April 30, 2008 | teleflora news
by
Jacqueline - Editor
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.
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.
April 29, 2008 | florist in the spotlight
by
Jacqueline - Editor
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.”
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.
April 28, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline - Editor
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
April 28, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline - Editor
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.
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.
April 25, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline - Editor
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!
