Last week's fires that spread across Southern California caused extensive damage in the area's floral industry, according to The San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures

Rod Crittenden, president of the National Alliance of Floral Associations (NAFA), envisions a time when all florists can get certified by their states, and he hopes NAFA will help make it happen.

Greenleaf Wholesale Florists, Inc. recently announced it was expanding with the acquisition of United Wholesale Florists, Inc.

If you're headed off to the movies this weekend with your kids — or, if you're a kid at heart — you'll notice a familiar name in the animated "Bee Movie," which opens Nov. 2.

Two florists have reported a possible scam involving a hearing-impaired phone service and an international order.

Brides-to-be, financial planners and medical professionals are reading about why they should start their day with flowers.

Making another appearance as an eye-catching flower — and, just in time for Halloween — is one of the SAF 2007 Outstanding Varieties winners, 'Black and Green Kangaroo Paw' Anigozanthos, which appeared recently in a Chicago Tribune blog.

Rick Canale, managing director for Boston's Exotic Flowers — the official florist of the Boston Red Sox — has reason to celebrate. First, his Red Sox team won the 2007 World Series, and second, his shop created a buzz through marketing it alongside the baseball championship.

With clinical depression on the rise — one in six Americans suffers from it, according to an April 2007 article in The Washington Post — employers may play a role in reducing the disease and, consequently, it's negative impact on productivity

Sidewalks might be the next big medium for advertising — but not with the slick color decal ads that cover airline tray tables and linoleum floors.

Every October Bob Fancher of Riverwalk Floral Designs in San Antonio, Texas "has a lot of fun" festooning his shop with "comical skeletons" — this year he is even adding spooky decorations he picked up in Bali. But he's not just decorating for Halloween — his unearthly adorments also are in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

Trying to figure out where you can stock up on the usual (poinsettias) and the unique (agate slice nightlights) for the holidays? Look no further — SAF's Ultimate Floral Industry Supply Guide has got you covered.

Nintey percent of readers responding to the previous week's e-poll said a dissatisfied customer has never taken legal action against their business. Ten percent said a dissatisfied customer has.

Preliminary results of SAF's ongoing online post-holiday survey indicate that only 23 percent of retail florists offered specials for Sweetest Day while 38 percent offered specials for National Bosses Day. However, there were sizeable variations based on region of the country.