Why and How to Incorporate More Flowers into Your Life Part 2

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Breen's Florist

From boosting your mood to relieving stress, there are many benefits to being around flowers more often.

Most people think flowers are just nice to look at and smell, but they don’t realize just how powerful flowers can be in so many aspects of their lives. Whether you’re hoping to become more productive at work, improve your relationships, get a better night’s sleep or just improve your mood, having more flowers around can help. Buying fresh flowers to display is certainly one great way to enjoy the benefits, but there are lots of creative ways to incorporate more flowers in your day-to-day life. Check out Part 1 of this series to learn about a couple of great ways to incorporate more flowers into your life, and keep reading to learn more helpful tips!

Plant your own flower garden.

Not all flowers have to be bought from a florist! If you love enjoying flowers at home, one of the best ways to ensure that you constantly have plenty of flowers around is by planting a garden. Not only will you benefit from the fruits of your labor — which are the flowers themselves when they blossom and come to life — but the act of gardening in itself has a plethora of benefits that will make you feel better on both a mental and physical level.

Sneak flowers into your beauty routine.

Whether you’re trying to fight the signs of aging or make your skin-tone more even, you have more options than just what’s available in the skin care aisle of the store or your local Sephora. In fact, essential oils derived from many different kinds of flowers have powerful, all-natural properties that can enhance your beauty routine like never before. For example, rosehip oil will help to reverse damage to the skin and even out the tone, lavender helps to keep the blemishes at bay and rose oil has anti-aging properties. As a general rule of thumb, always make sure that you are buying food-grade essential oils, and you never want to use more than a few drops at a time. Also, be sure to do your research as to learn the best methods of enjoying the specific essential oils you choose.

Use flowers to freshen up your hairstyle.

When most people think of wearing flowers in their hair, they imagine the flower crowns beloved by hippies and brides. But, you don’t need to be a flower child to rock this look, and it doesn’t have to be as dramatic as a full flower crown either. In fact, just a small flower tucked behind the ear or clipped into a ponytail can make a big difference. Not only will it add a new level of beauty to your look, but it will also make you smell amazing!

Start your day with flower in your tea.

Not all tea has to be Earl Grey or English Breakfast. There are so many incredible floral teas out there that any tea-lover should try. One of our favorites is chrysanthemum tea. The flower in this tea actually blossoms as it steeps in the hot water, and it’s been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to calm anxiety and reduce inflammation. Some other floral teas you won’t want to miss include jasmine, hibiscus, lavender, orange blossom, rose and chamomile.

Buy the fresh flowers you love in Houston today!

There are so many wonderful ways to incorporate more flowers into your day-to-day life, and these are just a few of them. But, nothing beats having fresh flowers around, and that’s where we come in. At Breen’s Florist, we offer a huge selection of beautiful bouquets to choose from. Shop with us online today!

Why and How to Incorporate More Flowers into Your Life

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Breen's Florist

There are so many reasons to start enjoying more flowers in your day-to-day life.

To most people, flowers are beautiful and nice to look at, but that’s about as far as it goes. But, did you know that there are actually benefits to having more flowers into your life? That’s right, there are more reasons than you might think to include more flowers in your life.

Why incorporate more flowers into your life?

They’ll make you happy – Want a quick way to boost your mood? Go out and buy yourself some flowers! Through aromatherapy, simply being around flowers can be an almost-instant mood booster.
They’ll make you more productive – Did you know that having flowers and other plants in your workplace can make you more productive? Studies have shown that the presence of flowers increases concentration and productivity.
They’ll help to relieve your stress – Life isn’t always sunshine and daisies, but with flowers around, it’s easier to cope with the stress of everyday life. Flowers help to promote calmness in the short term. A study conducted by Kansas State University in 2008 found that patients in hospitals with flowers in their rooms felt less anxious than patients without flowers.
They’ll help you sleep better – Most of us, at some point or another, have had trouble getting to sleep at night, but if it feels like you never get a full night’s sleep, try adding more flowers into your life. Some flowers — lavender, gardenias and jasmine, just to name a few — can help to soothe you so that you can get to sleep at night.
They’ll help to reduce conflict in your relationships – Flowers are not a replacement for therapy, but you’d be surprised at what a difference just having flowers around can make in your relationship. Why? Because flowers help to promote compassion and thoughtfulness, and both of those things are valuable in any relationship.

The fact of the matter is that there are so many benefits to being around flowers more, and these are just a few of them. But, how do you incorporate more flowers into your life to enjoy the many benefits? Keep reading to find out!

How to make flowers a bigger part of your life.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to wait for someone to deliver flowers to your door in order to enjoy them. In fact, flower delivery is just of the many things that can help you enjoy more flowers in your day-to-day life. Here are a few more things you can do to incorporate more flowers into your life:

Decorate with dried flowers.

Who says flowers have to be fresh in order to be enjoyable? While dried flowers may not smell or look quite like they once did, they have a unique charm of their own that you’re sure to love. When you buy or receive a bouquet of flowers, and they start looking a little worse for the wear, the last thing you want to do is throw them away. Instead, keep them and dry them so that you can decorate your home with them.

Use flowers for an all-natural sleep aid.

As we mentioned, aromatherapy with some flowers can help to promote better sleep quality. Although there are many flowers that can aid in sleep and relaxation, none compare to lavender. If you’re having a hard time sleeping at night, dry some lavender and put the dried petals on your side table or even under your pillow!

Want to learn about more ways to incorporate flowers into your life? If so, stay tuned for our next blog. In the meantime, if you’re ready to start enjoying the many benefits of having more flowers around, take advantage of flower delivery in Spring from Breen’s Florist today!

Spice Up Summer with New Blooming Plants Ideas

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Breens Florist

As we are in the prime of summer and everyone is out in their gardens playing with their plants; Breen’s Florist in Houston has created a collection of plants guaranteed to spice up summer.

The most popular plant this summer is the Begonia, which comes in bright colors like reds, oranges, and yellows. While our plants have been bred to do well indoors, you can acclimate them to be displayed on the patio or even planted outdoors in your own garden.

We have featured the begonia, as well as kalanchoes and mum plants, to be sold individually in a wicker basket, or in one of our two European gardens.

Our double basket features one of our summer plants side by side with a beautiful indoor plant such as a peace lily or Chinese evergreen. Or our triple euro which add another plant such as an ivy or pothos for a great harmony of colors and textures all in one basket.

Another cool item we have added is a new take on the classic dish garden. Previously our dish gardens were designed in an ornamental ceramic pot. Now we have modernized the look and have planted a variety of plants in a clear cylinder giving you the ability to see the natural beauty of the plants growing.

And don’t forget about our designer orchid plants. We have a couple of creative designs including our “Fairytale Orchids,” which features three beautiful Phalaenopsis plants in a rectangle ceramic cube. Its size and beauty is only surpassed by the beauty in our most famous fairytale stories.

No matter whether you want plants for your home or your garden; Breen’s Florist has a wide variety of beautiful plant designs. Send one to yourself and one to a friend. Plants are a great way to strengthen that friendship as you compare your green thumbs.

Blog by: Jenny Morgan (Buyer/Design Center Manager)

Indoor Green Plant and Succulent Care

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Breens Florist

succulent care

Filling your home with indoor plants, flowers, and succulents is an easy way to transform your decor – but for someone who doesn’t have a green thumb, such a thought may be intimidating. You don’t have to worry when you purchase from Breen’s Florist. Not only will we make sure that you get a high-quality product, but our experts are happy to educate you as to how to care for them. We have been adding natural beauty to homes and offices in Houston for decades!

Administrative Professionals week is almost here – don’t forget that a succulent makes a wonderful gift for your most valuable employees! Shop the entire collection here. Continue reading →

Desktop Flowers & Plants for Administrative Professionals Week

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Breens Florist

Administrative Professionals Week

Behind every successful business are a few really organized support personnel – and in April, as we celebrate Administrative Professionals Week, you have the opportunity to give these superstars their due. Maybe you are thinking of the friendly receptionist who puts your clients at ease. Perhaps a personal assistant who never lets you miss a meeting comes to mind. In fact, there are likely many hard-working, unsung heroes in your organization. You couldn’t imagine running a business without them. So for all they do, Breen’s Florist has the floral designs and gifts you need to show your appreciation.

Did You Know? There are approximately 4 million administrative professionals in the United States. Only 5% of them are men. However, until women entered the workforce en masse in the 1950’s, secretaries were nearly always male. Continue reading →

Teacher and Classroom Gifts They’ll Love

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Breens Florist

From Houston to Bellaire, teachers are preparing for the return of students after a long and relaxing summer. As exciting as it is, back-to-school can be a tough adjustment for everyone involved. Whether or not the children are ready to come back, the educators have been decorating classrooms and writing lesson plans throughout the summer months. In order to thank them for all their work already, as well as to wish them a great school year, classroom gifts are the perfect way to let them know you support them.

Encouragement comes in many forms, be it flowers, plants or gift baskets. For instance, these lovely calla lilies will make a dramatic addition to the teacher’s desk on the first day of school; you may also wish to send this graceful arrangement to the school administrators to display at the front desk to greet visitors as they enter. For a more simple display that will fit easily and elegantly on the teacher’s desk, this classic orchid plant will earn top grades.

Due to their ability to stimulate productivity and encourage better concentration, green plants make excellent classroom gifts. This desktop spathiphyllum, more commonly known as a peace lily, will filter toxins from the air – and will thrive when positioned in indirect sunlight. The kids will love watching the trademark white flower bloom, and this beautiful plant will likely become a classroom favorite. Potted attractively in moss and rocks, the teacher may even be able to use for a science lesson!

Don’t forget to send gifts to your college students as well – whether a green plant for their dorm room or a gourmet gift basket for late night studying! There are so many reasons at this time of the year to show your support and give good wishes. At Breen’s Florist, we would love to help. Browse our site, or come in to speak with one of our professional designers. We hope all teachers and students have a fantastic year.

Breens Florist – Earth Day

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Breens Florist

Everyone has heard of Earth Day, but did you know there are two Earth Days each year – one in March, and one in April?

On March 21, 1970, the original Earth Day rally took place. John McConnell, who was a well known peace activist environmental crusader, may have beaten everyone else to getting an official event off the ground – but he is not known as the originator of Earth Day. That honor goes to Senator Gaylord Nelson.

Since Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring had been published in 1962, they was a growing awareness and groundswell, insisting on legislative action in regard environmental concerns. In 1969, after seeing the devestating effect of a California oil spill, Senator Nelson announced and organized an educational “Teach-In” to take place on April 22^nd of the following year. This event was intended to gather support for legislation; and Nelson asked a couple of friends, Congressman Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes, to spread the grassroots idea across campuses coast to coast.

McConnell, meanwhile, also consumed with the idea of setting aside a day to fight for the planet, thought that the spring or vernal equinox – the first day of Spring – was the most appropriate day to celebrate. The mayor of San Francisco agreed with his reasoning. A month before the Nelson event, on March 21, 1970, the first observance took place in Northern California. McConnell would later admit that Nelson phoned him to ask try to consolidate efforts, but McConnell declined. In June of 1970, the UN sanctioned the spring equinox as “International Earth Day”.

Still, it was Nelson’s April 22 nationwide rallies that motivated citizens to action; an estimated 20 million people participated, gaining the attention of the government. Legislation was quickly introduced; and within months, the Environmental Protection Agency was instituted. The vast majority of Earth Day activities, in Houston and across America, occur during April’s “Earth Week”, the days surrounding April 22 each year.

At Breen’s Florist, we appreciate all the benefits that green plants and flowers bring to our lives every day; so in a way, every day is Earth Day. But this March and April, how about buying a few more plants to surround you in honor of the Earth? Give us a call today.

Decorate Your Home With Houseplants for Houseplant Appreciation Day

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Breens Florist

On January 10, we celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day. By then, your Christmas tree and the rest of the holiday decorations are packed away. Your house may be looking dreary and empty. You can bring back the color, interest and warmth by incorporating houseplants into the rest of your home decor. One of the best things about houseplants is that you can coordinate any plant with any furniture or other decor in your home.

The houseplants you display throughout your home aren’t just pretty; they have environmental and health benefits, too. Plants are useful for boosting moods, aiding concentration and even purifying the air.

If you’ve never grown houseplants before, you’ll have absolutely no trouble growing our Pothos Pole Ivy plant. This plant is one of the least demanding houseplants you’ll ever find. It can grow in any room – even one with limited sunlight. Just remember to water it and you’ll be rewarded by this attractive plant that grows very quickly.

If you’re looking for something for a desktop or tabletop, you’re in luck. You’ll also get an abundance of good luck with our 18-inch tall Money Tree. We planted it in a clear glass cube with a soilless planting mix. It is very easy to take care of, and you’ll be rewarded immensely by the unique and interesting shape of this small tree’s trunk.

Another outstanding plant that doesn’t require much maintenance is our miniature Schefflera Plant. This low-maintenance plant thrives in medium light. It’s perfect for your home office, or a workplace. You can place it on a table, or on the floor with a plant saucer underneath the basket.

You may be able to enjoy some beautiful flowering plants in your yard or garden because of our mild Houston climate, but it’s still nice to have some green plants that don’t require a ton of maintenance inside your home.

You can count on Breen’s Florist to be your go-to source for houseplants, flowers, flowering plants and gifts for any and every occasion.

Outdoor Plants for Summer Parties

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Breens Florist

Texans are lucky to live in a climate that’s conducive to outdoor entertaining for most of the year. However, summer is extra special because it means poolside gatherings, barbecues, and enjoying the great weather with outdoor socializing and activities. Houston doesn’t often have to contend with the cold winter temperatures that make it impossible for residents of Northern and Central Texas, to grow tropical green and flowering plants outdoors all year long. Breen’s Florist is pleased to be able to offer our customers, some beautiful tropical plants that are ideally suited to container growing on patios, balconies, or decks.

We’ve come up with some suggestions that may inspire you to forego traditional flower arrangements for your summer parties, and consider replacing them with potted green and flowering plants.

Bromeliads are often found in tropical and subtropical forests and rainforests. These lush looking plants are characterized by dark green, silvery green or variegated foliage. They have flowers that grow from the center of the plant. As the plant grows, it may produce baby plants called “pups.” These baby plants usually grow off the side of the mother plant. The flowers last for a very long time. Bromeliads do well in filtered sun – or in conditions that mimic the environment that they are typically found in when growing in the tropical or sub-tropical forests. These showy plants have shallow roots, so they may be damaged by severe weather.

Croton

The unusual foliage of a Croton plant may make it a topic of conversation. This unique tropical plant thrives in warm, sunny locations. It is also suited to indoor growth. Croton plants don’t require a tremendous amount of care, but they really deliver on interest and drama. These plants would look fantastic on end tables, side tables, or any place that needs a touch of bright color.

You can’t go wrong with an exotic Orchid Plant. We can customize the planter and give you one, two, or three orchids. Orchids are planted in a soilless mix that we top with moss to create a whimsical, but sophisticated look. Orchids are delicate, but the warm Houston weather is sure to be the ideal climate to encourage growth and blooming. We support the orchids with a special plant stake and add some decorative twigs to the planter to capture the feeling that we whisked the plant out of a natural habitat.

Blooming Orchid Plants

Think about decorating your outdoor entertaining space with lush, tropical green and flowering plants. They will bring any boring outdoor space back to life!

Celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Breens Florist

: Croton Plant

: Peace Lily

National Houseplant Appreciation Day is Saturday, January 10, 2015. Do you know how you’re going to celebrate this year?

If you’re already aware of the joys of houseplants, it might be a good time to add some more to your collection. If you don’t have any yet, it could be the perfect time to start. It’s also a great time to gift friends and family members with some green plants to enhance the energy in their home or office.

Plants do so much for us; they help purify the air we breathe, and they have a stress-reducing as well as an energizing effect on our environment. Celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day this year with the following plant ideas for yourself or for those you care about:

Croton Plant

The colorful Croton Plant is easy to care for while bringing beauty and good energy to a home environment. Its leaves are thick, shiny and richly textured in shades of bright green, yellow and even orange and red. Brighten up your home or the home of a loved one with a Croton Plant.

Blooming Peace Lily

The Peace Lily is another popular house plant that’s easy to care for and offers great benefits to health and quality of life. The Peace Lily helps to oxygenate your home’s air while also neutralizing harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be present in the home environment. The Peace Lily also blooms beautiful white trumpet-like lilies regularly, which adds to their charm and appeal.

Ivy

Green meandering ivy has a soothing, appealing look and can bring good energy to any indoor space. It’s generally easy to care for and can bring years of enjoyment to your household. The Pothos Pole Ivy offers lush, shiny leaves, and lots of green appeal. Consider Ivy in a Basket for hanging or easy transport from room to room.

Dish and Desktop Gardens

Can’t decide on just one plant to buy or give as a gift? Consider a Dish Garden or a Desktop Garden. These beautiful arrangements feature multiple species in one compact planter to give variety and diversity to your plant selection for the home or office. Need more color? A Garden of Eden Basket combines both green and blooming plants for a very beautiful effect.

For 2015, National Houseplant Appreciation Day is Saturday, January 10. Consider these houseplant ideas for yourself or as gifts for those you care about. Contact Breen’s Florist for more ideas or to place your order.

: Ivy in a Basket

: Garden of Eden