When you are responsible for making a bouquet of flowers for someone you never actually meet, it is difficult to know where to start. Flowers by post, which is a cost effective way of sending flowers, mainly come from Guernsey and a lot of time and trouble goes into producing the perfect display.
First thing to consider is freshness and conditioning of the flowers; it is not good if the color scheme is fabulous but the flowers arrive in a poor state. The main problem is that professional solutions which prolong vase life have to be used right down the supply chain; if any stages are missed out, the life of cut flowers is compromised. Simple enough it would seem but the fact is that these solutions cost money and many growers do not use them.
The best way is to use a flowers by post supplier who grow their own flowers or buy locally from neighboring growers, all of what should use best practice and do not skimp on preserving solutions.
After the first conditioning has been done, the next problem is choosing which flowers to use. After all, how can any florist know what the recipient person is going to like? What will go with their room, what makes them sneeze? Do they love scented blooms or are they fussy about clashing colors?
The fact is that if you look around you at nature's color spans, you will not find anything at all, anywhere that clashes. How can this be when every color of the rainbow is out there cheek by cheek?
I can not really explain it but the fact remains that no matter what color nature puts alongside another, they absolutely always 'go', ie, they never clash. Infuriating when we think of how much time and effort goes into our clothes, can not have clashing colors there - or what about curtains and sofas? How much discussion and agonising went into choosing your surroundings? Lots I would think.
Not so with flowers, it is so odd but you can put red with pink, yellow with green, orange and blue, it just does not matter somehow they fit together and are in harmony with each other.
Still, that does not mean they will always be suitable for every person's taste or match every decor so what can be done to be sure your gift of flowers will be welcome and expected in situation?
I would suggest that you look carefully at what is on offer and if you do not see what you think your friend is going to love having in her home, then get it changed!
This may be difficult with big companies or florist relay services where you tend to have to take what they've got in stock. But with a small husband and wife operation, you can speak to the person who will make your actual bouquet, you can explain the colors your friend loves and ask for the bouquet to be made to your specification.
The flowers by post company I can tell you about below is just like this, small, but as they grow loads of flowers themselves, you can be sure all will be fresh and to the exact palate you require. Who could ask for more?