23/4/12
Flowers A to Z: W is for Wolfsbane
Need to get rid of an angsty teenage werewolf?
- From nesstalker.blogspot.com
Don’t we all. But you might be better off throwing him a T-bone steak, because this flower’s anti-werewolf capacities are about as fictitious as glittery vampires. Here’s some real facts about Wolfsbane from Wikipedia:
- From dipity.com
Wolfsbane (genus Aconitum) goes by many different names, such as: aconite, monkshood, wolf’s bane, leopard’s bane, women’s bane, Devil’s helmet or blue rocket.
- From hermionesgarden.blogspot.com
Wolfsbane is actually a member of the buttercup family. The name comes from ἀκόνιτον meaning without struggle. The Wolfsbane flowers symbolize chivalry, and say, “Beware, a deadly foe is near.”
- Aconitum ferox up close
Werewolves (and everyone else) have reason to fear Wolfsbane: it’s extremely poisonous. The roots of Aconitum ferox supply the Nepalese poison called bikh, bish, or nabee. It contains large quantities of the alkaloid pseudaconitine, which is deadly.
- The droop of the flower gives it the nickname, “Monkshood”
Wolfsbane’s noxious properties are notorious in historical literature: Shakespeare mentioned it in Henry IV, John Keats in his Ode on Melancholy, and in Greek mythology, Medea attempted to poison Theseus with a cup of wine poisoned with wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is even mentioned in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and in the TV series The Vampire Diaries.
Love,
16/4/12
Flowers A to Z: V is for Violet
- Australian native violet, or Viola banksii
We’ve already featured violets once before, but did you know that Pansies are a type of Violet and Violets aren’t just violet-coloured?Wikipedia says so! Read on to learn more about this versatile (and underrated) flower:
True Violets have been in cultivation by ancient Greeks sicne 500 BC or even earlier. Greeks and the Romans valued Violets for its herbal properties, made wine from them and sweetened food.
- The common dog violet, or Viola riviniana
Violet blooms can be consumed; in medicines they serve as a laxative, and the flowers are glazed for decoration in jellies and other food items. However it is strictly prohibited to take the plants internally in large quantities.
S.Kenney 2011 Lemon Squares with Candied Violets
The violet’s flower colours vary in the genus, ranging from violet, as their common name suggests, through various shades of blue, yellow, white, and cream, whilst some types are bicolored, often blue and yellow.
- Wild field pansy, or Viola arvensis
One quirk of some viola is the elusive scent of their flowers is a ketone compound called ionone, which temporarily desensitises the nasal receptors, thus preventing any further scent being detected from the flower until the nerves recover.
- Common African violet
Using the flowers in love potions, the Ancient Greeks believed the Violets symbolized fertility and love. By the way people wearing a garland of violets above the heads credited they ensured warding off headaches and woozy spells.
And now you know a ton about this common household plant!
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
9/4/12
Flowers A to Z: T is for Tulip
- From altiusdirectory.com
The tulip is one of the most popular spring flowers homeowners plant in their gardens or window boxes. You are probably familiar with this common springtime flower, but did you know in the 1600′s a single tulip bulb sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman in the Netherlands? Check out this brief history lesson on Tulip Mania from Wikipedia:
Tulip mania or tulipomania was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which prices for tulip bulbs reached extraordinarily high levels and then suddenly collapsed.
The tulip was introduced to Europe to the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand I, in 1554 as a gift from the Ottoman Empire. In 1593 tulip bulbs began to sweep the Dutch nation after local botanists determined the plant was hardy enough to tolerate their harsh weather conditions.
- Tulips used to get this “mosaic” look from the “Tulip breaking virus”, so called because it “breaks” the plant’s lock on a single color of petal.
The tulip had an intense colour never before seen in Medieval Europe, and having budding tulips on your property was soon used as a symbol of the Netherlands’ independence from Spain and a status symbol by traders and wealthy alike.
- Black tulips symbolize power and strength.
Different colours of the tulips fetched different prices, the most expensive being bulbs infected with a virus that caused a mosaic-type colour pattern. The most expensive tulip on the market was the Semper Augustus.
- The Semper Augustus tulip.
Tulip mania reached its peak during the winter of 1636-37, when some bulbs were reportedly changing hands ten times in a day. It is speculated Tulip Mania was both a product of and suffered from the Plague, causing a fatalistic risk-taking cultural movement that crashed when traders stopped showing up to market with their products.
- Rush of Colour Assorted Tulip Bouquet
For a flower that blooms for only 2 weeks out of the year, the Dutch invested a great deal of time, money and effort into the cultivation and market of these flower bulbs. We hope you enjoyed learning about this lovely flower and how it changed a country almost overnight, we sure did!
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
4/3/12
Flowers A to Z: S is for Snap Dragon
Though April’s flower starts with the letter “s,” we decided not to be slackers and post some fun info about this fun flower fromWikipedia:
- From annsnowchin.blogspot.com
Snapdragon Info: Antirrhinum is a genus of plants commonly known as snapdragons or dragon flower from the flowers’ fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed (thus the ‘snap’). The name literally means “like a nose” in ancient Greek and probably refers to the nose-like capsule in its mature state.
- From home.howstuffworks.com
Snapdragon Folklore: legend has it that concealing a snapdragon makes a person appear fascinating and cordial, and in the language of flowers, snapdragons are said to represent both deception (perhaps tied to the notion of concealment) and graciousness.
- From plantcare.com
Snapdragon Care: snapdragons are perennial plants that do best in full or partial sun. They are available in a range of heights: dwarf(6-8 inches), medium (15-30 inches) andtall (30-48 inches). Plant them in a soil that drains well to prevent the roots from rotting.
- From cepolina.com
Here’s a great video from Expert Village explaining how to properly cut your snapdragons from the backyard and care for them after they’ve been cut:
Snapdragons are a fun flower that kids can (gently) enjoy and that also look great in your backyard or in your home.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
3/27/12
Flowers A to Z: R is for Rattlesnake?
- From knau.org
The Heliconia goes by many names, Rattlesnake being one of them. Who knew? Read on to learn more about this pretty tropical flower.
- From costafarms.com
The 100-200 known species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions. Common names for the genus include: lobster-claws, wild plantains or false bird-of-paradise.
The flowers can be hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, and are subtended by brightly colored bracts.
- From caribbeantropicalgarden.blogspot.com
Fun Rattlesnake Fact: Heliconia are related to bananas, sharing a similar maturity pattern.
Hummingbirds are the main pollinators of Heliconia in many locations. The Heliconia flowers produce ample nectar and berries that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators.
- From bobstropicals.wordpress.com
Since they are a tropical plant, Heliconias need an abundance of water, sunlight, and soils that are rich in humus in order to grow well. The plants typically flower during the wet season.
- From gamma-dm1.blogspot.com
Fun Rattlesnake Fact: the Heliconia’s flowers sprout in different positions on the plant to maximize photosynthesis throughout the day.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
21/3/12
Flowers A to Z: Q is for Queen Ann’s Lace
- From publicdomainpictures.net
Check out this interesting info about a little filler plant that has a few fun facts up its sleeve. Or stamen. Content from flower-dictionary and Wikipedia:
Daucus carota is a variable biennial plant, usually growing up to 1 m tall and flowering from June to August. The umbels are claret-coloured or pale pink before they open, then bright white and rounded when in full flower, measuring 3–7 cm wide with a festoon of bracts beneath; finally, as they turn to seed, they contract and become concave like a bird’s nest. The dried umbels detach from the plant, becoming tumbleweends.
- From fxrant.blogspot.com
Wild carrot was introduced to North America, where it is often known as “Queen Ann’s lace”. It is so called because the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center represents a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. The function of the tiny red flower, coloured by anthocyanin, is to attract insects.
Commonly confused with Dacus Carota (Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, Queen’s Lace, A Devil’s Plague), Ammi majus is actually called bishop’s weed but is used extensively in the floral trade as “Queen Anne’s Lace.”
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
Flowers A to Z:
8/3/12
Flowers A to Z: O is for Ornithogalum
- Image from reynoldsflowers.com
Enjoy some information about the lovely Ornithogalum from flower-dictionary and Wikipedia:
- Image from healthyhomegardening.com
Ornithogalum is a genus of perennials mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green. There are about 150 species.
- Image from flickriver.com
Because of its star-shaped flowers, it is named for the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.
- Image from flower-dictionary.com
Ornithogalum derive their name from the Greek words ornis, meaning “bird,” and gala, meaning “milk.” Although the name appears to reference the flowers’ milky-white colors, its specific application is unknown.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
3/1/12
Flowers A to Z: N is for Nerine Lily
Info compliments of flower-dictionary:
Commonly known as the Guernsey lily or spider lily, Nerine bowdenii and its cousins are actually herbs in the Amaryllidaceaefamily. This striking blossom comes in a wide spectrum of pink hues, from a brilliant fuchsia shade to an icy-cool blush pink. Nerines also can be found in white, reddish-orange and deep red.
Nerine sarniensis, or the Guernsey lily, was named when a ship was wrecked many years ago on Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands, located off the coast of Normandy. Nerine bulbs washed ashore and took root on the island’s sandy beaches. Because the ship was Japanese, it was originally believed that nerines were Japanese in origin. But they are actually native only to South Africa, where they bloom every March on Table Mountain.
Its vertical form is good in oriental and contemporary arrangements. Nerines are excellent in hand-tied bouquets, and individual florets can be used in wedding and corsage work.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
23/2/12
Flowers A to Z: M is for Mountain Avens
This post is short and sweet, jsut like the Mountain Avens! Enjoy this info and images compliments of Wikipedia:
Dryas octopetala (common names include mountain avens, white dryas, and white dryad) is a flowering plant in the Rose family. It is a small evergreen shrub forming large colonies, and is a popular flower in rock gardens. The species name octopetaladerives from the Greek octo (eight) and petalon (petal), referring to the eight petals of the flower. This number is unusual in the Rosaceae family, where five is the normal number. The Mountain Aves flowers with up to 16 petals naturally.
Dryas octopetala has a widespread occurrence throughout mountainous areas where it is generally restricted to limestone outcrops. It grows in dry localities where snow melts early, on gravel and rocky barrens, forming a distinct heath community on calcareous soils. It is the official territorial flower of the Northwest Territories, and the national flower of Iceland.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
16/2/12
L is for Lavender
Disclaimer: We LOVE lavender! Heath benefits, gorgeous and calming aroma, and a beautiful bud—well, enough said. Info compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary:
The lavenders (Lavandula) are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family. An It is thought the genus originated in Asia but it is most diversified in its western distribution. The ancient Greeks called the lavender herb nardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda. It was also commonly called nard. Lavender’s name is derived from the Latin word lavo, meaning “to wash,” and reflects the plant oil’s common use in soaps, perfumes and other toiletries. They take the form of small shrubs, subshrubs and herbaceous perennials.
In the 1970s, a herb blend called herbes de Provence usually including lavender was invented by spice wholesalers, and lavender has more recently become popular in cookery.
Flowers yield abundant nectar from which bees make a high-quality honey. Lavender flavors baked goods and desserts , and is also used to make “lavender sugar”. Lavender flowers are occasionally blended with black, green, or herbal tea, adding a fresh, relaxing scent and flavor.
Lavender lends a floral and slightly sweet flavor to most dishes. For most cooking applications the dried buds (also referred to as flowers) are used, though some chefs experiment with the leaves as well. Only the buds contain the essential oil of lavender, from which the scent and flavor of lavender are best derived.
Lavender is used extensively with herbs and aromatherapy. It was used in hospitals during World War I to disinfect floors and walls. These extracts are also used as fragrances for bath products.
A recent clinical study showed that lavender helps alleviate anxiety and related sleep disturbances. However, you should avoid ingesting lavender during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Lavender is also used extensively as herbal filler inside sachets used to freshen linens. Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and to deter moths. Dried lavender flowers have become recently popular for wedding confetti. Lavender is also popular in body care products.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
9/2/12
K is for Knapweed
- Image compliments of Ontario Wild Flowers
Content compliments of flower-dictionary and Wikipedia:
Centaurea is a genus of between 350 and 600 species of thistle-like flowering plants found only north of the equator, mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. Common names for this genus are: starthistles, knapweeds, centaureas and bluets.
- Image compliments of Send My Flower
Knapweeds are robust weedy plants. Their leaves, spiny in some species, are usually deeply divided into elongated lobes at least in the plants’ lower part, becoming entire towards the top. The “flowers” are diverse in colour, ranging from intense blues, reds and yellows to white—knapweed is one of the few true blue flowers in existence. Knapweed symbolizes hope in love, felicity, and delicacy.
Popular in corsages, boutonnieres, and wedding design, knapweed dries well. Spray with a sealant after drying to prevent shattering.
- Image compliments of pixabay.com
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
2/2/12
Flowers A to Z: J is for Jonquil
Info compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary:
- *Image compliments of Wallpaper World
Narcissus jonquilla (Jonquil) is an old world daffodil that has naturalized throughout Europe and the United States. It is one of the Narcissus species used in Narcissus Oil, a component of many modern perfumes. The meaning of the Narcissus is affection returned, sympathy and desire.
Narcissus is the broad botanical term for the flowers most consumers would call daffodils, narcissuses and paperwhites. The term daffodil is generally used to refer to single, trumpet-shaped flowers, while paperwhites refers to the tiny white flowers that grow in clusters. The term narcissus typically refers to the remaining varieties. These cheery spring bulb flowers come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes, including white, cream, yellow, orange and bicolor. They’re members of the Amaryllidaceae family, and are named for Narcissus, a youth in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own reflection and was transformed by the gods into a flower. Narcissuses are native to Europe, North America and western Asia.
- *Image compliments of Wallpaper World
Care and arrangement: Daffodils are attractive in bouquets by themselves or mixed spring arrangements. When placing in floral foam, wrap a thin-gauge wire continuously around the stem at the base. This gives soft-stemmed blossoms support for insertion into the foam. Place daffodils in a separate holing container from other flowers, as they secrete a sap which shortens the vase life of other cut flowers, especially tulips. The sap will stop flowing about 6 hours after the stems are cut. Daffodils can then be safely combined with other flowers and used in mixed arrangements.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
1/27/12
Flowers A to Z: I is for Iris
Beautiful and fragrant, the Iris is a commonly-known flower, but lets see if you knew this much about this blooming beaut (content compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary)!
Iris is a genus of approx 300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. The name Iris is Greek for “rainbow,” due to its colour variations; the Iris symbolizes wisdom, hope, and “my compliments.” As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, though some plants called thus belong to other closely related genera. The Iris is a popular garden flower.
- *Image compliments of wallpaper-s.org
| Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, irises are bulbous perennials. The popular blooms are members of the Iridaceae family and take their name from the Greek goddess who transported messages between mortals and the Mount Olympus deities.
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Although traditionally considered a spring bloom, many iris cultivars are available year-round from growers. Irises are delicate and have one of the shortest cut flower vase lives–just 3-6 days.
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Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
1/19/12
Flowers A to Z: H is for Hydrangea
- *Image compliments of en.wikipedia.org
What’s not to love about the Hydrangea (again, rhetorical question)? Beautiful globes of blooms whose colours change through the seasons are simply marvelous to behold! Here are some factoids about these blossoming beauties compliments of Wikipedia andflower-dictionary.com:
Hydrangea (common names Hydrangea and Hortensia) is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. Their name comes from the Greek words hydor, which means “water,” and aggeion, which means “vessel,” referring to the shape of the flowers’ seed caps. Most Hydrangea are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 metres by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.
There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas. Mophead flowers are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name implies, the head of a mop. In contrast, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, fertile flowers surrounded by outer rings of showy, sterile flowers.
- Lacecap Hydrangea
The pink hydrangea has risen in popularity all over the world, but especially in Asia. Pink hydrangeas have many different meanings, but generally means, “You are the beat of my heart”, as described by the celebrated Asian florist Tan Jun Yong, where he was quoted saying, “The light delicate blush of the petals reminds me of a beating heart, while the size could only match the heart of the sender!”
Love,
Your crazy-dedicated friends at Flowerblog
1/12/12
Flowers A to Z: G is for Gerbera
*Image compliments of mi9
The Gerbera daisy has been an iconic flower for decades, its cheerful disposition is welcomed by all. Gerbera daisies symbolize innocence, purity and cheerfulness. Check out some fun information about the Gerbera compliments of Wikipedia.
- *Image compliments of Tony Harrison Photography
Gerbera (African Daisy) is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. It was named in honour of the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber († 1743), friend of Carolus Linnaeus.
Approximately 30 species of Gerbera exist in the wild, extending to South America, Africa and tropical Asia. The first scientific description of a Gerbera was made by J.D. Hooker in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described Gerbera jamesonii, a South African species also known as Transvaal daisy or Barberton Daisy.
Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The domesticated cultivars are mostly a result of a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species Gerbera viridifolia. The cross is known as Gerbera hybrida. Thousands of cultivars exist that vary greatly in shape and size. Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours.
- *Image compliments of Better Homes and Gardens
Gerbera species bear a large capitulum with striking, two-lipped ray florets in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colours. The capitulum is actually composed of hundreds of individual flowers whose morphology depends on their position around the capitulum. The flower heads can range from 7 cm (Gerbera mini ‘Harley’) in diameter or up to 12 cm (Gerbera ‘Golden Serena’).
Love,
Your crazy-dedicated friends at Flowerblog
1/5/12
Flowers A to Z: F is for Flamingo Flower
Flowerblog has yet to feature an exotic or tropical flower—until now! Welcome the Flamingo Flower to our blog and enjoy a little information about it compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary:
Anthurium is a large genus of about 600–800 (possibly 1,000) species, belonging to the arum family (Aracea). Anthurium can also be called “Flamingo Flower” or “Boy Flower“, both referring to the structure of the spathe and spadix. Their genus name, Anthurium, comes from the Greek words anthos meaning “flower,” and oura, meaning “tail.”
- *Image compliments of Ferenc Ecseki
Like other Aroids, many species of Anthurium can be grown as houseplants, or outdoors in mild climates in shady spots. They thrive in moist soils with high organic matter. In milder climates the plants can be grown in pots and need to be fertilized once/week. Indoors, the Flamingo Flower thrives at temperatures between 16°C-22°C (60°F-72°F) and at lower light than other house plants. In the case of vining or climbing Anthuriums, the plants benefit from being provided with a totem to climb. The Flamingo Flower is available year round and has a vase life of 14-28 days.
- *Image compliments of FlickRiver
Love,
Your crazy-dedicated friends at Flowerblog
12/29/11
Flowers A to Z: E is for Eustoma
Eustoma, more commonly referred in the States as the Texas Bluebell, and by florists as Lisianthus is pretty and comes in a wide variety of colours. Enjoy this little blurb on such a delicate flower! Images and content compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary.
*Image compliments of NPSOT
Eustoma is a genus of 3 species in the family Gentianaceae found in warm regions of the Southern United States, Mexico, the Carribean and northern South America. They are mostly found growing in grassland and areas of disturbed ground. The common name comes from the Greek words lysis, meaning “dissolution,” and anthos, meaning “flower,” and alludes to the bitter quality of some medicinal species.
They are herbaceous annuals, growing to 15 – 60 cm tall, with bluish green, slightly succulent leaves, and large funnel shaped flowers growing on long straight stems. The cultivated flower is also often known as: Lisianthus, Texas Bluebell, Prairie Gentian, Tulip Gentian or just Gentian, although the latter can cause confusion with the related Gentian plant genus.
*Single-petal Eustoma
Lisianthuses are available from April through October in domestic markets, and may be available slightly earlier in the spring and later into the fall when purchased from international sources. They come in single-, double – and triple-petal varieties, and in colors including white, red, purple, pink and the iconic blue. Because of their broad-ranging colors, lisianthuses make beautiful additions to almost any design. Their delicate, round blooms add mass while maintaining a soft texture. Lisianthus florets are often used in corsages. With proper care and handling, the colorful blooms can have a vase life of 10-15 days.
Love,
Your flower-crazy friends at Flowerblog
D is for Drumstick
- *Image compliments of Lovely Little Details
We at Flowerblog love to find flowers that stick out in their simplicity–the Drumstick is one of them. More commonly referred to as Billy Buttons, this lovely bud is cropping up not only in cut arrangements but is also exploding in the wedding flower market. Keep your eyes peeled for this cheerful blossom and impress your friends with some fun facts about the drumstick! Content compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary.com.
Craspedia (aka Billy Buttons, Drumstick)
- Image from carmenweddings.co.uk
Drumsticks are rosette-forming herbs with secondarily compound capitula (glomerules) that are borne on erect, unbranched scapes (stems) native to Australia and New Zealand where they grow in a variety of habitats from sea level to the Alps. The glomerules or flower-heads are formed as a result of a massive aggregation of tiny flowers (florets) that form a hemispherical to spherical (like pom poms) shape. There are a recorded 23 species of Craspedia, most are perennial with one species recorded as annual. The leaves have considerable variation in form and colour, ranging from white to grass green.
In Australia, Craspedia are commonly found growing in association with forest habitats but also grow on alpine slopes. They are never seen in New Zealand or Tasmania in the large, widespread and dense populations that are characteristic of mainland Australia.
- Image from floresdelsol.blogspot.com
Craspedia grows in a wide range of soil types (sands, gravels, clays, earths and loams) derived from different geologies across a broad rainfall gradient. The Drumstick is very hearty, intolerant only of extremely infertile and acidic soils.
The Drumstick has been cultivated in the United States as a garden flower since 1988. Its name comes from the Greek kraspedon for “edging,” which refers to the feathery foliage that accompanies its achenes, or fruit. Its growing season is around March and has a vase life of 10-12 days. The Craspedia flowers also dry well.
Love,
Your crazy-dedicated team from Flowerblog
12/22/12
Flowers A to Z: C is for Calla Lily
We at Flowerblog want to give a personal shout out to the Calla lily, a beautiful and simple flower that has been ogled for centuries. Here’s a little blurb about one of the most popular flowers in the world (images and content compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary.com).
Zantedeschia aethiopica (common names Lily of the Nile, Calla lily, Easter lily, Arum Lily, Varkoor, an Afrikaans name meaning pig’s ear) is a species in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland. Their genus, Zantedeschia, is named for 19th century Italian botanist Francesco Zantedeschia. The genus includes six species that have been hybridized to create numerous cultivars.
It has been cultivated for the Easter floral trade since the early 20th century; hence the (ambiguous) name ‘Easter lily’, common in Britain and Ireland. It has become an important symbol of Irish Republicanism since the Easter Uprising of 1916.
- Image from pbase.com
The vase life of Calla Lilies is 4-8 days and they are available for enjoyment year-round. They are best kept at room temperature. Callas take in a large amount of water so refill water levels regularly.
Love,
Your crazy-dedicated friends at Flowerblog
12/22/12
Flowers a to Z: B is for Baby’s Breath
- Image from weddinggirl.ca
We at Flowerblog think Baby’s Breath gets a bad rap–this simple floral accent can totally steal the show as shown in this simple Baby’s Breath bouquet. Info compliments of Wikipedia and flower-dictionary:
- Image from Simone Anne.blogspot.com
Gypsophila is sometimes called “baby’s breath” or simply “Gyp” among the floral industry. Its botanical name means “lover of chalk” because many species are found on calcium-rich soils, including gypsum, hence the name of the genus. Gypsophilas are often grown both as ornamental garden plants and is also used in the floral industry to as filler for bouquets—Baby’s Breath also works well for dried floral arrangements. Baby’s Breath symbolizes innocence or purity of heart and buds pink and white flowers (content compliments of Wikipedia).
Love,
Your friends from Flowerblog
12/22/11
Flowers A to Z: A is for Alstroemeria
Info compliments of Wikipedia:
The Alstroemeria, commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, represents over 120 species of flowering plants. Majority of the Alstroemeria species originate from one of two areas: central Chile or eastern Brazil. Species of Alstroemeria from Chile are winter-growing plants while those of Brazil are summer-growing. The genus was named after the Swedish baron Claus von Alstroemer (1736 – 1794), who collected the Alstroemeria seeds along with other species on a trip to South America in 1753.
Today’s Alstroemeria has been cross-bred, its flowers displaying a wide array of colours including: yellow, apricot, orange, salmon, pink, red, mauve, lavender, purple, cream, white and bi-colors. The Alstroemeria flower is a symbol of wealth, prosperity and good fortune. It is also the flower of friendship. The Alstroemeria has a vase life of 2 weeks and is popular in mixed arrangements.
Love,
Your friends at Flowerblog
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