Not long ago Brynn wrote about the memories she had of her grandmother picking daffodils from the roadside. Now every time she sees a daffodil it reminds her of her mother and grandmother. Recently, I had the task of writing a newsletter for Flower Shop Network. I thought long and hard about the special memories I had and most of them involved flowers. So I wrote a newsletter called Flower Memories which caused me to wonder what kind of flower memories others had. So here I am wondering and there you are with some great memories. Lets share! You can read my Flower Memories in the newsletter and I invite you to put your flower memories on this blog.

Ask the Expert: I have a peace lily that was given to us for my mother-in-law when she passed. The leaves are turning brown and have a hole is coming in on some of the leaves. I am trying not to over water so what could be my problem? It is in my living room away from windows, I never been to good at caring for indoor plants. Needless to say I don’t have a green thumb. I would appreciate any input on what I may or may not be doing. Linda

Linda,

I assume you peace lily came from a florist shop and arrived in beautiful foil with a bow. The foil and bow are used as a way to decorated the plant. However, for the long term (more…)

Ask the Expert: What kind of iris is this?

This house has been in my family for about nine years and this is the FIRST time this plant has bloomed. I believe it’s an iris, but after looking at several pictures, I can’t figure out what kind of iris. Can anyone help me out? Do they always take years and years to bloom? There are others there but the green is only about three inches tall… the same height as nine years ago…

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Despite the bad weather occurring across the nation, mother nature perseveres. Spring flowers like tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils have been popping up all over the place. Every day on my way to work, I pass a house with a driveway lined in daffodils. It is an absolutely amazing display. My mother’s hyacinths and tulips are gorgeous this year. They even survived the storm last week that blew the fence down behind them.

It is refreshing to see these flowers and to know that spring is once again upon us. It seems these spring flowers are exciting to everyone. In fact, Steve Pelham (our VP of (more…)

Ask the Expert: Please identify, whether this is weeds or not?

I found this ground covering plant in my garden, with puple flowers in Spring.  It has a strong lavenderish/menthol smell when the leaves are broken.  It looks like a ground cover. The purple flowers are constantly visited by insects too.  Is it a weed or not? Please let me know if I can propagate them further? Bianca

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Ask the Expert: what kind of plant is this? is it safe for pets?

I can’t find it on the internet….it’s one of the only things I can grow inside and not kill, because I’m not very good with house plants. Also, I’m keeping it away from my cats since I don’t know what it is or if it’s poisonous. Could you tell me what it is called, and if it’s safe for pets?

Thank you,

Lee Ann / Fort Worth

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Ask the Expert: Identify the flower bulbs

Please tell us the name of these purple flowering bulb plant. The flower emerges in early spring and the leaves are similar to the Agapanthus leaves. The flowers are a bigger version to the wild garlic flower plant. Elzet

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Ask the Expert: Please, I need to know what kind of tree is this?

I found this small tree on our smallholding, near Bronkhorstspruit Gauteng, SA and would really like to know its name and origin. I have replanted it and it survived the transition very good. Please advice?!! Elzet

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Many of my fondest memories as a child with my mother and grandmother took place out of the window of a small, slowly creeping car as we drove by fields, stones, and structures of personal significance to the two older ladies. Few moments were as special as the first time we, along with my younger sister, stopped on the side of the road for our first view of the magnificent spring blooms. At that moment, neither my sister Shannon nor I could pronounce the name Narcissus for the beautiful daffodils (jonquils) lining the road ways. Neither did we know of the many stories that shroud these gentle blooms with popularity. (more…)

Hope everyone had a good St. Patrick’s Day.  Tracey, Flower Shop Network receptionist, had a wonderful day yesterday.  She received these wonderful flowers.

  The flowers weren’t green, but St Patrick’s Day was still celebrated with the green bow.  The offer still stands - send me a photo of your St. Patrick’s Day flower arrangement and I’ll post it on the blog.