Autumn Weddings

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What is a wedding without flowers? Flowers are an important part of every wedding.
Although one can get married with no flowers, it just doesn’t have the same traditional and romantic feel of a wedding with beautiful wedding flowers.

More flowers are used on a single wedding day than any other day of the year. And as
everyone knows, more marriages take place in the spring through fall months of the year.


As we move through the month of September, it is a great time to think about the fabulous fall shades available. I love designing fall weddings. The first being, fall roses are by far the best performers and come in a spectrum of vibrant shades, oranges, burgundy, browns, golden yellows and burnt reds. Secondly, I adore using items like pumpkins, gourds, twigs and berries incorporated into our wedding bouquets. These extra textures really make incredible designs.

Deep purple or wine toned dresses are very popular this year and they can provide a really fabulous fall palette, one that is rich and dramatic.

Just convey to us what your wedding theme or colors are and we will walk you through your flower selection help you chose flowers that will look terrific and keep you within your designated budget.



For your convenience, we have provided a couple of links on our website click here with pictures of some wedding designs and another click here illustrating wedding packages priced moderately to extravagant. I believe even a simple wedding through flowers can express the elegance and happiness of this special occasion.

With our wedding bouquet ideas and unique designs, you can choose the perfect flowers for your special day. Every bride has her own special style and taste, no two brides, no two weddings or floral arrangements are the same.



Remember, you can trust La Rosa’s Flowers to do everything within our power to make sure your wedding flowers look just as elegant as the bride.

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosas's Flowers
O'Fallon - Belleville, Illinois
Call, Click, or Visit today
Creating beautiful weddings since 1962
www.larosasflowers.com

Falling For Sunflowers

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The sunny yellow blooms of the sunflower plants are some of the most cheerful
types of annual flowers you can grow and have become a favorite end of summer
garden flower.

No flower can lift your spirit quite like a sunflower can. Bright & cheery with brilliant yellow petals that surround the flower’s center, sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a preferred flower choice of many.

It’s of little surprise the beautiful flower that turns it’s head to follow the sun originated
in North America and was a common crop among American Indians where for centuries they were cultivated as a valuable food source. Evidence suggests the plant was cultivated by Indians in present day Arizona and New Mexico about 3000 B.C. Some archaeologists even suggest that sunflowers may have been domesticated before corn.



However, the sunflower was not only a food source to Native Americans, they were used to create a dye of a purple color which was used then to enhance clothing, paint bodies and decorate objects. Other parts of the plant were used to make medicine for snake bites and ointments. The seed oil was used to lubricate skin and hair. As ancient societies could not afford to waste anything the stalks were dried and then used as building material.

With the European exploration of the New World, the sunflower was brought to new areas, and the flower’s popularity eventually spread as people around the world began to appreciate its beauty and sustenance. Commercialization of the sunflower first took place in Russia in the late 19th Century and finally made it’s way back to the US

The sunflower resemblance to the sun has also influenced their meanings and is often associated with feelings of happiness and warmth. It’s little wonder people love decorating with sunflowers to bring positive energy and spread good vibes into homes or area where they are placed.

We are fortunate, here at La Rosa’s Flowers, that we are able to carry sunflowers most of the year, thanks to our dedicated growers worldwide, who cut and ship these blooms to us within 24 hrs.

So remember, even as the last blooms fades from your garden, you can still enjoy basking in the sunflower’s warming glow throughout most of the winter season.

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosa's Flowers
O'Fallon - Belleville, Illinois
Call, Click or Visit Today
1.800.944.7441
http://larosasflowers.com

Sweet Treats

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Well, you asked for it! And of course we listen to you.

Take a few minutes to browse our website and visit our new expanded line of candy bouquets and snack baskets and see how sweet our candy bouquet gifts can be.



Our distinctive candy bouquets are uniquely memorable, tasty, and make fantastic gifts for any celebration, or can simply be given to brighten someone’s day!



All bouquets are hand crafted with great care and are visually appealing and sure to bring a smile to the recipients face. The best part is that they taste delicious too!



For a unique, one of a kind gift that will make a lasting impression, pick a candy bouquet to send your sweet regards and tell someone you care.

Visit us online at www.larosasflowers.com/candybouquets.aspx or call us at 618.632.7441 or 800.944.7441. We’ll be happy to help you with your selection.

May all your days be filled with sweet surprises!!

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosa's Flowers
O'fallon - Belleville Illinois
Call, Click or Visit today
http://www.larosasflowers.com/

Colors of the Season

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Fall is such a great time of year. Be sure to stop in the store sometime and you’ll find we are changing colors in anticipation of the coming season. Don’t you just love the vivid hues of autumn.


Decorative front door wreaths for autumn are a fun way to reflect your style and draw attention to your front door as you welcome your friends and neighbors. Fall wreaths can make an unassuming porch stand out or add to the beauty of a well decorated porch or entrance.

Choosing the right wreath is important. All door wreaths regardless of the type will fade when exposed to direct sunlight. Dried, preserved and silk wreaths will do well when they are placed on a covered porch and may even last two to three years. But be careful ,some preserved wreaths , especially eucalyptus, use a preservative and coloring in the flora and occasionally , when exposed to high humidity or direct sunlight may leak the preservative. It is best to test the wreath by placing it somewhere outside for a couple of days to make sure this doesn’t happen. Silk wreaths are in my opinion the most durable of all if your door is exposed directly to the elements.

Adding a door wreath to your home or office, brightens up the entire area with a splash of color. We offer wreaths which are good quality , competitive in price, and come in a variety of shapes, style and colors to fit your decorative style. And remember wreaths look great on interior doors also.

Here at LaRosa’s Flowers we are constantly adding new silk arrangements and wreaths to our collection. And of course we would be happy to design something special for you if you don’t see it in the store. Your ideas bring out the artist in us.


LaRosa’s Flowers is a full service family florist serving all of O’Fallon, Fairview Heights, Swansea, Belleville, Lebanon and Scott Air Force Base, IL from our modern 7000sq foot, centrally located Florist. We carry a large selection of fresh cut flowers (imported daily from around the world) , green plants, and silk floral. 632.7441 - 234.7441 - 1.800.944.7441. Established in 1962

Life is good, flowers make it better.

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosa's FLowers
O'fallon - Belleville, Illinois
Call, Click or Vist today

www.larosasflowers.com
"the flower people since 1962"

Back to School

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August is here and as summer winds down and fall approaches, parents and kids everywhere prepare for back to school time.

The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.
Robert Maynard Hutchins

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows .-Sydney J. Harris

My favorite website of the week www.familyfun.go.com has great back to school ideas and fun craft projects to get the kids excited. Plus, parents you’ll find handy tips and reminders to help make the transition to the new school year a little bit easier.

Starting a new school year is important at any age. Let’s celebrate the start of a new year by showing students and teachers our support with back to school theme floral arrangements.



Surprising your college bound geniuses with a decorative plant or food basket can make a dorm room feel like home. What could be better than receiving a flower delivery with an encouraging message from Mom and Dad the first week or two away from home.




I think most of us are looking forward to fall this year a little more than usual.. Autumn is a beautiful time of year bringing in cool crisp weather as well as breathtaking beautiful colors.



Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower . - Albert Camus

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosa's Flowers
O'fallon - Belleville Illinois
"the flower people since 1962"
Call, Click or Visit
1.800.944.7441
www.larosasflowers.com

Summer is in full swing...

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Summer is in full swing and the gardens are in full bloom.

There is nothing better than to come home from work and head straight out into the garden. Just being outdoors, however small your flower garden, is the perfect antidote to the stresses of a busy day. My favorite times spent in the garden are the early morning and evening hours. It’s amazing how quiet and peaceful it can be outdoors during these times, before the heat of the day starts or as the day cools with the setting sun.

Whether you have a small patio or wide open spaces. Do you feel good about your garden/patio area?

There are ways of instantly making your garden a more inviting space. The humble bench has a place in many yards and is one of my preferred fixtures for combining practicality with being a colorful ornamental garden feature. Accented with your favorite plantings or flowers can makes it both functional and inviting.

Entertaining is especially fun in the summer months. One of the nicest features of any home is having a comfortable patio. It is one of the most popular places people go when you are throwing a party or having an informal barbecue. It is a great spot to just sit , relax, and enjoy the sweet smell of aromas coming from the barbecue pit or grill.

Great food always makes outdoor dining a celebration. For some great new grilling recipes visit www.grillinfools.com It is really a “well done” website featuring foods I never thought of grilling. I find the step by step photos very helpful.


As part of the fun let your table setting reflect your style, whether it’s a special theme for the evening or just a casual get together.

Flowers and candles become a perfect combination creating the perfect ambience for your dining experience.

For a more party atmosphere that is also inexpensive, buy a bag of a hundred tea lights and place them in clear or colored plastic cups along walls, in flower beds and edge your patio or deck. The cups will make them glow and stop them blowing out in a breeze. Another idea, Mason jars with wire wrapped around the rim of the jar and shaped into a hook with a candle inside for illumination will look stunning hanging from tree branches framing your patio.

Of course, you need some flowers on your table to complete the festive occasion . And you can use any left over Mason jars as flower vases. They will look quaint on your table and showcase your unique style.
Finally, when company comes, remember all grand entrances are made through the front door. A beautifully decorated front door and porch are like a huge welcome sign.

At LaRosa’s Flowers we respect nature gifts and strive to enhance your appreciation for the abundance of flowers she provides by offering the freshest, highest quality flowers and creative floral designs.

Here‘s hoping you‘ll find yourself on the receiving end of many compliments this season as your enjoy your patio and garden..

As always, wishing you peace + and love.


LaRosa's Flowers
O'fallon - Belleville Il.
1.800.944.7441
The Flower people since 1962
www.larosasflowers.com

Garden Thoughts

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The kiss of the sun for pardon,
 The song of the birds for mirth,
 One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
-Dorothy Frances Gurney








In today’s fast pace world of bits and bytes remember to take the time to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking beauty and fragrances of the flowers in full bloom.


For my garden this year I choose more flowering plants which would attract both butterflies and hummingbirds: lantana, butterfly bushes, azaleas, hibiscus, bee balm, bougainvillea and petunias. It is a great way to observe these colorful creatures.

Coming up all too quickly is the month of August. A few tidbits to remember, Gladiolus is the designated flower of the month. This flower is associated with many meanings, for instance, they are said to symbolizes strength of character and also indicate calm, integrity and infatuation. As gifts, these flowers are given to represent remembrance and are sometimes presented to those who have lost a dear friend or family member. Since this flower is commonly referred to as the sword lily, on a lighter note, they are also meant to express the idea of someone’s heart being “pierced” with love. Thus, the fresh cut gladiolus are gaining popularity in arrangements used for romantic occasions and anniversaries.


In the garden the gladioli grow from corms which is a bulb like root. In our cold winter climate the corms need to be removed from the ground in the fall and replanted in the spring for late spring and summer blooms.


Gladiolus look better if planted in groups of six or more and very stylish if you plant the groupings in the same color.

Some of the taller varieties may require staking as the flower heads are affected by winds and the weight of the flower.

They grow well in ordinary garden soil and need only average water and sunshine with good drainage a must.

Another tidbit to remember, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in August and Sisters Day on August 5th.


The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships
-Abraham Lincoln

Friends and family are the most important ingredients in this recipe of life.
-Unknown

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends.
-Persian proverb



For these two holidays, I am reminded of the power of flowers. Giving someone a few blossoms is a simple gesture, inexpensive and unexpected but with a such a lovely and heartwarming result.

Our flower shop has some great specials this month and you’ll find our trademark “Grab’N Go Bouquets” a wonderful way to make someone’s day.

For more information just give us a call 1.800.944.7441 or visit our web site at
http://www.larosasflowers.com/

As always, wishing you peace + and love.

LaRosa's Flowers
O'Fallon - Belleville, Illinois
The flower people since 1962