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 66 – With a history that dates back to 15th century B.C.,
chrysanthemum mythology is filled with a multitude of stories and symbolism.
Named from the Greek prefix “chrys-” meaning golden (its original color) and
“-anthemion,” meaning flower, years of artful cultivation have produced a full
range of colors, from white to purple to red. Daisy-like with a typically
yellow center and a decorative pompon, chrysanthemums symbolize optimism and
joy.
Day 67 – Resembling a miniature lily, alstroemeria, often called the
Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, was named after its discoverer, Baron Claus
von Alstromer, a Swedish baron who collected the seeds on a trip to Spain in
1753. Today, this popular flower can be found in a range of colors – from white
to golden yellow, orange to apricot, pink to red, lavender and purple.
Symbolizing friendship and devotion, the alstroemeria’s leaves grow upside
down, with the leaf twisting as it grows out from the stem, so that the bottom
is facing upwards. It symbolizes friendship and devotion.
Day 68 – This is silver Kochia, a
cultivar of the Kochia scrophularia of the Negev desert in Israel, which is
itself a tumbleweed, that many claim to be the mythical burning bush of Hebrew
folk-lore. When in cultivation this invasive weed is quite attractive, turning
bright red in the fall, which when viewed with a setting sun illuminating it
could easily be a “burning bush”. However, the cultivar we use in the floral
industry is a silvery-gray color, with erect stiff stems and felt-like foliage.
Kochia is a useful and hardy foliage with good architectural qualities. Leaves
and stems should be turgid and gray-white, neither blackening nor yellowing.
Stems should be cut cleanly and crisply and placed immediately into water. Any
leaves that will be submerged should be removed. Its vase life
is 7-10 days.
Day 69 - The most commonly used delphinium
variety is the delphinium staphisagria, which is thought to be helpful in curing
diseases or irritations of the reproductive system, as well as aiding in mental
and acute respiratory ailments. These flowers may also be used to repel pests
such as lice, and are thought to have a curative effect on scorpion stings. The
delphinium flower is said to represent big-heartedness and the essence of
divine qualities. They are also meant to symbolize levity, fun and a general
sense of joy.
Day 70 - Dendrobium is a huge genus
of orchids established by Olof Swartz in 1799 and today contains about 1,200
species. They are found in diverse habitats throughout much of Asia, including
the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
Many of the orchids that we import are from Thailand, where there are several
major growers of a variety of orchids including dendrobiums, cymbidiums,
phalaenopsis, vanda, mokara, oncidium and cattleya.
