Blog - News

Christmas Workshop

Please join us on Wednesday 2nd December 2015 from 6-8pm at our shop in Hythe for an evening of Festive fun, where you will get the opportunity to create your very own floral Christmas candle table arrangement.  £50.00 per person to include all materials, festive drinks and snacks.  Limited availability so book A.S.A.P!! Contact Jane, Steph or Miriam on: 023 8020 7376

Posted in News by Jane on 24/11/2015

Macmillan Cake Morning

We are holding a Macmillan Cake Morning at our lovely shop in Hythe on Friday 2nd October 2015.  Please do stop by for a friendly chat and some scrumptions cakes!

Jane x

Posted in News by Jane on 18/09/2015

Valentines Day 2015

It's January and Christmas has come and gone, but we are now looking forward to our next peak period - Valentines Day!  In our opinion Valentine's Day wouldn't be Valentine's Day without flowers, so we have started sourcing the most beautiful blooms from both the UK and over-seas to order fresh for delivery on February 14th 2015. Red roses are synomoymous with love and Valentine's Day, and at Jane Bidwell Flowers we will be arranging and delivering over 600 of these beautiful flowers for the event.  However for a thoughtful and surprising gesture there are other floral alternatives, such as red and pink tulips, orchids and lilies to consider.  So which will you choose for your Valentine this year........will it be the traditional red rose bouquet, or a mixed tulip hand-tied?????

Pop in, phone us on 023 8084 4114,  or head straight over to our website at www.janebidwellflowers.co.uk to order your special Valentines Day gift.

Jane x

Posted in News by Jane on 17/01/2015

The Beginning of Christmas in Hythe......and Mistletoe!

This time of year has got to be one of my favourites with the huge variety of winter flowering plants available, and the start of buying fresh cut winter blooms, such as amaryllis, for the shop.

We have put up and decorated the Christmas tree, and have been out and about sourcing some very fine, unusual Christmas sundries.  In fact, the shop is looking very festive indeed, which is just in time as Saturday marks the beginning of Christmas in Hythe with the annual Mistletoe Fayre.  This is a particularly enjoyable family event with the highlight being Father Christmas turning on the village lights.  It is also the day that Steph's seasonal outfit is unveiled, which always puts a smile on many local faces.

With the village Fayre being named after "mistletoe" I thought it may be of interest to provide a little information on this very festive plant.  The native species of mistletoe in Britain is known of as Viscum Album.  It is this species that is at the core of most traditions and legends, including the Christmas association of kissing under the mistletoe! This species grows on a wide variety of deciduous trees during the winter months.  In Britain the most common host for mistletoe is the cultivated apple tree, though it can also be found on other favourites such as poplars and hawthorns.  Favourite habitats include gardens, parklands, churchyards and any other place where plenty of light is available.
From mid-December onwards we have fresh bunches of mistletoe available in our shop, ready to be used to decorate your home.  We also stock a variety of frosted and non-frosted artificial sprigs of mistletoe throughout the whole of December.

Hope to see you soon,

Jane x

Posted in News by Jane on 25/11/2014

Christmas Workshop

Due to popular demand we are happy to announce our annual Christmas workshop!  During this years event we will be demonstrating how to create a fresh or artificial table centerpiece in a terracotta pot, with a candle in the middle. You will then get the opportunity to create your own similar arrangement.  It will take place in the shop on Wednesday 26th November between 8-8pm.  Please do pop into our friendly shop in Hythe, or phone to book your space.  The cost is £50.00 per person, payable at the time of booking, to include all materials and refreshments. Looking forward to seeing you there Love Jane, Steph and Miriam xx

Posted in News by Jane on 21/11/2014

Preparing for Valentine’s Day at Jane Bidwell Flowers

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and like many other florists, the orders have already started coming in! It takes over a month in the shop to prepare for one of the single busiest days in the floral industry. In early January I start work with my floral team to create ideas for Valentines inspired bouquets, hand-tied’s and arrangements. I also look back on the previous year’s sales to gauge the amount of roses I will need to order. By mid January I begin to work with my suppliers to secure a good rate on the most popular Valentine’s Day Flower – the red rose. This ensures I am able to sell my red roses at a very competitive price. I also order in a vast selection of sundries, such as rose boxes, red ribbons and a lovely selection of cellophanes.Around this time I get promotional posters printed, and make sure the Jane Bidwell Flowers website has a Valentines banner on the front page. Towards the end of January my team and I begin to prepare containers with oasis, clean all new vases, prepare cellophane wraps, makeup lots of florist bows and shred vast amounts of ribbon to use as tie! Every morning on the week of Valentines, we arrive at market at 5.00am so that we can get the freshest flowers for our customers. A day or two before Valentine’s Day, boxes and boxes of roses arrive at the shop and it takes all my staff members a good day to strip them all of their thorns!!! They are then conditioned and treated so that we can sell them at their prime. On the day itself we can have up to 5 drivers delivering all over The Waterside area, Marchwood, Totton, and Southampton. We also have 3-4 florists in the shop making up hand-tieds, bouquets and arrangements forthe last minute purchaser!!! I hope this has given you a little insight into the workings of my shop before, and during one of my busiest times. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me on 023 8084 4114. Jane x

Posted in News by Jane on 13/01/2014

Jane Bidwell's Tips for Extending the Life of Cut Flowers

Whether it's a bouquet of beautiful #Valentines roses from your partner, a friendly bunch of daffodils from your best friend, or some freshly cut hydrangeas from your garden, all of us at JBF love to see a vase of fresh flowers.  So with this in mind I thought it would be a good idea to share my top tips on how to keep the flowers from my shop in #Hythe #Southampton looking fresher for longer in your home.

If you've recieved your flowers as a bouquet or hand-tied from Jane Bidwell Flowers, you will notice that the stems are held together with a ribbon tie.  This is what I call a tie-point, and one of my florists will have already removed any petals or leaves below this line.  This is to help the water in your vase stay cleaner.

Once you've unpacked your flowers, fill a vase 3/4 full with lukewarm water, then add half a sachet of florist flower food (attached to the side of your bouquet/hand-tied) and mix until dissolved.  The flower food we supply provides nutrients to help keep your flowers fed and happy!                                        JBF TIP: Always, always use a clean vase that hs been washed in hot sopay water and rinsed wel to help remove ay pesky bacteria.

Next, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut a half inch off the base of each stem diagonally. before placng your stems in the vase of water.  A nice clean diagonal cut ensures the surface area of the stem is maximized so that the cells of the stem can absorb as much water as they need.    JBF Tip: It's a good idea to trim a little bit from the stems at least every other day to help the flowers receive a stedy flow of nutrients and water.        

When choosing a locaion for your flowers in your home, it is a good idea to choose a slightly shaded place away from heat sources or drafts to ensure longevity.

To keep your flowers happy, healthy and fresh for as long as possible, I recommend that you cut a fresh stem end, and empty, wash and refill the vase with warm water and flower food every couple of days.  This helps to get rid of any bacteria, thus prolongs the flowers life.

With all these life-extending flower tips that have worked for me and the florists in my shop, i'd really love to hear any tips that have worked for you.

Hope to see you soon.

Love Jane x

        

 

 

Posted in News by Jane on 06/01/2014

Flower Profile: Cyclamen

 

At this time of year we stock plenty of large and small Cyclamen plants in our shop as we feel they make lovely, lasting, decorative gifts. Here is a little info on these fabulous plants:

• In the past Cyclamen were the Christmas Plant of the Victorian era, and have been making quite a comeback in recent years.

• The name ‘cyclamen’ is most likely to have originated from the Greek word circle, which could refer to the round corm from which it grows. Other names it can be known of include: Poor Man’s Orchid, Alpine Violet and Persian Violet.

• Cyclamen have uniquely shaped flowers that usually have 5 petals that can be single, double or ruffled.

• They are usually found in shades of red, white, mauve, pink, purple and sometimes as two-toned petals • When purchasing, ensure that the buds are just beginning to open so that you get the most value from the plant as possible.

• Place in a medium light, but not direct sun as this will shorten the plants life. • Water from a tray underneath the plant as it will be susceptible to rot if watered from the top.

• Cut off dead flower stalks to encourage new flowers to emerge.

We hope this little insight, and care advice helps when you are choosing, and caring for your Cyclamen. However we are always available for any further advice or questions.

Posted in News by Jane on 29/11/2013

Flower Profile: Amaryllis

At Jane Bidwell Flowers we know its nearly Christmas when the first of the cut amaryllis arrive in market! So with the festive season nearly upon us, we thought you might like to know a little more info on these beauties! :
 
  • These large South African flowers are the longest-lasting winter cut flower you can buy, and if treated correctly will last up to three weeks.
 
  • To get the most out of cut amaryllis, choose flowers in tight bud when they are less suspectable to bruising, and ask your florist to pack them into a box for transporting home.
 
  • To care for your amaryllis at home, cut the bottom off and insert a cane into the hollow stem to support the weight of the flower head.  When you push the cane in, it should stop just below the flower and should naturally stay in place.   This method should help to double the flower’s life.  
 
  • In our opinion they make a stunning display during the festive season simply placed in a sturdy vase with some sparkling birch twigs or pussy willow to create a fuller arrangement.
 
Please feel free to contact us if you need any other help or advice with Amaryllis x

Posted in News by Jane on 23/11/2013

Christmas Workshop

Just a reminder for you to book onto our Christmas Floral Demonstration in aid of Waterside Cancer Support Centre.  Taking place on Thursday 5th December from 7.00pm at St John's Hall, Hythe, Hampshire.  Tickets cost £7.00 each and include Mulled Wine and a Mince Pie.  To book, give us a call on 023 8084 1114.  Hope to see you there x

Posted in News by Jane on 11/11/2013

« Older Page 3 of 6 Newer »

« Back to all posts

Website by Focal Strategy