april 2008

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April 30, 2008 | teleflora news

Ways to let Mom know you love her

by Jacqueline


With all our mothers do for us, sometimes they're shy about telling us what they want.

Have you ever heard: “Oh, you don’t have to get me anything.” I know I have!

But Mother's Day is around the corner and this year is the 100th anniversary so all of us at Teleflora want to make the holiday extra special.

With that in mind, here are some tips to planning a perfect day:

Eating out? Plan ahead! It's one of the busiest (if not the busiest) day of the year and tables for brunch are filling up fast. If you're eating at home, don't let Mom lift a finger. Cooking at home is also a good chance to record all of Mom's favorite recipes.

Get creative. Write a poem or rewrite the lyrics to a song, making it all about Mom. Make a family photo collage or a photo timeline of major events in Mom's life. Poll other family members and draft a list of Mom's Top 10 Nuggets of Advice.

Floral bouquet for America's Favorite Mom

Tell Mom how you feel. No matter what words you choose, flowers will let Mom know you care. Sure, flowers have a brief life, but isn't that a reminder that no one will be here forever? Cherish your loved ones while you can.

And many Teleflora bouquets offer the best of both worlds in a gift. First, there's the delight of fresh gorgeous flowers. After the flowers are gone, Mom can keep on enjoying the container that held them. For instance, I saw this darling teapot at the office today (shown above) and thought it would be perfect for all the mothers I know.

Remember what I said about planning ahead? Same goes for ordering flowers! Carnations were the first flower to be worn on Mother's Day, and they remain a classic. But don't forget roses, lilies, alstroemeria, orchids, daisies, whatever flowers are Mom's favorites.

And don't forget to watch Teleflora's America's Favorite Mom americasfavoritemom.com Mother's Day TV special at 7 p.m./6c on NBC. And starting Monday, the semi-finalists will be profiled on NBC's "The Today Show." I can't wait to see their faces and hear their stories!

Flower Fact of the Day: On May 1, residents of Hawaii celebrate their culture by wearing floral lei. In Honolulu tomorrow, folks are attempting to break a Guiness world record by making a mile-long lei with thousands of fresh flowers. To read more, visit: khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=8259948.  
 

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April 29, 2008 | florist in the spotlight

Florists have a unique ‘glimpse of friendship, romance, birth and death’

by Jacqueline

With so many days and ways to send flowers, florists are behind-the-scenes witnesses to the milestones, celebrations and turning points that so often unite friends and families.

Sally Page, author of “The Flower Shop: A Year in the Life of a Country Flower Shop” ($34.95, 1-800-841-0873, halffullpress.com), puts it this way: “As the year passes the flower shop becomes quietly and discreetly intertwined in people’s lives. We catch a glimpse of friendship, romance, birth and death.”

I recently talked with a florist who surprised me by saying that funeral flowers are a challenge she especially enjoys.

Marie Majusiak of Watertown Flowers, Inc. in Watertown, South Dakota, watertownflowers.com, told me: “I think flowers are such a part of everyone’s life and when someone has died, flowers are extremely important for family members. They see how their loved one is honored and remembered – it means so much to them and makes it easier to accept what’s going on.”

Florists

Marie Majusiak and her mother Olga of Watertown Flowers.

Marie's aim with floral arrangements is to create a beautiful setting so that the family has something else to focus on besides grief. “The flowers have to be done quickly and they have to be perfect,” she says.

The fact that flowers span so many aspects of our lives also makes her work rewarding. “Every day is different,” she says, “and our town is extremely generous about sending flowers.”

To read more about Marie’s family-run business, founded in 1954, visit: teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG/post/Florist-in-focus-Watertown-Flowers-Inc-of-Watertown-South-Dakota.aspx.  

Florists: What events in your customers' lives give you the greatest challenges and rewards?

Flower Fact of the Day: If you’re a Midwestern gardener looking for a rose that’s well suited to a tall hedge, the Ballerina, Buff Beauty and Carefree Wonder are good bets. For a low hedge, try Anabell, Escapade, or Wife of Bath. To see the full list and get lots more advice on roses, read Maggie Oster at: garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/2753.  
 

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April 28, 2008 | out and about

Answers to the Agatha Christie trivia quiz

by Jacqueline


1. Stockbroker. When he died, the family went through a difficult time financially and young Agatha learned the importance of financial security. 

2. Belgian. At the time of writing (World War 1), her use of a Belgian character would have been considered patriotic.

3. "The Murder at the Vicarage," from 1930.

4. Albert Finney

5. True

6. True

 

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April 28, 2008 | out and about

Immerse yourself in California’s native flora

by Jacqueline

Ready to leave civilization and lose yourself in the beauty of a floral landscape? Believe me, if I drove you there, you’d definitely get lost! ;)

A few weeks ago, I ran a post from a reader about visiting the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. The latest Westways magazine (a publication of AAA Auto Club, aaa.com) picked Antelope Valley as a top spot to visit to learn about California’s native flora.

Poppies

Here are some more entries on the Westways' list:

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Tour a garden dedicated to the study of native California plants; research library has more than 48,000 books.
Where: 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont
Contact: 909-625-8767, rsabg.org  
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Open daily, except major holidays
Suggested donation: $4 per person; $8 family

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
May and June are particularly good times to see native flora in this 78-acre garden.
Where: 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara
Contact: 805-682-4726, sbbg.org  
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in winter; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. other months. Open daily, except major holidays and during special events
Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors

Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery Garden
English nurseryman Theodore Payne spent his life promoting California’s plant communities; hundreds of native plants and seeds on view and available to buy. Foundation sponsors a garden tour in the spring.
Where: 10459 Tuxford Street, Sunland
Contact: 818-768-1802, theodorepayne.org  
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday from July 1 to Oct. 15; Tuesday through Saturday from Oct. 16-June 30
Admission: Free

Arroyo Seco-South Pasadena Woodland and Wildlife Park
Restored pocket park features rarely seen native California walnut trees, among other plants.
Where: 100 block of Pasadena Avenue, South Pasadena
Contact: 626-584-9902, arroyoseco.org  

Audubon Center at Debs Park
The 282-acre parkland offers hiking, nature trails and a pond in addition to the Audubon Learning Center.
Where: 4700 N. Griffin Ave., Los Angeles
Contact: 323-221-2255, audubon-ca.org/debs_park.htm  
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Closed Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays

Fullerton Arboretum
A collection of more than 4,000 plants on 26 acres.
Where: 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton
Contact: 714-278-3407, arboretum.fullerton.edu  

The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College
Mediterranean plants from all over the world attract visitors to this garden; California natives have a designated area. There are also displays showing how ancient tribes used basketry and ceremonial plants.
Where: 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon
Contact: 619-660-0614, thegarden.org  
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open daily, some holidays excepted.
Admission: Free

Flower Fact of the Day: Want to get your hands dirty in your own garden? Folks in the Minneapolis area are better off waiting until after Mother's Day. For the full report on when to plant what and where, visit: wcco.com/local/flowers.plantingadvice.2.709472.html.
 

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April 25, 2008 | out and about

And now for your Agatha Christie trivia fix

by Jacqueline


1) Agatha Christie’s father was American. What was his occupation?

2) What’s Hercule Poirot’s nationality?

3) Poirot was introduced in “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” from 1920. Which book, published 10 years later, gave us Miss Marple?

4) Who played Poirot in 1974’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” directed by Sidney Lumet? Co-stars included: Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Richard Widmark, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael York.

5) Poirot was given an obituary in the New York Times. True or False?

6) Christie got the name Marple from a railway sign. True or False?

Answers on Monday!
 

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April 25, 2008 | out and about

Fresh blooms, foul play and Agatha Christie’s favorite flowers ...

by Jacqueline

Ever notice the connection between gardening and detective fiction? Agatha Christie’s beloved character Miss Marple often mulls over clues while pulling weeds in her garden. Nero Wolfe (a creation of author Rex Stout) grows orchids. The popular British TV series Rosemary and Thyme” starred actresses Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris as flower-powered mystery-solvers.

Even if the sleuths' digging is all for clues, the English countryside, tranquil and idyllic, provides the perfect contrast for chilling crimes.
Am I on to something here? “Absolutely,” says award-winning mystery writer Rhys Bowen, rhysbowen.com, a native of Bath, England, who now lives in San Francisco. “The British love their gardens in a way Americans can’t understand. They are often the only ones doing the gardening – they don’t tend to hire gardeners. People in England like the wildness of their gardens. There’s often interesting shrubbery that could hide bodies.”

Bowen’s latest book, “A Royal Pain: A Royal Spyness Mystery,” will hit shelves in July. She is also the author of the Molly Murphy and Evan Evans series.

She points out that gardening is very similar to writing. “You’re trying to tame something and make sense out of it, to make it satisfying.”

Tree peony

If mysteries set in this green and pleasant land are your cup of tea, then in addition to Bowen’s new book, here are some stellar DVDs to add to your collection, available from Acorn Media, at 888-870-8047 or acornonline.com.  

• “Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Classic Collection 2
Actor David Suchet brings Hercule Poirot’s inimitable brilliance to the screen in this 10-disc collection of the popular British TV series. In addition to 9 feature-length films, the set has a wonderful bonus feature: “Agatha Christie’s Garden,” a look at the author’s life and happy times she spent at her glorious summer retreat Greenway, a 30-acre Georgian estate in Devon. Pam Ferris of “Rosemary & Thyme” appears along with esteemed author P.D. James and Christie's grandson. The collection is $99.99; other Poirot sets are also available, as are Miss Marple sets with Geraldine McEwan and Joan Hickson.

Though Christie didn’t garden herself, she was fond of spending time there and had definite opinions about what should be planted. Her favorite flowers were hydrangea, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron, and she enjoyed eating produce from the vegetable garden and fruit trees. Christie also had an eye for business and started a commercial nursery on the estate.

Greenway is now owned by the National Trust; parts of the estate (including the gardens) are open to the public.

• "Rosemary & Thyme: The Complete Collection"
It’s hard not to like ex-policewoman Laura Thyme and Rosemary Boxer, a former professor. Both characters share a passion for horticulture and a talent for cracking cases. Shot on location in England and Europe, this hit series ran from 2003 to 2007. The complete collection is 22 episodes on 9 DVDs, $99.99; series 1, 2 and 3 are available separately.

• “Midsomer Murders
Based on characters created by highly acclaimed detective writer Caroline Graham, this long-running TV drama (it started in 1997) is a clever update on the English village mystery. John Nettles stars as sleuth Tom Barnaby. Sets 1-10, $39.99-59.99.

Flower Fact of the Day: The Memphis Garden Club hosts the 15th Memphis Flower Show this weekend at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Read all about it and see some highlights at: commercialappeal.com/news/2008/apr/25/art-imitates-art.  
 

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April 24, 2008 | out and about

Celebrate Mother’s Day with beautiful bouquets and our top 21 movies about moms

by Jacqueline


This weekend, two mother-themed movies hit theaters: “Baby Mama,” a comedy about hiring a surrogate starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and from director/actress Helen HuntThen She Found Me,” a drama about a woman who, in the midst of a midlife crisis, is reconnected with her biological mother. (Bette Midler co-stars with Hunt.)

If you and your mother are likely to see these movies by Mother’s Day, rest assured, there are lots of other films that are perfect to rent. What better way for Mom to relax after brunch than a good movie? Watching a movie at home with the family lets Mom keep enjoying her gorgeous bouquet of Mother’s Day flowers. Aah, I can almost smell them now…roses, lilies, stock … beats popcorn any day!

And a bonus: You'll be all set to watch Teleflora's America's Favorite Mom americasfavoritemom.com Mother's Day TV special at 7 p.m./6c on NBC.

Floral bouquet for America's Favorite Mom

So, here are some favorite flicks (be warned, some are tear-jerkers!) and the actresses who star as Mom:

“Stella Dallas,” 1937, Barbara Stanwyck

“The Grapes of Wrath,” 1940, Jane Darwell

“How Green Was My Valley,” 1941, Sara Allgood

“Open City,” 1945, Anna Magnani

“Mildred Pierce,” 1945, Joan Crawford

“I Remember Mama,”1948, Irene Dunne

“Imitation of Life, 1959, Lana Turner (Claudette Colbert stars in the 1934 version)

“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More,” 1975, Ellen Burstyn

“Terms of Endearment,” 1983, Shirley MacLaine

“Mask,” 1985, Cher

“Steel Magnolias,” 1989, Sally Field

“Stella,” 1990, Bette Midler

“The Joy Luck Club,” 1993, Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu

“Mrs. Doubtfire,” 1993, Robin Williams

“Serial Mom,” 1994, Kathleen Turner

“Mother,” 1996, Debbie Reynolds

“Secrets and Lies,” 1996, Brenda Blethyn

“Hope Floats,” 1998, Sandra Bullock

“One True Thing,” 1998, Meryl Streep

“Anywhere But Here,” 1999, Susan Sarandon

“Chocolat,” 2000, Juliette Binoche

What is your favorite mom movie or TV show? Write in and let us know.

Flower Fact of the Day:
From Saturday to Tuesday, the Boston Museum of Fine Art mfa.org hosts its annual floral festival Art in Bloom. Sunday's headlining event is a talk and demo from NYC-based floral designer Michael George. If you can't make it to the show, read a Boston Globe interview with George at: boston.com/lifestyle/house/articles/2008/04/24/
doing_the_bare_minimum
.
 

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April 23, 2008 | floral calendar

Green thumbs gather in the Big Apple

by Jacqueline

NYC GROWS Garden Festival features demos, kids' activities and a prize drawing of more than $5,000.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 27
Where: Union Square Park, New York City
Price: Free
Contact: garden.org/nycgrows  
 

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April 23, 2008 | out and about

Flowers, plants grab Rodeo Drive spotlight

by Jacqueline


Rodeo Drive plants

Walk down LA’s world-famous Rodeo Drive and you might spot a movie star or some serious power shoppers. But for sure you’ll see gorgeous flowers and plants.

And you might wonder how they got there and who takes care of them…

Most of the blooms are the result of Beverly Hills’ Urban Design Program, a plan to enhance the pedestrian experience in a five-street area anchored by Rodeo Drive, says Daniel E. Cartagena, assistant to the city manager. The program started rolling out in 2003.

The lengthy list of improvements (replacing and widening sidewalks and street medians, for example) also included replacing ficus trees with King Palm trees, planting Medjool Palms, roses, philodendron and agapanthus, as well as installing planter urns that hold seasonal flowers.

City crews provide landscape maintenance and tree trimming.

As for the program’s success, Cartagena says: “We’ve had a warm response from business owners and shoppers.”

Another testament to the power of flowers!

As for the delightful hanging flower baskets, they’re maintained independently of Beverly Hills city management by 2 Rodeo Drive, http://tworodeo.com/.  

But more flower baskets may be on the horizon. Beverly Hills is looking at adding that feature to its streets, says Cartagena. Before making a final decision, they’ll need to consider irrigation (the flower baskets on 2 Rodeo are hand-watered), weight and wind load, as well as maintenance costs.

Rodeo Drive plants

Flower Fact of the Day: California cut-flower growers are voicing their concerns about proposed legislation to make permanent trade agreements with Latin American growers. For the full story, go to: venturacountystar.com/news/2008/apr/20/floral-industry-survivors.
 

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April 22, 2008 | out and about

Container gardens are a great way to go green

by Jacqueline


Container garden

Earth Day is an ideal time to start planning a container garden. Why? All plants help clean the air, but putting them in containers saves water.

For some tips, I turned to Karl Gercens of Longwood Gardens Inc. in Kennett Square, PA, longwoodgardens.org. “Creating mixed containers is one of the most exciting types of gardening one can indulge in,” says Gercens, who started gardening in 3rd grade with his grandmother on their family farm in Mississippi.

He points out that containers let you highlight the beauty of individual plants and have flexibility with your garden.

“They’re living flower arrangements and you can change them and rearrange them on a regular basis, say with the four seasons.”

He encourages people plan first and plant later.

Think about why you want to plant a container garden. The next step is choosing the correct container for your garden. There are so many choices it’s important to match your needs with what’s out there. Container planting media is an important consideration if you’re going to have tropical plants, which love extra food and water, or desert plants, which need sharp drainage and little feed.

Site selection is always a primary concern as sun loving plants shouldn’t be placed in shade and vice versa. Watering, fertilizing and grooming are regular maintenance duties that should attract attention.”

Container garden

Also in honor of Earth Day, here are some good reads:

10 ways to help the Earth's health: green.yahoo.com/news/livescience/20080422/sc_livescience/
10waysyoucanimproveearthshealth.html


Top 10 indoor plants:
home.ivillage.com/gardening/picks/indoor/0,,,00.html  

For city folks who crave some green:
Moss in the City” by William Moss is aimed at urban and small-space gardeners, garden.org/urbangardening.

Container garden

Flower Fact of the Day: This comes courtesy of the above-mentioned and aptly named Mr. Moss: Plant hardy annuals like snapdragons and larkspur in front of and between your spring bulbs. The colorful annual flowers will help hide the fading foliage of tulips and daffodils.
 

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April 21, 2008 | out and about

Exploring Frida Kahlo’s connection to flowers

by Jacqueline


Flowers at Frida Kahlo show

For fans of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-54), the exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth is a must-see. “Frida Kahlo” started at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis walkerart.org, runs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art philamuseum.org though May 18 and will be at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art sfmoma.org from June 16-Sept. 28.

I saw the show in Philadelphia and noticed how closely Kahlo was connected to nature, especially flowers. With that in mind, I asked Betsy Carpenter, associate curator at the Walker Art Center to share her thoughts on that connection (see the Q&A below).

I also found out that Tim Farrell of Farrell’s Florist in Drexel Hill, PA, farrellsflorist.com, provided the flower arrangements for a special event at the Philly museum. As you can see from these pictures, he did a terrific job.

Flowers at Frida Kahlo show

Flowers at Frida Kahlo show

There was also an uncommon bonus: “The event actually was true to the heritage of the artist since the flowers were all varieties that can be bought from Mexican growers,” says Farrell.

And now the Q&A with assistant curator Betsy Carpenter.

Q Do you think flowers were a significant motif in Kahlo’s work?
A Absolutely, Kahlo included flowers and vegetation in many of her paintings—sometimes flowers are seen in her works as ornaments in her often meticulously coiffed hairstyles, but more often they provide fascinating and often shallow, claustrophobic backdrops for her self-portraits.

Kahlo also frequently connected herself to the world of nature and the earth by creating elaborate roots systems in several of her paintings.

Q Why might she have been drawn to flowers?
A In 1925, Kahlo was involved in a near-fatal bus accident in which she sustained injuries that caused her great pain and physical disability for the rest of her life.

After the accident Kahlo was forced to stay at home, and at times she was bound to her bed for weeks or months at a time. Her artist studio was situated in her home, not far from her bed. Nothing, not even this terrible accident, kept her from working.

This may, in part, account for why she painted so many self-portraits, and I believe is one reason she may have painted flowers and plants in such detail. She lived most of her life at the Casa Azul (Blue House), her childhood home in the village of Coyoacán, which was built around a gorgeous courtyard filled with flora and fauna. It is not surprising that she turned to flowers and plants to communicate her subject matter.

Kahlo may have also been drawn to flowers because she was fascinated with the theme of fertility, which reinforced her conviction of the unity of all things—human beings, flower and plants, animals, the earth, the sun and moon, and the universe.

This idea of interconnectedness prompted her to paint several hybrids that combine plant and animal forms with human anatomy. This fascination with fertility may also have come in part from Kahlo’s thwarted wish to have a child—she was never able to carry a baby to term.

Q What, if any, symbolism did flowers hold for Kahlo?
A The flowers in her paintings often serve as symbols of fertility and fecundity, reaffirming her intimate awareness of the relative brevity of the cycle of life. Kahlo would have known that Aztec poets used plant imagery to reinforce the fact that life and death are inevitable, and in her quest to celebrate her national heritage, explored the same themes of her ancient ancestors.

Q How did painting flowers help connect her to heritage?
A In her work she expressed her passionate embrace of Mexicanidád—a revaluing of indigenous culture and an ethos shared by many artists, writers, and musicians in the years following the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Kahlo’s images, which included fantastical flowers and plants, were grounded in Mexican popular art, as well as her day to day realities and her immediate environment.

By including flowers native to Mexico in her compositions, she was able to celebrate her national heritage, and share the beauty of Mexico’s natural world with people from all over the world.

Do you have a favorite flower painter or painting? Write in and tell us why you love it.

Flower Fact of the Day: Remember that this is the week to express your thanks and appreciation to your secretarial/admin staff. What says “fantastic job” better than flowers?
 

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April 18, 2008 | out and about

’Tis the season: A wonderful time for wildflowers in California

by Jacqueline


Poppies

Showers really do bring flowers, especially in California. The extra rainfall this year has spurred a terrific season of wildflowers.

That means it’s a great time to get out and explore. A reader (geekbearinggifts) recently told me about the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627 and kindly shared some tips for a visit.

Getting there
The Poppy Reserve is technically in Lancaster, but it’s really about 15 miles northwest of the city. From Los Angeles, take the I-5 to the 14 North into the Antelope Valley. Depending on traffic and exactly where you are coming from, I would plan on 1-2 hours to get there. Get off at Avenue I (that's the letter “I” as in H-I-J-K), and go west. The road will make some zigs and change names, but it will take you right into the Reserve, with lots of flowers along the way, so just keep following it – you're not lost! There is a road to the Interpretive Center on the right side of the road. It is well marked, and there are trails to some beautiful areas which start there.

What to bring
Wear athletic shoes or light hiking boots. We took a day pack. Plan to use sun screen, wear a hat, carry water with you, and bring a camera and a windbreaker. Bring food if you are planning to make a day of it – there are picnic tables available. The bathrooms are at the trail head, and they are glorified outhouses, with a hand-washing station outside on one end of the row. You pump the water with your foot to get a dribble. We carried hand sanitizer, too.

Timing
The trails from the center are not long (about 8 miles total for all of them) but you will probably spend a long time checking things out, especially if you are taking pictures. There are benches here and there along the trails. We got there mid-afternoon and left about 6:00 p.m. The Interpretive Center closes before that, but you can still be on the trails (I think till sunset). I have never seen anything quite like it.

Parking fee
During wildflower season you pay for parking unless you already have a California Parks pass of some kind. Passenger cars are $5, less if you have a senior (62+) in the car, or someone with the Disabled Discount Pass. If you go when the Interpretive Center is open, you can pay them something like 50 cents to send you a post card next year when the blooms are reaching their peak.

Here is a page of current photos: parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24984.

Enjoy!

Thank you, GBG. If you have a favorite flower destination, Flower Blog would love to hear about it.

Flower Fact of the Day: Since World War I, poppies have been used as a symbol to honor veterans in the U.K.
 

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April 17, 2008 | out and about

Study: Giving flowers is good for your image

by Jacqueline

Turns out, bouquets of lovely blooms benefit both the giver and the recipient. This is useful knowledge for everyone and particularly for bosses and execs, considering that next week is Professional Secretaries Week.

New research from Rutgers University found that those who send flowers, compared with other gifts, are viewed as successful, caring and emotionally intelligent people. Findings include:

• Both men and women who give flowers are perceived as happy, achieving, strong, capable and courageous people.

• Men and women come across as more emotionally intelligent; they give the impression they can effectively express their feelings and take time to understand the feelings of others.

• Female floral gifters are viewed as more appreciative of beauty and nature.

“Our findings show that you can influence and change what people think of you in a significant way through the gifts you give,” says researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D. “That news is particularly important to those interested in enhancing friendships and romances, even business relationships.”

To read more, visit aboutflowers.com/power_of_giving.htm.

Whether you want to elevate your standing in the office or express your thanks for the huge support you get from the admin pros you work with (what would you do without ‘em?), flowers are the answer!

Yellow lily 

Flower Fact of the Day: Looking for especially fragrant flowers? Try stock, lilies, narcissus, hyacinths, freesia and tuberose.
 

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April 16, 2008 | out and about

Donny and Marie Osmond: A trivia quiz

by Jacqueline

I’ve been looking at some of the candidates for Teleflora's America’s Favorite Mom americasfavoritemom.com and there are some really wonderful, touching stories.

On Mother’s Day (7 p.m./6c May 11) Donny and Marie Osmond will be hosting the America’s Favorite Mom special on NBC. The week before, the "Today" show will profile 15 semifinalists.

Nominations for America’s Favorite Mom are being accepted through April 25. Whether or not your mother is in the running, Teleflora has fabulous fresh flower bouquets that make it easy to show Mom how much you love her and appreciate all she’s done for you.

In anticipation of Donny and Marie singing on the show, I put together a quiz about the multi-talented sibs.

1. What is Donny and Marie’s mother’s name?
A. Olive
B. Anna
C. Marjorie

2. What year did “The Donny & Marie” TV show start?
A. 1975
B. 1976
C. 1977

3. Donny and Marie had one caveat for the show, which was:
A.
That country and rock get equal time.
B. That shooting accommodate their touring schedule.
C. That the whole family be involved.

4. All of the Osmond siblings studied karate with Chuck Norris. True or False?

5. Marie’s first TV appearance was at age 3 when she was introduced as “the youngest Osmond Brother.” The TV show was:
A. “The Andy Williams Show”
B. “The Mike Douglas Show”
C. “The Merv Griffin Show"

6. Who is the baby of the Osmond family?
A.
Jay
B. Jimmy
C. Alan

ANSWERS
1. A Olive. Olive Marie Osmond is Marie’s birth name; she played the role of her mother for the 1982 TV movie “Side By Side: The Story of the Osmond Family.”
2. B 1976
3. C That the whole family be involved.
4. True
5. A
6. B Jimmy
 

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April 16, 2008 | teleflora news

Teleflora flowers featured on ‘Price is Right’

by Jacqueline


Price Is Right

A year’s worth of gorgeous blooms (one bouquet a month) was among the showcase prizes recently featured on “The Price is Right.”

You can see for yourself by tuning in on April 18. Check your local listings for times.

Some colleagues and I attended the taping at CBS in late March and it was a fun behind-the-scenes look at a television institution.

At 36 years old, “The Price is Right” is the longest running game show in history; it averages 5 million viewers daily. Current host Drew Carey’s dry wit and easy rapport helps contestants stay calm (sort of) while the excited audience cheers them on. Before the show starts, dance music pumps into the studio, lest anyone’s energy level begins to dip.

There were lots of students on spring break in the audience, some of whom had traveled across the country to take part. (I can’t tell you who won or I’d spoil the surprise.)

During a break in taping, Carey was asked by an out-of-towner for dinner recommendations. His picks: In-N-Out Burger, Roscoe’s House of Chicken’ N Waffles, Pink’s Hot Dogs on LaBrea and King Taco.

This is the second of three appearances for TF flowers; stay tuned for more details.

Flower Fact of the Day: Sweet violet was exported widely from Europe in colonial times and was a popular cut flower in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, according to author Mick Lavelle.
 

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April 15, 2008 | teleflora news

Meet some peeps at Teleflora, find out who won the Diamonds & Roses grand prize

by Jacqueline

The backbone of Teleflora’s business is its hard-working florists so it’s nice when they get recognition for their effort. And for the winner of Teleflora's Diamonds & Roses Sweepstakes, picking up the $50,000 diamond earrings wasn’t bad either!

Thomas Kenia of Gilbert, Ariz., received the white-gold, round-cut diamond earrings late last month in Phoenix. One of 51,000 consumers who entered Teleflora’s Diamonds & Roses sweepstakes, he selected the bouquet for his girlfriend. “This was my first Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend,” said Kenia. “I wanted to make it special, but I never thought it would end up like this.”

Baseline Flower Growers hand-arranged and hand-delivered the winning bouquet. Teleflora Chairman Tom Butler was in Phoenix for the big day. “I was thrilled to present owner Nick Nakagawa with a $3,000 check and certificate for a year of free Teleflora membership,” said Butler.

Pictured from left to right are: Maria Marquez, Nick Nakagawa, Michelle Maya, Sylvia Martinez and Tom Butler.

Diamonds and Roses

Nakagawa, 84, who started this family business some 50 years ago, plans to share the $3,000 with his staff. Baseline Flower Growers has been part of the Teleflora family for more than 10 years.

Flower Fact of the Day: Air pollution from power plants and cars has reduced the potency of flower fragrances, according to a new study. Read more at: news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080411-flowers-pollution.html
 

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April 14, 2008 | florist in the spotlight

Luscious blooms and luxurious rooms: Flowers at the Beverly Hills Hotel

by Jacqueline

Flowers at Beverly Hills Hotel

Great hotels know the power of gorgeous flowers. For instance, when you step into the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel (9641 Sunset Blvd., thebeverlyhillshotel.com), the huge, stunning arrangements immediately catch your eye and boost your mood. And whether you live locally and are stopping by for Sunday brunch or you’re staying in a bungalow for a two-week vacation, every time you pass the flowers, you enjoy their radiance and lovely fragrance.

Silver Birches in Pasadena, silverbirches.net, part of the Teleflora network, supplies, designs and maintains flowers for all common areas, room service and functions at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I checked in with Silver Birches’ floral division director Michael Daniels, who has been designing for 25 years and is marking his third year with the hotel, to see what the work entails.

Flowers at Beverly Hills Hotel

Daniels says the lobby flowers change once a week (typical for upscale hotels). How many flowers does he use each week for the common areas? It can vary from a massive branch accentuated with a few flowers to a stem count of 300 or more.

Being fresh is important literally and figuratively. He uses blooms that offer longevity (amaryllis, cymbidium orchids, lilies) and always looks for ways to reinvent and stay off the beaten path – for example, using kalanchoe as a cut flower. Also, right now, he’s “mad about gladioli.”

He says he likes to play on the Beverly Hills Hotel’s tropical vibe by mixing tropical flowers with seasonal blooms, such as when he recently combined pink bromeliads with pink cherry blossom. For room service flowers, he’s created a signature Art Deco look.

Key to his success is holding true to his own design aesthetic. That can be a challenge at times since flower arranging is highly subjective and each person who looks at the arrangements will have a different opinion. “If you try to please everyone, you get vanilla,” he says.

Flower Fact of the Day: Two students in Queens were chosen to welcome Pope Benedict XVI with flowers when he arrives in New York this week. Read the full story at: ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=80299  
 

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April 11, 2008 | out and about

N’awlins gardening joie de vivre: Part Two

by Jacqueline


Louisiana garden

In yesterday’s post, a 10th-generation gardener from just north of New Orleans named Felder Rushing felderrushing.net shared his perspective on the lush and lovely vegetation that abounds in the Big Easy.

Today Felder talks about plants to choose from if you’d like to add a dash of Southern spice to your garden gumbo.

Felder Rushing on creating a slice of NOLA
New Orleans gardens are much more than the hanging baskets and carefully tended but hidden inner courtyards of the French Quarter. A leisurely walk or drive around the Garden District off St. Charles – any month of the year – will inspire and quicken the pulse of even the most meticulous gardener. There is something for everyone, from terraced mansions with Old World culture and style to outlandish cottages with innovative twists.

Yet there’s something about New Orleans terroir – the sounds, the tastes and smells, the undeniable effect of the climate on skin and attitudes – that keeps it from being a cacophony. If you create a slice of its look and feel in your own inner garden, you’ll know when you get it right when you catch yourself thinking, if not saying, “C’est la vie!”

New Orleans container garden

New Orleans “style” gardens could include:

Annuals: castor bean, basil, cleome, coleus, impatiens, pentas, pepper, ornamental sweet potato, zinnia, hollyhock and begonias.

Perennials and bulbs: caladium, canna, miscanthus, ajuga, artemisia, daylily, ferns, mallows, sedums, violets, yarrow, mint, gladiolus, hosta, iris, amaryllis, dahlia, elephant ears and lantana.

Tropical plants: Asparagus ferns, phormium, philodendrums, spider or airplane plant, sago, fatsia, aucuba, palms, rubber tree, dwarf schefflera (Arbicola).

Shrubs: agave, azaleas, conifers, boxwood, elderberry, hydrangeas, lilac, pyracantha, rose of Sharon (althaea), everblooming shrub roses, buddleja, camellia (C. oleifera and Ackerman hybrids are cold tolerant), hollies, and magnolias (especially M. grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ in a large pot). Also include hardy vines such as ivy, fatshedera and climbing roses.

Note: Many of these plants are considered invasive weeds in other parts of the country; garden responsibly and keep them contained! (New Orleans gardeners simply don’t care – we have to weed our gardens regularly ANYWAY!)

New Orleans courtyard

About the author
Felder Rushing, syndicated garden columnist, author of 15 garden books, and host of a public radio gardening program, is a 10th-generation Southern gardener from just north of New Orleans. He is a contributing editor for Horticulture Magazine. For more tips on “N’awlins’-style” gardening – in or out of the South – e-mail him at felderrushing.net.

Flower Fact of the Day: Are you a fan of dahlias? Then here's a London Times must-read, contending that "dahlias are a bit like Winston Churchill or John Travolta." It's a hoot and writer James Alexander-Sinclair uses the word "kerfuffle," which made my day! Read it at: http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/
gardens/article3521311.ece

 

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April 10, 2008 | out and about

N’awlins joie de vivre in your own back yard

by Jacqueline


New Orleans French Quarter cascading plants

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the world so when I heard gardening guru Felder Rushing felderrushing.net speak recently, I knew he was a natural for Flower Blog. I’m hoping the originality that infuses the Big Easy might inspire your gardening – or at least lend some panache to your outdoor entertaining plans.

Felder has a lot to share so I’m turning over to him. Tomorrow I will run more photos as well as plants to choose for a New Orleans style garden. (What follows is a condensed version of an article that appeared in Green Scenes Magazine, published by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society.)

80 degrees at three in the morning
New Orleans is one of the steamiest towns in America, partly because it is below sea level and surrounded by miles of swampland that filter what few breezes waft in from the Gulf of Mexico. And did I mention it doesn’t cool off at night?

Gardeners in New Orleans think 80 degrees at three in the morning is perfectly normal. And they glide gracefully through humidity so thick you can lick it, while visitors stand around panting until they stop struggling and simply limber up. It’s why New Orleans is called the Big Easy. We aren’t slow out of laziness; it’s our humidity-survival mode.

Bottle tree

Flamboyant is a relative concept
Visitors are immediately struck by the lavish decadence of New Orleans. This is a town where flamboyant is a relative concept.

Because of the city's celebrated mixed heritage and early lack of zoning or covenants it’s usual to see (in all but the most staid areas of the upper-crust Garden District) purple Victorian “painted lady” houses nestled between bold pink, royal blue or lime green cottages and filigreed rowhouses encrusted with cutout gingerbread details in contrasting pastels.

Painted Garden

Mardi Gras beads festooning trees; a vinyl alligator mailbox
And add a dash of déclassé – in New Orleans, Mardi Gras beads festoon most of the trees at least part of the year – and no one so much as raises an eyebrow if a vinyl alligator mailbox appears down the street.

This is a city of excess, and garden ornaments – even highly decorated fences – are de rigueur. The most over-the-top Victorian landscaper would have blushed at New Orleans’ gaudy use of color and texture.

Live oaks and Spanish moss

Ghostly gray Spanish moss drapes nearly everything
In addition to giant magnolias, oaks, bald cypress and arborvitae, there are also hulking rubber trees, small citrus trees, bananas underplanted with monstrous agaves, hibiscus, variegated shell ginger, philodendrons, plumbago and aspidistra.

Though palms and Volkswagen-size sagos are popular accents, a surprising number of hardy cacti and succulents can tolerate the rainfall. And ghostly gray Spanish moss drapes nearly everything.

An amazing garden comeback from Hurricane Katrina
The never-ending parade of plants in New Orleans made a huge difference in how quickly the city seems to have recovered from Hurricane Katrina.

There has been an amazing garden comeback, especially the New Orleans Botanical Gardens and the nearby historic Longue Vue house and gardens, both of which suffered great losses from two late-summer weeks of being under salty water with no irrigation for months afterwards.

One of the easiest ways to include a New Orleans feel to your own garden would be by overstuffing a large ornate planter with coarse-textured shrubs, vines, perennials, and tropical annuals. Be sure to include authentic, cascading “spillers” such as asparagus fern and ornamental sweet potatoes.

Flower Fact of the Day: Another tidbit from Felder: Though insects are kept in check by natural predators, most gardeners rarely go out without a small stick for dealing with spiderwebs and slithering reptiles.

About the author
Felder Rushing, syndicated garden columnist, author of 15 garden books, and host of a public radio gardening program, is a 10th-generation Southern gardener from just north of New Orleans. He is a contributing editor for Horticulture Magazine. For more tips on “N’awlins’-style” gardening – in or out of the South – e-mail him at felderrushing.net.  
 

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April 09, 2008 | floral trends

When it comes to entertaining, flower people are forward-thinking and innovative

by Jacqueline


With saving the planet on many people’s minds, more and more folks are opting for natural floral looks at weddings and parties. Natch.

“The biggest thing going is green,” says flower expert Rebecca Cole rebeccacoledesign.com.

WEDDINGS
At weddings, you might see greens and branches with flowers popping as color accents and perhaps a twig jutting out here and there. These arrangements are much less structured and more relaxed than the petal-perfect, hyper-symmetrical bouquets of the past.

Natural elements like wood, bamboo and wheatgrass are also being incorporated into the overall décor at the reception.

A definite “out” is every table matching. The bride and groom might make every table different or choose three or four designs for the room. “They don’t want the cookie-cutter weddings any more,” says Cole.

She adds that there’s a lot less “swatching” going on – meaning fewer brides-to-be are bringing in fabric samples and asking that the flowers be the exact same color of the dress. 

A wedding’s color scheme is often influenced by the mood of the reception venue. Cole has seen sleek and mod give way to ornate, castlelike settings (a Morocco-meets-Manhattan feeling) with rich, jewel tones, such as burgundy, deep pink, orange, royal blue and chartreuse. Flowers are then selected to complement the venue’s tones.

At the same time, mono-looks, once the domain of trendsetters, have now reached a mainstream audience. Monochromatic is one color, one or more kind of flower; monobotanic is one kind of flower in a few different colors. And the trend of bling flowers, ie incorporating rhinestones and crystals into bouquets is still going strong.

White flower

ENTERTAINING AT HOME
That relaxed green/natural vibe is easy to create at home. For example, a branch spreading out in a low vase is a great way to decorate a round table. And May is the season for flowering branches like forsythia, cherry, pear, lilac and verbena.

Or try this: At each place setting, put a few flowers in a champagne flute or an old olive oil bottle. Then use candles for the middle of the table and each guest has his or her own mini floral arrangement.

Working with a rectangular table? Cole suggests making a long row of similar objects – favorite pitchers, tea cups, bowls or jars of different heights. Then put the same flower or the same flower in different colors, cut low, in each one.

Another option is to have a few tall clusters of big flowers (say hydrangeas in a skinny vase) as placeholders for the food. You probably won’t sit down right away so while guests are sipping aperitifs, they can enjoy the flowers. Then just before you eat, remove the flowers so you can see each other and there’s plenty of room for dinner.

I can’t wait to try that!

Flower Fact of the Day: Sweet pea was recently rated as Britain's best-scented summer flower. For more details, see dailymail.co.uk.   
 

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April 08, 2008 | flower facts

Celebrate spring with a bounty of tulips and cool photo links you won’t want to miss

by Jacqueline

What’s your favorite kind of tulip? With more than 2,000 varieties around the world, it’s hard to say. But lately, I’ve been coveting French, fringed, Black Parrot and Orange Princess ... classic and exotic, they're a celebration of spring without any hint of cliché.

They’re great for spring birthdays, too; I just sent my friend Ann some over the weekend. She has exquisite taste so I’m always safe with tulips.

White tulips

Here’s some advice on buying and caring for tulips from “Flower Power" by Rebecca Cole rebeccacoledesign.com:

• Look for tight, closed buds. Avoid petals that are dry or translucent; this can be an indicator that the water stored in the flower is starting to drain and it may already be five or more days old.

• Tulips with tight buds that are drooping badly will come back when treated properly; they just need a good, long drink.

Leaves that are curling or browning at the tip are sure signs of old age.

If the ends of the stems are white or shrunken, they likely have been left out of water for some time and then were not recut before they were returned to water. These flowers can be saved if the white part is removed from stems and they are placed in fresh, cold water.

• As soon as you get your tulips home, get a clean bucket of cold water ready to receive them. Remove most of the leaves on the stem, leaving only one or two – and only if they are in perfect condition.

•Make a clean, sharply angled cut at least two inches from the bottom of the stem and place the flower immediately in cold water.

•Keep the flowers in a cool room and away from direct sunlight.

Allow the tulips to drink for at least one hour prior to arranging them. Tulips drink a lot of water quickly and require daily refills of fresh cold water.

****************************************************************************

To see a chic trend in arranging flowers, visit apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-europe/at-europe-parisian-flower-arranging-046241.

And for a fun take on urban flowers, check out this photo: http://livejamie.com/post/30891451.

Flower Fact of the Day: Hyères, France, is the largest flower market in France and the fourth largest in Europe. Read about the annual flower fest there and view the photo gallery at: http://french.about.com/b/2008/04/08/flower-festival-hyeres-france.htm.
 

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April 08, 2008 | teleflora news

Donny and Marie Osmond to co-host ‘America’s Favorite Mom’

by Blogger

It's official: Donny and Marie Osmond will co-host the America’s Favorite Mom show on NBC-TV! That exciting news was highlighted this morning on "The Today Show" http://www.roll.com/TodayShow04.08.08.wmv 

The NBC/Teleflora special will air on the evening of Mother's Day, May 11. The week before, the "Today" show will profile 15 semifinalists and audiences will choose the winner. In addition to crowning the lucky Mom, Donny and Marie will sing! Not sure if it'll be country or rock 'n' roll. ;) Only the brother & sister duo know for sure.

Nominations for America’s Favorite Mom are being accepted through April 25; visit americasfavoritemom.com
  

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April 07, 2008 | out and about

Flowers too tough? Try growing herbs

by Jacqueline

If growing flowers is too overwhelming, you might think about growing some herbs. They're not hard to maintain and some even produce flowers. Best of all, what better way to spice up your summer cooking?

Parsley, for example, is a biennial herb in flower from June to August. It displays tiny star-shaped, green/yellow flowers. The leaves are the herby part. Fennel's scented yellow flowers appear from August to October, then turn into seed. (Thanks for that info to Mick Lavelle, author of Wild Flowers and Flora, lorenzbooks.com.)

Basil, dill, chive, oregano, sage and thyme are all pretty safe bets. A salesman at Armstrong Garden Centers armstronggardens.com said his top choices for herb gardens are cilantro, basil, thyme and mint, all of which require 4-5 hours per day of sunlight. If they're dry, give them a drink, but make sure the water drains and remember that while the soil on top may feel dry, the soil at the bottom may still have moisture.

Back to the cooking with herbs: The rule of thumb is that if a recipe calls for herbs, you need triple the amount of fresh herbs than you do with dried herbs, which seems weird, I know, but the dried stuff is concentrated and more powerful.

Btw, a great cooking/food site (besides epicurious.com) I recently learned about is recipezaar.com. Among its many features is creating a master shopping list for several dishes at once. So, if onions are called for in the next few dinners you're going to make or they're in both an appetizer and a main course, you'll head to the store with the total amount of onions that you'll need. Rock on, Rzaar!

What is the herb you use most often in cooking and is it from your own garden?

Flower Fact of the Day: The Garden Bloggers Spring Fling took place in Austin over the weekend. Read all about it at humanflowerproject.com.
 

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April 04, 2008 | out and about

The perfect flowers for Mick and the boys: Keith, Ronnie, Charlie and Marty

by Jacqueline

If I knew where to send flowers to the Rolling Stones and Martin Scorsese, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Their concert movie “Shine a Lightshinealightmovie.com opens today at IMAX theaters around the country. “Shine a Light” is bound to be a hit with fans and I imagine that Scorsese and the band received a few bouquets today.

It’s nice to know that Mick Jagger is also fond of sending flowers. Jerry Hall, in her 1985 book, “Tall Tales,” describes how Mick wooed her with bouquets. “Mick was … calling up, from the studio, from here, from there, and always sending flowers.”

About a stint in Paris, she writes: “I started getting flowers from both Mick and Bryan [Ferry]. I’d also met Eric de Rothschild at a party and he sent me flowers. … I’d never had two suitors at the same time, and to have these three that were all so fabulous …”

(Jagger and Hall eventually divorced in 1999 after a lengthy relationship and nine-year marriage; they have four children together and are good friends. She is currently working on a new auto-bio book for HarperCollins.)

So, if I were to choose flowers for the band’s core members, here’s what I’d pick:

Hibiscus

For Mick Jagger: Hibiscus, a vivid tropical bloom (shown above) that never fails to grab attention. Look at a hibiscus petal and tell me it doesn’t remind you a little of the Stones’ logo.

For Keith Richards: Snapdragon gets its name from its likeness to a dragon’s face. Nuff said. ;)

For Charlie Watts: Calla lily. For the former art student and elder statesman of the Stones, an elegant and slightly mysterious flower that has long captivated painters.

For Ron Wood: Dogwood, a tough old tree that just keeps on blooming (below). It evokes both the band’s native England and the American South, home of the Stones’ much-revered R&B.

Dogwood flowers
Shine a Light” has been well received by critics (though some feel the need to point out that Mick’s still skinny & Keith’s as craggy as ever, well duh!). The best review I’ve seen is from a veteran of the flower-power era, Andrew Sarris. His full review is at observer.com/2008/it-s-only-rock-n-roll-documentary-i-it.

Scorsese assembled a team of stellar cinematographers to shoot the movie at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2006; the Stones share the stage with Christina Aguilera, Buddy Guy and Jack White, among others.

It’ll be a treat to see their work. “I wanted to capture the music and their interaction on stage … the way they work off of each other and off of the audience,” says Scorsese, in the film’s publicity notes.

Capturing it is one thing, but defining their chemistry is tough.

Charlie Watts says of the Stones’ relationship on stage, “I have absolutely no idea how to describe it. But this thing happens when we get together. ... You can’t sit and analyze it really, but something definitely happens when we’re on stage together. We’re not the same without each other.”

Flower Fact of the Day: Maybe the Stones and Scorsese will show up in London at the Ivy restaurant’s new private club: The entrance is hidden in a flower shop! Read the full story at bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aQHsZyUoubB0&refer=muse.  
 

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April 03, 2008 | florist in the spotlight

Happy-hour flowers: No bartending required, just stop by Parkway Florist

by Jacqueline

Today I came across a truly excellent idea, for florists and consumers: A happy hour for flowers.

Noticing that bars and restaurants near her store regularly offered Friday night food and drinks specials, Cheryl Bakin, owner of Parkway Florist in Pittsburgh, parkwayflorist-pgh.com, decided to extend the concept to selling flowers.

So, on Fridays from 4-7 p.m. (through Nov. 1) customers can kick off the weekend with special deals on selected flowers, like buy 12 tulips/get 12 more.

Pink tulips

“We were trying to generate cash and carry, walk-in sales on Fridays,” Bakin explains. “People scratched their heads at first, thinking, what’s a happy hour flower? Then it caught on.”

The specials change each week, but flowers (such as tulips, roses, mixed bouquets) are always fresh, always wrapped. “People will call and ask what the special is, but we don’t reveal that over the phone. When we get a good deal, we pass that on to our customers.”

And do they serve champagne cocktails or apple-tinis? “Unfortunately not,” sighs Cheryl. “Believe me, there are many Friday nights we’d like to! We’ve been known to break out popcorn and candy, though.”

What a cool idea. It's something that most florists could implement fairly easily and that customers could suggest to their fave flower seller.

Cheers, Cheryl!

Flower Fact of the Day: If you’re looking for cool wedding-flower ideas, these two sites are worth a visit: atlantaflowerbar.blogspot.com and flowerallie.blogspot.com
 

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April 03, 2008 | out and about

This Mother’s Day reminder is hard to miss

by Jacqueline


Mother's Day sign

Just ask the people of Philadelphia, where this sign commemorating the holiday stands. It's right outside the old Wanamaker's Department Store, near city hall. John Wanamaker worked with Philly resident Anna Jarvis to establish Mother's Day as a holiday. It was first celebrated in 1908.

If you know a great mother who deserves recognition (that and cash & prizes!) be sure to visit americasfavoritemom.com.  
 

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April 02, 2008 | teleflora news

Flower Blog April Sweepstakes: Official Rules

by Jacqueline


Teleflora Flower Blog Sweepstakes (April)

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS 12:00 AM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (“PST”) ON APRIL 2, 2008 AND ENDS AT 11:59 PM PST ON APRIL 30, 2008.

1. ELIGIBILITY: Teleflora Flower Blog Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Winners of a sweepstakes by Sponsor within the six (6) months immediately prior to this Sweepstakes are not eligible. Employees of Sponsor and its parent and affiliate companies (collectively, “Promotion Parties”) as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the winners.

2. HOW TO ENTER: Visit the Teleflora Flower Blog located at http://www.teleflora.com/flowerblog/ and post a comment responsive to the Teleflora Flower Blog Giveaway Question. Limit 1 entry per person/e-mail address/household for the duration of the Sweepstakes. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated or mechanical means are void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Promotion Parties and all of their respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders and agents (collectively, "Released Parties") assume no responsibility for entries that are processed, reported, or transmitted late or incorrectly or are lost or misdirected for any reason whatsoever nor for any other error, problem or malfunction of any kind, whether computer, network, telephonic, technical, mechanical, human or otherwise, relating to or in connection with this Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors which may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, processing of entries, notification of winners, announcement of the prize or in any Sweepstakes-related materials, or for the inability to access the website associated with the Sweepstakes.

3. PRIZES: One (1) winner will be randomly selected from among all eligible entries and shall receive the bouquet featured on the Teleflora Flower Blog ARV: $50.00 to $100.00 (the “Prize”). Sponsor shall arrange to deliver the Prize to the winner within seven (7) to ten (10) days of when the winner accepts the Prize. The Prize (or any portion thereof) is non-transferable, non-negotiable and not redeemable for cash, credit or merchandise. No substitutions or cash redemption of the Prize is permitted except that Sponsor retains the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater retail value. Additional restrictions may apply.

4. DRAWING: The potential winner will be selected in a random drawing held on or about May 1, 2008 from all eligible entries received. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The potential winner will be notified by e-mail. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its designees to use each winner’s name, city, state, likeness, voice and biographical information for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity in any and all media, now or hereafter devised without limitation and without additional notification or permission or compensation, unless prohibited by law. All information collected will be treated in a manner consistent with Sponsor’s privacy policy and the consent given at time of entry. The Sweepstakes is governed by the laws of the State of California, with venue in Los Angeles, California, and all claims must be resolved in the appropriate state and federal courts of Los Angeles, California.

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

6. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants’ or to any other person's computer (including hardware or software) related to or resulting from participation in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the website. By entering the Sweepstakes, all entrants agree to release and hold harmless Released Parties from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, liability, losses, actions, or damages of any kind (including, without limitation, related to personal injury, death, damage to property, infringement of proprietary rights, rights of publicity or privacy or defamation) arising out of or in connection with: (1) participation in the Sweepstakes or (2) acceptance, use or misuse of any prize (including any travel or activity related hereto), whether under a theory of contract, warranty, tort, (including negligence, whether active, passive, or imputed) strict liability, product liability, contribution, or any other theory. If for any reason this Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, Sponsor in its sole discretion, may disqualify any individual, void entries and/or terminate, modify or suspend this Sweepstakes or any portion thereof. In the event the Sweepstakes is terminated, Sponsor may, at its discretion, conduct a random drawing to award the prize for the drawing at issue from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received for such drawing prior to such action. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an online entrant, entrant will be deemed the "registered subscriber" of the e-mail account at issue and required to comply with these Official Rules.

7. WINNERS LIST: The winner’s name will be posted on the Teleflora Flower Blog.

8. SPONSOR: Teleflora LLC, 11444 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90064.
 

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April 02, 2008 | out and about

Here’s your chance to win a fab free bouquet! It’s part of what’s up this month on Flower Blog

by Jacqueline


We’ve got lots growin’ on … how about you?

For the month of April, Flower Blog is giving readers a chance to win a gorgeous Teleflora bouquet. To enter, just add a comment to any story this month. One winner will be drawn at random on or about May 1. You can comment as often as you like, of course, but each person is limited to one entry for the month. See the complete list of rules at: teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG/post/Flower-Blog-April-Sweepstakes-Official-Rules.aspx.

• April is National Garden Month. Whether you’re a windowsill wannabe, you’re all about containers or you have a back-yard extravaganza, there are lots of ways to give green-thumbs ups. Visit nationalgardenmonth.org for more info.

• As the month goes on, I’ll be checking in with top-notch gardeners around country to see what’s new. I’ll also be writing about Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging), exploring the connection between gardening and detective fiction (a la Agatha Christie) and recommending DVDs, and keeping you up to date on exciting events and floral trends.

• As long as you have your calendar out, Earth Day earthday.net is April 22 and National Arbor Day arborday.org is April 25. If you work with a flower lover, remember that Professional Secretaries Week begins April 20.)

Philly Flower Show

• April is also one of my favorite times to fill the house with flowers because there is so much to choose from: tulips, hyacinths, hydrangea, daffodils, iris, daisies, lily of the valley, violets, pansies, lilies, mini carnations, daisies, azaleas. And research shows flowers are more than nature’s pretty faces. They actually boost our moods and help us de-stress.

• And for anyone who liked Chet L.'s purple flower & bee photo posted 3-27, check out this super shot from one of my colleagues: flickr.com/photos/lifewithjim/112520577. Thanks, Jim!

Flower Fact of the Day: Speaking of hydrangea, did you know that it’s coveted by thieves? Read gardening guru Maureen Gilmer’s post “A flower so good that it is often stolen” at scrippsnews.com/node/31919. And you thought I was making up that Agatha Christie angle. ;)
 

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April 01, 2008 | floral horoscopes

Floral horoscopes for April

by Jacqueline

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
African violet
There is something  – maybe getting a checkup or screening – that you've been putting off. Worrying about not doing it is way worse than actually doing it. Put it behind you and you'll be more relaxed this summer. Then treat yourself to some gorgeous spring tulips or cheerful daffs.



   Aquarius: Jan. 21-Feb. 19 / Flower: Orchid
Orchid 
Sometimes it really is too late for an apology, yet it's the perfect time to reach out to someone you haven't seen or talked to in a while. Make the first move and you'll likely pick up right where you left off. The 8th, 13th and 30th will be lucky days.




   Pisces: Feb. 20-March 20 / Flower: Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria
Feeling like you're in a romantic rut? Write your partner/spouse a letter that lets it all hang out. Then throw it away and write another letter, this time saying why you fell head over heels in the first place. Sigh! At the end of the month, you will get a blast from the past.



   Aries: March 21-April 20 / Flower: Tulip
Tulip 
This month it's all about you, Ms. A. That makes it different from every other month because ... ? Just kidding. We love your knack for being organized and efficient, and a ton of fun. You will have lots of b'day treats and one special surprise that really rocks!




   Taurus: April 21-May 21 / Flower: Lily
Lily 
April is National Gardening Month so it's an ideal time to start growing some blooms, maybe a whole yard full or maybe just some herbs on your windowsill. Meanwhile, you will become closer to a neighbor and find that you have more than mailboxes and zip codes in common.



   Gemini: May 22-June 21 / Flower: Rose
Rose 
Stay cool as you await word re: a job or test. And it's been a long winter so get out and enjoy spring. Take up a new outdoor hobby or just take a walk. If you're not afraid to make the first move, your love life will sizzle this month!




   Cancer: June 22-July 22 / Flower: Delphinium
Delphinium
Remember that date that you thought was the worst in recorded history? This month you'll be grateful for the experience. No, seriously, it will serve a purpose. You also will get a refund or find some long-forgotten cash in a pocket.




   Leo: July 23- Aug. 22 / Flower: Sunflower
Sunflower
Feeling the friction with a boss or co-worker? You've been patient long enough. It's time to clear the air. And a good idea for all worker bees is to keep a journal of your weekly or monthly accomplishments. Then, when it's time for your performance review, you'll have lots to report.



   Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 23 / Flower: Daisy
Daisy 
Lil' Virgo likes to have everything just so. But she likes to let loose too. This spring, take a fashion risk, throw a dinner party, break out of your shell. And why not flirt with that cute guy at the coffee shop, even if he is a young whippersnapper?




   Libra: Sept. 24-Oct. 23 / Flower: Hydrangea
Hydrangea
A visit from an out-of-towner may perk up your spring. Playing tour guide is great motivation for actually doing all the fun things you think about doing. From April 7-17, be extra careful to think before you speak.




   Scorpio: Oct. 24-Nov. 22 / Flower: Peony
Peony
You may have some major party planning to do in your spare time. If you are involved in planning a wedding or bridal events, be flexible and, when brainstorming, try to figure out what best reflects the personality of the couple. You will also make a happy discovery of your own.




   Sagittarius: Nov. 23-Dec. 21 / Flower: Carnation
Carnation 
Your expertise will be in hot demand – perhaps as a volunteer? Or there may be a colleague who would love to have a hand with a project. The 12th, 18th and 24th are good days for romance. A friend or relative who's been cranky will mellow out.



Flower Fact of the Day: "It is easier to get a balanced and pleasing effect with an odd number of flowers, so we often build up arrangements using 3, 5, or 7 stems of one flower type. Of course this rule goes out the window if someone sends you a dozen red roses." From "The Flower Shop" halffullpress.com by Sally Page.