Flower Facts

23/4/12

Flower Facts: 32,000 Year-Old Flower Has Rebloomed

Looks like global warming has some benefits, who knew? This great story from Treehugger tells all:

A team at the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia discovered – in a fossilized squirrel burrow in Siberia – remnants of the ice-age flowering plant Silene stenophylla. The plant had been buried at a depth of 38 meters in sediments with a temperature of −7°.

Radiocarbon dating of the plants seemed to show that an ancient squirrel stashed them around 31,800 years ago, just before ice rolled into the area near the Kolya river.

Scientists used growth hormone to coax silene stenophylla back to life and eventually, back to bloom. They are now, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences report ” the most ancient, viable, multicellular, living organisms.”

Thanks to global warming and steroids, we’ve breathed life into ancient history. Next on the “to do” list: dinosaurs.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

 

16/4/12

Flower Facts: New Flower is a Bit Excited to Meet You

Known for it’s relation to the stinkiest flower in the world, this phallic-shaped species recently discovered by botanist Greg Wahlert has been making heads turn and people gag since its discovery:

University of Utah botanist Greg Wahlert stands next to a new plant species he discovered – Amorphophallus perrieri — as it was starting to bloom on Feb. 2. A day later, the 4.5-foot-tall plant, began stinking like roadkill, just like its bigger and more famous, 20-foot-tall relative, Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the “corpse flower.”

Gross, but kind of cool, the Amorphophallus perrieri is probably not a plant you’ll see cropping up in any of your neighbours flower beds anytime soon, but it’s still quite an interesting bloom!

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

 

9/4/12

Flower Facts: Food and Flowers Freedom Act

"With freedom, flowers, books, and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?" ~ Oscar Wilde

From NaturalNews: Backyard flower farmer’s persistence leads to passage of ‘Food and Flowers Freedom Act’

A glitch in the local zoning code ended up causing Tara Kolla of Silver Lake, Calif., to have to abandon her passion for growing pesticide-free, “beyond organic” flowers in her backyard for several years. But the Los Angeles Times reports that, thanks to her hard work and persistence, Kolla was able to help pass the Food and Flowers Freedom Act, which has reinstated her and her neighbors’ freedom to grow whatever produce they choose and sell it off-site.

It all began when Kolla’s lawyer neighbor, who had reportedly had a previous run-in with her, filed a complaint with the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety about the fact that she had been growing flowers in her yard and selling them at farmers markets and other locations. Local zoning ordinances at the time only permitted backyard growers to plant vegetables for outside sale, not flowers or fruit, which meant Kolla was technically in violation of the provisions.

Kolla had originally purchased her Silver Lake property with the intention of growing clean, chemical-free flowers and selling them locally as a way to help earn her living. But this all ended at the peak of her 2009 harvest when the city ordered her to immediately cease selling the flowers. Consequently, she was forced to give away the flowers that had already been produced and stop cultivating the rest.

“I’ve come a long way, and it cost me much in the journey,” said Kolla to the Los Angeles Times. “Most people don’t realize that commercial flowers are covered in pesticides. There are many local farmers doing an amazing job of growing food organically but very few growing flowers.”

The city’s cease-and-desist order against Kolla was not enough to suppress her freedom, however. Over the next several years, Kolla’s friends and allies in the local community helped her form an alliance known as Urban Farming Advocates, which was able to get help from City Council member Eric Garcetti in crafting legislation that would expand the scope of backyard farming to include all sorts of things besides just vegetables.

“I authored the Food and Flowers Freedom Act to promote local growing by simply filling in a gap in our city laws, which addressed the growing of vegetables but not other items commonly sold at our local farmers markets,” said Garcetti. These other items include berries, flowers, fruits, grains, herbs, mushrooms, nuts, ornamental plants, and seedlings.

To learn more about Tara Kolla’s work, check out herSilver Lake Farmswebpage at: http://www.silverlakefarms.com/

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035360_flowers_freedom_backyard.html#ixzz1rYdHWNxC
Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

4/3/12

Flower Facts: Wedding Flower Info

Tis the season for weddings, and spring weddings usually incorporate lots of floral arrangements: the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, corsages for the parents and grandparents, and more! If you want fresh flowers at your wedding, you better check out these great tips from Tim Farrell first.

1)  Contract with a professional florist to do your wedding flowers. You really are doing yourself a favor when you hire a professional to bring the beauty of flowers to your special day. Don’t try to make it a DIY project. Think of all of the time and money you have invested in the day. Don’t cheat yourself to try to save a few bucks. Professional florists have seen what works and what doesn’t. Professional florists have the knowledge to order correctly, and time the opening of all the blooms so that they are just perfect on your wedding day. Professional florists will deliver and install the décor so that you don’t have to worry about any of that on your wedding day.

2) Go with a personal recommendation for your florist. Ask around. Most towns have certain florists that are the “go to” people for weddings. Preparing and designing perfect wedding flowers take quite a bit of dedication and commitment, so you will probably hear a few names mentioned over and over. Go with one of those recommendations, and leave nothing to chance. If you can’t find a recommendation, start with the Society of American Florists’ Florist Directory for florists in your area. Then visit them and ask to see their work. You’ll get a feel for the character and style of the shop and their work. Go with your gut.

3)       Book your florist early. Because wedding flowers are labor intensive and perishable, most florist shops are limited on the number of weddings they can handle on a particular date. Call as soon as you have the date, time and place for your wedding and reception and make arrangements to meet with your florist to lay the groundwork for your wedding flowers. If you already are confident on who you are using, leave a deposit ASAP to secure the date for you.

4)    Ask the pro for advice. While it is always good to do homework and get some kind of idea of what you would like for your wedding, it is advisable to ask your florist for suggestions to make your day even more beautiful. Use their expertise to your advantage. Your florist might have an idea to incorporate an unexpected color that harmonizes your color palette. Your florist might be able to suggest alternative flowers that achieve the same look on a more modest budget. Your florist will also be glad to suggest design styles and floral combinations that give you a unique “signature” look for your wedding.

5)    Choose some fragrant flowers. The human psyche closely associates flowers and fragrances. Just think of what you see most people do when they get up close to a few blossoms. Use that to your advantage and make sure to have your florist include a few fragrant blooms in all aspects of the wedding flowers. Lighter sweet fragrances like stephanotis, freesia and stock are perfect for corsages and bouquets. They all have pretty fragrances that are not at all overpowering. In large venues or ceremony locations, even a few stems of Oriental lilies can fill the air with a sweet perfume. Others like tuberoses, sweet peas and English Garden Roses bring the outdoors in and are truly a pleasure for the senses.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

27/3/12

Flower Facts: Top 10 Wedding Flowers

Before you make that appointment with your florist check out the top 10 most popular wedding flowers from The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers.

1. Roses:

Its the symbol of beauty and love. This affordable option is one of the most popular flowers for weddings. With over 3,000 varieties grown each year you can find roses in solid colors, bi-color varieties, striped, and tipped colors.

2. Tulips:

Tulips come in a variety of colors, and most of them are pretty affordable. They represent “consuming love” and “happy years,” so the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice.

3. Calla Lily:

Also known as the arum lily, it symbolizes “magnificent beauty” in the language of flowers. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve-pink, and dark purple.

4. Lily of the Valley:

Its fresh, perfumed scent from its tiny flowers is unmistakable. The lily of the valley is sometimes called “the ladder to heaven.” This option is expensive, but will compliment any arrangement. It also comes in a very rare, but beautiful rosy pink color.

5. Hydrangeas:

A stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets, and a few sprigs make a charming boutonniere.

6. Peonies:

Grown in single- and double-flower styles, this expensive bloom is seasonally available from late spring to early summer but can be imported in the fall. It has a large, full head, strong perfume, and bright color.

7. Ranunculus:

It means “I am dazzled by your charms.” Its a great cost-effective alternative to roses and peonies and is available in white, yellow, orange, and pink.

8. Stephanotis:

The Victorian meaning for this flower is “marital happiness.” A very traditional choice a bride can make its mildly scented, moderately priced, and available year-round.

9. Sweet Peas:

The sweet pea’s colors range from white to intense pinks and purples, and its scent can be strong and sweet. This old fashion favorite means, “lasting pleasure.”

10. Gardenia:

Be gentle this delicate flower with creamy ivory petals is expensive and can bruise easily. Its intoxicating scent will be a huge favorite at your wedding.

We love all of these special wedding bouquet flowers, which will you choose? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

Love the bouquets you saw in this post? Check out more beautiful bouquets on Special Moments Weddings!

22/3/12

Flower Facts: A New Rose

Check out the newest shade of beauty–the Black Bird Rose. FromFun Flower Facts:

One of the newest roses to be introduced is the Black Bird rose. It is actually a red rose tinted with blues and purples to give the petals a dark purple or black tint. Most tinted roses are a white or cream color with the tint either being absorbed up its stem to get a solid color tinted rose or each color injected into the stem which results in a rainbow colored rose.

Tinting any rose is an inexact science so no 2 tinted roses will look exactly alike; they are like snowflakes in that respect. Also, the amount of the tint which the rose takes up its stem to its petals is dependent on a number of things: the variety of rose, the weather conditions, the stage the rose was harvested, etc…

If the rose is tinted too soon, it can result in a rose which is commonly referred to as a “bullet”. A “bullet” is still beautiful and unusual but the petals will not open properly.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

16/3/12

Flower Facts: The Meanings of Flowers

Here’s the meanings of some popular flowers and plans from Rose Floral & Greenhouse:

An Anemome means Sincerity

A Carnation means Joy

A Crocus means Gladness

A Daffodil means Respect

A Daisy means Innocence

A Fern means Grace

A Freesia means Trust

Heather means Admiration

Huckleberry means Faith

An Iris means Promise

A Lilac means Beauty

A Lily means Devotion

A Mum means Hope

An Orchid means Thoughtfulness

A Pansy means Merriment

A Peony means Compassion

A Red Rose means Passion

A Rose means Love

Snapdragons mean Strength

A Solidago means Success

A Sunflower means Pride

A Tiger Lily means Prosperity

A Tulip means Luck

A Violet means Virtue

Wintergreens mean Harmony

Wisteria means Welcome

A Yellow Lily means Gratitude

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

8/3/12

Flower Facts: St. Patrick’s Day Tribute

Image from shadyshamrock.wordpress.com

St. Patty’s Day is right around the corner, so we decided to provide you with a few fun facts about this well-loved holiday compliments of National Geographic and a blurb from Flower Factor on how to turn shamrocks into a houseplant:

• The real St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was born in Britainaround A.D. 390 to an aristocratic Christian family with a townhouse, a country villa, and plenty of slaves.
• St. Patrick was captured by pirates and made a sheep herder in Ireland. He escaped and returned to Britain.
• After converting to Christianity and becoming a bishop, St. Patrick was told by a voice to return to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity.
• Patrick’s work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors. After he died on March 17, 461, Patrick was largely forgotten.
• According to St. Patrick’s Day lore, Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Christian holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• St. Patrick did not banish snakes from Ireland. There currently are no snakes in Ireland because the climate conditions are too harsh, making snake migration through Ireland improbable.
• Until the 1970s, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was a minor religious holiday. A priest would acknowledge the feast day, and families would celebrate with a big meal, but that was about it.
• The Chicago River was first turned green in 1962. The tradition started when parade organizer Steve Bailey, head of a plumbers’ union, noticed how a dye used to trace possible sources of river pollution had stained a colleague’s overalls a brilliant green (greenchicagoriver.com).
• On any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness, the famous Irish stout brand, are consumed around the world. But on St. Patrick’s Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints, said Beth Davies Ryan, global corporate-relations director of Guinness (2011).

Oxalis a.k.a Shamrocks

The oxalis is a little green plant better known as a shamrock. Shamrocks and oxalis plants are easily grown as houseplants, and later, you can plant them outside. They enjoy bright indirect sunlight and a thorough watering. You can tell if the soil is dry by either feeling the soil or by picking up the pot (if the pot is much lighter than it was when you watered it, then it’s dry). They don’t like it hot and stuffy, so keep them away from heat sources. Do not let them freeze. If you have them for more than a month, you can start a program of low-dose fertilizer in the water by following the directions on the package. When it is time to plant outside, you can transplant the cyclamen and oxalis into a shady location. If they’re properly cared for, your plant may reward you with some new delicate blooms.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

3/1/12

Flower Facts: 25 of em!

Looking for some flower facts? The Garden Channel and Flowerblog would like to present you 25 fun facts about flowers:

1.     Roses are related to apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and almonds.

2.     Tulip bulbs were more valuable than gold in Holland in the 1600s.

3.     Ancient civilizations burned aster leaves to ward off evil spirits.

4.     Tulip bulbs can be substituted for onions in a recipe.

5.     Chrysanthemums are associated with funerals in Malta and are considered unlucky.

6.     The very expensive spice, saffron, comes from a type of crocus flower.

7.     The largest flower in the world is the titan arums, which produce flowers 10 feet high and 3 feet wide. The flowers smell of decaying flesh and are also known as corpse flowers.

8.     Almost 60% of fresh-cut flowers grown in the U.S. come from California.

9.     Hundreds of years ago, when Vikings invaded Scotland, they were slowed by patches of wild thistle, allowing the Scots time to escape. Because of this, the wild thistle was named Scotland’s national flower.

10.  The lotus was considered a sacred flower by ancient Egyptians and was used in burial rituals. This flower blooms in rivers and damp wetlands, but may lie dormant for years during times of drought, only to rise again with the return of water. Egyptians viewed it as a symbol of resurrection and eternal life.

11.  Scientists discovered the world’s oldest flower in 2002, in northeast China. The flower, named Archaefructus sinensis bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembles a water lily.

12.  The juice from bluebell flowers was used historically to make glue.

13.  Foxglove is an old English name, derived from the belief that foxes slipped their feet into the leaves of the plant to sneak up on prey.

14.  Dandelions might seem like weeds, but the flowers and leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium. One cup of dandelion greens provides 7,000-13,000 I.U. of vitamin A.

15.  The flower buds of the marsh marigold are pickled as a substitute for capers.

16.  Sunflowers move throughout the day in response to the movement of the sun from east to west.

17.  Moon flowers bloom only at night, closing during the day.

18.  Flowering nicotiana is related to tobacco, from which cigarettes are made.

19.  Gas plants produce a clear gas on humid, warm nights. This gas is said to be ignitable with a lit match.

20.  When Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they subsisted on the roots of the Sego Lily Plant. This plant is the state flower of Utah.

21.  The cornstarch-like powder known as arrowroot is derived from the plant, Marantha arundinacea, and is native to India. It was used by indigenous people to draw out the toxins from a poisoned arrow wound. Today, it is used to thicken pies and jellies.

22.  Angelica was used in Europe for hundreds of years as a cure for everything from the bubonic plague to indigestion. It was thought to ward off evil spirits.

23.  Blue cohosh, also known as squaw root or papoose root, was used by Native American women to ensure an easy labor and childbirth.

24.  During the Middle Ages, lady’s mantle was thought to have magic healing properties.

25.  When Achilles was born, his mother dipped him head first in a bath of yarrow tea, believing it had protective qualities. Yarrow is still known for healing and was used during World War I to heal soldiers’ wounds.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

23/2/12

Flower Facts: Cut Flower Preserve Recipes

You just received a stunning flower arrangement like the Sunlit Treasures Bouquet from What a Bloom and you want to capture the beauty of these beautiful blooms forever, but how?

Simple! Here’s a couple different ways you can preserve your flower arrangement past the holiday season compliments of About.com:

You know if you put fresh cut flowers in water it will help keep them from wilting. If you have a packet of cut flower preservative from a florist or the store, it will help the flowers to stay fresh much longer. You can make cut flower preservative yourself, however. There are several good recipes, made using common household ingredients.

Keys to Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh

• Give them water.
• Give them food.
• Protect them from decay or infection.
• Keep them cool and out of direct sunlight.

The floral preservative provides flowers with water and food and contains a disinfectant to prevent bacteria from growing. Making sure your vase is clean will also help. Discard any decaying leaves or flowers, because the freshness of flowers is influenced by the gases and bacteria found on wilted or rotting plant material. Also, don’t set your flowers near ripe fruit, because the chemicals from the fruit (such as ethylene) will ‘ripen’ your flowers. If you can, keep your flowers in a cool location and out of sun. Minimize air circulation, since it speeds evaporation and can dehydrate your flowers. Trim the bottom ends of your flowers with a clean, sharp blade before arranging them in the vase containing the floral preservative. Cut the stems at an angle to increase the surface area for water and to prevent the ends from resting flat on the bottom of the container. In all cases, mix the floral preservative using warm water (100-110°F or 38-40°C) because it will move into the stems more effectively than cold water. Clean tap water will work, but if it is very high in salts or fluorides, consider using distilled water instead. Chlorine in tap water is fine, since it acts as a natural disinfectant.

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #1

• 2 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage (e.g., Sprite™ or 7-Up™)
• 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 2 cups warm water

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #2

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 1 quart warm water

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #3

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 1 quart warm water

More Tips

• Trim away any foliage which would be below the water line. The wet leaves encourage microbial growth that can rot your flowers.
• Remove any unnecessary leaves because they will accelerate dehydration of the flowers.
• Flowers with milky latex-containing sap require special treatment. Examples of these flowers include poinsettia, heliotrope, hollyhock, euphorbia, and poppy. The sap is meant to prevent water loss by the stem, but in a cut flower it keeps the plant from absorbing water. You can prevent this problem by dipping the bottom tips (~1/2 inch) of the stems in boiling water for about 30 seconds or by flashing the tips of the stems with a lighter or other flame.

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

6/2/12

Flower Facts: Zodiac Plants

We’ve told you what your Zodiac flower is, but did you know there are plants that accompany the Zodiac calendar as well? Check out what your plant is! Content compliments of Allen’s Flowers:

Aquarius: Primrose

Pisces: Cineraira

Aires: Calceolaria

Taurus: Hydrangea

Gemini: Geranium

Cancer: Gloxinia

Leo: Begonia

Virgo: Chrysanthemum

Libra: Cyclamen

Scorpio: African Violet

Sagittarius: Azalea

Capricorn: Poinsettia 

Love,

Your friends at Flowerblog

Image compliments of Flower Pic Spot

Image compliments of Tony Harrison Photography

Image compliments of Wikipedia