A Beautiful Christmas Concert

We coordinated with Buena Bands again this year to decorate their Annual Christmas Concert. Thank you to Duane Chun, Band Director at Buena High School who always chooses us for this special occasion. We are always honored to accomodate each year with these gorgeous red poinsettias. Mr. Chun & Buena Bands use the poinsettias afterwards as a special fundraiser for the Band Program.  To learn more about Buena Bands Program, click here.

If you are interested in a lovely poinsettia of your own. Order one today on our website or give us a call anytime.

Happy Holidays!!

Thanksgiving…Beautiful and full of yum!

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends and all near and dear to your heart. With all the preparations and love put into the Thanksgiving dinner, the best part I find is dessert. We know you’re stuffed, but here is a small treat you can make ahead and then use for dessert! It’s Pumpkin Fudge!!

Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate morsels
1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation:
Stir together first 6 ingredients in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234° (soft-ball stage) or for about 12 minutes.
Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour into a greased aluminum foil-lined 9-inch square pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool; cut fudge into squares. Enjoy!

Notes: Line pan with aluminum foil before you begin to cook the fudge. Once the candy thermometer reaches 234° and the remaining ingredients are added, quickly spoon the fudge into the pan.

You can also find this recipe on Myrecipes.com to print it out. I have made this fudge quite a bit, and it’s like fun-sized pumpkin pie!

And don’t forget about setting your table with some of our beautiful arrangements for Thankgiving!

G-day Mate!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We were asked by Globetrotter Travel to design a display with an Australian & Southern Pacific theme. Our talented designers, Christel & April, brainstormed and we have a photo gallery of how wonderful everything turned out. Globetrotter Travel is proud to be designated in the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program. Which is how this whole diplay was inspired. (Congratulations to Globetrotter!)
Globetrotter Travel Inc., has been fulfilling the needs of leisure and corporate travelers since 1973. Their friendly and experienced travel professionals will ensure that all your travel plans are arranged in a timely and professional manner. You can browse their website for more information on the program.

Radiant Roses….Radiant Sale

Beautiful Red Roses

Who doesn’t love the smell and intoxication of a beautiful red rose? But what about all the beauty of colored roses? With so many different shades of color, it can be difficult to choose. Rose colors vary by growing area, time of year, local weather conditions and even climate variations within the same growing area. There is even some variation of color within the same rose variety. This guide is designed to give you a general sampling of many varieties which are popular today. New varieties are introduced every year.

Red – Love and Respect
Many exciting red roses are available from the very dark Cara Mia, large flowered Madam Delbard, bright red Kardinal to strawberry red Preference.

Orange – Fascination
Roses in brilliant orange are a delight to the eye including these … brightly colored Belinda, shocking orange Lambada and apricot-hued Pareo.

Dark Pink – Thankfulness
Choose from several shades of dark pink roses from the hot pink Laser to the dark pink Privé and the medium pink variety, Diplomat.

Pale Pink – Grace and Joy
Among the varieties of delicate pink roses are the softly-shaded Kalinka, delicately colored Deloris, true pink Vivaldi and the favorite Bridal Pink.

Coral – Desire
The coral/peach rose family has several popular varieties including the world favorite Sonia, peach washed Kyria and peach/pink bi-color Harmony.

Radiant Colored Assortment Roses

Pale Peach – Modesty
Soft peach hues are a delightful color gaining in popularity. Choose the very popular Osiana, the palest peach Champagne or the spray rose Porcelina.

Yellow – Joy and Friendship
Many shades of yellow roses are available from the large blossomed Alsmeer Gold, medium sized Golden Emblem to the spray rose Rhumba.

White – Innocence and Secrecy
White roses are a pure and elegant symbol of caring. Try the true white Escimo, the purest white Tineke and an old favorite, Bridal White.

Visit our website and enjoy some of the best roses and colors of the year with one of our biggest sales of the season. Offer is good while supplies last!

Let’s hear it for Dad!

What have you done for Dad lately? Doesn’t your Dad deserve the best this Father’s Day? Bloom Country Florist can help you give it to him. Show that special guy how much you love him!

Gift baskets filled with sports themes and outdoor activities, tropical bouquets (great for home or office), gourmet and fruit baskets, steak and lobster dinners and so much more are all online now! (Certain items may be limited in supply.)  Brand new this year is the Weber, King of the Grill Bouquet. Rest assured that Dad will be proud you remembered him on his special day! Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 19th!

June is National Rose Month

June is filled with wonderful things. Such as graduations…weddings….the start of summer & family vacations! But best of all…it’s National Rose Month! Here was some ideas to celebrate.

• 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.
• Post photos or videos of local rose gardens on Flickr or Facebook.
• 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.

The GardenSites.Info Directory is the place to go to find public gardens and rose garden societies by state.

We are celebrating by offering our roses on sale all month long! So what are you celebrating today?

New for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching on Sunday, May 8th. Celebrate Mom with a new special gift of Aromatherapy for your car, home, or office with the little flower that lasts! This beautifully hand crafted ceramic flower coupled with lovely scented essential oils (lavender, lemon, or, eucalyptus) is the prefect addition to your car, office, closet, or linen drawer. The hand made flowers allow the essential oil to work in small spaces; especially in your car. As your car heats up from sitting in the sun, the flower will release the scent of the oil you put on it producing an uplifting fragrance. Aromatherapy can change your mood and uplift your spirit, if you let it. All the essential oils used in these products are formulated to help you have a positive and uplifting experience while you drive or work around your office or home. All flowers and oils happily made in Tucson, Arizona.

Each package comes with a 4oz dropper bottle of essential oils, one ceramic flower with thread covered wire stem, and instructions for application and use. Able to be included with any local delivered floral arrangement or gift item. If you would like to order, please click here.

Easter is hopping our way!

In Christianity, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is known throughout the world as a celebration of spring. It’s a joyous time spent with family and friends. Easter is Sunday, April 24th this year and we would like to help you with some Easter Floral Decorating Ideas when planning your Easter dinners and festivities.
– 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 us 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.

Check us out, we made Business of the Week!

Our friends at National Bank (1180 E Fry Blvd.) select a local business for their featured “Business of the Week” And this week, you guessed it,…us! Bloom Country Florist is the Business of the Week at National Bank. Tony Hannon, AzMF, our lead designer put out a beautiful display for everyone to enjoy. (See above image) Since it’s also Valentine’s Week you can see everything and more that we offer for your Valentine. Remember Valentine’s Day is Monday, February 14th. But we are accepting all orders and you can save $5 if you order early online. You can save even more if you try our new mobile app today. So don’t worry boys (and girls), Bloom Country is here to help!

Tips for your Arizona Garden

10 TIPS FOR ARIZONA SPRING PLANTING SEASON.
THERE IS A SECRET TO GROWING VEGETABLES IN ARIZONA – KNOW YOUR SEASONS.
PEOPLE PLANT THE WRONG THING AT THE WRONG TIME SO ITS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT WORKS BEST AND WHEN TO PLANT.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF 10 TIPS FROM ARIZONA GARDEN EXPERTS TO HELP ENSURE THAT YOUR GARDEN GROWS.
TIMING:THE DESERT HAS TWO GROWING PERIODS – SPRING AND FALL. BOTH HAVE THE VEGETABLES THAT GROW BEST IN COLDER AND WARMER TEMPS. THE LIST IS VAST SO IF YOU WANT MORE KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIETIES YOU PREFER, THE FOLLOWING LINK WILL GIVE YOU A GUIDELINE TO YOUR FAVORITES AND WHEN TO PLANT.
NEXT IS…
LOCATION:AS WITH REAL ESTATE, LOCATION MATTERS. TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT WHERE AND WHEN SHADOWS ARE CAST IN YOUR YARD AND PLACE THE GARDEN ACCORDINGLY.
SUNLIGHT…
VEGETABLE PLANTS LIKE SUNLIGHT, AT LEAST SIX TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
SIZE…START MODESTLY…EVEN VETERAN GARDNER’S CAN BE FRUSTRATED TRYING TO RAISE VEGETABLES HERE UNTIL THEY BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE RHYTHMS AND DEMANDS OF THIS CLIMATE.
SOIL…VALLEY SOIL IS RICH IN MINERALS BUT LACKS ORGANIC MATTER. FOR A RAISED BED THE BEST RECOMMENDATION IS 50-50 PLANTING MIXTURE OF NATIVE SOIL AND COMPOST. YOU CAN FIND COMPOST MIXES AT YOUR LOCAL NURSERIES.
WATER…
VEGETABLES NEED TO BE WATERED 1 FOOT DEEP. USE A SCREWDRIVER TO CHECK WATERING DEPTHS. THE URGE MAY BE TO OVERWATER, BUT ITS JUST AS DANGEROUS TO YOUR PLANTS AS UNDERWATERING. PLANTS NEED OXYGEN AND TOO MUCH WATER CAN DROWN PLANTS.
HOTLINE…
MEMORIZE THIS NUMBER: 602-827-8200 EXT. 301. THIS IS THE MASTER GARDENER HOTLINE. ITS OPERATED BY VOLUNTEER MASTER GARDENERS, SO IT MAY TAKE 48 HOURS TO GET A RESPONSE IF NO ONE IS ON DUTY WHEN YOU CALL.
PLANT SELECTION…
PAY ATTENTION NOT ONLY TO PLANTING THE APPROPRIATE VEGETABLES FOR THE GROWING SEASON, BUT ALSO TO CHOOSING THE VARIETY OF THE PLANT. READ LABELS AND SELECT VARIETIES THAT ARE 45-60 DAYS TO HARVEST.
PACING…
THANKS TO OUR TWO GROWING SEASONS, YOU CAN PACE HARVEST TIME.

ALTHOUGH ITS GETTING TOO LATE IN THE SEASON TO PLANT LETTUCE, IN AUGUST WHEN YOU SOW THE ARUGULA SEEDS, YOU WILL WANT TO PLANT EVERY TWO WEEKS TO ENSURE A CONTINUAL HARVEST THROUGH SPRING.
& LASTLY – APPETITE…
PAY ATTENTION TO YEILD AND SCALE. UNLESS YOUR FAMILY LOVES WATERMELON, CONSIDER PLANTING PRODUCE THAT DOESN’T CONSUME A LOT OF SPACE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE STARTING A SMALLER PLOT. BEFORE YOU DEDICATE A ROW TO ZUCCHINI, MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS LIKE THIS HIGHLY PROLIFIC SQUASH. CONSIDER PLANTING VARIETIES OF SQUASH AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO ENSURE A CONTINUAL HARVEST.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARIZONA GARDENING, THERE ARE SEVERAL BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT.
CLICK HERE FOR SOME IDEAS ON AMAZON OR CHECK OUT LOCAL BOOKSTORE.
WE ENJOY ARIZONA GARDENER’S GUIDE BY MARY IRISH

IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME WONDERFUL IDEAS IN ACTION. VISIT THE TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDEN. YOU COULD VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR HOURS AND EVENTS.

HAPPY GARDENING!!!