365 Days of Floral Education - Days 296 - 300

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 296 – King protea are the largest single bloomed commercially available flower in the world. Proteas are usually shipped closed to protect the blooms, so be sure to hydrate them 3 to 4 days to reveal the massive 15cm to 25cm blooms. You read right, that's 6 to 10 inches! These beauties are not only stunning but also one of the longest lasting flowers on the market today.

Day 297 – Clematis is a genus within the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners and their cut flowers look beautiful in fresh flower designs. The genus name is from Ancient Greek clématis, ("a climbing plant"). There are over two hundred and fifty species and cultivars, often named for their originators or particular characteristics. This variety of Clematis is called Dr. Rupple.

Day 298 - The entire genus of Clematis contain essential oils and compounds which are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes and the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. Some varieties are essentially toxic. When pruning them, it's a good idea to wear gloves. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used very small amounts of clematis as an effective treatment for migraine headaches and nervous disorders. It was also used as an effective treatment of skin infections. Leaf extracts from two Ethiopian are used locally to treat ear disorders and eczema. Phytochemical screening of the extracts from both of these species showed antibacterial and antifungal activity. This variety of Clematis is called Pinky.

Day 299 - Hibiscus flowers can be eaten, but the best way to use hibiscus is to make an infused tea. Just take ten or so flowers and soak them in hot water. Add lime for flavor and enjoy. Drinking it cold is just as delicious as hot, so for a nice summer day, put it on ice!

Day 300 - The millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for both human food and fodder. In the US millet varieties are primarily grown as bird food. We begin seeing it at the flower shop late summer and into autumn, using it to add a lovely rustic touch to cut flower bouquets.