Author: cascade

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How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement in 7 Steps

Having fresh flowers in the home is a wonderful treat and adds joy to our everyday lives. If you are a DIY person and want to create a beautiful floral arrangement with some fresh cut stems you just picked up, then the experts at Cascade Flowers can help. Below are the top design tips you need to make your own gorgeous arrangement of fresh flowers.  

Bulk Wholesale Summer Flowers Combo

1. Color Contrast

Before selecting the flowers you want to use, think about the color palette of your design. Do you want a monochromatic color scheme or something with a variety of colors? Whichever you decide, you will still some contrasting colors for depth and balance. If you are going monochromatic, choose flowers in various shades of your color. Also, select in-season blooms as they will be cheaper, and don’t forget to pick up a variety of greenery for texture and color.

2. Select Your Container

The size of your arrangement is based on the size of the container. Whether tall or short, your design should be around 1 1/2 times taller than its vessel. 

3. Determine Shape

Think about whether you want your arrangement to symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical designs are equal in shape on both sides of a center part. This style is used in formal and traditional arrangements. Asymmetrical designs are unequal on either side. This style is seen in more modern and trendy arrangements. 

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

4. Include Statement Flowers

A statement flower is a necessary component of arrangements. This flower is a large, striking, and showy bloom such are dahlias, peonies, protea, or garden roses. Any bloom that commands attention will do.

5. Incorporate a Variety of Textures

Add interest to your arrangement by mingling together flowers that have different textures. For example, ruffled and frilly versus smooth, shiny versus matte, structured and hard versus soft. 

Beautiful Flower Arrangement with Succulent

6. Think About Movement

The movement of your eye, that it. Your arrangement should have a visual flow where the eye travels from one side to the other, up and down. Create movement by disbursing similar colors, textures, and shapes throughout your arrangement instead of bunching them together.

7. Start with Greenery 

When starting to arrange your flowers, create a base of greenery first, such as fern frogs, ivy, or eucalyptus. Place the stems in the vase and create a shape that resembles an inverted triangle. This will ensure your arrangement will have both a vertical and horizontal presence. Next, add your statement blooms followed by filler flowers. Finish off your piece by adding floaters – delicate smaller blooms that grow in clusters such as baby’s breath, yarrow, and sedum. Lightly mist your bouquet with some water and voila! Your masterpiece is complete. 

To maintain your arrangement, be sure to change the water every day, remove any foliage that dips below the waterline, use flower food, and trim the stems at a 45-degree angle every few days. The more arrangements you create, the better you will get as well as discover your own design techniques and style preferences. Creating beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers for your home is a great hobby to have! For any of your floral needs, Cascade Flowers is here to help.  

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7 Flower Arranging Mistakes to Avoid

peach violet and pink assorted flowers in vase

Arranging your own florals of fresh-cut stems from the florist, or from your garden, is a great way to decorate your home or make an event go from ordinary to extraordinary. Unless you are a retired floral designer, though, you may need a few helpful tips on how to create a beautiful arrangement sure to stun and please. Here at Cascade Flower Shop, we’ve got a few tips for you to follow and mistakes to avoid when designing your floral bouquet. 

Flower Vase

  1. Using too many different types of flowers. We get it – there are so many beautiful flowers! It’s hard to choose just a few to work with. But try to focus on those few blooms which really speak to you. When choosing lush, showstoppers like roses, dahlias, and peonies, be sure to combine these bigger blooms with a few additional varieties that will complement them. 
  2. Using too many different colors. Who doesn’t love bright colors? Yellows, oranges, reds, blues, purples…. they are all wonderful! But, if you’re trying to create a pleasing and cohesive arrangement, stick with shades that complement rather than compete with each other. Successful floral arrangements have some sort of transition bringing colors, shapes, and textures together. Keep your bouquet interesting by incorporating shades of one color as well as a variety of blooms with different shapes and textures. 
  3. Not cutting the stems at an angle. Cutting stems at a 45-degree angle allows for the maximum amount of area in which they can drink up water. Do this before you place them in a vase of water as well as every few days to avoid the growth of bacteria.  
  4. Perfect Symmetry. For a more natural and wild vibe, create an asymmetrical design instead of a perfectly symmetrical one. Place seasonal branches, foliage, and sprigs at different angles to create an interesting and eye-catching asymmetrical arrangement. 
  5. Loosely arranged blooms. Having “clusters” of blooms in your arrangement makes it more interesting. For some, the magic number is three. Having elements pulled together in clusters of three naturally draws your eye to it. Creating clusters at the edge of your vase creates an extra wow factor.
  6. Forgetting to remove the leaves. Any leaves or foliage that fall below the water line of the vase need to be removed. Otherwise, they will cause bacterial growth that can damage the blooms. 
  7. Not changing the water. Don’t make it and then forget it. Your gorgeous arrangement of blooms needs regular care to stay vibrant, fresh-looking, and beautiful. Change the water in the vase every other day and nourish them with a little flower food to keep them happy. 

Vase on desk

Follow the above tips for designing a floral masterpiece sure to stun and impress your friends and family. And, for a great selection of fresh, high-quality blooms, be sure to check out Cascade’s catalog of flowers to get you started on creating your very own beautiful arrangement. 

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8 Pro Tips for Keeping Your Cut Flowers Looking Great for Longer

You’ve just brought home (or received) a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers, and suddenly realize how much they brighten your mood, your home, and any room in which you place them. They are lovely, fragrant, and exquisite so, naturally, you want to enjoy them for as long as possible. To keep your beautiful blooms bright and lively for as long as possible, follow these guidelines below. 

Flower Vase

8 Pro Tips for Keeping Your Vase of Flowers Looking Fabulous for Longer

1. Choose your blooms wisely

Some flowers are sturdier than others and will last longer once cut. Examples include lilies, ranunculus, and orchids. Also, quality is key – drug-store and grocery-store flowers have had a longer travel distance time and will not be as fresh as stems purchased from a local florist as those stems travel the shortest distance from when they were first cut. 

2. Cut the stems at an angle every few days

Cutting a flower’s stem at around a 45-degree angle increases its surface area which allows it to soak up more water. Cut up to a full inch every few days to prevent bacterial growth and rotting. 

3. Fill the vase with luke-warm water

There’s no need to use filtered water as tap water is perfectly fine. Using warm water instead of cold helps the flower stems more easily absorb the water. 

4. Remove any leaves that fall below the water line

Make sure your vase is about three-quarters full of water. Any leaves submerged in the water should be removed to prevent the growth of bacteria and to keep the vase looking clean. Also, remove any wilting blooms to keep the arrangement looking healthy.

5. Add Flower Food

The packet of flower preservatives that usually comes with your bouquet helps to keep your flowers hydrated and prevents bacterial growth. Be sure to follow the packet instructions carefully to extend the life of your flowers. 

6. Change the water in the vase every couple of days

Keeping the water fresh keeps bacteria at bay. Thoroughly clean the vase and re-cut the stems before adding them back to the vase of clean water. 

7. Keep your bouquet of fresh-cut flowers out of the sun

Don’t display your blooms in a window or sunny spot as the sun will shorten their lifespan. 

8. Keep your floral bouquet far away from fruit

A bowl of fruit on the counter is a great reminder to eat healthy foods and looks nice, but fruit gives off ethylene, an invisible gas that is deadly to fresh-cut flowers. Apples and pears are particularly dangerous as they give off more ethylene than other fruits. 

Blue Chrysanthemums with Green Accents
Blue Chrysanthemums with Green Accents

Don’t just set it and forget it, fresh-cut flowers require daily attention. Just a few minutes of dedicated daily care, and your gorgeous bouquet of flowers can last from a week to a week and a half! And that’s a blooming blessing! For additional tips on flower care or the best types of flowers to have this time of year, feel free to call or visit the Cascade Flowers website.

Shop beautiful blooms now! 

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Upgrade Your Patio with Container Planters

Making a container garden is a simple and easy way to incorporate beautiful plants and flowers in your limited space. Whether you’re decorating a front porch, back lanai, or small indoor apartment space, you can absolutely have beautiful greenery and colorful flowers all around you. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have everything you need to create container gardens of various sizes, shapes and colors. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when designing your own balanced container garden. 

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How to Create a Meditation Garden

For thousands of years and in many different cultures around the world, the practice of meditation has been used to promote peace, still the mind and soul, and find balance. And who doesn’t need a bit of peace and balance these days? At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have many of the materials you’ll need to design your own meditation garden, either within your home or outdoors. Having the right surroundings for meditative practice is not required, but certainly helps to bring your senses into alignment with your meditative state. Here are a few pointers for getting started and to inspire you as you create your own meditation garden.

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Floral Design Bars

By now, you and your besties have tried the holiday cookie exchange, makeover nights and the painting-and-wine classes. You’re looking for a fresh spin on the girls’ night out, or a theme for your next event that will bring a flair of inspiration to the group. The newest trend we at Cascade Floral Wholesale are seeing is floral design bars. Bring your closest friends together along with a basic variety of flowers, floral design materials, and a how-to video to follow. Throw in some champagne and brunch-type snacks and you have a fun afternoon of girl time with a great take-away: beautiful floral bouquets and a new skill! 

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Keep Your Flowers Fresh and Pretty Longer

Every florist knows the challenges of creating gorgeous floral arrangements and keeping them fresh for as long as possible. The way you cut, hydrate, style and arrange your blooms all make a difference in how long they will stay fresh and beautiful. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some of our best florists’ hacks for keeping your floral arrangements looking good as long as possible. Try a few of these tricks the next time you design beautiful floral arrangements for your home or office and see if they don’t create long-lasting blooms you’ll love.

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Discover Tulips

Spring is in the air, and that means we can plan on seeing tulips in gardens, flower shops and throughout homes soon. As soon as the weather warms and the ground thaws, tulips are back in bloom. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we love working with tulips. They have a rich history that dates back to ancient Persia, and they send messages of perfect love to their recipients. Plus they dress up any room in your home, and not just for Easter. Tulips are the quintessential flower of spring and as it approaches, we’re as excited as you are to announce its arrival!

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Say What You Mean on Valentine’s Day with the Right Colored Flowers

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, so it’s time to start thinking about that special someone in your life (or the one you’d like to bring into your world someday soon!). While there are plenty of ways to let someone know how you feel about them, at Cascade Floral Wholesale we think the best way to express your feelings is with flowers! And on Valentine’s Day, we believe it’s best when those flowers are roses. But it’s important to know what each color represents when sending roses. While the meaning behind many other flowers tended to go by the wayside at the end of the Victorian era, the meaning behind rose colors still stands strong today. Make sure you say what you mean when sending flowers to your sweetie!

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The Most Romantic Flowers

Bulk Wholesale Summer Flowers Combo

There are so many times in life when flowers express our feelings better than words. While flowers used to carry very specific meanings that were taken seriously in the Victorian era, they haven’t totally lost their significance. In fact, these days many people love attaching deeper meaning and symbolism to gifts and treasures. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we know which flowers express romantic feelings and sentiments best. As Valentine’s Day approaches and wedding season is right around the corner, we want to share with you the best blooms to share with your sweetie.

Roses

These classics get their own category because when it comes to romance, roses stand alone. Luscious, fragrant, and timeless, the only real decisions you’ll make are which color and how many. Pinks, reds, and oranges are best for expressing deep love and desire, while white speaks to the purity and yellow embraces friendship. Choose wisely when selecting rose colors, but trust that the roses themselves will communicate your message beautifully.

Tulips/Lilies

The bright bursts of color inherent in tulips and lilies bring the cheerfulness of spring into full focus. Send lovely, happy tulips to communicate how happy you are as a new relationship blooms. These bring positive energy and uplifting thoughts. Lilies are a little more serious but no less beautiful. Let white or pink stargazer lilies show your partner how valuable they are to you.

Orchid

Orchids/Lilacs

More unique than traditional roses, orchids are among the most exotic flowers we know. Communicate how rare and unique your love is when you send a beautiful stem of orchids in her favorite color. Lilacs are a gorgeous way to express fresh, new love with a bouquet of tumbling purple or magenta blooms. 

pink carnation

Carnations/Daisies/Alstroemeria

A sweet relationship deserves a sweet sentiment, and all three of these flowers deliver! Carnations have often been associated with more introverted types. So if your partner or newfound love seems a bit shy, she might prefer carnations to a more showy bloom. Daisies are the epitome of cheerfulness and will brighten her day, just like she brightens yours. Alstroemeria add a touch of drama while still making a beautiful friendship gift. If you’re enjoying your new friend but hope to take it to another level, these Peruvian lilies just might do the trick. 

Ranunculus/Camellia

Tell your partner how charming and attractive you find them with any shade of ranunculus you like. These rounded, frilly blooms are luscious and extravagant…and available all year round! Maybe this is just part of the reason they’re considered among the favorite flowers chosen for weddings. Camellias add a touch of romance to any setting. Soft and delicate, these natives to Japan and China whisper messages of faithfulness and longevity to all who receive them. 

Sending flowers is often seen as a romantic gesture, but when you send a bouquet of one of these extra-romantic flowers, your message will be clear. Take a moment to consider your partner’s favorite colors and flowers, but also feel free to choose flowers that communicate the special message you want to say. Talk to the professionals at Cascade Floral Wholesale to learn more about the best flowers to send to your special someone the next time you’re feeling a little romantic. 

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5 Easy-to-Keep New Year’s Resolutions

Moving into the New Year often means making a few positive changes in your life. Many people focus on their health, finances or relationships. But have you considered focusing on the plants in your life as a means of self-care? Plants and flowers can be a source of great joy and personal satisfaction, plus sharing the fruits of your labors can be a great way to reinforce relationships. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some great ideas about how to include plants and flowers in your New Year’s Resolutions. We have ideas that are long-lasting and easy to fulfill from Day 1. 

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Fall In Love with Ranunculus

One of the most mysterious, sultry blooms to be found today is the ranunculus. This beautiful, rose-like bloom is frequently used in bouquets everywhere, from home decorating to wedding bouquets. However, these gorgeous blooms have a rich history, dating back to the 13th century and enjoyed by kings the world over. With a deep, specific meaning, it’s easy to see why ranunculus were sent to communicate strong feelings. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we’re always excited to showcase these amazing blooms. Here are just a few reasons we love ranunculus and think you will too.

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Holiday DIY Decor- Beyond Centerpieces

red flowers, red roses, mixed whole sale flowers and eucalyptus on a table

Decorating for the holidays can be a cheerful, satisfying endeavor that brightens everyone’s spirits during this season. While there’s no end to the creativity and style you can include in your holiday decor, the expense of buying these items can add up quickly. However, making your own beautiful and unique designs is not just less expensive; it’s also fun, easy and so personal that your creations can quickly become holiday family heirlooms. The design experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have some great DIY decor ideas that you’re sure to love. 

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💐 Cool Tricks for Creating Gorgeous Bouquets

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

Creating gorgeous floral arrangements for your home or office can be a truly satisfying endeavor. You’re cutting, trimming, arranging and placing the perfectly shaped blooms in the right color patterns that brighten every room in your home. However, that satisfaction will fizzle quickly if your blooms don’t turn out like you’d hoped, or if they wilt and die too quickly. Here, the floral experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some really cool tricks you probably haven’t tried yet. Check them out, try a few, and see what exciting new twists you can add to your floral design repertoire! 

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Choose Your Rose Colors Carefully

Sending a present to commemorate a special birthday or anniversary is always a thrill. You hope they’ll love it, that they’ll feel your meaning and appreciate the effort you made. This is even more fun when you’ve chosen a gift that in some way symbolizes something special between you or has a deeper meaning. Beginning in Victorian times, flowers of certain colors were sent as gifts to communicate a particular message. Since roses come in such a variety of colors, these were a favorite choice for saying “I love you,” “I like you,” or communicating messages of purity, friendship, energy or mystery. These days, many of meanings behind rose colors have been lost or set aside. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale present the true meanings of rose colors by showing the difference in meaning from similar-hued blooms. 

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The Beauty of All-White Floral Arrangements

They’re elegant, they’re dramatic, they’re sophisticated. All-white floral arrangements bring a subtle statement to any room or table, and for that reason, they will never go out of style. Whether you’re decorating for a white wedding, celebrating a special occasion or simply adding some fresh texture to your home, all-white floral combinations are an often-overlooked way to create a dramatic look. Here is why the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale love the look of white flowers and hope you will too!

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Keep Flowers Fresh Longer: An Insider’s Tips for Beautiful Blooms

Every florist faces the challenge of keeping flowers as fresh as possible, for as long as possible. Between styling, arranging and designing beautiful, unique floral designs, flowers can start to appear less-than-fresh before they’re even sent to the recipient. But the best florists have a few tricks up their sleeves to keep those blooms beautiful and long-lasting. Now the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale are sharing these insider tips with you. Create gorgeous floral designs that will last and delight your recipients with full, lush flowers every time. 

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Autumn Brings Lovely Colors

Fall is approaching, and with it comes the vibrant hues of the turning leaves. Autumn also brings the lovely colors of Chrysanthemums, Marigolds, and golden Sunflowers. Traditional colors of bronze, orange and yellow complement the fall holiday displays for Halloween and Thanksgiving. In contrast, some varieties of fall flowers enhance your home décor with bright pinks and reds, and purples. Cascade Floral Wholesale offers a variety of ways to add autumn blooms to your decoration ideas. We offer many floral decorating options for the autumn season.

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Create Stunning Fall Floral Arrangements

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

As summer fades into cooler weather, shorter days and fewer leaves on the trees, we start to notice the subtle changes nature brings. Beyond our own obsessions with scarves, boots and pumpkin spice lattes, the world around us transforms. Leaves change from bright greens to yellows, oranges and reds. The rich texture of tree branches, pine cones and seeds are exposed. Fruit and fall vegetables are harvested in abundance. And those bright summer hues that indicate fun and warmth fade to deeper, muted tones that makes us want to crawl under a blanket. Autumn is arriving, and the floral experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have some great floral designs to surround yourself with the essence of fall in your own space this season. 

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The Amazing Aster

Asters are having their moment as we move into fall. Shared with Morning Glories, Asters are the stars of September and bring a wealth of beauty and symbolism to this season. Grown in damp, cool climates and seasons, asters bring cheerfulness to every garden. With so many varieties, Asters can be found at 8 inches up to 8 feet tall, in a rainbow of colors ranging from white and pink to deep blue and lavender. Cascade Floral Wholesale is proud to offer multiple varieties of this versatile flower for planting in your fall garden or simply displaying for the changing of seasons. 

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