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Winter Arrangements
Flowers associated with winter include hellebores which, although not generally available as a cut flower, can be purchased as pot plants. This is also true of the poinsettia, which will last much longer if the roots can be retained. Poinsettias are now available in pinks and creamy whites as well as scarlet, and combine beautifully with red carnations and carnation sprays.
The early spring flowers New Town can be teamed with some of the flowering winter branches, such as witch hazel or Viburnum x bodnantense. The first narcissi and tulips appear in winter and these and other spring flowers help to brighten the dark winter days. The spicy scent of hyacinths makes them a favourite, and the delicate beauty of snowdrops is a very special pleasure.
Problems in using wild flowers
Growing, as they generally do, in poor soil wild flowers often have long tap roots to enable them to survive. If these roots are severed the flowers will wilt very quickly. So if you are intending to gather wayside flowers I suggest you should keep a strong plastic bag handy in the car. As you cut, say, cow parsley or bluebells place them head-first in the bag. Everyone puts them stalks-first into bags and this is how problems start. If you keep the heads out of the air the flowers suffer much less from lack of moisture. As quickly as you can after picking them, place the stems in a bucket of really warm water. This will give them the best chance of lasting reasonably well. I find that of the many wild flowers I like to use, bluebells and cow parsley, or cow parsnip, are the favourites. They last better (unlike those from a Richmond florist) if not on very long stems. Bluebells, like wallflowers, should be cut on stems no longer than four or five inches (12—15 cm), then mass them in a box or basket. In this way they last very well and the scent is out of this world; they appear to like being packed closely together for they always seem to last better this way.
The pink rose
When you look at a pink rose, you will feel a surge of happiness and pure delight that can only be explained by the flawless and delicate beauty of it. Pink roses are a pleasure to look at, boast a heavenly smell and have a depth of meaning behind its demure exterior. Although roses in general can be used to express varying degrees of love and gratitude, the pink rose is the most dominant in symbolizing these attributes. In a recent survey carried out by Australian flower delivery Sheldon professionals it was estimated that nearly five per cent of all flowers sent in 2007 were pink roses. Whilst not as popular as it's cousin (red), the pink rose will always be an excellent choice for many people.
The Florist’s Year
The florist’s year is busy but productive. The hours are often long and arduous, but the pleasures are many. A glittering arrangement, complete with champagne, balloons and novelty hats, ushers in the New Year. Special events around the year give many reasons to celebrate with romantic red roses for Valentine’s Day, pretty posies and handtied bunches for Mother’s Day, and then the joyful abundance of Easter flowers after Lenten austerities.
Christmas, with its traditional holly, mistletoe, pine, spruce, ivy, candles and glitter, plus a whole host of other possibilities for the more adventurous, is the peak of the year for any florist Moston. In between these events is a constant stream of weddings, large and small, christenings, birthdays and special anniversaries toasted with champagne.
The hours may be long and the work strenuous, but the look of pleasure on the face of a bride or a new mum, makes all the effort worthwhile.
Bulbs’ Resistance to Cold
Summer-flowering bulbs come from so many parts of the world and are available at virtually every Rancho Park flower shop. They belong to so many genera that they have few things in common except that they bloom sometime between spring and fall. Some, like most lilies and camassias, originated in cold climates and are hardy enough to survive winters outdoors anywhere in most climate zones. Others such as the caladium, which is native to the banks of jungle rivers in South America, are tender, or susceptible to cold; even their dormant tubers cannot stand temperatures that fall lower than 55°. In most areas such bulbs must be dug up in fall before the ground freezes if they are to be saved for flowering the next year. Resistance to cold (or the lack of it) determines not only how a bulb should be handled during winter but also when it should be set out to grow in the garden.
A Cutting Garden
In our fairly small garden, cutting flowers for use in a bouquet or to dry often means choosing each bloom carefully so we don't spoil the current display. If you need large quantities of cut flowers for your own pleasure or to exhibit or give away, you may want to do as we do and grow them separately in what the Victorians called a "cutting garden." In such a garden you can pick to your heart's content without concern about the effect on the bed when you've finished. A cutting garden is not designed to be a spot of great beauty throughout the season, so it shouldn't be located in immediate view. Ours is in a corner of our vegetable garden, where it is accessible and easy to tend. With this kind of bed, we are unconcerned about plant heights, color clashes, or blooming times. Even though appearance in the cutting garden does not matter as it would in a show garden, a few chores are essential. We thin the annuals and weed everything frequently so the plants won't be crowded or deprived of nutrients and moisture. We provide adequate water and fertilizer to obtain the maximum number of flowers Hyndland, and, of course, we deadhead regularly to prevent seed formation.
Garland Headdress
The bride’s headdress completes her whole outfit, and should therefore complement the bouquet. Many brides are concerned that the flowers will not last, and they therefore steer away from fresh flowers; this is such a pity, as fresh flowers always look wonderful, and if suitable flowers are chosen they will have the advantage of matching the bouquet and will certainly look much lovelier than artificial ones.
Flowers Clubmoor such as stephanotis, Singapore orchids, cymbidium orchids, gypsophila, spray carnations and even many varieties of rose would be appropriate, as would foliage such as hedera or eucalyptus.
The cluster
The cluster generally has a definite outline — for example, round, diamond, crescent or, as in the pictured design, a teardrop. Foliage creates the initial outline of the cluster. Pernettya shrub, eucalyptus, and the larger leaves of Hedera canariensis are used to give depth and unity.
The roses, as focal flowers, define the profile. Carnation sprays are added by florists Cathays to strengthen the focal flowers and provide further texture. Lily buds offer a contrast both in form and in texture, and a strong grouping of muscari and individual hyacinth pips, together with the finishing touch of a ribbon bow, help to complete the cluster.
This design features a single placement of flowers, but secondary placements can also be effective, especially if linked to the principal placement by foliage or ribbon.
Getting flowers home
When you have been lucky enough to receive some flowers at your place of work, you have to carefully plan how to get them home without damaging them. Obviously you will want to carry your flowers home, still in their original wrapping. Not just to enjoy the envious looks from women (or men) and interested glances from men, (or women), but just to be practical. Remember not to gloat, just because you received a beautiful bunch of flowers delivered Sunset Park, doesn't mean everyone did. Keep the flowers in water for as long as possible before setting off for home, and where possible avoid the hustle and bustle of public transport.