flower blog

For many of us flower lovers, flower shows are the highlight of the spring season. It's a place you come to be dazzled, challenged and inspired. It's also a forum for trading practical tips and ideas. If nothing else, it's nice to know that so many other folks share your passion for flowers.

Sometimes, brand-new varieties are introduced at a show, as was the case at the Philadelphia Flower Show theflowershow.com where the "All That Jazz" tulip and "Cool Splash" honeysuckle were introduced to the world. I was lucky enough to attend the Philly flower show (the theme was Jazz It Up, New Orleans style) and I have posted some pix in today's post.

I've been in touch with flower show organizers in other parts of the U.S. and Canada, and, in the next few weeks, I hope to post shots from other shows.

Enjoy ... and make plans to attend a show or two in 2009! And if you have a flower photo you'd like to share, send it my way.


An entrance to Philly's flower show, the largest indoor flower show in the world.



This year's theme was jazz and many exhibitors played on that motif, literally and figuratively. 



Styer Nurseries' award-winning entry recreated the look of a country cabin in the Deep South.



Tourism Ireland was designed by John Cullen of Dexter, Mich. 



Tulips were one of many flowers judged at the show.



The show had a steady stream of browsers and buyers. The weeklong event draws more than 250,000 visitors.


Flower Fact of the Day: Have you seen the pretty purple wildflower, commonly known as poodle-dog bush? Don't touch it! This flower contains an irritant akin to poison oak. For the full report, see ocregister.com/articles/oldar-flower-bush-2001799-people-fire.
 

 

A showcase of color and containers at Phipps Conservatory's Spring Flower Show.

When: Through April 13
Where: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh
Price: $10 (discounts available)
Contact: phipps.conservatory.com, 412-622-6914

Flower Fact of the Day No. 3: If you're a fan of English gardens and are planning a trip, here's a helpful book to consult: British Bed & Breakfast for Garden Lovers sawdays.co.uk. Now, if only the dollar were in better shape ...
 

Boise Flower & Garden Show has more than 150 booths and displays, includes exotic orchids, container gardens, tree auction, workshops and seminars.

When: March 28-30
Where: Boise Centre on The Grove, downtown Boise
Price: $7 (discounts available)
Contact: gardenshowboise.com, 503-335-3336

Flower Fact of the Day No. 2: Witch hazel shrubs bloom weeks before the stars of spring – daffs, tulips and forsythia – providing a welcome shot of color and fragrance in many winter gardens. For more info, see freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/FEATURES04/803250317.  
 

Tune in this Saturday morning to the Style Network’s “Making It Big: The Floral Designer” mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/index.jsp and see Teleflora’s Rich Salvaggio – floral expert extraordinaire, pictured here – as one of the judges!


L.A. event planner Ruth Moyte will also judge; special guest is floral design guru Hitomi Gilliam.

Making It Big gives three young professionals pursuing high-profile, high-pressure careers the chance to show their stuff to a panel of industry experts. In Saturday’s episode, aspiring floral designers must create decorations for a deluxe dinner party in just two hours.

The reward? Mentoring by celebrity floral designer Preston Bailey in New York City. Bailey’s clients include Oprah, Donald Trump, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

It’s on Saturday at 11 a.m. PST. Check tvguide.com for local airtimes and if you miss it don’t worry, it runs again Monday.
 

According to the site: "Orchids are far tougher and hardier than most people think, and are, by and large, extremely adaptable. ... There are many rugged, popular, easy-to-grow types that adapt to the temperatures and light conditions found on the average home windowsill."

Just be sure to do a little homework to pick the best orchid variety for your part of the world. NYC orchid fans can get inspired at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show, nybg.org. It runs through April 6. And in Atlanta, check out "Orchid Daze, Gargoyles & Grace," atlantabotanicalgarden.org, through March 30. 

On yougrowgirl.com you'll find "A Conversation with Derek Powazek, Apartment Orchid Gardener," yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/12/12/a-conversation-with-derek-powazek-apartment-orchid-gardener. It's a fun and informative read.

Before I sign off, Happy St. Patrick's Day and here are my Flower Facts of the Day: Most orchids need about six hours of light daily. Also, make sure that the soil is properly drained.

And remember: Easter is this Sunday, so if you're shopping online for a bouquet, don't delay! :)
 

If you’re having friends/family over this weekend or on Monday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and find that you’re crunched for time, here are some fast and fun ways to perk up your party plans.

A flash of flowers. The good news is that a green-and-white color scheme is a given. And any dining area will look great in a flash with fresh flowers. The staff at Edelweiss Flower Boutique in Santa Monica edelweissflower.com have been selling floral centerpieces featuring flowers that you might not immediately think of for St. Pat’s: hydrangea, viburnum (similar to hydrangea but smaller), freesia, ranunculus, roses, snapdragon and calla lilies.

They also report that button mums and spider mums as well as mint-green carnations are popular, especially among younger customers. Additionally, metallic accents can give a bouquet a fresh, fun twist. 

View Teleflora's online offerings at teleflora.com/category.asp?rcid=92512.

Lucky cards. Shamrock plants are darling and not very expensive. A four-inch plant costs about $5. Just add paper labels and you’ve got living, breathing placecard holders that your guests can take home as party favors. Or if it’s buffet style, the labels can point out what kind of food is in each dish.

Little bursts of beauty. In addition to your floral centerpiece, ask your florist for some extra blooms so that you can perk up bathrooms, coffee tables and kitchen nooks with flowers. Don’t worry about vases – display them in teapots and cups, or beer mugs.

Sure-fire ice-breaker. Make mistletoe blarney. After all, kissing the stone is a tradition. Use green ribbon to suspend small stones from various doorways and archways. Make a few for various entryways. Anyone caught under the blarney stones must kiss. Time permitting, kids love making anything – stones, shamrocks, flowers – out of papier-mâché, then decorating with poster paint.

Easy eats. The menu could be as simple as spinach dip, corned-beef sandwiches, potato chips, shamrock cookies, and an assortment of cheese with soda bread. It’s actually pretty easy to make and can be made ahead of time. Note: If anyone tells you your bread works better as a blarney stone, make this person drink green beer!

Got a great idea? Send your favorite St. Pat's party tip to Flower Blog and I'll post it on Monday.
 

St. Patrick’s Day is next Monday, but who waits till then to start celebrating?

Whether you’re a parade person or prefer processions in a pub, it’s a day to have fun and wear green. (Btw, did you know that New York City, in 1762, held the first official St. Patrick’s Day parade?)

Another way to mark St. Pat’s is to send a festive bouquet. You’ll find a great selection at teleflora.com/category.asp?rcid=92512.

Ireland is jam-packed with gorgeous plants and blooms so I thought it would be fun to prepare a St. Pat’s quiz for the flower lover in you. Good luck!

1. Which county is known as the garden of Ireland?
A. Wicklow
B. Mayo
C. Cork

2. The word “shamrock” is an anglicized version of the Irish word for clover. True or False?

3. Bells of Ireland, part of the mint family, is not an Irish native. Where is this bloom from originally?
A. Southern France
B. Mexico
C. Western Asia

4. The Mount Usher Gardens (along the River Vartry) are designed in the Robinsonian style. What does that mean?

5. Potatoes grow underground, but the plants also produce above-ground flowers. True or False?

6. What is Ireland's most common wild rose?
A. Dog rose
B. Field rose
C. Rambling rose

ANSWERS
1. A. Wicklow. The movies “Braveheart,” “Michael Collins” and “P.S. I Love You!” were filmed there, fyi. Also, check out Wicklow’s summer gardens fest: castlesgardensireland.com/wicklow-gardens.html  
2. True.
3. C. Bells are originally from western Asia. Fuchsia, another flower strongly associated with Ireland, hails from Chile.
4. A more natural or wild look for gardens instead of geometric, formal layouts; named after Irish gardener and writer William Robinson (1838-1935).
5. True. 
6. A. Dog rose. The rose family includes about 3,000 species. 

Two Teleflora florists won major awards at the Philadelphia Flower Show, theflowershow.com, the world's largest and most prestigious indoor flower show.

Robertson's Flowers, robertsonsflowers.com, won:
• Best Use of Flowering and/or Foliage Pot Plants in the florist category;
• Best Achievement in Distinctive Floral Design; and
• Most Accomplished Display of Forced Plants and/or Cut Flowers.

And David and Robin Heller (in picture below) who jointly run Flowers by David, flowersbydavid.com, won Best Achievement in Floral Design.



Both floral businesses are in Philly.

"We're thrilled, said Robin Heller of the honor, "it's what we do."

(Robertson's creative staff weren't on site, but I'll be sharing their reaction and more about their work in an upcoming post. Their impressive display commanded attention from everyone who passed by.)

David Heller was a featured speaker at the show and he shared ideas for jazzing up flowers at home. A bud vase with a Red Intuition rose and heather got a perk-up by adding some lily grass, strung with a shiny bead or two. Very New Orleans!

Next up was filling a square vase with a chunk of damp foam surrounded by small stones, commonly found in fish tanks and easily bought at a pet-supply store. Placed in the foam: A coral-colored Movie Star rose as well as heather and wheat grass. Yep, that same wheat grass that's often an ingredient in health-food drinks.

Other ideas included using tea leaves, peacock feathers, ribbons and Spanish moss as color and texture accents in floral arrangements.

He also pointed out a little-known fact. Roses grown for retail florists have a higher petal count than roses you find at supermarkets. Good to know.  

The theme of this year's flower show is "Jazz it Up" and seeing the work of floral artists at the top of their game is every bit as exhilarating as those moments when a jazz song just swings.

I'll have more tips from David and Robin, and from Robertson's, in a future post.
 

Like the song says, all you need is music, sweet music, and they'll be dancing everywhere. 

And Philadelphia, PA., is leading the way. This year's flower show theme is "Jazz It Up" and, with loads of live music wafting through the air, some folks are taking the phrase literally.

"People are dancing through the aisles," says Alan Jaffe, of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which produces the show, theflowershow.com. "The music is infectious and people seem to be having a fantastic time."



I didn't actually see anyone boogie amid the blooms, but there's definitely a great energy to the show – maybe it's because so many people attend (about 250,000) and it's such a treat for the senses to see flowers, smell so many delightful fragrances and hear live jazz. And there's no shortage of snacks on hand!

A master gardener from the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland, Kathy S., persuaded her friend to make the trip by saying: "It'll put some spring in our steps."

And a speaker at the flower show, author Barbara Freeman, who came in from chilly Maine, put it this way: "All I had to do was walk out of my hotel this morning and I was in spring." (In a future post, I'll have more on her book, "The Spare Time Gardener.")

Of course, jazzing it up is also a metaphor. Organizers hope attendees will be inspired to think more creatively about their gardens at home, even if it's a small space like a patio, and to view gardening as a means of self-expression.

"I always thought there could be a great connection between plants and music," says Sam Lemheney, design director of the flower show. "It's about taking something and adding personal influences and turning it into a new art."

There's also an element of drama to the show, according to exhibitor John Cullen.  "I think people have come for something that's theatrical," says the proprietor of Celtic Gardens in Dexter, Mich., celticgardenimports.com, whose firm designed and staged the exhibit for Tourism Ireland, discoverireland.com.

The drama, he says, comes from the surprise of seeing lush, fully bloomed plants in late winter. "There's a quote about a stained glass window – from the outside it's dull and lifeless, without shape. But, simply upon entering, the full splendor is revealed. ... When people come inside the flower show, the full splendor of a plant is revealed."

Don't worry if you're not an artist, though. Lemheney notes that the show aims to give people practical applications: "After this year's flower show, you can go home brimming with ideas and do something different in your garden."

That's the draw for Rob and Tina Kraybill of Hershey, PA. "We're interested in finding new things, new varieties – seeing new plants we're not aware of," says Rob Kraybill.

In their case, the newbie list probably isn't that long – the couple has been gardening for about 30 years and currently tend 16 flower beds, plus herbs and veggies.

For Lois St. Pierre of Los Angeles, whose trip to Philly coincided with a visit to her sister in New Jersey, the show brought back memories of attending the event 20 years ago. "It's everything I remember," she says, "with more people!"

I'll be posting pictures from the show next week. If you attended, drop me a line and tell me what you thought.
 

Welcome to the horoscope page, where each month you can read a fun take on the future and see the flower associated with your sign.

   Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 20 / Flower: African violet
 
A close friend may be giving off a negative vibe re: your recent career decision. She may be slightly jealous of your success or your determination to be your own boss. Take double-edged comments with a grain of salt. The 15th will be a lucky day.

   Aquarius: Jan. 21-Feb. 19 / Flower: Orchid
 
Paperwork is like exercise. After you're done, it feels great! Make sure your taxes are filed and a major load will be off your shoulders. And you'll probably have enough energy for an extra workout.

   Pisces: Feb. 20-March 20 / Flower: Alstroemeria
 
You may be called on to make a hiring decision this month. Go with your gut and once your new colleague is aboard, remember what it's like to be the new guy or gal. Fyi, fresh flowers are stress busters and a few bouquets in the office can calm everyone's nerves.

 

   Aries: March 21-April 20 / Flower: Tulip
 
Stressed out? Tired all the time? Resist your inclination to juggle 1,001 projects and take it s-l-o-w, just for a day or two. Your body and soul will thank you. If you find you can't sit still, use the time to plan a romantic evening.

 

   Taurus: April 21-May 21 / Flower: Lily
 
Varying your routine a little bit can refresh you in a big way. Eat at a new restaurant. Grocery shop in a new store. You will have some good financial news by the 21st. And a surprise gathering this month will be a highlight of the spring.

 

   Gemini: May 22-June 21 / Flower: Rose

You will reach a turning point in your love life. In a good way! We won't be around forever so treasure every moment with the people you're close to. Why not try keeping a gratitude journal as a family?

 

   Cancer: June 22-July 22 / Flower: Delphinium

As a water sign, connecting with a pond, lake or ocean – even the healing water of your own shower! – will act as a tonic for any lingering winter blues. You may also take a dive into a new field of knowledge – quickly becoming an expert in an area you previously knew nothing about. 

 

   Leo: July 23- Aug. 22 / Flower: Sunflower

The luck of the Irish will be with you when you shop this month. Without even trying, you'll find bargains and deals galore. If you see a slinky date dress and think "no where to wear it" buy it anyway. An opportunity will arise to show it off. And you'll look terrific!

 

   Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 23 / Flower: Daisy
 
Have you been putting off a difficult conversation? Funny how every time it crosses your mind, you remember that you have to clean out your closets. Write down a few points you'd like to make and rehearse. It will make it much easier. And by the 13th, your love life will be hot, hot, hot!
 

   Libra: Sept. 24-Oct. 23 / Flower: Hydrangea

Choose a way to soothe – green tea, yoga, massage. Relaxation is especially important because March may be unexpectedly stressful. But you'll handle it and you may find that a long-term problem solves itself by the end of the month.

 

   Scorpio: Oct. 24-Nov. 22 / Flower: Peony

You had some exciting news in February (maybe an engagement?) that will continue to bring you joy and wonder. Savor this time. It's all about you and your beloved. And that's the way it should be! 

 

   Sagittarius: Nov. 23-Dec. 21 / Flower: Carnation
 
If you're toying with the idea of taking a class, ask yourself if you could teach it. Want to spruce up your home? Consider adding a new room. In other words, think big. This spring is a perfect time to make a change because you'll have confidence galore and boundless energy.