There is a lot more to your online florist than just flowers. Did you know your florist also has plants, balloons, chocolates, baby items, cards and toys? All of this is important to run a gift site successfully. These are everyday supplies for the business to have a great idea when you call in your order. The next time you order carnations to be delivered, you can request something original and fun to be added to that order of carnations.
One of the most popular items is a hot air balloon (gift-size not life-size) with the basket filled with a dozen roses and 365 chocolate kisses. This is a wonderful gift and a great way to say "here is a kiss for every day of the year". Some other ideas include sending a plant with a new baby toy and a nice card. Your online florist has cards for about any occasion so when you forget your best friend's birthday you can still come out on the good friend list by sending her flowers with a nice card and some chocolates or a candle and have the florist deliver it at her office so everyone can envy her. Most flowers can be delivered on the same day.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunflowers - Sunshine to Go
Sunflowers have been around almost as long as dirt. They are one of the four major crops of the United States. The other three are blueberry, cranberry, and pecan. Native Americans have used Sunflowers for food and medicines for at least 8,000 years. They usually took the sunflower seeds and crushed and roasted them and made them into a fine meal for baking.
Face paint came from the pollen and dried petals. The oil that was extracted from the seeds was used as a potion for everything under the sun including cooking and a hair conditioner. The seeds were also used for something that was similar to peanut butter.
Sunflowers have been brought to life in books and paintings. Van Gogh painting titled Sunflowers shows the sunflower has been around for many years. This painting was done in the 1800's. There are several different varieties of sunflower. There is the huge variety that you can not use for fresh flower arrangements and then there are the new dwarf varieties that make excellent garden and container plants. There is a third variety of sunflower and that is the pollen-less variety. This type of sunflower makes for terrific fresh cut flowers and can turn an everyday flower arrangement into a breath-taking bouquet. Although seeds are produced with these varieties they are not big enough to save. Bring a little sunshine into your home with a fresh sunflower arrangement.
Face paint came from the pollen and dried petals. The oil that was extracted from the seeds was used as a potion for everything under the sun including cooking and a hair conditioner. The seeds were also used for something that was similar to peanut butter.
Sunflowers have been brought to life in books and paintings. Van Gogh painting titled Sunflowers shows the sunflower has been around for many years. This painting was done in the 1800's. There are several different varieties of sunflower. There is the huge variety that you can not use for fresh flower arrangements and then there are the new dwarf varieties that make excellent garden and container plants. There is a third variety of sunflower and that is the pollen-less variety. This type of sunflower makes for terrific fresh cut flowers and can turn an everyday flower arrangement into a breath-taking bouquet. Although seeds are produced with these varieties they are not big enough to save. Bring a little sunshine into your home with a fresh sunflower arrangement.
The History and Uses of Soap Lilies
Soap lilies were used for many things. They were very important plants to the tribes of southern California. Lily bulbs were used for food, soap, glue, and poison. The lily bulbs contain starch and are a source of carbohydrates. Parts of the lily, like the leaves and stems, were eaten or used as a die in tattoos. Since the flowers of the lily are night flowers and have short lives, the lily is a great means of identification when inflorescences are not available during much of the year.
A point of interest is how they dug up the flower bulbs of soap lilies. The lily bulbs can be twenty centimeters deep and really tricky to dig out of tough, sandstone or decaying granite with just a regular shovel as your only tool. Taking into account all the uses created from this plant, the lily bulbs must have been dug up in mass. Maybe the Indians dug out the bulbs right after the rainy season in the spring when the ground was wet and pliable. The long slender foliage come out after the first autumn rains and stayed for several months. Lily bulbs could be found throughout much of the year even when the flower shoots were not there.
A point of interest is how they dug up the flower bulbs of soap lilies. The lily bulbs can be twenty centimeters deep and really tricky to dig out of tough, sandstone or decaying granite with just a regular shovel as your only tool. Taking into account all the uses created from this plant, the lily bulbs must have been dug up in mass. Maybe the Indians dug out the bulbs right after the rainy season in the spring when the ground was wet and pliable. The long slender foliage come out after the first autumn rains and stayed for several months. Lily bulbs could be found throughout much of the year even when the flower shoots were not there.
Fragrance and Flowers
The scent of your arrangement is as important as the color or form. Rose arrangements are the best way to make sure you are getting the most sent. Roses are the most scented flower. Although there are some roses that have little or no scent at all they can still be used with other types of roses that offer a wonderful array of fragrances. The early flowering roses are usually scentless but you can mix them with Lilies of the Valley and that should more than make up for it.
Some of the best aromatic roses are the Rosa Banksias that is from Italy and France. It has the scent of a violet. These roses come in a yellow cream color. Some of the best fragranced roses are the old roses like the Damasks and the hybrid musks or the sweet rugosas which is a china tea rose.
Most of the new hybrids are being produced with the looks of the old fashioned rose and have great flowers and superb scents. This is a great and wonderful change from several years of roses that were produced in the hybrid tea shapes which had no aroma at all.
Some of the greatest accent perfume flowers to use with the rose are irises and lilies and even the tobacco plant after it flowers. There is also the sweet pea that can scent the whole room on a small bunch.
Some of the best aromatic roses are the Rosa Banksias that is from Italy and France. It has the scent of a violet. These roses come in a yellow cream color. Some of the best fragranced roses are the old roses like the Damasks and the hybrid musks or the sweet rugosas which is a china tea rose.
Most of the new hybrids are being produced with the looks of the old fashioned rose and have great flowers and superb scents. This is a great and wonderful change from several years of roses that were produced in the hybrid tea shapes which had no aroma at all.
Some of the greatest accent perfume flowers to use with the rose are irises and lilies and even the tobacco plant after it flowers. There is also the sweet pea that can scent the whole room on a small bunch.
Freesias - The Fresh Flowers of Choice
Named after a German Doctor, Dr. Theodor Freese, Freesias are one of the most well-liked and most requested fresh flowers. Freesias are harvested specifically for fresh flower arrangements all over the world. In England alone, florists sell over 110 million of these wonderful and fragrant flowers every year. Over 50 percent of contributors in a study recently named Freesias as their favorite flowers. Freesias peak during the spring season; however these beautiful flowers are available all year long. Freesias originate from South Africa. They were first introduced to Europe during the late 1800s.
Freesias come in a wide variety of colors like yellow, red, pink and white. One of the most popular varieties is the ballerina freesia. The freesia is part of the Iridaceae genre which also includes irises. When you purchase them make sure they have at least one flower already in bloom on the stalk. Also make certain these fresh flowers have ample amounts of water and try not to let the ends of the stem dry out. Nip off the highest buds and eliminate the old flower blossoms to promote new flower heads to bloom. Freesias are very vulnerable to ethylene gas, so be sure to keep them far away from fruit, vegetables and excessively high temperatures which produce ethylene fumes. Contrary to almost all other flowers where the white varieties have the strongest scent, if you are looking for freesias' emitting the strongest fragrance then choose the flowers with the pink or red blossoms.
Almost unknown until the middle 1900s, freesias are now one of the most sought after flower to include in a fresh flower arrangement.
Freesias come in a wide variety of colors like yellow, red, pink and white. One of the most popular varieties is the ballerina freesia. The freesia is part of the Iridaceae genre which also includes irises. When you purchase them make sure they have at least one flower already in bloom on the stalk. Also make certain these fresh flowers have ample amounts of water and try not to let the ends of the stem dry out. Nip off the highest buds and eliminate the old flower blossoms to promote new flower heads to bloom. Freesias are very vulnerable to ethylene gas, so be sure to keep them far away from fruit, vegetables and excessively high temperatures which produce ethylene fumes. Contrary to almost all other flowers where the white varieties have the strongest scent, if you are looking for freesias' emitting the strongest fragrance then choose the flowers with the pink or red blossoms.
Almost unknown until the middle 1900s, freesias are now one of the most sought after flower to include in a fresh flower arrangement.
The Aster - The History and Healing Powers of the Aster Flower
European Asters were once called star worts. Aster is Latin for star which is referring to the flower's star like shape. The word wort means root and this was used for plants that were used for healing like the Aster. Asters were beaten with hog's grease and used for rabid or mad dog bites.
In 1637, the North American Asters were brought to Virginia. These were not popular until they were altered with the European Aster. These were later renamed the Michaelmas daisy because the Saint Michael's feast happened at the same time as the flower bloomed. There is also a more sensitive variety of the Aster and that is the Chinese Aster. This is only considered an Aster because of the star like flower.
There are over 120 species of the Aster in the United States alone. Most are located in the east where they grow wild in the fields in late summer and fall. Each star like flower is really a small cluster called a flower head. The center flowers are bright yellow and the outer flowers vary from blue and white to purple. Asters are characteristic flowers that you might find anywhere wildflowers grow such as open fields or along the side of a road. You are equally as likely to find the hearty aster growing in wooded areas, swamps, or along the seashore. The New York aster has flowers with a blue violet hue and slender, even leaves. The Heart-leaved Aster is named after its heart shaped leaves found at the foot of the stalk. This Aster flower has small lilac shaded blossoms
In 1637, the North American Asters were brought to Virginia. These were not popular until they were altered with the European Aster. These were later renamed the Michaelmas daisy because the Saint Michael's feast happened at the same time as the flower bloomed. There is also a more sensitive variety of the Aster and that is the Chinese Aster. This is only considered an Aster because of the star like flower.
There are over 120 species of the Aster in the United States alone. Most are located in the east where they grow wild in the fields in late summer and fall. Each star like flower is really a small cluster called a flower head. The center flowers are bright yellow and the outer flowers vary from blue and white to purple. Asters are characteristic flowers that you might find anywhere wildflowers grow such as open fields or along the side of a road. You are equally as likely to find the hearty aster growing in wooded areas, swamps, or along the seashore. The New York aster has flowers with a blue violet hue and slender, even leaves. The Heart-leaved Aster is named after its heart shaped leaves found at the foot of the stalk. This Aster flower has small lilac shaded blossoms
The Chrysanthemum
The Chrysanthemum creates brilliant flowers in almost every color except blue. The Chrysanthemum is the national flower of Japan and is a very hardy perennial though a bit more delicate as annuals. The major colors for the perennials are beautiful fall shades. This is very fitting because the Chrysanthemum flowers in the fall. The cut flower industry creates spray Chrysanthemums all year round. The spray type Chrysanthemums have many flower heads that look like pompoms, similar to the daisies. These Chrysanthemums come in colors that range from green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and white. Some varieties of Chrysanthemums, known as the spider has petals that are very fine and others have quelled petals. In the fall the larger flowered varieties are popular and can grow to over eight inches in diameter and are produced by disbudding stems. This leaves only the main top flowers to grow and expand.
The annual Chrysanthemums come from the Mediterranean countries and look more like a single daisy. These varieties come in vivid yellows, reds, pinks, and white. These varieties are called Leucanthemum. The larger flowering hardy perennials have been renamed the Dendranthemas. Chrysanthemums are a wonderful fresh flower for arrangements because they last such a long time even after being cut, especially the spray variety, which can last for up to two weeks as a cut flower.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
