Ask the Expert: In our small town we have a problem with deer. Each section of town seems to have it’s own herd. They eat all our fir trees and now eat tomatoes plants,green peppers and even marigolds. We have tried different ways to keep them away.ie. human hair different sprays and nothing seems to work. Any suggestion?Please contact me if you can help. Thanks Judie

2008 is just around the corner and with it comes a new year of flower and garden shows. Kicking off the fun filled year are the flowers in Atlanta, Georgia at the Southeastern Flower Show, starting January 30th and ending February 3rd. For more than two decades, the Southeastern Flower Show has been an inspiration to flowers lovers and garden enthusiasts alike; this year will no doubt be exceptionally inspirational with the theme: Imagine That.

The Southeastern Flower Show is an extravaganza of professionally landscaped gardens displays, floral and gardening demonstrations, speakers, family activities and a retail marketplace. During the show competitions will be held in floral design, horticulture, landscape and photography. Highlights of the 21st annual Southwestern Flower Show are the floral and gardening demonstrations, amateur and professional floral designs, and the speakers. These nationally acclaimed and local speakers will offer their expertise on landscaping, cooking, flower arranging, recycling and more.

There are many exceptional speakers and demonstrations on tap for the show. Here are a few of the ones I think would be interesting:

• Mimi’s Mechanics by Mimi Brown, floral designer for Flower Magazine
• Jean Stanback Brumley Memorial Lecture:”Behind the Scenes at Chelsea” by Richard Beales, Show Designer for Peter Beales Roses and designer of fifteen Gold Medal-winning gardens at Chelsea Flower Show
• Cooking from the Garden: Chef Richard Roettgen of Via
• Peter Loewer, author of The New Landscape: Gardening in Containers
• “Arranging Fabulous Flowers” by Kathy Rainer and Tricky Wolfes of Parties to Die For
• “Phenomenal Flower Arranging” by Darryl Wiseman of Darryl Wiseman Flowers
• Celebrity Floral Arranging Competition
• Linda Chapin, author of Field Guide to Rare Plants of Georgia

If you live in the Atlanta GA area or plan to visit the area during January 30-February 3, Check out The Southeastern Flower Show. I am sure it will be a delightful way to spend the day. I, unfortunately, will not be able to attend and must live vicariously through others. So, send me pictures and comments if you attend and I’ll post them on the blog. That way those of us who can’t attend can still enjoy the wonders of the Southeastern Flower Show.

Ticket Information for the Southeastern Flower Show

I was wondering if you have heard of making a grave blanket out of grapevine and christmas tree outdoor garland. I am wanting to make one for my brother that passed last christmas.

These are pictures of the grave blanket made by Liberty.

Ask the Expert: Easy care Plant for Coffee table? I want to purchase an easy care green plant for my coffee table that receives morning bright filtered light. I don’t want a plant that gets very big. Which species would work for me?
Thanks,
Susan

I constantly search the Internet, magazines, hotels, restaurants and even peoples’ homes for interesting flowers and flower arrangements. I’m somewhat of a flower stalker. Lucky, no one has taken out a restraining order yet. So, when I finally had time to read the Flower Chat blog post for the last couple of weeks, I was delight to see - Local florists offer unique flower arrangements for Christmas. I am always amazed with the creative talents of florists; their ability to enhance the beauty of an already gorgeous flower; their ability to use flowers, greenery, ribbon and other materials to create a magnificent floral sculptures. The florists who submitted photos of their floral designs for the post were no exception.

I loved the Glittering Christmas arrangement from Everyday Flowers, a Tustin California florist. The use of cut limes and lemons, miniature apples, lisanthus and cymbidium orchids paired with pinecones, hypericum, eucalyptus and other Christmas greens definitely put a unique and exquisite twist to their Christmas flower arrangement.

Central Square Florist, creating flower arrangements in Cambridge Massachusetts, demonstrated the artistry of creating a “floral sculpture” with their Holiday Tree Centerpiece . This design is a fantastic way to display a “Christmas Tree”; especially, if you lack the room for a life size one. The best part is you won’t have to decorate it.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Christmas flower arrangement designs submitted by all of the florists. Pictures of Christmas flower arrangements are wonderful resources for ideas and a pleasure to look at as well. Sharing design ideas is an advantage for those of us involved in the flower community. If you want to share some of your personal designs or photos of flower arrangements you have enjoyed, drop me a line.

Ask the Expert: Epidendrum Orchid………..I have a plant with 2 tall shoots and is flowering very nicely. It appears additional stalks are growing. Should I snip off the brown stalks and permit the green stalks to grow?

Stephen,

You can remove the old flower spikes and stems by snapping or cutting them at the base of the plant.  Although pruning is not necessary for re-blooming.  Often the flower stalk will bloom again in a couple of months.  The flower stalk sometimes will produce a Keiki (baby plant) and the baby can be removed and planted.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo……….I understand about leaves turning yellow because of water but what about stems beginning to turn yellow? Can I cut a healthy stem just below the “knuckle” or joint and grow a new plant? Thank you Stephen

Stephen,

The yellow stalks are usually caused by over fertilization.  Too much fertilizer can caused the stem cells to burst thus causing irreparable damage. The chlorine and other chemicals in the water can also cause stem damage.  When the stem turn yellow, I suggest that you start new ones.  Cut the stem off above the yellow an inch above a node (knuckle) and dip the top in rooting hormone; let dry overnight; place in fresh distilled water.  You should see new roots in a couple of weeks.

Ask the Expert: Lucky bamboo has yellow and sticky leaves

Hi, Ive had my bamboo for 4 years, it has always been in the same place and pot. It is very tall and now the branches are turning soft and wabbly and a few yellow leaves. Under the leaves there is a sticky substance. Cleaned it with wet towel but came back. Spray with indoor plant bug killer, stopped overall yellow but still on tip of leaves and still wabbly. Moved closer to window still nothing. What could it be? Stickyness still there

Ask the expert: i am trying to find a one or two day course in floral design / flower arranging in the Marysville, Dublin, Columbus, Ohio area (in that order) - will be a gift. Help? thank you

Ask the Expert

I have a lucky bamboo in my office it was ok with water , later I brought plant gel and start to turn yellow I need your help please what to do?