{"id":404,"date":"2019-06-02T19:00:33","date_gmt":"2019-06-02T18:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.springfieldflorist.co.uk\/blog\/?p=404"},"modified":"2019-05-30T17:04:31","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T16:04:31","slug":"behind-the-scenes-springfield-florist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springfieldflorist.co.uk\/blog\/behind-the-scenes-springfield-florist\/","title":{"rendered":"A Week Behind the Scenes at Springfield Florist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our boutique florist shop<\/a> in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford is always a hive of activity – especially now that the wedding season is underway!\u00a0 Read on to find out what we have been up to this week.<\/p>\n

Bespoke Funeral Tributes<\/h2>\n

We have been working on some bespoke pieces for a funeral<\/a>.\u00a0 Creating a personal, heartfelt tribute that reflects a loved one\u2019s personality often helps those in mourning to express their feelings at such a difficult time.<\/p>\n

\"Floral<\/a>\"Funeral<\/a><\/p>\n

Our experienced florists pay enormous attention to detail to get the design just right.\u00a0 Starting with an oasis, we then add the flowers and other suitable materials such as ribbon, foliage or printed labels as in the case of the champagne bottles.<\/p>\n

\"Florist<\/a>\"Florist<\/a><\/p>\n

We will often use a special florist\u2019s spray paint to colour the flowers as you can see in the photos.\u00a0 This is necessary to obtain the wide spectrum of colours required for a realistic tribute.\u00a0 It also adds depth to the piece.<\/p>\n

Picking and Preparing Fresh Flowers Delivered Straight from Holland<\/h2>\n

Every Wednesday, Bert from ‘Q flowers’ comes straight from Holland in a refrigerated lorry with a fresh flower delivery.\u00a0 We take our time to pick the flowers we want, ensuring we choose only the best quality blooms.\u00a0 This is one of the highlights of our week, being surrounded by so many beautiful flowers – we feel like kids in a sweet shop!<\/p>\n

\"Fresh<\/a><\/p>\n

Before we can arrange our new flowers, they need to be properly conditioned.\u00a0 Conditioning ensures that the flowers and foliage stay at their very best for the maximum amount of time.<\/p>\n

The exact process depends on the type of stem: whether it is woody, hollow, soft, firm or milky.\u00a0 However, conditioning usually involves first stripping the lower leaves which would otherwise rot below the water.<\/p>\n

Next, we cut the lower one or two inches off the stem.\u00a0 When the flowers arrive, they will often have air bubbles or bacteria clogging this lower portion of the stem.\u00a0 Cutting them allows water to pass more easily to the blooms, preventing wilting.<\/p>\n

It is important to use a sharp knife to make the cut: scissors can crush the stem, restricting the flow of water.\u00a0 We always cut stems at a 45-degree angle: a straight cut can lead to the stem resting on the bottom of the container, preventing water from flowing up to the flower heads.<\/p>\n

After trimming, we place the flowers in a bucket of tepid water and placed into a cold room for storage.\u00a0 Many florists don’t have this luxury, but it is another key step in keeping the flowers lovely and fresh!<\/p>\n

Whoever Said Being a Florist was Glamorous?<\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, a florist\u2019s life isn\u2019t always about being surrounded by sweet-smelling flowers: we get the dirty jobs too!\u00a0 Another essential factor in keeping our blooms fresh is regularly cleaning out the flower buckets.<\/p>\n

This involves using bleach and washing up liquid to get rid of any contaminated water.\u00a0 The buckets have to be spotlessly clean to prevent bacteria build up which can be absorbed by the fresh stems, slowly blocking their water uptake and shortening their life.<\/p>\n\n\t\t