New world order for florists
Christian Lily
The lily is closely intertwined
with Christian history. Lilies grew in the Holy Land and carvings of
them adorned the Temple in Jerusalem. (The "lilies of the field" that
Christ described as surpassing Solomon in all his glory may have been
lilies, but modern researchers believe it more likely that they were
anemones.) For centuries the white lily was used by painters to
symbolize the purity of the Virgin Mary. It was also used to make
ointments and salves for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. As late as
the 19th Century, fading European beauties were following a
prescription of Dioscorides (41-68 A.D.), a Greek who served as a Roman
army doctor and wrote a book about plants and flowers Brislington.
Lilies, said Dioscorides, "being beaten small with honey . . . clear
faces and make them without wrinkles. ... (more)
Last chance saloon for florists
Wrought Iron containers
I well remember
seeing in Florida two magnificent wrought-iron urns filled entirely
with white petunias and nothing else. They looked superb. I tried it
here but with no great success. Maybe my setting was not so elegant,
though single colour pots of plants do look extremely good, or perhaps
there was not quite enough space to show them off to advantage. This is
something that is definitely worth another try, so ask your florist the
next time you take a flower delivery Curtin.
When planting hanging baskets it pays to use the very best soil and
layer it well with sphagnum moss. For pots and tubs good loam is
necessary as most plants have to survive with a small quantity of soil.
I never feed mine enough during the summer and then really regret it. I
am determined to do better next year. ... (more)
A new dawn for flower lovers
Packing perfection
Foliage from distant
countries, such as Costa Rica, arrives on our shores in perfect
condition enclosed as it now is in sheets of polythene, within strong
boxes. The polythene keeps the foliage in the conditions of high
humidity that most foliage types prefer. Mimosa also requires high
humidity around its fluffy flowers, and is sold in individually sealed
bags.
Chrysanthemums are usually enclosed in cellophane sleeves and packed in
boxes to prevent movement during transit. The cellophane also slows
down the transpiration and evaporation of water from the foliage and
flowers, creating a moist and humid atmosphere. Gerberas, with their
delicate petals, have an inner sleeve in the box so that each flower
head is held quite still during the flower delivery Broadmead process.
Silk flowers for your wedding
Your wedding can still retain ... (more)
Come back and make things right with your florist
My dearest flower series - Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum
has been known as amaryllis for so long that many gardeners think that
is the generic name; to compound the confusion, plants of the true
genus Amaryllis are more familiar as belladonna lilies. The
so-called amaryllis is characterized by clusters of three to four
enormous lily like flowers (some as much as 8 to 10 inches in diameter)
borne at the top of leafless 1- to 2-foot stems in winter and spring.
The flower stalks grow with amazing speed, usually before or at the
same time that new leaves arise from the bulbs. Most large bulbs send
up a second flower stalk about the time that the first one begins to
fade. The dark green strap like leaves grow 18 to 24 inches long. In
some hybrids the foliage is evergreen or nearly evergreen, but most
amaryllis foliage is deciduous and must be allowed to grow until late
summer or early fall, when it withers and dies. ... (more)


