Summer’s here and your flower garden has never looked better with sunflowers stretching taller than the garage, roses sprouting up in reds, yellows and whites, yellow snapdragons and tulips offset by purple forget-me-nots and hyacinths. It’s a butterfly paradise! Many people choose to bring some of this fragrance and beauty inside to create summer bouquets to be used as breathtaking centerpieces.
Step one toward creating vivid summer floral bouquets is, of course, the planting. The best time to begin is late March in the West or May in the East, after the threat of frost has diminished. According to Beth Benjamin, floral expert at Renee’s Garden Seed Company, the best flower garden picks are cosmos, sunflowers and zinnias. In the front row of her garden, she’s planted purplish blue cerinthe, deep violet love-in-a-mist and phlox. Her second row is comprised of white cosmos flanked by chartreuse bells-of-Ireland and backed by white ammi majus as filler. In the third row, round colorful zinnias grow next to blue and red salvia. The fourth row hangs ardent love-lies-bleeding to the left and cherry pink cleome to the right, flanked by pink and rose cosmos. In the rear, tall sunflowers grow with strawflowers at each end.
Early morning is the best time to cut garden flowers, says floral industry consultant Libbey Oliver from Williamsburg, Virginia. She says that you should bring a container of water and sharp clippers while hunting for perfect blooms for your summer bouquets. A sharp cut will allow water to travel up the stem into the flower head, prolonging the lifespan of the bloom. “Choose blossoms that are newly opened and buds just beginning to unfurl. Cut flowers one at a time, and immediately place each stem in the water,” she instructs. Before arranging floral bouquets, you should remove excess foliage so it doesn’t detract from your display. A few leaves here and there are okay, but if there are any leaves underwater, you’re just asking for bacteria to breed, shortening the life of the bouquet.
Approach your summer bouquets with a vigilant eye and an open heart. “Gather the things your garden has to offer, and then add a few more from the grocery store,” advises Georgia flower garden designer Ryan Gainey. “It isn’t always when the flowers are at their peak that they’re at their best. Many times, when they go to seed, their true beauty comes forth.” He says to look for crepe myrtle seed heads, fern fronds and the black-eyed Susan for some pleasant surprises.
Filed under Uncategorized by on May 26th, 2009. Comment. 
Flowers top the list of the “most popular product purchased online.” Even though electronics, books, toys and wines are also purchased via the internet, it seems that reliable flower delivery has spread like wildfire. The Society of American Florists reports that the industry made roughly $20.1 billion last year and that there are about 22,751 local shops operating in the US. Even though online sellers have flourished, many of these local shops continue to do well because they pair up with the national giants to service their local markets.
There are numerous occasions to buy flowers, the most obvious being Valentine’s Day and Birthdays. However, never underestimate the power of an unexpected delivery! To really impress someone, send an arrangement to acknowledge a job promotion or to express sympathy during a difficult time. For family members, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Easter are popular times too. It’s customary to send flowers gifts of to newlyweds to wish them well. Of course, there are also flower faux pas to be aware of.
For instance, it’s not customary to send flowers to Muslims following a family member’s death. In Asian culture, white blooms are given only during mournful and unhappy occasions. In the US, it’s customary to send the flowers in arrangements of one dozen, but in some European countries an even number is considered inappropriate. Also, Asians have superstitions about receiving four blooms (which signifies “death”) and many countries are superstitious about the number thirteen.
One way to select flowers is to think about what is “in season.” By creating a seasonal bouquet, you’ll ensure that the blooms are fresh, available and less expensive. Sometimes this can also make you think outside your comfort zone, dabbling in new favorites, and the recipient is sure to delight in your creativity! Of course there are varieties for all seasons, such as Roses, Baby’s Breath, Carnations, Gardenias, Lilies of the Valley, Orchids and Gladiolus. For those winter months, you can try Calla Lilies, Forget-Me-Nots, Ivies, Poinsettias, Tulips, Jasmines or Camellias. For springtime, try Violets, Tulips, Narcissuses, Lilacs, Jonquils, Apple Blossoms, Orange Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms, Irises, Hyacinths, Daffodils and Pansies. Summer blooms include Daisies, Hydrangeas, Sweet Peas, Peonies, Queen Anne’s Lace, Delphiniums and Dahlias. Then, in the fall, try Asters, Chrysanthemums, Marigolds and Gerbera Daisies, while adding some autumn leaves to spruce it up a bit.
There are many places to buy flowers. When shopping online, look for phrases like “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” “Over 15 Years in the Business,” “Secure Ordering” and “Award-Winning Service.” Industry credentials, customer testimonials and awards all ultimately lend to a company’s credibility. Sometimes your local flower shop has its own website, which can be a good bet. Otherwise, try one of the larger and more established sellers like Proflowers, FTD or 1800Flowers.
Filed under Uncategorized by on May 25th, 2009. Comment.
