Ballard Blossom Blog

Valentine's Day is just around the corner which means it's time to start thinking about flowers! If you've ever received flowers, you know the feeling of excitement that comes with seeing a beautiful arrangement delivered to your home or office. But what if the joy of receiving flowers could last longer?  Most people know the basics for keeping flowers alive longer: changing the water, keeping it in a cool place, and not leaving them in direct sunlight. But here are a few pro tips from the experienced floral designers at Ballard Blossom in Seattle, WA that will help make your flowers last as long as possible. 1. Choose a clear vase One of the most obvious ways to make roses and other flowers last longer is by using a clear vase with a lot of water. Why clear? Because opaque vases make it much more difficult to monitor the water level - which almost always leads to under-watering and faster perishing flowers. 2. Condition your water (use flower food) Beautiful Love Bouquet

After a year of indecision in 2021 when the Pantone Color Institute couldn’t decide between “Illuminating” (yellow) and “Ultra Gray” as Color of the Year, the “color experts” at the Pantone Color Institute returned to their customary selection of a lone color to represent 2022. Their choice? Very Peri (PANTONE 17-3938), a shade of blue with violet red undertones, not unlike what most people call periwinkle.  How did the color experts choose Very Peri for the 2022 Color of the Year? Pantone Color Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman explains: “As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3939 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family, encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time with its violet red undertone, encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” Pantone chose bright and soothing colors last year to symbolize a renewed sense of hope and optimism following the world