Cheap bouquets can be found at the grocery store. A bunch of flowers can be purchased from a roadside vendor. Florists can be found in the yellow pages of your phone book or visit you can visit them in person. You can find a local florist online, or order from one of the major floral delivery networks such as FTD, Teleflora, 1800FLOWERS or Organic Bouquet, either online or from a catalog.

For a simple and quick surprise bouquet, the roadside vendor or supermarket may be just fine. To really make an impression, or if the floral arrangement is for a special occassion, a visit to your local florist is in order. The personal visit to your florist is best, but there may only be time to phone them. When sending flowers out of the country, large, international floral networks are your easiest option, especially if there is a language barrier. You may, however, just prefer the convenience of ordering your flowers online. The best floral arrangement for your money is gotten when you personally visit and speak with a local florist, although you need to decide another method's convenience is better suited to you and thus worth the cost.

The lifespan of your floral arrangement can be lengthened through feeding your flowers properly, trimming the tips of the stems and changing the water. Some of the factors surrounding a flower's longevity are decided by genetics and the growing conditions, however. Proper storage of your flowers before you buy them is one of the biggest factors in how long your flowers will stay fresh. Sources of heat will shorten the life of a bouquet. This heat can even be as slight as that emanating from a cash register at the grocers. Note the placement of your flowers and whether or not they are properly refrigerated if you want them to last. The exhaust fumes from cars will also prematurely age your flowers. This factor definitely affects those bouquets of flowers sold on the main street!

When you've got a busy day and don't have time to visit your florist, shopping for your flowers online is the perfect solution. The large floral networks (FTD, Teleflora, 1800flowers, Organic Bouquet and others) can deliver flowers worldwide. Perhaps you want to send flowers to someone in the hospital but can't make a trip there yourself. Ordering your flowers online again is the perfect solution. There are a few things to know about ordering flowers online, but once you're aware of these factors, you are less likely to be disappointed with the arrangement your recipient receives. Remember as well that you are paying for the convenience of not having to visit or find a local florist.

Pros - Your local florist will be able to make suggestions to you regarding what sort of floral arrangement will work best for your needs and price range. They can advise you on various substitutions that will lower the cost of your flowers, as well as point you to some seasonal and locally-grown varieties that will further lower your cost. When creating your arrangement, your florist knows you and what you like. They want to keep you as a customer, so will give your order special attention. Cons - Using a local florist is not always convenient. Finding a florist you are happy with can take time. And sometimes (for the guys this is especially true), a trip to the florist is just intimidating!