Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
« April 2010 »
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
Entries by Topic
All topics  «
Flower Facts
Blog Tools
Edit your Blog
Build a Blog
RSS Feed
View Profile
You are not logged in. Log in
My Blog
Monday, 19 April 2010
Forge a bond of trust with your florist
Topic: Flower Facts

An Open Posy
When ordering flowers for a funeral, many customers prefer to send a natural-looking tribute, such as an open posy or basket. The open posy can be made in a range of sizes, and various combinations of flowers and foliage can be used. This would be a suitable tribute to suggest for a child’s funeral or for a design to be sent on behalf of children to the funeral of a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend. They have that childlike feel to them, which makes them ideal when children are involved. If you are unsure when to use posys, just canvass some other florists Lysterfield South for their opinion, I'm sure you'll find someone willing to share their knowledge.

Creating a Garland or Wreath
Collect the base, ribbons, equipment and all materials. Prepare the frame mechanics; for added security, the foam may be taped in place after it has been trimmed to shape. Pin clusters of lichen moss to hide the foundation and make an attractive finish, and then establish the outline, placing bold leaves at the centre for visual depth. Position focal point materials (such as seed heads) in a diagonal line, the largest at the centre.
Now add flowers and foliage in lines and groupings, filling the outline shape and placing flowers and leaves on different levels, to create an elevated profile.
Ribbon loops are positioned near the focal point areas, while single leaves and flowers Waitakere are recessed. Finally, add streamers and glue the bow into position. For greater security, all flowers and foliage can be glued in place.

My Favourite Flowers - Amaranthus
This is the green form of Love-lies-Bleeding, which I find so much more attractive than the red. It is worth looking after for if the plant thrives the trusses may be twice as long as normal, and it is a most striking annual to have in the garden. It will seed easily and enjoys a medium or rich soil.
Cultivation
Sow very thinly in their flowering situation in April in any reasonably fertile soil, and thin the seedlings as they become large enough to handle. Do the thinning in several stages until the plants are at the final distance.
Conditioning and preserving
Remove all the leaves immediately after picking, for this plant does not take up enough moisture for both leaves and flowers. Place the stems in really hot water and leave them for several hours before arranging. If you are drying the stems, it is best to place them in shallow water in a warm room and allow to dry. Avoid drying the stems with the elegant, drooping trusses hanging upside down or otherwise they will dry erect! Several Tamworth florists have given me this advice over a number of years.
Arranging
The long, trailing tails of green chenille-like trusses make a splendid centre for a summer arrangement, and are equally effective in winter decorations when they have been dried.

Wedding costs

Just like the cost of everything else, the cost of having a wedding is skyrocketing. This is no surprise to anyone who has been recently involved in a wedding, and it is certainly no surprise to someone who is currently involved, in any way, with a wedding. If you are looking for ways to cut costs, one of the best ways is to do so by using silk flowers instead of real flowers for your wedding. Wedding flowers can start to get pricey, especially if you want to use roses, lilies, or flowers that are out of season. Having them arranged is also an expensive proposition if you go through a Reddish Florist.

Climbing Varieties
Climbers comprise a wide variety of types. The most numerous are the large-flowered climbers, which bear 2- to 6-inch blossoms in loose clusters on strong, flexible canes 6 to 15 feet long. Most large-flowered climbers are hybrid descendants of wild climbers still found in various parts of the world. Modern varieties boast a wide range of colors and flower sizes. Some blossom heavily early in the season, producing few flowers Los Angeles later on; others follow their first crop of blos­soms with intermittent bloom and then burst forth with another heavy crop in the fall. Large-flowered climbers are fairly resistant to disease and cold weather, and can generally grow without winter pro­tection even in northerly climate regions.
Pillar roses, a subclass of the large-flowered climb­ers, do not grow as tall as other climbers, but stand more upright on stiffer canes to a height of 5 to 10 feet. They are often planted beside a post or pillar (hence their name) to which they are tied to pre­vent them from snapping in high winds.
Another distinct type of climber is the rambler. Its slender, supple canes grow very long (10 to 20 feet a year) and bear dense clusters of small flowers, each no more than 2 inches across. Most varieties bloom once each year, in late spring or early summer, on canes that are one year old; a few flower again in the fall. Their colors are limited: deep red to weak pink, peach yellow and white; foliage is glossy. Though some types are susceptible to mildew, most true ramblers are extremely hardy, surviving subzero winters even when unprotected.

Mixing Colors
Because silk, preserved and dried flowers can be found in nearly any color range, knowledge of a color wheel will help tremendously in floral designing. Once focal colors are established, adding in accent colors becomes the next challenge. If you aren’t sure which color would be best, consulting the color wheel helps in determining the desired color range.
A good color wheel contains information and examples of color hues, tints, tones and shades as well as the basic information. This allows you to see how colors of the same or varying values would look when combined. Or how contrasting colors can work together to produce a harmonious arrangement.
Oftentimes the current season will be the determining factor in the colors used within certain projects; spring seems to lend itself to pastel arrangements, while fall seems to call for more striking arrangements. As a florist Springhill, my tendency is to use monochromatic or analogous color schemes simply because I am comfortable with those colors and the blended look they provide. However, experimenting with complementary colors often produces striking and pretty designs. They are nice surprises which encourage further explorations of the many possibilities involved in mixing colors in the floral designing process.

Rose Tubs
For summer, roses can be grown in a tub and do very well and it is useful to have them in tubs if you have a small area with nowhere else to put them. Then again, petunias, geraniums, lobelia, tobacco plants, begonias are all excellent subjects for a patio garden. Lilies in summer followed by pots of hydrangeas all give good colour range and a different look which makes the area interesting all the year round.
Another plant not usually considered as a pot plant but very effective, is sedum and ‘Autumn Joy’ gives a mass of colour for many weeks from September until the frost. And the butterflies just love these flowers Tranmere, especially when they are in full bloom.

Choose your container
Baskets
There is a wide variety of attractive baskets available on the market today. They are usually made from rattan and cane and are imported from around the world. Willow baskets are more substantial but look heavier. Baskets make a lovely, natural base for cottage-style arrangements. Mixed spring or summer flowers in tiny square, oblong or round baskets on the dining or side table can brighten up a room, A larger basket used in the hallway is always pretty in the right house and looks very welcoming. A mixture of fruit or vegetables and flowers adds a homely touch for family rooms and the kitchen.
Most baskets have no lining, so a container needs to be placed inside them. Alternatively, it is possible to put stems straight into one of the varieties of water-retaining florist’s foams wrapped in polythene.
Metal containers
Silver, copper, brass, pewter and bronze containers can provide the ideal shapes and colours to enhance many arrangements. Junk shops and auctions can often provide all sorts of special ‘finds’. Alternatively, ask for one to be included in your flower delivery Llandaff.
Silver is bright and shiny and can compete for attention with some flowers but looks particularly good with greys, soft mauves and pinks. It can provide a formal elegance for a single bloom such as a rose or orchid. Always clean silver after use and take care if you have to use wire for your arrangement as this could scratch the surface. Try lining the container with foil, plastic or brown paper to avoid this problem.
Flowers last well in pewter containers and there are many old jugs and mugs with good simple shapes which are practical for arrangements.
The burnished shine of copper and brass containers is ideal to enhance the colour of flowers with yellow, orange and cream hues. Old copper looks particularly attractive with autumn shades. Brass is very pretty with creams and bright greens.
Keep them clean and free from water marks. Bad stains can be removed with salt and lemon or salt and vinegar. Rub the surface hard, rinse off and dry thoroughly.

Wiring methods
Small flower heads need to be supported and controlled when used in the traditional construction of corsages, buttonholes and headdresses. It would be convenient if there were just one basic wiring method, but unfortunately this is not so. The modern florist handles a wide range of flowers requiring individual wiring methods, such as:
Singapore orchids
Handling the orchid with care, as petals are easily cracked or damaged, remove the flowers Flatbush head from the main stem, leaving only a small portion of stem. Insert a length of silver wire through the base of the flower, leaving one end longer than the other; bring the wire ends together, twisting the short end around both the stem and the longer end of wire, which is brought down to form an artificial stem. Neatly tape this stem.
Hyacinths
Bend a silver wire in half, twisting it to make a small loop. Gently remove a flower head, leaving a short stem. Insert the wire down and through the flower head, so the loop is hidden in the flower head. Complete as above.
Carnation spray
Leaving a small portion of stem, remove an individual flower from the spray. Make a small hook at the top of the wire and insert the wire through the head of the flower, pulling it carefully so that the hook is hidden in the flower centre. Start taping at the base of the stem.
Rose
Remove most of the stem; insert a stub wire up into the stem, pushing it securely into the seed box, then tape.

Can't get enough aye?
Ok, so you need even more facts, tips and information on flowers? Well, you're in luck, just head over to Florist Files for more great information. Say hi from us as you browse through their mountain of flower and florist tips.


Posted by floristnews at 2:13 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Don't turn your flower delivery into a horror show

Latex and Non woven Flowers
Latex flowers are another form of permanent florals. The flowers and leaves are constructed of silk or parchment, and then dipped into latex, leaving them with a cool, rubbery texture. Most stemmed artificial fruit, vegetables and nuts are latex-coated for a more realistic appearance; in fact, many look good enough to eat! The finished arrangements must be kept from high heat as the latex can soften and become sticky; store them in a cool, dry place.
Non woven fabric flowers or high-density fabric flowers have an upscale look and ship very well when you send flowers Athol Park to someone that lives far away. The fabric is cut and shaped into petals with realistic veins and ridges pressed into them.

The Glamorous Tulip
Since they first spread from Turkey through Europe more than four centuries ago, tulips have been the best loved and most widely grown of all the bulbs. Along with roses and or­chids, they have been the subject of the most intensive hybridizing efforts in the world of flowers Lower Hutt; today there are more than 4,000 named varieties of tulips grouped into 15 dif­ferent classes.
Most modern tulips are descended from the oldest tulips in cultivation, the so-called lily-flowered type, which has point­ed petals and was so admired by the Turks that it was one of the most popular decorative motifs during the 500 years of the Ottoman dynasty. As the early Dutch growers cultivated these bulbs, they developed tulips with rounded rather than pointed petals, double tulips with more than the normal six petals and the flamboyant multicolored types that set off Hol­land's ruinous tulip craze. When these new European hybrids found their way back to Turkey, they in turn provoked a frenzy so ardent that the period from 1718 to 1730 is known as the "tulip epoch" of Turkish history.

Starting a flower garden?
Study the problems, such as an ugly shed to be hidden, or a cold prevailing wind; draw in the features you want to emphasize, such as a fine tree or a natural slope, and remember practical considerations. A flower delivery Greenfield could be a thing of the past once your lovely garden is established. Ask all your friends for advice: everyone loves to give advice, though you may not want to take it all. Often you will find that something will strike one person and something else another, and you will be given quite a lot of useful ideas. For example, we had decided to make a path between the house and a wall, and some sensible friend said ‘Make it wide enough for the barrow.’ I have never ceased to be grateful for the enormous amount of walking that advice saved me.

Using wire to support flowers
Long stemmed flowers may be wired  to give support and control. Select a wire that gives support, but not rigidity, and where possible conceal wires internally. All support wires must finish at the stem end.
There are three basic forms of support wiring that a florist Surbiton may choose to use, the choice depending on the stem structure: internal wiring, for hollow stems; semi-internal, for soft stems, and external for woody/hard stems.
External method
Insert the wire (either taped or coated) into the flower base and twist it around the stem at regular intervals.
Semi-internal
Insert the (taped or coated) wire into the stem, 4-5cm (l’ii-2in) below the flower and push it up into the base. The protruding wire is twisted around the stem, avoiding the foliage.
Internal wiring
Make a small hook at one end of the wire. With the flower in your left hand (reverse if left-handed), insert the wire through the flower and down the stem, hiding the hook in the flower. The long-stemmed flower is now ready to be used.

Special Occasions
Dried and fabric flowers come in a wealth of colours and textures, and when a long-lasting display is needed they are an ideal medium to use. Gone are the days of dusty faded arrangements; instead, vibrant but subtle colours are now achieved by freeze and kiln drying.
An immense range of dried plant materials is now available, but it is important to keep them out of damp atmospheres, and bright direct sunlight must also be avoided as displays can fade badly. Fabric flowers are also available in every colour and most varieties. These days, they are so realistic that it is almost impossible to distinguish them from the real thing.
Fabric and dried materials may either be mixed in a design or used separately. They can be displayed in a host of containers, including a heart frame, a foam- filled tray, a foam ring or a basket.
The stems of the fabric and dried flowers, being hard and firm, can easily be pushed into the foam, though a glue gun may be used for extra security.
Proprietary dust-repellent sprays may be used to protect and clean the materials. If looked after well, dried and fabric flowers will give pleasure and are an invaluable addition to the florists Crew's Hole repertoire.

Be careful sending flowers online

I'm sure everyone is aware that you can send flowers many different ways on the internet? With lots of different options for delivery and ordering flowers online, you must be aware of security and safety of your personal information. Not only that, but you could be left with disappointing flowers if you choose the wrong Sparkbrook florist. Many florists online have created websites that lead consumers to believe that they are "local florists." Although you believe they are located in your area, many of them work in call centers far away from you or your flower recipient. With the following tips to sending your flowers online, you can be sure your flowers will get to your destination from a reliable and real professional florist.

 

Making buttonholes
If you have a large number of buttonholes to make, set up a mini production line rather than making each one individually. The method is the same for each, so you can save a lot of time this way ensuring flowers delivered Llanrumney on time.
Start by collecting together all the items required — carnations, Asparagus setaceus, wires, tape and pins. For each buttonhole, trim a carnation, leaving just a short length of stem; insert a 0.71mm (22 gauge) stub wire up the stem of the carnation, and make a closed hook, then pull the wire down until it is completely hidden in the base of the carnation flower.
Select three fronds of fern from the main shoot and mount them, using 0.32mm (30 gauge) silver stub wire. If the fern has stems of a reasonable length, it is not always necessary to mount them, and this can save much time.
After wiring, tape all the materials. Once the cut materials have all been prepared, they can then quickly be assembled into the buttonhole.
For assembly, add the fronds to the carnation, piece by piece. The largest frond is placed at the back, with a smaller frond at each side. The mounted fronds are flexible, and can be bevelled outwards at a becoming angle. Finally, add a pin.

Avoid Wedding woes

There is such a huge range of choices available when it comes to wedding flowers that it is easy to become overwhelmed by it all. Do you want the formal look of roses and orchids, or the more casual feel of wildflowers with a seasonal garden style bouquet? What colors do you want, what size and shape of bouquet for yourself and your attendants? The best place to start, and its free, is to visit your local library and look at books and magazines for ideas on flower styles and trends. Doing a little homework before meeting with an Seaforth florist can be a great help for you and the florist.

Ribbons in Floristry
Ribbons form an intrinsic part of floristry and flower arranging. They can transform arrangements and enhance bouquets adding a new dimension to both colour and texture. Most wholesalers have a good selection of basic ribbons, plus many more designed for particular occasions such as Valentine’s Day Christmas or Mothers Day.
A vast range of aerosol paint colours and finishes is available to the florist. Provided simple safety rules are followed, spray painting is a straightforward and cost-effective way of giving a new look to dated containers and accessories. Basic, inexpensive items can he turned into stylish, modern containers and accessories at little cost and then added to any flowers delivered Abernathy for additional profit. Individual and personalized effects can easily be created for distinctive designs or special occasions.

Can't get enough aye?
Ok, so you need even more facts, tips and information on flowers? Well, you're in luck, just head over to FLOWER FACTS HEAVEN for more great information. Say hi from us as you browse through their mountain of flower and florist tips.


Posted by floristnews at 11:34 PM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Florist business going swimmingly

Budding
The most difficult and time-consuming method of propagating plants vegetatively is budding, which is now used to reproduce nearly all commercial rose plants, especially hybrid varieties. In this process a sliver of stem bearing a bud eye of the desired variety is inserted beneath the bark of another species of rose known to have especially vigorous roots. Most amateur rose growers are willing to leave this technique to Sneyd Park florists; it is far easier to buy strong plants and set them in the garden and enjoy their blooms than it is to go through the process of growing them from scratch. For one thing, the production of Number 1 grade rose plants takes two growing seasons in a nursery; about half a year for the rootstock plants to develop strong roots and a year and a half more for the cultivated flowering varieties to grow from single buds to full-sized plants. But there is nothing arcane about the procedure, and only patient practice is necessary to develop the mechanical skills that the professionals use.

One of my favourite flowers - Amaranthus (amaranth, summer poinsettia)
Characteristics: Amaranths pro­vide wonderful displays of color in the late summer garden. These reliable, showy annuals were grown for medicinal purposes by early American settlers. Many different varie­ties provide a large range of shapes and colors, from deep red to brilliant yellows. Their bold color makes them hard to use, so they are best used as accent plants. Quick to grow, they can fill and enhance any garden spot. Amaranthus cau­datus, the tassel-type (love­-lies-bleeding), has brilliant red tassels that retain their color for eight weeks. The tassels, which are usually a foot or more in length, droop dramati­cally over the foliage. You can cut and air-dry the tassels for use in winter arrangements.
Cultural Information: Ama­ranths are not fussy about the soil in which they grow. As with many of the old reliable annuals, they seem to have bet­ter leaf color in poorer soil. Di­rect sow after all danger of frost is past and the soil is warm. In cooler climates, amaranths can be started indoors. Barely cover the seed, keep the soil moist, and germination should take two to three weeks. If you send flowers Wandsworth to another area, be careful not to disturb the roots, because this slows growth. It is best to move them after night temperatures stay above 50°F.

Feeding and repotting Orchids

Most orchids benefit from a specialist orchid fertilizer that is fed as a weak solution and applied once a week. To do this, use only half the amount mentioned on the packet. The type of fertilizer will depend on what your orchid is growing in, so it is wise to check that first.

Sooner or later, unfortunately, the orchid is going to need repotting. Remove the old mix from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. Rinse the roots and trim off any hollow or mushy ones, as they are considered dead. Place the plant into a new pot, orchids apparently like being root-bound, so there should only be about 1' between the roots and the edge of the pot. Add the new mix/medium to the pot, tapping the sides to make sure it settles properly. Press gently to settle the plant but don't use too much force or the roots may break. Use a stick to support the plant in the pot so it is secure. If your plant is growing in sphagnum moss, make sure it is damp before wrapping it round the roots and repotting, that way you don't have to worry about pockets of air. After repotting, the plant should not be watered for 3 - 5 days to allow it to recover. A flower delivery Edmondson Park from your local florist should have some instructions on how to do this correctly.

An Essential Accessory
While Napoleon was off conquering Egypt in 1799, his wife Jo­sephine bought an old chateau named Malmaison eight miles down the Seine from Paris. Napoleon grumbled loudly about the extrav­agance (apparently Josephine was outrageously overcharged for the property), but to modern rose growers the country estate was worth every sou it cost. For Malmaison made the rose the preeminent flower it is today. Here varieties from all over the world were collected and cultivated, while many workers would send flowers Crookston so that new scientific techniques for breeding could be developed. And Josephine's passion for roses set an example for the haut monde, so that roses became the fashionable flower to grow, and rose gardens were soon an essential accessory of the estates of the rich.

The Lily: Symbol of Purity
"The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Naza­reth, to a virgin [whose] name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, thou that art highly fa­vored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women .... thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.'''
One of the most tender scenes in the New Testament, St. Luke's account of the Annunciation provided a favorite text for the painters of the Renais­sance. The Holy Ghost customarily appears overhead in the form of a dove. The Blessed Virgin is already crowned with a halo, signifying her ho­liness. The angel, who had traditionally borne a scepter to show that he was God's herald, now comes holding a white lily, a symbol both of the Virgin's purity and of her role as Queen of the Angels. Many people today still appreciate the imagery of the white lily when they send flowers Openshaw.
This imagery was not new; Greek mythology claimed that the lily had first sprung from the milk of Hera, the wife of Zeus. Christian legend adopt­ed and embellished the symbolism of flowers and their sacred associations. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a mystic of the 12th Century, declared ecstatical­ly of Christ's birth that "The Flower wished to be born of a Flower, in a flower, at the time of flowers."

What temperature?
The temperature requirements of species differ, and while many spring flowers will keep best at 2°C (35°F), others, such as carnations, prefer a minimum low of 8°C (46°F). Most florists find that an average chiller temperature of 6-8°C (42-46°F) is acceptable. It must also be remembered that many tropical flowers do not require cool storage, although they do enjoy high humidity — gingers, strelitzias, anthuriums and many orchids fall into this category. Cold-sensitive flowers can exhibit symptoms of ‘bluestain’ on the petals. Nerines, in particular, are susceptible to temperatures below 2°C (35°F). Euphorbia, heliconias and eucharis lilies are all materials that prefer a warmer storage temperature, and for these, and other tropical flowers and foliages, the temperature should preferably not fall below 16°C (60°F). High temperatures, however, will hasten the development of cut materials and shorten their vase life.
An even temperature should always be maintained, whether flowers Jefferson Park are stored in a chiller unit or in a cool place. Wild fluctuations in temperature can cause discoloration in some flowers. Red roses are particularly sensitive to major temperature changes, and this is evident when petals take on a blue tinge.

Outdoor Autumn Bulbs
The bulbs that can be counted on to add color to a fall garden range from extremely hardy ones that defy sub-zero weather to tender ones that cannot stand even a touch of frost. They differ in the times at which they can be purchased: Crocosmias in spring, for example, lycoris in midsummer, colchicums and autumn-flowering crocuses in August, and some cyclamens virtually all year. But two pieces of advice apply to them all: order your bulbs early, to ensure good quality and to avoid disappointment, because the demand may exceed the supply, and plant them as soon as possible after you receive them. Speedy planting helps bulbs do their best by giving them maximum time to establish themselves before blooming time arrives; because colchicums and autumn-flowering crocuses bloom so early in fall, they in particular must be put in the ground immediately. When dealers receive them from Delano flower delivery in August, the bulbs already are on the verge of bursting into bloom, and if they lie around unplanted for a few days, they may start flowering wherever they are. Such prematurely blooming bulbs will not do well when you finally get them in the garden.

Treating Stems
Soft stems
Flowers with soft, succulent stems, for example, tulips, arum lilies and clivia should have their stems cut at an angle and be placed immediately in deep water, Some flowers from this particular group exude a slimy sap. Hyacinths and narcissi come into this category. Place those types of flowers in water on their own for an hour or so and then put them into fresh clean water.
Tulips also require additional care to bring out the best from them. Cut their soft stems at an angle and if they are thick, split them at the base for about 1 cm (1/2 inch). Remove the bottom leaves and then, before placing them in deep, tepid water for a long drink, bunch them together with their heads level and roll them in greaseproof paper just covering the flower heads. This will stop the heads falling forward and breaking off.
Hard, woody stems
Plants that fall into this category should have their stems cut on an angle and then split with a pair of secateurs, or hammered to break up the fibres. Florists Seabrook always have a tricky time with this kind of stem. If a stem is particularly woody, 2 cms (1 inch) of bark should be stripped from its base before hammering so that the white stem beneath the bark shows clearly. Remove unwanted foliage and stems. Place the material into a deep bucket of water initially.
If there is a time delay between cutting and placing the material into water in its final receptacle, dip the tips of the stems into hot water for a few minutes first and then stand in warm water.

Black and Red Roses
A single black rose says ‘it is over’. This is a good way of ending a relationship - sending a single black rose together with a note is a sure fire way to bring to a close a relationship. Don’t be too hurtful with the accompanying note. You can ask your Lower East Side Florist for some examples of notes that are sent with flowers to give you some ideas.
But the single red rose is considered to be the most beautiful and romantic of all the roses. Even from the ancient roman times, lovers give each other red roses. In those times, roses were the symbol of the Roman goddess Venus, the goddess of love, and since then a single red rose clearly states ‘I love you’.

How about this?
Whilst we aim to provide you with a never ending supply of flower facts, you may like to check out The Enchanted Florist if you want even more! You can never have too many tips and facts when you love flowers, or wish to have a career in the floral industry.


Posted by floristnews at 11:08 PM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Get onboard and start a career in the florist business
Topic: Flower Facts

A pretty flower - Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan)
Characteristics: Black-eyed Susan is a showy, daisy like native American perennial often found in natural meadows and along roadsides. It provides wonderful garden color all summer long. Black-eyed Susans make long lasting cut flowers. Their range of petal colors includes yellow, orange, red and bronze. When the petals fall off, they leave a dark, attractive cone-shaped center. This dark core is excellent for use in dried arrangements. Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa Daisy' has profuse displays of large blooms up to 5 inches across on 3-foot stems.
Cultural Information: Plant black-eyed Susan 2 feet apart in average, well-drained soil. Divide the clumps in spring or autumn every four years. Dividing will ensure a more robust production of blooms. These tolerant plants will grow in poor soil and can withstand rough handling if Bald Hills flower delivery is being used for shipment.
Harvesting/Drying: You can harvest black-eyed Susan at any time during its development. Just decide what size center you want to dry. Remove the petals and hang up the centers to dry. If you prefer, simply allow the flowers to mature on the stems and harvest later. The individual petals can be pressed and then reattached to the core with glue before mounting on a board.

Spread those blooms around the home
There is no reason to restrict flowers to specific locations. Flowers are now so affordable and so easily available that we can live with them every day, all around the house — in the kitchen, the bathroom or next to the computer. Perch them on a ledge, a windowsill, the edge of the bath, the landing, or even on the floor. Be bold, too, with your container. Experiment with something that usually serves a different purpose, such as a large, glass salad bowl, or even a collection of chunky candles that have been hollowed out and stuffed with dampened floral foam to keep flower stems moist. These materials can be supplied by good florists Hawkes Bay in your area.
Because they are almost prodigal in their ubiquity, carnations often get a bad rap. But carnations are more versatile, and varied than a clichéd buttonhole would lead you to believe. Unlike hasty carnations, sweet peas are one of nature’s most tender stemmed flowers, and their vase life is short — just a few days. Packing them in tightly gives them strength in numbers, and shows them off in all their frothy charm.

Do your homework on your florist
Although a professional flower stylist can enhance your special day with beautiful floral arrangements, the florist must know your style, criteria and budget. Many attributes must be carefully thought through before selecting a florist or flower shop. Carefully read through the information in this blog to save you time, money and unsatisfactory results from your delivery of flowers Bromsgrove. Florists are like any other profession - there are good ones, and there are bad ones. do your homework and make sure you end up with one of the good guys.

Nosegays
Nosegays or tussie mussies are fun to create and make wonder­ful gifts if you would like to send flowers Miles Platting to someone you love. They can be made with fresh or dried flowers. A certain amount of stress will cause the dry stems to break. Caution should be taken when working with all dried material for this reason. For fresh flowers, use a selection of flowers that air-dry well. Collect the flowers one by one and hold them tightly in your hand while intertwining their stems in a crisscross pattern. When you are pleased with the combinations of color and textures, wrap the stems together with a rubber band or a piece of wire high up and close to the flower heads. If fresh flowers were used, hang the bouquet upside down until dry. After it is dry, it will be strong enough to stand up on a dresser or table without the support of a container. Before placing it on a table, tie a pretty ribbon or raffia around the rubber band. Tiny nosegays can also be used to decorate a narrow mantle or as favors on a dinner table.

Floribunda Roses
Floribunda roses blossom almost continuously except for a short midwinter dormant period in some climates, and from spring until frost in most areas. Combining the virtues of their parents (the hardy polyantha, with its clusters of small blossoms, and the showy hybrid tea rose, with its large blossoms on long stems) they produce clusters of moderately large blooms on fairly long stems, and are relatively hardy, most varieties surviving without winter protection in mild climate areas.
Most varieties have elegant, high-centered, 2- to 4-inch blossoms, with long, pointed buds similar to those of hybrid teas. The blossoms are often heavily doubled, with up to 60 or more petals; there are also five-petaled single blossoms and semidoubles with fewer than 20 petals. Colors range from snowy white and cream to yellow, apricot, orange, coral, pink, red and lavender. Compact, well-shaped bushes usually grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and have foliage and thorns similar to but smaller than those of hybrid teas.
Floribundas make good hedges and can be massed in beds of their own or in front of taller roses. They provide constant color and good cut flowers Little Ethiopia.

Too hot to handle
While some flower species can't tolerate lots of hot summer weather, the half hardy annuals may sometimes droop in this weather but they will perk up in the later summer months. You can choose some tender annuals like scarlet sage, morning glory, petunias, begonias, celosia, balsam, nasturtium, and verbena. Flowers that can withstand almost anything a Queensland winter has to throw at it can be found in the local shop you use to get your flowers delivered Battlefield. Always do your homework prior to planting as some plants just can't handle the heat of summer.

Tree Roses
Tree roses, which look like small trees, are man-made plants that may be of almost any rose variety. They usually consist of three plants: a sturdy rootstock onto which is budded another rose variety that produces a sturdy trunk, or standard, which in turn supports a budded-on plant that forms the flower-bearing crown. Nurseries sometimes combine the first two steps by growing a strong rootstock that also produces a tall standard, but in either case the process is slow and takes skill; for this reason a rose variety costs several times more in tree form than it does as a bush.
Because the tender bud joint at the top of the stan­dard is very vulnerable to frost damage, most tree roses are hardy enough to survive winter weather without protection only in warm climates; elsewhere, St Michaels florists must wrap them snugly, or partially dig them up and bury them flat in the ground, unearthing and erecting them when spring comes.
Varieties with strong, upright stems like hybrid teas are the most popular tree roses; their round, stately crowns of blossoms make a striking sight, especially in formal gardens. Climbers also create spectacular ef­fects: when weighted with flowers, their long, pliant stems droop over like graceful weeping willows.

Research what you want

This step is very important before you talk to your florist. Discuss what type of flowers you prefer for your special occasion. To get more ideas, look around in local flower shops or even online. Get a taste of the quality of flower delivery Whitchurch and the range of flower arrangements in your area. Knowing what color, size or type of flower you want will let your florist tailor to you. Also, researching different flowers trends can give you more creativity with flowers. If you are aware of what flowers are in season, your purchased flowers will stay strong and stay healthier, longer.

Roses That Are Not Roses
Many plants having “rose” as part of their names are not related to the rose family of flowers Columbus Circle at all, but are associated with it because of the shape or color of their blooms. The Christmas rose, for example, is an evergreen perennial whose white blossoms turn a roselike pink in winter. Rose mallow is another name for the stately hibiscus. Rose moss (not to be confused with the moss rose), is an annual of the portulaca genus with roselike flowers, and rose-of-heaven is a member of the pink family that boasts handsome, rose-colored flowers. Rose of Sharon, named after the Biblical plain, is actually a type of hibiscus with showy pink blossoms.

Additional information
If you love flowers as much as we do you may also enjoy Flower Power. Another blog dedicated to bringing you the very best florist information on the internet.


Posted by floristnews at 7:41 PM EST
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post
Monday, 8 February 2010
Cross the ocean in search of a great florist
Topic: Flower Facts

Wildflowers and how to use them
The prospect of wild flowers growing in grass is a thrilling one, but I must sound a note of warning! If you have a large garden and an out of the way place where grass and wild flowers may grow in happy confusion, that is fine. But should your garden be small I would strongly recommend you to move with caution — after the first few weeks of delight the long grass will start to look a mess and very unattractive. It will also be difficult to get it back into shape as a lawn again. I believe Lady Bird Johnson was responsible for having thousands of seeds scattered on the road verges of Washington during her husband’s presidency, and I think that was a lovely thing to do.
If you are thinking of gathering wild flowers from the countryside it is important to have a clear view about conservation. Nowadays with the ever- increasing amount of building it is essential that we watch over our precious native plants. This is especially necessary in rural areas where the rarer species such as orchis, fritillaria, lily of the valley and other delightful flowers are at risk. The sorts of wild flowers you can safely pick are what I call ‘wayside flowers’ — wild flowers that grow along the sides of roads and which will be cut down anyway by the council when the verges are ‘tidied’. You will be surprised how many wild flowers delivered Pakenham you will find — I have used dog daisies, which spring up in hundreds whenever any waste land is disturbed, sorrel and docks, hemlock, cow parsnip, parsley and carrot (better know in the USA as Queen Anne’s lace), willow herb and grasses of all kinds. They all flourish abundantly and picking them will not worry the conservationists.

The versatility of flowers
Funerals and weddings have something in common – flowers! In both cases, flowers are used to celebrate life; the end of a life and the beginning of a couple's life together. Flowers send many different messages for all sorts of different occasions.
An arrangement of daisies can be sent to cheer someone up and let them know that you're thinking of them. A dozen long-stemmed red roses says, “I love you” quite clearly. Flowers can be sent with get-well wishes, happy birthday wishes, congratulations on your new job or graduation, apologies, and of course, to new mothers to celebrate the birth of their new little one.
But let's face it; people can get through an illness, a birthday, a graduation, and more without a single blossom. That's not the case with a wedding. Start talking about a wedding and images of flowers come to mind. A wedding simply wouldn't be a wedding without a flower delivery Paihia of a bridal bouquet and the many other arrangements that are part of the big day. From reception centerpieces, to corsages, to flower girl baskets to the wedding bouquets themselves, flowers are an essential element in a wedding.

Preservation is the key

What could possibly be more beautiful than a bunch of fresh, scented flowers delivered by a reliable florist? They just ooze beauty and freshness bringing to life the most drab of rooms. However, fresh flowers delivered Banning have a short shelf life as we all know too well. Drying the flowers at the right time, and using the right technique, can preserve them as close to their original beauty as possible. Which would you prefer, a week of fragrant fresh flowers, or a lifetime with a gorgeous dried floral arrangement?

An Open Posy
When ordering flowers for a funeral, many customers prefer to send a natural-looking tribute, such as an open posy or basket. The open posy can be made in a range of sizes, and various combinations of flowers and foliage can be used. This would be a suitable tribute to suggest for a child’s funeral or for a design to be sent on behalf of children to the funeral of a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend. They have that childlike feel to them, which makes them ideal when children are involved. If you are unsure when to use posys, just canvass some other florists Clapham for their opinion, I'm sure you'll find someone willing to share their knowledge.

Simple Steps to Long-lasting Cut Flowers

Keep the water fresh and deep. For maximum life, change the water in your vase at least every third day. Many flowers benefit from fresh water daily. There is a direct correlation between clean water and long flower life. When you change the water, cut ½ inch off the base of the stems with a sharp instrument. Also consult with your florist for the best advice when you take your flower delivery Hengrove.

Go Hardy for winter months
Hardy annuals are beautiful plants that will produce flowers even in the cold winter season. These annual flowers are planted during the spring season or fall season when the weather is not that cold. Unlike other annuals, these hardy annual flowers don't like hot weather as they are not heat tolerant. These are certainly not suitable for a flower delivery Telford, in Newcastle, whose climate is considerably warmer than other parts of Australia. As their name suggests, hardy annuals are very resilient plants.

My dearest flower series - Gladiolus
Gladioluses are grown primarily for cutting, and few if any other plants offer such a wide variety or mass of color for bouquets, which make excellent gifts to be sent by Culverhouse Cross flower delivery. Plants range from 1 foot to over 5 feet in height, depending upon the variety and growing conditions. Although individual plants bloom only for a week to 10 days, a staggered planting schedule will assure flowers for about three months. All have sword-shaped foliage that may remain green until cut down by frost.
Of the 150 or more wild forms of the genus, plant breeders have used about a dozen South African species in developing G. hybridus, the familiar modern "glads." Because of their complex ancestry, these hybrids are classified by color and flower size. The North American Gladiolus Council recognizes 28 different basic colors and lists them in a numerical sequence beginning with white (coded 00-01) through green, cream, yellow, buff, orange, salmon, scarlet, pink, red, rose, lavender, purple and blue to smoky, tan and brown (96-97). Numbers have been reserved in the ranges where new colors are expected to be developed.

Starting a flower garden?
Study the problems, such as an ugly shed to be hidden, or a cold prevailing wind; draw in the features you want to emphasize, such as a fine tree or a natural slope, and remember practical considerations. A flower delivery West Derby could be a thing of the past once your lovely garden is established. Ask all your friends for advice: everyone loves to give advice, though you may not want to take it all. Often you will find that something will strike one person and something else another, and you will be given quite a lot of useful ideas. For example, we had decided to make a path between the house and a wall, and some sensible friend said ‘Make it wide enough for the barrow.’ I have never ceased to be grateful for the enormous amount of walking that advice saved me.

Using wire to support flowers
Long stemmed flowers may be wired to give support and control. Select a wire that gives support, but not rigidity, and where possible conceal wires internally. All support wires must finish at the stem end.
There are three basic forms of support wiring that a florist Moody may choose to use, the choice depending on the stem structure: internal wiring, for hollow stems; semi-internal, for soft stems, and external for woody/hard stems.
External method
Insert the wire (either taped or coated) into the flower base and twist it around the stem at regular intervals.
Semi-internal
Insert the (taped or coated) wire into the stem, 4-5cm (l’ii-2in) below the flower and push it up into the base. The protruding wire is twisted around the stem, avoiding the foliage.
Internal wiring
Make a small hook at one end of the wire. With the flower in your left hand (reverse if left-handed), insert the wire through the flower and down the stem, hiding the hook in the flower. The long-stemmed flower is now ready to be used.

How about this?
Whilst we aim to provide you with a never ending supply of flower facts, you may like to check out The Florist Chronicles if you want even more! You can never have too many tips and facts when you love flowers, or wish to have a career in the floral industry.


Posted by floristnews at 10:27 PM EST
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Newer | Latest | Older