Love these flowers series - Crocus
To many Hartcliffe florists the very name crocus is a synonym for spring, yet all crocuses do not blossom then; there are also species that bloom in fall and even some that flower in winter in mild climates. All are wild flowers native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, and they send up 1- to 2-inch wineglass-shaped flowers on stems 2 to 6 inches tall before the leaves are fully developed. The arching, grass like foliage continues to grow after the flowers fade and may become 8 to 10 inches long before it matures and finally withers away. Flower colors for species and hybrid crocuses run through shades of lavender to deepest purple, as well as yellow and white; many varieties are attractively striped, and all of them have prominent yellow stamens.
For the earliest spring bloom, plant crocuses in a sunny protected spot; for later bloom, plant them on the north side of a wall, hedge or building, or under very light shade. The Dutch crocuses do well naturalized in grass; the species crocuses have shorter stems and are better suited to rock gardens. Crocuses may also be grown in pots for midwinter bloom indoors.
Catnip
Your perennial garden is a great source of wonderful dried flowers. A perennial is any plant that dies down every winter and returns the following season. Many perennials are both easy to grow and easy to dry. Some of the best perennials for drying are also frequent components of perennial garden designs. Flowers such as yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis), wormwood (Artemisia), goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) dry easily and are common enough that you may already be growing them. Catnip (Nepeta), the friend of the feline, is also the friend of the dried-flower enthusiast and almost every florist Acton has some on hand. It is a sturdy perennial with attractive, long-blooming blue flowers on gracefully arched stems. Air-drying retains its fresh, minty fragrance. Catnip combines with coralbells for a striking combination of color and texture.
An Alice Band Headdress
Being able to offer a selection of head-dresses to a bride is part of a florist’s expertise. The Alice band style makes an attractive alternative to the circlet or garland headdress, and is particularly useful if a bridesmaid has fine, silky hair. Soft thin elastic is threaded through a slot at each end of the band and is taken under the hair at the back of the head, holding the band in position.
Always obtain the head measurement, so the design can be made to the appropriate length. Remember, where possible, to link the colours and types of materials used in the headdress with those being carried. Use good quality, well-conditioned flowers and foliage; it is important to use materials with lasting qualities, as much body heat is lost through the head.
With practice, this attractive headdress is quick and easy to assemble (for all florists Caboolture), as the only materials which need to be prepared are the ribbon bows, but the glue gun must be handled with care.
Wild roses
Try to pick them with a lot of buds as they will all open in water and last so much longer like this. They can be arranged in a basket and they also look well in a glass vase. Much wild material makes a splendid background for garden flowers so I often look for spikes of red dock, teasles, and bulirushes, while in the USA bittersweet and milkweed pods are invaluable allies. Old Man’s Beard, the wild clematis, is enormously effective in arrangements and can be preserved easily. You should treat it in the same way as beech leaves by placing the ends of the stems in a solution of one part glycerine to two parts of water. Leave them for several days until they change colour and go brown. While this all seems like hard work, and it is compared to having a flower delivery Park District, the effort is certainly worthwhile when you see the results.
Mother’s Day
This is one of the most important, and busiest, occasions in the florist’s calendar. At Christmas, customers accept that arrangements will be sent out throughout the week preceding the event, but Mother’s Day arrangements must go out on the Saturday and Sunday, resulting in long working hours for florists and their drivers.
Mother’s Day has evolved from the time when many people were in service and away from home. On just one day a year they were allowed to visit their families, the fourth Sunday in Lent being chosen because it marked the end of fasting, so families could celebrate and feast together.
A florist Miles Platting will sell flowers in many styles for Mother’s Day, from gift-wrapped bunches for mothers who enjoy arranging their own flowers, to handtied bunches, ready to be placed in a vase.
Buttonholes
It is customary for the groom to pay for the flowers of the bride and bridesmaids, and sometimes included in this gift are flowers for the mothers of both the bride and groom, and also the groomsmen’s buttonholes.
Carnations are frequently chosen, as they symbolize love and good luck, and the groom and best man often opt for red, the symbol for masculine love.
Many people now try to coordinate the flowers Figueroa Corridor more fully, and instead of carnations they choose a flower included in the bride’s bouquet. Sometimes, the groom alone will have a rose to match those in the bouquet, and everyone else will have carnations. This distinguishes the groom from the rest of the bridal party.
My Favourite Flowers - Amaranthus
This is the green form of Love-lies-Bleeding, which I find so much more attractive than the red. It is worth looking after for if the plant thrives the trusses may be twice as long as normal, and it is a most striking annual to have in the garden. It will seed easily and enjoys a medium or rich soil.
Cultivation
Sow very thinly in their flowering situation in April in any reasonably fertile soil, and thin the seedlings as they become large enough to handle. Do the thinning in several stages until the plants are at the final distance.
Conditioning and preserving
Remove all the leaves immediately after picking, for this plant does not take up enough moisture for both leaves and flowers. Place the stems in really hot water and leave them for several hours before arranging. If you are drying the stems, it is best to place them in shallow water in a warm room and allow to dry. Avoid drying the stems with the elegant, drooping trusses hanging upside down or otherwise they will dry erect! Several Barstow florists have given me this advice over a number of years.
Arranging
The long, trailing tails of green chenille-like trusses make a splendid centre for a summer arrangement, and are equally effective in winter decorations when they have been dried.
Exhibiting Flowers
Sooner or later the time comes when every gardener wants to display some of his most prized flowers at a show. This may be an informal local affair, possibly a West End flower shop, in which case the grower can walk out into the garden, cut a spike at its best, carry it to the show in one hand, and win a blue ribbon. Or it may be more formal, sponsored by a horticultural society or other large organization. In this case it could involve- for the commercial grower- cutting hundreds of spikes, holding them in cool storage, packing and transporting them hundreds, even thousands, of miles, and presenting them in top condition to the judges. In either case, excitement runs high, competition is keen, and the winner is rewarded by a great sense of achievement.
A beautiful flower - Astrantia major (masterwort)
Characteristics: Astrantia has attractive lobed leaves and small, pinkish white umbelliferous flowers. Appearing June through August, the flowers tend to change in color as they mature. Lovely raylike bracts of deep rosy pink fade to pinkish white.
Cultural Information: To propagate by seed, you should sow the seed in autumn and allow it to overwinter before germination can take place. Astrantia can also be propagated by division in autumn. Astrantia thrives in sun or part shade and prefers moist soil.
Harvesting/Drying: Astrantia’s starlike flowers hold their color best if silica dried. They can also be air-dried, but will fade slightly in color if you send flowers Vinegar Hill to a distant area. Pick them throughout their growing cycle to have a wide range of color shading.
