[media_festival_badge.gif]The Southern California Chinese community traditionally celebrates the Chinese New Year, Sunday February 14 with orange and yellow – not red — fruit and floral gifts, according to Chinatown LA experts. Chinese communities throughout the U.S. have evolved uniquely distinct New Year traditions from those of their native homeland. 

Orange and yellow flowers signify an expression of good health, prosperity and harmony in the New Year. The LA Flower District California Flower Mall wholesalers supply farm fresh yellow mums, yellow and orange gladiolas, gerber daisies, roses and yellow cymbidium orchids - just a few of hundreds of varieties of appropriate flowers available in the LA Flower District to celebrate the 2010 Year of the Tiger. 

The 2010 Chinese New Year holiday is especially auspicious because it falls on Valentines Day. Chinese community businesses are closed on Chinese New Year and families celebrate a fresh start in the “Year of the Tiger” together.  

As Chinese New Year approaches, The LA Flower District California Flower Mall is open progressively later evening hours going 24/7 before Chinese New Years Eve. Check our website for extended hours each day.

Celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of Downtown LA. Join the Downtown LA Chinese community Saturday February 13 for a free Chinese New Years Eve Midnight Temple Ceremony 10 pm – 12 midnight to welcome the “Year of the Tiger”. Thousands will gather at a local temple to make offerings to the deities, set off firecrackers to awaken the spirits, and burn incense to usher in good fortune for the new year. Participants include lion dancers, Buddhist and Taoist monks, the heads of family associations, and many others from the Southern California Chinese community. The Chinatown LA Chinese New Years celebration culminates February 20 – 21 with a Festival at Central Plaza, guided walking tours and The 111^th Annual Golden Dragon Parade  on Saturday February 20 1 pm – 3pm  along Hill and Broadway, the highlight of the Chinese New Year in Southern California.

February 14, 2010 Los Angeles, CA - Procrastination paid off for last minute Valentine’s bargain hunters at the LA Flower District California Flower Mall -- when leading flower district wholesaler Grower’s Direct quoted $10 for 25 imported long stem roses in all colors except red, ringing the midnight bell for other wholesalers to begin dropping prices to closeout levels as the LA flower market begins it’s 12 hour countdown to cupid Valentine’s inventory closeout. California Flower Mall is the only Los Angeles flower mart open 24/7 Valentine’s week to help an army of cupids disguised as florists and do it yourself flower gift buyers burn the midnight oil a little brighter to make Valentine’s Day expressions of love blossom all over Los Angeles.     

An informal survey of these LA flower market wholesalers revealed that Valentine’s flower prices will continue to drop progressively lower throughout Sunday as they prepare to closeout Valentine’s flower inventory. Red rose prices will hold strong throughout Sunday as demand for the dramatic, red Columbia roses was fierce after a January freeze destroyed a significant share of the prized export.

So as Angelinos glimpse flocks of cherubic cupids darting about the billowing cloudscape of LA’s glorious blue skies, bleary eyed Los Angeles flower district California Flower Mart wholesalers aim their price arrows further downward each hour the clock ticks toward 6 pm Sunday – while last minute LA flower market florists and shoppers feel the love with spectacular last minute savings.

February 14, 2010 Los Angeles, CA - Procrastination paid off for last minute Valentine’s bargain hunters at the LA Flower District California Flower Mall -- when leading flower district wholesaler Grower’s Direct quoted $10 for 25 imported long stem roses in all colors except red, ringing the midnight bell for other wholesalers to begin dropping prices to closeout levels as the LA flower market begins it’s 12 hour countdown to cupid Valentine’s inventory closeout. California Flower Mall is the only Los Angeles flower mart open 24/7 Valentine’s week to help an army of cupids disguised as florists and do it yourself flower gift buyers burn the midnight oil a little brighter to make Valentine’s Day expressions of love blossom all over Los Angeles.     

An informal survey of these LA flower market wholesalers revealed that Valentine’s flower prices will continue to drop progressively lower throughout Sunday as they prepare to closeout Valentine’s flower inventory. Red rose prices will hold strong throughout Sunday as demand for the dramatic, red Columbia roses was fierce after a January freeze destroyed a significant share of the prized export.

So as Angelinos glimpse flocks of cherubic cupids darting about the billowing cloudscape of LA’s glorious blue skies, bleary eyed Los Angeles flower district California Flower Mart wholesalers aim their price arrows further downward each hour the clock ticks toward 6 pm Sunday – while last minute LA flower market florists and shoppers feel the love with spectacular last minute savings.

LA Flower District California Flower Mall Do-It-Yourself Discount Valentine's flower bouquets are a beautiful way to express your love and friendship. It’s easy to make Valentine's flower bouquets for your sweetheart, mom, sister, or someone who has made your life special. Save big bucks with DIY flower bouquets from the LA Flower District California Flower Mall.

When making a Valentine's flower bouquet the first thing you need to do is choose your flowers. Roses, carnations, lilies, tulips, and freesia are the most popular, fragrant Valentine’s flower choices. The LA Flower District California Flower Mall in Downtown Los Angeles is a great place to find a wide assortment of fresh from the farm flowers at wholesale and discount prices.

Choose your colors for your Valentine's floral bouquet. Popular colors for Valentine's bouquets are red, white, and pink. Purple, pink and yellow are a vibrant change of pace from traditional red hues – especially for Mom’s and Sisters. You can make a beautiful bouquet with a combination of all these colors, or a choice of just two of the colors. You can also make the decision once you’ve seen the selection of thousands of different discount fresh flowers from all over the world that the LA Flower District California Flower Mall has to offer.  Choose from specialty flowers such big white fluffy Mums, hot pink bromeliads or pink orchids.  Specialty flowers can add an elegance and charm to your discount Valentine's bouquet.

Choose vases and ribbon for your flower bouquet. Dollar Tree stores have a great selection of ribbon, vases and supplies for $1 each. A clear glass vase and satin like ribbon look elegant on a Valentine's bouquet.  Or keep it simple, skip the vase and deliver fresh cut flowers with a simple ribbon on it.      

Prepare your flowers for your Valentine's bouquet. Cut one inch off each flower stem. Make sure to cut at a 45 degree angle. If you have chosen roses, the stems need to be cut under water. Hold each rose stem under cold running water, and then cut. This helps the rose from getting air bubbles and droopy heads. If you a planning to put roses or any flower in a vase, strip the greenery from the lower stem 2 -3 inches below the blossom to make the flowers last longer in water. Add green fern leaves if you want to expand and enhance the fullness of a flower bouquet in a vase.     

Arrange the flowers for your Valentine's bouquet. Think of a triangle when you are putting your Valentine's bouquet together in a vase or ribbon tied bundle. The tallest flower goes in the middle. Make sure it is full, and colors are evenly distributed throughout your bouquet. Look at these step by step floral arrangements for complete instructions. Make sure your bouquet looks full and proportional in the vase.

Not enough time to assemble all of your Valentine’s bouquets?  Some of the LA Flower District California Flower Mall discount flower vendors also have lush, gorgeous pre-made discount Valentine’s bouquets available for your convenience.