Tips For Saving Money On Your Wedding Flowers

A wedding can be expensive and these days when virtually the whole world has been affected with the recession, everybody is looking to find ways to save money. It is the same for brides as most of the brides are finding creative ways to save money without compromising on quality. There is nothing which can stop you from getting the wedding according to your wishes. You just have to think a little out of the box and more imaginatively. Flowers are one of the major things in a wedding and in this article you will get some ideas which will help you to save money through wholesale wedding flowers.

1. Plan to use wedding flowers that are readily available and in season. Although it may seem like a good idea at first, holding a wedding during February can be expensive as flower prices are very high due to Valentine's Day. Instead, consider holding your wedding during the holiday season when most Churches are already decorated with beautiful flowers! You just have to find a church with wedding flowers of your choice

2. Before talking with your flower wholesaler, it is very helpful to have a budget in mind and figure out what exactly you require so you can be able to explain more effectively. That way they will not write a quotation using all expensive flowers and fillers for you. They can recommend things that go along with your colors and theme but are more cost effective.

3. Another money saving idea is to arrange your own flowers such as bouquets of simple roses tied together with a ribbon. If you are not entirely confident on how to do it, you can find simple guides on the web to arrange flowers on your wedding.

4. If you have your heart set on tall centerpieces but having problems in managing its cost then you should mix it up with short centerpieces. Doing this you will get double pleasure of the choice of two styles to your wedding and you can reduce the costs by skipping high arrangements on each table.

5. Using the same arrangements more than once will undoubtedly save you money. What this means is that you can use your throw bouquet as a decoration or you can also use these bouquets, as central to the head table. Also, you can simply use the floral arrangements that are already in the church for decoration.

6. Using Candles to decorate is relatively inexpensively. For this it would be best if you can hit some good after Christmas sales. Candles certainly look pleasing to the eye and they can really make your flowers widen.

Do You Know What Is The Meaning Of Blue Rose

The Blue Rose is one of the most magnificent colored roses and should have a prominent position in every rose garden. This type of rose is extremely easy to grow and flourishes in almost any environment.

Sorry, but I was just having a bit of fun there. In actuality the blue rose doesn't exist. Most of what you see being sold as blue roses are, in actuality, dyed white roses. It seems that nature did not provide the necessary genes for roses to produce a blue colored rose.

However, there is a company, Suntory Flowers, which is claiming to have grown the first blue rose. That's it on the right. Personally I call that color lavender. That in my opinion, is not a blue rose, I don't care what you bred it with.

Even though the real blue rose doesn't exist, the dyed blue roses do carry a meaning. So what does a blue rose mean? Well there are several different blue rose meanings.
Since the blue rose doesn't actually exist the mystery and curiosity behind its very existence is one of its meanings. Because the existence of a blue rose is fictional, giving a blue rose creates a sense of mystery and wonder.

Most of the meanings for blue roses stem from the fact that they don't exist. Another meaning for blue roses is the optimism expressed by new ventures, new opportunities, and new possibilities. Blue rose are often given as someone starts a new job.

The blue rose often serves as the symbol of the impossible, the unattainable. This blue rose meaning like the others stems from its fictional existence. Therefore the blue rose even though very desirable can equate to something that is not possible to achieve. In love it can symbolize unrequited love.

What The Colors Of Roses Symbolize

The rose color that you choose to present to someone says a lot about your relationship. You may intend to convey friendship or gratitude with a rose, while the color you give that person may represent romance or passion. Whether you are giving or receiving roses, it is always important to know what the color symbolizes.

Red Roses

Red is the universal symbol of love and romance. According to Greek and Roman mythology, the red rose was tied to the goddess of love. Early cultures used them to decorate wedding ceremonies, and red roses were a traditional part of wedding attire.

The red rose is known as the lovers' rose. Red is traditionally known as a symbol of love and fidelity, and is the most popular way to say "I love you." When someone is presented with a bouquet of red roses, it can signal the beginning of romantic intentions, and is a sign of commitment.

White Roses

White symbolizes purity, innocence, sympathy, and spirituality. White roses are commonly used as wedding flowers, and represent unity and virtue. They also represnt the pureness of a new bond of love. Bridal bouquets are often made of white roses and a mixture of other white flowers.

White roses are popular in sympathy arrangements, and memorial flowers. In these circumstances, white roses symbolize honour and reverence. They represent heavenliness and resepct.

Pink Roses

Pink roses represent love, gratitude, and appreciation. Pink is a symbol of grace and elegance. Pink roses symbolize sweetness and poetic romance. Light pink roses symbolize gentleness and admiration, and can be used as an expression of sympathy.

Purple Roses

Purple is the colour of opulence, glory, and majesty. Purple roses represent royalty and enchantment. They also symbolize elegance and grandeur. They are considered magical, and if you are the recipient of purple roses, the sender is likely enthralled by you.

Lavender Roses

Like purple, the lavender rose represents majesty and enchantment. Lavender symbolizes love at first sight, femininity, grace, and elegance. It can also mean wonder, impossibility, and magic.

Yellow Roses

Yellow is the friendship rose, and is closely related to the sun. Yellow roses are known to bring joy, and can also mean "get well."

The yellow rose was discovered growing naturally in the Middle East in the 1700s. In Eastern cultures, it represents joy, wisdom, and power. In European history, the yellow rose was used as a symbol of jealousy and dying love, but in the present day, yellow symbolizes joy and friendship. Yellow roses can be used to convey platonic love, joy, and delight. They are a great way to brighten the day of someone who has been feeling down.

Orange Roses

The orange rose represents desire, enthusiasm, and passionate romance. Orange is a mix of yellow and red. They are a sign of emerging romantic feelings, a bridge between the feeling of friendship and the feeling of love. Orange roses symbolize moving the relationship beyond friendship toward romance.

Blue Roses

The blue rose represents peace, openness, and serenity. Blue roses are rare in nature, and represent the unattainable, and the quest for the impossible. They can also represent an appreciation for something that cannot be fully grasped.

An Introduction About Wedding Flowers For Every Season

From the rings to the shoes, from the food to the flowers, weddings come at no small cost. It only makes sense that current brides and grooms-to-be are choosing to penny-pinch wherever possible. Wedding flowers often become the first casualty of a budget-minded couple's matrimonial plans. Wedding flowers can be very expensive, but they don't have to be! You can have the wedding flowers chosen by royalty without breaking the bank.

Spring Wedding Flower Choices

For a spring wedding, there are many colorful and inexpensive flowers to choose from. Sweet pea with its delicate pink hue is a beautiful accent for wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces and is reasonably priced. It was once used as altar decorations for weddings by Italian royalty and is still perfect for spring weddings.

Purple wedding flowers such as irises and lilacs when arranged with delicate pink sweet peas and some traditional white wedding flowers like lilies scream of springtime. Irises come in a variety of colors and are very fragrant, relatively inexpensive, and are a traditional wedding flower favorite.

According to legend, a blue iris and a white iris in a vase were placed at a bride's table signifying that marriage would have its bright times as well as its dull ones, and this was the beginning of the "for better or worse" phrase found in the traditional wedding vows.

Chrysanthemums have always been popular choices for wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces. They come in many colors and are inexpensive. A wedding flower bouquet of peonies, sweet pea, irises, chrysanthemums, lilacs, and lilies can be absolutely breathtaking and easy on your budget at the same time.

For the Summer Wedding

If a summer wedding is in the works, you have some really nice but inexpensive flower choices available to you. Yellow wedding flowers like yellow chrysanthemums combined with blue or purple hued accents such as irises or wisteria are great for spring and summer weddings and are particularly pretty when combined with orange tiger lilies.

Alstromeria has blooms that look very much like orchids and they have many blossoms per stem, making them a more economical choice. Alstromeria comes in several different colors and keeps fresh for a long time.

Dahlias are another great but economical choice, particularly if the wedding is taking place in late summer. Consider a wedding flower bouquet and centerpieces made with alstromeria, dahlias, daisies, irises, tiger lilies and chrysanthemums for sophisticated color, style, and savings.

Colorful Flowers For Your Autumn Wedding

Fresh wedding flowers of choice for fall are anemones. Their deep hues of red and blue bring rich vibrancy without major expense. Many brides in Italy wear crowns made of them at their weddings. Asters many years ago were almost like family heirlooms, passed from one generation to another.

Where better to use asters than in fall wedding flowers, since weddings are often the prelude to the next generation? Delphinium, with its strong stems and delicate purple blossoms is the symbol of strength, particularly with regard to the marital bond.

Wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces containing anemones, asters, delphinium, gerbera daisies, gladiolas, and chrysanthemums not only add spectacular color but are easy on the budget, too.

Wonderful Flowers for a Winter Wedding

Winter wedding flowers can be absolutely elegant and budget friendly, too. Red, the color of love, is simply dashing with white, which symbolizes joy. Star of Bethlehem with its delicate white blossoms resembling stars is absolutely gorgeous combined with amaryllis or poinsettias.

Adding Euchalyptus to the greenery in your winter wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces enhances the natural beauty of your flowers.

Do You Love Tulips Flower

Tulips are synonymous with springtime, and along with Daffodils, are among the most popular springtime bulbs. They come in such a huge array of colors, bloom times, and sizes that you could conceivably plant nothing but tulips and have a traffic-stopping garden for over three months.

Tulips are easy plants to grow, but plant them as soon as possible after buying the bulbs, because improper storage can damage or kill the bud and bulb. They are not picky about soil, but don't like wet feet, so build the soil up for drainage so they won't rot. They will do well in sun or part shade, and appreciate an application of bonemeal or superphosphate at planting time. Plant them in the fall, if possible, or buy the bulbs in early spring and chill in the crisper of the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Tulips require this chilling off process in order to bloom. Keep ripening fruit away from the bulbs if you are chilling them in the refrigerator, or the buds may be damaged. Planting depth for tulips is dependent on the size of the bulb. The larger bulbs should be planted 4-5 inches down, and obviously, the smaller bulbs should be planted closer to the surface. If you plan on leaving tulips in the ground permanently, do not cut the foliage back until it has turned brown, but don't count on a spectacular spring show every year from this planting, as these plants only bloom reliably for a few years, and then require replanting.
There are many different types of tulips, from the small wild tulips that make nice additions to rock gardens, to the large Darwins and Parrot Tulips. Darwins are probably the most sought after of the tulip species, because they come in every color of the rainbow, including black. They are long-stemmed and make good cut flowers and make very attractive mass plantings in the garden, explaining their ever-growing popularity with home gardeners.
If you haven't tried tulips in your garden, now is the time to experiment. Tulips can be planted at any point in the fall or early winter as long as the ground is not frozen. Beware, however, that if you have a deer problem or if you have rodents or burrowing animals on or around your property, your tulips plantings will not survive until bloom time, no matter what you try to do. Animals love these plants.

Good Advice On Planting The Jasmine

The cultural requirements of Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) are simple but exacting. When your plant arrives, put it in a cool room and set it in a window that receives bright light but little or no direct sun. Flowers will open and last longer with cooler home temperatures.
Jasmines are also sensitive to the dryness created by radiators, hot-air vents, and wood-burning stoves. The best way to increase the humidity around your plants is to run a humidifier nearby. You can also set plants in trays filled with pebbles or gravel. Add water to a level just below the tops of the pebbles (if the potting mix in the pots comes in contact with the water, the mix will draw water into the pot, which will cause the mix to become saturated, eventually leading to rot). Refill trays frequently to replace water lost through evaporation. (Our Humiditrays perform the same function without the need for pebbles.)

Water only when the top half inch of the potting mix is dry to the touch; Jasmine won't tolerate soggy potting mix. If these conditions are met, flowering generally begins in late January or early February.
After bloom, give your plant at least 6 hours of direct sun and normal room temperatures. When the danger of frost has passed, we recommend that you set the plant outdoors for the summer, shifting it gradually from a shady spot to full sun. Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season -- generally from early spring to early fall. Withhold fertilizer entirely during fall and winter, when the plant is resting. Use a water-soluble fertilizer designed for houseplants mixed at just half the rate suggested by the manufacturer. As with watering, plants suffer if overfertilized.
Prune as necessary to control size or to maintain shape, but stop pruning by August 1, because the plant sets flower buds in late summer.To encourage the formation of flower buds for next winter, be sure your plant experiences the cooler temperatures and shorter days of early autumn. The plant needs 4-5 weeks of nighttime temperatures between 40° and 50°F, plenty of sunlight, and the complete absence of artificial light after sundown. Bring the plant indoors before frost. Then give it cool temperatures and indirect light until it blooms again in late winter.

Flower Girls May Carry A Basket Of Rose Petals Which She Scatters In The Bride’s Path

In the traditional bridal party there are positions for bridesmaids and groomsmen, yet for those marrying on the most formal scale, there will often be a flower girl and/or page boy as part of the procession. These roles are reserved for children, usually aged between 4 and 9 years old, to add an extra "cute" factor to the bridal party while also including those smaller members of the family in the overall wedding.
　　

As time progressed, the role of the flower girl has changed a bit. These days, the flower girl position is saved for mostly little girls while young boys now assume the role of the ring bearer or page boy. Flower girls are typically aged between five and ten years old. While many choose to have one flower girl, some larger weddings can opt for using several flower girls.
　　
As stated before, in a modern wedding, the flower girl usually walks up the aisle ahead of the bride. She may carry a basket of rose petals which she scatters in the bride’s path, or alternatively may simply carry a bouquet or basket of flowers.
　　
Preparing Your Flower Girl For Her Role, and Calming the Jitters
　　
One of the best ways to do this is buy her a book about being a flower girl which will explain her role, and get her excited. Seat her parents on the aisle, near the front so that she can see them when she walks down the aisle and during the ceremony itself. Ask a bridesmaid to be her "buddy" and make sure she uses the restroom before the ceremony. Most of all, don't be too nervous that she will make a mistake. If she dumps all her petals at the start of the aisle, runs instead of walks, or even starts to cry, guests will think it's cute.

The flower girl will also be present for any bridal party photographs and may sit at the bridal table, or with her parents, depending on what everyone is most comfortable with. Being a flower girl in a wedding is a big responsibility for someone so young so there are a number of helpful tips that many wedding industry professionals recommend every bride goes through with her potential flower girl to ensure a successful wedding:
　　
Save the role of flower girl for close female relatives as asking friends children can complicate matters if you ask one person's daughter and not another's
　　
That being said, if the intended flower girl is shy or easily intimidated, consider having two flower girls who can support each other during the ceremony, giving confidence through each other's company
　　
Involve the flower girl in all events leading up to the wedding so she can become familiar with all the bridesmaids, the wedding procedures and the level of formality that will be asked of her
　　
Explain and go over her role repeatedly before the event, be clear on what she has to do without building any anxiety.
　　
Simply include her in the importance of her job in the wedding
　　
Seat her parents near the front of the ceremony venue so she has someone to focus on and encourage her while walking down the aisle, she may even sit with them instead of standing
　　
Prepare her for the long process of photographs and ask that she behaves at all times and listens to the photographer.

If you plan to have a receiving line after the conclusion of the ceremony, again the flower girl may be too young to stand for that long of time. In this case, simply have her mother or father take her to the reception where she can enjoy the festivities.
　　
Just remember that flower girls are typically eight-years-old or younger and you can have one, two, or three. They will walk down the aisle ahead of the Maid of Honor, or just before the Bride begins her procession. You can choose to have the flower girl and ring bearer walk separately or they can walk side by side. Finally, although some brides choose to have the flower girl wear a dress that is a miniature version of her wedding gown, this is not mandatory. As long as she has a beautiful dress with the right colors, that would be fine.

Nothing Is Going To Change With The Way Women Feel About Flowers

Flower is the best gift for your girlfriend or wife.Nothing is going to change with the way women feel about flowers, they have always loved it in the past and will continue to love it for generations. Receiving flowers make them feel special and loved and appreciated.

Give her a suprise on the common day

There are sevaral important days in a year: Her birthday,Your Anniversary and Valentine’s Day. Do remember give her a surprise on these days. If you can not decide what to give her, flowers is not a bad chioce. Certainly, Beside these special days, you can give her some surprise some times. You should send her flowers for “no special reason” at her work place, that would really thrill her and she will certainly be surprised, and will probably fall in love with you all over again. These are romantic gestures, and women love romance, no matter what age, they love being pampered.

What flowers do you choose?

Rose stands for love, so it is the most common flowers for lover. Beside, You can choose other kinds of flowers:such as Lily which stand for love for all seasons.So it is another good chioce for lovers.Certainly, you can choose a mixture of blooms as soon as she like.Maybe some daisies, alstromaria, and maybe a couple of special roses. Take it home or have it delivered to her work place and make all her co-workers jealous. Best of all…she’ll feel special.

Don’t forget the message card!

Writing a card should not be an intimidating event, and keeping it simple works for every occasion.Remember that your words is the most precious than all the other gifts.

Life is incomplete without flowers because it adds various colors, happiness and hope in our life. Thus, this is the most important part of human being living. Giving flower bouquet in gift is very old phenomenon but yet very popular. Even, the scenario of flowering exchange has become very huge thus you’ll find a number of online flouriest shops through which you can send bouquets to any part of the world within most affordable price quote. Plus, your delivery will be reached on the same day of placing order.

There are several flower sending shops accessible over the web which is expertise of floral arrangements and other furnishing methods. They are much capable of handling all the services like send flowers to the right destination, stirring and elegant floral arrangements on exclusive occasion like birthdays and anniversaries. The best thing about online florists is their timely execution of work with complete quality.

Being a human there are various moments in our life which needs to be taken care properly such as child first birthday, first marriage anniversary, Valentine Day and loads mores. Flouriest will understand everything and provide you the best floral arrangement according to the occasion requirements and your personal choice. You can go for any flowers like lily, roses, orchids and loads more which you think perfectly goes with the theme.

Sending flowers is not requires any special day because you can send them to anyone when you want to realize that how special you are for them. Red roses are much popular flower because it is the symbol of love, passion and fidelity. Plus, you can also go for the option of yellow rose which is a sign of companionship, while other roses shows the mark of virtue or purity and pink color represent gratefulness.

Plus, a nice bouquet of flowers provides nice fragrance and brightens up the place. If on this Valentine Day you also want to collect your girlfriend appreciation then book a nice floral basket for her. Now you do not requisite to personally go to the florist shop because web world has everything for you. Just select your online floral shop and sending flower directly to your desired destination at right time.

For fresh, high-quality flowers in San Antonio, you can count on Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons. Our professional staff of florists in San Antonio will work with you to create beautiful, unique gifts for your special occasions. Not only do we provide flower delivery in San Antonio, we can deliver nationwide as well through our trusted network of florists. We even offer same day flower delivery at no extra cost for those last-minute gifts!

Few gifts create an impression like fresh, colorful flowers. Make your next occasion one to remember with a gift from Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons. From lavish anniversary flowers to heartfelt sympathy flower arrangements, Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons is the florist in San Antonio to call when you want something special. Allow us to be your flower source for Mother's Day flowers, Valentine's Day flowers, or any other holiday. For the most elegant flowers in San Antonio TX including get well flowers and birthday flowers, call Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons.

Rely on Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons to deliver flowers in San Antonio and across the country with ease. Our local florists in San Antonio will happily take your order online or over the phone for your shopping convenience. For the most beautiful flowers in San Antonio, shop our extensive selection of floral arrangements and gifts. Looking for something personalized? The skilled florists at Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons can create a custom arrangement for your special occasion.

World-Class Flowers in San Antonio, Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons

The floral designers at Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons are committed to creating special flower arrangements to suit your specific needs. We also have a broad assortment of plants and gift baskets for every occasion. Each of our bouquets is professionally arranged in a reusable vase using only fresh flowers in San Antonio. To add a special touch, we also carefully hand-deliver each arrangement directly to your recipient. When you shop at Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons, your order will be handled with the utmost care by one of the foremost florists in San Antonio TX.

Some sites send flowers from a warehouse, uncut and unarranged in a plain brown box. When you order flowers from Send Your Love Flowers & Balloons, you can be confident that you receiving a professionally arranged, hand-delivered gift. We one of the most trusted florists in San Antonio and our staff works hard to make sure every arrangement that goes out the door is the best it can be. Our customers are our first priority whether you抮e purchasing flowers in San Antonio or for delivery across the country.

Orchids Which Are Given Good Care Will Continue On The Path Of Their Growth Cycle

Orchids which are given good care before and after blooming will continue on the path of their growth cycle and bloom again. Many people fear that their orchids won't re-bloom, but this fear is unfounded if you follow some basics of orchid care.
　　
Begin by purchasing a plant that is mature and has already bloomed once or is in the process of blooming. That way you guarantee a basic degree of success and should not have an orchid which never blooms. It is your efforts at orchid care which will be rewarded with its next period of flower production.
　　
Widely available, inexpensive plastic cable ties offer great utility to the orchid grower. These devices will quickly fasten an orchid to a mount as tightly as you wish. Keep a selction of sizes at hand. They are also useful for permantntly attaching plant labels, fashioning orchid mounts out of sphagnum and plastic gutter guard and even hanging orchids on wire supports. Look for them in electronics and office supply stores as well as home improvement centers.
　　
One hundred and twenty million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, a magnificent flowering plant came into being—the orchid. Evolution led to the demise of many plants and animals, but the orchid flourished, thriving on every continent save Antarctica. Orchids have adapted to live in all kinds of environments—mountains, bogs, grasslands and rainforests. At least 35,000 orchid species now populate the planet—and there is always the possibility that unknown species still await discovery.
　　
Orchids attract pollinators for reproduction by several ingenious methods: scent, mimicry and stealth. Orchids with sweet scents usually attract bees; those with a rancid smell lure flies. The orchid can also draw pollinators through visual mimicry, imitating insects including bees and butterflies with the patterns on its petals. A third technique is stealth. The slipper orchid lures a prospective pollinator to the edge of its slippery pouch, and the insect falls in. When it finds the single exit, it brushes against the pollinia. Some orchids are pollinated by crawling insects, and thus have long petals that brush the ground. And insects alone do not pollinate orchids—small mammals, hummingbirds, bats and the wind also contribute to the survival of the species.
　　
For centuries, the orchid has been a symbol of love, luxury and beauty. To the early Greeks, the orchid represented virility, and the Chinese called it "the plant of the king's fragrance." During the Middle Ages, the orchid was considered an aphrodisiac and was used in love potions. Serious orchid collecting began in the 18th century, but because of their rarity at the time, only a few botanists and wealthy amateurs could enjoy them. In 1818, William Cattley became the first person to bloom an orchid (the Cattleya, top photo), an event that changed the flower world forever. Forests were stripped of millions of orchids, putting many on endangered species lists. A single orchid sold for thousands of dollars. This practice has since been banned, and species are now bred and cultivated specifically for sales.
　　
What will the future bring for Orchidaceae? Its greatest challenges are now those imposed by Man. Will our environmental blockades prove overwhelming? Or will the orchid's resilience, tested over millennia, outlast even our own? In spite of the obstacles to its survival, the orchid will retain its elegance and prehistoric mystery in the minds of all admirers.
　　
Plants are dormant for several weeks after blooming. Continue to care for your orchid normally during this time. Depending on the type of orchid, you may need to cut off the flower stem and surrounding sheath. Other orchids do not need the stem trimmed at all. Be sure to know which orchid you have and its post-bloom process.
　　
If your orchid has been in the same pot for two years or more, it is time to repot during the period in-between blooming. It may be too large for its pot or the medium in which it is planted may have overly decomposed. Be gentle and repot the orchid in osmunda fiber, fir bark, gravel, peat moss, or another material good for growing orchids. This should give it a good start on its next period of growth and new blooms.

Carnations To Your Mom For Her Unique And Self-Giving Love

Most men I know are constantly searching for the perfect ways to remind the ladies in their lives that they are truly important and unique. And while I am so grateful that my better half, father, brothers and other men realize that women need to experience special and appreciated. We've often witnessed and skilled failed attempts at being treated. I've finally got my husband to understand that as soon as in doubt, go for a carnation.

Carnations are beautiful flowers which are widely recognized by most people. The flowers are classified as Dianthus caryophyllus, when translated, means "flower of the gods" or "flower of love". It was known in Rome as "Jove's Flower", after a beloved Roman God. They are native to the Eastern Hemisphere and are naturally found in the Mediterranean region. Today, these flowers can be found in a wide range of colors. There are approximately 300 species in the genus. White carnations were first presented to mothers on Mother's Day in 1908. During the first official Mother's Day service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church (Grafton, West Virginia), 500 white carnations - sent by Miss Jarvis - were distributed amongst the mothers present.

As with roses, carnations hold a deeper meaning and contextual significance beyond their obvious aesthetic attraction. Carnations are often used for a specific national occasion in the United States and Canada, namely Mothers Day. Carnations are worn to represent a mothers love, a notion which is often attributed to Christian Legend. The legend goes that carnations appeared during the time of Christs crucifixion as Marys tears touched the ground. In the UK carnations hold further meaning depending on the colour of the flower given. It has been suggested that receipt of a red carnation represents a message of longing for another or missing them, receipt of white carnation says the sender is still available, and a yellow carnation can mean rejection or disdain.

However, once again it is interesting to look to how the flower is used and understood in different contexts and cultures. In Korea for example carnations are used as a way of looking into the future: young girls stack carnations in their hair to the end that if the bottom one dies first then it means all her life will be hard for her, if the middle one dies it means her middle age will be difficult, and if the top one dies it means only the later years of her life will be problematic. Elsewhere in the world, in Mexico, carnations take on a somewhat different role in that they are known as the flowers of the dead, and are placed around a corpse before burial.

In examining just two of the numerous variety of flowers we have in the UK it has been revealed that in going beyond the attractive petals, flowers often hold a symbolic meaning based on certain myths and historical events which can differ amongst different cultures.

In many parts of the world the red and pink carnations are used for expressing love and gratitude toward parents on Parents Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day. Sometimes, you see people wear a corsage of carnations on their left lapels, especially on Parents Day. The flower also honors teachers on Teacher's Day. Students, past and present, express their admiration and gratitude to their teachers with carnations.

The name carnation is synonymous with 'admiration' 'love' and 'gratitude'. According to a popular Christian legend, carnations first appeared as Jesus carried the cross to Mount Calvary. While his blessed mother, Mary shed tears at Jesus' plight, carnations sprang up from where her tears fell! This is why the pink carnation is considered a symbol of a mother's undying love. In 1907 it was chosen as the emblem of Mother's Day. The market for the carnation flowers is gaining in popularity all over the world and the flowers have found a niche for themselves at recognized outlets.

Get Ideas On How To Make Flower Arrangements For Weddings

Flowers are essential elements of wedding decorations. The color and scent of flowers add beauty to the wedding and make it memorable. Flowers form an integral part of the wedding, spreading their beauty everywhere, in the form of bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages and even table centerpieces at wedding receptions. There are tons of ideas on how to make flower arrangements for weddings. Here are some of them:

Flower Arrangements for Weddings

Decide the color theme of the wedding. Flower arrangements should go with the wedding color. Fix the wedding flowers budget and choose the flowers accordingly. You will find flowers matching the color theme of the wedding. For a red colored wedding theme, you can choose roses, gerberas, tulips, anthuriums, etc. Flowers such as hydrangeas, berries, veronicas, blue orchids go well with blue color theme. Select flowers that fit your budget. You can use artificial flowers to match the exact color. Wedding flower arrangements require experience as it involves a lot of work. One has to remove the outer petals of the flower and water the flowers to keep them misted for a fresh look. For wedding flower arrangements, you can take help of florists or you can do it yourself.

Wedding Flower Arrangements - How to Make Flower Arrangements for Weddings

If you have decided to shoulder the responsibilities for flower arrangements for weddings, then gather the things that are required for wedding flower arrangements. You will require floral tape, floral moss, flower preservative, ribbon, glue and vases, and most envious flowers. Most flower arrangements incorporate a focal flower (big flowers that would be the focus of the arrangement) and filler flowers (these are the small flowers used to fill the space around the focal flower). Some flower arranging tips that you can use are:

Vertical Arrangement: This can be an excellent arrangement in a medium size container. For this arrangement, cut the tallest stem of flowers or leaves to three times of the height of the container. Using hot glue stick the foam in the vase. Place the tall stems in the vase surrounded by the focal flowers in the diameter of the vase. If required, use filler flowers to fill the space. This arrangement requires tall stem of flowers and leaves like roses, tulips and carnations. Use forget-me-not as filler flowers.

Horizontal Arrangement: For horizontal arrangement of flowers, use a shallow vase. Stick the foam in the vase and position the stem of leaves horizontally at the sides of the vase. Place the focal flower in the middle of the vase. Use foliage and filler flowers in and around the focal flowers to fill the vase. A single focal flower is used in this kind of an arrangement, mainly roses.

L Shape Arrangement: As the name suggests, flowers are arranged in a L shape. Secure the foam in the container and arrange the leaves or flowering stems in a L shape. Insert focal flowers within the L shape stems and add filler flowers to give it a symmetrical and well-balanced look. Flowers used for this arrangement are roses, gladiola, birds of paradise, etc.

Crescent Arrangement: A bowl type container is best suited for this arrangement. Glue the foam in the container. Take a stem of leaves or flowers and bend it to give it a curved shape. Now place this curved stem in the container in such a manner, that a 'C' shape is formed. To give the arrangement a balanced look, insert the focal flower in the lower end and in the middle of the container. Fill the vase with filler flowers all around the focal flowers. Flowers with flexible stems like carnations and gladiola can be used in such arrangements.

Oval Arrangement: One of the ideas used for flower arrangements in weddings is the oval arrangement. Stick the foam to the container. Determine the height that you want for your arrangement to have. Use light colored flowers or leaves and foliage to give the outer edge of the oval shape. Add the brightest color flower in the focal area. Fill flowers and leaves around the focal flowers, to complete the oval shape. Roses are popularly used for this kind of arrangement.

Triangular Arrangement: For a triangular arrangement, take the leaves or flowering stems. Determine the vertical height and horizontal width and paste foam in the container. Position stems to make the triangular shape. Place focal flowers in the middle of the arrangement and fill the space around with filler flowers and foliage in keeping with the triangular shape. Use roses, carnation, anthuriums, daisies or chrysanthemums as the focal flowers and yellow peacock, white peacock or forget-me-not as filler flowers.

The 'S' Shape or Hogarth's Arrangement: This arrangement is shaped like a 'S', popularly known as lazy S and also known as Hogarth curve, after the English painter William Hogarth, who came up with this design. For this arrangement, stick the foam in the container. Use a pedestal or flat container. Gently bend the leaves or flowers stem, and place them in 'S' shape. Place focal flower along the lines of the upper and lower curves. Retaining the 'S' shape, fill the space with filler flowers and foliage. You can use fern, eucalyptus or cedar to make the 'S' shape curve.

Now, that you have an idea on how to make flower arrangements for weddings, you can opt for any of these wedding flower arrangement ideas, to come up with your dream flower arrangement creation. You can be creative and use your imagination for wedding flower arrangement ideas that will be the cynosure of the wedding. So, go ahead and make sure that you have the most beautiful flower arrangement on your wedding!

Spring Flowers Add Color To The Landscape

Spring indicates a season of new beginnings and delights after a long winter. It is an ideal time for weddings and nature trips, as numerous flowers are found everywhere throughout the season. For students and researchers, spring is the best time to study the exciting names and varieties of spring flowers. The names of spring flowers are as appealing and intoxicating as the fragrance of some of them. The flowers are found in varied colors, sizes, and shapes. Spring flowers make beautiful decorations, striking centerpieces, and enhance the romantic feeling of weddings. Spring flowers add color to the landscape. Daffodils, Oxeye Daisies, Dianthuses and Thymes list among the most popular names of spring flowers.

Daffodils are wonderful flowers that herald the beginning of spring. Daffodils, in their yellow glory, complement other flower combinations and are well suited for decorations.

Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are drought resistant, dependable, beautiful, and simple flowers that bloom in spring.

Other names of spring flowers that stand out prominently are Dianthuses, which come in a wide range of pretty colors and Pink Evening Primroses, with the scientific name Oenothera speciosa. Pink Evening Primroses usually bloom in early spring and look attractive in lawns. Rose mallows (Lavatera trimestris) have large petals resembling dinner plates. Coral honeysuckles grow tall and have tubular flowers.

Thymes spread quickly and have dainty evergreen leaves, which exude fragrance as one walks among the weeds. Most of the varieties are only a few inches tall. Columbine are perennials that live for a short period and produce a large number of seeds. Candytufts (Iberis umbellataare) are small perennials with numerous attractive flowers.

There are so many different spring flowers to choose from, you have to decide if you want your garden to be matching in color, style or simply a mix of your favorite flowers. The main colors of the flowers at this time of year are blue, orange, yellow, pink, purple and even white. Although be careful when planting white flowers. If you get a frost they can go brown and look unattractive.

Planning is essential. If you want a spring garden, you will need to begin planting certain flowers in the fall. Bulbs such as crocus, daffodils and alliums need be in the ground by this time of year. Tulips and hyacinths can be planted later, usually just after the first frosts to ensure they survive and have the best chance of living. Ensure that you purchase bulbs that are firm and dry, the larger the better as these are more mature and likely to root well. Avoid any bulbs that have already begun to sprout greenery; these are past their planting stage.

Plant your bulbs immediately after you have bought them. Bulbs like a warm, sunny spot in your garden. They need good drainage and healthy soil; the bulbs will simply rot if they are in wet heavy soil. Planting depth should be about two times deeper than the actual bulb, with a distance of the same between them. If you plant the bulbs too deep or too shallow they will flower badly, or not at all. Make sure that you plant the bulb the right way up. Although this sounds very simple, with some varieties it is hard to tell which way is the right way. If you look very closely then you will be able to see roots. If you are really struggling then plant them on their sides and let nature work it out.

For a very dramatic flower bed, planting in bulk will cause a lovely effect and will look stunning when they are all flowering. A simple bit of a different color will cause a great effect in the flowerbed. Spring flowers are an ideal way to brighten up boring areas of your garden. By planting bright flowers around the base of trees and pots you can make areas prettier. If you want a natural look to your garden simply throw the bulbs and where they land, plant them.

A common mistake made is that people forget where they have planted the bulbs. If you are concerned about this then you can always plant in pots and containers. You can pack bulbs tighter in a container and this will give a very full flower display which will look amazing. Where ever you decide to plant your flowers, come spring your garden will be the envy of your neighbors. By spending some time planning you will achieve great results.

Chrysanthemums Look Beautiful In Any Setting And Are Capable Of Beautifying Any Place

Chrysanthemums bloom in a variety of shapes, sizes and forms. While many species yield white flowers that resemble the English daisy, you will come across colorful ones as well. Chrysanthemums look beautiful in any setting and are capable of beautifying any place. No wonder these are used in flower arrangements. However, there is more to this beautiful flower than its appearance. Due to its therapeutic properties, it is used for making herbal infusions. In Japanese culture, placing a single petal of chrysanthemum at the bottom of a glass of wine is believed to enhance your chances of a long and healthy life. Isn't that interesting! Not only are the chrysanthemum flower arrangements popular, chrysanthemum meaning also arouses deep interest. An attractive red chrysanthemum is not just a flower, it is a symbol of love.

Chrysanthemum Meaning

The history of chrysanthemum flowers is shrouded with several myths. Father of modern taxonomy, Carolus Linnaeus, is credited for naming this flower. The word 'Chrysanthemum' has Greek origins. The Greek prefix "Chrys" means golden while "anthemion" is the Greek word for flower. Chrysanthemums were originally golden in color, however, beautiful hues ranging from white, yellow, purple and red are commonly seen. This is due to the efforts made by cultivators. Chrysanthemums are categorized on the basis of their type and the arrangement of disk and ray flowers. The longer ray flowers surround the short disk flowers in the center. Chrysanthemums are known by many names such as football mum, pompons and spider daisy. The stems of a chrysanthemum could have a single or several blooms. These perennial flowers bloom on tall slim stems. Be it your home or workplace, the beautiful chrysanthemums will surely enliven your surroundings.

Chrysanthemum Flower Symbolism

Confucius thought of chrysanthemum as an object of meditation. In Japan, the process of unfurling of the petals of a chrysanthemum is believed to be reflective of perfection. Chrysanthemum is the November's birth flower. It is also the 13th wedding anniversary flower. Chrysanthemums are popular as the official flower of many cities, one of them being Chicago. This beautiful flower is known to symbolize cheerfulness. And that makes it an excellent choice for happy occasions like weddings and birthdays. The irony lies in the fact that when you might be using it for weddings, in some European countries like Belgium and Austria, these signify death and are used at funerals.

The colors of chrysanthemum signify emotions. Send these flowers if you wish to send a message of hope, joy, loyalty and long life. Give a white chrysanthemum to your partner to tell him/her that your love is pure and you shall always remain loyal. Red is mostly associated with love, so red chrysanthemums would be perfect when you wish to send across messages of love. Yellow ones symbolize slighted love. Chrysanthemums are a symbol of joy, optimism and love. If you have been thinking of getting a flower tattooed on your body, why not go for a chrysanthemum. As it is, flower tattoos are popular with young girls. So you could set a style statement by having a chrysanthemum tattooed on your body. A chrysanthemum tattoo will go well with your happy-go-lucky image.

Let me tell you another fascinating fact about chrysanthemums. In 400 AD Buddhist monks were responsible for bringing chrysanthemum to Japan. Such was the admiration for the flower, that the emperors' thrones were made using chrysanthemums. Japan still celebrates chrysanthemum as a symbol of royalty and honor during the Festival of Happiness. Exhibitions are held for celebrating this enchanting flower. Its beauty has managed to create an impact which will remain forever. In China, chrysanthemums are used for medicinal purposes. It is supposed to bring life and vitality.

This was all about the symbolism of the chrysanthemum flower. Chrysanthemums symbolize love and optimism. You can use chrysanthemum in flower arrangements to enliven your home. And don't forget to drop a petal of chrysanthemum in your glass of wine, who knows it might work! Wish you a long and healthy life!

Facts About Orchids That You May Not Be Aware Of

So many people think that orchids are expensive.Perhaps initially the cost may be more than you care to spend.  But there are many facts about orchids that you may not be aware of.
Did you know that orchids are one of the most prolific flowers in the world? Being from Colorado, I recently found out that there are even orchids high up in the Rocky Mountains.

The are literally thousands of different kinds of orchids.The one in the photo is called a Phalaenopsis orchid.
Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the easiest orchids to grow.If you are considering buying an orchid, the Phalaenopsis is probably a very good choice for you.

Some people think that because some orchids are from the tropics they require lots of water.  But that is generally a misconception because orchids are  more like a succulent plant.  Especially the Phalaenopsis orchid.  The thick heavy leaves on a Phalaenopsis hold moisture in the leaves.  The quickest way to kill and orchid is to over water it.  So please do not over water your orchid.

Orchids do grow in the tropics (certain genus), so with that in mind, think of orchids growing in moss or tree bark.  Commercially grown orchids are always found in a coconut bark mix or sphagnum moss.  One or the other, depending on the grower and they do well in either medium.  But, there are many fans of orchids that prefer the bark mix over the moss.

What are the differences? The bark mixture does not hold water well. In fact you might say it runs right through it.  So if you go with bark mix, you have to keep your orchid in a tray with gravel or decorative stone in the bottom to hold the moisture.  But do not sit your orchid in the water itself.  Put enough of the gravel or decorative stone under the pot so as to keep the orchid out of the water.  Your orchid will enjoy the humidity provided by the water in the tray.

Many orchids grow aerial roots. These roots are normal and will often stick out over the pot.  These roots help the orchid by searching for moisture. Do not cut them off.

If you grow your orchid in sphagnum moss, you cannot over water it.The moss has a tendency to hold the water in the pot much longer than the orchid bark mix.  So you have to keep that in mind when deciding how often to water your orchid. I water my orchids about once every two weeks.  Some of mine are in moss and some are in bark mix.

The pot doesn't appear to play a huge part in how healthy you orchid is.What seems to make a bigger difference is whether or not you feed it.  So don't spend money on a so called orchid pot, spend it on the fertilizer instead.  A pretty pot will do just fine.

Orchids, as you can imagine, do not get much nutrition from the moss, probably more from the bark mix as it breaks down.  So with that in mind you need to give it an orchid fertilizer.  There are many on the market, but I have found that the inexpensive ones seem to work as well as the more pricey ones.  Very little is needed, for some, you use only 1/4 tsp. per gallon of water.  Others require 1/2 tsp. per gallon of water.  Just make sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Once in awhile you may find a mealy bug on your orchid. Simply wipe it off with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol.  Or put alcohol in a small spray bottle and spray if you find more than one or the bug is in the center of the plant where it is hard to reach.  That seems to work very well.  Keep the leaves of your orchids clean. I wash mine in the sink with organic cleaner, carefully holding the plant sideways to prevent the soapy water from getting in the moss or bark.

Don't expect to smell an orchid all the time. Many of the orchids on the market today are cloned, and as such are far removed from the mother plant, unable to produce the pheromones that are so lovely.  But, if you get an aromatic orchid, you may still not smell it very often.  Why?  Because orchids are smart.  They do not waste their fragrance, only putting it out when the pollinator is active, for about an hour a day.

Orchids will stay in bloom for months.I had a white Phal stay in bloom from January till July.  You get more bang for your buck with an orchid.  As a live plant the flowers will stay in bloom for months, whereas other plants will not give you as much joy for as long.  So if you want a decorative flower filling your house, try orchids, they make a great hobby and will give you so much year after year.

Live Like The Sunflower

Perennial herb, usually 15-50 cm high, root for the taproot, stout, less branching. The majority of stems, supine or prostrate, with a section, pubescent. Leaves opposite; stipules triangular-lanceolate, separation,  leaf outline ovate or triangular ovate, base cordate, 5-10 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, the bipinnate deep cleft, small lobes ovate strip, entire or with sparse tooth surface is sparse hairs on the back puberulous along veins coat is more dense.

Umbels axillary, significantly longer than the leaves, peduncle to carry out the villous and backward pubescent, with 2-5 flowers per stem.

Capsule about 4 cm long, densely covered with short coarse hair. The seed is brown, with spots. Flowering from June to August, fruiting period from August to September.

In September the fields and roadsides of the Great Plains erupt in a blaze of yellow as the sunflowers and goldenrods (also members of the sunflower family) make their presence known to the local pollinating insects. While many sunflower species may begin blooming in July, they are not as noticeable then as later on when they have grown up and over the surrounding vegetation. There are eleven species of sunflower recorded from Kansas. 

Most of them are perennials. Only the common sunflower and H. petiolaris, the Prairie Sunflower, are annuals. Identification of sunflowers can be very complicated because they frequently hybridize and even within species there is a high degree of variability. With a little practice, however, the most common species can be readily recognized.

It was brought back to the Old World by the early European explorers and widely cultivated there also. Today it is a common alternative crop in the Great Plains and elsewhere for food and oil production. Next time you munch down on some sunflower seeds, thank the many generations of Native Americans whose careful husbandry gave us this valuable food item.

The wild cousins of those grown on the farm are still common, however, in fields, roadsides and disturbed ground throughout the Great Plains.

The Common Sunflower is a typical member of the Asteraceae, one of the largest and most successful families of plants. Within the structure we think of as the "flower", it actually has two different types of flowers - ray and disk flowers.

The ray flowers have the big, straplike structures that we see around the edge of the "flower" while the disk flowers occupy the middle of it. Within the Asteraceae, many confusing combinations of the two are possible along with the total absence of one or the other in some species!

Cherry Blossom Meanings Attached To This Beautiful Flower

The Asian cherry blossom tree is not indigenous to Japan or Asian countries. These trees are found growing in North America as well. There are many Asian cherry blossom meanings, that inspires poets to sing about their beauty. The Asian cherry blossom meaning is different in the both Chinese as well as Japanese culture. This is because these two cultures are wide apart and the significance this flower holds in both countries is different. Let us have a look at the Asian cherry blossom meaning according to the Chinese as well as Japanese culture.

Cherry blossoms, exquisite flowers that are the national flowers of Japan. Cherry blossom trees are called in Japanese. These flowers are ceremonial symbols in Japan and used for receptions like the traditional Hanami. There are many Asian cherry blossom meanings attached to this beautiful flower. We shall have an overview of the cherry blossom flower meaning according to the regions where it is so popular.


The Japanese cherry blossom meaning includes 'transient of life'. This is because the cherry blossom tree has short blooming periods and are very fragile. There is an old story attached to cherry blossoms that values sacrifice. It is said, that there is an Jiu-roku-zakura (the Cherry tree of the Sixteenth day), in the Iyo district. This tree grew on the lands of a Samurai for over a hundred years. When the Samurai became old, the tree began to die. The Samurai was very sad-looking at his cherished tree die. He was a brave and honorable man. Thus, he thought up of a way to save the tree's life. He sat under the tree and committed the ritual suicide under the tree. This act gave the essence of the Samurai's life to the tree. The tree within one hour of the Samurai's death, on the 16th day of the month, began to blossom flowers and continues to live even today. Thus, the cherry blossom tree meaning holds many spiritual beliefs. These beliefs are set in deep within the fundamental teachings of Buddha.

A fallen cherry blossom flower meaning also holds many emotional connections within the minds of Japanese. A fallen cherry blossom is a symbolic representation of a fallen Samurai. Each fallen cherry blossom is a representative of a Samurai who lost his life in battle. Kamikaze pilots used cherry blossoms as a symbol of their missions. These Japanese pilots would paint the sides of their planes with a cherry blossom. The cherry blossom meaning in their words was ephemerality of life. This was in association with the falling petals of the flowers. It represented the sacrifice of life a young Japanese made for his country. People also believed the cherry blossoms were the souls of the warriors who lost their lives in battle. This was about the cherry blossom meaning in Japan. Let us now have a look at the cherry blossom meaning in China.

The cherry blossom meaning in China signifies power. A cherry blossom in Chinese culture is a symbol of feminine dominance. It indicates female beauty and sexuality. The cherry blossom meaning in China according to the language of herbs is love. Therefore, it is given as a gift in China as a symbol of love.

Cherry blossom tattoos are very popular in Japan. The deep Japanese cherry blossom meaning makes it a favorite among the youth. There are different cherry blossom tattoo meanings according to the design. Men wear cherry blossom tattoos symbolizing Samurais. A few sport the cherry blossom tattoo meaning around the Buddhist meaning of life, that is, transition and suffering. Women wear the cherry blossom tattoo to symbolize their feminine power as believed by the Chinese.

It helps inspire women and celebrate her sexuality and use it to maintain dominance over man. Women sporting a cherry blossom tattoo are declaring their independence and change in life. Few also use cherry blossom tattoos to enhance their beauty. Cherry blossom meaning in tattoo also signifies overcoming an obstacle in life. The cherry blossom tree meaning in tattoos signifies fertility and nobility. This is because in ancient Japan, people threw parties to showcase their beautiful blooming cherry trees. And the members of the high society graced these occasions. In terms of the Chinese cherry tree meaning, these tree tattoos signified beauty, life, femininity and good luck. It is said that the cherry blossom showers a person with love and happiness, thus indicating good luck.

This was all about the cherry blossom flower meaning. For some a cherry blossom is a symbol of humanity and hope. The cherry blossom meaning in different cultures represents life and love. You too can grow a cherry blossom in your garden or wear a cherry blossom tattoo. Hope the above information on Asian cherry blossom meaning has helped you understand the importance of this exquisite flower in different cultures.

Easy Way To Grow Znnia Flowers

Znnia flowers are popular annuals native to the United States and originating from the southwest area of the country and some areas of Mexico and Central America. Accustomed to warm climates, zinnias thrive during hot, dry summers. The plants begin producing flowers in early summer and continue all the way until the first frost. Large, colorful blossoms appear in shades of white, yellow, orange, pink and red, depending on the variety. In most cases, zinnias are grown from seed, although bedding plants are sometimes available for purchase in garden centers in early spring.

Hardiness Zones: Zinnia flowers are grown as annuals in all zones in the United States and die back after the first frost of winter. Growing Difficulty: Easy What You Need: Liquid fertilizer How to Grow Zinnia Flowers: Sow zinnia flower seeds directly in the garden or set out transplants in spring about one week after the final frost of winter when temperatures have warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a planting location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day and has fertile, well-drained soil. Space zinnia seeds or plants 4 to 24 inches apart, depending on variety.

Cover seeds with a light layer of soil and water thoroughly to initiate growth. Seedlings will emerge in 5 to 7 days. If you're planting transplants, begin routine care immediately. If growing from seed, wait until germination occurs before proceeding with the following steps. Water drought-tolerant zinnia flowers only as needed, usually about once every two weeks unless temperatures rise above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In this case, increase the frequency of watering to once per week or more, especially if there is no natural rainfall.

Although they tolerate dry conditions, zinnias prefer soil that's a bit on the moist side, but not soggy. Feed plants once every three to four weeks using a balanced liquid fertilizer at the rate recommended by the manufacturer to promote strong, healthy growth and flower production. Water thoroughly immediately after application to release and distribute the nutrients throughout the soil and to prevent injuring the plant's roots. Pinch the tops of zinnia plants when they are around 4 to 6 inches high to promote a bushier and more compact growth habit. Remove faded zinnia flowers as necessary to encourage further blooming and to conserve nutrients. Trim long stems to improve appearance if desired and stake tall varieties if they begin to grow too tall and flop over.

Tips for Growing Zinnia Flowers: Avoid overhead watering and apply water at soil level early in the day if possible. Zinnia flowers are susceptible to foliar diseases and wet foliage increases the likelihood of disease. Most varieties of zinnia require little pruning and are resistant to pests. If a pest infestation does occur, treat as soon as possible with an organic or chemical repellent or fungicide, depending on the problem.

Landscape Uses: All zinnia flowers make great additions to the garden bed or border, and they're also highly regarded as cut flowers for use in arrangements. Use zinnias in sunny annual beds or as edging plants. They make great companions to other warm- weather annuals and perennials including verbena and portulaca. Common zinnia flowers are sometimes planted in vegetable gardens when they're being used as cut flowers.

Growing Azaleas In Your Beautiful Garden

Azaleas and rhododendrons are shrubs for all seasons. In winter some stand out with large evergreen leaves. In spring the flowers are showy; throughout the summer and fall the leaves add a pleasing, deep green color to the garden. Some deciduous azaleas add bright fall color before the leaves drop. The spectacular spring flowers of azaleas and rhododendrons make them among the most popular garden shrubs.

Although all azaleas and rhododendrons are classed as Rhododendron by plant taxonomists, the name "azalea" is commonly used for native deciduous species and some evergreen Asian types. In general, "Rhododendron" is used for those species that have large, evergreen, leathery leaves. No sharp division can be made, and it is always correct to call any of them rhododendrons.

The terms azalea and rhododendron are used as they commonly apply. Whatever name is used, the culture required for all these plants is very similar (See Figure 1). The same cultural practices may also be applied to blueberries, pieris, heather, holly and other plants that prefer acid, organic soils.

It should be understood that the distinction between azaleas and rhododendrons is purely a garden affair. Botanically they belong to the same genus. Azaleas require exactly the same type of soil as rhododendrons. They dislike lime and thrive in almost any soil that is free of it, but especially in one which contains an abundance of humus, preferably in the form of peat. Those who live in districts in which the soil is naturally impregnated with lime or chalk should not attempt to grow azaleas outdoors until special beds have been made up for the purpose. In this case it is wise to build up the soil above the surrounding ground level and not merely to excavate the existing soil and replace with fresh. Such built-up beds must be at least 2 ft. in depth and should be prepared with good turfy peat and lime-free loam in about equal parts. When constructing rock gardens it is not at all difficult to preserve one section entirely for azaleas and other lime-hating plants.

If the soil is not impregnated with chalk or lime, it is only necessary to dig it deeply. Should it be of a harsh or heavy nature, it will be improved by liberal dressings of horticultural peat and sharp sand. Nothing in the way of manure is either necessary or desirable.

All types of azaleas are grand town shrubs, for they are as resistant to the effects of soot and grime as most hardy rhododendrons, and do not in the least object to a certain amount of shade.

Planting of the deciduous species can be carried out at any time during the dormant season, that is, from leaf-fall, usually about the end of October, till the buds begin to burst in early spring. Preference should be given to periods when the weather is mild and moist. The evergreen Japanese and Kurume azaleas can usually be purchased in small pots, and in their case transplanting is best done earlier in the autumn or later in the spring. No pruning is necessary save for the removal of faded flower trusses.

The usual, and certainly the best method of obtaining a stock of Indian azaleas is to purchase strong plants during the autumn knocked out of pots. These are well set with flower buds. Pots should be selected for those which will just take the roots without having to cramp and crush them in. Peat and loam form the compost. Very firm potting is absolutely essential, and another important point which applies to all plants growing in peat is that ample room for water must be allowed on the surface of the soil.

The most favourable position during the following weeks will be in a greenhouse or a covered frame facing north. Heat will be quite unnecessary until the advent of frosty nights. The syringe must be used at frequent intervals, and abundance of air must be admitted night and day.

Azaleas in full flower should be housed in a cool structure, as this will prolong the life of the flowers. As the plants pass out of bloom the decayed blossoms must be carefully removed, and they may then be staged in a heated house. The great point about successful azalea culture is the building up of the ensuing season's flower buds, and to this end warm conditions immediately after the flowering period will prove most valuable. The house must be kept moist and the plants syringed frequently and regularly. When the plants are well set with bud, judicious feeding with weak liquid manure will be most advantageous. Towards the end of July the plants may be placed in the open air, choosing a position with a northern aspect, away from trees, but sheltered from rough winds.

Although azaleas do not require annual repotting, the plants should be inspected every year after flowering, and for those that are not potted a surface dressing of sandy peat will be helpful.

Azaleas are not easy plants for the amateur to increase. The most satisfactory method is to strike short cuttings of half - ripened young growth in very sandy peat or even in pure silver sand in a frame with gentle bottom heat. Seed is very small and should only be covered with the finest scattering of silver sand. It can be germinated during March in a cool greenhouse.

Wild Flowers Grows With Tenacious Life

Wild flowers are plants that grow without any care from man. Some wild flowers are just as beautiful as garden flowers or hothouse flowers. The lovely plants that bloom in early spring in the woods often give more pleasure than any cultivated plant. The cacti that grow in the southwestern United States, and the marsh marigolds (cowslips) that grow in wet places from the Carolinas to the Arctic, add bright spots of color to the desert and marshes.

Many wild flowers are very hard to grow and are sometimes impossible to copy in gardens. The flowers that grow in the woods need an acid soil. Most of them need shade. Some can only grow in soil made of rotted oak leaves, or pine needles, or very special material.

Indian pipes must have a certain kind of fungus in the soil. The soil also must be made of rotted plant material because these white flowers have no chlorophyll (green coloring matter) in their stalks and no leaves so they cannot make their own food. Some of the other wild plants take a long time to grow from seeds to blooming stage. An example is the dogtooth violet or trout lily, which takes seven years to grow big enough to bloom. Few gardeners want to wait that long.

Fringed gentian seeds must fall in exactly the right place to grow or they die very quickly. They could not be put in a packet and sold.

Many other plants, that are lovely in their showy enough for cultivation. They may only bloom for a day or the flowers may be very small. In the woods or waste places, however, they are a bright spot of color for people who enjoy the out-of-doors. Other wild flowers grow too well for gardens. The many varieties of bright wild peas and beans that bloom on southern wastelands grow so fast that they would quickly choke out garden flowers.

Goldenrod and wild asters grow over most of the United States and Canada in fields, woods, and along roads. They are so common that few people would bother to grow them.

Of course, some wild flowers are cultivated. All cultivated flowers were once wild. The poinsettia is a wild plant of tropical Mexico and Central America. Geraniums grow wild in South Africa. It is interesting to find the wild ancestors of cultivated plants. Some plants that are wild in one part of the United States are cultivated in homes and gardens of other parts. Lupines grow wild in the west, but are sometimes raised in eastern gardens. Fields of wild California poppies brighten the western countryside. In the east, California poppies may be carefully planted in gardens.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy wild flowers is to learn to know them where they grow. Finding a patch of bloodroot, or arbutus, or hepatica in the woods can be a lot of fun. Finding some of the wild orchids like pink lady’s-slipper or the showy orchids of the spring is like finding a hidden treasure.

Sometimes when people find these flowers they feel that they must pick them and take them home with them. Usually this is selfish and often against the law. The petals of the bloodroot drop as soon as the flower is picked. Most woodland flowers wilt when they are carried in warm hands. Hepatica, spring beauty, and many others are too small to make good arrangements even if they do not wilt.

Picking the flower also keeps the plant from making seeds and new plants for people to enjoy. In some plants when the leaves are also picked the parent plant is killed too, for no food factory is left to store food in roots or bulbs for next year’s flowers.

Amaryllis Belladonna Requires Very Little Attention

Amaryllis is Greek feminine and is named after a beautiful shepherdess. The specific epithet belladonna means beautiful lady. The appearance of the tall, flower stalk without any leaves accounts for the common name "naked lady". Amaryllis belladonna in its natural habitat is found in small dense groups among rocks.

Therefore the best place to plant them would be in a rock garden. In a created landscape, Amaryllis can be used mixed in between blue Agapanthus as a good combination, as the evergreen leaves of the Agapanthus provide skirts for the naked ladies. They can also be grown between a ground cover or mixed annual or herbaceous border.

Growing Amaryllis belladonna

The cultivation of Amaryllis belladonna requires very little attention. Amaryllis belladonna can be grown from seed. The soft fleshy white to pink seed should be planted when fresh. Dispersal of seed in winter is normally by wind. Seed dispersal is timed to coincide with the first winter rains in late March and April. Germination can occur in two weeks, but seedlings require three to six years or longer to flower.

Large clumps of bulbs can be divided from the mother bulb during the dormant period. The bulbs and offsets can be planted immediately. The bulbs must be planted with their necks at soil level. The belladonna lily can also be grown in large pots using a very porous soil mix. The bulb can also tolerate quite arid conditions. In cultivation flowers are produced almost every year but in the fynbos they emerge prolifically after fires.

There is still some mystery as to what pollinates the March lily. Rudolf Marloth, a famous amateur botanist, believed that the belladonna lily was being pollinated by a hawk moth. It was also noticed that large carpenter bees visited the flowers during the day. On the Cape Peninsula, at least, it seems that bees are the main pollinators of the March lily.

Amaryllis belladonna is often attacked by a highly destructive black and yellow striped caterpillar called lily borer. The caterpillar bores into the leaves and stem of the lily causing the flowering stem to collapse. The caterpillar eventually enters the bulb. The caterpillars can be removed by hand or the affected foliage can be cut off.

The family Amaryllidaceae forms a large group of over sixty genera, which are mainly centred in the southern Africa with smaller distributions in Andean South America. Other genera that belong to this family that have horticultural importance and are found in southern Africa include Clivia, Crinum, Cyrthanthus, Nerine and Scadoxus.

Hippeastrum, which some gardeners mistakenly call amaryllis, is a large South American genus. Other northern hemisphere genera include Narcissus (daffodils) and Leucojum.

Calla Lilies Are Generally A Great Selection For Weddings

Calla lilies are generally a great selection for weddings. For a long time, many wedding brides select these people with regards to basic and vintage weddings. Several wedding wedding planners consent that will Calla lilies are some of the many stylish lower plants obtainable. In fact it is for that reason that lots of while using contemporary and modern day wedding brides make an effort to stay away from these people. Nevertheless, you they may be well suited for any type of wedding!
You definitely have to find out where you can have them, as you’ve quality, thriving bouquet involving plants. As well as the most suitable option is to find these people through Wedding Flowers. If you purchase from suppliers plants, this will likely allow you, or even your current flower designer, to offer the very best export quality for the wedding flower arrangements. Nearly all wedding blossom vendors will forever have a very broader range of plants in your case as they definitely deal with a number of harvesting across the world. So, in case you aren’t a vintage bride-to-be and want to attempt various and brilliant colours only pay a visit to a few websites and show off inside the colour plan this stunning kind of blossom provides.
Both you would like dark or even brilliant colours. You will discover any calla lily that will correctly suits you. Via burgundy, crimson, jasmine, very hot white, fruit, yellow, green, for you to bicolor blooms, callas are your most suitable option. They might be displayed on your current bouquet, boutonnieres, and table decorations plans. If you aren’t finding the colour you would like, but you even now long for them on the group of wedding plants, flowery apply will be the solution. Merely obtain just as much white-colored originates as you’ve plus your flower designer will get the proper colour that may correctly match up along with colour pallette within your wedding.
Besides calla lilies give you a variety of colour, they also offer you 4 distinct programs involving come. The standard calla lilies size 31 for you to Thirty ins, and they are the proper fit for too much time table decorations. Little calla lilies appear in 3 distinct programs: Short, method and extended calla lilies. Via One particular ft . for you to 31 ins extended, mini callas are fantastic for marriage bouquets, boutonnieres, and small table decorations.Not every one of the actual plants gives you this variety in colours and size. Utilize not really consider they might be only ideal for basic weddings in which vendela, white-colored away from, product are the dominating colours. Yes, they might be desirable for you to basic wedding brides but you may also locate a lot of contemporary and modern day accessories which have callas his or her dominating blossom.

Ancient Capital Of The Peony

Late April to early May in the twenty days, the Beijing Peony major parks are in full bloom. Colored peonies, colorful, contests, like a sea of ??flowers, attracting a large number of foreign visitors to watch. "Grain Rain season to see Peony" from the "Grain Rain" to "May Day" Festival, Beijing is an excellent ornamental peony season.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing is the capital because, in addition to the Imperial Palace Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), but also the construction of a large number of imperial garden, the Royal temples and the palace and temples. The peony was due to a symbol of wealth, has been seen as "national flower", so in these places a lot of peony cultivation, and more famous. In the Ming Dynasty, the Royal Palace, such as the Forbidden City Imperial Garden, Jianfu Palace (palace was built after the fire burned Fu), etc, "Peony Mirage inside and outside the plant to do." Tsinghua University Haidian Park, also known as plum (mother of Emperor Li Yan-Fei Wei Li, the empress's father, the park), "The Peony Garden in thousands (trees), peony of thousands (trees), the first Country Park in Beijing also . "
To the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing has many temples under heaven. Ages of the monks in their temples planting flowers and trees, such as peony, magnolia, crabapple, lilac, spring, crape myrtle, etc. to show "Buddhist temple flowers deep" meaning. Therefore, Beijing's Temple of "Flower Temple," said. Planting in the temple, the first choice is peony, peony and famous temples such as the Kek Lok Si Temple, Reclining Buddha, Chong efficiency Temple at Temple, Jietai and so on. Kek Lok Si Temple in sorghum Xizhimenwai west, the temple has ten acres of peonies, which is famous in the Ming and Qing dynasties, "the national flower of Church", also known as "flowers", "flower Church" in many varieties of peony. Peony in full bloom in spring, the tours are like clouds. In the Ming Dynasty, the Western Hills Reclining Buddha there are four scenic spots, the Reclining Buddha, Horse Chestnut tree, spring, and peony. According to "Chang Hakka" set: "Reclining Buddha and more peonies, the vegetation cover in the government. To take over the donor. On special even when in full bloom, you can not bear to swim to play." Sentence, "the officials" that the palace eunuchs, "the" is the emperor. Reclining Buddha of the peony is planted in the palace, came to see who is the nobility. Ancient poem: "suddenly suspected female casual days, must win Luoyang plant." Temple is located in the Xuanwu District, Sung effect is known peony, known capital. Every spring, the temple Tayuan peony flowers, a fragrant sea. There is a poem: "Peony war pilgrims, poetry together before people", men of letters but also poems Fu words. After the founding of Temple worship efficiency transplant peonies are Zhongshan Park, Jingshan Park. Fayuan now is lilac, but at the beginning of peony is known, after the decline peony, Chong efficiency Temple is behind, to win against the peony, Fayuan and planting cloves. Grafting at Temple's monks are good at, so one can be opened more than two peony peony flower color, that the "one second away", it is more famous. West Beijing Peony Jietai Temple in the Qing Court Peony height, Prince Kung of the later years because of who lived here, he liked the peony symbolizes wealth, so many plants in the courtyard peony and peony as the hospital name. Many temples in Beijing, but also the planting of peonies, the cases abound.
After the founding of Beijing's major parks, on the basis of the original, but also by the development. Especially since the eighties of last century, along with the development of greening the capital, Beijing, a large number of peony cultivation, the number has been ranked first in the country, and there are many large areas of Peony Garden. Now people watch Peony, most important in urban areas to Jingshan Park, Jingshan Park just past the north side of East Gate in the Peony Garden, though already is the largest city Peony Garden, and in recent years, Jingshan Park and everywhere there are peony plant, the park is a big Peony Garden. Both the traditional imperial peony garden famous, but also prestigious Luoyang peony, peony, as well as rare peony, Gansu, Zhejiang, Peony, Japanese Peony and so on.