Florists' Favorite Flowers for … Congratulations!

So many people only think to send flowers at sad occasions … funerals, illnesses and hospitalizations -- and when they're trying to get out of the dog house! Flowers are such a joyful gift that it seems a shame to relegate them only to negative experiences in life. They are a wonderful way to say "congratulations" as well -- today we are looking at some of a florist's favorite ways to say "Great job!"

The tall equisetum stalks in this flower bouquet echo those arms, outstretched to the sky, saying "Yeah! I did it!" It's wonderful for congratulating friends and family on any job well done. The bouquet include purple dendribium orchids, burgundy and chartreuse assorted blossoms, equisetum stalks as well as leaves and moss. It is almost two feet tall!

The Blue Horizons bouquet expresses all the crisp clarity that you feel when you have achieved a goal -- refreshingly graceful. It is also exceptionally appropriate for friends or relatives who have given birth to a baby boy. The dark blue iris contrast wonderfully with the Asiatic lilies and other white and blue blossoms and greenery.

This Sunny Smiles flower bouquet comes in two versions, the Standard and Deluxe. The Standard version is pictured, and we think that the simplicity makes it all the more charming! There's nothing happier, more hopeful and uplifting than a big bunch of yellow flowers … and no better occasion to give them than a congratulations.

The 'How Sweet It Is' bouquet includes roses, asters and carnations -- all the traditional ways to say "You're wonderful!" Those passionate shades of pink and red make this a wonderful gift for romantic friends, or for family.

The Polka Dots and Daisies flower bouquet is great for younger girls -- perhaps as a graduation present from either elementary or middle school, or as a way to say congratulations for getting through exams, or for an exceptionally good grade. Every petal on every one of these carefully chosen flowers reaches for the sky in joy -- the bouquet includes daisy-spray chrysanthemums, daisies and white roses.

The Birds of Paradise in this Paradise Found bouquet are taking flight -- just like your loved one's possibilities, hopes and dreams when they have something to be congratulated for. This arrangement is well over 2 feet high, and guaranteed to draw attention and remind them of your good wishes every time they walk past.

Beat the Post-Holiday Blues: Why Flowers Make a Great New Year's Gift!

Flowers are so often restricted to certain times of our lives … Valentine's Day, birthdays, sometimes Mother's Day, and often times when our feelings have been hurt! Having fresh flowers in the home can be truly uplifting, so why not break out of the box for your next bouquet? Give someone special a New Year's flower bouquet - there are plenty of great reasons to! We explore them here.

1. Flowers banish sick feelings

New Year's Day (and in fact, the entire week afterwards) is a time of self-inflicted illness for much of the population. Help quiet that headache and soothe that churning stomach with the sweet scent of flowers. Even if your friends or loved ones hasn’t been able to clean the house for three days because they've felt so horrible, there will be one beautiful thing to focus on!

2. Kick start fulfilling resolutions

The Feng Shui principle of bringing the life and energy of the outside world into the home in order to create a more positive, energetic, forward-moving atmosphere isn't a crazy superstition. Humans evolved in an almost exclusively outdoor environment, surrounded by plants, flowers, running water, fresh air … our bodies and brains crave it. Flowers can help motivate and bring energy into a house, and this is never more important than when there are resolutions to fulfil!

3. Change your relationship from a one-hit gift wonder, to something deeper

This isn't only meant in a romantic sense! If you have friends or family that you rarely have contact with outside of buying holiday gifts, there is no better time than the New Year to let them know they are truly important to you. A flower bouquet is simple, beautiful, has universal appeal and carries no associated burden of feeling they must return the gift.

4. Cheer up a house!

This point is just as good a reason to buy flowers for yourself as it is for someone you love. If your house seems awfully empty after the holiday rush, or you spent the entire holidays with a relative whom you know is staring at four walls now, a flower delivery is a great way to keep the house full in spirit for awhile longer.