Spring flowers

It's lovely seeing the seasons change. The first of the spring flowers are beginning to bloom and we're seeing some splashes of colour in the garden. Despite being mid-winter, there are many gorgeous, native early bloomers we can choose from when it comes to creating arrangements: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi, muscari, and crocus to name a few

We recently did an article for Body Confidential about spring flowers and gave step by step instructions on how to make some simple arrangements. Check out the full article here

Here's a sneaky peek at the designs you will be shown how to make. ...

Valentine's flower care guide

Help is at hand with the Flowers & Plants Association’s quick guide to perfect flower loving… with not a drop of gin in sight.

1:  If your flowers have been delivered in a ‘bubble’ of water (what the trade call an aqua pack) take them out as soon as possible. We know the packaging looks fab but a bubble is really only for delivery purposes. It’s fine to leave them in the wrapping for up to 12 hours but after that you should transfer them to a vase. A tip is to hold the bouquet over a sink and slice the wrapping at the bottom so the water pours out. If you tilt the bouquet like a jug you may get spillage.

2:  If it’s a hand tied bouquet you should keep the string around the stems in place so the bouquet holds its shape. If you want to make a couple of vases from your gift, snip the string carefully and arrange as required but always make sure that any part of the stem that will sit in the water is leaf free as they contaminate the water and decrease flower life.

3:  Mix the flower food that comes with most delivered flowers with the right amount of water… the mix is important to make sure the flowers get the right amount of nutrients. If there wasn’t any flower food, then only use plain water… it’s an old wives’ tale that aspirin, lemonade or gin will help, and a modern mens’ tale that Viagra is the solution. They all have a purpose… just not with flowers!

4:  Cut about 2 - 5cm of stem off the bottom at a short, slanted 45° angle using a sharp knife or scissors. We could get all technical about xylem vessels, micro-organisms and vascular take-up but basically the wider the cut, the better the water take up. Avoid blunting the stems as this causes a whole lot of damage and stops water absorption which will lead to premature wilt. It’s a bit like smashing your finger with a hammer or having a paper cut… both hurt like heck but the paper cut heals more quickly.

5:  Enjoy… with the right care and the right flower food your roses should last at least a week… other flowers even longer!

See what a difference flower food makes, watch the flower and plant association video at http://www.flowersandplants.org.uk/flowers/valentines-care-tips-video.html

Article courtesy of Flowers and plants association


 

Valentine's opening hours

Friday 10th Feb 9.00am-5.30pm

Saturday 11th Feb 9.00am-5.30pm

Sunday 12th Feb 10.00am-4.00pm

Monday 13th Feb 8.00am-6.00pm

Tuesday 14th Feb 8.00am-6.00pm

Don't forget that our website is open 24 hours a day to place your order for delivery or to collect from the shop.

On Valentine's Day we will personally be delivering all over the North West, but you can also place an order for gorgeous flowers direct from The Flower LoungeThe Flower Lounge to be delivered anywhere in the country!  The cut off time for valentine's Day national deliveries is 1pm Monday 13th Feb.

Festive Opening Hours

Over the festive period we are extending our opening hours

Wednesday 14th December 9am-5.30pm

Thursday 15th December 9am-5.30pm

Friday 16th December 9am-5.30pm

Saturday 17th December 9am-5.30pm

Sunday 18th December 10am-4pm

Monday 19th December 8am-5.30pm

Tuesday 20th December 8am-5.30pm

Wednesday 21st December 8am-5.30pm

Thursday 22nd December 8am-6.30pm

Friday 23rd December 8am-6.30pm

Saturday 24th December 8am-4pm

Christmas day CLOSED

Boxing day CLOSED

Tuesday 27th December 10am-4pm

Wednesday 28th December 10am-4pm

Thursday 29th December 10am-4pm

Friday 30th December 10am-4pm

Saturday 31st December 10-4pm

New years day CLOSED

Monday 2nd January CLOSED

Open as usual from Tuesday 3rd Jan 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat

if you would like to arrange a delivery of plants or flowers please contact the shop on 0161 446 2556 and don't forget that our flowers can be delivered nationwide.

Last date for nationwide deliveries is 22nd December

We wish all of our customers a very merry Christmas and a happy New year

The Flower Lounge National Delivery Service

The Flower Lounge can now deliver our bouquets nationwide.

The flowers will be arranged by our shop to our usual high standard, will lovingly packaged and travel overnight to your chosen destination in Britain.

All deliveries placed by 2pm will be delivered the next working day (except Saturday and Sunday).

        

We've had great feedback from our customers that have already used the service.

'Flowers arrived in Cambridge and look fantastic. Cheers'

'Amazing flowers as always that you delivered to London for me yesterday. So good to know the flowers will be to your usual high standards'

To order visit our website or call 0161 446 2556



Christmas table centre classes by The Flower Lounge

On Thursday 8th December 2011 you're in for a special treat as we'll be presenting Christmas table centre classes at Airy Fairy Cake Boutique just down the road on School lane, Didsbury.

The evening will start at 6.30pm with a cake (it would be rude not to as we're in a cake shop!) and a cup of tea or coffee. I will demonstrate a few christmassy designs to get you in a flowery festive mood and then we'll commence on creating your floral masterpiece! We'll give you full guidance throughout the evening so don't panic if you're a complete beginner!

We provide everything you'll need on the night including refreshments, scissors, a lovely vase for your arrangement and of course your gorgeous flowers.

The evening will cost £40.00 including all materials and you'll get to take your creation home at the end of the night to admire and show off.

To book call the shop on 0161 446 2556 or email sian@didsburyflowerlounge.co.uk

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment

Naomi and Stephen's wedding at Eaves Hall Clitheroe. Gorgeous white and green wedding flowers with a twist

A couple of months ago we were very lucky to do the flowers for Naomi and Stephen. They were a lovely couple to work with and had some lovely ideas. Naomi used her graphic designer background to do mood boards of flowers that she liked and photos of ideas that she'd seen.

It was our job to turn their ideas in to reality....we think we did a pretty good job of that.

For Naomi's bouquet we used a mixture of flowers including 'Norma Jean' roses which are gorgeous white roses with the most gorgeous scent. We also used flowering dill, dahlias, eupatorium, hydrangea, brunia, bouvardia and lots of other gorgeous textured flowers.

Stephen wanted a pale lemon rose for sentimental reasons for the buttonholes. We used rosemary on these to compliment the bouquets.

 We have shoe envy with Naomi's sky high nude prada shoes....gorgeous!

Eaves Hall in Clitheroe is set in stunning gardens which Naomi and Stephen took advantage of with lawn games and had lots of fun (hopefully not in those shoes Naomi!!).

The table centres complimented the look of the bouquets with lots of textures, shades of greens and whites and also scent.

Big congratulations to Naomi and Stephen on their gorgeous wedding. We wish them all the best in their future together.

A big thank you to the very lovely Shelly at Toast photography for letting us use her images on our blog

The wedding also featured on Boho Events Blog where we got a very lovely shout out by Naomi....

"Sian at the flower lounge really went out of her way to find the most amazing flowers, they were exactly what we’d asked for… even down to the yellow rose Stephen wore to match his Grandmas"

It was a pleasure to work on such a lovely wedding with a fantastic couple.