Author: Stella Katsipoutis

All About Daisies

Daisy facts with little girl holding daisies

With their long, colorful petals bursting like rays of sunlight, daisies are the perfect flowers for delivering warm smiles to those we love most. But this beautiful blossom isn’t just an American favorite — its bright and cheery spirit is cherished by people all around the globe. After all, daisies are members of the biggest plant family in the world — vascular plants, which make up 10 percent of all flowers on Earth — and grow on every continent except Antarctica.

Want to find out why this happy little flower has captured so many hearts? Here’s a list of daisy facts to brighten your day.

History of daisies

The daisy purportedly gets its name from the Old English phrase “daes eage,” or “day’s eye,” because of the way the flower blossoms at the first sign of dawn. They have been around since at least 2,200 BC, when the ancient Egyptians grew them in their gardens and used them as herbal medicine. (Mind-blowing daisy fact: Wild daisies date back to the time of the dinosaurs!) The daisy family, scientifically known as Compositae, was officially classified in 1792 by German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke.

The gerbera, the most well-known daisy variety in the modern world, was discovered in 1884 in South Africa by a Scottish man named Robert Jameson. In 1890, it was brought to England, where breeders grew a variety of gerberas that boasted brighter colors and sturdier quality. The popularity of gerberas slowly spread to the Netherlands, which became one of the biggest gerbera daisy distributors in the world — a title it still holds today.

Types of daisies

The daisy is no wallflower: With more than 20,000 different types in its category, this pretty bloom is an A-list celebrity in the flower kingdom. Here are three of the most famous kinds of daisies that really know how to soak up the spotlight.

Daisy facts with daisy growing in a field

Gerbera daisy

The fifth most popular flower in the world, the gerbera comes in a full rainbow of colors, including pink, orange, yellow, and red. Its vibrant petals make it the flower of choice for celebrating every happy occasion, from birthdays to weddings.

Shasta daisy

With its soft, pearly white petals radiating from a golden center, the Shasta daisy is a timeless classic. Not is it only one of the largest daisies, but it is also one of the easiest to grow and care for. Plus, you can enjoy its hearty blooms season after season.

Rudbeckia

Also known as the black-eyed Susan, the Rudbeckia has fiery yellow petals and a deep brown center — almost like a miniature sunflower. Its reputation as a low-maintenance and long-lasting bloom makes it a favorite of flower-lovers everywhere.

Other well-known daisy varieties include:

  • Barberton daisy
  • Blue daisy
  • Butter daisy
  • Crown daisy
  • Dahlberg daisy
  • Feverfew
  • Giant daisy
  • Gloriosa daisy
  • Kingfisher daisy
  • Lazy daisy
  • Livingstone daisy
  • Marguerite daisy
  • Michaelmas daisy
  • Montauk
  • Nippon ox-eye daisy
  • Ox-eye daisy
  • Painted daisy
  • Paris daisy
  • Spanish daisy
  • Sunshine daisy
  • Swan river daisy
  • Tahoka daisy
  • Tansvaal daisy
  • Tatarian daisy
Daisy facts with Daisy Garden

What daisies symbolize

The sweet simplicity and genuine beauty of the daisy have made the flower an international emblem of innocence and purity. Its fresh, crisp appearance has come to symbolize new beginnings, and its bright, spirit-lifting colors are known to spread happiness like wildfire. It’s for these reasons that daisies make the perfect gifts and decorations for celebrating all of life’s biggest milestone events.

3 more daisy facts that make this flower special

In addition to its one-of-a-kind personality, the daisy has plenty of other qualities that set it apart from other flowers.

1. The daisy is two flowers in one

The large outer petals make up one flower, and the cluster of tiny petals that form the center “eye” make up another.

2. Daisy leaves are consumable

High in vitamin C, the leaves of a daisy are actually very closely related to the artichoke.

3. Daisies can be turned into medicine

Some health benefits of daisies include relieving indigestion, soothing coughs, slowing bleeding, and easing back pain.

Quick Flower Tip: Store Your Bouquet in the Fridge to Keep it Fresh

Summer Dunes in Blue Cobalt Vase

Your flowers can really take a beating from the heat, especially during summertime. Too-high temps can lead to floppy petals, causing a healthy arrangement to fall flat before its time. To keep your bouquet strong and healthy, try this super-simple flower tip: Store the flowers in the refrigerator overnight. It’ll help slow down the process of water loss and keep your blooms looking crisp. To store the flowers properly, fill a vase about ¾ full with water, and then put the flowers in the vase. Set your refrigerator’s temperature to 40 F and remove all fruit from the refrigerator. (They give off gases that could decay the flowers.) Clear out some shelf space and place the flowers in a secure spot in the fridge. Leave the flowers in the refrigerator for about six hours overnight, and you’ll have a cheery bundle of blooms waiting for you in the morning!

What Fruits Are in Season

There’s nothing better than a juicy peach on a hot summer’s day, or a crunchy apple in from the farmers market in fall, or sweet piece of citrus in winter. The trick is knowing what fruits are in season so you can experience each bite at its peak flavor. A crunchy blueberry or a bland mango can take a snack from delicious to disappointing in a matter of seconds.

The good news is that most fruits are available all year long. However, to enjoy a fruit’s full benefits and taste, it is best to buy when they are sourced locally. The less time the fruit travels the fresher it will be. Another benefit knowing what fruits are in season is the cost. If a fruit is shipped, chilled for transportation or not available in abundance, the cost will rise significantly.

The amount of fruit at your fingertips can be overwhelming, so we made this handy infographic so you know what fruits are in season no matter what time of year it is and you never have to waste your grocery budget on out-of-season fruit again.

Infographic of what fruits are in season with Harry & David crest in the middle.

Spring fruits

Summer fruits

  • Apricots
  • Bananas
  • Bitter melons
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Boysenberries
  • Cantaloupes
  • Casaba melons
  • Cherries
  • Currants
  • Figs
  • Gooseberries
  • Grapes
  • Grapefruits
  • Guavas
  • Honeydew melons
  • Huckleberries
  • Limes
  • Mangoes
  • Mulberries
  • Nectarines
  • Papayas
  • Passion fruits
  • Peaches
  • Pineapples
  • Plums
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelons

Fall fruits

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Cantaloupes
  • Cranberries
  • Dates
  • Figs
  • Grapes
  • Kiwis
  • Melons
  • Passion fruits
  • Pears
  • Persimmons
  • Pineapples
  • Pomegranates
  • Quinces
  • Raspberries

Winter fruits

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Blood oranges
  • Cactus pears
  • Clementines
  • Cranberries
  • Dates
  • Grapefruits
  • Kiwis

DIY Wedding Decor: Easy and Elegant Flower Place Cards

diy wedding decor with DIY Flower Place Card

These days, brides are looking for new, creative, and inexpensive DIY wedding decor ideas. One easy craft to make are place cards to help guests find their seats at the table. These don’t have to be fancy or intricate; sometimes the simplest designs make for the prettiest, most elegant decorative elements.

Starting with a single long-stem flower, you can make a totally chic place card to welcome your loved ones to their table. Read on to learn how.

What you’ll need

How to make DIY flower place cards

diy wedding decor with Printed Place Card Template
  1. Download this free and customizable printable place card template, which has enough place cards for 12 guests. For each card, click the word “Name” and highlight it, type in the name of a guest, and then adjust the font size and style to suit your taste. (In order to fit the name on the card, make the font size smaller if the name is long and larger if the name is short.) You can even add a table number and a personal message! Once you type the name, make sure to leave enough space to punch a single hole into the left edge of the card. If you want your place card to have a fancy border, leave enough space to use a border punch on the right edge of the card too. Repeat these steps for each card, making one card per guest. You can also adjust the size of your cards, if you want to make them bigger or smaller. When all your guest cards are ready, print the template onto white card stock.
diy wedding decor with Trimmed Place Card Templates
  1.  Use a paper trimmer to cut out the cards along their borders and ensure your cut lines are straight.
diy wedding decor with Hole Punched Into Place Card With a Hole Puncher
  1. Take a hole punch and punch a hole directly at the center of the left-hand edge of each place card.
diy wedding decor with Decorative Border Punched Into Place Card With Border Punch
  1. Using a border punch, punch a border along the right-hand edge of each place card.
diy wedding decor with Ribbon Measured and Cut for DIY Flower Place Card
  1. With a scissor, cut one piece of ribbon (between 11 and 12 inches long) for each card.
diy wedding decor with Ribbon Looped Through Place Card
  1. For each place card, take a piece of ribbon and fold it in half. To attach the ribbon to the card without making a knot, poke the folded end of the ribbon through the hole of the card. Open the folded end of the ribbon to create a loop, and then string the cut ends of the ribbon through the loop. Pull on the cut ends to tighten the ribbon.
diy wedding decor with Silk Flower Trimmed to Fit on a Plate
  1. Now, take a single long-stemmed flower (fresh or silk) from your bouquet. Trim the flower stem so that the flower is the same size as your guest’s plate.
diy wedding decor with Place Card Tied to Silk Flower
  1. Taking the loose ends of the ribbon on the place card, tie the place card tightly to the stem of the flower. Your flower place card is complete! Place it on your guest’s plate on top of a folded napkin for a ravishing presentation. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each place card.

These flower place cards don’t just add show-stopping style and romance to your table décor — they also make beautiful and inexpensive takeaway gifts for your friends and family. And you can use them for much more than just DIY wedding decor. They’re perfect for a laid-back picnic, a backyard barbecue, or pretty much any kind of outdoor soiree!

1-800-Flowers.com Summer of a Million Smiles Program Delivers 4th of July Smiles to Northport VA Medical Center

The 1-800-Flowers.com Smile Squad Delivering Smiles to the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center

On Monday July 1, 2013, the 1-800-Flowers.com Summer of a Million Smiles program gave a special 4th of July salute to the war veterans at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northport, N.Y. To show our heroes appreciation and gratitude for their service, we delivered star-spangled smiles to the nursing home with dozens of patriotic flowers!

Smile Squad team leader and 1-800-Flowers.com employee Maureen Paradine headed to the Northport VA Medical Center with her co-workers Kelly Trench, John Sharkey, Marc Cole, Christine Brooks, Cynthia Thompson, Pam Sciala, Tina Finnochiaro, Jalisa Clark and Rachel Armendariz to pay homage to the nursing home veterans, who live there year-round. Each veteran living at the Northport VA Medical Center was injured in the line of duty while serving in the military.

To help make the nursing home extra-festive in time for its annual 4th of July dinner, the Smile Squad decorated the halls with an Americana Heart Preserved Wreath and adorned the dining room with 35 beautiful patriotic arrangements and brightly lit candles. Once the decorations were ready, the team also hand-delivered red, white and blue carnations—and big smiles to match—to 119 patients.

1-800-Flowers.com Summer of a Million Smiles 4th of July Event at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center

At the end of the day, Smile Squad members were fortunate enough to enjoy a private luncheon with the vets, during which they presented a beautiful bouquet to a WWII and Korean War veteran and his lovely wife of 57 years. The 4th of July Summer of a Million Smiles event team was also most fortunate to receive product donations from 1-800-Flowers.com’s supplier partners: Pavilion Gift Company, Infinite Rose, Floral Treasure, Pacific Bouquet and DelawareValley. Their thoughtful and generous contributions brought smiles to everyone’s faces!

After meeting so many amazing heroes—such as a POW Commander and a D-Day Beach Lander—and listening to their touching military stories, the 1-800-Flowers.com Smile Squad thanked each one for their service and wished them a happy 4th of July. The day was emotionally charged and unforgettable for the team members, who were all so happy to be a part of such a special day.

“My Summer of a Million Smiles team had the best day visiting with the Vets at the Northport VA Hospital,” says Smile Squad member and 1-800-Flowers.com employee Rachel Armendariz. “Paying tribute to these brave and honorable soldiers makes me proud to be an American. Thank you to 1-800-Flowers.com for putting the program together!”

Salute the Flag: Make Your Own 4th of July Wreath

DIY 4th of July Wreath With American Flag Toothpicks

Raise your flags up high…it’s almost time to celebrate the Fourth of July!

Salute the stars and stripes with a firecrackin’ fun decoration for your front door. This DIY 4th of July wreath is surprisingly easy to make: All you need is some American flag toothpicks and a Styrofoam wreath, and you’re ready to show off your patriotic spirit.

Here’s how you can make one of your own.

Materials for DIY 4th of July wreath

  • American flag toothpicks
  • Patriotic umbrella toothpicks
  • Styrofoam wreath

How to Make a DIY 4th of July Wreath

4th of July Wreath with styrofoam ring
  1. Start with a brand new Styrofoam wreath.
4th of July Wreath with arranging toothpick umbrellas
  1. Carefully open the umbrella toothpicks and stick them onto the front face of the Styrofoam wreath, overlapping them to ensure the Styrofoam does not peek through any uncovered spots.
4th of July Wreath with arranging american flag toothpick umbrellas
  1. Stick the American flag toothpicks into the exposed Styrofoam along the outside rim of the wreath. Make sure to vary the flags in height to give the wreath depth.
4th of July Wreath with finished wreath
  1. Prop up the wreath on your front door and put your pride on display as you welcome your party guests this Independence Day!

Where else would you hang this star-spangled 4th of July decoration? Here are some more ideas on how to decorate your home with a wreath.

1-800-Flowers.com Partners With the Cancer Research Institute to Help Conquer Cancer

White Daisies From the 1-800-Flowers.com Fight With White Collection

It’s time to stand up and join the fight against cancer: June is Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month!

Every day, new advances are being made in a revolutionary new treatment called cancer immunotherapy: a type of therapy that strengthens the immune system’s ability to overcome the disease. To show our support and increase awareness of this research, 1-800-Flowers.com has teamed up with the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) to raise funds for their ongoing efforts to put an end to cancer.

As one of the many events this month that help the public learn more about cancer immunotherapy and help save the lives of more cancer victims, 1-800-Flowers.com team members participated in Wear White for a Cure Day on June 7th and donated their funds to CRI. Check out a few photos of us sharing some smiles and proudly showing our support at the office:

  • The 1-800-Flowers.com Team Showing Their Support for Wear White for a Cure Day
  • The 1-800-Flowers.com Team Showing Their Support for Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month
  • The 1-800-Flowers.com Team Wearing White to Show Support for Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month
Fight With White Classic All-White Arrangement

And now you can join forces with us too! As a proud partner of the Cancer Research Institute, 1-800-Flowers.com has created the Fight With White collection of white-themed flowers and gifts to deliver smiles of hope to everyone. Every time you make a purchase for yourself or a loved one, 10 percent of net proceeds will be donated to CRI! So show your support for Cancer Awareness Month and dress up your home or office with a beautiful white bouquet. With your help, we’ll get one step closer to finding a cure for cancer!

How to Help the Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Americana Heart Preserved Wreath

As news about the heartbreaking devastation caused by the tornado in Oklahoma continues to pour in, today we’d like to take a moment to step away from our usual flower-themed posts and show our love and support for those in need. For our readers who want to know how to help the Oklahoma tornado victims, we’ve put together a list of reputable organizations you can partner with to join in relief efforts. Here are the links to each organization’s website, as well as a short description of how your donations will help the disaster victims:

To help ensure that your contributions are going directly to Oklahoma tornado relief efforts, here are a few important tips to consider before donating to any organizations not listed above:

  • Donate only to charities you trust and are familiar with.
  • Do not give your personal information, such as your credit card or bank account number, to any charity that is not reputable.
  • Always check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, GuideStar or Charity Navigator website to make sure the charity to which you’re donating is legitimate.
  • Never send cash envelopes. They might get lost in the mail, and you won’t have any records of the donation to keep for personal or tax purposes.

1-800-Flowers.com Helps Salute Fallen Heroes at the USS Intrepid’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

USS Intrepid's Sea Air & Space Museum's Annual Memorial Day CeremonyTime to pay tribute to America’s bravest: Memorial Day is Monday, May 27!

Every year on the last Monday in May, we honor the courageous men and women in the armed forces who have lost their lives. The holiday, originally known as “Decoration Day,” was first announced on May 5, 1868, and first celebrated on May 30 of the same year. It began as a day to remember the soldiers who died in the Civil War, but over the years it transformed into a national holiday to memorialize the American soldiers lost in any war. One of the earliest ways to observe the holiday was to wear a red poppy in honor of lost heroes and decorate their graves with flowers, but today we also celebrate with family barbecues, parades and other touching Memorial Day ceremonies.

US Marine Soldier Holds 1-800-Flowers Wreath During USS Intrepid's Annual Memorial Day CeremonyOf the countless commemorative events that are held for the heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland, the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is one of the biggest and most exciting in the country. And for almost 10 years, 1-800-Flowers.com has had the privilege of taking part in this historic occasion.

As a kickoff to the Summer Salute to Heroes program, the Memorial Day event starts at 10 a.m. with fun interactive displays and hands-on activities along the USS Intrepid’s Pier 86 in New York City, featuring exhibits from the U.S. Coast Guard, Coca-Cola, American Red Cross, CrossFit NYC and more. Then, the poignant Annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Visitors can pay their respects to fallen military men and women as they observe the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag and watch as four beautiful Memorial Day floral wreaths are thrown into the ocean from the pier.

1-800-Flowers Wreaths Displayed at USS Intrepid's Annual Memorial Day CeremonyThese stunning wreaths are specially made for, and proudly donated to, the ceremony by 1-800-Flowers.com. They measure more than 30 inches in diameter and are hand-arranged with fresh red, white and blue flowers, such as roses, mums, daisies, monte casino, lilies, carnations, baby’s breath, delphinium and more. The wreaths are then adorned with gorgeous matching bows and set on easels for all to see before they’re customarily released into the water. It’s a tradition that the team at 1-800-Flowers.com is grateful to be a part of for the past decade, and one that we’re looking forward to commemorating for many years to come.

“It is truly an honor to participate in the annual Memorial Day Ceremony,” says Chris McCann, 1-800-Flowers.com president. “Our caring team is passionate about helping the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum honor and recognize our fallen soldiers each year.”

The Memorial Day Ceremony is free and open to the public. So if you’re looking for a meaningful way to tip your hat to our fearless U.S. military, visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum! You can find more information on the event at IntrepidMuseum.org.

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