Flower Notes

What Everybody Ought to Know About Valentine’s

2010-01-26T17:08:00.006-05:00

Hey guys and gals, how’s your love life? Is it active, boring, worthless or just wimpy. Do you kiss you spouse or fiancé or lover or girlfriend/boyfriend daily? Once a day. Twice a day. Several times a day. Once a week. Never!? How often do you send flowers to your love one? Weekly. Monthly. Only on birthdays and anniversaries? Or maybe just when you’ve screwed up. Man, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve unlocked the keys to the doghouse with our famous roses.

Now there is one time of the year you just can’t be wimpy or screw up. That’s Valentine’s Day. You’ve got to remember to send your true love a big bouquet of flowers, cause I ain’t got enough keys to get you outa that doghouse. No siree! No amount of kissin’ and huggin’ will make up for not sending your sweetheart flowers on Valentine’s Day.

At Knight’s we are here to make that day very, very special. Our designers have been working tirelessly to come up with arrangements that will blow you away. They are sexier (the flowers) than socks on a rooster. We have arrangements with roses in an assortment of colors. We’ve created bouquets of roses and stunning pink oriental lilies. Tulip bouquets are becoming very popular and we have a gorgeous arrangement of 10 sexy red tulips in a vase. Of course, we’ll have our wonderful assortment of chocolates, plush animals and balloons.

A tradition here at Knight’s is our rose feature at Valentine’s. It’s always a non-red rose feature. Did you know that 80% women prefer roses in colors other than red? Because we want to make sure your sweetie pie is happy, huggy and kissy we’ve gone all out to come up with a truly unique rose arrangement this Valentine’s

The rose we are featuring this year is call ‘Fame’. It’s a new rose that just became available this past year. It was born in Holland in 2007. One of its unique characteristics is its unusual color. It’s a silvery, mauvish pink. Light pink roses suggest a sense of fun, happiness and whimsy. It opens up fully and will last well over a week. When we first saw this rose a couple months ago here at Knight’s all our designers screamed “This is it! This is our rose for Valentine’s!” Immediately we made contact with Rio Roses, the world’s most discriminating rose grower. We bought all we could get our hands on. Because this rose is so new there is not a lot of supply out there. You will not find this rose anywhere else but Knight's Flowers. Place your order early, supplies are very limited.

So now there you have it. Now you know what to get for Valentine’s. Put your faith in Knight’s Flowers to give your flame a Valentine’s they will always remember with roses that they will cherish for days and days.

Check out our complete lineup for Valentines at knightsflowers.com.

Tango Lilies

2009-11-11T17:17:00.000-05:00

Over the last few weeks we've been receiving 'Tango' lilies for the fall. These are some of the most beautiful and unusual lilies I've seen. They are the latest rage in asiatic lilies. Tango lilies have a fantastic vase life of up to 12 days.

These lilies are characterized by their black speckled centers. As of now they come in eleven varieties. At present we carry 2- 3 of the 'tango' varieties. We are the first florist in the Knoxville area to carry these lilies, definitely not something you see in other area flower shops.

'Kentucky' is bright orange with cocoa speckles in the
center that's perfect for fall arrangements.

'Coastline' has a pastel yellowish tint to it with burgundy speckles in the center.

We are now doing some gorgeous roses and lilies bouquets with tango lilies in them. These lilies are great in sympathy arrangements and really stand out. Of course, you can also just come by and buy them buy the stem and arrange them in your own vase at home.

Here's a cute video about the 'tango lilies':

Just a Single rose

2009-06-12T17:06:00.000-04:00

So often in the flower business when we think of roses we think in terms of 1 dozen roses. Here at Knight's we are famous for our 2 dozen rose specials. We sometimes loose sight of the fact that just a single rose can convey a wonderful heartfelt feeling and have just as much impact as 1 or 2 dozen roses.

Several times a month we have a customer from Norris by the name of Carl that comes in and gets just a single rose to give a friend in the apartment complex he lives in for being such a nice person. This week he came by to get a single pink rose and wanted to share a card he got from a friend he gave a rose to. Below is the message on that card:

Carl,

I love flowers and I think a flower was one of God's most phenomenal creations.

Thank you so much for the beautiful rose. In this day and age, it seems like people giving flowers was a thing of the past. It is really nice to know people still give them.

Also thanks for the smiley face.

Thank You,
Marilyn

I tell our employees here at Knight's a customer that buys just 1 rose is just as good a customer as someone who buys 1 or 2 dozen roses. For several years we had a customer that would come by every week and buy a single yellow rose to put on his wife's grave. When he past away his family remembered their father's devotion to his wife memory and knew he came by Knight's to get the roses. They wanted to make sure they got his casket spray of roses from Knight's. A single rose ended up turning into a big order. Just a single rose can say it all.

Beanpod Candles Come to Knight's

2009-04-01T16:20:00.000-04:00

You can now find your favorite Beanpod candles at Knight's! If you've never smelled a Beanpod candle, we'll just say they smell so real you'll never go back to any other candle. If you're into aromatherapy, their mood selecter will help you choose which scents you're in the mood for.

We carry a wide range of scents, both seasonal and year-round, in the Soy Beads, tea light, and 8, 16 and 25 ounce jars. The jars burn for approximately 120 hours (8 oz), 180 hours (16 oz) or 210 hours (25 oz) when you follow their burning instructions. Since soy wax burns cooler than paraffin and the wicks are cotton, Beanpods may burn a little differently than other candles you're used to.

We've even created an arrangement called Flowers and Fragrance that our customers really love. Beautiful flowers and a keepsake candle. 2 for 1!

The Soy Beads can be melted in almost any tart warmer (flame or electric), placed out as pot pourri, or used in vacuum cleaner bags (but not a cannister) to freshen your house when you clean. Soy beads can be mixed and matched to create unique recipes, too! We have some recipe cards at the shop with suggestions, or create your own.

Beanpod candles are made from American grown soybeans, and are made in Iowa. The wicks are made from cotton and are lead free. Soy wax is superior to petroleum-based parrafin because soy wax is:

environmentally friendly
cleans up with soap and water
a renewable and sustainable resource
supports farmers

So, stop by Knight's, and Go Green, Burn a Bean!

I'm in the Emotion Business

2009-04-01T11:38:00.000-04:00

Years ago I came across a poem that really struck home to me. It really reminds me that I'm not just in the flower business, but more importantly in the emotion business.

Roses for Rose

Red roses were her favorites; her name was also Rose,
And every year her husband sent them tied with pretty bows.
The year he died the roses were delivered to her door,
The card said "Be My Valentine" like all the years before.

Each year he sent her roses and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year than last year on this day,
My love for you will always grow with every passing year,"
She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.

She thought he ordered roses in advance before this day,
Her loving husband did not know that he would pass away.
He always liked to do things early way before the time,
Then if he got too busy everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems and placed them in a very special vase,
Then sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours in her husband's favorite chair,
While staring at his picture and the roses sitting there.

A year went by and it was hard to live without her mate,
With loneliness and solitude that had become her fate.
Then the very hour as on Valentines before,
The doorbell rang and there were roses sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in and then just looked at them in shock,
Then went to get the telephone to call the florist shop.
The owner answered and she asked him if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her causing her such pain?

"I know your husband passed away more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call and you would want to know."
"The flowers you received today were paid for in advance,
Your husband always planned ahead he left nothing to chance."

"There is a standing order that I have on file down here,
And he has paid well in advance you'll get them every year."
"There also is another thing that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card he did this years ago."

"Then should ever I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone her tears now flowing hard,
Her fingers shaking as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card she saw that he had written her a note,
Then as she stared in total silence this is what he wrote.
Hello my love I know it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome.

I know it must be lonely and the pain is very real,
For if it was the other way I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life,
I loved you more than words can say you were the perfect wife.

You were my friend and lover you fulfilled my every need,
I know it's only been a year but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy even when you shed your tears,
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.

When you get these roses think of all the happiness,
That we had together and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and I know I always will,
But my love you must go on you have some living still.

Please try to find happiness while living out your days,
I know it is not easy but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered when the florist stops to knock.

He will come five times that day in case you have gone out,
But after his last visit he will know without a doubt,
To take the roses to the place where I've instructed him,
And place the roses where we are together once again.

Garden Roses

2007-08-12T20:57:00.000-04:00

Over the years we've tried garden roses from California and Holland and have always been disappointed. They don't ship well and have a very short vase life. In fact, we were lucky if they arrived fit to use. The stems were always very weak and tended to have that droopy look. Unless you used them within a day or two they ended up not usable. We would never send these out in a vase arrangement. They might work for a wedding or a party were a weeks vase life was not that important. They cost a fortune and considering the amount of dumpage it just didn't pay to buy these roses.

All that has changed. A German rose breeder Rosen Tantau has developed a line of garden roses that have greatly improve vase life and they've breeded a rose with much stronger stems. These roses are now being grown in Columbia by Alexdandra Roses.

If your a bride craving for that 'garden look' that's featured in so many bridal magazine with big garden roses we have them at Knight's. Just give us plenty of time to order them.

Mariatheresia:

This medium pink rose has a circular form that blooms out to a 3" opening. It has a fairly fast arputure. All the roses bloomed out. It has little or no fragrance. It would work fine for weddings or party work. I wouldn't recommend it for everyday arrangements because of it's short vase life.

Rating (1 to for 4 stars)
Color: ***
Head Size **
Shape ***
Fragrance none
Vase Life * 3-4 days
Overall***

Pros: nice color, pretty form, all blooms fully opened
Cons: short vase life, average size head

Chippendale:

A salmon pink rose that fully opened into a spiral cup shape form. With a nice fragrance, these roses would be ideally suited for weddings and parties. Some of the roses we tested had some brown edges which is not unusual given the highly perishable nature of garden roses.

Rating (1 to four stars)
Color ****
Form ****
Fragrance ***
Head Size ***
Vase Life * 3-4 days
Overall ***1/2

Pros: spicy fragrance, uniform form, all flowers opened fully
Cons: short vase life

Waltzertraum:

The flower panel gave this stunning rose 4 stars. Waltzertraum is German for "Dream Waltz". Walzertraum is a huge peony shaped hot pink garden roses that doesn't have any discernable fragrance. Most of these roses opened about a 1/3 to 1/2 way. This would be a perfect substitute for peonies in weddings and probably a lot less expensive.

Rating (1 to four stars)
Color ****
Form ****
Fragrance: none
Head Size ****
Vase Life * 3-4 days
Overall ****
Pros: spicy fragrance, uniform form, all flowers opened fully
Cons: short vase life

Lovely Antique:

Here's a garden rose that looks very similar to the hybrid tea called 'Dolce Vita'. It's a big bulbous white rose with hot pink edges. Nice rose to use in a wedding in which the overall color scheme was basically white, but you just wanted to add just a touch of pink.

Rating (1 to four stars)
Color ***
Form ***
Fragrance faint
Head Size ****
Vase Life * 3-4 days
Overall ***

Pros: large headsize,
Cons: short vase life, some roses never opened

'Red Carolline' Delphinium

2007-08-12T12:32:00.000-04:00

It's not often we get a flower in our shop that completely blows us away. This past week we received a shipment of the most increadably beautiful delphinium we've ever laid our eyes on. It's called 'Red Caroline', a salmon red elatum hybrid delphinium. These gorgeous delphinium are grown in Ecuador by a grower which specializes in growing summer flowers.

The ancient Greeks named delphinium for the flower's resemblance to the dolphin-the Greek word for dolphin being 'delphis'. Delphiniums are one of the few true blue cut flowers. Cut delphiniums are available in a range of colors-electric blue, light blue, purple, black,lavender, white, like pink and salmon red.

One of the things we look for in flowers we carry at Knight's is at least a weeks vase life. This variety of delphinium should have no problem lasting at least 7 days. Delphinium are heavy drinkers, so you need to be sure to constantly check the water level. Look for delphinium that still have buds at the top that still haven't opened. Unlike other spike flowers like gladiolus, delphinium open from the bottom up.

Our flower panel immediately gave the 'Red Caroline' delphinium 4 stars (out of a possible 4). Look for this in our store at a very attractive price by the bunch.

Rating:
Color-****
Overall-****

Pros: lots of blooms, striking color
Cons: none, outstanding