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Falling in Love with Autumn Blooms: Nature’s Vibrant Palette!

August 21, 2023

Autumn is a season that enchants us with its magical colors and crisp air. As the leaves turn into vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, nature surprises us with its beautiful blooms. From delicate dahlias to charming chrysanthemums, autumn flowers paint the world with their vibrant hues.

As the temperature drops and the days shorten, autumn brings forth a breathtaking display of floral wonders. The world transforms into a mesmerizing tapestry of colors, reminding us of the beauty that lies within nature’s embrace. During this season, nature offers us a kaleidoscope of blooms that captivate our senses and warm our hearts. Here are two of our favorites, which look beautiful indoors and out!

The Majestic Dahlia

One of the most iconic autumn blooms is the majestic dahlia. These stunning flowers come in a myriad of colors, ranging from rich burgundy to vibrant yellow. Their intricate petals form intricate patterns that resemble works of art. Each dahlia bloom is a testament to the beauty that can be found in the fleeting moments of life.

The Enchanting Chrysanthemum

Another enchanting autumn bloom is the chrysanthemum, often referred to as the queen of autumn flowers. These resilient plants come in various shapes and sizes, and their vibrant colors fill the landscape with joy. Whether it’s the classic golden chrysanthemum or the striking purple variety, these flowers symbolize longevity, happiness, and abundance. Their presence in autumn gardens is a reminder to embrace the change of seasons with open arms.

Fall in Love with Nature’s Vibrant Symphony!

Autumn not only brings us blooms that dazzle the eye but also a symphony of scents that invigorate the spirit. The air is filled with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves and the delicate scent of blooming flowers. This olfactory feast heightens our senses and immerses us in the beauty of the season.

Moreover, autumn blooms provide a haven for an array of awe-inspiring creatures. The bright colors and nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, adding an element of liveliness to the scenery. Observing these graceful creatures dance among the petals is like witnessing a natural ballet – a spectacle that adds an extra touch of magic to our autumn experience.

As we immerse ourselves in the vibrant symphony of autumn blooms, we can’t help but fall in love with the season’s charm. Autumn reminds us of the transient nature of life and the beauty that can be found in its fleeting moments. So let’s embrace the arrival of autumn and revel in the kaleidoscope of colors that nature has to offer. It’s time to let our spirits soar and fill our hearts with the joy of nature’s vibrant palette!

As autumn blooms grace our gardens and parks, they bring with them a sense of wonder and joy. The vibrant colors and delicate fragrances awaken our senses, reminding us that even in the midst of change, there is beauty to be found. So, let’s immerse ourselves in nature’s vibrant palette and fall in love with autumn’s kaleidoscope of blooms. From majestic dahlias to regal chrysanthemums, let these exquisite flowers be a reminder of the enchantment that nature offers us each and every day.

Comments: 0 Posted by: The Right Flowers Categories: Any Time, Seasonal

Create the Right Flowers for Your Summer BBQ!

July 13, 2023

Who doesn’t love a summer barbecue? Nobody! So next time you have a barbecue why not add a touch of beauty to your outdoor gathering with flowers! Flowers not only enhance the ambiance but also add a vibrant touch to your summertime celebration. Get ready to discover the ultimate summer flowers that will make your bbq party an unforgettable event!

When it comes to hosting a bbq party, preparation is key. Beyond the delicious food and refreshing drinks, creating a captivating environment is a great touch, and this is there the right flowers come in. Opt for vibrant arrangements of sunflowers, daisies, and marigolds, which will make your barbecue area come alive. Arrange them in mason jars or galvanized buckets for a rustic touch. Don’t forget to include fragrant herbs like lavender or rosemary, which will add an aromatic twist to your floral decor.

And to make your bbq bash truly special, consider setting up a dedicated flower station! Provide fresh blooms and colorful ribbons, allowing your guests to create their own flower arrangements! From flower crowns to boutonnieres, everyone can express their creativity while waiting for their burgers or veggie burgers to cook. The aroma of fresh flowers mingled with grilling food is tantalizing! This interactive activity will not only entertain your guests but also serve as a memorable keepsake from your summer bbq.

While there are so many beautiful blooms from which to choose, some flowers are particularly suited for the summer season. Dahlias, with their vibrant colors and intricate petal formations, are a favorite choice. These showstoppers will be the perfect centerpiece for your bbq table, creating a focal point that will dazzle your guests. Another excellent choice is the cheerful zinnia, offering a wide range of shades from bold oranges and reds to soft pinks and yellows. Their long-lasting blooms will keep the party atmosphere alive all day long and into the evening.

Looking for a touch of elegance? Hydrangeas are the way to go. With their large, fluffy petals and pastel hues, they add a refined charm to any gathering. They are perfect for creating stunning floral arrangements in vases or even as standalone decorations. Lastly, don’t forget the classic and timeless roses. Available in various colors, they provide sophistication and romance. Incorporate them into your barbecue decor through bouquets, garlands, or even as individual rose petals scattered on the tables.

As you prepare to host the ultimate summertime bbq, don’t overlook the power of flowers. By choosing the right flowers you can transform your outdoor space into a truly magical and beautiful setting, creating a memorable experience for your guests. From vibrant dahlias to elegant hydrangeas, the choices are endless. So, let your imagination run wild and let the blossoms sizzle (uh, not literally!) at your next barbecue!

Comments: 0 Posted by: The Right Flowers Categories: Flowers Generally, Graduation, Seasonal

Festive Flowers for a Dazzling Winter Bouquet or Centerpiece

December 14, 2019

While most people claim winter is their least favorite season due to the wicked weather, there is so much to appreciate at the end of the year. Winter is full of holidays and family gatherings that fill us with happiness and gratitude. Whatever you celebrate, a wintery bouquet will be a cheerful addition to any decor.

Thanks to online shopping and fast global shipping, we can buy almost any type of flower throughout the year. We’ve put together a selection of cool blue and white flowers that evoke the best of winter. Create an arrangement focusing on these beauties to celebrate the season of family and fun.

Tall stalks of delphinium make a bold statement as the star of any floral arrangement. Also known as larkspur, these members of the buttercup family are readily available in cool shades of blue and indigo. One of the few, true blue flowers, delphinium evokes scenes of winter with its stems of star-shaped blooms. Be cautious if you have curious pets, as larkspur can cause illness if ingested.

Icy blue or white hydrangeas are a great choice to symbolize winter weather. Lace cap varieties are generally flat with small star-shaped flowers. Mop head hydrangeas are reminiscent of snowballs, composed of clusters of hundreds of tiny blooms. Hydrangeas are also quite attractive when the flowers dry, which may extend the life of your bouquet.

Often used as a filler in bouquets, delicate baby’s breath deserves a place in the winter floral arrangement. The multitude of tiny white flowers resembles swirling, drifting snow. Baby’s breath is long-lasting and dries nicely once cut.

Stars of Bethlehem are named for their star-like shape. These white blossoms also remind us of little snowflakes. The bulbs are usually forced, a method of growing flower bulbs indoors. When they are done blooming, Stars of Bethlehem should be stored in a cool, dark location so they can be planted in the garden the following year.

Pure white Asiatic lilies also resemble snowflakes, on a larger scale. These elegant six-petaled flowers are unscented, making them ideal for people with allergies and sensitivities. Asiatic lilies are known for being rugged, and with proper care they can last two weeks or more once cut.

Floral arrangements aren’t just limited to flowers. Add glittery snowflakes or bells to make your bouquet more festive. Celebrate the solstice, a winter birthday, or give a friend flowers “just because”. A cheerful gesture, these heart-warming flowers might even help to keep the winter chill away!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal, Flowers Generally

Forcing Flower Bulbs For the Holiday Season

December 13, 2019

Forcing flower bulbs is a method of cooling and gradually re-warming bulbs so that they will bloom indoors, outside of their normal season. In the cool days of winter, these flowers make a wonderful, low-maintenance gift for anyone, including gardeners and floral enthusiasts.

Many types of bulbs require a cooling period of 6 weeks, so plan ahead for the holidays. But don’t worry if you’re running out of time before the gift-giving season. With a quick online search, you should be able to order pre-cooled bulbs.

Many varieties of bulbs can be forced successfully, but the following options have been developed over the years to perform excptionally well under forced conditions.

One of the best-known bulbs for holiday forcing is the amaryllis. In warm shades of red, pink, and coral, the oversized flowers make a bold statement in a small space. This would be an ideal gift for someone who loves showy plants but has limited room in which to grow them. Long-lasting amaryllis blooms can thrive for several weeks in a cool room.

Star of Bethlehem bulbs make a perfect Christmas gift thanks to their festive name. A thoughtful choice for gardeners, these small white blossoms can be planted outdoors in the spring. Stars of Bethlehem will readily multiply year after year if left undisturbed in the garden.

Paperwhite narcissus is a classic choice for indoor bulbs. The pure white blooms are reminiscent of fresh snow. These members of the daffodil family are popular all winter, as their simple form is seasonless and graceful.

The key factor in forcing bulbs is the cooling period. Depending on the type of bulb, expect to keep them chilled for six to eight weeks. The bulbs need to be stored in a cool, dry, dark place that encourages dormancy. Examples of suitable places include a refrigerator crisper, a cellar, an unheated sunroom or basement, or a protected garage.

Once the dormancy period is over, it’s time to make the bulbs think spring has arrived. Plant the bulbs in a well-drained container with nutrient-rich soil. With some types of plants, like the amaryllis, it’s ok if the bulbs stick out of the dirt a little bit. It’s also alright to crowd the container a bit. Forced bulbs don’t need to be spaced out as much as those planted in the ground.

Bring your newly-planted bulbs into a warm (not hot) room with filtered sunlight. These conditions will simulate springtime in nature, and the bulbs will begin to sprout. The amount of growing time until they bloom depends on the species of bulb, but watching the little plants grow every day is exciting too.

If you have children, forcing bulbs is a fun way to show them how plants grow. It’s also a great way to bring a pop of color into the house when the weather may be gloomy. The whole family can enjoy the process of growing flowers inside your house, and before you know it spring will be here!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Holidays, Seasonal

Spruce Up Your Holiday Home with Poinsettias

December 12, 2019

The cheerful poinsettia is a classic Christmas decoration that is beloved around the world. The poinsettia has been associated with Christmas since the 1600s. The plants are indigenous to dry forests in Central America, where legends have long told of a young girl bringing the crimson blooms to a church as a gift for the baby Jesus.

Poinsettias were introduced to the United States in the mid-1820s by botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett, the US Minister to Mexico for whom the plant is named. Intrigued by their bold colors and winter bloom time, Poinsett began shipping cuttings to his greenhouse in the US so he could further study them.

In nature, the poinsettia can grow to a height of more than ten feet, with thin, spindly stems. The plants were first commercially propagated in the early 1900s by the Ecke family, who developed a grafting method to produce bushy plants with multiple branches and blooms.

There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias. Natural colors include red, burgundy, coral, orange, pink, and ivory. Other colors may be available but have likely been dyed by the grower. Many types of poinsettias feature solid colored bracts, or leaves, but there are also marbled varieties and those with contrasting color on the edges.

If none of the 100 types of poinsettias suit your tastes, there are several ways to decorate the plants. Spray paints designed specifically for delicate petals are available in a range of shades to coordinate with any decor. There are glitter and pearlized sprays created for use on live plants. Craft stores and garden centers may also carry flocking spray to give your tropical plants a snow-covered look.

Poinsettias are often used as stand-alone decor, but the brightly colored leaves also look charming tucked into a larger display. Check your local nursery or garden center for small plants that make a big statement. These may have only one or two blooms but they are the perfect size to be the focal point in an arrangement of holly or evergreen branches. Use these to create a centerpiece on the dining room table, the sideboard, or in the foyer.

When the holidays are winding down, your poinsettia may begin to wind down as well. If you have a green thumb, you don’t need to throw out the holiday plant. By forcing the plant to go dormant with cool, dry, dark conditions, you can extend its life until next year. Once the poinsettia has been dormant for several months, you can reintroduce water and sunlight. With proper care, it may bloom again. You can even keep the poinsettia outdoors in areas without frost.

Poinsettias add a cheerful note to any holiday home. Be a bit cautious, however, if you have curious dogs or cats. Ingesting poinsettias can cause them mild gastrointestinal distress.

This holiday icon would be a thoughtful hostess gift, or a housewarming gift for a family spending their first Christmas in a new home. A poinsettia with unusual coloring would be appreciated by a friend who loves to garden. Whoever the recipient is, the poinsettia is sure to conjure up happy holiday memories.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Poinsettia, Holidays, Seasonal

Easy Embellishments for a Winter Wonderland Bouquet

November 19, 2019

Adding non-floral accents to a bouquet is a fun way to customize your flower arrangement. There are lots of festive options available at craft stores or online retailers. With cool weather right around the corner, here are some ways to turn any bouquet into one fit for a winter wonderland.

Pine cones are a great decor element that you may even have in your own yard. They add a rustic, woodsy texture to your flowers. For extra impact, spray a light dusting of metallic spray paint or flocking on the tips of your pine cones. If you’re using pine cones from your own yard, be sure to rinse and dry them to remove excess sap.

Faux snowflakes come in many sizes and will add a wintery feel to any decor. Look for different finishes like glitter and shimmer, as well as various shades of white, silver, and blue. Snowflakes on stems can easily be tucked into floral displays for an icy feel.

Jingle bells are a great way to ring in the holiday season! Bells are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors that will coordinate with any color scheme. Many jingle bells come on flexible wires that make it easy to incorporate them into your floral arrangement.

A quick search on a major retail website shows thousands of options for winter ribbon. Ribbons come in every color with numerous patterns, and range from very narrow to several inches wide. Ribbon can be tied around the vase or woven between the flowers of your arrangement to add interesting color and texture.

Glittery craft picks are a cheerful way to add shimmer to your flowers. Browse your craft store to check out all the types of picks that are available for both seasonal and year-round themes. Craft picks are a great choice because they have flexible wires that can be cut or bent to fit into any size or shape arrangement.

Floral paint is designed specifically to be sprayed on fresh flowers. The gentle mist adheres to plants without damaging them. Look for icy blue shades with a touch of shimmer or glitter to add a frosty feeling to your flowers.

How about a little bird nestled in among the flowers? Artificial birds made of resin or dried mushrooms would add a sweet touch to your bouquet. Whether you choose a bright red cardinal or a black-capped chickadee, this unexpected accent will bring the outdoors into your home.

An embellished winter bouquet is appropriate for many occasions. Consider giving wintery flowers as a hostess gift or for a winter birthday. They would also be a thoughtful gesture as a thank you for a holiday gift. With just a few accent pieces, you can turn an ordinary bouquet into a frosty, festive centerpiece.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal

Saffron: The Treasure of the Fall-Blooming Crocus

November 18, 2019

The purple fall-blooming crocus is a celebrated member of the iris family. Not only does it have graceful, lavender-colored blooms, but this particular type of crocus has a treasure inside: saffron.

One corm, or bulb, produces one purple flower. Each flower has three edible, red saffron strands that are the flower’s stigmas. The threads are hand-harvested, a slow and painstaking process that accounts for the high price of the spice. The Crocus Sativus bulb does not readily self-propagate, another process that must be done by hand.

Because each flower may only bloom for a day or two, there is a sense of urgency to the harvest. While the bulbs themselves are not terribly pricey, the harvested saffron can fetch thousands of dollars per pound. It is estimated that it takes as many as 75,000 flowers to yield one pound of saffron.

Saffron has had many uses throughout its history. Native to ancient Persia, references to saffron date back thousands of years. People once believed it could cure all sorts of internal and external bodily ailments. Saffron was even considered to be a remedy for baldness.

Saffron has been used as a fabric dye since the 1200s. It yields a golden, yellow-orange hue when applied to fabric. Many Buddhists still wear robes that are referred to as saffron-colored. In fact, these robes are usually dyed with turmeric, which is much more affordable.

The most common use for saffron today is as a culinary spice. In small quantities, it is added to dishes to give them a yellow color. In larger quantities, the flavor of the saffron is the star ingredient. The taste can be difficult to describe, but it should be floral and slightly pungent or musky. Be sure to buy fresh saffron for the best flavor.

Saffron strands can be added to teas and tisanes. It is often simmered in milk with honey to make a soothing bedtime drink. It can also be steeped in cream to impart its flavor and color to custards or rice pudding. A pinch of saffron can add an exotic flavor to baked goods as well.

Perhaps the most frequent culinary use for saffron worldwide is in savory dishes. It is a key ingredient in rice dishes such as Spanish paella and many types of curry. Saffron is also an important addition to bouillabaisse, the French seafood stew. These dishes wouldn’t be the same without this essential spice.

Unlike many other bulbs, this type of crocus should be planted in spring or summer for autumn blooming. Considered low-maintenance plants, crocuses prefer rich, well-drained soil in a sunny location.

Fall-blooming crocus corms would make a considerate gift for the food-lover in your life. Left undisturbed, these perennial bulbs will return each year, yielding their precious saffron threads each autumn.

Crocus Sativus is also a thoughtful gift for someone who would love to see brilliant blooms in their fall garden. When many other plants are winding down, this late-blooming crocus is a cheerful pop of color. Whatever the occasion, the saffron crocus will surely be appreciated for the garden gem that it is.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal, Edible Flowers - Flowers as Food

How to Incorporate Edible Flowers into your Holiday Meals

November 4, 2019

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to start planning the menus for our celebrations. If you want to make your dishes tasty and unique, add edible flowers. From sides and entrees to desserts, there are numerous ways to use these delicious blooms to enhance your cooking.

If you have a garden, many of these items may still be in bloom in November and December. This is especially true if you live in a warmer climate. Take advantage of Mother Nature’s bounty to use edible flowers from the plants you grow.

For starters, salads are more fun to eat when they’re laced with colorful blossoms. Peppery nasturtium flowers, in rich red and orange hues, add a zesty touch to your greens. Chicory flowers, which are related to endive, add a nutty flavor.

Spice up your vegetables such as green beans and Brussels sprouts. Marigold or calendula petals are reminiscent of saffron when sauteed and will add a savory touch to your dish. Or add sunflower petals along with the roasted seeds for a toasted accent to your veggies.

Bright yellow squash blossoms can not only add a pop of color to your salad, they can also be a side dish themselves. Look for recipes for fried, batter-dipped squash flowers. They can also be stuffed with ricotta or mascarpone cheese and roasted.

Many plants have leaves and roots that are edible, but it isn’t commonly known that the flowers are edible too. Sage, oregano and basil are examples of popular herbs that feature edible flowers. Radishes and arugula also boast delicious blossoms. Sprinkle the flowers over your dish just before serving to maintain their freshness and color.

Infused oils can be made with herbs and their flowers, preserving the flavor for several months. For example, chive flower oil can be drizzled over roasted or mashed potatoes for a subtle onion essence. This flavored oil is also a lovely complement to freshly baked biscuits or popovers.

For a refreshing after-dinner drink, try hibiscus tea. This slightly tart beverage may help to aid in digestion so you don’t feel over-stuffed after your feast. Hibiscus tea bags are available at most grocery and health food stores.

Save room for dessert! Wow your guests with petit fours or cupcakes topped with candied violets. Petite phyllo shells filled with custard or raspberry jam would be beautiful with candied rose petals on top. To save time, purchase the candied flowers from a local candy supply shop or an online retailer.

Whether you’re using edible flowers from the market or from your garden, be certain that they’re clean, fresh, and free of chemicals. These blooming beauties will add a delicious and colorful element to your meal, making your holiday feast unforgettable.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Edible Flowers - Flowers as Food, Holidays, Seasonal

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Flowers Native to the US

November 1, 2019

For a fun and authentic approach to Thanksgiving decor, create floral arrangements that feature flowers native to the United States. Most of these plants should be available at a well-stocked florist, and many may even be in your own garden.

There are many interesting flowering plants that are native to the New England region, where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated. Some of these flowers may have even been in early settlers’ gardens.

Yarrow features tiny clusters of flowers atop slender stems. Two of the most common colors of yarrow are burgundy and yellow. It blooms throughout the summer and into the fall, and is easy to dry. Yarrow may have been used by colonists for medicinal purposes.

Butterfly weed, or asclepias, is named because it attracts large numbers of butterflies to its brightly colored flowers. In the same family as milkweed, butterfly weed grows freely across New England in warm shades of orange, red, and yellow.

Coneflowers are frequently found across New England. The flowers resemble a conical daisy, mostly in ivory or dusty purple hues. Coneflowers are often referred to by their scientific name, echinacea. They, too, may have been found in pilgrims’ gardens for medicinal uses.

By broadening our range across the United States, we find many more native flowers that would make a beautiful addition to autumn bouquets.

Rudbeckia, or black eyed Susan, features yellow petals with a black or brown center. Lesser-known varieties may include accents of orange and bronze coloration. These flowers are similar in shape to daisies and bloom in late summer and early fall.

Irises are native to 49 states in the US and are found in striking shades including yellow, plum, and rust. While they are not likely blooming in the wild during this time of year, it is easy to find a nice selection of fresh irises from a florist.

California poppies are common in the western US and grow in vivid tones of yellow, red, and orange. Most specimens have only four petals, but they make quite a bold statement. Poppies will add a distinct pop of color to your floral arrangement, and are available from many florists.

A native flower bouquet would make a thoughtful host or hostess gift for someone who is a gardener or history buff. This project might also be a fun way to teach kids about different aspects of colonial life.

We can connect with early American settlers by honoring their traditions and remembering the spirit of the first Thanksgiving. Whether you create a floral display entirely of native flowers, or feature just a few mixed in with other blooms, you’ll be celebrating American heritage with a festive flair.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Holidays, Seasonal

Create a Harvest Vase from a Pumpkin, Apple, or Gourd

October 23, 2019

As we celebrate the harvest season, we look for ways to incorporate autumnal touches into our decor. A fun way to do this is by crafting floral arrangements that use seasonal fruits as a natural vase. We can use the abundance of apples, pumpkins, and gourds to create festive containers for cheerful bouquets.

The first step is to find fruits that are firm and unblemished. These will last the longest once they are cut. Be sure to keep in mind the size of your desired flowers when choosing a potential container.

Next you will hollow out your selected produce. Apples tend to be a little softer and can easily be scooped out with everyday utensils. Pumpkins and gourds are generally tough, so use caution when cutting into them. Use whatever tools you would use if you were hollowing a jack-o-lantern. Be sure to save the pumpkin seeds for toasting and snacking.

The goal is to have a cleaned out cavity that can hold water. To extend the life of your pumpkin or gourd, you can place a glass vase inside it to contain the water and flowers. This will slow down the process of the fruit getting soft and soggy.

Once your pumpkin or gourd is hollow, it’s ready to be filled with seasonal flowers. We love chrysanthemums and roses in autumnal colors such as peach, yellow, and burgundy. Hydrangeas in shades of ivory and dusty pink are a great option too.

Apples that feature variegated reds and greens, such as Lady apples, make a beautiful choice for your harvest table. These petite vases can be used to hold a single flower stem or a cluster of berries. Look for vibrant berries from the pyracantha bush, or colorful St. Johns wort.

These fresh vases are also ideal for use with dried flowers, leaves, and acorns. This will allow you to display them even longer than if you use live flowers. You may be able to enjoy your arrangement for a week or more.

Decorated small gourds and apples can also be used as place card holders for your Thanksgiving meal. Many craft stores sell the metal inserts that hold place cards, as well as the cards themselves. Nestle the place card in among the blooms. Guests may even like to take these favors home with them.

Once you see how cute these little vases are, you may want to carry on with this theme. Hollowed out apples and small pumpkins or gourds will also make fun tea light holders. You can use either flameless candles or real tea lights or votives to brighten up your holiday decor.

When your natural vase starts to get soft, be sure to put it outside for the furry friends in your neighborhood. Apples and small pumpkins make an excellent meal for squirrels and chipmunks. Check with local farms to see if they accept donations of larger pumpkins – they make a healthy, tasty treat for the animals.

By using your imagination, apples and pumpkins can be so much more than pie filling. From harvest decor, to your Thanksgiving buffet, and a feast for barnyard critters, this versatile produce will help you celebrate the gathering season in style.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Flower Crafts, Occasions, Seasonal

Celebrate the Harvest Season with a Floral Cornucopia

October 17, 2019

The cornucopia is a traditional symbol of a bountiful harvest. This beloved hallmark of the harvest season has long been associated with a plentiful yield. Filled with flowers and produce, the cornucopia proudly displays the best of the year’s crops.

The name cornucopia comes from the Latin word that translates as “horn of plenty”. The tradition dates back thousands of years to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The tale originated with the god Zeus and his nanny, a beloved goat whose charmed horn was said to bring riches to those possessed it.

In the modern world, the cornucopia has come to represent an abundant harvest. In the United States, the cornucopia is commonly used as decor to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. It is often filled to overflowing with fruits, vegetables, and seasonal flowers.

Making a cornucopia centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table is a fun and simple project. The horn-shaped baskets, usually made of wicker, are sold at craft stores everywhere. Depending on the size of your table, you can choose from an array of sizes suitable for every home.

Because the cornucopia is a symbol of the harvest season, it is appropriate to display it throughout the autumn months. Not just for Thanksgiving, the cornucopia makes a beautiful decoration from September through the start of the holiday season.

When choosing flowers for your cornucopia, traditional fall colors are the most popular. Look for chrysanthemums in shades of yellow, orange, and rust. Roses in yellow, deep red, and peach hues are also festive this time of year. Cheery sunflowers make a bold display and are found in yellow, orange, and burgundy colors. After you have placed your flowers, fill in small spaces with bright bunches of berries.

If you wish to use your cornucopia for longer than just the Thanksgiving holiday, you will need to periodically add water to your flowers. Place them in small vessels that are easily hidden by the basket. Floral foam designed to hold water is a great way to arrange the stems and cut down on the frequency of waterings. Floral foam is readily available at craft stores and may also be sold by your local florist.

Another option for a long-lasting cornucopia is to use dried flowers in the display. This eliminates the need for watering and ensures that the flowers will last throughout the season. Dried leaves from local trees also exhibit brilliant colors in the fall. They would make a striking addition to your basket.

Because the horn of plenty is associated with a rich harvest, be sure to include fruits and vegetables in your display. Bright red and green apples are a colorful choice and will remain firm for several weeks. Other long-lived options include whole pomegranates, small pumpkins or gourds, and dried decorative corn cobs.

For a short-term display, tender fruits and vegetables will work well. Heirloom tomatoes, with their unique colors and shapes, would be beautiful here. If you are only using your cornucopia for a day or two, try bunches of grapes draped artfully in the curves of the basket.

Whether you display your harvest decor for a few days or a few months, you can easily create your own show-stopping centerpiece. Choose flowers and fruits that coordinate with your Thanksgiving plates and napkins, or customize a cornucopia to celebrate all season long. Either way, your one-of-a-kind cornucopia will wow your family and friends!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Flower Crafts, Chrysanthemum, Roses, Seasonal, Sunflowers

Spooky Blooms for Halloween

October 16, 2019

Many of us love to decorate for Halloween. In the United States, Halloween is second only to Christmas for money spent on holiday decor. If you want to incorporate flowers into your creepy adornments, there are lots of festive choices.

Spider mums are named for their long, curled outer petals that resemble legs. Spider mums are available in many colors, including autumnal shades of red, yellow, and bronze. These unusual chrysanthemums would make a perfect backdrop for a little artificial spider.

Chartreuse button mums are known for their bright, apple green blossoms. They bring to mind the color of slime, or maybe the skin tone of Frankenstein’s monster. Button mums have petite flowers (about one inch across) that grow in clusters that are ideal for floral arrangements.

Traditionally a symbol of death, black roses are a classic Halloween staple. Some roses are dyed black by the florist. Others are a very deep, rich shade of burgundy. Rumor has it that a true black rose grows in Turkey or Tibet. Regardless of the origin of the black rose, the haunting meaning has been the same for hundreds of years. Black roses are especially spooky when they are dried and used in floral arrangements.

Blood red lilies are another great choice for eerie decor. If you can find red tiger lilies, the spots on the petals will resemble drops of blood. The large, gracefully curved flowers will be a stunning focal point for a Halloween bouquet. Try draping artificial cobwebs over these crimson beauties for a stunning showcase.

Many of us think of yellow blooms when we think of sunflowers. Actually, sunflowers also grow in brilliant shades of red, orange and rust. These classic autumn hues are a bold addition to your Halloween arrangement. The individual, wavy petals on sunflowers often resemble little flames. Sunflowers are another flower that have a haunting look when they are dried.

For a truly unusual focal point in your decor, consider bromeliads with their tall stalks of spiky leaves. Many bromeliads feature bright red leaves that will blend seamlessly with your most fantastic Halloween decorations. These unique, low-maintenance houseplants will live well beyond the fall season and add a brilliant touch of color to your home.

Don’t forget to accent your Halloween flowers with extra touches like autumn berries. Pyracantha and St. John’s wort berries are two bright, colorful options. Mini pumpkins or gourds (fresh or faux) also make fun additions to your spooky blooms. Whatever flowers you choose, have fun and Happy Haunting!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal, Chrysanthemum, Lilies, Roses

Create a Harvest Wreath from Your Garden

October 9, 2019

As the days get shorter and the nights grow cooler, a beautiful transformation happens in our gardens. Plants put on a brilliant show as they prepare for their winter dormancy. The autumn garden is full of vibrant colors that can be preserved by crafting a harvest wreath.

A harvest wreath makes a lovely gift for friends and family that love the autumn season. Thanks to its rich, warm colors it can be displayed from September through Thanksgiving. If it is carefully packed away, a harvest wreath can be used from year to year.

To begin your project, you will need a wreath form. This is the base or foundation of the wreath. Most wreath forms are round, but other shapes such as ovals and squares have become popular in recent years.

Some common materials for wreath forms are styrofoam, grapevine, and metal hoops. Styrofoam is lightweight and easy to work with. It is used when the wreath materials will completely cover the base, as this type of base is not intended to be visible.

Grapevine wreaths are woodsy and rustic, and are designed to be seen in the finished product. Similarly, hoop wreaths are metal circles that are often left partially exposed. In both instances, the wreath form itself is part of the final design.

The next step in creating a harvest wreath is to put down a foundation layer such as dried evergreen branches or brightly colored pressed leaves. Attach floral elements with flexible craft wire, which is available at craft stores and home improvement stores.

A simple method for pressing leaves is to sandwich them between two layers of waxed paper (wax side facing in!) and iron them. This process flattens the leaves and removes moisture at the same time. The thin layer of wax left on the leaves helps protect them as well.

Next, attach your larger dried flowers. There are many gorgeous blooms to choose from in the fall. Sedum flowers and hydrangea blooms offer wonderful options, and may even dry naturally on the plant. Roses are another late-blooming choice that would make a fine addition to your harvest wreath.

After the larger flowers have been attached to the frame, tuck in smaller flowers such as stems of baby’s breath. A few clusters of dried berries, such as bright orange pyracantha, will finish the wreath. If you wish to attach a bow or ribbon, that is the final step in decorating your harvest wreath.

The meaningful gesture of a hand-crafted gift will be appreciated for any special occasion. A harvest wreath would be a thoughtful housewarming or hostess gift. If you know someone who loves all things autumnal, this would be a perfect “just because” gift. A harvest wreath will bring season-long enjoyment to all who see it.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Flower Crafts, Seasonal

Edible Squash Blossoms to Share with Family and Friends

September 18, 2019

Have squash vines taken over your late-summer garden? Do you have dozens of new blooms late in the growing season? It may be too late for those flowers to develop into fruits, but that doesn’t mean they have to go to waste. Squash blossoms are edible and can be incorporated into a delicious harvest dinner.

As summer winds down and we begin to harvest from our gardens, it’s a wonderful chance to invite your friends and family to share in your bounty. Sharing a home-cooked meal is a gift in itself, and is so meaningful when you include loved ones. Squash blossoms are the right flower to add an exotic flair to your autumn dinner party.

Edible squash flowers are found on all members of the squash family, including summer and winter squash, zucchini and pumpkins. These blooms are usually bright yellow or orange, and shaped like a large trumpet. Squash flowers often last only one day before wilting on the vine, so plan accordingly when you’re using them as the star of your harvest dinner.

Squash blossoms are loaded with calcium and iron, and are also high in vitamins A and C. They have a high water content and are quite low in calories and carbohydrates. The flavor of squash blossoms is reminiscent of the squash itself, but more mild.

Most grocers don’t sell squash flowers because they have such a short shelf life. Luckily, they are quite plentiful in the garden. When choosing blossoms from your garden, be sure to choose the ones that are unblemished and firm. Also be sure they don’t have any chemicals or pesticides on them, as these may not rinse off totally.

Squash and pumpkin flowers are often chopped up and used in salads as a colorful accent. They would be delicious accompanied by a sprinkling of toasted or spiced pumpkin seeds on top of the salad. Squash blossoms can be used in place of greens such as kale and spinach, and make a healthful addition to soups as well.

Because of their long, narrow shape, squash flowers can be stuffed and baked, as you would prepare a stuffed pepper. Popular fillings include grains, cheeses, such as herb-seasoned ricotta, and diced meats like pancetta or bacon. Take care when stuffing the flowers, as they are much more fragile than a pepper. If a petal tears a bit when you stuff the flower, don’t worry. The finished dish will still be tasty.

Squash blossoms are also a crowd-pleaser when dipped in batter and deep-fried. Yes, this negates their health benefits, but it’s OK to splurge since they’re only available for a short time each year. Any batter recipe that you have can be used on squash flowers. Batters containing beer are a popular choice, and work well if your harvest dinner has an Oktoberfest theme.

Gifting a portion of our harvest to others is a tradition that has continued for thousands of years. When you’re giving away bushels of squash to your family and friends, remember to also give a gift of the edible squash flowers to share in the beautiful bounty of your garden.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Edible Flowers - Flowers as Food, Fun Flower Facts, Seasonal

Stonecrop Brings “Autumn Joy” to the Garden

September 11, 2019

Stonecrop is a family of around 500 varieties of succulent plants. Succulents store water in their leaves, making them an excellent choice for gardens that don’t receive much water or rain. These low-maintenance plants will add color and interest to your fall garden. Because stonecrop is so easy-going, it makes a wonderful gift for someone who loves flowers but may not have much time to devote to gardening.

One of the most widely known stonecrops is “Autumn Joy”. This easy-to-grow perennial features deep pink flowers and bright, apple green leaves from late August through October. Left undisturbed, the dried flowers may color your garden throughout the winter as well.

Stonecrop is also commonly known as sedum. Once established, sedum requires little water. Most varieties prefer ample sun, but there are also stonecrops that do well in partial shade. Primarily native to the northern hemisphere, these plants are usually classified by their growth habit – either upright or creeping.

Upright-growing sedum bears flowers on stems that reach heights of up to three feet. These flowers bloom primarily in the autumn season. Many varieties possess flowers that dry to a deep burgundy color, making them a good choice for long-lasting decor. The dried blooms would be lovely displayed on a fall or winter wreath.

Creeping stonecrop has a low-growing, spreading habit. Many varieties are less than two inches tall but can spread to several feet wide in ideal growing conditions. Creeping sedum is well-known for thriving in difficult locations, such as on top of rocks or even rooftops!

Creeping sedum bears flowers in a range of warm colors such as pink, yellow, and white. These blooms, which are prolific in autumn, coordinate beautifully with other fall-blooming plants like chrysanthemums. They also echo the gorgeous colors of changing leaves on deciduous trees.

Most types of stonecrop are edible, with a mild peppery flavor. Young sedum leaves are often eaten raw in salads in European countries. However, it is recommended that you cook the varieties with red leaves or yellow flowers, as eating them raw can cause mild stomach upset.

There is a folklore history of using sedum to heal broken hearts. It seems that people once believed that eating sedum would mend a spurned lover’s spirit. We don’t know if this actually works, but it’s surely healthier than eating a whole carton of ice cream!

If you know someone who loves all things autumnal, stonecrop would make a lovely gift for their garden. They require little hands-on care but produce quite a showy display every fall. Sedum is also a great option as a gift for someone who is new to gardening. The plants are rugged yet elegant and will provide years of interest with little work. With their durable nature and bright fall colors, sedum can bring “autumn joy” to every garden.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal, Fun Flower Facts

Japanese Anemones Shine in the Autumn Garden

August 27, 2019

As days grow shorter and summer blooms begin to fade, Japanese anemones come into their full glory. With oversized leaves and tall stems bearing charming flowers, Japanese anemones make a bold statement in your autumn garden.

Japanese anemones are members of the ranunculus family. With their cup-shaped blossoms with few petals, they resemble several other members of this popular family such as windflowers (spring-blooming anemones) and buttercups.

With a bloom time as long as six to eight weeks, Japanese anemones are one of the stars of the late-season garden. Japanese anemones demand your attention as they bear blooms on stems that can reach up to four feet in height! In addition to pure white flowers, they grow in rosy shades ranging from pale, baby pink to a medium lavender hue. Some varieties may also exhibit subtle tone-on-tone stripes.

To call these flowers “Japanese” is actually a misnomer, as they are native to China, where they were once frequently found growing near graves. Their longevity in bloom, coupled with their believed ability to ward off evil, made them ideal as memorials for the tombs of the beloved departed.

Japanese anemones got their common name after having been “discovered” by Europeans in Japan, where they had been cultivated for several centuries. The simple, elegant blossoms are typical of the types of graceful flowers that are often portrayed in Japanese art.

Japanese anemones are considered easy to grow and they can spread vigorously once established. These flowers prefer partial shade (4-6 hours of sun per day) and well-drained, rich soil. They can be difficult to divide by splitting the root, so propagation by seed is suggested. The seed pods are cheerful, yellow fuzzy spheres that are left behind after the petals have fallen.

In addition to being beautiful and easy to care for, Japanese anemones are a great choice for the garden because they are quite sturdy. They are naturally resistant to insects and common botanical diseases. They are also unappetizing to hungry rabbits, and not very desirable to deer.

If you have a friend who laments the end of the gardening season, Japanese anemones would be a thoughtful gift to extend the garden’s bloom time by several weeks. Perhaps you have planted a memorial garden in honor of a loved one who has passed on. Japanese anemones would be an excellent addition by which to remember that special someone. No matter the occasion, these charming blossoms will be a treasured part of any autumn landscape.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Fun Flower Facts, Seasonal

Welcome Autumn with Chrysanthemums

August 22, 2019

As warm weather gives way to cooler days, we begin to see chrysanthemums everywhere. These hardy plants, also called mums, are a beacon of autumn in North America. Blooming in late summer through mid-fall, mums add a pop of color when other garden plants are dying back for the year.

Chrysanthemums are readily found in nurseries and garden centers. You may even find them at your local grocery store, along with pumpkins and corn stalks. Mums make an excellent autumnal decoration, as they bloom in warm shades of reds, yellows, and purples that reflect the hues of the changing leaves on trees.

In the United States we associate mums with the start of fall, Halloween, and everything pumpkin spice flavored. However, in many nations, chrysanthemums have a more somber meaning. In some European and Asian countries, certain mums are used almost exclusively for funerals and grave markers. These mums are usually white in color to symbolize grieving.

There are thirteen main types of chrysanthemums, determined mostly by the shape of the flowers. There are countless variations in size and color as well, with thousands of individual varieties being officially recognized by the National Chrysanthemum Society.

Some of the most common types of chrysanthemums are cushion, with a mounded flower shape, and spider mums, with dangling petals reminiscent of legs. The quill mum has petals that are tube-shaped, and button mums have petite flowers growing on the stems in a natural bouquet shape.

One of the most popular uses of chrysanthemums worldwide is to dry the flowers and make them into tea. This practice is said to have begun in China around one thousand years ago, and remains widespread to this day. Chrysanthemum tea is served both hot and iced year-round, and is frequently sweetened with honey.

All chrysanthemum flowers are edible but they exhibit nearly as many flavors as there are types of blossoms! Some mums have a peppery flavor, some are tart, and some are thought to taste like honey. If you’re making your own tea, be sure your mums are clean and chemical-free before drying them.

If you know someone who loves everything associated with autumn, chrysanthemums will make a wonderful gift. As part of a holiday display or planted in a flower bed, mums deliver a brilliant splash of color late in the growing season. When other plants are winding down, mums are in full bloom to brighten a friend’s day with jewel-like colors.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Chrysanthemum, Fun Flower Facts, Seasonal

“Exploding” Jewelweed is Popping with Fun

August 18, 2019

Jewelweed is a yellow or orange flowering plant whose claim to fame is that the ripe seed pods “explode” or burst open when touched. Much to the delight of children and fun-loving adults, these plants have a quite entertaining method of dispersing their seeds.

Also known as touch-me-not, jewelweed grows in damp, marshy areas all across the eastern United States. While these trumpet-shaped flowers are classified as annuals (completing their life cycle within one year), they are so adept at self-sowing their seeds that they return reliably, year after year.

Jewelweed is a member of the impatiens family, which includes the shade-loving blooms of the same name. While common impatiens are readily found at every garden center and nursery, their wild cousins are not commercially cultivated. Like jewelweed, common impatiens also have a seed pod that bursts when fully ripened.

There are two theories about how jewelweed got its name. Some say that the gem-colored flowers glisten and shimmer when wet from rain or dew. Others say that the flowers hang from their stalks like jewels on a necklace. Whatever the case, these brilliant blossoms should not be overlooked.

Jewelweed has evolved to appeal to its primary pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds. The warm red-orange to yellow hues of the flowers are attractive to these species. The jewelweed releases its seed pods with the gentlest nudge, such as the feather-light touch of a hovering hummingbird.

This fascinating manner of seed dispersal is called “ballistichory”, referring to the way in which the seeds act as projectiles. This enthusiastic popping is achieved by a buildup of tension within the cells as the seed pod dries out. The cell walls gradually begin to coil and the tension is released when the fully ripe pod is touched.

Aside from being fun for inquisitive people, jewelweed has some beneficial qualities as well. The liquid from the stem of the plant is said to be excellent at reducing inflammation when applied topically. It has long been used as a treatment for poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettles. In fact, jewelweed is frequently found growing in the vicinity of poison ivy. If you know you have touched the noxious poison ivy, immediately applying liquid from the jewelweed is supposed to reduce the severity of the reaction before it even gets started.

Note: The Right Flowers is not a medical site. Knowledge of and information about the therapeutic benefits and applications of flowers, while known through the ages, does not constitute medical advice. If you are having health issues, you should consult with a physician.

In addition to the medicinal liquid, the seeds of the jewelweed are edible. The seeds can be flung as far as ten feet away when the pod pops open. But if you manage to collect a few, they can safely be eaten. After wiping off the coating on the fresh, ripe seeds, you will find that they taste nutty. This flavor has been compared to walnuts or almonds.

Exploding plants like jewelweed are proof that botany can be fun. There are wondrous things all around us, if you take the time to look. Go for a walk and see what jewels Mother Nature has to offer in your neighborhood.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Fun Flower Facts, Beneficial Properties of Flowers, Flowers Generally, Seasonal

Buttercups are Sunshine in Flower Form

July 4, 2019

Buttercups are brilliant yellow members of the ranunculus family. Buttercups make up nearly one fifth of the species of this family. There are variations in the number of petals and where the flowers grow, but almost all varieties share the distinctive butter-yellow petals for which they are named.

Buttercups are well-known for their sunny color and have worked their way into popular society to reflect cheer and affection. From the 1968 song “Build Me Up Buttercup” to Princess Buttercup in the beloved 1987 movie “The Princess Bride”, this flower has been used as a term of endearment for decades.

Buttercups are also popular with children. Many of us learned to hold the flower under a friend’s chin. If there was a yellow glow on their skin, the friend was said to like butter.

Buttercups are unique in the way their petals are highly glossy, to the point of being reflective. The smooth surface along with the underlying anatomy of the petals allows the buttercup to radiate a soft yellow glow that is unlike any other flower.

Long ago, buttercups were thought to give butter its yellow color. They are, in fact, toxic to cows and other livestock. However, the flowers lose their toxicity once dried. They have been used to create a topical salve for achy muscles and joints for hundreds of years.

Buttercups are most often found growing in cooler temperate regions. Many varieties thrive in either damp soil or in water. They are also sometimes found in wooded areas with dappled sunlight.

Buttercups are slightly heliotropic, turning somewhat to face the sun throughout the day. This fact, coupled with their brilliant surface, allows the flower to collect extra warmth from the sun. They can be as much as three degrees warmer than surrounding plants. This is advantageous in attracting pollinating insects.

While they are mostly perennial plants, buttercups can be difficult to transplant once they are established. If you would like to give buttercups as a gift, seek out sturdy plants at a local nursery to ensure growing success.

Once they are happily growing in the garden, it is said that buttercup plants can live in excess of one thousand years. This longevity makes them a thoughtful gift that will be remembered for years to come.

From childrens’ games to pop culture references, buttercups are beloved throughout our society. A gift of this bright yellow flower will send a cheery message to a loved one or friend.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Fun Flower Facts, Any Time, Seasonal

Set Your Garden on Fire with Gloriosa Superba

June 15, 2019

With a scientific name like Gloriosa superba, you might say that this fiery beauty is superb in color and full of glory. And you would be right! Perhaps that’s why it’s so rich in descriptives. Common English names include flame lily, fire lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, cat’s claw, tiger’s claw, and Rhodesian flame lily.

Whatever name you use, this plant is a stunner with showy reddish orange/yellow flowers that look like flames, and shiny green stems and leaves. The leaves are narrow and usually taper to a short tendril at the tip. The tendrils cling to other objects and help the plant climb up and scramble over other vegetation. Flowering occurs on pedicels or stalks up to 7-1/2” long from May to October. Though the showy flowers are lily like, these plants are not true lilies.

Insanely Beautiful, but Deadly

Gloriosa is a genus of 12 species in the plant family Cholchicaceae. They are tender, tuberous rooted deciduous perennials, adapted to summer rainfall with a dormant dry season. All parts of the plant contain colchicines and related alkaloids which makes them toxic if ingested and fatal if consumed in large doses. Small doses of colchicine are used in traditional medicines in both Africa and India, as well as pharmaceuticals in the U.S. Skin irritations can result from contact with the stems and leaves. Clearly not a plant you want to have around small children or pets.

The genus is found in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and from the Indian subcontinent in Malaysia. The national flower of Zimbabwe, Gloriosa superba is widely naturalized in coastal Australia, where it is considered a rampant and dangerous invasive weed. It is also considered a noxious weed in some Pacific islands and parts of the United States.

How to Grow Your own Gloriosa Garden

While propagation generally occurs from seeds, mature plants can be divided and grown from tubers. Outdoors, tubers should be planted horizontally 2-4” deep and 8-12” apart in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil after the last frost date. These plants do best with some afternoon shade. Because the tubers are brittle and difficult to dig up, many gardeners leave the tubers in pots or containers year-round. They work well as houseplants in a bright sunny window, with watering tapered off after blooming to induce dormancy.

The plant also produces fruit, which are large fleshy capsules that turn from green to yellow and eventually dark brown. These fruits contain numerous large, rounded, or ovoid shaped seeds. There are several named cultivars, including Citrina, which is yellow with maroon stripes, Lutea, which is all yellow, and Nana, which is a dwarf form. One brightly colored variety called Gloriosa Rothschildiana was named after the second Baron Rothschild who is credited with bringing the flower to Europe from Africa.

Bulbs are sold on Amazon and Plants Delight Nursery, and you can find seeds on Etsy. Here are the links:

ttps://www.amazon.com/Plants-GLORIOSA-SUPERBA-Flower-Viable/dp/B00LQIS1NS

Gloriosa superba Greenii

https://www.etsy.com/listing/530587243/100-gloriosa-superba-seeds-flame-lily?ref=pla_similar_listing_top-4&frs=1

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Phyllis Categories: Flowers Generally, Any Time, Flower Keeping Tips, Fun Flower Facts, Seasonal

Bring on the Dancing Girls: Impatiens Bequaertii

June 5, 2019

Among the world’s rarest and most enchanting flowers, Impatiens bequaertii is part of the impatiens family but has no acknowledged species name. Most notable for their petals resembling little dancing ladies in skirts, they are commonly referred to as dancing girls.

Native to the rainforests of East Africa, where the climate is very mild (ranging between 45-80F (6C-26C), these little beauties bloom mainly in white and occasionally light pink. Adding to their appeal are two little spots of yellow on the petals that look like tiny buttons. Even their heart-shaped leaves are attractive in a combination of olive green and dark red.

Petite in stature, Impatiens bequaertii grow approximately one foot across with blooms measuring no more than ½” long. Though Impatiens are most often treated as annuals, this species is perennial and makes an excellent indoor plant. They grow well in a small pot and will blossom year ‘round when properly tended. Because they will trail and climb, dancing girls are also perfect for hanging planters.

Impatiens bequaertii alone has 300 positively identified species and nearly 900 other possible species still under investigation as possible new members. All told, there are more than 1,000 other kinds of impatiens flowers, including jewelweed, touch-me-not, snapweed and patience. Generally speaking, they prefer filtered light and humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil with humidity over 40-50%. Overwatering encourages fungus, while underwatering leads to flower and leaf drop.

Because they grow so well in shady areas and are prolific bloomers, impatiens are among the most popular flowers for spring gardening. And, while you’d be hard-pressed to find a dancing girl plant, other varieties of impatiens are inexpensive and readily available. Plus, they go well beyond the dancing girl palette with vibrant colors like red, violet, purple, coral and yellow.

The name ‘Impatiens’ comes from Latin, meaning–hang on now—“impatient.” The reason is that their ripe seed pods sometimes burst open from even a light touch, as if they were impatient to scatter their seeds. This characteristic is especially apparent in the jewelweed variety. Impatiens are tropical flowers and, when planted outdoors, will turn to mush in frost.

As mentioned at the outset, Impatiens bequaertii is extremely rare and exporting of the plant remains illegal. They can be grown from seeds, though and are available for purchase at a number of online vendors. Here are a few direct links:

https://www.bonanza.com/listings/Egrow-50Pcs-Pack-Impatiens-Bequaertii-Seeds-Beautify-Dancing-Girl-Orchid Flower/723770224

https://www.banggood.com/Egrow-50PcsPack-Impatiens-Bequaertii-Seeds-Beautify-Dancing-Girl-Orchid-Flower-Seeds-p 1302148.html?akmClientCountry=America&cur_warehouse=CN

If you’re taken by this extraordinary flower and looking for a unique gift, there is a very impressive handmade flower stem available on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/668455002/dancing-girls-impatiens-impatiens

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Phyllis Categories: Flowers Generally, Fun Flower Facts, Occasions, Rainforest Flowers, Seasonal

The Flower Named after Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex: Clematis Meghan

May 15, 2019

A new baby, royal anniversary and namesake flower all in the merry month of May! Being in the royal spotlight comes with many challenges, but clearly has its sweet spots. Clematis Meghan, named after the Duchess of Sussex, is making its debut at the famed Chelsea Garden Show May 21-25, 2019.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, who named the flower, “the flowers are a rich, opulent magenta-purple, so they will really make an impact when planted in borders or larger pots.” Clematis Meghan flowers twice a year, in spring and early summer. It’s described as a hardy plant that makes a big impact when given room to grow.

Clematis Meghan will join a lineup of royal family flowers, including clematis Prince Louis, named after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s youngest child. There is also a clematis Princess Kate, clematis Royal Wedding and clematis Princess Diana. It seems even royals have to share! But, with so many stunning color variations, each seems to have its own unique personality.

Clematises are members of the buttercup family and have well over 300 species and countless man-made hybrids. Besides being prized for their magnificent, large flowers, they are one of the best-known climbers among vertical plants. They will train onto trellises and fences, or arch gracefully over doorways.

Though there are a few varieties that manage in part sun, most Clematis grow best in sunny locations (at least 6 hours of sun for blooming) and prefer cool, moist well-drained soil. They also need plenty of space for adequate airflow to prevent mildew. In the wild, clematis is often found growing at the edge of woodlots where they climb through the tree limbs to reach full sun while their roots remain in the shade.

Care of clematis vines is minimal except for watering, which calls for about an inch weekly and more during dry spells. Mulch should be replenished each spring. Bloom times vary depending on species. Whether you choose clematis for climbing or keep them in containers, pruning is important to keep them looking their best. The large flowering types, such as clematis Meghan, should be cut back to the topmost buds in late winter/early spring.

According to the International Clematis Society, clematis seeds may take up to three years to germinate, but you should get some germination in about six months to a year. You will find complete instructions on their website: http://www.clematisinternational.com/. Though your odds of getting a clematis Meghan plant are slim to none, there are an endless number of colors and varieties available from nurseries across America, including Spring Hill and Michigan bulbs

A clematis plant, sometimes referred to as the ‘queen of climbers’ makes a wonderful gift for gardening loved ones, such as moms on Mother’s Day, dads on Father’s Day, or anyone on their birthday or anniversary. This much-loved flower is also available in a wide range of gift items, including stationery, prints, tote bags, nightlights, tee shirts, plates, accent pillows and even iPhone cases. No doubt, the Queen Mother herself would approve.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Phyllis Categories: Any Time, Flowers Generally, Fun Flower Facts, Mother's Day, Occasions, Seasonal

Lily of the Valley is the Right Flower for Special May Occasions

May 9, 2019

Lilies of the valley are the traditional flower for the month of May. This tradition began in the 1560s when King Charles IX of France was given a stem of lily of the valley as a May Day gift. The flower has since been said to bring good luck.

Blooming in May, the lily of the valley has a slender stem of white bell shaped flowers emerging from one or two broad pointed leaves. It is not actually a lily, but rather a member of the asparagus family.

Lilies of the valley have long represented purity and humility. People born in the month of May are also said to exhibit these qualities. This makes lily of the valley a thoughtful birthday gift for those with May birthdays.

Lilies of the valley are popular in bouquets for spring brides thanks to their pure color and resemblance to wedding bells. They are also a traditional May Day gift as they are in bloom in mid spring. Called fete de muguet in France, it became a common practice to present a lady with lilies of the valley on May the first as a sign of affection.

Because this flower is associated with rebirth and renewal, it has been popular in Christian traditions. In 1881 the gospel hymn The Lily of the Valley was written by Charles Fry. Comparing Jesus to the pure white flower, it is still found in many hymnals to this day.

An alternative name for lily of the valley is lady’s tears. The legend was that these pure white flowers sprung up when Mary was crying following the crucifixion of her son. Another story held that the flower sprouted when Eve was crying as she left the Garden of Eden.

Lilies of the valley have a sweet fragrance that scents the home and garden when they are in bloom. In fact, it has been popular in perfumes for nearly two hundred years. You may see the French name, muguet, on labels.

When planted in the garden, lily of the valley pips will naturalize, or spread, if left undisturbed. They provide three seasons of interest as in autumn the stalks may produce vibrant red-orange berries. These are decorative, not edible, and can upset the stomachs of curious pets.

A popular old English children’s song, sung in round, goes:

White coral bells, upon a slender stalk
Lilies of the valley deck my garden walk.
Oh don’t you wish that you could hear them ring?
That will happen only when the fairies sing.

You can hear this lovely melody sung in round here:
“White Coral Bells”

Lilies of the valley have many ancient symbolic associations in addition to being beautiful and fragrant. This makes lily of the valley an especially meaningful choice for many gift giving occasions in spring.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Lily of the Valley, By Month, Seasonal

The Right Perennial Blooms to Give for Mother’s Day

May 1, 2019

As Mother’s Day approaches, many of us are looking for flowering gifts for loved ones. We give flowers as gifts because they’re beautiful and festive. But many moms say they feel bad when the flowers fade after a few brief days of blooming.

If your mother, grandmother or any other special lady is sad to dispose of your gift soon after they have received it, consider giving them a perennial flowering plant instead of cut flowers. Perennials are plants that are hardy enough to be planted outdoors and survive the winter in your region. They provide years of beauty, many with minimal maintenance.

Some popular perennial plants that are ready to bloom in time for Mother’s Day include rose bushes, lilacs, and azaleas. Each of these shrubs are readily available at most nurseries and garden centers. They are reliable, beautiful, and come in a variety of colors.

Roses are a classic gift to a loved one, and have been given as a token of affection for hundreds of years. There are many varieties of roses, such as landscape roses, that require little attention once planted. They can provide several months of blooms once established in a sunny location, and newer varieties will not need much work to keep them looking stunning.

Roses are available in several color families, with shades of red and pink being the most popular. Red roses have long been one of the most recognizable symbols of love. Imagine the impact of hundreds of blossoms throughout the summer.

Lilacs are flowering shrubs that bloom in mid spring in much of the US. Most of the flowers are shades of purple or lavender. Purple is a color long associated with royalty, once reserved only for noble families. Tell someone how special they are to you with the graceful violet blooms of lilacs and their sweet fragrance.

Azaleas are an excellent choice if your gift recipient has limited sun in their yard. Azaleas thrive in shade and partial shade. They have hundreds of trumpet-like flowers and their leaves remain green throughout the winter, even in colder climates.

Azaleas are said to represent fond remembrance of home, a perfect sentiment for Mother’s Day. They are available in shades of red, pink and purple, with dozens of variations of each color. Requiring little pruning, they are another low maintenance choice that make a thoughtful gift.

These are just a few of the perennial flowering bushes that are in bloom in mid-May. They make considerate gifts as they provide ongoing pleasure with little effort in the garden. That someone special will think of you for years when they see your gift blooming every spring.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Mother's Day, Occasions, Seasonal

Helleborus is an Early Messenger of Spring

April 24, 2019

Helleborus makes a thoughtful gift to a loved one’s garden by providing color in winter and early spring. Usually found in shades of pinks and purples, their shape resembles a wild rose. However, helleborus is actually a member of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.

With over two thousand years of folklore, the hellebore flower tells many captivating stories. Most recently, it is known as a herald of spring, as it is one of the first to bloom in the garden. Some types even bloom in December and January when many gardens are otherwise dormant.

Helleborus niger is often called the Christmas Rose. Legend has it that the flower sprouted from the tears of a young girl who wanted to bring baby Jesus a gift. Helleborus orientalis is known as the Lenten Rose as it blooms in early spring in many areas, around the season of Lent. The Lenten Rose is well suited to warmer climates where other varieties do not grow as well.

Different parts of the hellebore plant have been used in a variety of medicinal treatments for nearly two millennia, but have since been discovered to be toxic in all but the smallest of doses. Be careful if you have curious children or furry friends, as ingestion can cause illness.

There have been numerous myths and legends surrounding helleborus since the time of the ancient Greeks. Pliny the Elder advised facing toward the east and saying a prayer before digging up a hellebore plant. This may stem from the fact that these plants do not like to be moved once established. According to medieval folklore, walking on powdered hellebore root would result in invisibility of the person stepping on it. It is not clear how this story began, but years of experience seem to indicate that it is probably not true!

Considered relatively low maintenance once planted, hellebore tolerates a good deal of shade and many varieties are easy to grow in a range of gardening conditions. They are also resistant to being eaten by deer and other hungry visitors to the garden.

Helleborus will make a considerate gift because they require little attention once planted. They provide lovely blooms when the weather may be dreary, and they give the gardener something to look forward to early in the growing season. If you’re looking for a flower steeped in mystery and tradition, helleborus is a fine choice.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Fun Flower Facts, Flowers Generally, Seasonal

Daffodils Mean a Gift of Sunshine

April 19, 2019

Daffodils are an iconic symbol of spring thanks to their brilliant colors and fresh scent. Daffodils mean a gift of sunshine because of their cheerful colors in early spring.

The daffodil has numerous varieties that sprout their leaves while the snow is still on the ground. Because the most common color of daffodils is yellow, they are often associated with sunshine after a long winter.

Yellow flowers traditionally represent happiness and cheer as well as vitality. Yellow flowers also express friendship when given as a gift. This makes daffodils an excellent choice for a “Get Well” gift.

Some types of daffodils are among the earliest flowers to bloom in late winter and early spring. They are sometimes called the Lent Lily in the United Kingdom. Daffodils are a symbol of renewal and rebirth when given in bulb form. The hardiest of these bulbs can bloom for decades with little to no maintenance once planted. This makes daffodil bulbs a thoughtful gift.

Daffodils are frequently gifted in the Easter season. They pair beautifully with other bulbs that are blooming in early spring. However, when cut they should never be placed in a vase with other types of flowers. They release a type of sap that can damage flowers like tulips or lilies.

Daffodils have been grown and prized since ancient times. The Latin name for daffodils is Narcissus. They are named after a character in Greek mythology who was so smitten with his own good looks that the gods turned him into the beautiful flower we love today.

There are more than thirteen thousand recognized varieties of daffodil. New hybrids are being developed each year. Variations in colors include white, orange, pink and green. The numerous choices make daffodils a welcome gift for any celebratory occasion.

For example, daffodils are the traditional gift for the tenth wedding anniversary in the US. They are a symbol of good fortune when given as gifts for the Chinese New Year. Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are also popular around the Christmas holiday. The white blooms symbolize purity.

Daffodils are a gift of sunshine that can be given any time of year thanks to indoor growing techniques. The bulbs can be forced to bloom inside the house during the snowy months. Lucky recipients can have a touch of spring all year round. If you want to send good cheer to someone, daffodils are a wonderful choice.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Daffodils, Fun Flower Facts, Seasonal

Forsythia are Beacons of Springtime

April 18, 2019

Forsythia are beacons of springtime. When the branches and buds start to turn a brilliant shade of yellow, we know that warmer weather is right around the corner.

Forsythia is named for William Forsyth, a founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. It was first introduced to Europe in the late 1800s. These shrubs are only native to Asia but have been cultivated all around the world in the last one hundred years.

Forsythia is a relative of olive trees. All eleven varieties have mostly identical small yellow blooms. Variations are found in the leaves and growth patterns of the plant.

Because forsythia blooms in early to mid spring, it is often associated with Easter. In fact, one of its common names is the Easter Tree. It is also sometimes known as Golden Bell because of the shape of the individual blossoms.

Forsythia stems are one of earliest to bloom in spring. Victorians used the unspoken language of flowers to convey feelings. They associated forsythia with anticipation as they looked forward to the end of winter. Forsythia could be given to a loved one to convey anticipation of an upcoming meeting.

Forsythia is also representative of reliability. Branches and buds are known to begin turning yellow while there is still snow on the ground and a chill in the air. Because they are sturdy once established, forsythia can be counted on to brighten your late winter landscape.

Almost all forsythia flowers are golden or lemon yellow. This color is said to represent cheerfulness, friendship, and positive energy. The association of yellow flowers with happy sentiments makes it appropriate for Easter, spring birthdays, “get well”, or any celebratory occasion.

These cheery flowers are usually sold in bunches of long graceful branches. They are beautiful on their own or as the focal point of a bouquet. They also make a wonderful gift because they are so easy to grow. In fact, it is commonly said that you can just stick a forsythia branch in the ground and it will take root. When they are done blooming in the vase, they can easily be planted for enjoyment in years to come.

Branches of forsythia usually have both closed buds and open blooms. Flowers will continue to open once inside the house. This carries on the theme of anticipation as you look forward to more buds opening. In this way, forsythia is a beacon of springtime.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Seasonal, Easter, Fun Flower Facts

Tulips and Their Meanings as Gifts

April 12, 2019

Tulips are so beautiful that one bulb was once worth one hundred times the annual wage of many of Holland’s residents. At the height of Tulip Mania in the mid-1600s, these highly coveted bulbs were exchanged for large quantities of food and livestock. Once only available to the wealthiest people, we can now enjoy affordable tulips year round thanks to modern growing techniques.

Having already been cultivated in Asia for nearly one thousand years, tulips made their way to Europe via Turkey in the sixteenth century. Prized for their symmetry and their wide variety of colors, tulips were soon hybridized to develop a multicolored or broken pattern that remains popular to this day.

Grown in nearly every color of the rainbow, tulips are abundantly available in late winter and throughout the spring. They are a brilliant burst of color after a long dormant season. Tulips are often given as a gift of love with the meanings of each color being similar to that of roses. Red represents passion while white stands for forgiveness. Yellow brings cheerful sentiments and orange evokes happiness. Tulips are also considered the traditional flower for the eleventh wedding anniversary.

If you wish to convey to someone that they have beautiful eyes, choose a striped or parrot tulip. Originally caused by a virus that damaged the tulip bulb, flowers are now bred to display the popular multicolor motif with no harm to the bulb.

Because tulips bloom in the spring in nature, many people associate them with Easter. A gift of blooming tulip bulbs can represent rebirth and longevity. This is an especially meaningful gift, as the bulbs can rebloom for years when planted outdoors. Tulips are also prized in Islamic culture and are considered to be a holy symbol. For the Muslim people, tulips have long been considered a representation of paradise on Earth.

In some Asian cultures, a potted plant or potted bulbs are considered to represent a binding or constraint, and are thus not well suited to be given as gifts. However, cut flowers are desirable and appropriate instead.

While tulips are a quintessential springtime gift, they are now available year round. Because of their elegant form and graceful beauty, tulips make a treasured gift for any occasion. A bunch of tulips can convey many different messages, all of which show how much you care.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Margarette Categories: Easter, Seasonal, Tulips

Holiday Flowers to Give to Service Providers

December 21, 2017

If you need gift ideas for your building manager, valet, cleaning person, child’s teacher or any other service provider, flowers are perfect. They’re beautiful and festive, and they naturally come across as a genuine and caring present.

Some of the best flowers to give to service providers include:

Any Kind of Wintery White Flowers

White flowers can make a dramatic statement or simply portray the magic of the winter season. Give a gift of a bouquet of all white flowers. Go with just one variety or a blend of blossoms. They’ll look stunning either way and be accepted graciously, we’re sure. Think about Asiatic lilies, Cala lilies, roses, peonies and anemone.

Red and White Delight

Mix up a bouquet of white and red amaryllis and spray roses for the holidays, or go with all red or all white. Two festive colors for Christmas look fantastic in floral display, so get creative. Candy striped amaryllis are fun flowers to give and they make an impact. You can also put together something special with red juniper berries, white roses, pomegranate, red and white orchids, red cosmos and red black beauty roses.

Mini Christmas Tree

There are so many types of mini Christmas trees out there, in grocery store floral departments, garden centers, Christmas tree lots and even big box stores. You’ll find traditional pines and even little trees made with unconventional holiday plants like rosemary. Consider decorating a mini tree with pint-sized ornaments, garland or even dried fruit.

Other holiday flowers you can give to service providers, in a professionally made bouquet or a casual arrangement you put together yourself, include hypericum berries, poinsettias, bunches of greenery, ivy plants and carnations.

Are you giving gifts to service providers this year? If so, what are you giving?

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Holidays, Seasonal

2017 Guide to Holiday Flowers

December 21, 2017

There’s still time to choose and send Holiday flowers this year. While it’s easy nowadays to find the perfect florist (online or otherwise) to make your holiday bouquets and deliver your seasonal sprigs, it’s not always simple to plan for flowers. What will your giftee like? Which flowers are in season? Will your message be perfectly conveyed with your choice? These questions find answers with consideration of the wide range of flowers available to give this season.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias have a longstanding tradition as Christmas flowers. They’re mostly seen in red, but they come in shades of white, cream, peach and pink too – and marbled. Poinsettias offer a splash of color outside and inside of a home. They’re beautiful on a hearth or countertop, and they can be easily planted in a garden for enjoyment in seasons to come. Keep in mind that poinsettias are toxic to pets, so if your giftee has animals, point out that these flowers should be kept out of reach.

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cactus is a flowering plant that offers the perfect festive addition to a desert home and it can be a beautiful addition to houses in moderate climates. This plant blooms with pretty flowers in winter, from November until February. It’s often called simply Christmas Flower and it’s a unique seasonal blossom to give.

Christmas Wreaths

There’s nothing like a Christmas wreath to say “Merry Christmas.” Your gift recipient will feel your warmth upon receiving such a merry present, and hopefully the feeling will transfer to any visitors to your giftee’s home. Christmas wreaths are synonymous with holiday cheer and good tidings. While they’re usually placed on the front door of a home, we’ve seen some stunning wreathes hung over dramatic archways and fireplaces in houses. They’re versatile and beautiful!

Candy-Striped Amaryllis

Candy-striped amaryllis offers dazzling swirls of red and white for a holiday home. You can find these fun Christmas flowers in a few different patterns including a red flower with white edging and a white-petaled flower brushed in red. We love a bunch of candy-striped amaryllis tied together with a pretty white ribbon and placed in a tall vase.

Paperwhites

A cluster of paperwhites looks like a seasonal snow flurry and is absolutely magical! Paperwhites are stunning when floated in a silver bowl or when placed in a shallow glass dish. They’re enchanting flowers for an elegant holiday house and for nearly any setting. Consider wrapping paperwhites in fabric or in plain brown paper.

Which holiday flowers are your favorites? What blossoms would you like to surprise someone with this year?

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal

Tis the season! It’s time to give holiday flowers!

December 21, 2017

There are so many beautiful choices for gifting. What will it be? Blossoms in a classic or contemporary color? A floral arrangement featuring flowers in a traditional or totally modern shape?

Anything goes, because it’s the thought that counts, of course, and because you simply can’t go wrong when giving flowers.

Here are some ideas for holiday flowers to give this year:

Poinsettia

Poinsettias are favorite flowers for Christmas. They usually come in red, but they look stunning in white, cream, pink and marbled colors. Poinsettias are flowers that typically have 3 to 5 blooms bushy blooms, making your gift seem rather substantial. Their pots are often already wrapped in red shiny paper too. A word of caution, poinsettias are toxic to animals.

Mini Christmas Tree

Grocery stores, nurseries and farmers’ markets sell mini Christmas trees during the holiday season. Sometimes, they’re versions of pines or firs, but occasionally they’re simply rosemary plants shaped like the iconic tree. Mini Christmas trees are fun to give when they’re adorned in little glass balls or a glittering garland.

Hypericum Berries

You can make a festive little Christmas arrangement yourself by placing Hypericum berries in a clear vase, along with gorgeous holiday greens. The combination is timeless and elegant. Your giftee will surely love the present enough to display it and admire it for the weeks ahead.

Other holiday flowers you can give this year include Candy-Striped Amaryllis, Paperwhites and White Asiatic Lilies.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal

It’s Almost Time for the Portland Rose Festival

May 18, 2017

The annual Portland Rose Festival takes place this year from May 26^th to June 11^th, in Portland, Oregon. The flower-filled event will give tourists and residents the chance to enjoy parades, marathons and, of course, roses like never before.

The festival’s floral show highlights more than 4000 blossoms in total, so there will be plenty of chances to stop and smell the roses. The beautiful buds and blooms are back again this year as an opportunity for the public to gather in celebration of nature, and to come together in support of diversity and unity.

Bringing Tradition Into Modern Times

“Brilliant” is the theme for this year’s Portland Rose Parade, and there’s no doubt that the displays and the entire experience will be brilliantly planned and delivered. This event, which has been part of Portland’s culture for more than a century, has roots in tradition but it offers contemporary programming.

During the first decade of the 20^th century, the city of Portland’s leaders aimed to claim their spot on the map by branding their destination as the “summer capital of the world.” They did this by attracting visitors with the first Rose Festival. More than 100 summers later, the event is award winning, famous and a premier community involvement opportunity, as citizens take part in volunteerism and environmentalism.

Activities for the 2018 Portland Rose Festival

This year’s Portland Rose Festival will feature:

Parades
Waterfront concerts
Fireworks
A Fleet Week show
Marathon runs and walks
An Auction
A Golf Championship
The Annual Rose Show

The Annual Rose Show is the 129^th annual spring Rose Show and it’s free to attend. Rose growers from all over the Pacific Northwest participate and trophies go to entrants who grow the most beautiful roses.

You can learn more about events and activities happening at the Portland Rose Festival by visiting the festival’s website.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Roses, Seasonal

3 More Weeks of the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

May 4, 2017

Every spring at Epcot Walt Disney World Resort, the theme park blooms with color and inspiring shapes as the International Flower & Garden Festival takes over. This event typically runs from the beginning of March until the end of May, and it allows flower lovers and Disney guests to delight in a seasonal explosion of brilliant blooms and interactive exhibits.

There’s entertainment, farm to table cuisine, children’s playgrounds and more in addition to spectacular flower arrangements and gardens. The annual celebration is vibrant and a treat for the senses, and it has 3 weeks left to captivate those who live or can travel to Florida.

Specialty Outdoor Kitchens

While you revel in an abundance of flowers, enjoy main dishes, desserts and drinks from more than a dozen stations scattered throughout the splendid showcase.

Garden Rocks Concerts

Each weekend of the Festival, from Friday to Monday, take an imaginary trip back in time through the sounds of classic hit songs performed at outdoor concerts offering waterfront views.

Garden Rocks Dining

As you tap your toes to the tunes of the past, dine on delicacies that were especially chosen for this springtime event. Get a guaranteed seat to view the concert and sample tasty plates made from local fare.

Topiaries, Gardens & Exhibits

Display after display of flowers made up to represent the finest topiaries and gardens in the world are yours for the viewing. Gaze upon exhibits that feature living sculptures, each shaped like a beloved Disney character.

Guided tours of the displays and gardens, special appearances by gardening gurus, kid-friendly fun and more await until May 29^th. Then, Epcot returns to normal until next year.

Learn more about the Epcot International Flower Festival by visiting the Disney website.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal

Flowers for the 4th of July: Party Ideas for Food and Home Decoration

June 23, 2016

Throwing a 4^th of July party this year and need ideas for pretty flowers that you can set out on a table? Looking for flowers that you ca incorporate into your 4^th of July food spread? We have some suggestions for you, and of course they focus on patriotic red, white, and blue.

If you need to decorate a table or counter for the 4^th, or adorn a festive cake or cupcake, consider the following beautiful flowers flowers.

Carnations

Carnations are cheerful and fun flowers that you can buy in red, white, and blue. They’re easy to find in most grocery stores and in garden centers before the 4^th of July. These puffy floral balls remind us of the bursting fireworks that we watch every 4^th holiday. Carnations are perfect for a 4^th of July celebration because they don’t need much care (throw them in a vase a few days or even a week before your party), which means that you have more time to take care of the other details of your gathering. Carnations are not edible though, so if you place them on food, take them off before consuming your goodies. And, don’t float carnations in any punches or sangrias you might make.

Roses

Roses, on the other hand, are edible (but not the dyed varieties) and they’re great in drinks or baked goods. Place red and white roses in a rose water lemonade or mix them into a cool rose ice cream. For décor, place red and white roses into a vase and then tie a shiny blue ribbon around it. You’ll have a gorgeous centerpiece for an indoor or outdoor soiree.

In addition to carnations and roses, you can always present a mixed bouquet of red, white, and blue flowers like dahlias, snapdragons, and gerbera daisies. Don’t eat any of these flowers though. Simply enjoy them for their stunning good looks.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Carnations, Dahlia, Roses, Seasonal

The Right Flowers for Summer

June 16, 2016

How do you choose the right flowers for summer? You opt for any of the following beautiful blooms.

Aster

The aster looks a bit like a wildflower and a little like a sunshine. It’s a perfect flower to keep in a summer garden or to give in a seasonal bouquet. And, it’s an exquisite and cheerful addition to a home – either kept in a kitchen or a living room. The aster can be casual or formal, depending on the vehicle it’s in and the flowers that surround it. It’s September’s birth flower and it’s sometimes given for 20^th-year wedding anniversaries.

Carnation

Carnations are lovely flowers to have around during summertime. Florists use these blossoms as go-to stunners in wedding floral arrangements and boutonnieres, and they’re often given for birthdays. Carnations come in shades of white, pink, red, purple, green, and more hues. They’re long lasting and they’re easily revitalized after extensive car (or flower truck) rides.

Freesia

Freesia is a member of the Iris family. It’s often considered one of the most fragrant flowers on earth, and it’s frequently grown for ornamental and practical purposes. Some freesia have a stronger scent than others, but all of them offer a delightful aroma that’s perfect for a garden or floral arrangement. Freesia is a bulb flower that comes in many colors and in many variations.

Local florists usually have all of these flowers in stock. Sometimes, you’ll find these flowers’ seeds or bulbs in nurseries or in home improvement stores. You can always purchase them online, through a local or national web-based florist.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Aster, Carnations, Freesia, Seasonal

About the Dahlia

May 19, 2016

The dahlia is a flower that we love to grow and give during summertime. Its beautiful shape reminds us of a shining sun and its colors are cheerful and bright, which is perfect when we want something to perk up our garden or our home – or flowers to bring joy to a friend or family member.

To celebrate the dahlia and the impending arrival of summer, we’ve put together a list of some facts, figures, and trivia about the lovely bloom.

Enjoy! And, enjoy bringing dahlias into your life this summer!

Dahlias make a bold statement in a garden or bouquet, thanks to their pom-pom shape and bright hues. There are large and small varieties of dahlias, all easily grown and most easily found.
Some of the favorite dahlia varietals include “Fidalgo Julie” and “Alloway Candy.
Dahlia plants product prolific flowers during all of summer and well into fall. In mild climates, you might find dahlias blooming as early as June.
Cutting dahlias encourages the plant to bloom more abundantly.
Dahlia foliage is excellent for accenting a garden or bouquet, since it often produces beautiful pale yellow-green, or purple, hues.
Dahlias are bulbs, and during fall you can divide the tubers to increase your stock of the flowers.
You can grow dahlias from seed. You might see seeds at garden centers, or in catalogs, as well as dahlia bedding plants.
Dahlias bloom in color ranges from pink to purple and yellow to orange. They come in white, red, and even bi-colors.
Use dahlias in gardens or bouquets along with annuals or perennials, as they mix quite well with both.
Most dahlia plants grow to be anywhere from three to six feet, so they’re a nice flower to plant in the middle of a flower bed.
If you plant dahlias around the border of a garden, and keep them trimmed low, you’ll easily locate the tubers for dividing.

These are just some of the amazing things about the glorious dahlia. Do you love dahlias? If so, feel free to leave us comments about your experiences with the flower.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Dahlia, Seasonal

Perennials That Bloom All Summer Long

April 21, 2016

Now is the time to start planning flowers so that they’ll be ready to offer you a spectacular show for summer. The weather is relatively mind through most of the United States, which makes for easy planting when it comes to you and your flowers. You, the gardener, can enjoy the task of sowing a garden before temperatures are scorching. Your flowers will benefit from being planted now, because there are more possibilities for rain and little intense summer sun to wither them before then take a stronghold in the ground.

So, consider getting outside now and planting some lovely perennials that will spring to colorful life in just a couple of months or so. What should you plant? Consider the following:

Hellebore

Hellebore is a beauty. It’s one of the earliest perennials to bloom in a summer garden, and it offers up stunning saucer-shaped blossoms that are quite dainty. These flowers typically bloom in white, with showy markings in yellow, maroon, or pink.

Viola

The viola is the smaller cousin of the pansy. It is a delicate little blossom that flowers in late spring, if planted early enough. For summer, you can enjoy the viola in the garden or even in a window box. These flowers come in a wide variety of colors like yellow, blue, purple, and white. As a bonus, you can eat these flowers (they’re delightful in salads or on top of baked goods).

Peony

We love peony. This romantic flower can last you through spring and summer. It blooms on a large bush that produces huge, fragrant blossoms. There are several types of peonies (packed-doubles, anemone-centered, semi-doubles, and singles), and you’ll find them in many shades like red, pink, rose, salmon, yellow, and white.

Do you have any perennials that you like to plant during spring for a summer flowering garden? If so, please let us know in the comments below!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal

Need Flowers for a Spring Wedding? Opt for These In-Bloom Selections

April 14, 2016

Doing last-minute flower shopping for a spring wedding? Wondering what’s in bloom so you’ll have the freshest, most springtime-ish blossoms to decorate your wedding ceremony or reception space?

There are tons of gorgeous flowers springing up right now, and depending on where you live, you may be able to get your hands on all of them.

Use the following spring flower guide to find floral sections that are readily available right now in North America. If you live somewhere else in the world, but want these flowers at your spring wedding, we’re guessing you’ll be able to find a floral seller online who can ship them to you quickly.

Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily)

Alstroemeria are small springtime flowers with bright blooms. They are sure to make your wedding spaces delightful, as they’ll bring amazing color and depth to any arrangement. Alstroemeria grow in clusters and they sometimes have freckled petals. You can use them on their own or as a backdrop to more grand blooms. Alstroemeria typically blossom in shades of white, orange, yellow, pink, red, lavender, and purple.

Amaryllis

Choose amaryllis for your spring wedding if you want to make a bold statement and offer maximum impact with your flower displays. These blooms are known for their dramatic trumpet shape, which usually includes two to five petals. Amaryllis have an extra-long stalk, making them perfect for arrangements and bouquets that you want a lot of attention drawn to. Amaryllis can be found in pink, salmon, pale yellow, white, pale green, and red.

Anemone

Anemone are steeped in legends of love. These flowers, according to Greek mythology, are said to have sprung up from blood shed by Aphrodite’s lover Adonis, when he died. They’re unscented blooms that look stunning and elegant in any setting. Anemone are relatives of the ranunculus and peony, and they’re known for their vibrantly colored petals and dark inky centers. Choose glorious purple or white anemone for a spring wedding.

In addition to these flowers, bouvardia and calla lily are beautiful choices for spring wedding arrangements and bouquets.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal, Weddings

5 Spring Flowers to Plant in Your Garden

April 7, 2016

Wondering what flowers to plant to give your garden a great springtime show? Consider the following five blooms.

Depending on where you live, it may be too late to plant these flowers for a display this season, but keep these gorgeous blossoms in mind so that next spring you’ll be graced with their beauty in abundance.

Pansy

Pansies love cool weather, so plant them when temperatures are moderate and their roots will then be able to firmly take hold. This annual is a favorite for backyard gardens because it can be planted in early spring and it will bloom quickly afterward. Pansies are cheerful flowers that grow about 10 to 12 inches tall.

Yellow Trillium

A true spring-blooming flower, yellow trillium springs to life and then its flowers die back at season’s end. Even the foliage recedes. But, the short show is worth any effort you may expend planting the flowers. Yellow Trillium offers a sunny, cheerful, and yellow-white display throughout most all of April.

Hellebore

Hellebore is also called Christmas rose, but it doesn’t come around at Christmas time. You can enjoy this flower in your yard in early spring, but you must plant it at the season’s beginning for a long show. Hellebore can easily withstand cool temperatures, and even a bit of frost, so late-winter planting is just fine.

Bloodroot

If you want spring flowers in your garden that make early appearances in March, consider bloodroot. This bloom is perfect for shaded or woodland gardens, and it offers tiny bursts of white flowers that last until the end of springtime.

Snowdrop Anemone

Snowdrop anemone are some of our favorite spring flowers for an outdoor garden. These stunning blossoms are meticulously shaped, making them perfect for cutting gardens used to propagate bouquets or indoor flower arrangements. They bloom once in fall and then usually again during springtime. Take your chances with snowdrop anemone. The sight of these flowers is a true delight.

These spring flowers will surely turn your garden into a space bursting with the newness and vibrant color of the season.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Seasonal

More Unusual Spring Flowers to Give During Springtime

April 7, 2016

We recently told you about some unusual spring flowers that you can include in a bouquet or arrangement that you’re giving someone. Since there are so many stunning and surprising spring flowers, we decided to share a few more with you.

Here are more of our favorites:

Siebold Primrose

Siebold primrose is a pretty, 5-petaled flower that looks a bit like a star. It blooms in late spring and it offers a show until about midsummer. If you’re giving Siebold primrose as a potted plant, your gift recipient will be able to plant this flower and observe it as it retreats underground after blooming. What a delight they’ll see when it finally bursts with color again!

Atamasco Lily

The Atamasco lily is another white, star-shaped beauty. This flower has a bit of a trumpet shape and it’s elegant, like an orchid. We suggest you look for this flower to give as a Mother’s Day gift for someone special. If you find it in a pot, you’ll be giving a present that’s easy to care for and that will rebloom with spectacular shows year after year.

Pasque Flower

If you want to give a flower that’s extraordinary in every way, give Pasque flower. This dramatic and classy flower has gorgeous purple-blue petals with lots of space in between, so you can admire their striking beauty in detail. The center of this flower is a large, yellow circle that seems to explode outward saying “Spring is here and new life is in abundance!”

In addition to these unusual spring flowers, you can also give dainty European wood anemone, European toothwort, or Leopard’s bane.

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Unusual Spring Flowers to Give

April 7, 2016

If you want to give flowers to someone during springtime, you’ll probably have an easy time finding traditional spring blooms like lilies, daffodils, and tulips. But, what if you want to send a bouquet or an arrangement that’s a bit different? What if your idea of the ideal floral gift is something unexpected and hard to come by?

There are quite a few spring flowers that perfectly represent the newness of spring because they’re fresh and unusual. When you want to impress with flowers that are special because of their surprise factor, consider the following:

Fawn Lily

The milky “White Beauty” fawn lily is a gorgeous flower to add to any spring bouquet or arrangement. It has leaves that are molted, like a fawn, and it features white flowers that seem to open up to the sun. Once in a while, you’ll find yellow-flowered fawn lilies called “Pagodas.”

Oriental Poppy

Oriental poppies are beautiful, orange crepe paper-like flowers that can be stunning focal points in spring arrangements and even summer bouquets. These flowers put on an extraordinary show, and after they’re done flowering they fold up and remain dormant until they show themselves again come fall.

Chinese Hellebore

If you want to give a graceful, pretty, and pastel-colored flower for spring, choose the Chinese hellebore. This beauty comes in a light pink hue, and it looks amazing on its own or combined with stark white flowers. It’s a hardier bloom than many think too. It does well in wet, cold, and dry conditions.

If you can’t find any of these flowers near you, consider ordering them online. You’ll surely be able to find a florist somewhere who can deliver them to your gift recipient for you.

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Choose Amaryllis for Spring

March 17, 2016

You can make a lovely spring bouquet, for yourself or someone else, with beautiful and colorful amaryllis. The go-to bloom spring bloom is also perfect for any arrangements you might want to send for Easter or even Mother’s Day.

Amaryllis are showy flowers that look stunning on their own or mixed into a group of other blossoms. They can be arranged traditionally, casually, or in a modern way to bring joy and smiles to anyone in contact with them.

Here’s a few facts, and a bit of history, about gorgeous amaryllis:

Amaryllis Fun Facts and Trivia

Amaryllis symbolizes beauty and love. It’s a flowering bulbed plant that has only one species, the belladonna lily (most popularly called the amaryllis belladonna lily). It’s often referred to as just amaryllis, but don’t get this flower confused with the Christmas amaryllis, because it’s definitely not the same flower or type of flower.

The ornamental amaryllis is not a lily either, through. It can be distinguished from members of the lily family by the placement of its ovary. Amaryllis are known for their boldly colored blooms and their tall, erect stems, which can be anywhere from five to 60 centimeters high. Each amaryllis stem is one to three inches in diameter and hallow, and it bears two to five flowers at the top with six tepals a piece (three outer sepals and three inner petals, which look similar to each other).

Besides an interesting composition, amaryllis is an exciting flower to have around because of the following:

The amaryllis has flat leaves, like the lily, but they grow from leafless stalks.
Amaryllis is a perennial, and it compliments a variety of other perennials and annuals.
Amaryllis plants do have leaves, which are usually about ten to 60 centimeters long, but leaves and flowers grown on separate stalks.
You’ll find amaryllis in many areas of the world, including in the topics, subtropics, and flatlands.
Amaryllis hybrids are called Hippeastrum and they’re easy to find.

As you consider which spring bouquet you’ll bring into your home this season, or give to another, think seriously about choosing one that includes amaryllis.

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Consider the Tulip for Spring

March 16, 2016

If you’re putting together a spring floral arrangement, or looking to buy a spring bouquet for someone special, consider tulips. Tulips are popular flowers that have come to symbolize spring and the new life that comes along with the season. They’re gorgeous flowers that are available in many colors, and they’re ideal for modern or traditional bouquet and arrangements.

The following is a bit of information about the beautiful tulip. Enjoy reading about this stunning bloom and have fun giving the gift of the tulip to yourself or someone else.

Tulip History

Tulips became popular during the 17^th century, mostly in Europe (in particular in Holland), when a craze for the flower lead many folks to sell off their entire fortunes to obtain the bloom that was such in demand. The occurrence was known as the Tulipmania.

Tulips are some of the most popular flowers for spring, of all time. They’re the third most popular flower in the world, in fact, with only the rose and the chrysanthemum coming before it.

Tulip Facts

You’ll find tulips in a variety of beautiful gem-like colors and in many sizes. Some are fragrant and all of them bloom on large-leafed plants, offering a glorious 6-petaled show amidst stunning greenery.

There are more than 100 species of tulips in the world, all of them coming out of Central Asia originally, where they grew in the wild. Some of the earliest documentation of tulips show that the flowers were first cultivated in 1,000 A.D., in Turkey.

Tulip Trivia

Each year, billions of tulips are cultivated around the world. A majority of them are grown in, and exported from, Holland.
There are more than 3,000 registered varietals of cultivated tulips.
Turks of the Ottoman Empire were the first to cultivate tulips.
Tulips grow abundantly in the wild in Asia minor, with many of them found in lands from Siberia to China.
Over the years, tulips have symbolized love, imagination, inspiration, and devotion.

Enjoy bringing tulips into your home (or giving them to another) this spring and enjoy the beauty of this new season!

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Popular Flowers to Give During Springtime

March 16, 2016

Thinking about giving a spring bouquet to someone, perhaps for Easter or Mother’s Day? Wondering what flowers you should include in your gift? There are so many amazing spring blooms to choose from, so you really can’t go wrong picking anything that’s in season. We do have some favorites blossoms though that you might want to look for as you assemble an arrangement, pick one from the store, or order a bouquet online.

Our favorite spring flowers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but generally they’re lively blooms bursting with cheerful hues and inspirational design. Nature produces some incredible flowers during spring that encourage us to start fresh with tasks and relationships, approach each day with a newness in attitude, and keep a light spirit that always searches for the beauty in things.

As you plan for a spring bouquet to give to someone, consider some of the following special flowers:

Crocus

Crocus are early spring bloomers and many consider them to be quintessential flowers of the season. These blossoms are typically small and short, but bunch a lot of them together and you have a powerful display of beauty and the abundance of spring.

Tulips

Tulips are favorite flowers to give during springtime. They’ve been popular since the 17^th century, when many people in Holland and Europe set a craze for the blooms into motion, causing some folks to sell off their fortunes to obtain the flowers.

Amaryllis

If you want a showy and bold flower in your spring floral arrangement, opt for Amaryllis. This flower is splendid and vibrant, and it’s often sent to represent beauty and passion for a lover. Amaryllis blooms from a bulb and it’s native to South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.

In addition to these spring flowers, we love daffodils, ranunculus, anemone, hyacinth, and dahlias. Put a spring bouquet together with any of these blossoms and you’ll surely delight your gift recipient.

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Flowers to Plant During Spring for a Summer Garden

March 2, 2016

Springtime is a perfect time for planting flowers that will bloom during summer. Spring is ideal for gardeners because it offers moderate temperatures for doing physical work, and it’s beneficial for flowers because the weather lends to a nice growing environment for blooms that need to stay out of scorching sun as they grow strong.

If you’re looking for flowers that you can plant during spring, so that you can enjoy a gorgeous garden for summer, consider the following:

Calibrachoa Hybrids

Calibrachoa hybrids are heat-resistant summer flowers that love extreme climates. These blooms have large petals that show off in a range of colors, and they’re absolutely brilliant (consider planting the Tequila Sunrise varietals, which are bright orange and streaked with yellow). Calibrachoa Hybrids look wonderful in a garden plot or in a hanging basket.

Salvia Splendens

Saliva splendens are perennials that grow well in full sun during mild summers, but hot summers will require they be placed in partial shade to thrive. These spring-planting blossoms need moderate water and you may need to feed them occasionally. They sometimes grow 15 inches high and 12 inches wide, and they flower in the red range.

New Guinea Impatiens Hybrids

New Guinea impatiens hybrids need to have sun to grow well, but make sure you give them only morning sun so they don’t burn (except if you live on the coast, where they’ll be fine in mid-day full sun). New Guinea impatiens hybrids need a good supply of water and some feeding. They’ll likely start blooming about three weeks after you plant them.

In addition these flowers that you can plant during spring for summer arrival, consider including twinspur and zinnia elegans in your garden. These flowers, and the others we’ve recommended, will give you beautiful foliage to enjoy throughout August and well into September in many regions. And, they’re relatively easy to care for.

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Creating a Whimsical Spring Bouquet

March 2, 2016

There are many ways to create and style a spring bouquet, from casual to formal. While formal arrangements can be stunning for spring weddings and bridal showers, sometimes casual and whimsical pieces can be appropriate even in the most elegant of situations.

Whimsical spring bouquets reflect the freshness of the season. They’re fun, light, and playful, but they’re also beautiful so consider them for any centerpieces, bridal bouquets, or other flower arrangements that you might need.

The following are some ideas for creating a whimsical spring bouquet for any occasion:

The Flowers

Choosing flowers for a whimsical spring bouquet is easy. Look for blossoms that are airy and bursting with newness. Consider cymbidium or dembrobium orchids. Make these flowers the focal point of your floral arrangement and think about adding stunning Manzanita branches for contrast.

Putting Your Flowers Together

Once you’ve chosen flowers for your whimsical floral arrangement, you’ll need to find a container to secure them in. A square wood box can be lovely, as can a light-colored ceramic vase. You don’t need much filler, if any, as the orchids and Manzanita branches (or whatever flowers you choose) will be fully on display as perfect essences of spring.

To Decorate or Not?

If you want to add a bit more whimsy to your bouquet, you can hang decorations on the Manzanita branches. Consider stones or gems. Or, if you’re constructing your bouquet in a vase, you can put colored glass rocks in the bottom.

A whimsical spring bouquet has so many possibilities. It’s fun to use imagination to make up an arrangement that’s perfectly suited for the whimsy of the floral designer.

Do you like to create spring arrangements? If so, what would you use to make a whimsical spring bouquet? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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How to Make a Spring Bouquet

March 2, 2016

Spring is approaching, which means that many of you might be wondering how you can incorporate the season’s blooms into your home. We’re going to show you exactly how. We’ve put together an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to making a beautiful spring bouquet. To get started, you need to gather your favorite spring flowers and conjure up a bit of imagination. Then, dive in to your fresh spring bouquet. While you’re making one for yourself, think about making an arrangement for a friend too. A lovely bouquet with brilliant blossoms could be exactly what someone needs to have the spirits lifted or a day made better.

Choosing Your Flowers

As you get started creating your spring bouquet, you’ll want to pick out some of your favorite seasonal blossoms, or simply choose some that you’ve felt inspired to include in your arrangement. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find some amazing varietals at a local farmer’s market. But, you can also shop for your flowers at a flower mart, in a grocery store, or in your own back yard. There isn’t a science behind choosing the flowers for your bouquet. Floral arranging is an art, and a subjective one at that. So, go ahead and opt for whatever seems like it would be best for you.

Ideas for Color

Spring bouquets often turn out stunning when they’re crafted according to the rules of the color wheel. This means that you can use the color wheel as a guide to help you combine colors of flowers, complimentary and contrasting, to make certain blooms pop or come together synchronous

A Dramatic Display?

If you want to create a dramatic spring arrangement, pair colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Go for yellow and purple, red and green, or orange and purple. You’ll end up with a bold spring bouquet that’s as exquisite as natural can be during the season.

Harmony and Balance

If you want a spring bouquet that is harmonious and in balance, choose hues that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Put shades like purple and blue together, or go for oranges and pinks in a mix. Green is considered a neutral color when you’re arranging flowers, since it’s the color of most blossoms’ foliage, so you can use hues of this color anywhere and anytime.

These instructions should get you to a good start with your spring bouquet, but they’re not rigid rules by any means. Spring is about finding newness where we’ve become accustomed to a certain situation, so pull inspiration from wherever you’re lead to find it and simply create. If you find yourself sitting around wondering what flowers to choose, and not making progress in your decision, consider some traditional spring blooms and then play around with their arrangement. You might opt for daffodils, ranunculus, daisies, poppies, tulips, irises, and even orchids. When it’s time to put your flowers into a container or other binding material, again, be creative and play around with various vases, paper wraps, and even unorthodox objects. When you choose from the heart throughout your spring floral arranging process, and throughout your life, you really won’t be able to go wrong.

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Bulbs to Plant During Spring

February 25, 2016

Many gardeners like to plant bulbs during fall for spring arrival, because the bulbs breathe new life into a space that might have been dull during winter. And, because they give forth blooms that are perfectly suitable companions for spring-blooming wildflowers.

But, spring-planted bulbs also give off a show and it’s one that we think is worth consideration. These bulbs dazzle with color during summertime, and they offer a welcome surprise during a season that’s not known for offering abundance in a garden.

The following are some of the best bulbs you can plant during spring, if you want to enjoy the beauty of brilliantly colored and shaped flowers during a time when many landscapes are looking a bit torched.

Lilies

You can absolutely grow lilies from bulbs planted during spring. Plant your lily bulbs anytime during the season and enjoy a variety of colors in your garden come summer. Choose Oriental hybrid lilies (like Casa Blanca and Star Gazer) or hard-to-find lilies like the golden-rayed lily of Japan. These are often considered the most beautiful lilies in the world.

Tulips

Planting tulips during fall, for spring bloom, is tradition for many gardeners. But, we like to plant them during spring as well, and let them display their pretty colors long into August. Tulips are simple to sow and grow, and they’re perfect additions to gardens that contain wildflowers or more formal varietals.

Daffodils

Plant daffodils during spring and you’ll have a colorful garden with flowers that are easy to maintain come summer. These blooms, even when their foliage dies down, will keep coming back for you. If you want to turn their soil every so often, they’ll love you even more.

In addition to planting these bulbs during springtime, you can plant irises and crocus into the soil and end up with a stunning garden when summer rolls around.

Do you plant bulbs during spring? If so, what do you plant and do you also keep a bulb garden going year round? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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Creating a Spring Bouquet

February 25, 2016

Spring brings so many amazing flowers to life, which makes us want to play designer and create beautiful bouquets with them. If you like to turn springtime blossoms into lovely centerpieces or window arrangements, or if you think you might want to toy around with spring blooms and create a bouquet to give to someone, use the following guide to creating a perfect spring bunch:

Choose Your Flowers

Selecting your flowers is the first thing you’ll need to do when you’re creating a spring bouquet. We love anemone and peonies, so we’ll probably use those for our next springtime arrangement. But, you can choose whatever spring-blooming flowers you like.

Some excellent choices are daffodils, poppies, lilac, tulips, and hellebores. Consider opting for pastel shades of these flowers, with pink and yellow blooms as focal points.

Make Your Bouquet

When you’ve chosen your flowers, it’s time to make your bouquet. You’ll want a pretty vase, or a perfect paper, to hold your spring arrangement in. Be creative and go with whatever embodies springtime for you. To make a loose bouquet, we’re thinking some simple brown or white paper to wrap the flowers in would be lovely.

If you arrange your flowers in a vase, following the directions we’re going to give you and plop your blooms in your vase. If you want a loose bouquet wrapped in paper, grasp the flowers in your hand as you arrange them, then wrap them up.

To start, create a foundation for your bouquet (which will be like a web to put other flowers into) of wood-stemmed flowers like spirea or lilac.

Next, add focal flowers that stand out and yell “it’s spring!” Ranunculus or daffodils are perfect. These will help create your bouquet’s shape.

Finally, thrown in a few wispy flowers that will lighten and things up, just like spring does. Maybe some show-stopping poppies or sweet peas. It’s okay if these flowers take over the entire arrangement and end up getting most of the attention.

Now, you’re done with your spring bouquet if you’re arranging flowers in a vase. If you opted for paper (or even ribbon or twine) to bind your arrangement, wrap up your flowers and then give them away (or gift yourself with it)!

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Glamourous New Year’s Eve Flowers

December 11, 2015

Throwing a New Year’s Eve party and looking for flowers with a bit of glam? There are tons of options available.

New Year’s Eve is a special occasion that many people feel calls for over-the-top attire and decorations. As you prepare to welcome people into your home for the party of the year, consider the following glamorous flowers paired with decorations for a stunning effect.

White Roses

White roses look gorgeous with their stems cut off and while floating in a shallow mirrored vase. They create an arrangement for New Year’s that’s fancy and festive.

Of course, white roses also look wonderful for New Year’s in a vase, on their own, or paired with other flowers.

Carnations

Even though Christmas is over, its spirit still lingers into New Year’s. So, think about placing red carnations into a vase and hanging small, glittery Christmas ball ornaments all over them.

Paper Whites

If you’re looking for shimmer, choose paper whites in a clear vase. Drop some crystals or other gemstones into the bottom of the vase for a bit of color.

Orchids

An appropriate tall vase for a New Year’s orchid arrangement can be a champagne bottle.

These New Year’s Eve flower arrangement ideas will surely bring glam, and good cheer, to your celebratory event.

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Flowers to Decorate Christmas Gifts

December 11, 2015

As you’re wrapping packages this Christmas, consider reaching for fresh flowers to top your gifts instead of bells or bows.

The following flowers make festive adornments to a holiday package.

Carnations

You can shape carnations into cute snowmen, or you can form them into a sphere to create a Christmas ornament look. Or, simply tie a few of these blooms into your ribbon. We love the look of white or red carnations for Christmas package toppers.

Mini Wreaths

Mini wreaths can be made with sprigs of holly or pine. You can add berries to them or tie in little paperwhites. Wrap a thin ribbon around your mini wreath to give it a bit of pizazz.

Amaryllis

Depending on how flashy you get with your Christmas package wrap, you may want to adorn your gifts with amaryllis. Amaryllis adds a dramatic effect to presents wrapped in luxurious paper.

Candy-Striped Amaryllis

For kids’ packages, throw some candy-striped amaryllis on top. These flowers bring candy canes to mind. They’re fun and different from most flowers that kids have seen, which offers a bit of surprise to go along with your surprise gift.

Mistletoe

Giving a present to someone you love? Put mistletoe on top. When your beloved unwraps the gift, grab the mistletoe, hold it up, and lean over for a kiss underneath.

There are so many beautiful flowers that you can use to decorate Christmas gifts. These are just a handful. When it’s time for you to wrap presents, think about what special blooms you think might help the magic of the season come to life for someone special.

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Festive Flowers for a New Year’s Eve Party

December 10, 2015

Are you having a New Year’s Eve party and looking for some festive flowers to decorate your home? There are some amazing ones that will add life, and love, to a gathering meant to usher in new beginnings.

By choosing the following flowers, and arranging them on their own or together in a fun way, you can bring goodness into your home for New Year’s Eve, and for the future.

Orchid

The eye-catching orchid is a stunning flower to have around for a New Year’s Eve soiree. It sends the perfect message of beauty and grace for a new year. The orchid exudes positive energy, power, and joy. It’s a flower that can be combined with other flowers, like china berry or bamboo, for an ultra-dramatic effect.

Sunflowers

Happy sunflowers will surely bring good vibes to your New Year’s Eve party. These radiant flowers are sometimes associated with summertime, but during the dead of winter they can bring much-appreciated cheer. Offer your New Year’s party guests a bit of optimism for the future, and a gesture of friendship, by decorating with sunflowers.

Asiatic Lilies

Lilies are often used to decorate during spring, but Asiatic lilies have a more striking appearance that fits in well with a New Year’s Eve gathering. Asiatic lilies are exuberant and energetic. They bring elegance and sophistication to an upscale New Year’s Eve party.

Along with these flowers, we think that hydrangea, carnations, and paper whites make beautiful New Year’s Eve decorations. No matter which flowers you choose for your New Year’s Eve party, we think your event will be amazing if you focus on how special it is for people to come together in celebration.

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Christmas Tree Delivery: You Can Send a Christmas Tree

December 10, 2015

Did you know that you can send a Christmas tree to someone? That’s right. You can order a Christmas tree online and have it shipped to a special person. Maybe that person is a friend or family member who can’t get out and shop for a tree on their own. Maybe it’s a loved one on a limited budget who would love a tree if he or she could afford it. Perhaps the special person who needs a super special tree is you?

Whatever need you see to ship a Christmas tree, Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms can likely fill it. Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms offers doorstep delivery of Christmas trees to the warmer U.S. states (see below). They provide a convenient way for a person to receive a beautiful, specially harvested Christmas tree that was likely just cut and will remain fresh for a long time.

Here’s what you need to know about Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms Christmas tree delivery:

The Trees

Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms grows Fraser and Balsam fir Christmas trees for customers in warmer U.S. states. They offer trees that are designed to retain moisture and last longer, which gives a tree recipient about a month of Christmas tree pleasure.

Why Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms

When you order a Christmas tree from Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms, your giftee (or you) will get a Christmas tree that has better needle retention, is more aromatic, and looks and feels fresher for longer. Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms’ trees are harvested only when the company receives your order, which is typically 1 day before shipping. This guarantees that the tree will arrive at its destination fresher than most store-bought trees.

Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms offers super fast delivery, which means that most trees will arrive to recipients within three to seven working days. The company sells full-size trees and tabletop trees. It also has fresh wreaths for you to purchase. If you want to find out more about Hilltop Christmas Tree Farms, or place an order for a tree, visit the company’s website.

*Warm U.S. states include (but are not limited to) California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

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Entertaining and Decorating with Christmas Flowers

December 9, 2015

If you’re looking for ideas for entertaining and decorating with Christmas flowers, you’ve come to the right place. We love a beautifully decorated home at Christmastime, and we spend quite a bit of the holiday season figuring out which flowers will look most amazing when our friends and family visit.

The following are some of the fun ways that we think entertaining and decorating with Christmas flowers can go hand in hand this year:

For a Casual Holiday Celebration

If you’re having friends and family over for a casual holiday celebration, consider these ideas to decorate with Christmas flowers:

Create snowballs and snowmen using white carnations.
Fill your outdoor garden pots with poinsettias, ivy, cyclamen, and amaryllis.
Greet your party guests at the door with a personal mini-wreath that they can take home with them.
Use fresh flowers, such as paper whites and candy-striped amaryllis, on your Christmas tree (place them in vials of water).
Wrap presents with pretty bows and sprigs of mistletoe.

For an Elegant Christmas Event

When you’re throwing an elegant Christmas affair, you can use traditional, or contemporary, holiday flowers as decorations and place them in fancy bowls or containers. Or, adorn them in a super-special way. Try the following:

Place a thick garland on the mantle and add fresh flowers like calla lilies.
Line a walkway with luminaries and holly.
Float candles and paper whites in a silver, or crystal, bowl for a stunning effect.
Place white orchids in each room that your party guests will enter, including the bathroom.

All of these ideas for entertaining and decorating with Christmas flowers will surely add beauty, warmth, and holiday spirit to your home. Enjoy arranging these special blooms in your house, and enjoy the holiday season!

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More Flowers to Decorate Your Home for Christmas

December 6, 2015

We love Christmastime, which is why we’ve written a few posts for you already on how to decorate with Christmas flowers. We’re guessing many of you enjoy filling your home with beautiful flowers for the holiday too, so we wanted to give you every opportunity to do so with a new list of Christmas blooms.

In the spirit of the season, we have a few more Christmas flowers to share that we think will look festive in your home or in your garden. These flowers are colorful, bright, and sometimes dramatic. They’re perfect additions to a Christmas decoration display, whether you dress your home casually or with the ultimate of elegance in mind.

Christmas Rose

Christmas rose is known as the quintessential Christmas flower in many parts of the world. Also called “snow rose” or “winter rose,” it comes from the tropics of Asia and it usually blossoms during winter. In North America, many young women exchange Christmas rose as a symbol of sisterhood.

Pohutakawa Tree

The Pohutakawa tree is not a traditional Christmas plant by any means, except in New Zealand, but we’re ready to adopt it into our house. This plant gives off bright, showy flowers that usually appear during December, so get ready for a stunning display over the holiday season like you’ve never seen with this bloom.

Holly

Holly is known as a Christmas plant in many European countries, and in the United States. In these regions, people hang holly on doors and they even trim Christmas packages it. We know a baker, or two, who decorates Christmas treats with sprigs of holly as well.

In addition to these plants and flowers, you can decorate your home for Christmas using garlands of ivy and bits of mistletoe. All of these Christmas flowers are likely to bring you much joy as you gather with friends, make Christmas goodies, and savor the cheer that season offers.

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Holiday Flowers to Give as a Host or Hostess Gift

December 6, 2015

If you’re going to a holiday gathering and looking for flowers to give as a host (or hostess) gift, we have some ideas for you. Any flowers would certainly be appropriate to offer someone having you over for a party, but there are a few blooms that we think will surely delight.

Flowers are little luxuries that some people don’t think to pick up for themselves, so grab a bouquet of one of the following beauties and give some happiness this holiday season.

Glorious White Flowers

We think it makes a dramatic statement of friendship during the holidays to offer a bouquet of all white flowers. Go with a singular bloom or a variety, just make them stunning. Choose any one or more of white cala lilies, Asiatic lilies, roses, anemone, and peonies. Add a bit of greenery to these winter white flowers, if you like.

Spray Roses and Amaryllis

A stunning arrangement of spray roses and amaryllis, in white or red, makes a beautiful holiday host or hostess gift. You can opt for all white, all red, or a combination of the two festive colors. Consider choosing fun candy-striped amaryllis to make an impact.

Unexpected Red and White Twist

While red and white are traditional holiday hues, you don’t need to be traditional with the types of flowers you choose for a host or hostess gift. You can offer an unexpected arrangement of red peonies, red cosmos, red and white orchids, red black beauty roses, juniper berries, and pomegranate.

All of these flowers, or combinations of flowers, will surely please your host or hostess. If you want even more ideas, you can always improvise and create something that’s truly your own, possibly by giving seasonal-colored freesia or green mini carnations. Ultimately, the best host or hostess gift will be something that you put your heart, and spirit, into.

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Flowers for Hanukkah

December 6, 2015

Do you decorate your home with flowers for Hanukkah? Do you know someone who does? If so, you may want to turn to the following beautiful blue and white blooms to bring the spirit of Hanukkah into your living space this holiday season.

Blue and White Roses

The rare combination of dyed-blue and natural white roses makes a popular Hanukkah floral arrangement. This type of bouquet is readily available in most flower shops and from online florists.

Snow-White Alstromeria

Snow-White alstromeria is another gorgeous Hanukkah arrangement that you can keep in your home to make the season special. We suggest you mix this wintery-looking bloom with seeded eucalyptus.

White Poinsettias

White poinsettias, or winter night flowers, are not the most common type of poinsettia, but they are one of the most beautiful. These flowers show up in many Jewish households during the Hanukkah season.

Along with the three blooms we mentioned, it can be quite nice to decorate for Hanukkah with white lilies, white and blue chrysanthemums, and blue hydrangea. All of these flowers will bring beauty, warmth, and good spirit into your residence during the warm Hanukkah holiday.

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2016 Guide to Thanksgiving Flowers

December 1, 2015

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means many of you may be wondering which Thanksgiving flowers would be perfect to decorate your Thanksgiving dinner table with. We were contemplating this very thing, so we thought we’d put together a guide to festive flowers for this special holiday.

We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite Thanksgiving flowers, all of which would look stunning at a casual Thanksgiving dinner or a full-blown elaborate affair. The Thanksgiving flowers that we’re suggesting for you will surely look beautiful at your holiday celebration, whether you eat on Thanksgiving-themed paper plates or fine china.

Since we’re guessing you might have quite a bit of planning left to do for your Thanksgiving dinner, let’s get right down to our guide to Thanksgiving flowers for 2016. Enjoy finding out about some of the most popular flowers for the holiday, and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Yellow Carnations

Yellow carnations are fun and festive. They bring cheer to any gathering, so feel free to bundle some up on their own or combine them with some greenery. We love yellow carnations placed in a low glass vase, either loosely or bound tight to resemble a ball of flowers. We think yellow carnations look fabulous enough to be the stars of the show on Thanksgiving, but if you want to pair them with other flowers, consider red and orange carnations.

Asiatic Lilies

Again, Asiatic lilies are gorgeous for the holidays. They can look spectacular on a low-key or dramatic Thanksgiving table, on their own, paired with other flowers, or mixed with a bit of greenery. We recommend you opt for yellow, orange, or red Asiatic lilies in monochrome or mixed arrangements. Place them in tall vases to show off their beautiful stems. If you want to display Asiatic lilies without greenery, they’ll look incredible, no doubt. But, you can always mix them with millet greens or Irish millet greens to bring a bit more texture to your table.

Orange Daisies

Orange daisies set the tone for warmth and friendship at a Thanksgiving dinner table. An arrangement made with these flowers can be low or tall, and it can include greens or not. Either way it will be just perfect for your Thanksgiving centerpieces. You can use butterscotch daisy pompons or larger gerbera daisies. For a bit of flair, feel free to wrap your Thanksgiving daisy floral arrangements with shimmery orange, pearl, or gold ribbon.

We think that these three flowers are “must includes” on a guide to Thanksgiving floral arrangements. But, we know there are many other exquisite flowers that would make equally wonderful points of interest. As you’re thinking about how to adorn your Thanksgiving table, simply choose flowers that make you feel good about sharing a meal and a home with others. That’s probably the best approach to your celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Carnations, Daisies, Holidays, Lilies, Seasonal

Flowers for a Fall Party

November 23, 2015

Flowers add a bit of magic to any occasion. They have the power to transform a room, a spirit, and an occasion. Some flowers that we think are most transformational can make gorgeous centerpieces on your fall party table.

The perfect flowers for a fall party include those that evoke emotion and create a sense of warmth. They’re flowers in rich hues and dramatic lines. The ideal fall flowers for a party make people take notice of their beauty, which begins the shift to the magical side.

Here are some of our favorite flowers for a fall party. These flowers look gorgeous, and will bring cheer to your fall celebration, on their own or in an arrangement.

Calla Lilies

Cala lilies are stunning and sophisticated flowers. They come in many shades, including green, purple, yellow, white, and orange. But, for fall we love them in white or orange. Calla lilies are native to Southern Africa. You can get them cut or in bulb form.

Peruvian Lilies

For fall party flowers that speak of friendship and good times, choose Peruvian lilies. These blooms are flirtatious and festive. They’re playful, making them great fall flower choices for a daytime affair.

Peruvian Lilies are native to South America. They come in brilliant colors like yellow, pink, orange, and white. For fall, opt for orange and white.

Asiatic Lilies

If you want a fall party flower that’s dramatic, go with the red Asiatic Lily. This flower is characterized by its large, very showy and very fragrant bloom. It comes in many shades, but red is striking and perfect for fall.

Red Asiatic lilies are gorgeous for evening occasions. They sit atop tall, erect stems and offer a beautiful trumpet shape that is just right for the season.

In addition to these fall flowers, we love rich burgundy carnations, fall-colored roses, and peach Asiatic lilies for fall gatherings. You can pair these flowers with rich, lush greens like seeded eucalyptus.

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Flowers to Give Service Providers for the Holidays

November 20, 2015

Do you usually give the people who provide you with services during the year a gift for the holidays? Many people do. They like to offer a token of holiday cheer to their mail carrier, manicurist, banker, bellman, or other person who often goes out of their way to make their lives better.

If you’re one of these gift givers and you’ve been wondering what to give this year, why not give the gift of flowers? Flowers have a way of cheering up people who might be down and bringing a smile to the face of those living their lives in a joyful way.

We thought about giving flowers away this year, so we made a list of some flowers that seemed like extra special offerings for a special time of year.

The following are some flowers that we think your real estate agent, doctor, dentist, esthetician, or housekeeper might enjoy:

Poinsettia

Poinsettias are longstanding favorite flowers for Christmas. Usually, red is the most popular color for poinsettias, but they look lovely in white, cream, pink, and marbled hues. Poinsettias typically have three to six blooms and come in little pots wrapped in foil paper. You can buy small poinsettias that look cute on desks or larger flowers that make beautiful additions to front porches.

Mini Christmas Tree

You may have seen mini Christmas trees at the grocery store or garden center that you shop at. They come in many shapes, textures, and sizes, but the common thread that runs through all varieties is that they resemble a full-size Christmas tree. Mini Christmas trees are not the six to eight foot varietals you’d place in your living room. They’re tiny plants, sometimes with flowers, that are more like bushes. We think it’s a fun idea to give a mini Christmas tree to your service provider after you’ve adorned it with little ornaments.

Hypericum Berries

If you want to make a festive little arrangement to give to your favorite service provider, consider a vase filled with red Hypericum berries and gorgeous holiday greens. This combination of flowers and leaves can be dressed up with glittery ribbon and other seasonal decorations to offer a gift that your recipient can place on their holiday table at home.

These are just a few ideas for holiday flowers to give to the amazing service providers in your life. For something in a more neutral color or holiday theme, you can always opt for dramatic white lilies or irises wrapped in simple brown paper.

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Your 2015 Christmas Flower Guide

November 20, 2015

Ready to deck your halls for Christmas? We are too, so we put together a list of popular Christmas flowers that we think would make lovely additions to a home of the holidays. Our guide to Christmas flowers includes blooms that would look amazing on a front porch or door, in the center of a holiday dinner table, and even under the Christmas tree as a gift to be given.

The following is your 2015 Christmas flower guide that we hope will give you inspiration to make your house, and perhaps your gift recipients’ abode, a warm and festive one this holiday season.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are flowers that have a longstanding tradition as Christmas flowers. They’re actually potted flowers that are typically red, but they do come in shades of white, cream, peach, pink, and marble. Poinsettias offer a splash of color outside and inside of a home. They look incredible on a hearth or countertop, and they can easily be planted in a garden for use the following season. Please keep in mind that poinsettias are toxic to pets, so if you have animals in your home these flowers should be kept out of reach.

Christmas Cactus

We love the idea of a Christmas cactus. This flowering plant offers the perfect festive addition to a desert home, but it can be a beautiful addition to a house in more moderate climates. The Christmas cactus blooms in winter, from November until February. It’s sometimes just called Christmas Flower and it’s a unique seasonal flower to give as a gift or decorate with.

Christmas Wreaths

There’s nothing like a Christmas wreath to say “welcome” and “Merry Christmas.” Christmas wreaths are synonymous with holiday cheer and good tidings. They’re usually placed on the front door of a home, but we’ve seen some stunning wreathes hung over dramatic archways and fireplaces in houses. Small wreathes can also be laid flat, with a candle or other plant or object in the center, as part of a centerpiece on your Christmas table. Christmas wreaths are made from many types of plants and flowers that are bound together and shaped into the traditional wreath form. While Hypericum berries are often used in Christmas wreaths, we’ve seen some gorgeous wreaths with white lilies and red roses too.

Whether you’re buying Christmas flowers for yourself or to give as a gift, we hope this guide to the top flowers for Christmas will bring you inspiration. And, we hope that you have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones.

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Help Out a Harried Mother with Hyacinth

February 28, 2015

There is no job more fulfilling, or certainly more demanding, than that of raising children. For every endearing moment there are twelve others that have even the most dedicated parent wondering why they’ve chosen to breed. While flowers won’t help with the early mornings, endless tasks and constant demands of childrearing, a vase full of fragrant hyacinths can be a spot of peace and beauty where little ones run amok. These spring-blooming bulbs are small but mighty and a little vase in just the right place can have all the rejuvenating effects of a mid-day nap.

The flowering bulbs of the hyacinth plant are native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, where there were cultivated ornamentally and integrated culturally into festivals and holidays like the New Year, Nowruz, which celebrates the spring Equinox. Through trading routes, the hyacinth bulb was brought to the Netherlands, where it continues to be propagated commercially today and shipped as bulbs all around the world.

Large, strap-shaped leaves are the first thing to peak out of the bulb and lovingly wrap the stocky stem as it emerges with bell-like, pendulous flowers. Available in purple, pink, blue and white, the small flowers are long and open up into a star shape, completely covering the stem and emitting a strong, sweet scent. Both calming and flowery, the fragrance of a hyacinth is uniquely floral and hard to breath in without wanting to close your eyes ad breath deeply.

In the Victorian language of flowers, they hyacinth was said to send a message of kindliness and playfulness- a good sentiment for someone in a stand-off with a three-year-old to have.

Hyacinth bulbs are traditionally planted outside in the fall and are one of the first flowers to peak through the snow each spring. They can be “forced” by placing in soil in a container in winter and brought in from a cold place to warm in February. The are available this time of year, therefore, as both a potted plant as well as a cut flower at your local florist. Choose stems that are long with flower that are just beginning to peak out towards the bottom, as bloom open upward towards the top.

In a house full of children, it’s important to note that the actual bulbs of the hyacinth are toxic, so choose cut stems of these beauties and arrange them in a round vase with a few hypericum berries or cheery gerber daisies for an arrangement that is safe for both looking, smelling, and (just in case) eating as well!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Expressing Sympathy, New Baby, Seasonal

Express Wintertime Warmth and Affection with Camellias

December 25, 2014

Cultivated in the gardens of Asia for centuries before coming to Europe and the United States as an import from the Orient, the camellia is a flower steeped in history, culture and amor. With the commercially important Camellia sinensis grown for tea around the world, the ornamentally spectacular species such as C. japonica and C. reticulata have found their way into gardens around the globe and into flower shops near you. Blooming at their brightest in December when the days are short and the nights are long, thousands of different cultivars of this winter bloom have appeared in everything from artwork to operas over the century and carry with them the message of adoration and affection.

First grown in English gardens in the 1700’s after being imported from tea ships coming from China, several different species of camellias were bred for new colors and larger sizes. The ornamental varieties come in reds, pinks and white and are double-petaled. The rose-like arrangement of petals spring open from perfectly round, green sepals that look like ornaments along the woody branches of shiny, green leaves. The plant itself is grown as an evergreen shrub in warmer climates that is prized as much for its glossy foliage as its winter (and sometimes spring) flowers. The flowers are trimmed and sold by florists to use in arrangements and bouquets. They make exceptional corsages and flowers for the hair, making them an excellent pick for winter weddings where their pure white petals or deep red rose-like blooms stand out against evergreen sprigs and backgrounds of snow.

In East Asian symbolism, the camellia was said to represent “perfect love.” In the Victorian language of flowers, the message conveyed by this bloom was based on its color. White was said to symbolize “adoration,” while white meant “longing” and red was used to tell someone that they were the flame of your heart. Considered the ultimate flower of luxury, camellias occupied a fame similar to orchids these days and were depicted in paintings and poetry from the likes of Waterhouse and Tagore and were even the inspiration for a play by Alexandre Dumas, later transformed into Verdi’s, La Traviata.

Camellias are a wonderful choice for expressing affection and adoration in the wintertime. Anniversaries, engagements or any occasion to let someone know they warm your heart during these chilly winter days are easily expressed with this flower.

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Dianthus for December Birthdays

December 22, 2014

Ask anyone born between mid-December and New Year’s Day and they’ll tell you that birthday cake and party hats simply can’t compete with the gingerbread and jingle bells of the holiday season. As a child, it was hard not to feel cheated out of your special day, and even adults with a yuletide birthday may still feel the slight of a winter’s birth. With all the seasonal festivities, treats and sparkly lights, a few birthday candles are hard to notice. If someone you love has a birthday that falls during this bustling holiday time, you probably already know that it’s important to separate celebrations and give their day its due. Dianthus are the perfect flower for December birthdays. Delicate, diaphanous and definitely not poinsettias, these stems stand out among all the holiday trimmings for the people you know born in December.

Sometimes known by their common name, Sweet William, dianthus are a close relative to the more commonly cut flower, carnation. Originally native to parts of Europe and Africa, this perennial plant has been cultivated in gardens for hundreds of years, resulting in several thousand different cultivars all over the world. Most of these have tall, straight stems that are topped with a cluster of blooms, each with five petals. The edges of each petals are delicately patterned with a frilled margin. This patterned look is sometimes called “pinking” in sewing and textiles and lends to another common name for dianthus, pinks.

Pink is a common color for the flower, though white, purple, red and even yellow are options as well. Most cultivars have cluster of flowers in several different shades with petals that may show a darker center or stripping towards the outside or edges or lighter borders around the margins. Newer varieties have fanciful frilled edges, giving the flower a feathery look. Slightly fragrant, the smell of dianthus is more clean and fresh like linen than sweet and flowery. Mixed with light colored roses and waxflowers, dianthus gives an arrangement a more whimsical look. Pair it with sturdy gerber daisies for a bright and colorful look.

Dianthus are available all year round from florists. New purple varieties have become more popular and will stand out among the gold and green finery of the winter season. Place stems in a fresh vase of water for a flower that will last for almost two weeks.

In the Victorian language of flowers, dianthus was said to symbolize a smile. These cheerful flowers will certainly put a smile on the face of a December born birthday boy or girl.

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Gilded Foliage makes Sensational Seasonal Accents

December 15, 2014

All that glitters is not gold, but it’s certainly easy to add a bit of golden sparkles to your flower arrangements this winter. Aside from the glimmer and cheer a bit of gilded leaves will add to vases, garlands and wreaths, a simple can of florist’s spray paint can add glitz to everything from pine cones to plain, plastic containers- transforming your home into a shining example of the holiday spirit. During the winter months, florist may have several different greens that have been gilded in gold or glitter available to add to any arrangement. If not, one small can of gold or silver floral spray paint (available at craft stores and some florists) is easy to apply and fun to use. Here are some tips for adding a bit of the Midas’ touch to your holiday decor.

Start Small
Think accents rather than focal point when you first start out. Pine cones are a perfect way to add a bit of glitz to garlands and wreaths without going overboard. Pick out ones that are relatively intact and open. Using about one foot of thin wire (dental floss will do in a pinch), thread the wire around the center of the cone towards the base and tighten so that the wire is not visible, leaving a long stem. Standing outside and holding the end of the wire in one hand, spray the cone as you spin it, covering all facets. Adjust the trajectory of the spray rather than the cone to coat the inside to avoid drips. Hang on a branch for two to three minutes, allowing the cone to dry completely. If you’ve used floss or string, the cones can be easily tied to wreaths or garlands. Wire works best for adding to a vase arrangement. Simply find a wooden or plastic pick to wire the cone to the top of or add a bit more wire as an artificial stem to stick into the vase.

Large Leaves
Certain leaves look better cast in gold than others. Choose broad ones that widen in the center and are smooth on both sides for a more even look. Seeded eucalyptus or salal (sometimes called lemon leaf) are great for spraying and tucking into vases or simply arranging on a table top around the desserts. Be sure to wash the leaves and allot them to dry completely before spraying with paint. Try to use as little of the color as possible- think dusting rather than coating. This prevents unnatural looking drips and will keep the leaves from becoming too heavy and drooping. Pine branches and magnolia leaves look amazing with a bit of gold frosting, but plan on using a little more paint (or only covering one side of the leaf in the case of magnolias) for the best look.

Just about any flower looks amazing next to golden leaves. Try a deep burgundy dahlia or blood red rose to highlight the season- without spending a lot of silver or gold.

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Kiss the Night Away Under Fresh Mistletoe

December 14, 2014

A symbol of the season, mistletoe is the iconic plant of Yuletide affection. Tied with a ribbon and hung above a door or threshold, tradition holds that lovers (or those who time their entrances wisely) smooch under the sprigs of mistletoe hung there. While this might make the plant a favorite for paramours, it is actually a slightly poisonous, parasitic plant that sucks the sap from trees in which it grows. How then did this leeching evergreen find its way down from the boughs of host trees an into the lore of Christmastime lovers?

Many researchers credit the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe to Druid mythology, specifically the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe practiced among the Celtic people of what is now England and Ireland. It was thought at the time that mistletoe could be made into an elixir that could cure infertility. According to accounts written in the 1st century AD by the Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, mistletoe that was found growing high up in the branches of an oak tree were considered to be sacred. On the sixth night of the moon, priests clad in white would climb the tree to gather the mistletoe and make it into a concoction that was given to barren animals. Most species of the plant are toxic to humans in any sizable quantity, so offering this to cure infertility in humans seems questionable at best. In the language of flowers, however, it is still said to represent affection.

Like many other pagan traditions, this symbolic plant was slowly incorporated to more Christian traditions, so along with the Christmas tree and and Easter egg, the hanging of mistletoe this time of year found its way into modern day practices of early Europeans, particularly the British, French and Irish. Eventually, kissing under a sprig of this round-leafed evergreen followed Europeans over the pond, where it became a tradition in the New World as well.

There are several different species of mistletoe, including one (Phoradendron leucarpum) that is native to North America. The European mistletoe (Viscum album) is the species most commonly used for Yuletide smooching and can be found at many florists come December. It has small, rounded, light green leaves with small white or somewhat transparent berries. Gathered in a cluster and tied with a ribbon, these are sometimes sprayed with a preservative to help them last the season. While handling mistletoe poses no risk, keep them out of reach of pets and children, as the alkaloid they contain, tyramine, can make them quite sick. If this is a concern, try a sprig of holly hung it its place.

Whether you want an excuse to sneak in a kiss or simply want to carry on a tradition that dates back to the time of the Druids, hang a bit of mistletoe in your doorway this season.

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Be a Great Guest with a Gift of Gardenias

December 4, 2014

Traveling during the holidays can be stressful and we often arrive with arms full of packages and not quite enough patience. After a whole lot of hassle dealing with weather, crowds and not quite enough time, however, being with friends and family is well worth the trouble. Whether you’re arriving for a party or staying the week during the holidays, it’s always nice to bring a little gift for your hosts. While the holiday season is full of thoughtful little baubles and stocking stuffers, a plant is the perfect present to bring pleasure the whole year through. The glossy leaves and gorgeous flowers of the gardenia plant will be beautiful on the table or windowsill long after other presents have been regifted.

The evergreen leaves of the gardenia plant are similar in size and shape, and just as shiny, as the holly- but are soft instead of prickly. The new, more compact varieties being sold this time of year look amazing on the table as part of a centerpiece, but rather than berries, the plant wields the purest white of blossoms. The fragrance is unmistakable and practically indescribably; sort of floral, a little spicy, sweet- without being cloying. In the Victorian language of flowers, the gardenia is said to represent purity and secret longing- words which perhaps come the closest to describing the alluring scent of this flower.

A relative of the coffee plant, the gardenia is native to tropical climates, but loves short days with less light than darkness, so even though they prefer warm temperatures, they won’t flower until the days are at their shortest in the dark months of winter. For this reason, they are often available and at their finest this time of year. There are over 200 different species of gardenias and in warm, southern climates, they are grown outside as shrubs. New cultivars, and more compact species, such as Gardenia jasminoides, make great houseplants and are able to grow year round in a bright, sunny window. Lovers of high humidity, it is helpful to add a little moisture by spritzing them from time to time with a squirt bottle, especially in the winter months when air is a little drier. Another strategy that requires little hassle is to put a bit of pea gravel or small pebbles in the bottom of the saucer and add a bit of water to it each time you water to increase humidity around the plant without having it sit in water.

Even if your hosts aren’t green thumbs, the gift of a gardenia, with its intoxicating smell, is the perfect hostess plant. Consider serving this southern beauty with a bit of Southern Comfort mixed with eggnog.

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Alternatives to Poinsettias

November 27, 2014

Not to be a Scrooge, but the typical potted poinsettia plant is a little over done. Each December, literally millions of these traditional Christmas time blooms are sold around the country and have become not only the staple flower of the holidays, but they account for almost one quarter of all flowering potted plant sales in the US. Ironically, the red iconic blooms of the poinsettia are not actually flowers, but highly pigmented leaves. The real flower are the tiny yellow ones at the center of the red bracts that now also come in white, pink, marbled, speckled and curled. Even with all the new and different varieties to choose from, it can sometimes be a bit repetitive to buy the same plant year after year. If you are looking for something a little different this holiday season, you have several lovely choices that are new and festive- and not poinsettias- to choose from.

Amaryllis
This gigantic bulb is available from many of the same places that sell poinsettias and is so fun to watch grow and develop. Planted in a bit of soil or gravel, the leaves and bud emerge and reach as tall as 3 feet high before 4 trumpet shaped blooms burst open in reds, white, pinks and all sorts of stripped varieties. The blooms themselves are larger than a hand and will last for a week or more. Try finding three bulbs that are at different stages (one with leaves already up and another completely dormant) for a month or more of blooms. These look great in all the same places you would put a poinsettia and can be lined with green moss or wrapped in a sparkling ribbon for a bit of holiday cheer.

Citrus Plants
Many people don’t realize that lemons, limes and oranges are at their prime when the winter holidays roll around. Short, dwarf varieties such as Meyers lemon and Calamondin orange make amazing potted plants for the house all year round. They are flowering and fruiting around November and December and are so cheerful and bright as houseplants or out on the patio when warmer weather comes. Try choosing one several feet high and hanging a few ornaments on it as well.

Cyclamen
The red flowering varieties of this small houseplant are even brighter in color than a typical poinsettia and they are much easier to care for. While the typical poinsettia is tossed after blooming, the easy-going cyclamen can be put in a window or sunny room for years to come. They tend to bloom in the months with shorter days and have gorgeous, patterned leaves, which makes them a pleasure to look at all year round.

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Add Flare to Fall Arrangements with Chinese Lanterns

October 17, 2014

Like tiny, orange paper lanterns strung together along a stem, the hanging fruit of the Physalis alkekeng, (called Chinese lanterns, winter cherry or Japanese lantern) will light up a bouquet of autumn flowers. These uniquely shaped plants offer a wonderful harvest look to any arrangement and are fun to tuck into a vase or add along the edges of a table or wreath. In great fall colors like burnt umber and pumpkin orange, these long-lasting stems are the perfect choice for an autumnal bouquet.

Native to parts of southern Europe, Asia and the islands of Japan, the Chinese lantern is a perennial plant that grows 1-2 feet tall. Small, white flowers, when fertilized, develop into a tomatillo-like fruit. The papery covering hides a small firm fruit and is shaped like a hot air balloon. This deepens in color to a rich orange over time and each stem can have 3-6 fruits ripen at a time. As the plant ages and matures, the paper covering becomes delicate and can slowly dry in unique, lace-like patterns. Far from looking faded the way traditional blooms will after a time, these plants add a certain seasonality and can be pulled from the old arrangement and placed in a vase on their own as the evenings lengthen and the nights grow cooler.

Edible, as well as medicinal, the fruit of the Chinese lantern has been cultivated for many years around the globe and used as a sedative, diuretic and as an antiseptic. In Japan, the seeds of this plant are used as an offering during the Bon Festival, to help guide the souls of the departed. It is a very popular ornamental plant there in both gardens as well as in the traditional flower arranging art of Ikebana, which employs a minimalist approach to floral design. Clean lines, specific shapes and carefully chosen and placed blooms create the effects of this floral art, which has become a part of the culture of Japan and is believed to have origins dating back to the 6th century. The use of the Chinese lanterns in these traditional arrangements can add a specific “air” quality or be use to trail gently down the side of a container.

Chinese lanterns are available at your local florist through the middle of summer well into the first frosts of winter. Like leaves turning colors, choose stems that have some orange and some fruits that are still a bit green to experience the cycles of nature from the comfort of your kitchen table.

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Celebrate the Jewish New Year with Statice

September 10, 2014

Dust off the shofar and pick up some challah bread because Rosh Hashana falls between September 24th and September 26th this year. A time of both remembrance and renewal, the Jewish New Year is a time to ponder one’s actions from the preceding year and seek resolution for any conflicts or settle any debts, both figuratively and literally, so that one might start the year anew. In the language of flowers, the humble statice flower is symbolic of both remembrance and forgiveness and is the perfect bloom to bring home to the table to set out next to the apples and honey. Wrap up the last year and start the new one off right with a few stems of statice.

Sometimes called sea foam or misty blue, the statice flower has a flattened, green stem with an almost papery covering, rather than true leaves. Cut long with arching branches, these stems hold colorful petals that come in a wide spectrum of purples and blues, and have a similar papery feel to them. This feature allows statice to remain remain fresh looking for weeks in a vase. Since flowers will keep their color for a long time, statice is a popular dried flower that will last well through the high holidays.

Native to many parts of the world, there are several different species of statice in the genus Limonium, which comes from Greek word for meadow. Often used in vase arrangements and bouquets, statice adds color and structure to a mix of flowers. The deep purple variety look lovely mixed in with soft alstroemeria and cheery next to bright gerber daisies. For a more natural, wildflower look, consider aster, zinnias or dahlias- all of which will be at their prime in mid to late September. Statice can also be dazzling on their own. Consider choosing stems of several different shades of purple and blue to tie together in a bouquet or cut short in a small vase.

One of the most readily available and economical of cut flowers, the statice can be found year round at florists. Costing less than a dollar a stem, these flowers certainly won’t start your new year out with any debt and should last you right through to Yom Kippur.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Occasions, Seasonal

Hypericum Berries are the Perfect Accent Flower for Any Bouquet

September 4, 2014

Like a well-placed scarf or just the right shoes, accessories can transform one’s clothing into a certain “look.” So, too, can just the right accent flower in a bouquet or vase arrangement. With their cosmopolitan distribution and elegant, round fruit, the hypericum berry is the perfect addition to any floral arrangement. Sleek, yet natural looking, a few stems of these green, red or orange berries can add a certain “je ne sais quoi” to a bouquet of roses or a fistful of daisies. Add them to almost any bunch of flowers for a look that’s sure to be in style.

An absolutely fascinating plant, hypericum berries are the dry fruit of the St. John’s Wort plant. Touted for centuries as a tonic in folk remedies, this plant has been studied extensively by modern pharmacologists. Found to contain two important chemical compounds, hyperforin and hypericen, St. John’s Wort is now prescribed and sold over the counter in pills and teas to treat mild depression. As an ornamental, this plant can improve the mood with just one glance, and the long stems of firm, round berries can absolutely transform a common bouquet into something quite extraordinary. If you are looking to elevate an arrangement, simply place two of these stems- one towards the center and one on the outside- among the other flowers.

Available all year round, green hypericum berries are a great choice for spring and summer flowers and help turn even flowers from a florist cooler into a “just picked” wildflower bouquet. Their woody stems are sturdy, but narrow enough to not crowd a vase. Natural looking and long lasting, their addition to a vase of flowers can soften the look while actually strengthening the stems of other daintier flowers by helping to hold up heavier heads of gerber daisies or roses. Cutting them slightly shorter and placing them around the outside of alstroemeria or spray carnations can give you an arrangement that lasts for two weeks or more.

For a fall and winter floral arrangement, consider the red or bronze-colored hypericum berries. Even out of water, these stems will keep their color, so they are a great addition to a handmade wreath or tucked into the bow of a fancy wrapping job. Alone in a vase or mixed in with evergreen boughs, they add a splash of color and a sense of the outdoors in even the coldest months.

Accessorize your flowers with a little hypericum berry bling, and you’ll never have to worry about boring bouquets again.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Flower Keeping Tips, Occasions, Seasonal

A Lyrical Bouquet for National Poetry Day

August 17, 2014

Putting together words to form a poem that moves and inspires is not unlike creating a lovely vase of flowers, with each stem coming together to form an arrangement that delights or comforts. On August 21st, National Poetry Day, why not compose your own floral sonnet with some of the profound flowers below that can speak volumes in the language of flowers.

Flowering Stock
Said to symbolize lasting beauty and contentment, this sweetly scented stem comes in soft pinks, deep purples and a pure, bright white. Tall and elegant, with soft blooms opening up in clusters from bottom to top, the darker colors add weight and grounding to an arrangement, while the white ones add a bit of whimsy. Start your bouquet with stock to make a statement and build around these stems with some of the other flowers below. While “nothing gold can stay,” stock are far sturdier than they appear and, given plenty of water, will last for more than a week.

Lisianthus
Gertrude Stein said that “a rose is a rose is a rose,” but lisianthus is another flower that bears repeating. Shaped very similar to a typical rosebud but seemingly spun from a finer fabric, lisianthus are the flowers dreams are made of. Delicate and soft, their blooms literally twirl open from nodding buds held up on stems so dainty they appear to float above the foliage. Soft purples and sweet pinks are available at most florists year round and they go marvelously with flowering stock or other taller stems. In the language of flowers they are said to represent appreciation and gratitude and while people may stop to smell the roses, they will be positively spell-bound starting at the fresh bloom of a lisianthus.

Stargazer Lilies
The poet Kilmer thought that she “would never see, a poem as lovely as a tree,” but perhaps she had never seen a stargazer lily. Large and expressive, these matriarchs of the well bred lilies has much to say. Conveying both virtue and prosperity, the pink toned inner petals of this wide bloom are striking to look at and have a strong scent that fills the air with inspiration. Add them to your bouquet and let them be your muse.

Statice
Humble and somewhat hoary, the statice (sometimes called seafoam or misty blue) does not have the glamor or alluring scent of our other flowers, but will pull the arrangement together like a well placed semi-colon. A few stems of this utilitarian filler flower will give both strength and color (purple, blue, yellow or white) to a lyrical bouquet. In the language of flowers, is stands for remembrance, and what is a poem, really, but words remembered that bring meaning to our lives.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Lilies, Occasions, Seasonal

Make the French Connection this Bastille Day with 3 Fabulous Flowers

July 3, 2014

While the well-coiffed Marie Antoinette was telling the starving peasants of France to eat cake if they had no bread, the French populace was reeling from two spendy wars and several years of bad harvests. The lavish lifestyles of both the aristocracy and clergy of the times had led to discontent and a call for reform that landed many protestors and dissenters in prison- the most notorious of which was housed in the medieval Parisian fortress known as the Bastille. Considered the flashpoint of the French Revolution, the storming of the Bastille (which only housed 7 prisoners the morning of July 14th, 1789 when it was attacked) is a day to celebrate the rise of nationalism and democracy in France. If you or other Francophiles are looking for an opportunity to break out the champagne and baguettes, be sure to include these perfectly Parisian pairings of flowers to add a little n’est-ce pas to your Bastille Day celebrations.

French Lavender
What could be more perfectly French (or perfectly at their peak in July) than lavender. There are several different kinds of lavender available from florists and farmer’s markets this time of year, but true French lavender is Lavandula stoechas and is a great buy as either a cut flower or as a live plant to be planted in the perennial garden afterwards. Besides the wonderful, soft fragrance and showy purple wands of this flower, another benefit is that it can be dried and placed in a sachet or little bag to scent a closet, drawer or room.

French Hydrangea

Like lavender, there are several different kinds of hydrangeas available through florists and garden centers, but few are as classically lush as the French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Native to the south of France, but extremely popular next to the moss-draped trees of the deep south in the US, just one stem of these blue, white or pink clustered blooms will fill a vase with a certain joie de vivre. Consider getting one of each color for a pastel version of the French flag.

French Iris
Marie Antoinette ended the revolution without her head, and you’ll simply lose yours over the dazzling diversity of irises. The one native to France that can still be seen growing wild on the countryside is Iris pseudacorus. It is most commonly found in yellow, but try to find the true blue and white cultivars of this appropriately named flag iris to wave around while screaming “vive la france” this Bastille Day.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: By Month, Seasonal, True Stories

Celebrate a Change with Daffodils

April 24, 2014

Change is inevitable in life and can come upon us gradually or like a storm at sea. Whether it’s a welcome change to smoother sailing or a squall that must be weathered, the bright, yellow blooms of the daffodil flower are a great way to mark the changing tides of life. These springtime blooms are rich in symbolism and the perfect flower to help remind anyone switching careers, leaving a relationship, retiring after many years or moving apartments, that changing the course of one’s life is the only way to grow.

Beginning as a bulb planted when the autumn leaves begin to fall, the tiny green tips of daffodil leaves begin to peek out from the snow in early spring after months in the frozen ground. Surprising us with their tenacity, the nodding heads emerge and open to sun their faces in March and April. As blooms fade and leaves die back, these flowers go dormant in the summer only to begin the cycle again in the fall. Said to represent rebirth and new beginnings in the language of flowers, the daffodil is the perfect reminder that good or bad, nothing in life is permanent, which allows us to continually be surprised and delighted with what each new season holds.

The flower comes in a range of lemony yellows from the palest, nearly-white to a deep orange gold. There is a central bell-shaped cup in the middle, often called the corona, with surrounding flattened petals of a lighter shade. The stems are hollow with a tiny, papery brown collar. Holding a daffodil, one is surprised that something so dainty can force its way through the cold and snow to bloom each spring.

Sold in bunches at local florists from February until early May, daffodils are an outstandingly economic choice for a small vase or fresh bouquet. Due to their seasonality, these buttery blooms are often less than $5 per bunch. With bloom sizes ranging between 3-4 inches, a handful will look amazing in a short, round vase or a taller, fluted one that allows the blooms to spread out a bit.
The story that surrounds the naming of the daffodil gives it its Latin name, Narcissus. Said to be the embodiment of a youth with whom Aphrodite was enamored, the young man was transformed into this flower to save him from drowning. In other cultures, the daffodil is present at New Year celebrations to encourage luck and good fortune in the times to come.

Whether sailing off into the sunset or on to uncharted waters, celebrate the ebb and flow of life with these beautiful spring blooms.

Comments: 0 Posted by: Previous Author Categories: Daffodils, Seasonal

The Right Flowers to Have Beautiful Flowers for Fall

September 6, 2012

Autumn is upon us and fall flowers are an excellent way to signify this! With autumn comes changing leaves, warm apple cider, bonfires, and pumpkin lattes! We love fall, and the gorgeous colors of fall are what make it feel like the holiday season is upon us. The warm browns, rich burgundies, and bright yellows grace all of the trees and bring about the happiness of the start of this time of year. Here are a few ways to bring those colors indoors!

A Flower Bouquet

This gorgeous bouquet is full of Autumn colors that will make you want to curl up with a book and some hot cocoa. Orange Peruvian lilies, rust-colored Asiatic lilies and red hypericum berries come in a purple vase that perfectly compliments the earthy bouquet colors. For an elegant look, a monochromatic arrangement, such as this bouquet of orange roses and Peruvian lilies is a stunning option. This would be a beautiful adornment on one’s work desk, or as a hostess gift.

Centerpieces

Fresh flowers are a wonderful centerpiece for dinner tables, as they bring life to autumn decor. This festive bouquet comes beautifully arranged in a ceramic pumpkin container. Brandy roses, butterscotch daisies, red Asiatic lilies and burgundy mini-carnations are deliciously suited for a buffet table. This fun cornucopia arrangement reflects the fall bounty with vibrant sunflowers, red roses, burgundy daisies, and orange Asiatic lilies that are spilling out of a cornucopia basket. Sure to bring a stunning element to any holiday table.

Autumn Plants

Plants are a beautiful way to welcome the fall season, especially if the recipient is not a fan of flowers. The Croton plant is a beautiful representation of the season, with multi-colored leaves of yellow, green and red. Planted in a beautiful brown ceramic container, this plant is a lovely gift. If a potted flower is desired, autumn lilies are a beautiful representation of fall. This lily plant features both a yellow Asiatic lily plant, and an orange calla lily plant. They come seated together in a beautiful rustic planter, and would be a lovely way to say “Happy Birthday” to those who celebrate their birthdays during autumn months.

With autumn officially around the corner, get a jump start on welcoming the season by brightening someone else’s day with beautiful fall bouquets!

Comments: 0 Posted by: Florist Jessica Categories: Seasonal

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