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!!

Thanksgiving Centerpieces Galore!

The smell of freshly baked pies and fall leaves covering the yard are signs that Thanksgiving is almost here!  This is a time to remind us of all of the blessings that fill our lives.  As we gather with our friends and family this Thanksgiving, why not enjoy each others company surrounded by beautiful fresh flowers?!
Vivid orange roses and gerbera daisies, burgandy hypericum berries and mums, and tufts of bright autumn leaves are sure to illuminate any table.  Here at Bank of Flowers, we carry many different autumn containers such as ceramic pumpkins and pots adorned with maple leaves.  We would love to help "dress" your table this Thanksgiving, so if the turkey, dressing and pie are already checked off the shopping list, bring the flowers!

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

Krista Roskopf
~Manager, Menomonee Falls
Bank of Flowers

DIY Pumpkin Centerpiece

We enjoyed making these centerpieces so much for a recent bride!  I can't wait to design my very own and use it for Halloween or Thanksgiving!  To help create your design, I took pictures along the way. I hope this inspires you!

The first step is to pick out a small to medium-sized pumpkin that sits level on a table.  Find a short, but fairly wide vase that will fill the opening you've carved out.  Pre-soak a square of Oasis wet floral foam and place it inside of the vase.  Scoop out the pumpkin guts with a large spoon.  If the vase doesn't fit inside of your pumpkin just right, you can use pieces of styro-foam to prop up your vase so it fits snug.  Top off the wet foam-filled vase with water.

Now comes the fun part!  I started by inserting various greens into the wet foam to cover it up and give a nice base.  Next, I placed the focal flowers to establish the overall shape and size of the arrangement.  After placing the focals, I filled the spaces between with flowers like assorted fall mums and alstromeria.

As a finishing touch, I added preserved fall leaves around the base of the arrangement and in the middle.  This step creates more interest and made the arrangement pop!  To keep your pumpkin arrangement fresh longer, store it in the refrigerator or a cool garage or basement when you are not enjoying it, and don't forget to water it!
Good luck and Enjoy!!

Krista Roskopf
~Menomonee Falls Manager
Bank of Flowers

Art In Bloom

Every year, I have the opportunity to participate in the Milwaukee Art Museum's "Art in Bloom".  As an artist at heart, this is a dream come true.  This event brings out some of the best floral designers in the Southeastern part of Wisconsin.  There was 41 designers in all who participated this year.

Back in January, we had a day at the Museum called "Lottery Day."  The art pieces are hand picked by the Museum on what they would like to see interpreted into flowers.  When we arrive, we are handed numbers.  The Art Museum will pick your number at random to go along with the artwork.  It is always fun to see your challenge.  This year I was paired up with Homage to the Square, by Josef Albers.  What a challenge, with a yellow box!

Over the weeks I collaborated with my dad, Norman Ball III, who is a Iron Worker.  It was amazing to see my vision of taking the square painting and taking it outside the box.  I wanted people to see the cube from all sides and make it dimensional.  My dad welded the yellow box and engineered a way to nestle the cube in the tree.  The tree gives the illusion that it is holding up the cube like it landed there and is now growing.  

The flowers in the cube were yellow oncidium orchids and blue tinted button mums.  In the white box base holding up the branch was yellow roses, ruscus, succulents, tricillium, leucadendron and green moss.

This was a very special piece to me this year, not only was it a challenge but I had an amazing experience making memories with my dad.   He was able to share his amazing engineering talent with me and I was able to show him what I love to do.
Thank you dad, couldn't have done it without you!

-Melissa Maas
Owner
Bank of Memories & Flowers

Nick and Kelly, Featured in Veil Magazine

Ceremony: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Reception: Western Lakes Golf Club

Photographer: Heather Cook Elliott Photography

Florist: Bank of Memories & Flowers, Pewaukee

Month:  November

From our first meeting which included both moms, I knew Kelly and Nick were going to be a great couple to work with.  They chose non-traditional colors, navy and lime green, and for flowers, they chose mini green hydrangeas and green button mums with lots of bling and mercury glass for their fall wedding.

Kelly loved the brooch bouquet her Uncle had made for her cousin, so when asked, he made one for her as well.  She also wanted to include her father who had passed before the wedding.  I told her about a bride who had sewn charms with pictures of her father and grandparents onto the backs of her shoes so they could walk her down the aisle.  Kelly chose to put the photo of her dad onto ribbon that she tied around her ankle.

The bridemaids' bouquets were made of of mini green hydrangeas, natural green carnations, green button mums and hypericum berries, which popped against their navy blue dresses.  The bouquets were wrapped in navy ribbon to match the dresses with thick rhinestone bands around the middle of their handles.

I met the men of the wedding party at Pewaukee Lake and pinned on their green rose and hypericum berry boutonnieres while we waited for the ladies to arrive for pictures.

The couple decided not to have floral displays at their ceremony.  As you can see, Orthodox churches do not need extra adornment, they are beautiful as they are.

Western Lakes Golf Club hosted the reception, where each table held a part of Kelly's mercury glass collection.  Half of the tables were decorated with a cylinder glass vase holding white hydrangeas, mini green hydrangeas, and green buttons.  The other tables were decorated with the bride's keepsakes.  With wonderful food and a lot of Greek dancing, this was a wedding to remember!

Just recently I found out that Kelly and Nick's wedding was featured in The Veil Magazine.  What an honor for them as a couple as well as for me, the floral designer!

I would like to say a big thank you to Heather Cook Elliott Photography for the use of her photos and the staff at The Veil magazine for showing the work of Bank of Memories & Flowers.

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

Boss's Day Gifts are a Snap!

Boss's Day is Friday, October 16th

Yes, it's here again...a day to say "Thank You" to your boss.  Many of us don't appreciate, or understand how hard it is to be the boss.  You see what goes on while you are there, but you may not get to see the hours they put in outside of work, or the struggles and headaches they go through each and every day.  Boss's day is a day to say how much you appreciate what they do!

Many of us are unsure what to get your boss, or what is an appropriate gift for a boss.  If you are looking for some inspiration...look to Bank of Memories & Flowers!

You can't go wrong with a lovely fresh hand-designed bouquet or a charming plant for their office.  Boss have a sweet tooth?  We carry amazing gourmet chocolates!  We also carry a selection of inspirational books, giftware, and more!  So give us a call and let us take the work and stress out of Boss's Day gift-giving!  Call early for best selection.  We can have your gift delivered anywhere in the Metro-Milwaukee area!   Happy Boss's Day!

~Wendy Walker, Floral Designer
Bank of Memories & Flowers