flower blog

Lately I’ve been extolling the virtues of classic fall flowers, such as mums, carnations, hydrangea, sunflowers, daisies, dahlias and calla lilies.

In orange for Halloween, natch. A bouquet lasts longer than candy and it’s calorie-free.

Anyway, if you’re like me you have friends with fall birthdays as well as a few parties to attend. Time to come up with some unexpected blooms and new colors.

Oh, and before you decide that mums and carnations are old hat, be sure to check them out in lush darker colors like magenta.

Browsing around, I found these terrific additions to the list above.

Anthurium: Once you see one, you’ll never forget it. These brilliant red blooms represent hospitality, making them a perfect choice for a hostess gift. And they’re long lasting.

Bouvardia: Named after Charles Bouvard, the personal physician to Louis XIII and the superintendent of the Royal Gardens in Paris. A fragrant, feminine flower that symbolizes enthusiasm.

Goldenrod: A member of the aster family, this bright yellow flowering plant is the state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska as well as the state wildflower for South Carolina.

Marigold: Native to the southwestern United States, Mexico and South America, there are varieties all over the world. In Mexico, it’s used in Day of the Dead celebrations. In India and Thailand, it’s a key part of weddings and festivals. Marigolds are part of the aster family.

Flower Fact of the Day: Pansies are a garden favorite, especially in the South. For tips on growing them, visit: hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081030/LIFESTYLE/810300310.
 

First grown in Central and South America, sunflowers have been revered for centuries in various cultures around the world.

They are the 3rd wedding anniversary flower and the state flower of Kansas.

Flower Fact of the Day: Don't have a green thumb? Worry not, just go heavy metal. Find out more at: azstarnet.com/allheadlines/263828.  
 

Whoever wins the next presidential election will definitely have a huge job on his hands and fixing the economy is a top priority.

It’s hard to turn on the news or read a paper without being reminded of the economic downturn.

So it’s not surprising that consumers are taking a less-is-more approach to lots of purchases, including flower buying.

Take casual parties, for example. Since the all-perfect, all-matching look is out anyway, we’re seeing a move toward using monochromatic (all one color) flowers or monobotanic (same flower, different colors) in several simple mismatched containers instead of big mixed centerpieces.

And as for what the containers are made from, rustic materials rule. Try ceramic jars and pots or textured glass in darker tones like brown, burnt orange and violet. Clear glass is best left to spring and summer.

Teleflora's Williamsburg Golden Pitcher is a great example of the vintage trend. And if you buy it, you'll be entered in an exclusive sweepstakes. For details, go to: teleflora.com/williamsburg.asp.  

And a personal touch is taking on a whole new meaning. Tom Simmons, president of Three Bunch Palms Productions threebunchpalmsproductions.com  in Palm Springs, CA, puts it this way: “There’s a movement toward vintage looks, especially in terms of containers, such as an antique pitcher or your great grandmother’s china pieces.

Simmons says he’s also seen a vintage butterfly brooch pop up in a bouquet as well as a maid of honor’s longtime collection of decorative bumblebees adorning a small tree of hanging place cards at her sister’s wedding.

“It’s personal and at the same time it’s comforting,” Simmons says. “People tend to be drawn toward that comfort. It’s a soothing, homey atmosphere without being generic.”

So the next time you’re entertaining with flowers, take a quick trip down memory road for your inspiration.

Who doesn’t need a little comfort right about now?

Flower Fact of the Day: I was glad to see that I’m not the only one who sees the cool side of chrysanthemums. Financial Times weekend columnist Robin Lane Fox recently wrote about the pleasures of this flower: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e49233f0-959a-11dd-aedd-000077b07658,s01=1.html?nclick_check=1.  
 

With Halloween falling on a Friday, I know many of you will be hosting parties. Or maybe you’d just like to look festive for trick or treaters. You know you can count on flowers for a colorful and cheerful touch.

For some simple, elegant touches, how about:

* Single orange Gerberas in black bud vases. Or wash and re-use green or brown beer bottles as vases.

* Green or white spider mums sitting atop a mini-pumpkin (slice the top off, clean the pumpkin and use floral foam to hydrate the flowers).

* Paint single branches of curly willow black, green, purple or gold and display in low bowls.

* A plant is a super way to liven up your doorstep on Halloween and for several months afterward.

* Or treat yourself to adorable arrangements designed by the experts at Teleflora. I particulalry love these two Halloween flower bouquets. There are many more to choose from on teleflora.com.  

Meanwhile, in honor of Halloween, I compiled this trivia quiz about the holiday.

1. Halloween was popularized in the 1800s by which immigrant group?
A. German
B. Norwegian
C. Irish
D. Swedish

2. We carve pumpkins in America; when jack-o-lanterns were created in Europe, what vegetable was used?
A. Turnip/Rutabaga
B. Cabbage
C. Beets
D. Extra large potatoes

3. Which Halloween tradition comes from an old Scottish custom?
A. Dressing up in costumes
B. Trick or treating
C. Bobbing for apples
D. Telling ghost stories

4. Halloween is celebrated in Japan. True or False.

5. Which U.S. city holds the biggest Halloween party?
A. New York
B. New Orleans
C. Savannah, Ga.
D. Chicago

6. About $5 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on Halloween costumes. True or False?

ANSWERS
1. C. The holiday comes from an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain, which took place at the end of the harvest.
2. A.
3. A, B and C. Children would dress in costumes and go door to door, dancing or singing to earn money or sweets. In the U.S. this evolved into trick or treating. They also bobbed, or “dooked,” for apples.
4. True. It is also celebrated in several Latin American countries.
5. A. New York. The Village Halloween Parade started in Greenwich Village in 1973.
6. True. The most popular costume for adults: Witch.

Flower Fact of the Day: If you want gorgeous spring flowers, now is the time to plant bulbs. For ideas and tips, see: http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening/2008/10/29/expert-tips-for-choosing-spring-bulbs-this-fall.