Almost Autumn

Now that it’s September and school is back in session, everyone seems to be thinking autumn, and we’re not complaining. This summer has been so hot, we’re ready to welcome the cooler weather, changing leaves and pumpkin spice. So this Wedding Wednesday we have a bouquet that has a hint of autumn hues, while still being summery bright in these last few weeks of the season.

This wedding bouquet is a gathering of cheerful orange Asiatic lilies, orange gerbera daisies, yellow button mums, purple statice, red roses, solidego and touches of light lavender daisies. The warm hues make us long for fall, but the purple and lavender keep it summery fresh!

If you're in the Philadelphia, PA or Burlington, NJ area and would like to meet with one of Stein Your Florist Co.'s expert wedding consultants call us at 800-887-4013.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 206 - 210

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 206 - Cane has an interesting history. It is one of two species of bamboo, a type of grass, native to North America. Preferring full sun and disturbance, river cane was formerly most common on floodplains where it occurred beneath open forest canopies. Cane also occurred under canopy openings in upland forests and in scattered-tree savannas. Such sites and soils have been coveted by humans for various purposes for centuries. In the floral industry river cane is dried and used as an accent in many floral arrangements.

Day 207 - Expedite lily blossom opening by using warm floral food solution and by covering the buds with a clear plastic bag to maintain high humidity. Bright light (not direct sunlight) also seems to hasten the opening process as well as assuring good color in the blossoms.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 208 - Many floral designers today are using yarn and felt to add intriguing texture to their arrangements. Another way to add this element is with "floral" cotton. The bolls, still on the stem, have been removed from the stalk, hand cleaned and fluffed. The sturdy, star-shaped burrs (which hold the cotton on the stem) are also used sans the cotton at times for a different rustic look. Wonderful for autumn, rustic and country designs.

Day 209 - Chinese lantern, Physalis alkekengi, is a relative of Cape Gooseberry, easily identifiable by the larger, bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resemble paper lanterns. It is native from southern Europe east across southern Asia to Japan. It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 40–60 cm tall, with spirally arranged leaves. The flowers are white, with a five-lobed corolla, with an inflated basal calyx which matures into the papery orange fruit covering.

Day 210 - Lei is a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular concept of a lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. This concept was popularized through tourism between the Hawaiian Islands and the continental United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. In modern times, a lei is usually given with a kiss - a custom which began in World War II. Traditionalists, however, give a lei by bowing slightly and raising it above the heart, allowing the recipient to take it, as raising the hands above another's head, or touching the face or head, is considered disrespectful.

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 56-60

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 56 - Lilies can be used as food or for their medicinal qualities. The Chinese use lily buds in cookery to flavor stir fries. They also use it as a medicine for respiratory problems. Native Americans have used lily roots boiled as a tea for stomach problems and as a wash for bruises. They also used it to relieve the pain from insect bites.



Day 57 – Liatris, also known as Blazing star, Gay-feather, and Button snakeroot, are a classic favorite around flower shops. They have a vase life of 6-14 days and work well in many bouquets with their slender, 6-10” tall spikes with needlelike petals. Their stems can grow as long as 32” and though we typically see them in beautiful purple hues, they are also grown in whites, lavenders and pinks.

Day 58 – Unlike pink, red and white roses that originate from Britian, yellow roses derive from the Middle East and were only first noted in the 1700’s. They have since been cross bred to create stunning hybrids, creating stronger and varied shades of yellow, as well as, the beautiful scent that yellow roses are now synonymous with. The variety pictured here is called Gold Strike.

Day 59 - From the Latin "delphis" meaning dolphin, from the shape of the buds, Delphiniums are a genus of around 300 species in the ranunculaceae family. These blossoms traditionally come in bright, creamy white, dainty pink, blue and a marvelous purple blue combination; however, some of the highbred flowers can be seen in shocking reds, oranges and yellows.

Day 60 - Anemone is a genus of approximately 120 species of flowering plants of the ranunculaceae family. The name anemone comes from the Greek word for "windflower." According to Greek mythology, the anemone sprang from Aphrodite's tears as she mourned the death of Adonis. Thought to bring luck and protect against evil, legend has it that when the anemone closes its petals, it's a signal that rain is approaching. Still other mythology connects the anemone to magical fairies, who were believed to sleep under the petals after they closed at sunset. Perhaps it's because of this magical and prophetic tales that today in the language of flowers, anemones represent anticipation.