365 Days of Floral Education - Days 141 - 145

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 141 - There are many different varieties of roses, including single roses, spray roses and shrub roses. While some rose bushes produce one blossom per branch, others produce several roses per branch. While a spray rosebush won't provide you with long-stemmed roses, depending upon your garden plans or decorative arrangements, spray or individual roses can work for your needs. Spray roses are typically smaller than blossoms grown on other types of rosebushes, but not always. They tend to be lush and have abundant flowers.

Day 142 - Geraniums have been a gardener's favorite for well over a century. The old-fashioned standard for beds, borders, and containers, geranium is still one of the most popular plants today. Traditional bedding types love hot weather and hold up well to dry conditions; many offer colorful foliage. Regal, also called Martha Washington, geraniums are more delicate-looking and do better in the cool conditions of spring and fall. Though most geraniums are grown as annuals, they are perennials in Zones 10-11. Bring them indoors to overwinter, if you like, then replant outdoors in spring. Or they can bloom indoors all year long if they get enough light.

Day 143 – Viburnum is a beautiful flower resembling a small hydrangea that is available as an import from Holland beginning in March and lasting until early April. Domestically it is available from May to early June. Though it is a short window to enjoy these pretty petals as a cut flower they are also a wonderfully versatile garden shrub. When the blooms are immature they are apple green in color and turn white as they mature.

Day 144 - In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshippers. The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm (Arecaceae) was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In Judaism, the palm is associated with the festival of Sukkot. A palm branch was awarded to victorious athletes in ancient Greece, and a palm frond or the tree itself is one of the most common attributes of Victory personified in ancient Rome. In Christianity, the palm branch is associated particularly with Palm Sunday, when according to Christian tradition palm branches were waved at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh.

Day 145 - Scabiosa, commonly known as pincushion flower, is a genus in the teasel Family Dipsacaceae of flowering plants. Scabiosa plants have many small flowers of soft lavender blue, lilac or creamy white color borne in a single head on a tall stalk. Scabious flowers are nectar rich and attract a variety of insects including moths and butterflies. The symbolic meaning of scabiosa is unfortunate love.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 136 - 140

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 136 – The globe artichoke is a perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves 20–30” long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about 3-6” in diameter with numerous triangular scales, with the flower eventually blooming in a lovely shade of purple. The edible portions of the buds consist primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of immature florets in the center of the bud is called the "choke" or beard. They lend themselves well to many floral designs, especially centerpieces.

Day 137 - The shamrock refers to the young sprigs of clover or trefoil. It is known as a symbol of Ireland, with St. Patrick having used it as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity, according to legend. The name shamrock is derived from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover (seamair) meaning simply "little clover" or "young clover". Shamrock is usually considered to refer to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán). However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks or clovers. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times.

Day 138 - Velvet Centaurea, is – like some other plants – also known as "dusty miller". It is a small plant in the family Asteraceae and originates from the Island of Capraia in Italy. Dusty miller is a favorite because it looks good with just about everything in a garden or an arrangement. The silvery-white color is great and its fine-textured foliage creates a beautiful contrast against other plants' green foliage. Dusty miller has also earned its place in the garden because it's delightfully easy to grow, withstanding heat and drought like a champion and loving full sun.

Day 139 - According to the International Geranium Society, the flowers America most commonly refer to as "geraniums" are not true geraniums at all, but are actually pelargoniums. Both belong to the Geraniaceae family and both are native to South Africa, having been imported to America in the 1700s. They are similar in appearance but have notable differences. By the late 1800s, arborists realized the differences and wanted to call them by separate names, but Europe had already set the trend and refused to change so America followed suit. To this day, pelargoniums are grown and sold globally under the name of geraniums.

Day 140 - Azaleas are called “the royalty of the garden.” Azaleas have been hybridized for hundreds of years. Over 10,000 different azalea plants have been registered or named, although far fewer are in the trade. This provides a very wide variety of plant habits, sizes, colors and bloom times to meet almost every landscaping need or personal preference. The arrival of spring brings these beautiful blooming plants into our flower shops and our gardens.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 131 - 135

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 131 - Years of careful training is required to master the art of bonsai. Bonsai trees take years to form and train. In many cases the tree’s growth is even deliberately stunted to achieve the desired shape. They are extremely delicate; even the slightest amount of neglect can ruin or even kill a bonsai. Older specimens are priceless, cherished as heirlooms, museum pieces, and collector’s items. The oldest specimens identified are believed to be at least 800 years old. It is impossible to accurately date a tree without damaging it, so the age of most bonsai trees is educated guesswork based on whatever records are available, the kind of tree, and the style of clipping. What’s more, many of the most spectacular specimens are in private Japanese collections and abroad, not accessible to the public. The bonsai pictured here is approximately 75 years old.

. The oldest specimens identified are believed to be at least 800 years old. It is impossible to accurately date a tree without damaging it, so the age of most bonsai trees is educated guesswork based on whatever records are available, the kind of tree, and the style of clipping. What’s more, many of the most spectacular specimens are in private Japanese collections and abroad, not accessible to the public. The bonsai pictured here is approximately 75 years old.

Day 132 - Daffodils were taken out of the "wild" & planted in English gardens in the early 1600s. Long known as the harbingers of Spring, this was the first use of them as a garden flower. Like all bulbs, they must "winter" in order to bloom; they need 3 months of cold in order to flower.

 

 

 

Day 133 - Lilies are stunning, but their pollen can be a mess. As lilies open, stamen begin to pollenate, which can stain hands, clothing, or anything else that may brush against it. To eliminate this possible problem, remove the stamen as the lily begins to open by pulling the not-yet-pollenated stamens by hand, or, if you prefer to leave stamen intact for a more natural look, you may spray plain unscented, extra hold hairspray directly onto the stamen. This will inhibit them from pollenating. This will not damage the lily petals so long as the hairspray is unscented (the fragrance from the hairspray contains alcohol and will burn or damage the lily petals). So control the pollen and enjoy your lilies!

Day 134 - Oxalis plants, the largest genus of the wood sorrel family, are a popular St. Patrick’s Day plant, also being known as a false shamrock. Most of these grow from small bulbs although some have tuberous roots. The distinguishing characteristic is the three rounded or triangular-shaped leaves at the end of delicate stems. Most oxalis plants fold up their leaves at night, hugging them tight to the stems until daylight "wakes them up" again. It is worthy to note that any oxalic acid containing plant is poisonous to humans in some dosage, so don’t eat them!

Day 135 - The anemone is one of the earliest flowers in spring, appearing in late March/April, and continuing through May. They are a great cut flowers and will give you around 9 days of vase life when properly cared for. Recut the stems at an angle, removing one to two inches with a sharp knife to allow for better water intake. Use a clean vase and fresh water, keep them in medium light and in a cool spot to prolong vase life. This flower prefers the cold water and the cold spaces. Anemones will open in light and heat so be sure to keep plan appropriately for blooming purposes. Refresh the water daily; they are heavy drinkers so check their water level frequently when hydrating and arranging. Adding nutrients to the water (cut flower "food”) will also help to extend the freshness of anemone arrangements. Finally, anemones continue to grow after arranging, so leave enough room in bouquets for flowers to open.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 126 - 130

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 126 - Sago Palms (Cycas revoluta), one of the most primitive living seed plants, are very unusual and popular ornamentals. A rugged trunk, topped with whorled feathery leaves has led to the common name "Sago Palm", however it is actually related to conifer and Ginko trees - all cone bearing plants which trace their origins back to the ancient flora of the early Mesozoic era. Often called "living fossils", Cycads have changed very little in the last 200 million years.



Day 127 - Dandelions, often thought of as pesky garden weeds, may be made into a delicious wine! We can hardly wait until spring, when this pretty little yellow flower will be everywhere and ripe for the picking!We found instructions for this intoxicating treat here: http://seekingabundance.net/2011/05/elixar-of-the-gods-dandelion-wine/.

Day 128 - Flora was the Roman Goddess of flowers and her name continues to be used as a collective term for plant life and flowers. The festival of Flora, called the Floralia, was held in the month of April or early May and was marked with flowers. There were two temples dedicated to Flora in Rome, one was near the great Circus Maximus where chariot races were held and the other temple was on the slopes of the Quirinal Hill.

Day 129 - Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants in the coffee family. They symbolize a secret and untold love. Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers.

Day 130 - Ginestra is a wonderfully fragrant flowering variety of Cytisus or "broom", of which white is the natural color. It is a nice accent flower that may be used in smaller arrangements or cascade elegant and dramatic bouquets. Ginestra makes a great tinted product and is available from Italy in a wide range of colors.

"Now That's Better"

Watching the news this morning we saw a pic of a Wendy's employee really enjoying a frosty... Floral designer apprentice Chris thought our carnations looked just as tasty... We're not too sure about that ;) But as Wendy's would say, "Now that's better."

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 121 - 125

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 121 - If you receive roses with thorns, leave them. Removing the thorns wounds the stem. The more wounds there are, the more likely the flower's life will be shortened. "Barking" the stem ruins the vessels that transport water up the stem to refresh the flower. It also creates an open wound through which bacteria can enter. If you must remove a thorn, it's best to remove just a small piece of the pointy tip. So be careful of those thorns and enjoy the beauty of the rose.

Day 122 – Kalanchoe is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent flowering plants, popular because of their ease of propagation, low water requirements and wide range of available colors. In traditional medicine, Kalanchoe species have been used to treat ailments such as infections, rheumatism and inflammation. Kalanchoe extracts also have immunosuppressive effects. One variety has even been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago as being used as a traditional treatment for hypertension.

Day 123 - Of all the flowers typically seen in an American garden, the marigold never disappoints. From its resilience, outlasting most other annuals well into the fall months and thriving in even the hottest driest weather, to its intense fiery color, the lowly marigold fills in the bare garden spots more efficiently than many other flowers. While the marigold flower, closely associated with the sun's energy, carries positive connotations, it has also been perceived through the ages to possess some darker qualities. It can symbolize jealousy and cruelty and represent sorrow and feelings of unrest during a sad time.

Day 124 – Leaves are the plants’ food factory; producing carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis. The green pigment absorbs energy in the form of sunlight and uses it to chemically combine carbon dioxide from the air with water absorbed by the roots to make soluble sugar, which can then be converted into insoluble starch and other products and subsequently stored as a potential energy source.

Day 125 - In some countries of Europe, incurve chrysanthemums are symbolic of death and are used only for funerals or on graves, while other types carry no such symbolism; similarly, in China, Japan and Korea, white chrysanthemums are symbolic of lamentation and/or grief. In some other countries, they represent honesty. In the United States, the flower is usually regarded as positive and cheerful, with New Orleans as a notable exception.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 116 - 120

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Day 116 - The flower symbolism associated with the daisy is purity, innocence, loyal love, beauty, patience and simplicity. Daisies are often depicted in meadows in Medieval paintings, also known as a "flowery mead." Daisies are believed to be more than 4,000 years old and hairpins decorated with daisies were found during the excavation of the Minoan Palace on the Island of Crete. Even further back, Egyptian ceramics were decorated with daisies.

Day 117 - The Emerald palm is a broad leaf pinnate arrangement plant with fronds 1 inch wide and tapered at the ends. The inflorescences have a slightly bitter taste, and are considered a delicacy in El Salvador and Guatemala. They are usually eaten in salads, or covered in egg batter and fried. The latter dish is called "rellenos de pacaya", and is often served with tomato sauce, like chiles rellenos. We tend to use them around the flower shop for strictly ornamental purposes.

Day 118 - Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in the plant kingdom. The name Acacia is derived from the Greek word akis meaning a point or barb. About 1350 species of Acacia are found throughout the world. Acacia makes an excellent garden plant, it looks beautiful and provides a natural home security system when planted under windows, as it is rather thorny. Acacia Flowers are typically small, yellow and fragrant with many stamens, giving the flower a fuzzy appearance. The Acacia flower heads are actually lots of little flowers bundled together.

Day 119 - Limonium is a genus of 120 flower species. They are found growing wild on the seacoasts and salt marshes and are widely distributed over the Northern Hemisphere. The flowers of many kinds are in loose panicles and others in branching spikes. They are winged spikelets, dry and papery. They may be blue lavender, orange, yellow, apricot, peach, pink or rose-red; many times they are bicolored. They are often used for drying, being cut just before they fully open and hung in a cool room to dry. Once cut, if exposed to even low levels of heat and humidity the flowers will develop an unpleasant odor. Limonium is said to bring success and good luck. 

Day 120 - Acacias are mostly insect pollinated; however, acacia flowers do not produce any nectar. The leaf and phyllode glands secrete a nectar or sugary substance which attracts ants, bees, butterflies and other insects. All parts of the Acacia plant - flowers, leaves and phyllodes, legumes and seeds, stems, trunk and roots are all utilized by hordes of animals. We humans often use acacia seeds for food and a variety of other products. The seeds of Acacia niopo, for instance, are roasted and used as snuff in South America. Additionally, the wood of the acacia plant is renowned for its excellent fuel properties and can also produce good charcoal.