PEONY ROSES HAVE ARRIVED

For all of you who have been asking about Peonies since February well they have arrived. Due to the weather which has been bad all over the country - who would be a Farmer! - the season has started late.

We have been in contact with a farm in Tassie and our first shipment will arrive Monday 08 November around lunch time. Hans (our Farmer)has some unique blooms to start the season and we will have plenty of stock for you to choose from.

Look forward to seeing you in the shop!

HBO+EMTB NEW BRISBANE OFFICE

International Architecture and Design company HBO+EMTB launched their new design space in Mary Street with a gala event on Wednesday 13 October.

This international firm has offices across the globe from Auckland to Shanghai to Bangalore and Hyderabad and its great to see them in Brissy! Minister Paul Lucas opened the space while Flower Trap help out with something a bit special for the event

PHALAENOPISIS ORCHIDS TOO MUCH WATER PEOPLE!!

These locally grown orchids which we always have in stock are great indoor plants and flowers for 6-8 weeks. Over the last couple of weeks a number of clients have been having some trouble with them in relation to the flowers dropping and not lasting as long as they should. To investigate the problem I had the plants brought back to us so I could consult with the grower. The result is that they are being killed with kindness.

OVER-WATERING WILL KILLING YOUR ORCHIDS!

In the wilds of nature orchids live in the boughs of trees or rocks and crevasses all of which have good drainage and only the water that falls from the sky. This principal needs to be applied when you get your orchid plant home.
Display your plant in a well lit warm position avoiding direct sun. Water weekly in summer and about every 10 days in winter. I always advise if you think it needs a drink - wait 3 days. I also suggest a spray bottle rather than a watering can as you will use less water - and a couple of drops of Seasol will keep the plant thriving

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

September 8 saw regular event client PWC hosted a gala event at GoMA surrounded by the Valentino Gowns. Cater to everyone famous Caxton St provided fantastic food (as usual) for the evening. We did some slightly understated florals for the evening. Stephanie from PWC was very happy with the results! The word AMAZING was used quite a bit!

SPRING HAS ARRIVED

Well we are into the first week of spring! It's almost like someone flicked the switch and the tempature has changed almost overnight with 26 degree days and warm sunshine to the point of being hot!! Ranunculi have arrived which is the a great signal that spring has finally arrived. In a range of colours from vivid oranges and yellow to crisp white and pretty pinks that have become a great favorite over the last couple of weeks. Iris - natures answer to blue are popular and make a great statement when you put a couple of bunches together. We also have some fantastic imported roses. They have an extra large bloom and last extreamly well it surprises me and the colour range is great too!

The cymbidium orchids are almost finished for the year and our last delivery was on Friday. Leaf&Bud another of our orchid growers had dropped in some flowering Dancing Lady plants which have 3 flower spikes and as alway from FlowerTrap are easy to look after and make a great statement.

We have new ranges of containers and vases for the season and new cards imported from the UK look out for them in store now

Peony Roses

I would like to let everyone know that Peonies are only available from early November until about the second week in December depending on the weather. They are not around in April or May. You may see some in June/July. These have been flown in from Europe or possibly China and have a first class price tag. The season is about 6 week depending on the weather and you can normally set your alarm for this time. If you have seen them in the glossy mags remember that they forward plan and may have photographed local homes over 6 months prior to publishing.
So at the end of the day if you have not won the lotto or it isn't November don't ask me!

DRINKS NOW AVAILABLE

The Queensland laws have changed and Florists are now legally permitted to offer BOOZE as part of our service - No Licence Required!!

Flower Trap will be able to offer a range of quality bevies to include when you send flowers or hampers. We have a number of companies that are wanting to stock product with us as well as having access to the huge wine selection at CRU in the James St Market.

RENAME

Well as you know we are not the most computer savvy and in the past six (6) months we have changed over to Mac from that other thing as well as starting the Blog and having a Database programme customised for us so we are trying very hard to come into the 21st century - but that has come at a cost - we (read Martin) has stuffed a few things up resulting in there being a number of blogs that are all over the place so anyway we are sorting things out and shortly we will be adding the Blog address to the website.

We have been cruising along and supporting our new staff member Larnie who started with us about three (3) months ago. Since the last entry the weather has cooled and now the winter blooms have arrived and are lasting very well.

We have complete a number of large jobs and the Wedding from the last post so all is going well

Cymbid orchid plants have also started coming through and look fantastic. We have some amazing plants in the shop at the moment and they wont last as they are priced to sell!!

Dont for get you can order via the website - fill the form in - easy!

Another Beautiful Wedding

One of our delightful clients returned again this year to arrange another wedding this time for her son. Christine again took on the job of organising as her son lives and works overseas. The theme was white and soft pink lush and beautiful. The ceremony was in the Grand Hall at Grammar and the reception at Customs House with brunch the next day at home.



Maryrose and Larni created the bouquets and large arrangements while Martin laboured on the table arrangements. The large arrangements were delivered to the Church and then moved to the reception and then the following day to be enjoyed at home. M&J removals (Martin & Justin) provided the muscle to make the move happen!

The room at Customs House came alive with a black and silver theme and lush flowing blooms incorporated into the candle holders supplied by the venue. Draped jewels and taper candles finished off the arrangements and the room was amazing.

FLOWER CARE FOR WINTER

Well its amazing what some good moisturiser and sleep can do!!

Now I want to take the opportunity to ramble on about winter care for your blooms and plants. As things cool down and we unpack the jumpers for another year we should not neglect our flowers or flowering indoor plants. Your flowers will last longer in the cooler weather but you need to be mindful that they still need to be recut when you get them home and pop them into a clean vase with luke warm water and a splash of bleach. The water should also be changed on a regular basis and the stem recut again. Your blooms will drink more water if you have the heating on so keep an eye out. Keep the flowers out of drafts and away from the reverse cycle aircon and direct sunlight.

As your skin will be feeling the drying effect so will your indoor plants. They still need water in winter just not as much. Once the plant has totally dried out it is on the way out and rewetting the soil can be a nightmare. Clients with our orchid bowls should ensure that the moss is damp - not wet. It is also a good time to give the leaves of your indoor greens a clean to remove any dust and impurities which have built up over the warmer months. I also give everything a good misting with a liquid fertiliser after cleaning - I use a very weak fish emulation to the colour of a Latte in a spray bottle I got at Coles. It seems to perk them up and keeps them looking good. You can also spray the leaves with white oil for a shinny finish. I do the same thing at the shop when the plants come in from the growers. Clients with palms and madonna lilies can put the whole plant into the shower for a good clean and flush out - think tropical storm.

PRINCESS GRACE

Was going through some images from our Holiday in Europe where we cruised the Med for a couple of weeks. I came across this little flower shop in Monaco (the French side) on our way to see Princess Grace. It made me think of my little shop in Brisvegas

DES DEPARTS

Friends and Clients joined Team Trap for a glass of bubbles to farewell Des

VALENTINES COMES AND GOES

Valentine's Day has come and gone for another year with me and the staff happy to wave goodbye. It arrived on a Sunday this year so we expected to be busy but not like other years when it is normally on a week day and promoted by television and radio.
Roses were popular and the long stem reds were the first thing we sold out of. Oriental lilies and tropicals were also popular as they make an impression and hold well in the February heat. We also scored about 20 bunches of the first season tulip which were beautiful.
This was Des's last Valentine's with us as he has decided to make the move to Melbourne to be with his partner so there was a fun atmosphere in the shop for the day and Maryrose kept us all entertained as usual

2010 Arrives

Now that Christmas is over and the New Year has arrived it is probably a good time to look back on the year that was.

2009 was a bit of a mixed bag with the effects of the GFC and the KRudd stimulus package making things difficult to forecast. Everyone had an opinion or two which fed into a feeling of general unsettled-ness. Low interest rates in the early part of the year moved to the departure lounge awaiting eventual take off. The second half of the year saw Airlines discounting heavily as Aussie Dollar when through the roof justifying international travel.

And lets not forget the Ute Gate saga begining the end for Malcolm and the monotone of Penny on Climate Change. The Mary River got a red light from Peter which made Anna not happy but still selling off the states assets. And now we have budgie smuggler wearing Tony - this year should be interesting

It has been hot cold raining and flooding depending on where you are in this great land. The dam levels are at about 70% now after the Christmas rain in the south east. Our local farmers have been having a time of it. Kevin's heliconias are very late this year and have only just started so expect them around until the end of March. Annette our farmer at Bellingen has delivered the first of her Tuber Rose - the crop has been washed out 3 times with the flooding. The heat in late Nov/Dec played havoc with production across the country. Bevan and Elizabeth had problems with the heat at Boonah and the Victorian product also took a hit reducing the flowers which were available for Christmas.

The past year saw some big jobs for Flower Trap. The Queensland Art Gallery had the Met comes to Brisbane - featuring original works from the Metropolitan Museum New York. With an opening cocktail party and 2 VIP dinners it was a production number from start to finish! 2009 also saw the opening of Libertine in Robertson Street. The boutique perfumery splashed out with a night at the races complete with mini horses - 2 of which were expecting mothers .

To finish the year the biggest Wedding commission we have ever undertaken. Maryrose and Des professionally undertook the wedding arrangements and the logistics of moving large pieces from the Church to the Reception at the home in Ascot. The results speak for themselves with the care and effort by two of Brisbane's best.