textInfo=<textformat leading="6"><p><br /><span class="sectionHead">Timeless Bloom's Preserves the Moments of Your Life</span><br />Timeless Blooms incredible freeze-dry flower preservation method preserves your flowers to look almost as fresh as the day you received them. Methods such as pressing, air drying, and drying using silica gel, do not produce the natural results that freeze-drying does.<br />  <br />There are numerous steps involved in preserving flowers by freeze-drying. Although time consuming, we take all of these steps to ensure the most successful results. First, your arrangement will be photographed and then disassembled. The stems are cut and then put in water with fresh flower food to re-hydrate the blooms. Once this is accomplished, each flower is pre-treated with a chemical solution specifically designed for its variety and color. The flowers are then placed inside the freeze-dry machine, and the freeze-drying process completes in about 12 days.<br /><br />Once the flowers have been freeze-dried, they are post-treated with a chemical solution that helps them resist moisture re-absorption and fading. They are then ready for the design process.<br /><br />We have been extremely successful in mastering the techniques necessary to produce gorgeous results with most all of the traditional wedding flowers as well as numerous others. Our equipment is state-of-the-art and our pre and post treatments were developed using the very latest research. Above all, your flowers will be handled with the care and personal attention they deserve. At Timeless Blooms, we're dedicated to creating a beautiful, personal design and preserving the memory of your special day in a timeless way.</span>Learn more about floral preservation at the <a href="#">Floral Preservationists International</a> web site. <br /><br /><span class="sectionHead">Frequently Asked Questions</span><br /><span class="qanda_q">What is the freeze-dry flower preservation method?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">Floral freeze-drying is a method of preserving flowers by removing the moisture from them through a process called sublimation. Sublimation means to transform moisture directly from a gaseous state to a solid state, without ever becoming a liquid. This requires a special machine called a freeze-dryer. The flowers are rapidly frozen at sub-zero temperatures in a large vacuum chamber in the freeze-dryer. The moisture is then turned into ice crystals, which are extracted by a vacuum pump, and collected in a smaller chamber.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_a">Floral freeze-drying is relatively new, although the U.S. Army developed it in the 1900s as a method to preserve food supplies. It was first introduced in 1989 and has gained much popularity as a method of preserving flowers as techniques and pre and post treatments have been developed. Other methods of preserving flowers, such as pressing, air drying, and drying using silica gel, do not produce the natural results that freeze-drying produces.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">How soon do the flowers need to be delivered to Timeless Blooms?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">We like to get your flowers as soon as possible. The fresher the flowers, the better they turn out. For bridal flowers, most are delivered for preservation within 24 hours of the wedding. However, this is not always possible, if the wedding or other event is not in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. So keeping the flowers well hydrated and cool until delivery is very important.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">What will my flowers look like?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">Some flowers will undergo a slight, but natural-looking change in color. White roses usually turn more of an ivory and red flowers may darken. Bright colored flowers may actually have an even more intense color. The flowers will shrink a little bit as all the moisture has been pulled from them. However, most flowers will look very natural and appear to almost be fresh.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">How do I take care of the flowers until they are delivered to Timeless Blooms?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">If possible, put the flowers in water and then refrigerate them. But, be very sure that the refrigerator is not too cold, so that they do not freeze. If refrigeration is not possible, keep them out of direct sunlight, in a cool place.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">Do all flowers freeze-dry well?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">Most all flowers do very well. Roses are the most outstanding. Others that do well are lilies, gardenias, carnations, freesia, peonies, orchids, stephanotis, lisianthus, tulips, alstroemeria, daffodils, delphinium, and calla lilies. Exceptions are bouvardia and delicate wildflowers.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">How long does the process take?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">The freeze-drying process itself takes about two weeks. If the freeze-dryer is not immediately available the day you deliver your flowers, they will initially be placed in a holding freezer. There are numerous other steps that go into completion of your design once the flowers are freeze-dried. So your completed design is usually ready for pickup 4 to 6 months from delivery.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">How long will the flowers last?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">Because floral freeze-drying is relatively new and was first introduced around 1989, it is impossible to say that freeze-dried flowers could last forever. However, when protected from humidity, dust, insects and breakage in an acrylic dome, your preserved flowers should give many, many years of enjoyment. Today's pre and post-treatment solutions have been developed to help the flowers resist fading and moisture re-absorption, thus prolonging their beauty.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">Do the flowers have to be sealed up in a container?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">Because the freeze-drying method preserves flowers by removing the moisture from them, they must not re-absorb moisture in order to last. Therefore, they do need to be protected from humidity in the air, by sealing them up in an acrylic dome or similar container. </span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">Will Timeless Blooms pick up flowers to be preserved?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">With arrangements in advance, Timeless Blooms will pick up wedding flowers at the wedding or reception, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, for a nominal fee.</span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">Is the entire cost of the preservation due before the process can begin?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">A deposit of $200.00 is required with your flowers in order to begin the preservation process. This deposit is applied to the total cost of the preservation, the balance of which is due when the flowers are ready for pick up. </span><br /><br /><span class="qanda_q">What methods of payment are accepted?</span><br /><span class="qanda_a">We accept cash, checks or credit card payments using PayPal's secure website.</span><br /><br /><span class="sectionHead">Placing an Order</span> <br /><span>To place an order in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, contact Timeless Blooms at 555.531.1808.<br /><br />Outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area, please refer to the following instructions:</span><br /><br /><span class="orderSteps">1. Contact Timeless Blooms at 555.531.1808.</span><br /><br /><span class="orderSteps">2. Print, complete, and sign the Order Form.</span><br /><br /><span class="orderSteps">3. Pack your flowers.</span><br /><br /><span class="orderSteps">4. Ship your flowers to:</span> <br /><br /><span class="orderStepsDetails">Timeless Blooms</span><br /><span class="orderStepsDetails">1234 Golden Tree Dr.</span><br /><span class="orderStepsDetails">Garland, TX 75555</span><br /><br /><span class="orderSteps"> 5. Contact us with tracking information on your package so we can monitor its arrival.</span> </p><br /><br /><p class="disclaimer"><span class="disclaimer">Please do not ship your flowers without first contacting Timeless Blooms.</span><br />  <span class="disclaimer">For the best results, you should ship your flowers for Overnight Delivery as soon as possible. </span><br />  <span class="disclaimer">Keep them well hydrated and refrigerated until shipment. DO NOT FREEZE THEM.</span><br />  <span class="disclaimer">Not responsible for flowers lost or damaged in third-party shipments.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span class="sectionHead">Special Instructions</span><br /><ul>  <li>Ship flowers in a styrofoam cooler. </li>  <li>Secure plastic ice packs in the bottom of the cooler and add a layer of paper. </li>  <li>Place flowers loosely in a plastic bag and then in a sturdy box. </li>  <li>Place the box on top of the paper layer. </li>  <li>Include additional momentos, $200.00 deposit, and signed Order Form in a separate plastic bag. </li>  <li>Seal the styrofoam cooler with packaging tape. </li>  <li>Some shippers may require you to place the styrofoam cooler inside another box.</li>  <li>Label the box Perishable.</li></ul></p> </p></textformat>
