tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70931634368530027662012-02-16T07:43:14.922-06:00Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-89976906031235411782011-11-01T15:47:00.001-05:002011-11-01T15:48:24.444-05:00

Great changes at Ben White Florist Ben White Florist is undergoing some big changes that we are excited to share with you! To better assist with your virtual ordering process, we have launched a new website complete with a brand new design. Rest assured, we still offer the same trusted service and products, just in a new package. With this update, please be advised that if you previously had a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-76873808432324501572011-10-30T10:18:00.003-05:002011-10-30T10:19:48.927-05:00

Recently, in mid-October, I had the privilege of designing and arranging thirty-some arrangements for the 10th Anniversary of Greenlights, an organization that prides itself on strengthening other nonprofits by providing resources that aid in the development of nonprofit success. In case you were wondering how the event went via Greenlights, a blog on the event can be found here with various

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-487891235406039372011-08-22T16:13:00.002-05:002011-08-22T16:19:19.154-05:00

The yard of Ben White Florist has undergone an intense makeover. I'm not talking about the lame kind where you get a new outfit and put on some makeup and bibbity bobbity boo, you're made over. I'm talking about the kind where they give you chemical peels, plastic surgery, a new wardrobe, and basically get rid of all your old clothes because you are just too fabulous to be wearing those grungy

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-70828098683463784602011-08-17T10:56:00.001-05:002011-08-17T10:57:17.249-05:00

A few weeks ago, I really had to access that part of my brain that wants to be creative. You would think working in a creative field, that perhaps that part of my brain would be active all the time, but it isn't. Certain arrangements require that you follow a recipe, while a smaller percentage are designer's choice. It's much easier to follow a recipe, but it is very liberating (and sometimes

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-38919811582393354822011-08-15T16:54:00.001-05:002011-08-17T09:58:08.518-05:00

Unfortunately, we do not sell zombies, but sometimes we employ them. Some of us are obsessed with them. Sometimes, I am one. What we do have for sale are plants, plants, and more plants! About once every two weeks (maybe more, maybe less), Mari orders plants from our local greenhouse, Vickery Greenhouse. Either we will have them delivered to our shop, or Chance, our morning delivery driver, will

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-23735794150920106512011-08-03T08:53:00.001-05:002011-08-17T09:57:51.588-05:00

Ever wonder what actually goes into making a floral arrangement? I hope your answer is "yes," otherwise the rest of this post is going to bore you (and I don't want that)! The majority of my day is spent arranging and designing wonderful flower arrangements. This usually means standing in the corner at a table for 8 hours a day, walking in and out of the cooler multiple times an hour, or pausing

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-2389584080625495432011-08-01T11:32:00.002-05:002011-08-17T09:57:26.674-05:00

We all know that it is hot outside, but it is really really hot outside. The AC can barely keep up with the demands of the intense Texas sun and the massive high pressure system that will just not leave the state! Seriously, I was a little embarrassed at my electric bill this month. Anytime I walk into an air-conditioned space these days, it's like the long-forgotten chilled air washes away any

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-2082414264239622962011-07-28T10:17:00.002-05:002011-08-17T09:56:56.464-05:00

Wanting to order flowers in the near future and not quite sure how to do it? It's super easy! With our easy-to-navigate website and super awesome customer service representatives, it should be a no-hassle ordering experience. Step 1: Take a look at the arrangements on our website and try and find something you like. This makes it easier for you to see what we have in stock while also making it

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-8978528446036778272011-07-20T14:37:00.004-05:002011-08-17T09:56:15.766-05:00

Welcome back! As you may have read earlier, the computer got the best of me yesterday and I (or it, the jury is still out on who is actually responsible) deleted half of my blog posting. The whole "University of Texas Inspired Design" thing that I actually titled the blog was nowhere to be found. No worries, however, because you are about to feast your eyes of some beauties. Last year, around

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-77537962617756906592011-07-19T17:15:00.020-05:002011-08-17T09:55:43.876-05:00

Well, it's not quite that time of year again, but almost. It seems that as soon as the kids are released for summer vacation, it's time to start thinking about back-to-school. As if I would know, I don't even have kids, but I see the commercials already advertising backpacks. I was a kid once. I wore backpacks. Just today, Mallory and I were talking about how awesome it used to be when we went

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-710179822347132552011-06-16T15:44:00.003-05:002011-08-17T09:55:26.072-05:00

It's hot. Not hot, HOT. We're talking 100 degree days with no rain in I can't even remember when. Hear the crunch, crunch, crunch of dead grass under your feet, feel the sticky burrs poking your toes, and the stifling breeze of hot air blowing your sweaty hair about. I'm surprised that anything can grow in this heat, especially the beautiful possibilities that we use for everyday floral

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-25487079716281842872011-05-24T16:38:00.004-05:002011-08-17T09:54:38.301-05:00

Mother's Day came and went and I've neglected this blog far too long. First of all, I cannot believe the end of May is quickly approaching (cliche, I know, but really, what happened to spring?). Secondly, Mother's Day week was great! Once again, better than the previous year (just like Valentine's Day), leaving us all a bit more tired than the year before). It seemed that from Valentine's Day to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-27848387069104290052011-02-22T13:06:00.004-06:002011-08-17T09:54:03.824-05:00

Exhaustion. An adequate word to describe the complete lack-of-anything feeling after Valentine's Day (or should I say numbness?). I meant to blog about this last week, but alas, my poor nubby fingers were too bent and broken to even fathom of typing anything, and my brain was so delirious, I doubt anything would've made sense. It's even somewhat difficult to retain enough focus to try and be

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-34318485140408495242011-02-02T14:56:00.003-06:002011-08-17T09:53:10.576-05:00

If you are like me, then you must be a pretty big tulip fan. Tulips enjoy a great personality. They are playful, flirtatious, crazy, and they have beautiful blooms with stems that grow in funky ways once placed into a vase of fresh water. Every January, the shop gets pretty excited about our weekly shipment of Holland tulips because we only get them for a few months out of the year (January to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-44802879291802783422011-01-25T14:53:00.002-06:002011-08-17T09:38:27.697-05:00

It's a new year and things are changing at Ben White Florist in a most excellent and positive direction. We're getting personal. Did I ever tell you about that time [insert life-changing moment here]? Well, perhaps not quite that personal, however, the blog is being revamped into something that is both informative (hooray for knowledge!) and intimate with a portal into the activities of Ben White

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-12628254820676753922010-11-09T16:19:00.010-06:002011-08-17T09:37:52.122-05:00

Fair Trade is, fundamentally, a response to the failure of conventional trade to deliver sustainable livelihoods and development opportunities to people in the poorest countries of the world. Poverty and hardship limit people's choices while market forces tend to further marginalise and exclude them. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Fair Trade. It sounds wonderful, those two little

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-52661965178983444712010-09-21T17:02:00.007-05:002011-08-17T09:36:38.885-05:00

 pumpkin knitting is fun! In honor of autumn, I have dedicated this blog post to the lovely, versatile, amazing pumpkin. There aren't many things that can be used for food and decorations, but pumpkins (along with other squash) can be both. Pumpkins have been around for quite awhile, with the earliest known seeds dating back between 7000-5500 BC, which were found in Mexico (Thanks,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-8987543544444224732010-08-18T15:48:00.010-05:002011-08-17T09:35:53.369-05:00

Death. We don't want to talk about it, but it's a natural part of everyone's cycle on earth. In modern U.S. society (generally in the last 100 years), the dead are embalmbed with carcinogenic chemicals, placed in a casket made of rainforest wood, and then buried in the earth, left to slowly decompose and release toxic chemicals back into the soil and groundwater. This is all done for the sake of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-38584731800156519742010-06-29T17:09:00.002-05:002010-07-13T16:51:43.151-05:00

Each year, The Austin Chronicle (Austin's free, weekly newspaper: The Austin Chronicle) reveals its "Best of [enter year here]" results as voted by readers, consumers, locals, and crazies alike. In 2008, we won Best Florist in Austin. It was unexpected and great. It meant  a lot to us being voted as a fan favorite even though we weren't trying for it. This year, we are trying. Begging, if you

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-28214316553028151652010-06-22T16:53:00.005-05:002010-07-13T16:51:18.999-05:00

While the Dutch East and West India Companies may no longer be around, the reign of the Dutch in the flower market still persists. Currently, Holland is still the titan of tulip production with an annual worth of one billion dollars (Stewart 109). Geographically, Holland is located barely above sea level. In order to allow more room for growing tulips, the Dutch drained lakes and built 

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-91846124615076311132010-06-15T17:18:00.002-05:002010-07-13T16:50:18.548-05:00

It seems only natural that when one thinks of flowers, ultimately, one must consider the Dutch. The Dutch East (and West) India Company dominated the world trade business in spices, fur, sugar, and coffee during the 17th and 18th centuries. Reaching out into the continent of Asia for colonization purposes, the company also extended themselves into the world of flowers, creating a market for

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-10335963146787044252010-06-08T15:43:00.076-05:002010-06-08T16:58:08.834-05:00

As a a small independent business located in Austin, TX, we understand that our customers enjoy buying locally. Not only do they enjoy the thrill of a local blossom, but they will specifically look for what's local, which means finding certain stores that carry their locally-wanted product. It's always nice to know where your products come from, so in the spirit of this new earth-movement of grow

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-5568276346034578782010-03-23T16:11:00.004-05:002011-08-17T09:37:18.873-05:00

In an effort to understand how flowers are grown for the commercial flower industry, I came across a few paragraphs in Amy Stewart's Flower Confidential. They read almost like something out of Brave New World, but instead of Alphas and Deltas, we have tulips and lilies. I'm including a few paragraphs here to give one a better idea into what large-scale commercial greenhouse-growing is like: For

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-55363489133246675942010-03-18T15:17:00.052-05:002010-03-21T11:55:10.862-05:00

Violets are funny little things. Presently, they cannot readily be found in many flower shops, unless of course one shops near where they are grown, which is pretty much only in the Pacific states. A century ago, however, violets were one of the most popular cut flowers, ranking just behind roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums. Viola odorata is a short-lived flower, lasting at most four days

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-66527543608613080852010-02-02T14:13:00.038-06:002010-02-02T15:42:15.471-06:00

Traditionally, blue roses have been an imaginative beauty, a uniquely-colored rose that cannot be found in the natural world. Always mysterious as the Victorians suggested, a true, blue rose has never existed and perhaps that's why they also represent a never-ending quest for the impossible. Florigene, the Australian-based company who gave customers the Florigene Moonseries carnations in a lovely

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-32408721676753582222010-01-24T15:46:00.021-06:002010-01-24T17:22:25.483-06:00

They do all this for flowers. Airplanes fly in from Bogotá and trucks drive from Miami and acres of greenhouses get built and billions of dollars change hands. All that for the alstroemerias you pick up at the grocery store as an afterthought. [...] The cut flower trade is all about this struggle between what is natural and unspoiled and what is mass produced and commercialized.-Amy Stewart,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-49646829667225799812010-01-20T16:54:00.010-06:002010-01-24T17:23:00.099-06:00

First of all, I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. We were quite busy at Ben White Florist, stumbling around the shop trying to make our way through all of the poinsettias, while also trying to have functional respiratory systems amidst all of the cedar, pine, and lovely (and allergy-inducing) winter greens. Despite the allergies, the holiday season was quite lovely.Now, on to the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093163436853002766.post-20977040188982129312009-12-06T13:04:00.001-06:002009-12-06T13:04:49.803-06:00

Welcome, welcome. I bid you greetings, well-wishes, and flowery happiness.You're probably reading this because Ben White Florist is your favorite local flower shop (and of course, I agree) and I bet you're thinking, "Wow, a blog for a flower shop, how savvy." Yes, that's right, we are quite savvy.Hopefully, if all goes to plan, this will be a place for you (the consumer, friend, or foe) to see

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656354645789590408noreply@blogger.com1