As part of our 125th 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 161 - Intoxicating by their very nature, apple
blossoms are symbolic of heady love, peace, sensuality, and fertility. Apple
blossoms (and trees) were honored by the ancient Celts as a symbol of love, and
they would decorate their bedchambers with these blossoms to entice amorous
nights.
Day 162 - A flowering plant's goal is to set seed. If you
repeatedly deadhead - trim off the spent flowers - the plant goes into
overdrive, putting out more and more flowers in an effort to reproduce. This
will make your flowering plant full of beautiful blooms!
Day 163 - Roses are edible flowers. From ancient times
they have appeared at feasting tables as bouquets and as food. The flavor of
roses is varied as the colors. The sweet, tart or spicy petals are easy to use
and popular additions to any kitchen. Light-color roses are more sweet or light
in flavor. Darker roses have more aroma and flavor. Taste a rose petal to
decide where it belongs on your menu.
Day 164 -
Despite their elegant, graceful appearance, orchids aren't difficult to care
for, and by following a few simple guidelines, many varieties will bloom for
you again next year. Keep your orchid in a well-ventilated spot with partial
shade, away from radiators, air conditioning, and strong drafts. To help
maintain the right level of humidity, set the planter in a tray of pebbles and
water so that the pot sits out of the water. This prevents the roots from
rotting, and allows the moisture to circulate. Orchids gain their water from
the relative humidity in the atmosphere, they do not absorb water in a
traditional way from the roots and soil. For stability, orchids are often
potted with the roots in a growing media that should not be overly wet. Orchids
require a period of dormancy during the winter in order to bloom again in the
spring, so allow it to rest in a sunny spot, and don't water it at all during
this time. When its blooms are gone, cut the spike an inch above the foliage,
leaving the old canes in place.
Day 165 - The genus Gladiolus comprises 260 species; 10 species are native to Eurasia and 250 species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, mostly South Africa. African Gladioli were imported from South Africa to Europe in large quantities during the 18th century. Most of the more than 10,000 named Gladioli cultivars were probably derived from just 7 species native to South Africa, they were first brought to European gardens in the late 17th century. Every flower color but blue is represented in modern hybrids, the flowers themselves vary immensely.
