Amazing Benefits of Houseplants

House Plants….here at Bank of Flowers we love them. Why do we love them you ask??? Well, not only are they a longer lasting gift option than a fresh arrangement, they also beautify the home.  But most importantly, they provide many benefits to our health and wellness.  

What are the Health and Wellness Benefit of Plants?  Research has shown that plants remove toxins from the air.  NASA (yes NASA!) has come up with a list of plants that are best at removing toxic substances such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from our environment.  The 3 top air cleaners you ask??? They are the florist chrysanthemum, the peace lily, and the red-edge dracena, all available at Bank of Flowers!

Another benefit to having house plants is that they provide us with an oxygen rich environment. Through photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.  A few of these plants not only do this during the day but also in the evening.  The bromeliad, the succulent, and my personal favorite, the orchid plant are wonderful for increasing oxygen in the house during day and evening hours.

Plants increase humidity in the air by releasing moisture vapor.  As a result, having indoor plants actually helps prevent certain illnesses.  Increased humidity levels in the air helps to lower health problems like dry cough, colds, sore throats, and dry skin.  They are the perfect cure for our long Wisconsin winters (Buurrr!!!!)

How many plants do I need?  How do you create this refreshing, calming, purifying, humidity enriched-environment at home? The recommendation is slightly different based on your goal.  If your goal is to improve your health and decrease stress then one 8” diameter pot every 130 square feet is recommended.  If your goal is to purify the air around your home then it is recommended that there be a larger plant ( 6-8” pot size) or 2 smaller (4-5" pots) every 100 square feet.

What if you don’t have a "Green Thumb"?  It's OK, not all of us at Bank of Flowers have green thumbs either.  Most of us figure out what plants work best in our homes simply through trial and error.  The point is to just try one and see.  We can help you to find a plant that fits the space in your home, your level of sun exposure, and what level of care you can provide; or if there is a particular plant you’re looking for we can help with that too.  Just because you don’t see it in the shop doesn’t mean we can’t get it for you.  Please ask as we are here to help!!

Here are some of the plants that we care for and love in our own homes!!

"Teacher's Pet" Flower Arrangements

Everyone remembers growing up hearing that you should give your teacher an apple on the first day of school.  While many still carry on this tradition, some may want to do something a bit more memorable!  Starting a new school year off right is important at any age.

Show your student and teacher your support with a back-to-school fresh flower arrangement!  You don't have to spend a lot of money to make a big impact.  Look at how cute this little bird bud vase is! I would love to receive one as a gift myself!

 If you want something that will live a long time, send one of our plants.  Our pretty African Violets and small Kalanchoes are only $15!  They come in a cute container with a bow, and should thrive for months or more, and they are easy to care for!

The ideas is that we're giving our teachers a big "Thanks!" for all of their hard work.  Our happy back-to-school "Teacher's Pet" gifts are sure to put smiles on the faces of students and teachers alike!

~Krista Roskopf
Manager, Menomonee Falls
Bank of Flowers

Finding Your Perfect House Plant

 

 

At Bank of Memories & Flowers, we help people and house plants live happily ever after.
How do we do it?  After answering a series of questions about you and your indoor space our savvy staff will connect you with your perfect plant.  We will have you answer questions like: "What is your sun situation?"  "How often are you willing to water your plant?"  "What kind of container are you looking for to put your plant in?" The key is to find a house plant to fit your lifestyle, space and budget.

We want to bridge the gap between plants and people.  There are so many pros for house plants.  Plants will make your home easier for you to breathe.  Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.  Indoor plants will release moisture in the air and even purify the air in you home.  But most important, plants can improve your health and make you happy!

 

Come on in to our shops and meet your potential plant mates.  We have succulents, English ivys, peace lilies, air plants, palms and pothos, along with many pots and decorative containers in every shape and size.

Melissa Maas
~Owner
Bank of Memories & Flowers

A Day For Mom!

Mothers are the hardest working, least appreciated people in our lives and Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to show them just how much they mean to all of us.  Flowers help express our gratitude and thanks to the most important women in our lives, our Moms.

Ever since we were little we have given Mom flowers,  either the freshest dandelions from the lawn or the first bloom from her prized rose bush, flowers have been a mainstay in Mother's Day gifts.  Your local florist can help you choose the floral gift best suited for your mom, grandma or other special woman in your life. The staff at Bank of Memories & Flowers has many combined years of experience in choosing appropriate Mother's Day presents. 

Mom might like a simple  glass vase of flowers or she might like exquisite floral designs in a ceramic container, our designers can create exactly what your Mom prefers.  Perhaps Mom would like something living?  Our stores are stocked with a large array of green and blooming plants from peace lilies to kalanchoes, african violets to begonias.  Our orchid plants have just arrived and are absolutely gorgeous.   Air plants and succulents are currently very popular, we have a whole tree filled with glass globes filled with either of them.

You may say, "My Mom is not that interested in flowers".  That's fine, our Pewaukee location is filled with many other gifts.  Since our store is less than a mile from Pewaukee Lake, we have great lake gifts, signs, vases, mugs and even a boat to keep your drinks on ice.

Happy Mother's Day!

Luan Kurriger
Manager, Pewaukee Store
Bank of Memories & Flowers

Gifts Galore

 Not only is Bank of Memories & Flowers your go to destination for  flower bouquets, fresh floral arrangements, green and blooming plants for holidays, special days or no reason at all, we also stock a large selection of gifts, books, and cards.
I love this time of year, spring time is new merchandise time at the flower shop.  I especially love these adorable new baby signs shown nestled amongst the plants.  They make the perfect shower gift!

Our outdoors area is full of natural items like such as birds nests and manzanita branches while the scent of "Lodge" potpourri fills the air. The rabbits and squirrel figures have been very popular sellers!

We are carrying a wonderful line of books this spring.  "101 Ways to Say Thank You" has been flying off the shelf!  Looking for a great teacher gift?  We have several different wooden plaques for the teacher in your life.

Birds are trending right now, from song birds to owls.  Our owl cookie jars are a hoot!

The metal note holder shown has a bird at the top and can hold cards, reminders and honey do lists!

Among the new books are several journals and "list" books.  Not everyone is a journal writer, it can be intimidating to write paragraphs.  "One Line A Day: A Five Year Memory Book" is the journal for you. "Listography" prides itself on being "the ultimate journal for every list you'll ever need".  By far my favorite is "Books to Check Out, A Journal", a notebook to keep track of books you've read, favorite books and passages, and books borrowed. 

With Easter and Mother's Day on their way or birthdays or just because, Bank of Memories & Flowers has a gift for anyone and everyone on your list.  I can't wait to see what we get in next!    
                                    

Luan M. Kurriger, Manager
Bank of Memories & Flowers Pewaukee
262-695-9911
https://www.bankofmemories.com/

Krista's Pick for Winter Bloomers!!

Winter can be a cold and dreary time of the year here in Wisconsin, but I've got some great blooming plants to brighten up this chilly season!

Cinerarias have many little daisy-like blooms and come in many bright shades including magenta, red, purple, blue, and even white!  They do well in the winter months because they thrive in cool temperatures around 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cinerarias prefer bright, indirect sunlight and like to stay moist at all times.

Kalanchoes are one of my favorites because they are so easy to care for.  They prefer bright direct sunlight and like to dry out between waterings.  They come in a variety of vibrant colors including red, orange, yellow, and hot pink!

Phalaenopsis orchids are just so elegant!!  Many people think they are hard to care for, but actually, they are quite simple.  They will flourish indoors with moderate, indirect sunlight and only need about 2 ice cubes per week.  My only suggestion is to make sure you don't over-water orchids.  They do not like any standing water in the bottom of their containers.

Cyclamen are sometimes called the poor man's orchid.  You can find them in a variety of shades of pink, red and white.  They prefer bright, indirect sunlight and moist soil.  Their vibrant blossoms and interesting leaves make this plant a popular indoor blooming plant choice.

African violets come in many varieties with flowers ranging from white and light pink, to violets, blues, and purples.  Foliage varies from dark green to lighter variegated leaves, and most have a deep purple tone underneath the leaves.  They enjoy indirect bright light and a slightly moist soil.

So stop in and brighten up someone's day with a colorful winter blooming plant!

Krista Roskopf
Manager, Menomonee Falls

The Poinsettia - A Bit of Holiday History

When we see those big, bright red blossoms, we can't help but think of Christmas!  But how did these Mexico-native plants that grow larger-than-life end up in cute little pots in our homes in Wisconsin?  Let's step back in time, all the way back to 1828, when Joel Roberts Poinsett brought the first Cuetlaxochitl plant from Mexico to the U.S. for propagation.

Poinsett was the son of a French physician and an avid botanist.  He was appointed as the first Ambassador to Mexico from the United States by President Madison. While visiting Mexico in 1828, he was amazed by these bright blooms and immediately shipped plants to his South Carolina greenhouses.   There, he grew small versions on the large tree-like plants, and gave them to family, friends, and botanical gardens.

The Cuetlaxochitl plant blooms in the winter months in Mexico, when it cools down, which coincides with the Christian holiday of Christmas.  With it's large vibrant blossoms and blooming season, the Cuetlaxochitl plant, now widely known as the Poinsettia, named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, has become the official plant of the Christmas season, and an important botanical crop, creating more than $250,000,000 in annual wholesale revenue for the industry.   The poinsettias we carry at Bank of Memories & Flowers are grown right here in the Milwaukee suburbs in greenhouses!

Today, December 12th is celebrated as National Poinsettia Day, marking the anniversary of Poinsett's passing.  We continue what Poinsett started so many years ago, giving the gift of an amazing plant as a way to spread joy and cheer throughout the season!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Wendy Kaye Walker
Floral Designer
Bank of Memories & Flowers