Move over Poinsettia!  Yes, they are thought of as the traditional Christmas plant; but how about providing your customers with a couple of choices?   Something a little out of the ordinary...something memorable!

Christmas Bells Heather offers a festive alternative to Poinsettias.  These little tree- shaped cuties glow as if they have been lightly dusted with frosty snow.   Besides being too cute for Christmas they are long lasting and easy care. 

Shooting Star Hydrangea is another winning non-traditional choice.   Similar to a Lace Cap, but with larger star-shaped blossoms this elegant plant is a real show stopper.

Want more inspirational Holiday plant choices?  How about paperwhites, phalaenopsis or kalsettias.  The Elves in the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it have lots of ideas!

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You might think we've been drinking too much eggnog when you hear the details of our Progressive Christmas Sale.

You get to choose your discount.  Now through the 7th enjoy a 20% discount off all Christmas (some exceptions apply).  Waiting to shop until Dec 8th?  Rack up the savings with a 40% discount.  Think your favorite items will still be there on Dec 15th?  If you choose to wait until then ....if there is anything left....you can save 60%.

Other wholesalers will wait till later in the season (or even after the holiday) to discount Christmas merchandise.  But at Washington Floral Service, we're ready to jingle now.  Want more details?  Click Here Now!

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We get so excited about new items.  And when those items make perfect stocking stuffers we can hardly contain ourselves!

That's the story with our new hand held picking machine, the Quickpick.  Small and affordable this handy little item would make a great addition to any florist tool kit.  It uses the same picks as your standard pick machine.  At first glance you might think it would be hard to grip but even even the wimpiest florists of will be able to squeeze with ease.  At $18.00 this affordable tool is a lifesaver for on-the-go designers.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Yes, Christmas calls for red carnations and lots of white pompoms.  But if you want fresh, funky and festive designs to fill your cooler then let us fill your box with the coolest items from our cooler.

We can upgrade your filler choices.  Christmas bush (or festival bush) is an earthy red that works well with our Northwest style and Genestra can turn any ordinary holiday design into a winter delight.  Of course holiday waxflower is still available and loaded with blooms.

Mix those evergreens with other interesting foliages.  Our favorite is Australian Pine.  This upright,soft needled green has a bright red tip that seems to glow.  Holly is great but hard on the hands!  Give your designers a break by choosing New Zealand Pitt, Rhamnus or Oregonia for variegation.

Need some bling?  Our Snowy, Icy, Frosty Glittered branch selection will inspire your inner elf.   Or are you going for elegant?  Gold and Silver gilded leucadendron are dripping with sophistication.

Whatever holiday style you choose our cooler's coolest items are sure to inspire.

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Did you miss the September J. Schwanke show at WFS?  Not to worry!  You can now view a portion of the program on a taped segment at UBloom.com.

It was lights, camera, action around here as J. TV taped an episode of the popular internet show during our Holiday design show.  Click here to view webisodes of J.TV Fun with Flowers.  The Washington Floral webisode will begin December 8.

We also have a photo gallery available to view at our NEW website.  Yes, we are in the process of rebuilding our website to make it even more customer friendly.  Click here to view the gallery and surf around the new site.  Mark is anxious for feedback.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Hart's Mt. Vernon Floral has been caught in the glare of our Customer Spotlight this month.

By all accounts, this tidy shop is inviting and well run.  Their staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.  Their cooler is stocked with nice designs and the freshest flowers. Of course they do buy them from Washington Floral Service.

But what has our attention is their website. Colleen McKnight has a background in web design and has made it her mission to update their website with the goal of making it more unique and interactive.  The personality of the shop really comes to life on-line.  If you have spent any time surfing floral websites you know that is not always the case.

Hart's truly is a part of the Mt. Vernon community.  Every week the message on their reader board sign invites you to stop in for a free rose if your name is Shirley, or Claudia or Karen.  The name changes weekly.  It has become such a tradition and they get so much feedback regarding what names to put up that they decided to dedicate a page of their website to it.  Customers can now go on line to nominate a name for the reader board.   We especially love the "Hart's Delight" page, where customers can submit their own delightful floral stories.

Great job Colleen and Kurt.  Your website clicks with us and we are sure it will click with your customers too!

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Hippo What?  More commonly known as Amaryllis, these elegant, long lasting blooms are a key ingredient for simple, high impact designs.

It just takes one or two of these beauties to really make a statement.  But please don't expect to find them in this gorgeous open state in your wholesalers cooler.  They are notoriously slow opening so plan to get them at least 7 days in advance of when you need to use them.

Most flowers have legend or lore associated with them and amaryllis are no different.  Something about a beautiful maiden trying to get the attention of a prince and piercing her heart with a golden arrow for 29 days in a row.  Too tragic to recount in this holiday edition of the newsletter but if you must know....Click here.

The Holland Flower Council features them this month and offers great design ideas and tips on how to use them successfully.  We bet your designs are just as impressive.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it of your most inspired hippeastrum design and you could win a box of holiday novelty cut flowers.

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