage over your front door.

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Source: www.aboutflowers.com

September: A Time to Remember, and a Time to Reflect

2011-08-30T10:24:00.002-04:00

September 11th, 2011 and Grandparents Day

This year, a holiday to reflect, and a day to remember land on the same day. September 11th, 2011 marks the 32nd annual celebration of Grandparents Day. A look back at the history of Grandparents and the impact they have on our society. It also is marks the 10 year anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks.

In the years since Jimmy Carter first declared Grandparents Day a national holiday in 1978, we've been following his call to reflect on the impact Grandparents have on our own lives — and on society. And when he signed the proclamation creating National Grandparents Day, little did anyone know how it would grow. At the time, Carter said the holiday would recognize "the importance and worth of the 17 million grandparents in our nation."

Barely a generation later, there are now more than 70 million grandparents in the United States.

That's a lot of recognition.

And a lot of flowers, candy, and gifts too.

For those of you who are still blessed with Grandparents, take the time to show them how much you appreciate them. Set aside time to visit, converse, and help those who were always there for you during your needs as a child. Send Grandma a bouquet of her favorite flower, along with a box of Chocolates for Grandpa.

For those of you who have lost their Grandparents, reflect and hold on to the memories, and never forget the impact they had on you. Take the time to visit their grave site. Leave an expression of your feelings by adding a silk cemetery arrangement, or leaving loose flowers.

And for those of you who are Grandparents, Thank you.

As we reflect and celebrate Grandparents Day, we also need to remember the tragic events of September 11th 2001.

Remember those who lost their lives.

Remember the fallen heroes.

And Never Forget.

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

What Can Roses Do For You?

2011-08-08T08:44:00.000-04:00

3rd Annual Halfway to Valentine's Week is August 8th--14th

Our 3nd Annual "Halfway to Valentine's Week" kicks off today as August 14th is Halfway to Valentine's Day. This year's theme is "What can Roses Do For You?" As always, there is no better time to surprise your loved one than when it is least expected. The week of August 8th through August 14th, Steve's Flowers is celebrating "Halfway to Valentine's Day" with 50-percent off our Dozen Long Stem Premium Roses vased for only $39.95, and a Dozen of our Medium Stemmed Roses vased for only $19.95. Or how about WOWING her with 2 Dozen of our Long Stemmed Premium Roses for only $79.95. Why wait until February? Show them your love with Roses in August and save.

Do you know who you are ordering your flowers from?

2011-07-09T10:35:00.001-04:00

Don't Sacrifice the Professionalism, Personalized Service, and a Qualified finished product of a Local Florist for what you believe to be a significant savings!

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

June, Summer Days to Remember

2011-06-02T13:59:00.000-04:00

June is National Rose Month

When is the best time to buy roses? Believe it or not, June!

Since 1986 the Rose has been the official National Floral Emblem of the United States. It is the official state flower for North Dakota, New York, Iowa, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. They are ancient symbols of love and beauty. Recently, Archaeologists discovered the fossilized remains of wild roses over 40 million years old. They have been featured since 1890 in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California as part of a New Years Celebration. There are hundreds of species and colors of Roses, and approximately 1.2 Billion produced annually.

Here are some ideas to celebrate Rose Month:

Fight the recession blues by adding at least one new rose to your garden.

Show your children or grandchildren how to plant and care for roses.

Host a garden party for your fellow rosarians.

Set up a tour of your rose gardening club member’s gardens.

Visit a public rose garden near you.

Join a local rose gardening club.

Begin a garden blog to celebrate your rose garden.

Send photos of your roses to friends and family.

Post photos or videos of local rose gardens on Flickr or YouTube.

Gather your favorite rose photos and create a coffee table book to give as gifts.

Create your own special postage stamp or seal celebrating your own rose garden.

If you are a scrapbooker, create a special page or whole scrapbook devoted to your garden, especially your roses.

Take a shut-in to visit a public rose garden near you.

Give a rose plant to a nearby nursing home

Volunteer to help care for the roses at a local park

Purchase Roses for Yourself from a local florist

http://www.rosegardening101.com

Father's Day is Sunday, June 19th

Dad's like flowers too. Contrary to popular belief, men do enjoy receiving flowers for the same reason women do, to feel special and be recognized. Some floral design ideas might include a dad's favorite sports container filled with matching colors. A travel mug or coffee mug from his favorite coffee shop filled with flowers and a gift card attached. The Mini Weber Grill @ Steve's Flowers with bright, vivid colors of flowers and mini bottles of barbecue sauce for the Grill King in your life. Or, perhaps a contemporary design of tropical flowers with a box of golf balls and a gift card to his favorite club for the Dad that lives on the Golf Course. For more creative ideas for the father in your life, contact us today.

But before you do, here are a few suggestions for Card Messages you can add:

Thank you for the unique combination of your tenderness and your strength.
Your courage and vision are beacons to fulfill my own dreams.
Thank you for being my Father and my friend.
You're the best!
Thanks for all you do.
Your love and patience have not gone unnoticed.
Thanks for always being there when I needed you.
Take time to enjoy your favorite things - you deserve it.
Posies for my pop!

www.aboutflowers.com

Summer officially begins June 21, 2011. Celebrate with Flowers.

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

End of May Celebrations and Events

2011-05-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

As the end of May is near, we all rush in preparation for the Celebrations and Events that are bringing the season to a close.

There are many occasions throughout the year when gifts are traditionally given and received, but don't forget those special days that celebrate personal milestones. Anniversaries, birthdays and holidays are special occasions, but they're not the only times when giving a gift brightens the day. Don't let personal milestones go by uncelebrated. Be sure to note upcoming events like graduation, new baby, new home, new job, promotion or well-deserved retirement on your calendar. Be sure to add new occasions as they occur. Personal milestones such as a first recital, finishing an important work project, quitting smoking, losing weight or passing the bar exam deserve a gift of recognition. A personalized gift adds to the sense of accomplishment and increases the enjoyment of a job well done.

Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and is a day of reflection. Begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory. Formerly known Decoration Day, people from all over visit and decorate graves with fresh or artificial flowers on their deceased relatives sites, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, and fireworks.

Whether it is Graduation, Recital, Memorial Day, or any occasion, flowers have always been used to commemorate life's special occasions. Keep those in your life in mind. Reflect and Celebrate with the Gift of Flowers.

Steve Huth
Owner
Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Source- www.aboutflowers.com

Mother's Day is May 8th

2011-04-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

Mother’s Day is less than a month away! Order soon and miss the rush!

Mother’s Day is the one day each year that we have the opportunity to tell Mom how special she is. Flowers are always a great way to send that message! No matter where you are in your busy schedule; down the street, in another state or simply out of the country, flowers from Steve's Flowers & Gift's will send that special message to make Mother’s Day bright and cheery.

May 8th is just around the corner so go ahead and give us a call today to schedule your order for your colorful bouquet. As always, Steve's Flowers & Gift's has everything you could desire for that perfect gift and our professional staff can help you customize any arrangement to put your mom in awe!

And remember, flowers are not just for your mom! Don’t leave your mother-in-law, grandmother or the mother of your children off the list. We can take care of everyone with one call and make you a hero this Mother’s Day!

A corsage is a great way to show off your love for your Mom also!

If you and your children are planning on a special occasion this Mother’s Day, a beautiful corsage is a great way for her to enhance her beautiful outfit. Your local florist can match anything from her favorite flower, colors or even match the outfit she will be wearing on May 8th. This will definitely leave her speechless.

Are you stumped for something for your Mother’s Day card? Try a quote that says everything:

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan
Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown
God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb
A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Author Unknown
A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb
Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

Do you know what your Birth Flower is?April is the Sweet PeaThis flower is in constant bloom, which is why it came to be associated with lasting pleasure. This flower has curling tendrils and vivid colors.

We hope to help make your Mother’s Day the most special ever! Thank you so much for your patronage!

Steve's Flowers & Gift's

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

2011-04-15T11:15:00.002-04:00

Spring Floral Decorating Ideas

Easter & Passover Flowers

Easter and Passover is a time for renewal, and a fresh start to a new season. The holiday's have been celebrated and associated with Fresh Spring Flowers for decades.

Spring flowers associated with Easter and Passover include: lilies, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, iris, daisies, lily of the valley, violets, pansies, mini carnations, gerbera daisies, pussywillow, and flowering branches such as forsythia and cherry blossoms.

Potted plants in season include: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, azaleas, Easter lilies, daisies, violets, and kalanchoes.

Here are some Decorating Ideas for your holiday Celebration:

Decorate your brunch table with votive candles interspersed among several vases of spring blooms. Guests can each take home a small vase as a party favor.
Surprise your guests with corsages and boutonnieres to wear to religious services.
Line your entryway with beautiful blooming spring plants. A wreath of spring flowers on your front door is a fabulous finishing touch.
Decorate each place setting at your table with a different flower variety. Include each variety in a vase for your table centerpiece.
Garnish hors d'oeuvre trays with spring flowers.
Ask your florist to make a design in a teapot or a cluster of teacups. Or place a small bloom on each saucer when serving tea.
Fill a traditional wicker basket with mixed spring flowers to use as a centerpiece. Or place blooms among the eggs in your Easter basket. For a charming effect place smaller baskets and candles next to the flowers. This can also be done with clay pots.

Source: www.aboutflowers.com SAF

Melting into Spring, Pebbles, & Proms

2011-03-18T12:37:00.000-04:00

Winter is working its way out and making room for spring!

As winter recedes and spring is just around the corner, bulbs will start to sprout and the trees will bloom. Soon winter will be a distant memory and spring will be bringing color and freshness back all around us! If the snow has not melted in your area and you are ready for some color in your home

again, try this great idea for early blooms:

PEBBLES AND WATER - this is one of the easiest ways to force bulbs. Simply take a waterproof bowl, fill it with gravel or decorative stone. White rock is often used because its bright white makes a nice contrast with the bulbs and flowers. Firm the base of the bulbs into the pebbles, until they stand firmly on their own. Next fill water up to the base of the bulbs, but not high enough that it touches them. A plain glass bowl is best to use because you can see the water level, plus you can also watch the roots as they develop. (You want the roots to grow into the water, but you don't want the bulb to sit in the water.) It's that easy. The bulbs will flower better and the stems will usually be a little stronger if the bulbs are put into a dark spot for about four to six week before they are brought out into the warm temperatures and forced into bloom. This is a great way to force Hyacinths, Crocus, Daffodils or early Tulips. The best thing about this project is that after your bulbs bloom, you can plant them in the garden and enjoy their natural blooming process for years to come!

Prom season is upon us!!

Prom Corsage, Prom Boutonniere

A corsage or boutonniere for your Prom date is a very important part of the Prom tradition. Flowers, for him and her, are special ways of showing your respect and consideration for your partner. Flowers are special:

BOUTONNIERE

Customarily girls buy a boutonniere for their dates. Usually it is a pin-on carnation or rose with baby's breath to be worn traditionally on the right lapel. You may want to order this at the same time your date orders your corsage.

CORSAGE

It is customary for the guy to buy a corsage for his date. It can be a pin-on type, or one she can wear around her wrist. Some even buy a modified nosegay that a girl can carry in her hand. It is a good idea to know what color dress your date is wearing so that the corsage you choose doesn't clash. Some

couples like to go together and choose the flowers.

Fitz Designer Bracelets

For our third year in a row, Steve's Flowers and Gifts is adding "bling" to their Prom Corsages with "Fitz Designer Bracelets". These bracelets add style and value to each corsage. Not only is it stylish, it also becomes a keepsake that can be worn everyday as a reminder of your Prom. Each bracelet has a special name such as "Cupid Dazzle", "Rock Candy", "Sophisticated Lady" "Ice Cream", and "Gumdrop". Add these to any of Steve's branded corsages such as "Your Best Friend", "Casual Gal", "Diva", or "Girl who has it all" and see the difference. Also this year, ask us about matching Earrings, Necklaces, and Armbands that we have added flowers to for a little something different. Call us today to order your Prom Corsages and Boutonnieres.

Do you know what your Birth Flower is?

February, Daffodils

This flower is associated with vanity and death. The daffodil is in fact of the narcissus family, and is yellow in color. Legend has it that Narcissus saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it. He leaned forward and eventually fell into the water and drowned. At the spot where he had been kneeling, a daffodil sprang from the ground.

Sending you best wishes for a wonderful spring!! Thank you so much for your patronage!

Top o' the morning to ye!

2011-03-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest Irish festivals, St. Patrick's Day or Paddy's Day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. A festive day for the Irish people, St. Patrick's Day is a festive public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, and also celebrated with much enthusiasm in places such as Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. Sumptuous feasts, green clothes, frothy delights, joyous merrymaking with friends and family - all are parts of this grand occasion.

Send a little Irish Gift this St. Paddy's Day to all of your friends and family with Steve's Green Beer Mug O' Blooms. The freshest green carnations in an acrylic beer mug, with special acrylic rocks, shamrocks, and green food coloring to resemble green beer, and to symbolize their favorite brew. Or, Páirtí with Steve's Leprechaun Marg O' Ritas! This reusable acrylic margarita glass filled with Green Gems, Mini Green Hydrangeas, and a Red Rose. Whatever special plans you have, remember that St. Patrick's Day is a celebration for being Irish and enjoying things Irish, because everyone should be Irish on Paddy's Day.

2011-03-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

March Flowers

Celebrate spring and take a moment to brighten someone's day with a surprise floral arrangement. The best reason to send a gift of flowers is Just Because.

Frequent Flowers: Explore the cheerful colors of spring favorites like tulips, hyacinth and daffodils.

It's a Fact: 83% of people like to receive flowers when they are unexpected.

Did You Know? You can customize a gift of flowers to a friend's personality. Check out the Floral Signature Quiz.

Tip: When ordering flowers, describe the recipient's favorite colors or hobbies to us, and we can come up with the perfect gift.

Check out our website, www.stevesflowers.com, to see the updated St. Patrick's Day and Spring items that we are offering. Remember, the best time to send flowers is when they least expect it. So, defy your loved one's expectations today and send a gift from Steve's Flowers and Gifts.

Steve Huth

Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Source: www.aboutflowers.com SAF

Valentine's Rush Is On!!

2011-02-08T08:45:00.020-05:00

The last minute rush is on! Please remember your special Valentine this week!!

Everyone only gets one chance to provide a memorable Valentine’s Day for their special loved one… or their date for the evening! Nothing will start the day off better than having beautiful flowers delivered to your special someone at work or home. Another strategy that always works well is to have a beautiful take home arrangement waiting at your favorite restaurant. Whatever you have in mind, Steve's Flowers & Gift's can work with you to make any fantasy come true!

Keep in mind that Valentine’s Day is not only for your sweetheart! No one wants their mother, father, sister, brother or other family members to be left out. It is a holiday to show your love and appreciation to anyone special in your heart!

Also remember, if roses are not your favorite, we have a large assortment of flowers that we can gather and arrange to suit anyone’s fancy.

Be good to locally owned businesses!

When purchasing your flowers from a traditional florist and having them delivered from your local community florists, you support local businesses in your area verses having flowers delivered in a box from an out of state floral vendor. As a local business we “Thank You” for your community support!!!

Once you receive your professionally designed flowers, here are a few tips to keep them fresh and longer lasting:
• Fill a clean vase with tepid water. Add a packet of commercial flower food to feed the blooms and discourage bacterial buildup. Or add a pinch of sugar and a few drops of bleach.
• Remove foliage that would be underwater; this also discourages bacteria. (To avoid stains, carefully remove pollen-covered lily stamens.)

• Re-cut stems at an angle to ensure water uptake. Immediately place them in the vase.
• Display your flowers in a cool spot. Avoid direct sunlight and heating or cooling vents, a killer for tulips.
• Add water as needed; change when cloudy.
• Remove wilting flowers. The ethylene they give off may cause other flowers to wilt. Irises are among the first to go.
• And don't be alarmed if tulips snake, bend and continue — perhaps like your love — to grow.

Enjoy some famous love quotes!

Love is the greatest refreshment in life. -Pablo Picasso
Falling in love is so hard on the knees. -Aerosmith
At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. -Plato
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach. -Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. -William Shakespeare
Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. -Albert Einstein
Love is a game that two can play and both win.
Do you know what you Birth Flower is?
February is Violet
This fragrant flower is tiny yet vigorous in its growth. It is self-pollinating, which is why in the middle ages, the church adopted it to symbolize the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. This flower is associated with innocent love and virtue.
We hope to help make your Valentine’s Day the most special ever! Thank you so much for your patronage!

Floral Buzz 2011 @ Steve's Flowers and Gifts

2011-01-24T10:35:00.001-05:00

The Stockings are down and the tree put away. Time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day!

Christmas is now just a distant memory and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It is time again to surprise the one you love with flowers and chocolates to start off the New Year right! Steve's Flowers & Gift's has the ingredients to make this Valentine’s Day one you will always remember.

Planning is the key to making any special event go off without a hitch! We are now taking orders for the Valentine’s Day festivities. Whether you are the traditionalist who loves a ‘Dozen Red Roses’ or someone that likes to ‘shake things up a little more’, this is the best time to show that someone special what is in your heart. Creativity is key but the old faithful is sure to re-ignite!

If you are not a pre-planner, DON’T WORRY! We will be here right until the holiday to take care of those last minute orders. No one should be left out of Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.
Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.
California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America.
Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.
Hallmark has over 1,330 different cards specifically for Valentine's Day.
Only the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the U.K. celebrate Valentine's Day.
Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.
Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then sweethearts. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.
Chocolate manufacturers currently use 40 percent of the world's almonds and 20 percent of the world's peanuts.

Do you know what your Birth Flower is?
January - White Carnation

The carnation has many contradictory meanings. According to the legend, King Louis IX discovered it in Africa and used it as a medication against the plague. In the middle ages it symbolized fertility. Later the flower became the flower of the ‘working class’ in England while the Catholic Church adopted it as the symbol of the Virgin Mary, and the crucifixion of Christ.

Thank you so much for your patronage in 2010 and best wishes to you in 2011! Steve's Flowers & Gift's

Steve's Valentine's Day Flowers, Monday, February 14th 2011

2011-01-20T12:44:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day Flowers 2011

Just like people, flowers come in hundreds of shapes and sizes. When it comes to Valentine's Day gifts, carefully selecting the flower varieties and colors you send will result in a thoughtful, customized gift your sweetheart will treasure. The first step is to consider your sweetheart's preferences:

What colors does he or she like? Men respond well to vivid, crisp colors such as red, orange, purple and blue. Women tend to relish pastel tones of pinks, peaches and lavenders.
Does she have any favorite flowers? What are his hobbies? Steve's can create arrangements that revolve around your sweetheart's favorite hobby, sport or pastime.

Ask yourself what message you want to convey. Consult with your Steve's, who can explain the assortment of possibilities available.

To get the best selection and ensure prompt delivery, call your Steve's Flowers the week before Valentine's Day. When you call, have the necessary information handy: the recipient's name, address, phone number, what you want to send and how you want to be billed.

Source: www.aboutflowers.com

Steve Huth

Owner

Jeanne Benedict's Flower Facts on Entertaining

2011-01-04T15:31:00.000-05:00

Flower Factor

Jeanne Benedict, host of DIY Network's Weekend Entertaining, is a party expert, chef and author of four books including The Sophisticated Cookie and Celebrations. She shares easy, uncomplicated ways to use flowers to make a statement at parties and get-togethers.

What I believe: Gorgeous flowers are the ultimate compliment to your guests, letting them know you care enough about your time spent together to surround them in beauty and scintillate their senses.

Never has entertaining at home been more en vogue. We cherish celebratory times together - beyond just traditional holidays - we are inventing our own individual reasons to celebrate and are finding that spur-of-the-moment celebrations with family and friends create the memories we remember forever.

The sensorial qualities of flowers make them a natural to enhance celebrations no matter how intimate the gathering. Better yet, they are an easy, uncomplicated way to make a statement or simply decorate! A Rutgers University study says it best: Flowers create instant happiness, exactly the mood you want for a party.

Whether you're presenting flowers at your own event or bringing them as a hostess gift, here are inspirations for some of the most popular celebrations you'll likely be part of this year.

Flowers are Great Hostess Gifts

Source: Society of American Florists (www.safnow.org)

New Years Celebration 2011

2010-12-27T12:46:00.001-05:00

Celebrate the New Year Right!!

Time to get festive with lots of games, feasting, decorations, and resolutions, for New Year's Eve is the most exciting night of the year. New Year's Eve is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world. From the great ball dropping at Times Square in New York City, to parties in the ultimate destination, New Year's Eve is worth participating in. New Years, as we know it, involves people gathering at Times Square and waiting eagerly for the ball to drop as the clock strikes 12 at midnight. But did you know, that Sydney, Austrailia is one of the world's most popular destinations for New Year's Eve celebrations, attracting about 1.2 million participants. Sydney has a breathtaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve that mesmerizes everyone. An estimated 80,000 firecrackers are shot from Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year's Eve, offering a truly stunning view. Next comes New Year's Eve Celebrations in Britain. Popular for the “First footing custom”, Britain has a lot to offer you on New Year's Eve. It's believed that the first person over the threshold on New Year's Day will dictate the luck brought to that particular house in the New Year. Having a unique touch and style, New Years Eve Celebrations in Spain are worth seeing. Spanish people celebrate New Year's Eve with a traditional custom. The 12 Grape eating custom is what makes New Year celebrations in Spain unique. People keep 12 grapes ready and as soon as the clock strikes 12 at midnight, they eat the 12 grapes symbolizing the 12 months of the year.

New Year's Eve is a time to kick up our heels and say good-bye to the old year. Whether you're planning a New Year's Eve bash, an elegant dinner party or a quiet intimate dinner for two--add the finishing touch with a beautiful New Year's floral arrangement to enhance the atmosphere. Flowers are also perfect to send to your family, friends or host/hostess for New Year's Day festivities! And remember, Steve's Flowers and Gifts can deliver your flower arrangements, leaving you lots of time to primp for the party!

Steve's "12 Days of Christmas" Promotion Dec. 13th to the 24th

2010-12-08T14:51:00.000-05:00

What better way to count down the days to Christmas than with Steve's "12 Days of Christmas" Promotion. This promotion consists of 12 days of holiday savings. Each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas, Steve's is featuring one item on "SUPER SALE" for that day only. These are amazing deals on Poinsettias, Garlands, Ornaments, Centerpieces, Holiday Gifts, Flowers, and even our exclusive items such as our Spiral Mistletoe Ornament. To be notified of these great holiday specials for Steve's "12 Days of Christmas", you can sign up for our e-mail blasts @ www.stevesflowers.com, or call us @ 317-787-3431 and ask one of our sales representatives to sign you up. Or even better, stop in every day from December 13th through December 24th to actually see the items featured. And by the way, we can't tell you what will be on "SUPER SALE" for the next day, it's a secret that only Steve knows. These deals are available at both our Greenwood and Indianapolis locations. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Steve's Flowers and Gifts.

Steve Huth Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

The Origin of the Symbolic Holiday Poinsettia

2010-12-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Originating from tropical Mexico, the poinsettia was named for Dr. Joel Roberts-Poinsett, the US Ambassador to Mexico, who brought the first poinsettia flower to the United States in 1928.

Sentiment & Symbolism

The poinsettia's rich scarlet color comes from its bracts (the leaf-like sections which grow before the flower) rather than the actual flowers themselves. In Mexico (where poinsettias are known to grow as high as sixteen feet) it is known as the Flor de

Noch Buena, the "Flower of the Holy Night." Its bracts are said to resemble the flower of Bethlehem; therefore, it is used to decorate churches at Christmastime. To make a poinsettia bloom again the following Christmas, one must cover it every evening so it gets little light. The poinsettia is a member of the euphobia, or spurge family. The name "spurge" originates from the Old French espurge; it was one of the powerful purgatives used in medieval times to rid the body of black bile and melancholy.

Color Messages

Popular worldwide as "the Christmas flower", white, pink and red poinsettias bring wishes of mirth and celebration.

This year at Steve's, stop into our Indianapolis or Greenwood locations and check out our large assortment of Poinsettias in varieties of color. These popular holiday plants range in size and price. From our cute miniature poinsettia's at only $9.95, to our "Wow" factor poinsettia at $69.95. We are also taking special orders for Poinsettia Topiary Trees. An amazing plant that you don't see everywhere. Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.

Steve Huth Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Steve's Flowers Offers 50% Off In-Store Purchases for Small Business Saturday

2010-11-26T14:19:00.001-05:00

Local Shops Hope 'Small Business Saturday' Catches On

Effort Aimed At Keeping Retail Dollars Local

Independent shop owners in Indianapolis are getting behind a national movement meant to drive retail dollars to local businesses this weekend.

Small Business Saturday is the locally owned stores' answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which mostly benefit nationwide mega-retailers.

Shops that don't offer door-buster deals or early-bird specials are hoping to lure in shoppers Saturday with the promise of keeping more money local.

“I’m just excited that there's this grassroots support, that people are considering shopping local and how important that is to the local community,” said Kristofer Bowman, who works at Silver In The City along Massachusetts Avenue.

Across the street, Mass Ave. Toys owner Natalie Canulf said she doesn't offer the deep discounts of national chains, but focuses on keeping prices low all year and offering unique products.

“We're able to get lots of smaller shipments in and just keep the store supplied with unique toys that they're not seeing in the big stores,” she said.

American Express is promoting Small Business Saturday, offering $100 worth of Facebook advertising to the first 10,000 small business owners who sign up to participate and a $25 credit to 100,000 cardholders who pledge to use their cards at independent businesses on Nov. 27.

"This is the start of a movement," said CEO Kenneth Chenault, who stressed that Cyber Monday did not catch on immediately. "This is not a flash in the pan. We are committed to this effort for years to come."

Source: TheIndyChannel.com

Steve's Flowers and Gifts is proud to participate in the first-annual "Small Business Saturday" with offering 50% off of every in-store purchase made on November 27th at our Indianapolis and Greenwood locations. Steve's is committed to contribute to the efforts being made, with American Express, in support of the Small Business movement. This Saturday, let's all visit our favorite local restaurants, bakeries, gift stores, and even florists to show our support of the local business' in our Indianapolis market that keep Indiana's economy alive.

Steve Huth Owner
Steve's Flowers and Gifts

We Wish You A Merry Christmas, We Wish You A Merry Christmas...Your Kidding...Already???

2010-11-11T10:45:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone,

Sneaks up on us quickly doesn't it! In no time at all it will be here. Christmas parties, staff celebrations, client nights, functions with colleagues...

Staff, clients, colleagues. What are you going to do for them this Christmas? Something different? Create an impact? Perhaps now it's time for Steve's to step forward.

Steve's Flowers and Gifts at your service!!!

(I bet your thinking right now, how can a florist possibly help me at Christmas?)

There are three things we can do for you this Christmas. First- make life easier for you. Second- supply extraordinary gifts for your staff, customers and colleagues (throw in a few relatives if you like). Third- create emotional response from these people.

As a corporate florist, we deal in human emotions. The gifts we can put together for you are precisely engineered to maximize emotional responses from human beings. Emotions such as admiration, devotion, and profound gratitude.

Don't believe me? Then visit our website, or stop into our Indianapolis or Greenwood location to see our line of Christmas gifts including our specialty, flowers, that you can send to some of your favorite customers. Send a couple direct to the homes of selected staff members. Sit back and see what happens. You'll quickly understand why they call us "The Merchants of Emotion".

This Christmas, we can pack some real emotion into your gifts. All you have to do is enjoy the accolades!

Merry Christmas!!

Steve Huth Owner

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Family Owned and Operated since 1973

Summer is ending

2010-09-20T08:46:00.000-04:00

Fall is here and we have a wide variety of beautiful Fall bouquets to send to family, friends and business associates. Be the first to take advantage of sending a crisp Fall arrangement just in time for the cool breezes blowing the hot Summer heat away!

You can see many of the available bouquets on our website or call one of our floral designers to discuss a unique arrangement.

Also, September 24th is Native American Day. Hopefully you’re lucky enough to have a pow wow in your community sometime this month. Native American Day is observed on many different days.

Remember, as a Steve's Flowers & Gift's VIP Member “You NEVER pay retail for your flowers” when you order via our website and use your exclusive VIP Discount Code. If you are not a member, don't hesitate to call and sign up.

Call, click or come by our shop and we will be glad to take care of all your floral needs. We look forward to hearing from you very soon!

Steven H. Huth

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

As a VIP customer of Steve's Flowers & Gift's, you never have to pay retail for flowers again! Just place your order using your discount code on our website at www.StevesFlowers.com, and receive your VIP discount! If you are not a member, don't hesitate to call and sign up. We will deliver the freshest, most beautiful flowers anywhere in the world!!! You can also speak directly with one of our floral consultants to assist you in choosing the perfect flowers just by contacting:

Steve's Flowers & Gift's
3150 E Thompson Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
317-787-3431 or 800-742-9359
www.StevesFlowers.com

Steven H Huth Owner, Steve's Flowers & Gift's

Steve's Flowers Introduces our New Bulk Flower Pricing

2010-08-18T11:27:00.000-04:00

Do you have the knack to produce beautiful bouquets of flowers? Do you have a “need” to create? Do you love working with flowers, such as Daisies, Roses, Lilies, and Iris? Then you will love Steve's New Bulk Flower Program. The highest quality flowers grown from the most prestigious farms in the world. These flowers are cut and shipped direct from the farms to a Steve's location for your convenient pickup. Can't make it to one of our locations? We will deliver it for you. If you are planning a wedding, a large affair, a fundraiser, or for any occasion. Check out our Bulk Flower Pricing on our website at www.stevesflowers.com. We can send you flowers so that your creative genius can emerge.

"You've Got Questions, We've Got Roses!!

2010-08-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

Our 2nd Annual "Halfway to Valentine's Day" kicks off soon. August 14th is Halfway to Valentine's Day, and there is no better time to surprise your loved one than when it is least expected. The week of August 9th through August 14th, Steve's Flowers is celebrating "Halfway to Valentine's Day" with 50-percent off our Dozen Long Stem Premium Roses vased for only $39.95. Why wait until February? Show them your love with Roses in August and save.

In Lieu of Flowers??? The History and Importance of Flowers at a Funeral

2010-07-09T22:32:00.000-04:00

The arrangement and placement of flowers around the dead is humankind's oldest tribute, the oldest form of memorialization, the oldest act of mourning. Throughout history, flowers have been used to symbolize every aspect of the life cycle, from birth through death. For example, the fragility of life is symbolized by the flowers. To grow and expand, flowers require the proper conditions. The same is true for human beings. In death, flowers are used to symbolize how the beauty of creation is temporary; as surely as the flower must be cut from the stem, so it is with human life.

Role of Flowers

Flowers create a background of warmth and beauty, which adds to the dignity and consolation of the funeral service. Following the service, the bereaved are left with an indelible impression, or memory picture of the funeral. The more comforting the memory picture, the more easily it is recalled by the bereaved and the more vivid is the reinforcement of the reality of loss. Flowers do not wither and die in the mind of the bereaved; they are recalled time and again as indelible memories. Conversely, those who have attended service where there were no flowers, have expressed the feeling that something was missing, that the funeral was depressing. Flowers are not only for the living. They are also for the dead. Americans traditionally have expressed their respect for the deceased by sending flowers, which honors the dead and console the living.

In Lieu of Flowers???

The death of a family member or close friend is one of life's most painful episodes. Those in mourning need support and most of us are anxious to find some way to comfort them. One of the most appropriate and appreciated ways to express sympathy and compassion, as well as respect for the deceased, is by sending flowers.

Occasionally, the obituary announcement includes the phrase "In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to...". Often times, this terminology is used to encourage charitable gifts but not necessarily to discourage other expressions. Most families sincerely appreciate all personal expressions and may later regret having too few flowers at the funeral. It is important that each giver make their own choice and many people are choosing to send a floral remembrance to the service or family home as well as a donation to the charity indicated. While a monetary donation is a worthy tribute, there is really no substitute for beautiful flowers at a sympathy service. They comfort the living as they commemorate the lives of the deceased.

Study after study have shown the importance of flowers in the Bereavement Process, yet obituaries continue to have this statement. Florists all over the country look at this statement as another negative attack on one of God's most beautiful gifts to mankind, Flowers. As part of making funeral arrangements, family members sometimes select a charity or other organization to receive financial contributions given in memory of the deceased. Occasionally this request is made "in lieu of flowers." Funeral directors who recognize the important contribution flowers can make to the traditional service are concerned that the solicitation is worded tactfully. They realize that florists hope the charity can be identified in a phrase that does not single out the floral industry in a negative manner. Funeral directors may also be asked to comply with newspaper obituary guidelines which prohibit discriminatory phrases. Choosing one of the suggested alternative phrases which simply eliminates the expression "in lieu of flowers", achieves three important goals. It honors the family request for a charity, meets the high standards for a charity, meets the high standards of good taste and decorum insisted upon by most funeral directors and does not dictate to friends the manner in which they express their sympathy.

These Phrases are Suggested:

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to....
Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to....
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
The .... Memorial has been established for those wishing to contribute.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to....
The family has designated the .... for memorial contributions.
Remembrances may be made in the form desired by friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to....
Flowers are welcome Contributions may be sent to....

Steve Huth

Source: Todd Van Beck "In Lieu of Flowers.com"

June is National Rose Month

2010-06-10T10:51:00.000-04:00

June is National Rose Month, and now is the time to think about adding some beautiful roses to your life. They are a flower that has so much meaning with their fragrant scent and their delicate blossoms. Almost every person has received a rose for a special occasion and there is nothing more sentimental than a dozen roses. Every woman wants to receive roses at some point in her life. Why do we have such a fascination with this flower and how can we "celebrate" this year with roses?

How about celebrating with 1 dozen Euro-cut Medium Stemmed Roses for only $19.99 at either one of our locations. You can also get a dozen roses vased for only $34.99, and add another dozen for only $49.99. A big value for the money. Also, for every $40.00 arrangement you spend this month, you can add 6 roses to that arrangement for only $6.00.

There are many ways to celebrate the official National Floral Emblem of the United States. Here are some ideas for celebrating:

1.Fight the recession blues by adding at least one new rose to your garden.
2.Show your children or grandchildren how to plant and care for roses.
3.Take a Rose to someone you love.
4.Join a local rose gardening club.
5.Begin a garden blog to celebrate your rose garden.
6.Send roses to friends or family.
7.Post photos or videos of local rose gardens on Flickr or YouTube.

8.Gather your favorite rose photos and create a coffee table book to give as gifts.

9.If you are a scrapbooker, create a special page or whole scrapbook devoted to Roses.

10.Take a shut-in a Dozen Roses.

11.Give a rose plant to a nearby nursing home.

12.Volunteer to help care for the roses at a local park.

Interesting bits of rose trivia:

Since 1986 the rose has been the official National Floral Emblem of the United States.

A rose is the official state flower of: the District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, New York, and North Dakota.

George Washington was the first rose breeder in the US.

Roses are native plants in the US.

Roses are big business: 1.2 billion are sold annually.

However you decide to celebrate June and National Rose Month, remember to always "Stop and Smell the Roses".

Steve Huth

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Proflowers Delivered to Funeral Home?

2010-05-26T12:29:00.008-04:00

Proflowers for a funeral?

We get it, we do understand, “we” being florist’s that is. We know many consumers are duped into thinking that they will get a good quality experience with fresh flowers when they order “direct from the fields” as claimed by Proflowers.com and other direct shippers of perishable product.

But, when you ordered from Proflowers.com did you really intend to send your emotions in a box.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen this unsuspecting customer ordered from Proflowers.com for a funeral. And yes, this is an actual picture taken in a Philadelphia PA, funeral parlor recently. I do not doubt for one minute, that the sender intended to send a beautiful bouquet. Proflowers.com pictures many nice looking designs on their site, but they come, as shown above in a box

And before you think this is an isolated case, think again. This type of thing happens time and time again, day in and day out all across North America. Unsuspecting consumers trust a beautiful picture to convey their emotions, but receive something much different.
We can’t blame the funeral directors either. They are not floral designers, what would you expect them to do? They either have to leave the box out back in the garage or flower room, or simply set it in the parlor so that the family knows it’s there. Usually they leave them out back, and give them to the family when they are leaving to go home. But, in some cases as you can see above, they place them in the viewing room for all to see. I certainly would not want the grieving family to know I did not care enough to find a local real florist, and sent flowers in a box.
"Smith's Flowers"-----Midland Michigan

When you need to send flowers either in town or out of town, give Steve's Flowers and Gifts a call, or visit our website, to recieve flowers designed. Flowers in a box just don’t cut it…ever.

Steve Huth-----Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Memorial Day and Flowers

2010-05-24T12:47:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formally known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

What do people do?

It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials to honor everyone, who has died, and those, who have died in military service, in particular. Many volunteers place flowers, and an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis' Birthday in Mississippi.

Background

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.

Remember with Flowers

Monday, May 31th is Memorial Day. Your local florist can provide fresh or silk flowers for honoring the memory of your loved ones. There are many options available when taking flowers to a gravesite. Many people choose a cone arrangement, which can be placed into the ground.

Here are some things to keep in mind when taking loose fresh flowers to a gravesite. If you will be placing them in a cone, you should take a couple of supplies with you. A pair of scissors and a jug of water. When you arrive at the gravesite, place the cone in the ground. If you have floral preservative add this to the cone first. Fill the cone with water 3/4 full. Remove the leaves that fall below the water line from the stems. Finally clip off an inch or so from the bottom of the stems and place the flowers into the cone. You can then arrange the flowers to fill in the cone.

Silk floral designs can also be created. Ask your local florist for silk floral suggestions and design options for memorial pieces. Bouquets, Wreaths and Custom Memorial Design forms are all popular choices in silk flowers. You can even customize the design to reflect military service (red, white & blue flowers, flag design, etc.) to honor your loved one's service.

Memorial Day has also become a popular time for Family Reunions and Get Togethers. Consider having your local florist create centerpieces for your weekend celebration.

We suggest ordering your memorial flowers a few days ahead of time to ensure the best selection. Remember to ensure your floral order is filled to value, order direct from a local florist. No middleman, No extra fees!

Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of [http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com] (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design.

Mother's Day Flowers

2010-05-01T15:23:00.006-04:00

The first celebrations of Mother's Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who worshiped mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. During the 1600s in England a special day was set apart as Mothering Day, a day of taking small cakes and trinkets to mothers.

In the United States the idea for Mother's Day has generally been credited to Anna Jarvis. The first Mother's Day observance was a church service held at her request in Grafton, West Virginia (the burial place of her mother) on May 10, 1908. Because of her mother's fondness for them, Miss Jarvis wore a carnation to that first service. She went on to play an active role in encouraging the government to establish a national holiday to honor mothers everywhere. By 1911 Mother's Day was being celebrated throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, Canada, South America, China, Japan and Africa. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as National Mother's Day and asked all Americans to offer their respect and love for mothers publicly.

Tips to Pamper Mom

For all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered on Mother's Day. Steve's Flowers has provided the following tips to make Mom feel extra special:

If you're planning on taking Mom out to eat, take a plate, bowl, napkin and set of silverware to Steve's the week before Mother's Day. Ask us to make a floral arrangement in the bowl and include the silverware among the flowers. Then slip in an invitation to her favorite restaurant.

Invite Mom to brunch or dinner at her favorite restaurant and have a flower arrangement delivered right to your table for all to see.

For Moms that like to cook, ask Steve's to create an herb garden design with several small pots of herbs.

Make a special tribute to Mom by sending a decorated "Mother's Day Tree." The week before Mother's Day, take several of your favorite family photos to Steve's and ask him to attach them to a plant or miniature tree using colorful ribbons. Prepare the photos ahead of time by pasting them onto pretty colored papers or put them in small frames.

If your Mom is planning on attending worship on Mother's Day, find out what she plans to wear and ask us to design a special corsage to match. For a very special twist, choose a new dress or hat for Mom and have it boxed and wrapped with the corsage in place of a bow on the outside.

Give Mom something to relax with by wrapping a new book and asking us to place it into a fragrant flower bouquet with a note that reads "Today is your day to relax!"

Ask Steve's to help you create a special spa kit. A few days ahead of time, bring goodies like nail polish, a loofa sponge, bath crystals, oils and other pampering items to us and have him design a basket with the spa items on one side and flowers on the other. You could even add a certificate for a manicure, pedicure, massage or spa treatments at a local day spa or salon.

If you want to surprise Mom from across the miles, ask a florist in her town to make a floral arrangement and include an airline ticket for a visit to you. Be sure to mail the ticket to the florist well in advance and confirm that he received it.

Incorporate flowers into a theme gift. If Mom is an avid gardener, ask us to create a design that includes gardening goodies such as a trowel, garden gloves, seed packets and tools. If Mom is a bird watcher, how about a design in a bird feeder? An athletic would certainly appreciate a pair of workout shoes - with flowers arranged inside. Tennis balls, golf balls or sport headbands can be a unique addition to any floral arrangement. If Mom loves clothes or jewelry, tie a scarf or drape a necklace around a vase of flowers to make the gift extra special.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas For Kids

Give Mom a "double feature." Provide us with the latest edition of the newspaper movie section, and ask him to include it in a box of flowers. Decorate the outside of the box with movie theater candy and attach a card that tells Mom she gets to see a movie of her choice. Of course, you buy the tickets and the popcorn!

Let Mom know you think she is your treasure with a treasure hunt! Visit Steve's Flowers and pick out several pretty stems of flowers. Ask us to put water tubes on the flowers. Tell Mom that she is on a treasure hunt and give her clues as to where she can find each of the flowers. At the end of the hunt, have an empty vase ready with a card telling Mom what a treasure she is to you. Then you can arrange the flowers in the vase together.

Give Mom a kitchen break. Take a cooking pot from your kitchen along with some kitchen utensils to Steve's. Ask them to make a floral arrangement in the pot that includes the utensils. Give the arrangement to Mom with a note that tells her she is getting a kitchen break. Then let her sit back and relax while you and Dad prepare dinner.

Surprise Mom with a home pampering party. When she comes in the door, have rose petals on the floor leading to the bathroom. Prepare a bubble bath and float rose petals in the water. Place small vases of flowers on the edge of the tub with scented candles and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Then leave her alone to relax.

Breakfast in bed is a treat that every Mom loves. Dads and kids can prepare a special morning for Mom by greeting her with a homemade breakfast in bed, on a tray adorned with fresh flowers.

For a very personal tribute, write her a note telling Mom why you're glad she's your mom and attach it to a long stemmed rose.

Present Mom with a vase of her favorite flowers. On each stem tie a "coupon" for a chore that you promise to do.

For more special gift ideas, visit us online @ www.stevesflowers.com, or stop into either one of our locations.

Steve's Prom Trends 2010 Featuring Fitz Designer Bracelets

2010-04-20T13:43:00.005-04:00

The team at Steve's Flowers and Gifts know how very important prom flowers are to their young customers and are happy to work with them to make their corsages and boutonnieres special. If you have your heart set on a certain corsage style or type of flower, then there is nothing wrong with letting your date know what you would like. You might even suggest going to the florist shop together to pick out your flowers. Steve's Designers are experts at customization. Show your dress (or a swatch of the fabric) to any of our talented staff, and ask him or her to select an appropriate ribbon. Or you can ask to see what ribbons he or she has on hand and choose one yourself.

Current Trends

Two popular styles are wrist corsages and small hand-held nosegays (and they look great with strapless dresses!). Popular flowers are mini (or sweetheart) roses, standard roses, dendrobium orchids, alstroemeria lilies, mini carnations and other small flowers such as cornflowers and freesia. Flowers for your hair or neck or corsages pinned to an evening bag are also great choices. Talk to your Steve's about the options and ask to see photos of these different styles.

Ordering Tips

It is important to remember that prom season is also peak wedding season and often falls on Mother's Day weekend. Therefore, popular flowers such as sweetheart roses, white roses and certain orchids used to create decorative body flowers are in high demand. Ordering at least two weeks in advance so that your Steve's has time to order the necessary quantities should ensure that you get what you really want. Tell the staff at Steve's what your budget is and ask him or her for ideas. An inexpensive flower used in a lovely corsage style can be just as beautiful as a more expensive bloom. Alstroemeria lilies are a good choice, as are mini carnations. But Steve's will know what the best value is..

Fitz Designer Bracelets

For our second year in a row, Steve's Flowers and Gifts is adding "bling" to their Prom Corsages with "Fitz Designer Bracelets". These bracelets add style and value to each corsage. Not only is it stylish, it also becomes a keepsake that can be worn everyday as a reminder of your Prom. Each bracelet has a special name such as "Cupid Dazzle", "Rock Candy", "Sophisticated Lady" "Ice Cream", and "Gumdrop". Add these to any of Steve's branded corsages such as "Your Best Friend", "Casual Gal", "Diva", or "Girl who has it all" and see the difference. Call us today to order your Prom Corsages and Boutonnieres

Let The Thawing Begin

2010-03-22T08:32:00.006-04:00

Can you feel it? Spring is in the air and not a moment too soon. After one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record, spring can’t get here quick enough! Spring is the favorite season for many people and it’s easy to understand why. Spring is when the earth comes back to life. After many long, cold, grey and dreary days, Spring is when flowers begin blooming, the world is bursting with color and becoming green after its winter slumber. We even change our time and “spring forward” so we have more daylight to enjoy the world as it comes back to life. The power and effect of the spring season has influenced cultures for thousands of years and every major religion has a major holiday in the spring season. From Passover to Easter, every culture celebrates the arrival of spring and the spirit of renewal and new life that spring represents

There are several spring holidays that are great occasions for sending flowers. Starting with Easter on April 4th, Administrative Professionals Day on April 21st and culminating with Mother’s Day on May 9th. No other gift can express the joy and colors of spring than a gift of flowers. We look forward to making a beautiful spring bouquet filled with yellow lilies, pink tulips, blue iris, white snapdragons and lavender roses to set on your table in celebration of the arrival of spring. We’ll be glad to create a unique design just for you. Give us a call or stop by to see us and we’ll take great care of all your floral needs

Home Ecology of Flowers Study

2010-03-04T08:24:00.006-05:00

Harvard: Living with Flowers Strengthens Feelings of Compassion, and Decreases Anxiety and Worry

With people’s desire for tranquility and stress relief stronger than ever, fresh research takes an insightful look at flowers and the important role they may play in our daily lives. A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.

“Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them,” Etcoff says. “What we didn’t know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.”

The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at Harvard uncovered three main findings

1. Flowers feed compassion.

Study participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week felt
an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.

2. Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues at home.

Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around
flowers at home for just a few days.

Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining
rooms and living rooms, where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported
wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning.

3. Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm
at work

Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at
work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and
have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home
living environments.

“As a psychologist, I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,” Etcoff says. “Our results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well being.”

Source: SAF Society of American Florists

Winter Blues? Flowers Bring a Burst of Spring into your Home

2010-02-18T08:30:00.006-05:00

Don't let cool weather get you down: Brighten your day with fresh flowers. A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh flowers are present in the home

“Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them,” Etcoff says. “What we didn’t know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings

Rebecca Cole is the author of “Flower Power” and co-host of Discovery Channel's “Surprise by Design.” “The Harvard research is proof that if we live in places that lift our spirits, we can live happier, healthier lives,” Cole says. “Fresh flowers are the perfect everyday accessory for any budget – they add color, fragrance and style – and now we know they even increase energy and compassion.”

Study participants reported the greatest mood-boosting effects when fresh flowers were placed in common areas of the home such as the kitchen, dining room and family room. Cole’s ideas for incorporating flowers into these areas include:
Place bud vases in high traffic home areas – with even just a few flowers. Any decorative glass from the kitchen will do!

The kitchen table might be the best place for flowers, because it’s where people gather together. Stop by a florist where you’ll find a wide selection of flowers from which to choose.

For an easy, elegant table decoration, set a series of crystal vases on a fabric runner. Place fresh flowers in each of the vases and surround them with greenery.

For more flower decorating tips, visit www.aboutflowers.com/home-decorating-with-flowers-a-plants.html

Source: SAF Society of American Florists

FTD's New Luxury Line Arrives At Steve's Just In Time For Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T12:07:00.009-05:00

Want to say more than just "Happy Valentine's Day"? Then check out FTD's New "Luxury Line" Collection at Steve's . For those who want to make her/him say WOW!!!!! FTD's New Luxury Line Collection at Steve's consists of a beautiful selection of floral artistry featuring lavish flower varieties in artfully crafted designer vases. Designed to take gift giving to the next level, these designs represent the ultimate in gifts for Valentine's Day, or any occasion. Each arrangement has its special one-word name such as "Fate","Exquisite","Grandeur", and "Indulgent". All of them displaying an abundance of fresh roses and flowers unlike any other. There are 14 to choose from, and are available year-round. Call us today to order your FTD Luxury Line Item, or visit Steve's site @ www.stevesflowers.com/category/products/ftd-luxury-collection/display. "See the Difference, Steve's the Difference!"

Valentine’s Day 2010 Flower Trends

2010-02-01T17:33:00.013-05:00
TREND: Creating a destination with flowers
For those who, given the economy, may not be able to go away for the night or weekend, florists can play an important role in helping romantics be creative. If you can’t actually go to a desired destination, why not create it at home?

Flowers can take you places and help you relive fond, romantic memories … whether it be reminiscing about a Caribbean honeymoon, creating a relaxing spa retreat feel, or reliving a wine country getaway – flowers can set the stage for a romantic evening.

Tropical flowers, such as Birds of Paradise, anthurium, ginger, or orchids with an accent of fresh fruit and foliages
A simple collection of orchids in a vase
Bells of Ireland and delphinium. The cool greens and blues will conjure up the memories of the beautiful Caribbean.
Recreate a Hawaiian honeymoon complete with long-lasting tropical flowers and a lei to wear. Picture your Valentine wearing a gorgeous orchid lei when it's sub-zero outside.
Ask your florist to add colored sand and seashells in bouquets or vases to really create the mood!

European Vacation

Richly colored flowers in purples, reds and blues
Hand-tied bouquet of all accent flowers and a couple of roses
Textural hand-tied bouquets embellished with decorative beads and wires with colorful wraps
A loose arrangement of garden-style flowers such as tulips, hydrangeas, ranunculus and roses in a clear glass vase or decorative container.
An arrangement that resembles the French countryside: Fresh herbs and wild flowers like heather, daisies, delphinium and miniature roses would be pretty and romantic.
A French Garden of bright-hued blooming plants arranged in a classic wicker basket
European dish garden – mixture of flowering or green plants and fresh flowers.

Spa Weekend

Aromatic flowers like freesia, stock and sweet peas to sooth the senses.
An arrangement of relaxing blues, lavenders and greens with fresh eucalyptus and soft foliage and some select bath products.
Several small blue and green arrangements to place in the bathroom or bedroom.
All white arrangement with sea glass vases or frosted aquamarine accents
A fragrant selection of purple freesia in a clear cylinder with pale pink petals floating in the vase. The soft scent of freesia combined with the soothing color palette will embrace your sweetheart with a sense of calm.
Monobotanic bouquet of blue iris in a clear glass vase with sea glass or shells clustered together in the bottom of the vase
A simple glass vase filled with callas or white Casablanca lilies and cool blue glass gems inside the vase.

Wine Country Getaway
A few beautiful roses or lilies arranged in an empty wine bottle shared on a past date. She’ll love the sentimentality.
Deep reds (roses, carnations and soft greens). Add accents of vines, mosses and a bottle of wine.
Grapevine or wreath around the design on the base or in and around, some fruit and a bottle of wine or a gift certificate to a wine shop.
Grapes, sunflowers, grasses-outdoorsy and lots of yellow/peach/olive greens
Burgundy flowers with fresh grapes and Brie cheese in a large basket
Include a bottle of wine or fresh fruit and grapes with deep wine colored roses
Bold collection of vibrant purple anemones or alstroemeria, green hydrangea, hypericum and red roses. This strong combination of color and texture will evoke the feeling of a stroll in the vineyards.
Rich royal-colored floral bouquet consisting of a mixture of textural materials such as purple tulips, magenta stock, green hydrangea and lavender roses tied with natural raffia. The design may include clusters of grapes.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year begins on February 14, and 2010 is the year of the tiger. Ring in the New Year by sending your valentine:
Orange roses in a red vase
A red vase filled with mokara orchids

Other Exciting Destinations
Conjure up the charm of the South Pacific with a beautifully designed arrangement with an Asian flair.

Orchids and other fragile blooms can remind couples of rainforest getaways.
An assortment of flowers from the garden in a bouquet conjures the feeling of a stroll through a country garden.

Experience a trip to Japan with an Ikebana floral design of several stems of orchids or Fuji Chrysanthemums. Add a Japanese flower arranging kit and book along with some wonderful teas.

Go for the gold with a bouquet of green spider chrysanthemums, green hypericum berries and green aspidistra leaves, just like the bouquets for the Winter Olympics medalists.

Special Moments
Recreate the love you shared on your wedding day by featuring some blooms from her bridal bouquet.

Recreate the magic of the proposal or first date with flowers.

Send a Spring or Summer Sunshine bouquet to say you’re looking forward to spending time in warmer weather together or you’re looking forward to gardening together.

Instead of recreating a memory, why not send a bouquet that evokes the charm of a place you dream of going to some day with your loved one.
Simply Sweet Staycations

Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” said, "There is no place like home.” Staying at home can be the “warm and fuzzy” choice for many. Add some lovely flowers in a favorite vase, sprinkle some rose petals, and lay a single rose on the pillow. Be creative and make staying at home fun.

Make a flower trail throughout your house leading to a bubble bath sprinkled with rose petals.

TREND: Popular Flowers, Colors & Designs
Suggestions from top designers nationwide:

Red roses symbolize passionate love and are the top gift for Valentine’s Day. OTHER POPULAR VALENTINE’S DAY FLOWERS this year will be:

Colored roses other than red are popular. Ask your florist for some unusual varieties that can really make an impression; there are so many fabulous choices that will impress your Valentine with your creativity: orange roses are hotter than hot; peach roses; lavender roses; and pastel roses.
Orchids: dendrobium orchids; cymbidium orchids; and vanda orchids in shades of blue and purple; stems of green cymbidiums evoke an eco-friendly feel
Tulips are a great choice, and there are great colors available
Gerbera daisies in hot pinks and oranges paired with a citrus green foliage
Alstroemeria
Callas or miniature callas
Chrysanthemums
Carnations
Gardenias
Lilies
Hydrangea
Waxflowers

On a TIGHT BUDGET? There are lots of wonderful flower options for consumers on a budget:

Ask your florist for their specials in your price range, and ask about the price of an earlier delivery.
Consider sending a few stems of something wonderful like roses, tulips or lilies. Volume isn't everything. Your florist can make a few stems look romantic and lovely.
Mixed bouquet of brightly-colored flowers
Carnations are a great endearing flower full of texture. The bang for your buck is just great, and the vase life is quite long when cared for properly.
Tulips are a tremendous value flower
A bud vase with six, three or even a single rose
Consider flowers in colors other than red, such as peach, orange, hot pink or chartreuse green
Pompons or chrysanthemums are long lasting. Consider a bunch of green Fuji Mums or a bunch of Kermit Pompons. The chartreuse green is a huge attention getter!
Stargazer lilies or other lilies
Alstroemeria
Gerbera daisies
Blooming plants, such as a red or pink cyclamen, daffodil plant, or a tulip plant
Flowers come in so many beautiful colors. Some POPULAR COLOR TRENDS AND COLOR COMBINATIONS this year include:
We always think of red for Valentine's Day but many other combinations can say “I Love You.” Hot pink and orange for a fresh young look. Purple is fun in either a monochromatic combination or mixed with red, very luscious. Chartreuse and pink is sweet yet crisp. Orange and red is a powerful, masculine combination.
Monobotanical design (all one type of flowers)
Monochromatic design (flowers all in the same color family) Reds, burgundies and browns
Hot pink, purples and browns
Monochromatic reds in various textures
Greens mixed with chocolate browns or stunning pinks
Greens and purples
Complementary colors cause excitement, such as lavender paired with yellow or blues coupled with oranges
Green, lavender and peach form an upscale color combination
Rich purples and lavenders mixed with red.

TREND: Send Flowers to Men
MEN LOVE FLOWERS and plants! For the man in your life, consider sending:
Red Ginger and red anthuriums pair wonderfully together
Bromeliads have a sense of “cool” that is comfortable for any man to receive
A flowering plant, such as red tulips or an azalea
A bright and bold tropical design
Orange or green roses
Ivy Topiary
Herb Topiary for the guy who loves to cook
Pincushion protea in a clear glass container with stones in the bottom — men love this kind of arrangement.
Dish garden
Orchid plant
A large, snack basket filled with his favorite flavor of energy drink, nuts, candies or chips. To top it off, add a bud vase with a single red rose on the outside decoration to add Valentine's Day flair.
Terrariums. The endless possibilities of unusually shaped glass containers also make great gifts for men.
Bright, bold colors (not just red) of any type of flower designed in a more architectural styling.
Any “going green” plant can be created with tremendous textural appeal with upgrades on the container and plant decor.

TREND: Early Delivery

Since Valentine's Day falls on the Sunday of President's Day Weekend this year, you may want to keep in mind these considerations when ordering Valentine's Day flowers:

It’s so much “fun” to get flowers at the office. Every person in the office hopes the flowers are for them! Why not send them the week prior? Everyone will know how much your loved one is LOVED for the whole week!
The experience of receiving flowers at work is exciting. Just because Valentine's Day is on a Sunday doesn't mean that you can't be a hero and have your flowers sent to your Valentine on the job. Just do it on Thursday or Friday before Valentine’s Day with a note such as, “Looking forward to a romantic weekend” or “I couldn't wait to say I Love You.” Also, it’s President’s Day Weekend, which may involve businesses closing early on Friday, therefore Thursday could be a better day to send your Valentine flowers.
Make sure to let your florist know when your Valentine will be at work or at home to receive your flowers.

Source: SAF Society of American Florists

Principle Messenger of Love: The Rose

2010-01-26T08:01:00.006-05:00

Origin & History

Fossil evidence shows that roses have existed since prehistoric times. The first cultivated roses appeared in Asian gardens more than 5,000 years ago. Roses were introduced to Europe during the Roman Empire, where they were mainly used for ornamental purposes. Cleopatra is said to have scattered rose petals before Mark Anthony's feet; Nero released roses from the ceiling during extravagant feasts and banquets.

Sentiment & Symbolism

Roses, it is said, blushed with shame as God expelled Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. According to Roman legend, a number of suitors were keen on marrying a beautiful woman named Rodanthe, but she did not care for any of them. Despite her ambivalence, the suitors continued to woo Rodanthe so zealously that they broke through the doors of her home. Angered by their actions and wanting to teach the suitors a lesson, the goddess Diana turned Rodanthe into a rose, and her suitors into thorns.

The rose is the flower emblem of England. According to English superstition, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose, bad luck will soon follow. The red rose is the badge of the House of Lancaster and the flower of Eros and Cupid. In Wales, the white rose represents innocence and silence, and is thus placed on the grave of a young child. To Native Americans, the white rose symbolizes security and happiness, and is often worn during wedding ceremonies. The white rose is the badge of the House of York and the flower of the Virgin Mary.

Color Messages

Exquisite and radiant, the rose is the principal messenger of love. A single rose denotes perpetual love; two roses of any color taped or wired together signify a commitment or forthcoming marriage.

Single Color Meanings

Red roses of any hue say "I love you"; deep red roses imply unconscious beauty.
White roses signify spiritual love and purity; bridal white means happy love.
Today, yellow roses signify joy and gladness; historically, they meant a decrease of love and infidelity.
Coral roses imply desire; orange say "I am fascinated and enthusiastic."
Lavender roses mean love at first sight
Light pink roses imply grace, gentility and admiration; dark pink roses say "thank you."
In general, pale-colored roses signify friendship.
Combined Color Meanings:
Red and yellow roses mixed together say "Congratulations!"
Yellow and orange roses together imply passionate thoughts.
Red and white roses signify unity.

2010-01-13T09:16:00.005-05:00
HOW TO TELL THE REAL FLORISTS FROM THE WEEDS

Local Indianapolis Florist Offers Shopping Tips for Valentine’s Day, Sunday February 14th.

Before you order a picture... but really get sent a puzzle,

What you see isn't always what you'll get.

Looking for the perfect rose arrangement to send your sweetheart this Valentine's Day? Before you hit the 'buy' button, stop and read the entire product description or you may be in for a surprising disappointment.
Instead of sending an impressive, professionally designed, hand delivered vase of romantic roses that's the envy of the office, you might be buying a cardboard-wrapped grower's bunch delivered in a box - a gift that requires your own special Valentine to clean, condition, recut and arrange it.
When no one's home, these FedEx, UPS and DHL delivered flowers may be left at the door despite February's below-freezing temperatures in most of the US. And, with Valentine’s on a Sunday this year, local florists will be open to service you unlike the large drop shipping companies.

For the freshest presentation of roses this Valentine's Day, trust your local florist to professionally arrange and personally deliver not only roses, but a wide variety of romantic flowers like tulips, orchids and liles to delight that very special someone.
Buy direct from your local florist and save . Why pay on average extra $10 - $25 to a wire service broker or middle man when there are so many great professional florists ready to assist you directly and tell you about their special services and featured holiday designs? They'll be able to tell you about the Real flowers they have in their Real flower shops, not just show you photos of arrangements and then pass your order along to another company with the hope it can be made 'sort-of' like the picture.

For additional information about the benefits of buying direct from your local florist, contact Steve Huth, Steve’s Flowers and Gifts, 317-787-3431, or e-mail Steve at steve.huth@att.net. Order online, by phone or in person but know how to tell the real florists from the weeds.

Source: www.floristdetective.com
Steve’s Flowers and Gifts 3150 E. Thompson Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46227

Rutgers: Flowers Boost Seniors' Well Being

2010-01-11T08:23:00.002-05:00

Everyday, America's aging population - 40 million and rising - faces the challenges of growing older, including depression, memory loss and social withdrawal. As a concerned nation, we are continually exploring new means to ease daily-life anxieties. Recently, researchers at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, released the results of a six-month behavioral study on the health effects of flowers on senior citizens. The study demonstrates that flowers ease depression, inspire social networking and refresh memory as we age.

"The results are significant because as our nation grows older and life becomes more stressful, we look for easy and natural ways to enhance our lives - and the lives of our aging parents," said Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, professor of psychology and director of the Human Development Lab at Rutgers. "Now, one simple answer is right under our noses."

This research follows a study conducted in 2000, which links flowers to greater happiness and life satisfaction in women. In 2001, Rutgers set out to explore the effects flowers would have on senior citizens, who experience different living situations and greater life changes.

Prevention in a Bud, Not a Bottle

More than 100 seniors participated in the Rutgers research study, in which some received flowers and others did not. The results shed new light on how nature's support systems help seniors cope with the challenges of aging. The results are as follows:

Flowers Decrease Depression. Study participants showed a significant increase in happiness and positive moods when flowers were present.
Flowers Refresh Recent Memory. Seniors performed higher on everyday memory tasks and experienced enriched personal memories in the presence of flowers.
Flowers Encourage Companionship. Seniors who received flowers re-engaged with members of their communities and enlarged their social contacts to include more neighbors, religious support and even medical personnel.
"Instinct tells us that flowers lift our spirits, but, their effects on seniors are especially profound, if not surprising," said Haviland-Jones.

New Evidence Sprouts Up

Specifically, 81 percent of seniors who participated in the study reported a reduction in depression following the receipt of flowers. Forty percent of seniors reported broadening their social contacts beyond their normal social circle of family and close friends. And, 72 percent of the seniors who received flowers scored very high on memory tests in comparison with seniors who did not receive flowers.

"Happier people live longer, healthier lives and are more open to change," said Haviland-Jones. "Our research shows that a small dose of nature, like flowers, can do a world of wonder for our well-being as we age."

Source: SAF---About Flowers

Engaged over the Holidays?

2010-01-04T10:53:00.003-05:00

Congratulations!!!

Let us help you celebrate one of the most important days of your life. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to prepare to order your wedding day flowers.

Be sure to inquire if your florist has done weddings at your ceremony and/or reception sites before. If so, he or she may have pictures of arrangements done at your site and will be knowledgeable about what sizes, shapes, and colors work in the space. If not, he or she should be willing to scope out the space and familiarize him or herself with any limitations. At the very least, bring along some sort of photo (a press kit or pamphlet) in case she or he has never worked a wedding there before, so that you're starting with an idea of the space.

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to buying red roses. Marrying around Valentine's Day? Expect a significant increase in the price of a single stem.

Trust us: arrangements of cool contrasting colors (think mint green and cherry red) are definitely vivacious. But when picking a palette, make sure the flowers will suit your wedding style and colors. Bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch with you when you meet your floral designer so she has a good starting point.

Consider the season in which you are marrying when deciding on which flowers you want in your arrangements. Marrying in summer or in a humid climate? Go for hardy flowers that won't wilt, such as sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, lilies, and hydrangeas. Avoid gardenias, lily of the valley, tulips, and wildflowers.

Remember: size matters! Be sure your bouquets aren't too heavy or too hard to carry. Trust us: you won't want that burden. And don't choose the bridal and attendants' bouquets without regard to style of dress or body shape. A delicate nosegay will get lost against an elaborate ruffled dress, for example, and a small bride will be overshadowed by a massive cascading arrangement.

Be sure your bouquet isn't too fragrant -- you don't want to be sneezing down the aisle! Some of the most fragrant flowers include freesia, lilies, lilacs, tuberoses, gardenias, and lilies of the valley. Go lightly on these blooms.

Don't assume your florist will have access to your ceremony and reception site early on in the big day. Make necessary arrangements -- get written permission and a key, if need be -- to ensure that everything is coming up roses before you hit the aisle.

Be sure to coordinate the delivery time of your bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres with your photographer's arrival -- you'll want them to be worn or held in formal pictures.

Have your flowers delivered boxed with cellophane and well misted -- that way they'll look fresh through your ceremony and reception. Check out each bouquet and remove any damaged blossoms. And don't leave them in the sun's path -- direct sunlight will speed up the wilting process.

If you're keeping bouquets in vases of water to maintain freshness before the ceremony, don't forget to dry the stems thoroughly before handing them out to the girls. You don't want big water stains on the front of all the dresses moments before they take the aisle.

You don't have to toss the actual bridal bouquet -- many brides have their florists create a smaller tossing bouquet for the traditional ritual. It is an extra fee so be sure to pick a low-maintenance arrangement. There's no need to break your budget on this bouquet.

These days, florists are actually more like event designers. You may be able to get decorations like balloons, streamers, lanterns, and chairs from your florist. Dealing with one vendor rather than four or five may alleviate some stress.

For more information including great budgeting advice and frequently asked questions, visit our website @ www.stevesflowers.com.

Last Minute Shopping: Call, Click or Come By

2009-12-21T08:31:00.001-05:00

As the classic Christmas song says: it’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Christmas tree is trimmed, the gifts are wrapped, The Christmas cards have been mailed and the decorations inside your home are complete. What’s next on your Christmas check list? Checking your gift list to make sure you have all your Christmas shopping done.

It’s an inevitable part of Christmas that we always forget a gift for someone on your list or received a gift from someone unexpected who wasn't on your list. Let us relieve you of the stress associated with having to battle holiday traffic as you make your way to the mall only to find items left over that no one wanted!

Think of Steve's Flowers & Gift's as your last minute holiday shopping specialist. You can choose a wonderful, heartfelt gift and you can have it delivered that same day!!! We can make this year’s gift giving season a snap, with no worries or unnecessary stress while keeping you in the holiday spirit.

Remember the three “C’s”: Call, Click or Come by our shop and we can be your very own personal Santa Claus by having that unexpected gift delivered before it’s too late!

The Origin Of The Most Popular Evergreen: Holly

2009-12-18T08:46:00.003-05:00

The holly is one of the most popular Christmas evergreens. The holly tree was known to medieval monks as the "Holy Tree" because it was believed to keep evil spirits away. It was also believed to protect a home from lightening. The early Romans decorated their hallways with holly garlands during the mid-winter feast of Saturnalia. Holly later became the emblem of eternal life; the pointed leaves of the holly represented the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries symbolized the drops of blood shed. Holly also came to represent the biblical burning bush in which God appeared before Moses.

Sentiment & Symbolism

Holly should be introduced to the house before Christmas Eve and removed on the Twelfth Night. In the language of flowers it is the symbol of domestic happiness.

Hard to Imagine Christmas Without Flowers

2009-12-14T08:11:00.004-05:00

It’s hard to imagine Christmas without flowers isn’t it? All around the world, flowers are a significant part of Christmas decorations. Mistletoe, poinsettias and the Christmas cactus are just a few of the flowers that are part of the tradition of Christmas

Poinsettias, also known as The Christmas Flower, have become as much a symbol of Christmas as Christmas trees and mistletoe. The poinsettia comes from Mexico and gets it name from the first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. After finding the beautiful plant on the side of the road, he introduced the plant to the United States in 1828 when he began cultivating the plant in his greenhouses in South Carolina, The plant was called Euphorbia Pulcherrima but as it began to gain popularity William Prescott was asked to re-name the plant. He chose to name it after Joel Roberts Poinsett who discovered the plant. The poinsettia is the number one selling potted plant in North America. In the six week period before Christmas, poinsettia sales will top $250 million. Not bad for a plant found on the side of the road..

The widespread belief that poinsettias are poisonous is a misconception. The safety of poinsettias in the home is demonstrated in scientific studies conducted by Ohio State University in cooperation with the Society of American Florists. The study concluded that no toxicity was evident at experimental ingestion levels far exceeding those likely to occur in a home environment.

Even though poinsettias can be found at almost any store you walk into, from hardware stores to grocery stores, the best place to purchase poinsettias is from a local professional florist. Our professional staff knows how to handle poinsettias properly and also can customize your plant purchase. We will help you pick out the perfect poinsettia instead of you having to choose one from a bunch of pots that have been neglected, sitting by the store’s checkout in hopes of a quick last minute purchase. We also have a network of florists available which gives us the ability to send a poinsettia gift or any other floral gift to anywhere around the world. Please call or come by our shop and we will assist you in with all your Christmas floral needs. Thank you for your business and support and happy holidays from our family to yours.

The Christmas Centerpiece

2009-12-07T17:53:00.007-05:00

The Christmas season is about celebrating life and all the joy it brings with your friends and family. What better way is there to celebrate the season than with a traditional Christmas dinner? Every year families gather around the table to partake in delicious morsels while enjoying each others company. While a lot of the focus is on the delectable turkey or grandma's famous pecan pie, there is another tradition that stands out in one's mind -- the Christmas centerpiece as the central focus of the table.
The reason why a Christmas centerpiece stands out in everybody's mind is because it is the anchor of the table; it is a beautiful reminder of the Christmas spirit and everything the season represents. The traditional Christmas centerpiece was most similar to today's advent wreath, which is often decorated with holly, poinsettias, pine cones and candles. Many will also add other familiar Christmas decorations, such as bows or Christmas tree ornaments. The Christmas table centerpiece is as old of a tradition as Christmas dinner itself, and people often wonder what exactly the components of the Christmas centerpiece represents.

A pine or balsam bough or any evergreen branch is wrapped into a circular wreath, which in itself represents many things. The green color symbolizes hope and new life, while the circular shape alludes to everlasting joy. Traditional Christmas wreath centerpieces were decorated with four candles, which marked the beginning and end of the Christmas season, otherwise known as the four weeks of Advent. The first candle would be lit on the Sunday closest to November 30th, and another one would be lit every Sunday until the last candle was lit on Christmas Eve. The candles not only represented weeks, however, but also hope, joy, love and peace.

Christians adopted decorating with holly from the Druids, who believed that the prickly green plant and its little red berries stood for fertility and eternal life. While the Druids believed that cutting down a holly tree was bad luck, Christians believed that decorating with holly brought good luck to the home. Nowadays people often refer to the red berries as symbols of Christ's blood and the pointed leaves represent the crown of the thorns that was placed on Jesus' head. The pine cones used to decorate wreaths are meant to symbolize the seeds of faith sown by Christ, and poinsettias represent genuine love.

No matter what you believe, decorating the table with a Christmas centerpiece is always a fun tradition to take part in. A beautiful centerpiece is bound to be the focal point of any table, and is something you can enjoy year after year. A Christmas centerpiece is a reminder to love, to be joyous and not to fight over the dinner rolls!

Lynn Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company. Acadia Wreath Company, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, which handcrafts a fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreath, Christmas Centerpiece and Kissing Ball which are shipped directly to customers and corporate clients throughout the United States.

Flowers Express Feelings What Words Cannot

2009-11-23T08:05:00.005-05:00
The time honored tradition of Thanksgiving is upon us. Family and friends will be coming together to show gratitude and give thanks while partaking in a holiday feast fit for a king. Thanksgiving is the most travelled holiday of the season as most of America will take planes, trains and automobiles to gather together with their loved ones around the country. Unfortunately there are times when we are unable to be with our families on this special day but we still want to be there in spirit and be a part of the festivities. The perfect solution is flowers!

It’s often been said that 'flowers express feelings what words can’t' and sending a Thanksgiving arrangement can convey your gratitude and your thanks, and let family and friends know that you are thinking of them during this special time. A beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece will add the natural beauty of flowers which will compliment the Thanksgiving meal. The floral arrangement will be a constant reminder to all family and friends as they gather around the table that while you may not be there in body, you are there in spirit!

And after the pumpkin pie is gone, the leftovers have been put away, and loved ones have said their goodbyes and begun their journeys home, your Thanksgiving flowers will still be there brightening the room and giving joy for days to come. Call Steve's Flowers & Gift's today or check out our website at www.StevesFlowers.com to order your Thanksgiving flowers and allow us to create a unique design that will embody your Thanksgiving spirit and express your gratitude and love to your family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday.

Flowers Set the Table for a Festive Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-16T08:11:00.003-05:00
The plates are placed, the silverware is shining, the glasses are gleaming but the table isn’t set without a beautiful Thanksgiving flower arrangement highlighting the festivities. The Thanksgiving holiday provides us with 4 of our favorite F’s: Family, Food, Friends, and Football. But, there is a fifth 'F': Flowers, which are just as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey.

Flowers are associated closely with holidays; think of the poinsettia at Christmas or the lily at Easter. Thanksgiving is not associated with one particular flower but celebrates nature’s bounty with the imagery of the cornucopia filled with pumpkins, squash and other assorted gourds. A Fresh flower centerpiece adds the 'nature' aspect to the ambiance at the harvest table. The vivid palette of colors that emerge during Fall are ideal for a fresh flower centerpiece that will accentuate your holiday décor and celebrate the climax of Fall season.

The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 as the colonists, along with the Wampanoag Indians, celebrated the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony. But Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln, looking for a way to unite our nation during the Civil War, gave his Thanksgiving proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving.
As you make plans to gather together with family and friends to give thanks this holiday, remember to call Steve's Flowers & Gift's and order your Thanksgiving centerpiece. And there is no need to limit your purchase to only a centerpiece. Flower arrangements in other areas of the home besides the dining room add a welcoming touch that guests will certainly appreciate on Thanksgiving or any other day of the year.
See all our cornucopia and other fall arrangements on our website:
www.StevesFlowers.com
"See the Difference, Steve's the Difference"

Attention Brides-to-be!!

2009-11-13T10:14:00.005-05:00
Here's some budding news for brides-to-be: You may think outside the bunch. That's right - it's OK to go beyond traditional whites to wedding flowers in vogue colors and designs. Trade the conventional for contrast. Try a different bouquet for each bridesmaid, and individual flair for each boutonniere. Centerpieces from modern to Zen are in. The top floral trends bring ambience and romance to your wedding. And no one brings it together like Steve's Flowers and Gifts. We are expert advisers in color and flowers, and will create a complete look that's all yours. With Steve's Flowers and Gifts, you'll step down the aisle in style!!
See more reviews of Steve's Flowers and Gifts on Project Wedding.

See more reviews of Steve's Flowers and Gifts on Project Wedding.

The Holiday Season Begins

2009-11-06T09:17:00.014-05:00
The Holidays are in full bloom at Steve's Flowers and Gifts. We just fully completed the holiday decorations, and are ready to enjoy another festive season. We have some unusual holiday ornaments, decorative wreaths, garlands, candle holders, and gift items. Everything you need to add that perfect holiday decor to your home. Not in the Holida mood? Get in the mood at Steve's. Stop in to see the featured holiday floral bouquets for 2009. Treat yourself to some of this years neat items from the traditional Thomas Kincade Lighted Sleigh Ride to the Gingerbread Mixing Bowl. Many exciting items to send to all of your loved ones worldwide. The "Holiday Cheer" Bouquet, a "present"-shaped container with flowers and candy canes, or send more of an elegant arrangement with the "Holiday Elegance" Centerpiece. Whatever the reason, stop in to Steve's to celebrate the season. "See the Difference, Steve's the Difference".

The 350 Project on CNN October 31st and November 1st

2009-10-31T09:02:00.005-04:00

CNN to air piece about The 3/50 Project
by Cinda Baxter on October 30, 2009 ·

Finally, after a week of keeping this under my hat, I can go public—The 3/50 Project is going to be on CNN!

They’re doing a series called Turnaround about small businesses finding creative ways to survive the economy. This weekend’s two minute segment includes the Project (and a snippet of Yours Truly), which is a massive boost for all of us.

Better yet, the piece will air several times on both CNN and HLN (times shown are eastern; don’t forget that Daylight Savings end on Sunday!):

On CNN:
Saturday between 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern and again 4:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern
Sunday between 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern

On HLN (formerly known as Headline News):
Saturday between 9:30-10:00 a.m. Easter and again 1:30-2:oo p.m. Eastern
Sunday between 10:30-11:00 a.m. Eastern and 3:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern

It will also be streamed on CNN.com. Sweet.

Am headed to post this on Facebook and Twitter next….then to the top of the house to start singing as loud as I can.

Oh yeah. That saying “God works in mysterious ways?” It’s nothing short of a heaven sent blessing that the hacker did his thing yesterday instead of tomorrow. The loads of new security and spiffy code that resulted have us ship shape for the big stage.

Thanks to every single one of you who breathe life into the Project, from coast to coast and back again. You guys are what make this stuff possible…..heroes, all.

"Home Line" gets New Look

2009-10-27T09:39:00.015-04:00
Steve's New Home Line Collection gets a New Look. This line consists of a vase full one type of flower, previously accented with River Rock and a decorative bow, now accented with fun and colorful "Jelly Marbles". Jelly Marbles are a water-based, jelly-like material that when kept moist, can last for up to a year. These marbles add eye-catching color to the vase, and enhances the beauty of the flowers. Varieties offered range from Peruvian Lilies, Daisies, Iris, and Asiatic Lilies.

Steve Huth, owner of Steve's Flowers and Gifts, understands that during these tough times, flowers may be cut out of customer's budgets. He also understands that with these tough times, people tend to need something that can create happiness and personal fulfillment. Flowers help strengthen our senses, and invigorate our bodies. That is why Steve's Flowers has created this Home Collection with people's budgets in mind. All of Steve's Home Collection Bouquets are only $19.95. They are produced economically to keep the customer's cost down. These are in-store purchases only.

Stop into Steve's and check out our New Look Home Collection. Take one home, and experience the effect flowers can have on your life. We would love to hear your feedback. Blog us and let us know your experience.

Did You Know???

2009-10-06T13:20:00.003-04:00

Did you know that the best flower arrangement value, quality and service on the web comes from dealing directly with a real local florist that will actually create and deliver your order? Did you know that FTD.com, Teleflora.com, and 1800flowers.com are internet order gatherers that sell products underpriced in order to gain your business, then send it to a local florist at 30% less? With the customer in mind, florists struggle to fulfill these orders to value, leaving the customer unhappy and cheated, a losing situation for us all. Informed shoppers know that 'cutting out the middle man' and ordering direct from a local real florist saves them time and money and allows them to get a more accurate idea of what will be delivered. Steve's Flowers and Gifts is dedicated to being your Local Indianapolis Florist. For more information on deceptive florists, visit www.floristdetective.com

Colts Party Packs are Back!!!!

2009-09-28T10:14:00.014-04:00
It's Game Time!!!! Steve's Flowers and Gifts has brought back their "Colts Party Packs" for the 2009 season. There are four sizes to choose from. The "Colts Party Pack" includes all of your favorite candy, popcorn, and drinks packed in a Colts Popcorn Tin. You can't miss a game without it. The "Colts Super Party Pack" includes all of your favorite candy, popcorn, peanuts, and drinks, packed in a Colts Metal Pail. Enough for the whole family. The "Colts Ultimate Party Pack" includes all of the above for you and your friends at the office. And the "Extreme" version of our Party Pack Line, the "Extreme Colts Party Helmet" is a Snack Helmet Tray that is packed to the rim with tons of game time snacks. These Snack Helmets are more than just a bowl. You can use it for "Chips and Dip", as an Ice Bucket, Cookie Jar, and many other game time snack items for your Colts Party. Order yours online at www.stevesflowers.com. Go Colts!!!!!

Steve's Random Acts of Kindness Kicks off Sept. 9th-11th

2009-09-04T09:50:00.011-04:00

Steve's Flowers is excited to announce that Parishioners of St. Jude Church and Our Lady of Greenwood Church have been chosen to participate in Steve's Random Acts of Kindness taking place September 9th--11th. Parishioners who stop into either one of Steve's locations on these dates will get 6 FREE Roses!! In return, we ask that each individual keep one for themself, and spread smiles, joy, and happiness by passing out the others to friends, co-workers, neighbors, or complete strangers. Steve's purpose is to take the wonderful feeling of receiving flowers, and spread it throughout the community. Not only will you feel good, but you will make others feel good too.

Bring more peace, love, and compassion into the world by participating in Steve's Random Acts of Kindness.

Brand Name Crystal Arrives At Steve's Flowers

2009-08-20T09:18:00.004-04:00

Steve's Flowers and Gifts has teamed up with Macryl Crystal to provide Central Indiana Customers with the finest crystal products in the world. Macryl Crystal designs, manufactures, and markets Crystal around the world with highly skilled artisans from some of the finest crystal factories in Europe. Their collections include traditional mouth-blown handcrafted full lead crystal, and exquisite clear full lead crystal with color accents in casual, modern designs of the highest European quality. Macryl Crystal can be used everyday for Flower Decor, Art Decor, Barware, Tableware, as a Perfume Bottle, and can still last for generations. Steve's is excited to provide customers with such exquisite and superior crystal products. Stop in to both Steve's locations, and check out the new line of Macryl Crystal.

Steve's Introduces New Music and Poem Boxes from Cottage Garden

2009-08-18T12:30:00.005-04:00

Steve's Flowers presents a new line of Music and Poem Boxes from Cottage Garden. Cottage Garden's music boxes were voted the best music boxes in the industry for two years straight in Giftbeat Magazine. These elegant music boxes open to display a glass enclosure that allows customers to see the musical movement as it plays. They all are made with Sankyo brand movements, the highest quality available. So you will always hear clear consistent melodies. Jewelry inserts finished in black velvet are also available. The artwork on the front can easily be replaced with pictures to personalize your music box. Steve's is also carrying the exciting new heart-shaped box with art on the front and inside too. These music boxes play Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, That's What Friends Are For, You Light Up My Life, or How Great Thou Art. The perfect gift to send in remembrance of a loved one, a jewelry box for Mom, or as a keepsake box for yourself. Call Steve's today to ask what others are doing with the new Music and Poem Boxes from Cottage Garden.

Got Roses? Get Some! at Steve's "Halfway to Valentine's Day" Sale

2009-07-31T11:28:00.010-04:00
August 14th is Halfway to Valentine's Day, and there is no better time to surprise your loved one than when it is least expected. The week of August 10th through August 15th, Steve's Flowers is celebrating "Halfway to Valentine's Day" with 50-percent off our Eufloria Dozen Long Stem Premium Roses vased for only $39.95. These California Roses are the "Prettiest Roses on the Planet" and perform like no other. Why wait until February? "Get Some", and show them your love with Roses in August and save!

Steve's New Online Wedding Album

2009-07-16T15:45:00.016-04:00

Congratulations!
Do you need help celebrating one of the most important days of your life? Check out Steve's new Online Wedding Album updated weekly. This Album displays our most recent weddings and events that our creative and talented staff put together. Get ideas, see what others have done, and find out what colors are popular. Copy and past this link into your web browser to visit.

http://picasaweb.google.com/StevesFlowers/SteveSWeddingDesigns

No matter what the size of your wedding, we offer exceptional service to help you in selecting the flowers you will need on your special day. We will work within your budget and strive to assist you in all your wedding needs. We look forward to meeting with you and your fiancé! Don't forget to schedule your consultation today!

317-787-3431 or e-mail us @ stevesflowerinfo@ftdimail.com

2009-07-10T11:33:00.003-04:00

What "3" independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Try stopping into those businesses and say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

Did you know that if half of the employed population spent "$50" each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue? Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.

Did you know that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures? If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays in Indy. Spend it online and nothing stays here.

The 3/50 project is a buy-local movement to help save the "brick and mortar" businesses that this nation was built on. If you visit www.the350project.net, you can rally 'round the campaign by signing up. The site is filled with talking points to help retailers tell the buy-local story. Awareness is the main driving point for the campaign. Making people aware that when you buy from local businesses, you are supporting the person who sits next to you at church, the parent you see at your kid's soccer games, and the people who keep your community vibrant by paying taxes, employing people and spending their advertising dollars locally.

I welcome you to visit the site, learn more about it, and go to its resource page to download the free flier to hand out to your customers. Together we can begin our own campaign, and bring awareness to our local Indianapolis community

Thank you,

Steve Huth

Steve's Flowers and Gifts

Steve's Flowers Introduces New Rose Grower

2009-06-29T13:32:00.008-04:00

Steve's Flowers and Gifts has created a partnership with Eufloria Flowers to provide superior Rose quality, consistency, and performance for Central Indiana floral customers. Many floral experts agree, Eufloria Roses are the "Prettiest Roses on the Planet". They perform like no others. Since there is so little time between cutting in the greenhouse, and arrival at your door, you will find they react differently than other roses to which you may be accustomed. And the best part, they are "American Grown". Located in Nipomo, California, Eufloria Flowers is not about growing mass quantities or generic roses; it's about the art and experimentation of optimum growing. With a rich family heritage, a well-entrenched European affiliation, and a care-giving, knowledgeable staff, Eufloria Flowers aspires to cultivate the finest roses available throughout North America.
Consistently among the most beautiful roses in the world, Eufloria Roses have been enjoyed by millions of people over recent years at the Kentucky Derby, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, prestigious political inaugurations, celebrity special events, various television documentaries, movies, and several of John Henry's special edition collections. Eufloria Flowers takes great pride in being requested by name for both world renowned events and everyday special occasions. Steve Huth, Steve's Flowers and Gifts, is pleased to be working with Eufloria. "As a florist with high standards, it is important to have partners that you can count on to deliver consistent quality" Huth says. "Consistency is very difficult in the floral industry, which makes this relationship work."

Steve's Flowers Introduces New "Flowers For The Home Collection"

2009-03-01T15:17:00.026-05:00

Harvard University study introduced small bouquets of flowers into people’s morning routines and discovered that respondents immediately perked up, much like they would with a morning vitamin. Flowers fuel our soul and create inspiring spaces. When used throughout the home, flowers can create positive shifts in emotions and lead to truly inspired living. Steve's Flowers and Gifts introduces its new line of floral bouquets intended to energize and inspire your living. Steve's New Home Collection offers an economical way to add the beauty and fragrance of fresh flowers to your office, kitchen, bathroom, or den.

Accent any room in your Home with Steve's New Home Collection. This new line consists of a vase full one type of flower accented with River Rock and a decorative bow. Varieties offered range from Peruvian Lilies, Daisies, Iris, and Asiatic Lilies.

Steve Huth, owner of Steve's Flowers and Gifts, understands that during these tough times, flowers may be cut out of customer's budgets. He also understands that with these tough times, people tend to need something that can create happiness and personal fulfillment. Flowers help strengthen our senses, and invigorate our bodies. That is why Steve's Flowers has created this Home Collection with people's budgets in mind. All of Steve's Home Collection Bouquets are only $19.95. They are produced economically to keep the customer's cost down. These are in-store purchases only.

Stop into Steve's and check out our New Home Collection. Take one home, and experience the effect flowers can have on your life. We would love to hear your feedback. Blog us and let us know your experience.

2008-12-12T09:15:00.001-05:00
Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin F:
Nature’s Remedy for Emotional Energy

Personal Fulfillment Expert Reveals
Flowers Fuel the Soul and Create Inspiring Spaces

From A to E, vitamins are responsible for strengthening our senses, bolstering our bones and invigorating our bodies from the inside out. Research proves that flowers, being dubbed by some as Vitamin F, help feed our need for serenity, inspiration, wellness, gratitude, love and optimism.

Mind and matter are interconnected, according to personal fulfillment expert and best-selling author Jayme Barrett, as she points to university research studies linking flowers with happiness, creativity, compassion and tranquility. Barrett’s interiors expertise coupled with the floral investigations demonstrate that flowers hold an intrinsic, natural energy that, when used throughout the home, can create positive shifts in emotions, and lead to truly inspired living.

See Jayme Barrett explain the floral energies in the QuickTime Video below. You can download and install QuickTime for free by clicking here:

Click to Play
“People and flowers both have a life force that needs oxygen to thrive, and light and water to live. And, when we are surrounded by nature, our emotions are calmed and harmonized,” says Barrett, who has applied the principles of Zen and feng shui to floral design. Her philosophy is that we can cultivate idyllic atmospheres by purposefully integrating flowers throughout our living space.

In fact, research from America’s leading universities has cemented the connection that flowers have both scientific and emotional powers. As early as 2000, Rutgers University found that flowers create instant delight and happiness, and increase enjoyment and life satisfaction. Most recently, a Harvard University study introduced small bouquets of flowers into people’s morning routines and discovered that respondents immediately perked up, much like they would with a morning vitamin.

Wellness
“We need and deserve simple ways of creating homes where we feel happy and harmonious by disconnecting from the hectic pace of the world outside,” says Barrett. “Flowers are a wonderful way to ease the stress of everyday life and refocus our emotions more constructively.”

So that anyone can introduce a range of positive floral energies in the home, Barrett shares a simple, do-it-yourself guide to creating Vitamin F arrangements. Her seven soul-stimulating energies include gratitude, wellness, inspiration and motivation, love and romance, new beginnings, serenity, and prosperity. Her floral formula factors in color combination, shape and significance, vase style, placement in the home and flower variety.

Barrett’s Blueprints for Mood-Boosting Vitamin F

Gratitude: Reminds us to be grateful for the little blessings in life

Gratitude
Key Colors: A low, clustered arrangement in all shades of pink symbolizes opening the heart and making others more receptive to you.

Vase Style: A glass container of any size is fitting, as its transparency exhibits openness.

In the Home: To start and end the day counting your blessings, place this depiction of gratitude on a nightstand, dresser or in the kitchen.

Suggested Flower Options: Ranunculus, alstroemeria, tulips, spray roses

Wellness: Evokes balanced feelings of mind, body and spirit

Key Color: Yellow is the primary color for this emotional energy, as it represents the sun, life force and health. Supplement a big burst of blooms with greens, which induce nature’s healing energy, and white, which reflects serenity.

Vase Style: Choose an oval or round, terra-cotta, wood or bamboo container to replicate the Earth’s element, providing grounding and balance.

In the Home: Locate this energy in the living room or family room to enhance the space of relaxation, meditation and family connection.

Suggested Flower Options: Gerbera, carnations, solidago, hydrangea (white or green), callas, pompons, chrysanthemums

Inspiration and Motivation
Inspiration and Motivation: Infuses the soul with rejuvenating energy

Key Color: Red epitomizes motivation, fame, courage and power. Design an up-shooting spray that also includes sensuous, rich orange and fuchsia, which suggest enthusiasm and exuberance.

Vase Style: A tall mirrored or shiny metal container of any kind will stoke inspiration. Mirrors boost positive energies and bring good luck, which will circulate through all endeavors.

In the Home: The home office is an ideal place to inject motivational energy — or the power of now. Anyone will feel encouraged to reach for the stars and live life to the fullest.

Suggested Flower Options: Roses, callas, Asiatic lilies, snapdragons, hypericum

Love and Romance: Sparks intimate connections and blossoming love

Key Color: A tight bunch of flowers flush with burgundy and red embodies feelings of passion and romance. Incorporating lush pinks and peaches will help invite love and inspire kindness.

Vase Style: A circular vase is the perfect shape for never-ending love.

In the Home: Spark feelings of adoration during a meal in the kitchen or dining room. As you nourish your body, you will be dually energized by love and encouraged to show your affection throughout the day and night. Flowers are a great addition to the bedroom too.

Suggested Flower Options: Stock, roses, alstroemeria

New Beginnings: Welcomes change with open arms and mind

Key Color: Stimulate joy, enthusiasm and excitement with a simple arrangement featuring the color orange. Complement it with white — the color of purity and freshness — and green, characterizing new opportunity and growth.

Vase Style: A square, ceramic vase brings an earthy energy, proclaiming that while the sky’s the limit, it’s good to keep your feet firmly rooted on the ground.

In the Home: Put the spirit of new horizons on display on a mantle or coffee table, where it will instill faith, creativity and endless possibility.

Suggested Flower Options: Gerbera, carnations, Asiatic lilies, spray roses, alstroemeria

Serenity: Allows our minds to unwind and release tension, bringing a sense of calm to our lives

Key Color: Loosely arranged hues of blue, violet and lavender evoke serenity and will help clear the mind of stress. Blue represents the ocean and sky, while shades of purple invoke spiritual energy.

Vase Style: A cobalt blue glass vase represents inner wisdom and will help add balance. The blue is yin (soft, curving, cyclical) and the glass is yang (straight, shiny, linear) for a perfect equilibrium.

In the Home: Setting this in the entryway will set the tone for tranquility as you step inside your home from the chaotic world outside.

Suggested Flower Options: Hydrangea, delphinium, lisianthus, stock

Prosperity: Stimulates action and indicates success and richness

Key Color: Let red or deep purple dominate this abundant arrangement, intimating accomplishment and wealth. Accent with shades of gold, the preeminent color for good health and fortune.

Vase Style: Select a metallic, perhaps golden container, representing a pot of gold.

In the Home: Give your home a boost by placing this inspirational bouquet where you welcome guests or potential buyers.

Suggested Flower Options: Lilies, roses, lisianthus, snapdragons

“We all strive to surround ourselves with positive energy, and nature is a powerful and proven tonic,” says Barrett. “Anyone can let Vitamin F fortify their home, whether it’s a refuge, haven, retreat or sanctuary.”

###

Editor's Note: High-resolution professional photography is available. Contact Jenny Stromann at (800) 336-4743; jstromann@safnow.org.

About Jayme Barrett: Jayme Barrett, the leading authority on inspired living and best-selling author, empowers individuals to design their lives for increased balance, energy and motivation. Barrett specializes in techniques for personal fulfillment, prosperity and integrated health. She has appeared on numerous national television shows and been featured in print publications. Barrett is also a recurring speaker and workshop presenter at Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. studios, and for numerous corporations, retreat centers, resorts and nonprofit organizations around the world.

Can Petal Power Perk Up Your Morning? A Harvard Study Says Yes.

2008-08-27T08:53:00.000-04:00
CONTACT: (Steve Huth, Steve's Flowers and Gifts 317-787-3431)

Top Floral Designer Offers Quick, Simple “How-To’s”
on Fashioning Flowers for Positive Moods in the Morning

Indianapolis, Indiana – Recent research confirms that flowers might be the perfect pick-me-up for millions of Americans who do not consider themselves “morning people.” Participants of a behavioral study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that they feel least positive in the early hours but reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning.

“The morning blahs, it turns out, is a real phenomenon, with positive moods – happiness, friendliness and warmth, for example – manifesting much later in the day,” says lead researcher Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. “Interestingly, when we placed a small bouquet of flowers into their morning routines, people perked up.”

Dr. Etcoff is referencing the fact that participants in the study responded to the flowers, which had been placed in rooms they frequented in the morning. Overall, the participants reported they liked to look at the blooms first thing in the morning, particularly in the kitchen. The final study results demonstrate that flowers impact people emotionally at home, causing them to feel less anxious and more compassionate. They even reported a boost of energy that lasted through their day.

“What I find interesting is that by starting the day in a more positive mood, you are likely to transfer those happier feelings to others – it’s what is called mood contagion,” says Etcoff. “And, the kitchen is the place where families tend to gather in the morning – imagine how big a difference a better morning mood can make.”

New York City floral and garden designer Rebecca Cole, host of Discovery Channel’s Surprise by Design, is not surprised by these findings. “I grew up with a kitchen often decorated with flowers,” says Cole. “My family knew instinctively that flowers brought joy to the people who came in contact with them – and now there is scientific proof.”

Cole shares her floral design experience with others, showing them how to use flowers to capture emotion and encourage community in their kitchens.

“There are so many places for flowers in the kitchen – the room where we spend most of our waking time,” says Cole. “From the breakfast nook to the table to the countertop, flowers just belong. It’s even the most convenient room to change the water!”

Cole suggests the following tips for experimenting with color to trying new, dramatic styles to the creative use of containers.

Cut flower stems short and place flowers in interesting or everyday kitchen containers such as tea tins, jelly jars, salt and peppershakers or even pretty wine glasses. Pick something to match your personal style.
To make a big “wow” statement, choose lots of one type of flower. Take off the leaves below the waterline and place them in a big jug, teapot, coffee tin or water pitcher for a burst of cheer. Select surprising color combinations to make a bold statement.
For example, try red and purple stems in grouped vases. Or, use monochromatic flowers, from one color family, to create a simple, pleasing effect.
Choose citrus-colored flowers for a sunny feeling. Place a bud vase holding a few stems of yellow and orange blooms inside a bowl filled with oranges. Or, place a narrow vase of flowers inside a wider, but equally tall, vase. Fill the larger vase with lemons or limes to surround the smaller vase for a fresh look.
Play off of accent colors in your kitchen to bring a splash of color with flowers. Look around and match flowers to decorative wall plates, placemats or curtains to pull out key accent colors.
Line three bud vases or decorative bottles, low or tall, along the middle of your kitchen table or along your sink for a fun, dramatic effect. It’s also a great conversation starter when guests drop by.
Inspire neatness. Place flowers where kitchen clutter typically congregates to prevent future messes from settling there.
What could be simpler than bringing home a few blooms to brighten your kitchen table and your mood?” says Cole. “Experiment, design and smile.”

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Editor’s Note: High-resolution professional photography is available at www.aboutflowers.com/media.

The Home Ecology of Flowers Research Methodology (2006)

Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital and her research team investigated the effects of flowers in the home environment on well being. Fifty-four people, ages 25-60, were studied using a series of self-report measures allowing the research team to know where the person was, with whom and what they were doing when they experienced an emotion, both when flowers were and were not present. Half of the participants received a "control" home d�cor item, other than flowers, to ensure study validity. After living with either flowers or the control intervention for approximately one week, participants rated their feelings during specific periods of the day, recording emotions during each episode. The research team also took photographs before and after flowers were delivered to determine any changes in use or appearance of the room.

About Dr. Nancy Etcoff

Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., is a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard University Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative and a practicing psychologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry where she is the Director of the Program in Aesthetics and Well Being. At Harvard, she currently teaches a course entitled "The Science of Happiness."

About Rebecca Cole

Rebecca began her design business 12 years ago and is the author of three books, Potted Gardens, which won the Quill and Trowel Award, Paradise Found: Gardening in Unlikely Spaces and Flower Power. According to Oprah, Rebecca Cole is "one of the country's top designers." E! says she's "a designer with boundless energy and limitless imagination," and the New York Post coined her "Garden Goddess." Rebecca has hosted Discovery Channel's Surprise by Design since its inception in 2002. She contributed to the Today show for six years running, and has appeared on scores of television and radio shows including, Oprah, The View, CNN and BBC World News. Her career, business and home have been profiled in over 300 national and international publications as diverse as Architectural Digest, Forbes, Budget Living, Martha Stewart Living, Us Magazine, Hanajikan Japan, Metropolitan Home, Woman's Day, Travel and Leisure, Air France, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, The New Yorker and Greek Maison.

New SAF PR Campaign Promotes the Power of Giving Flowers

2008-07-26T08:54:00.004-04:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - May 16, 2008 - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Yahoo! News are among the media reporting that people who give flowers are viewed as successful, caring and emotionally intelligent.

"Both men and women who give flowers are perceived as happy, achieving, strong, capable and courageous people," reported Yahoo! News on April 29 about new university research findings. "Men and women come across as more emotionally intelligent; they give the impression they can effectively express their feelings and take time to understand the feelings of others."

Jay Leno used the same research as fodder in his comedic monologue on May 1. "According to a survey by Rutgers University, women who give flowers are more appreciative of beauty and nature," Leno said and then joked, "They also found, in general, men who give flowers are really, really sorry they got caught cheating, and they will never do it again."

Both reports on Yahoo! News and The Tonight Show are an immediate result of a strategic public relations campaign launched by the Society of American Florists (SAF) in late April. During the Power of Giving Flowers campaign launch, SAF distributed broadcast packages to national and local television outlets nationwide and is reaching hundreds of daily and weekly newspapers, national magazines and Web sites via a press kit and targeted follow-up. An audio news release distributed on May 7 to radio stations coast to coast tied in with Mother's Day gifting to garner more good news about flowers just prior to the holiday.

The Power of Giving Flowers campaign highlights Rutgers University research, commissioned by SAF and the American Floral Endowment, that shows people who give flowers make the best impression compared to other gifts studied.

The SAF press information features quotes from lead researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., as well as floral gift-giving advice from inspirational author and executive coach MJ Ryan, who helped create the "Random Acts of Kindness" series and wrote books on gratitude and giving.

Consumers and the media can turn to aboutflowers.com for additional information about the Power of Giving.

SAF members can capitalize on The Power of Giving Flowers campaign to build visibility for their shops locally by using the materials posted at safnow.org/kit2008.

The Power of Giving Flowers PR campaign is a direct result of the SAF Fund for Nationwide Public Relations, an industry-wide voluntary promotion effort. For information, visit safnow.org/prfund or call (800) 336-4743.

The Society of American Florists is the association for all segments of the floral industry including wholesalers, growers and retailers. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services for more than 12,000 participants in the U.S. floral industry.

Contact: Jenny Stroman
jstromann@safnow.org
(800) 336-4743

Science Reveals the True Power of Flowers

2008-04-18T10:34:00.001-04:00
Emotional Impact of Flowers Study

Science Reveals the True Power of Flowers

In the floral industry, we understand the positive impact flowers have on people. To demonstrate this scientifically, SAF partnered with world-renowned researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on a groundbreaking study to examine the effect of flowers on human emotion and well being.

The research provides scientific proof that flowers increase happiness and life satisfaction, and lead to increased contact with family and friends.

Specifically, the 2000 SAF-sponsored research reveals:

Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. Study participants expressed "true" or "excited" smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.

Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.

Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

Flowers are a symbol for sharing. The study explored where in their homes people display flowers. Once received, arrangements were placed in areas of the home that are open to visitors - such as foyers, living rooms and dining rooms - suggesting that flowers make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.

"The symbolic significance and the universal impact of flowers remains its outstanding feature," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "In my work, I rarely find anything that contributes to such significant mood changes as the floral arrangements did."

Background

Researcher Bio
Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., the lead researcher on the study, is a professor of psychology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Dr. Haviland-Jones is a psychologist and authority in the role of emotional development in human behavior and nonverbal emotional signals and response.

Methodology
The study involved 147 women from cities and suburbs recruited by newspaper and word-of-mouth. In age they ranged from younger, middle and senior categories, with a wide range of educational backgrounds, careers, and marital statuses. Most were of European-American descent. For purposes of research on psychological variables they were representative of adult women. To be eligible a woman had to respond to psychological questions, be available at home to accept gifts and have the possibility to share the gift with others.

Receiving a gift was considered payment for taking part in the study. Focus groups were convened to evaluate the equality of gifts used in the study.

Two widely used psychological measures of well-managed intelligent emotional life were used, along with a modified medical interview scale. In addition, a "symptoms of well being" questionnaire was developed.

Observers trained to distinguish among various types of smiles delivered one of three gifts to the study participants, each gift type equated roughly on desirability and price. The women did not know in advance which gift they would get. The gift was either flowers, a gourmet fruit basket or pillar candle. The observers noted the type of smile each gift elicited. Immediate and later psychological measures were taken.

Learn More
A complete analysis of the Emotional Impact of Flowers Study is available for purchase. Visit the SAF Market or contact SAF Member Services at (800) 336–4743.

Promoting the Great News to Consumers

SAF is promoting the results of the Emotional Impact of Flowers Study to the public through a strategic consumer marketing program. Designed to generate valuable print and broadcast coverage of flowers, SAF's campaign featured Dr. Haviland-Jones as the national spokesperson in television interviews and in a nationally distributed press kit.

The campaign launched in Fall 2000 with Dr. Haviland-Jones conducting TV interviews in more than 15 cities coast to coast. In these interviews, broadcast via satellite from the HBO Studios in New York City, Dr. Haviland-Jones told viewers: "For the first time, we have scientific evidence that flowers improve emotional health. Not only do flowers have an immediate powerful impact when delivered, but people's happiness and enjoyment lasts for days." Flowers were provided for the sets of the local stations to be displayed during the interviews, and viewers were referred to SAF's consumer Web site, www.aboutflowers.com, for more information. Video footage was also released via satellite to TV newsrooms nationwide to provide stations with the material to create their own stories.

In addition, SAF distributed a press kit to 2,300 members of the print media. Stories have run in the Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Daily News and several other newspapers. The story continues to be pitched to national news shows and publications. Reports have appeared in popular national magazines including Ladies' Home Journal, Allure, First for Women, Redbook, Mode, Working Mother, Fitness, Shape, Fit, Parents and Today's Black Woman.

For Immediate Release

2008-03-29T10:34:00.000-04:00
Steve’s Flowers and Gifts
317-787-3431
stevesflowerinfo@ftdimail.com

STEVE’S FLOWERS AND GIFTS TO KICK OFF INDIANAPOLIS SEARCH
TO FIND AMERICA’S FAVORITE MOM

Local Florist Encourage Community to Nominate Mom
For NBC Mother’s Day Television Special

Indianapolis-March 28th 2008 Steve’s Flowers and Gifts announced today that it will join thousands of Teleflora member florists in a nationwide search for “America’s Favorite Mom.” To drive nominations for this national competition, Steve’s Flowers and Gifts is running in-store promotions, advertising in their Mother’s Day mailer, and distributing nomination sheets throughout the Indianapolis area. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day, Teleflora created a new reality television series and partnered with NBC to find “America’s Favorite Mom.” Teleflora and NBC are looking for inspirational mothers from all walks of life in five categories: single moms, working moms, stay-at-home moms, unconventional moms and military moms who may be serving overseas or holding down the home front for those who are serving our country.

Now through April 30, Steve’s Flowers and Gifts is proud to represent Indianapolis residents, and encourage everyone to visit AmericasFavoriteMom.com to nominate their mothers for this prestigious award. As part of the interactive experience, residents also can vote for their favorite mom and win exclusive online prizes.

The top 15 nominees from the five categories will appear on NBC’s highly-rated “Today” show and viewers will have the chance to vote for their favorite mom at the end of each show. The winning mom from each category will be featured on “Teleflora Presents America’s Favorite Mom,” a grand finale, NBC television special airing on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008. The show will include guest appearances from a number of celebrity moms as well as the stories of famous mothers who have made history.

As an extension to the America’s Favorite Mom search, an exclusive Teleflora “America’s Favorite Mom” bouquet has been designed for Mother’s Day. As with all of Teleflora’s bouquets, this unique bouquet will be hand-arranged and hand-delivered by a local Teleflora florist so moms everywhere can feel like “America’s Favorite Mom” on their special day.

For more information,
Please visit: www.AmericasFavoriteMom.com
Or stop by:
Steve’s Flowers and Gifts
3150 E. Thompson Rd. Indianapolis IN 46227
317-787-3431

America's Favorite Mom

2008-03-29T10:32:00.000-04:00
To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Mother’s Day this year, Steve’s Flowers and Gifts is seeking outstanding moms in Indianapolis for “Teleflora Presents America’s Favorite Mom,” a once-in-a-lifetime chance to appear on a NBC “Today” show reality series and a primetime Mother’s Day television special.

Teleflora wants to honor the superhero in every mom with a nationwide search to find “America’s Favorite Mom” in Indianapolis. Steve’s Flowers and Gifts invites local residents to nominate their own moms for a chance to appear on the NBC “Today” show and a primetime special airing on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008.

From now through the end of April, Indianapolis residents can visit www.AmericasFavoriteMom.com to tell the world why they love their favorite mom and why she deserves this prestigious title. On the web site, you also can check out amazing moms who have already been nominated in your own community.

To help find “America’s Favorite Mom,” Teleflora and its network of 20,000 florists are even competing in nationwide challenges to collect nominations. Steve’s Flowers and Gift’s in-store promotions, Mother’s Day mailer, and nomination sheets distributed throughout the Indianapolis area, are just a few of the promotional activities they are administering to represent Indianapolis in this national event.

Attached is a press release with further information on this exciting program. Please contact me if you are interested in this story, and together with Teleflora’s public relations representatives, we can coordinate interviews with Steve’s Flowers and Gifts and regional “America’s Favorite Mom” nominees featured on the web site.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Steve Huth
Steve’s Flowers and Gifts
3150 E. Thompson Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46227
317-787-3431
stevesflowerinfo@ftdimail.com

Vote For "America's Favorite Mom" this Mother's Day at Steve's Flowers and Gifts

2008-03-25T11:42:00.000-04:00

2008 is the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day. What better time to honor Mothers across America? Steve's Flowers and Gifts has joined Teleflora in presenting this event in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas. America's Favorite Mom is an unprecedented multimedia event that gives you the opportunity to tell the world how much your Mom - or any Mom you love -means to you.
Steve's Flowers and Gifts and Teleflora are encouraging children and adults to nominate special Moms of all ages and from all walks of life who go above and beyond the call of duty. Moms who make a difference in the lives of their families, communities and the world. When you nominate your mom, at www.americasfavoritemom.com/florist, to be America's Favorite Mom, she automatically becomes eligible to win cash and prizes galore!
You can increase her chances by being as personal and creative as possible when you tell us about her. Make her come alive to her audience and here's what she can win in this unprecedented Mother's Day contest.
Up to $25,000 in online contests.
In honor of this exciting centennial celebration of Mother's Day, Teleflora has created the America's Favorite Mom Bouquet available at Steve's Flowers and Gifts. This enchanting floral gift features pink roses, Asiatic lilies and alstroemeria in a stunning pink ceramic vase. Included is a golden commemorative heart that says "America's Favorite Mom." Moms everywhere will fall in love with this gorgeous bouquet. Your Mom will love it, too

Spring Has Sprung at Steve's Flowers and Gifts with Their New Line of Premium Orchid Plants

2008-03-22T11:27:00.000-04:00

This spring, stop in to see Steve's Flowers and Gift's new line of Premium Orchid Plants. Unbelievable colors and varieties that you can't find anywhere else. Great for your coffee table or bathroom vanity, these long lasting plants add elegance to any room throughout the house. Know someone at work who needs some cheering up? These orchids are just the right size for an office desk or counter. These amazing plants come in many varieties such as Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, and Dendrobium. But, the most amazing thing about these plants are their price. Most orchids grown with this quality start at $60.00 and up. At Steve's, these orchids start at only $34.95. So if you are looking for something different and unique to start the Spring Season, stop on in to your local Indianapolis florist Steve's Flowers and Gifts and check out these Premium Orchid Plants.