Scene in the Greenhouse... Favorite Colors!

Fuchsia Blooms Open Like Ballerina Tu-tus!

 Waukesha Floral is privileged to host dozen of pre-school tours during the springtime.  Usually the tour guide (who is also the blog lady) asks what their favorite color is.  Boys tend to love blue or "all colors!" and girls choose purple and pink most times.  Here are some of the beautiful flowers in our greenhouse in their favorite colors.

Velvety Purple Petunias Are Striking!

A Mixed Planter of Geraniums, Beth's Blue, Petunias and Lobelia

So Full!  This Lobelia Basket is Stunning!

Scene in the Greenhouse... Yard Art!

Mr. Prickers and his Cacti Friend Want to Go Home With You!

 The finishing touch to any patio planter or garden is a little something that adds a touch of character and whimsy.  Stop by and see what tickles your fancy!

From wind chimes and garden stakes to natural bee skeps, you'll find a little treasure here!

For Your Favorite Honey Bee!

Frogs have Appeared in our Planters!

Scene in the Greenhouse... Hello Yellow!

Tuberous Begonia for Shade or Semi-Sun

Sun-sational Hanging Basket

 Rain and storms are always a part of summer, but you can add a little sunshine to your landscape with the color yellow!

It's the color of happy faces and warm places and can be just the ticket for brightening up a dark space.  Here are some of the offerings in our greenhouse.

I also ran across orange-yellow Celosia plants and light yellow petunias.

Get yellow and come-on get happy!

Lantana LOVES Sun and Hot Spaces

Pansies like to Chill in the Shade

Marigolds are Sun-Lovers

Not Just Fresh...

 ...but fabulous designs in permanent flowers and greens!

For your home or business, see Waukesha Floral for custom silk floral arrangements or permanent plants.  We do every job from small to large.  Here are just some examples of business decorations we have created recently.

Oftentimes, we can help save money on large permanent plant installations by ordering in bulk.

Call us for a free quote!

Wedding Season is Here

Is anything more beautiful than a summer wedding?

Call or email us to schedule your free wedding flower consultation with Denise or Mary Jo!

Request Denise:  denise@waukeshafloral.com
Request Mary Jo:  maryjo@waukeshafloral.com

It's easy!  We talk with you about your floral preferences for an hour or so, and give you our suggestions.  We also talk a little about your budget and give you a price range for the look you want.   If you decide to book your wedding with Waukesha Floral (and we hope you do), we ask for a $50 deposit to hold the date, which is used toward your wedding flowers.

We encourage brides to bring pictures, samples or let us know your Pinterest address so we can go over your preferences together.  Waukesha Floral has a private consultation room so we can really focus on what you like.  Don't delay - wedding dates fill quickly, especially in the Fall.

Open Memorial Day 9-3!

Check out these pretty planted hanging cones in our greenhouse today!  We are open in the greenhouse and the flower shop from 9-3, so please stop by and see what's ready to beautify your yard.

Toot.... Toot.... Toot...

 ...that's the sound of Waukesha Floral tooting it's own horn!

We were recently recognized by both Teleflora and FTD for being a top quality florist.

Waukesha Floral is in the Top 1% of all Teleflora florists (upper 250 out of 25,000 nationwide) for both order quantity and order quality.

FTD has bestowed its Quality Star on Waukesha Floral for order excellence, creativity and trusted worldwide floral delivery.

And none of this is possible except for the good business you give to Waukesha Floral year after year.  Thank YOU!

Scene in the Greenhouse... Not the Usual Flowers

Double Flowering Hibiscus Tree

Humble, yet Mighty... the Strawflower!

Here is a gorgeous double orange Hibiscus flower found blooming today in our greenhouse!  Did you know the flower lasts but one day and then withers?  In bright sun, with plenty of water, the plants will continue to push out new blooms on a daily basis.  They are wonderful in patio pots for height, or we have them in a shorter version for a lower container.  Flowers are pink, peach, orange, red or a combination of one of those colors with white.

A humble flower in our greenhouse is the sunny yellow strawflower.  The preschoolers who pass through love to touch this flower and feel the papery petals and center that "looks like a Cheerio" per Lily from St. Luke's.  They love to bake in the hot sun and bloom out with a profusion of yellow!

Another striking flower is the African Daisy (Osteospermum).  These are also very tolerant of hot sun and less than idea watering situations.  The beauty of lemon yellow with a ring of white and purple on each petal is a striking contrast.

Try one of these "different" plants this year!

Lemon African Daisy

Scene in the Greenhouse... Best Supporting Actors!

Coffee Cups Plants Dance in the Rain!

Wandering Jew Plant - Purple & Gray/green together!

 Nominated for best supporting actors in a garden or patio container are these three plants:

Coffee Cups is a stand-out in the center of a container or garden, or plant several together for rainy day fun.  These really are fun on a rainy day. Their leaf "cups" fill with water, and when they can hold no more, dip down and spill over the pot or into the garden, creating a lot of bobbing motion.  It's very relaxing to watch.  The coffee colored stems are also a beautiful contrast to bright colors.

Wandering Jew is a favorite vining plant that will spill over the side of a pot or planter with a nice, thick leafy plant.  The light gray and purple stripe is   an unexpected pop of color in the garden.  They can also be propagated by taking slips off the plant and rooting, and can be grown as a houseplant.  These are best in semi-sun areas.

Finally, we have a pretty pink striped grass that will also be a show-stopper in the yard this year  When planted with a pink flowering petunia or green sweet potato vine.  Beautiful!

Pretty Pink Fountain Grass

Scene in the Greenhouse... Geraniums!

Geraniums provide COLOR in our greenhouse!

Geraniums!  They are a "staple" of the garden!  Great in full sun or patio pots, they also thrive in hanging baskets and are pushy enough to share their planting space with aggressive plants.

Geraniums love to have hot sun on their faces but prefer a little cooler root system, so it can be beneficial to top dress the plant with some mulch.  The plants will produce beautiful blooms all summer with frequent "deadheading" of the spent flowers.  To do this, follow the stem the flower is on all the way back to the main "trunk" of the plant, and take the whole stem and old bloom off.

If a really good showing of geranium flowers is desired for an outdoor party, consider removing all the blooms from the geranium plants 2-3 weeks before the party.  The plants will respond with spectacular flowers all at once for your event.

A regular fertilizing of 20-20-20 every couple of weeks also helps vigor and longevity.

These robust red beauties want to go home with you!

Spectacular Hanging Basket... and someone's hat!

Scene in the Greenhouse: Herbs!

Mint Mojito

It's time to grow some herbs!

Here are some favorites!  Mint mojito plant is fabulous when made into the drink that tastes like a little bit of summer.  It's a good thing the plant grows fast, because one drink requires 10 mint leaves!  It's definitely worth borrowing from the plant to make this refreshing drink on a hot day.  We recommend growing this mint in a pot.  Like any mint, the plant can be very aggressive when planted directly to a garden.

Here is an easy mint mojito recipe link: Real easy mint mojito recipe

Basil

Basil is a wonderful herb to flavor salads or make pesto.  It's flavorful in caprese salads (with tomatoes, mozzarella and a little balsamic vinegar or even just salt) or potato salads too.

Rosemary is not just a pretty name, but also used for soups and cooked dishes such as chicken or roast potatoes.  An easy recipe is to cut potatoes or sweet potatoes in chunks, add a little olive oil and some chopped rosemary, and roast for one hour at 400 degrees, turning a couple times.  Yum!

Rosemary

Thanks for Shopping Local!

National Small Business Week is May 20-24.

When you shop with local merchants, more of your money stays close to home.  You support all things that make our community great!

Waukesha Floral, since 1904... your hometown florist!

Graduation Flowers!

 This past weekend was an exciting one for our daughter, Hannah.  After 4 quick and action-packed years, she graduated from St. Norbert College.  Along the way she was co-president of Optimists International for the campus, worked in the catering department, and studied abroad in the Dominican Republic.  Hannah made many lasting friendships, especially among her roommates in "townhouse 4".  And of course, they all had to have flowers to celebrate this momentous day!

There are so many wonderful celebrations in spring, including graduations, first communion, confirmation, moving day, and lots of new beginnings.  Commemorate someone's special day with flowers!

Mother's Day Tomorrow!

Mother's Day is tomorrow!  Stop by the greenhouse and check out our pretty flowers for mom.  We have an abundance of outdoor hanging baskets, patio planters, herbs, fresh flowers and more.  We even have colanders with various lettuces planted and tomato hanging baskets.  You're sure to find something perfect for mom.

Waukesha Floral will be open until 5 p.m. this evening, and again Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.   We will be delivering in Waukesha tomorrow too... so if you forgot, there's still some time. Always feel free to call. (262) 542-8152

Ready, set... Action!

 Ginny, Chris and John from ImageMakers Advertising were in the greenhouse yesterday, filming ads for Mother's Day and the spring growing season.

If you've ever wondered "how do they get those pictures of Marty's face surrounded by flowers?", well this is how it's done!  It's not rocket science but we thought you might find it amusing.

If you'd like to be surrounded by flowers, just take a stroll through our greenhouse.  It's much easier than having to lay down on the greenhouse floor!