Weblog

Monday, 30 November 2009

  • Dual happiness is the only goal for florists

    Hospital flowers
    Everyone loves flowers, and someone who is ill and in hospital will appreciate them even more than usual. Flowers convey love and affection, sunshine and happiness, making the patient feel cherished, and it is very important that a florist should select appropriate flowers to send in such cases.
    Hospitals are normally very warm, especially the maternity wards, and it is therefore essential that any flowers sent are long-lasting species, which can tolerate heat. Spring flowers and roses, unfortunately, do not last long in warm temperatures, but there are some suitable flowers and foliages for consideration, including the following:
    carnations and spray carnations
    Alstroemeria hybrids
    Astrantia major
    Wax flowers
    Chrysanthemum blooms and sprays
    Cymbidium orchids
    Lilies
    Limonium sinuatum
    Triteleia hybrids

    All flowers delivered Mitcham should be well conditioned before being sent out. Make sure the stems have been cut correctly and that they have stood in water for at least three to four hours, but preferably overnight, to get a good drink before being used.

    Funeral Thoughts
    Floral tributes can be arranged into the shapes of letters to spell out a name or phrase. Be careful when choosing what to put here, especially where nicknames are concerned. Maybe the name you knew the person as affectionately was not the preferred name for the family. Always respect the wishes of the immediate family. Chrysanthemums are most effective for this kind of arrangement, and again matching the edged ribbon to a complimentary colour scheme. The flowers can be arranged beautifully, and there are numerous complimentary colour schemes that you could use. Red and cream go well together as an example, as does yellow and pale green foliage. You can send flowers Hokitika in almost any colour combination you can think of.

    Basic flower arranging equipment
    Florist’s foam
    Water-retaining florist’s foam is useful in containers that would otherwise be too shallow to hold sufficient water. Stems will remain in place with the aid of this material; however it is more difficult to achieve a natural look to an arrangement.
    Florists find this material forms a particularly useful base as it allows for easy transportation with a minimum of movement and water spillage. You can get some sent over the next time you have flowers delivered Kitts Green.
    After foam is cut to fit a container, it needs to be steeped in water until it is thoroughly saturated. Remember to top it up with water regularly once it is in position.
    Sticky tape
    Sticky tape can provide good support for fine foliage and is a practical support system when using glass containers. Simply cross a few pieces of household tape across the centre of the container and then toward the back.
    Decorative stones
    Pebbles, marbles and shells can all be used effectively to hold stems in glass containers or to conceal a pin holder or wire netting base.
    Mist sprayers
    To keep flowers fresh and crisp for a longer period, a fine spray of water from above helps. Plastic spray containers can be bought at most hardware stores or supermarkets. Alternatively, look for ornamental sprayers at gift shops and flower shops.

    Single and Double Sprays
    This informal tribute uses materials on  natural stems, which can be wired for support and control when necessary. The materials are arranged in a variety of bases, including moss foundations and, even more frequently, plastic spray trays. Foliage such as Tsuga pine or Abies grandis is used to create a good outline, and almost any combination of flowers might be used. Suggest this type of design to the customer who wishes to send a tribute as a token of sympathy, perhaps for a neighbour or a distant relative. These are perhaps my favourite of all the funeral tributes because it gives the florist a chance to use flowers Withington that are just beautiful.

    Tubs and hanging baskets
    From pots at ground level to hanging baskets: these are becoming very popular. Anything raised above eye level is effective and petunias are one of the best subjects for a hanging basket as they flower all summer and show off so much better in a basket than they do in a border in the garden.
    I think the mixed basket is probably the most popular. The trailing varieties of lobelia (or other flowers Century City) are ideal and it is worth remembering how important blue is in a mixed planting. The lobelia ‘Blue Cascade’ is a lovely Cambridge blue and I can thoroughly recommend it. Another good trailer is the ivy-leaved geranium and for a wide range of colour there are the petunias.

    Designs suitable for hospitals
    Hospital staff are very busy people, and by sending gift-wrapped flowers in cellophane you will increase their workload, as they will have to arrange the flowers. It is far more practical to send a hand tied bunch, which only needs to be placed in a vase of water.
    If an arrangement is to be sent, it is sensible to use a container large enough to hold a good quantity of water, so that staff are not having to top it up all the time. In any case, flowers transpire more and therefore use up far more water when in warm conditions than they do when the surroundings are cool. A good florist Kelvinside will always keep this in mind when arranging to send flowers to a hospital. The hospital staff will certainly thank you for it!

    My dearest flower series - Fritillaria
    Leaping from the earth in spring, unmarred by frosty weather, the 2½- to 4-foot stems of the crown imperial are topped by a crest of leaves beneath which hang great clusters of 2-inch reddish orange, bronze, red or yellow flowers. Because the flowers' odor is musky and the lily like leaves die down in early summer, crown imperial is best planted in perennial or shrub borders where neither its scent nor its fading foliage will be objectionable. The only other species that is widely available from a florist Bootle is the spring-blooming F. meleagris. It grows about 12 inches tall with drooping bell-shaped 1½-inch flowers checkered purple and white; F. meleagris alba is pure white. Both make good borders or random plantings in rough grass.
    There are many species of fritillaria native to western North America, but these usually do not succeed elsewhere. Among them are F. lanceolata, which grows 1 to 2 feet tall and has yellow-mottled dark purple 1-inch flowers; F. pluriflora, which grows 6 to 12 inches tall and has pinkish purple 1-inch flowers; F. pudica, which grows 6 to 9 inches tall and has purple-tinged yellow 1-inch flowers; and F. recurva, which grows 24 to 30 inches tall and has yellow-checkered scarlet 1-inch flowers. All bloom in spring.


    Symmetrical Arrangements
    The symmetrical arrangement is a highly versatile design that is made in all sizes and for a wide variety of occasions. Part of its almost universal popularity is due to its very elegant appearance, which gives it tremendous appeal. Prepare the container and start the design with the long foliage stems. This will provide the outline for the design, and give protection to the flowers. The minimum height of the design is one and a half times the height (or width if it is long rather than tall) of the container. Often, the foliage is longer than the minimum, as this adds to the elegance of the design.
    The width of the design is classically two- thirds of the height, and the depth at the front of the container is a third of the height. It must be remembered that these calculations are approximate, and the size of a design will ultimately be determined by the requirements of the customer, or the position that the design will fill. Bear in mind the size of the arrangement when organising to have the flowers delivered St Fagans and ensure that sufficient van space is available.

    My dearest flower series - Galanthus
    Snowdrops are among the first flowers to open in spring and can also be grown indoors for midwinter bloom. Each translucent blossom is composed of three green-tipped inner petals and three longer, all-white outer petals; the slender leaves grow 3 to 8 inches long and wither away in late spring. Snowdrops grow particularly well beneath deciduous trees and are well suited to random planting amidst rough grass. The only species usually available from a Midland Beach flower shop are the giant snowdrop, 6 to 9 inches tall, and the common snowdrop, 4 to 6 inches tall; both have 1-inch flowers. The latter has several varieties; two merit special note: G. nivalis 'S. Arnott,' which grows 6 to 10 inches tall with sweetly scented flowers, is considered the finest variety. Another notable variety is G. nivalis flore pleno, which grows 4 to 6 inches tall with many-petaled globe-shaped flowers.

    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 The Florist Fact Factory for more great information. Say hi from us as you browse through their mountain of flower and florist tips.

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

  • Ask your florist for forgiveness

    My Favourite Flowers - Acrolinium
    A wild flower which grows in droves of pink and white in Western Australia and is grown in Britain as an annual. Its daisy-like, starry blooms are used as dried flowers. A regular addition when I have flowers delivered Altona Meadows these days.
    Cultivation
    Sow direct in open ground in April or under glass in March to be pricked out in May. They are grown mainly for drying, and as they are not decorative in the garden, they are best planted in a cutting area. In wet weather they look miserable as they are by natitre sunlovers, and only open well in the warmth of the sun.
    Conditioning and drying
    Cut when flowers are mature and fully open, and tie in small bunches. Try not to overcrowd them as the flowers get damaged easily. When really dry, store in a box in a dry place to avoid loss of colour.
    Arranging
    These pretty little pink and white flowers are at their best added to other small dried flowers and used for little arrangements which will keep their colour well and be a lasting bright spot all winter. Some stems of dried grey artemisia and a few grasses add greatly to the light effect for these small groups.

    Silica Gel Desiccant
    Desiccants are powdery materi­als that absorb moisture. For many centuries, certain household products such as borax, cornmeal and sand were used effectively as desiccants. These products all act in much the same way: They draw out the moisture from the petals while leaving the flower intact. Unfor­tunately, they take a very long time to dry, and the result is faded and lifeless blossoms. In recent years, silica gel, which is sold under several different trade names, has been devel­oped for flower drying. Al­though the name silica gel makes me think of a gelatin-­style substance, it is actually granular. It is quite similar to fine sugar in texture. It dries flowers quickly and leaves them with their natural vibrant colors and attractive shape. Sil­ica gel is the best method to use when drying flowers that are too delicate or large to air-­dry. One of the disadvantages of using silica gel is its initial expense, as you will discover when visiting your florist Kelburn. However, you can ef­fectively reactivate it after several uses by heating it in a low oven to remove the moisture it has absorbed from the flowers.

    Using boiling water on flowers
    This is a good method to encourage difficult plants to take up water. First remove the lower foliage; protect the flower heads with cellophane or paper and cut the stem ends, making a slanted cut using a sharp knife.
    Immediately plunge the stem ends into boiling water, 2.5cm deep. Keep them there for one minute, and then top up the water with tepid water to which a flower food has been added. The boiling water should remove any air in the stem, making it easier for water to be taken up. This technique also has the advantage that only a minimal amount of bacteria will be left alive to grow on the stem ends.
    This is a useful method for hard, woody stems, such as lilac, prunus, and other tree and shrub materials. It can also be used for wilted flowers Pine Grove — roses, for example — and for those stems of the Euphorbia family that contain a milky sap called latex.

    Everlastings
    When I first started drying flowers, a florist Chiswick told me to grow only everlasting annuals in a cutting garden. Everlastings are flowers that, when dry, naturally retain their color and shape for many years. I gave no thought to the design or color of the garden when planting them because they were only grown to be harvested and used in dried arrangements and crafts. Many of these everlastings were beautiful and worthy of a better home (perhaps in one of the more formal perennial or annual display gardens, tubs, pots or window boxes), but I grew them in tidy rows until they were harvested for dried arrangements. Today I look at the same flowers in a very different way. Not only do I use them throughout the garden, but I have come to appreciate their true value as sturdy, long-blooming and highly decorative flowers. Now I love to use them in containers and window boxes, where they can grow until the arrival of a killing frost. These easy-going flowers can also withstand the heat and dryness of such confined spaces.

    Which way to turn for wedding flowers?
    When it comes to ordering flowers for your wedding, where do you begin? You can go from florist to florist scheduling consultations, or you can shop online for silk wedding flower packages that will cover all of your needs. Just turn on your laptop in the comfort of your living room or at a coffee shop with WIFI connection and you'll be on your way to planning the floral wedding of your dreams!
    Silk wedding flowers are not only beautiful, but they're also practical. With silk flowers there isn't any worrying about whether or not the wedding bouquets will hold up in the heat or freeze in the cold. There are more colors and hues available than with fresh flowers and the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres are more durable than their fresh counterparts. If a silk bridal bouquet is dropped, it can easily be prepared if a bloom falls off or a stem gets bent. That's certainly not the case with fresh floral arrangements.
    There isn't a better choice for the sentimental bride either. While you can preserve your fresh bridal bouquet, it's not going to look as good as your beautiful silk wedding bouquet ten or twenty years from now. You certainly can't pass your fresh bouquet on to your daughter for her wedding like you can your silk bridal bouquet.
    Depending on the age of your flower girl, you may want to consider having a silk flower girl basket, no matter what. Children can be careless at times and you wouldn't want the flower arrangement that she's carrying to end up dropped and ruined.
    If allergies are a problem with anyone in the wedding party, silk wedding flowers delivered Catbrain are the answer. There are many different silk wedding flower packages available online. Take the time to check them out before meeting with a local florist. You may be surprised at how much money you will save going with a silk wedding flower set.

    Planting the Bulbs
    For all spring-flowering bulbs, the sooner you plant in fall, the bet­ter. For one thing, the weather is more pleasant then; dedicated though I am to gardening, I would much rather work outdoors on a sunny September day than on a chilly November one. More important, the more time the bulbs have to put out their roots before the ground freezes, the stronger they will be. The only bulbs I would risk planting late in the fall are tulips, but even they benefit from being set in the ground as early in the fall as you can obtain them from your nurseryman or Sparkbrook flower shop. They will be much better off in the soil where they belong than lying on a shelf in a box. In warm climates tulips, except for the species tulips in the West and Southwest, should be treated as one-season bulbs to be planted late in the fall and discarded after the spring blossoms have appeared. In Zones 8-10 bulbs of large-flowered garden varieties should be refrigerated at 40° to 45° until late November or December, simulating the rest period that prepares them for bloom, then planted 6 to 8 inches deep so the bulbs can be as cool as possible.

    Dining in the pink
    Most festive occasions centre round a meal. And, be it intimate or grand, nothing establishes the tone of that meal more effectively than the table setting. Here, a summery, romantic scheme takes as its basis every shade of pink, from creamy, blush-tinged roses to candy-floss- coloured peonies and fuchsia dendrobium orchids. The overall effect is one of lush extravagance, but it can been achieved with only three or four stems of each type of flower. A large goldfish bowl can make a dramatic centre piece, but this spectacular effect takes only minutes to create, while the flower heads in glasses at each place setting are similarly swift to put together. All of this can be arranged at the time of getting the flowers delivered Grangetown and need not be a stressful event.

    A Modern Handtied Design
    For many years, assistants in flower shops in Europe have held flowers in the hand as the customer chose them, and then tied them together with twine, to produce
    a carefully organized bunch, ready to be placed straight in a vase.
    Most designs are very modern in shape, and demands flowers that have a great deal of impact, plus inbuilt space, to show them off. Gerberas are ideal for this purpose, but must sometimes be support wired, allowing the stems to be bent without damage. Liatris, with their strong straight stems, are excellent for providing height.
    Large leaves look good, but again it is advisable for the florist Princes Park to wire them so that they can be positioned horizontally. Bear grass softens the outline of a design.

    Flowers for Drying
    Many of the flowers I thought were too diffi­cult for a novice to dry are now my favorites. Rosebuds, which are so expensive to purchase from Lorenzo florists dried, can be easily air-dried from your own rosebushes. Cut the roses in the bud stage and hang them to air-dry. What could be easier? Peonies can be dried in the same way. They will fade in color and shrink a bit in size but you will still be delighted with their crêpe paper appearance. Every garden holds its own pleasant surprises. If you garden at all, you al­ready have many wonderful flowers for drying. Many common perennials are easy to dry. Some herbs have tiny flowers that dry easily, while others provide the beauty of their aromatic fo­liage. For a bonus, tuck these fragrant herbs into your dried bouquets and arrangements.

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

Monday, 09 November 2009

  • You can't lick a good bunch of flowers

    Florists need to embrace new techniques
    Now, more than ever before, it is necessary to be aware of, and ready to accept new technology, which is changing the traditional working practices within the florist’s shop. Traditional wiring methods and construction techniques are being superseded by glue products and their various applicators. Nevertheless, it is essential for the trained florist to be able to use the traditional methods as they still have their uses on occasion, and form part of the basic repertoire of florist skills.
    For those who wish to pursue a career in the floristry industry, the confidence gained from a sound foundation in the basic skills cannot be overstated. From basic training come the standards and techniques that will last throughout your career in this wonderful industry. Floristry is more than just organising to have flowers delivered Chester Park, it's a whole career path.

    Flowers for dad
    Moms are so much easier when it comes to Mother's Day. Just invite the whole family over for a 5 course meal, do all the cooking and all the cleaning and let her sit back and enjoy the company without having to do any of the hosting or cooking or cleaning work. If you want, you can easily make her day with a visit to a luxurious spa. You can easily find something or someplace to pamper her and make her feel like a queen.
    Fathers can be relatively easy to find gifts for. If your dad is a techno-geek, an outdoorsman, a sports fanatic, or a home theater nut, there are countless gift ideas readily available at your nearest shopping mall. Just get him a car for his train set, a new computer gadget, a couple of tickets to the game, or the latest DVD. You can also plunk yourself down in front of your computer and find several gifts for him on the Internet. Even so, do any of these really show our fathers that we appreciate them?
    Fear not, for there are always alternatives to everything. Likewise, you can easily find other great gift ideas for your father, like plants and flowers. Not something that one usually associates with Father's Day, right? How many people give flowers and plants to their dads on Father's Day, or for any other special occasion, for that matter? But maybe for that reason, a flower delivery Cheam would be an ideal gift for that Dad who has everything else.
    Believe it or not, there are masculine plants and flowers that can symbolize the very things that we've decided are paternal qualities. You want an example? Take the sunflower for example--big and strong, its bright face like a shining symbol of hope in a dark place. Violets are great as well. Violets have long been associated with fidelity and trust as well as with sacrifice and devotion. Now those are gifts that any father would like.

    View your garden with a fresh mind
    Whether your garden is one you have created yourself or one you have taken over, it is a good idea occasionally to ask someone else to look at it with a fresh eye. A great friend who is an excellent gardener came to help me once, and every now and then would say something like ‘Why do you keep that old rose when it never really does anything?’ How right she was, but somehow I had never thought of getting rid of it and replacing it with a more attractive plant. This can often happen and is just one way in which you can improve your garden.
    My initial goal for the garden was to cut down on the number of flower delivery Hadfield I was spending my money on. After a couple of years, and lots of hard work, my garden was producing the most beautiful flowers imaginable.

    Topiary Materials
    In the original garden topiary, fresh box was sculptured into geometric shapes and lifelike animal forms. These days, the florist has an endless supply of fresh and dried materials from which to choose. Styles can be very imaginative, with one, two or three placements. Forms vary from cones and spheres to free-style groups. Natural support stems range from a single piece of wood, such as birch, to several pieces of wood grouped together, or stems of willow used in a twisted effect. For an impressive tree, a large multi-stemmed branch will provide an interesting structure and give imposing height.
    Special designs
    Sculptured trees of dried and preserved materials can be individually designed for specialist clothes, furniture, shoe/handbag, kitchen utensil and food shops (to name but a few), as well as for offices, leisure centres and beauty or hairdressing salons.
    Such designs might be suggested as an alternative contract arrangement to complement the core business of having flowers delivered Woodside. Hotel corridors and bedrooms are perfect settings for topiary trees, as are private homes.

    Do men like flowers?

    Sending flowers to men has been something of a no go area for many years. Men do enjoy flowers as much as women but they're often just too pig headed to admit to it. Sending flowers as a bright and unique gift to a man is an excellent way to express your feelings. Even sending roses to men is an acceptable way to say I love you. Men will be impressed by your originality and acceptance of his feminine side. Your Gorton florist can also provide other gifts such as balloons, gift baskets, and plants and even beer selections. All of these gifts can be delivered online to your man's home or office. Imagine his surprise at seeing a florist turn up at his office with a beautiful bouquet and romantic message card.

    Adding Texture to a Wreath
    To add to the textures in the wreath, Viburnum tinus, a very versatile evergreen foliage, was used to fill in any small spaces. The rosettes of dark green foliage and the tiny bronze buds and white flowers add another dimension to this open wreath. The combination of bold and warm oranges and reds make this a suitable colouring for a cold, and perhaps bleak, winter service.
    Flowers delivered Arts District are a comfort and act as a focus at funerals, when conversation can become difficult. Funeral directors are in a unique position to observe the effect of flowers at funerals, and many agree that the bereaved mention flowers as a comforting aspect of the funeral.
    Companies sending flowers to a funeral service as a mark of respect will invariably choose a wreath as the traditional and more formal way of expressing sympathy.

    Flower Containers
    Glass
    Glass containers vary widely and range from beautifully designed vases to decanters, goblets, fish bowls and medicine or chemistry bottles. Look for shapes which offer a firm, heavy base and if they are wide-necked, allow room to conceal netting under the flowers.
    A glass specimen vase can be the ideal container to display a single bloom. Choose one with a firm, solid base which is not too tall, as they can easily topple over. A brandy balloon can be ideal for a bunch of tiny blooms like violets. Tied lightly together and placed in the centre of the glass they will look very pretty and will last longer than usual in the moist atmosphere created by the balloon shape.
    Glass must be kept clean and polished. Scrub containers well after use with soapy water, as a spotless vase will reduce the problem of wilting. Water- marks can occur and should be removed regularly otherwise they could become permanent. A piece of lemon dipped in salt will help to remove stains. Get some advice from your reseller the next time you have flowers delivered West Hollywood.
    Ceramics
    From art deco to modem or antique, or from fine porcelain to slab pottery the variety is endless. Ceramics are usually easy to use and weighty enough not to topple over once an arrangement is in place. They offer the advantage that no stems can be seen and they obscure wire, foam or any other fixatives from view.
    Simple shapes and plain colours are however much easier to work with than vases with patterns or a mix of bright lollipop colours. If you only have room for a few vases, stick to simple shapes and plain shades such as off-white, grey, green and pewter.
    If you are fortunate enough to have some lovely antique vases with flowers and other decoration painted on them, use simple arrangements that pick up the colours on the vase and either harmonise or contrast boldly with the pattern.


    Preserving Flowers
    Some general points for the care of cut flowers should be kept in mind:

    • Always use containers that have been thoroughly cleaned before use.
    • Always use clean water.
    • Put material into water as soon as possible after cutting and leave it overnight in a cool place before arranging.
    • Any material that has wilted should initially be soaked in warm water.
    • Cut all stems on an angle so that if they slip to the bottom of a container they do not sit flat on the base where dirt can the prevent the intake of moisture.
    • Remove broken stems or leaves and thin out unwanted shoots as soon as you have flowers delivered Dimmitt.
    • Remove all foliage which will be below the water line.
    • Spray the air over the material with a fine mist of water to charge it with moisture.
    • Never attempt to open flowers with your fingers or by any other device.
    • Do not place flowers in direct heat or in direct sunlight.
    • Keep flowers out of direct draughts.

    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 Civic Center 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.

    Need more?
    This information is brought to you by the Flower Baron. Another great resource for flower and florist information is Flower Power.

Monday, 02 November 2009

  • Flowers can heal the heart

    A Deceptive Blue Rose
    Despite the great assortment of colors among roses (which include everything from the palest white to a purplish red so dark it appears almost black) there are some hues that have never been grown. Blue, for example, is missing from the rose spectrum (although there are lavender and purple roses).
    The quest for a blue rose has long intrigued (and frustrated) Parklands florists and rose gardeners alike. In 1955, just such a plant was advertised by an enterprising con man in St. Louis, Missouri. But thousands of buyers soon learned to their dismay that his so-called blue rose was merely a red variety whose blooms took on a bluish cast only as they died; the charlatan was eventually jailed for using the mails to defraud. Honest efforts to develop a truly blue rose have not been successful to date.

    Miniature Roses
    At the opposite end of the scale from the tall shrub roses are the low-growing miniature roses, which are especially popular as edgings for beds and borders, as accent plants in small rock gardens and as house plants. There are more than 200 varieties of minia­tures, ranging in height from 4 to 18 inches, with the average about 1 foot. Exceptions are a few miniature climbing roses that sprawl along the ground, if not sup­ported, to a distance of 5 feet. It is even possible to buy miniature tree roses that stand 10 to 14 inches high. Most miniatures bloom continuously from spring to frost, producing clusters of ½- to 2-inch blossoms in a complete range of rose colors (white through pink, red, yellow, orange and purple) with petals that num­ber five through 70, depending on the variety. In full bloom the flowers Waitara of most varieties open widely; most have little or no fragrance. Despite their small size and delicate appearance, miniatures are hardy enough to survive winters in mild climates without protection.

    Swags and Garlands
    Swags and garlands are wonderful additions to any decor. Drape them over a dresser or down the length of a dining table, or hang them over a mantel, mirror, doorway, entrance or headboard. Start by measuring the area where the swag will hang. Remember to keep swags of dried material well away from fire or extreme heat where they may be a fire hazard. Use a sturdy base constructed of wire, heavy woven jute or a Styrofoam form. Wire together two lush branches cut to size for a natural-looking swag base. Attached at the middle, they naturally provide small twig shapes that will serve as bases for the dried flowers to be wired or glued onto. The winter holidays are a perfect time to use evergreen roping for your base. It is sold at a Dudley flower shop by the yard.
    Wire several dried flowers together to form bouquets. It is best to make all of the small bouquets out of the same flowers. Lay the individual bou­quets along the swag base and secure each with a piece of wire long enough to be twisted along the entire length of the swag. If you like, ribbons or bows can be incorporated into swags as you go. Swags can be made to celebrate each season: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

    Achillea (yarrow)
    Flat-topped flower clusters grown above green or gray-green fernlike foliage. Long-lasting when cut, the flowers also dry and ship well if you are having the flowers delivered Denton to a distant area.
    Selected species and varieties: A filipendulina (fern leaf yarrow)-yellow flower clusters up to 5 inches across; 'Gold Plate', 6-inch yellow flower heads on 4 ½ -foot stems. A 'Coronation Gold', a hybrid with 3-inch deep yellow flower clusters on 3-foot stems. A. x lewisii 'King Edward' -small yellow flowers on 4-inch stalks. A millefolium (common yarrow) - 2-inch white flowers with cultivars in shades from pink to red; 'Red Beauty" has broad crimson flower clusters.
    Growing conditions and maintenance: Plant taller species 2 feet apart, dwarfs 1 foot apart. Propagate by division every 2 to 4 years in spring or fall or from midsummer stem cuttings.

    Bridesmaid’s Posy
    The bridesmaids’ flowers should never overshadow those of the bride, so the design should be smaller in size than the bride’s bouquet. The colours are normally chosen to match the dresses of the bride and bridesmaids, and the bridesmaids will often carry more brightly coloured flowers than those in the bridal bouquet.
    The posy has always been a popular design, partly because the size can be altered to suit the age and height of each bridesmaid. Until recent years, the posy would have been wired, but with the development of foam posy holders, the process has been simplified.
    Certain flowers have always been popular for wedding designs; these include roses, spray carnations, freesias and Singapore orchids. The wax flowers Harvard Heights, which are relatively new to floristry work, is also ideal, as it is both dainty and long lasting.

    England's National Flower
    No nation is more closely associated with the rose than England. Her great civil war, the 15th Century War of the Roses, got its name from the insignia of the ri­val families: the red rose of Lancaster, the white rose of York. After the war, which raged for 30 years, Lancaster's Henry VII married a York princess and had flowers delivered Blochairn, which united the families in a new Tudor dy­nasty. It was under the Tudors that the rose officially became England's national flower. The royal emblem was the Tu­dor rose, whose red and white petals symbolize the two reconciled houses.

    The Unique Lily
    Symbol of purity, perfection, and flawless beauty, striking in its variety of form, color, fragrance, and seasons of flowering, the lily is unique among all cultivated plants.  In its almost endless variation it is rivaled only by the orchid.  In its ease of culture, its endurance and vitality, it must be compared to the daffodil, the tulip, and the iris.  All over America, all over Europe, in gardens new and old, in a Eastham flower shop, lilies are flowering, year after year, with little or no care.  Who has not seen clumps of fine lilies- perhaps of the old Tiger Lily, the Candlestick Lily, or of the pure white Madonna Lily- in old farm gardens where they must have been at home for many years?  Who among us has not driven along the highways of our country to be startled and arrested by the sight of some glowing yellow or orange flowers, lilies, shaped like toy balloons, like temple bells, swaying in the wind?  Here they grow among grasses and low shrubs, under trees, in sunshine and shade.  Here they live and multiply.

    Keep your cool
    A good Ely florist will help flowers to achieve their maximum vase life. Sensible use of a chiller unit at night, at weekends, and during conditioning will help to slow the development of many cut materials.
    Traditionally, florists’ shops were situated on the shady side of the street, and they always had cool interiors, perhaps with a cold, dark cellar in which to store flowers. The reasons were not always fully understood, and it is worth explaining them in detail.
    The production of ethylene, the ageing hormone, is slowed at low temperatures. Good air circulation, to prevent concentrations of gas, combined with pre-treatments and flower foods, lessens the problems of ethylene considerably. Ethylene filters, a new product, can be fitted in a chiller to ‘clean’ the air.
    The low temperature and high humidity — 85-95 per cent is recommended — will help to reduce transpiration. A humidity gauge or hydrometer in the flower cooler will enable regular measurements to be taken. Air circulation is important, as mentioned above, but a slow speed of chilled air is desirable if water loss is to be kept low. The stomata, from which the water is lost, close in darkness, which further reduces the rate of transpiration.
    The growth of bacteria is also slowed by low temperatures. Bacteria can contaminate the water and impede the water supply to the flower head.

    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 Koreatown 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.

    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.

Sunday, 25 October 2009

  • Top florist tips for you

    Choose your container
    Terracotta
    The variety of terracotta containers available on the market has grown rapidly in the last few years. Flower pots, troughs and urns make unusual and charming vases for cottage flower arrangements. A waterproof container needs to be used in the receptacle or florist’s foam soaked in water and wrapped in plastic material. For the outside dining area or conservatory nothing can be more pleasing than terracotta to offset a simple one-colour arrangement.
    Plastic
    Many people hate plastic containers with fresh flowers but for some occasions they can be ideal - ask your local Mambourin florist for their advice on this. They are cheap and practical and come in every colour of the rainbow. Off-white and earth colours will be the least distracting. Bright colours would look cheerful on the table for a children’s party with a simple bunch of daisies or bright- coloured poppies.
    Wooden containers
    The natural patterns and tones of wood can provide an effective backdrop for a cottage-style arrangement. Wooden bowls, boxes, barrels and tubs can all be useful containers. A waterproof lining is however necessary.

    Slowing down flowering
    There are times during the seasons when it may be advantageous for a florist to ‘hold’ the development of a flower, perhaps to even out a glut of flowers, or before a peak sales period. Tulips, gladioli and peonies are especially suited to the following method.
    It is essential to use flowers that are in good condition, showing no signs of mould or fungal diseases, so a thorough inspection is recommended. If the cut flowers are flaccid, they will need a drink to regain firmness before storage. Excess foliage is removed and bunches can be re-wrapped in paper. Shake off surplus water. Cellophane should not be used, as it can induce moulds. Once wrapped bunches are carefully packed into boxes.
    Placed in the cold store, or in a cold dark cellar, the flowers can be kept for five to seven days, and conditioned in the normal way when required prior to the flower delivery Hokitika.

    Many Blooms
    Polyantha roses are low, very hardy plants that con­tinuously produce large clusters of small blooms and survive winters unprotected in cold climates. Indeed, "many blooms" is what the Greek word polyantha means. The blossoms are small, rarely exceeding 2 inches in diameter, and the plants are generally 2 feet or less in height, which makes them ideal for massing in beds and for use as low hedges. They are also widely grown by Mendocino City florists as house plants for Easter and Mother's Day, after which they may be set out in the garden. More than most roses, pol­yanthas bloom profusely not only on old canes but also on new canes that spring from or close to the ground. This tendency of polyanthas to have a num­ber of canes and stems at different stages of maturity at the same time ensures a steady supply of flowers week after week.

    Love these flowers series - Bessera (coral drops)
    Coral drops are admired for their clusters of drooping bell-shaped, 1-inch flowers, which bloom over a period of two months beginning in midsummer. The orange-red blossoms have white centers and white lines on the petals that contrast with the long, purple pollen-bearing stamens. The flowers appear in clusters of 10 to 20 atop 2- to 3-foot stems; sometimes as many as 10 stems rise from a single corm. The foliage is sparse, each corm sending out only two or three narrow leaves, 1 to 2 feet long, which usually flop on the ground. The plants are attractive when set in groups of a dozen or more in flower borders and when naturalized in open wooded areas or unmowed grass. The flowers Merton are excellent for cutting.

    Garlands
    Flowering vines and garlands offer more creative opportunities. Available in 3’-9’ lengths, they include coordinating varieties of flowers Eastville, leaves, twigs, pine or fir sprigs. Because the floral materials are spaced evenly along the length of the garland, they can be added to most bases, creating a wonderful background for additional materials. To add materials to a garland, dip the stems into glue and insert them among the garland sprigs, making sure they attach to the main stem.
    Pine or fir garlands are usually found in 9’ lengths and are extremely versatile holiday decorations. Materials can be added to the plain garland, creating a full and rich look. A garland can also be cut into shorter lengths and wired to other bases such as baskets or wreaths. Spread the individual sprigs apart and cut through the heavy binding wires; twist the cut wire ends together to secure the end sprigs. If matching pine stems are needed, but none are available, cut sprig sections from a pine garland and wire each to a long wood pick.

    Silica Drying Time
    Flowers will dry very quickly in silica, and knowing just how long to leave the individual flowers in the silica gel is dif­ficult. Each flower you pick re­tains a different amount of water; it is impossible to know an exact drying time in advance. Most flowers will dry in three to four days, but it is im­portant to check often. You might find it helpful to mark the date on the outside of the container or box. The flowers will feel crisp to the touch when they are ready to be re­moved. If left in the gel too long, flowers become faded and drop their petals. To uncover the flower, slowly pour some of the gel out of the container. Then gently lift the flower from the gel and dust it off with a soft artist's brush (which can be purchased from many Coventry florists) to remove any additional powder.

    Choosing the plants
    In the garden you use the same technique as for flower arranging, grouping for contrast and allowing leaves to play a major part. When arranging a vase, the best way to avoid a spotty effect is to place together one or two flowers of the same colour. For example, an outline of twiggy flowering shrub such as forsythia, then some pieces of the green hellebore with delicate but solid heads, a centre focal point of two rounded heads of Petasites japonicus, or three or five yellow tulips with a few stems of straw-coloured hyacinth on either side. To find out what these flowers look like, it is a good idea to pay a quick visit to your City Centre florists shop.
    Exactly the same principles can be followed when you plan your border: in this case the forsythia and large-leaved petasites would be at the back, with the smaller plants in front providing different leaf forms and colour.

    A Prayer Book Spray
    A prayer book decorated with a spray of flowers can be carried either by the bride or by a bridesmaid. You need to see the book to assess the size of floral spray required. The completed design must look attractive without overpowering the prayer book. Ask the bride to bring the book into the shop prior to the wedding. Wrap, label and store it carefully, as the item is of great sentimental value to the bride. When organising the flower delivery Hyton ensure that the book spray is included, and packaged carefully to prevent damage. Use plenty of tissue paper to support this delicate arrangement.

    Fresh flowers and pot plants at Christmas
    A wide range of beautiful and dramatic pot plants, such as poinsettias and flowers that have been specially prepared to flower ahead of their natural season, is available at this time of year. These make lovely gifts for the Christmas hostess or decorations for the festive home.
    The florist is the best supplier of quality flowers and foliage plants that have been well conditioned and prepared for sale. The Christmas stock now includes a fascinating range of plants, flowers and foliage from all over the world ready and waiting to be a part of your next flower delivery Tahoka. For a stress free Christmas period, a florist must be well prepared.

    Need more?
    This information is brought to you by the Flower Baron. Another great resource for flower and florist information is The Enchanted Florist.

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