Ask the Expert: What is my plant and is it poisonous?

It looks like a tiny palm tree with various stems.
It is a house plant. Janelle

chinese evergreen

Dumbcane

schefflera

photo from Bernecker's Nursery

Ask the Expert: Why is my Hyophorbe Verschaffeltii dying? Spindle

I bought a beautiful indoor spindle palm tree. I transplanted into a larger planter, added soil, and watered it with miracle grow. Days later, I noticed that the leaves were drying out. I cut off all of the dry stems. I am now left with one stem that has not open yet. I am not sure if that stem is fresh or dry. What can I do to save this plant? Is it too late? Thank you, for your help. Rosa

Ask The Expert: While traveling through Oklahoma I saw these beautiful flowers along the road. I was told they were called Indian Painted Flowers. I understand they are your state flower. Is there anyway I can get these flowers for my garden.

Thank you, Susan Hopkins

Ask the Expert: Why wont my Iris bloom?

My Iris' get great green leaves but I fail to get a bud, which in turn I don't get a bloom?

Mary Ann

Ask the Expert: Why wont my buds on my daffodils bloom?

My daffodils come up, get big buds on them but the buds never open???

Ask the Expert: Identify blooming bush please?

This bush was planted by the home builder about 4 years ago, this year it was covered in these white/red flowers. Can you tell me what it is?

Thanks Michelle

You've probably heard the expression, "It's the thought that counts." That is very much the case with Mother's Day gifts. I recently found myself scrambling among the mass of people shopping for something very unique and non-floral for my mother. However, I realized that there are many reasons why sending my mother a special flower arrangement is a unique Mother's Day gift.

My mother is as unique as a dainty snowflake. She is among the most important people in my life. Decades spent with her have woven together the threads of time into a bond between her and I that cannot be broken. Because of this I wanted to get the best gift possible for her this Mother's Day. I walked through the aisles and peered through online galleries in search of the perfect gift for her but none seemed to show how much I care. Not one had the special touch that a child or grandchild can bring. I wanted a gift that warms her heart because it brought forth a special memory. I thought back through all of the many times that my mother had received flowers from her children, my father, her own father who is now deceased, and others. I remembered the chipper little girl that seemed to shine through when she received each arrangement. I knew then that what I really wanted to give my mother was another flower memory.

My mother’s father has been gone for many years now. I’ve heard her speak often of her “pa” and the many wonderful attributes of this amazing man. I poured through the recesses of my mind and finally remembered the story that I’d heard mother relay of the first time that her father gave her flowers. I couldn’t wait to call my local flower shop and order a bouquet of daisies because it is exactly what she received from him nearly forty years ago.

No generically manufactured gift can ever elicit the same response from my mother as the daisies and accompanying card that read, "Your daddy would be proud of how wonderful a mother you've been to me." While generic gifts may conjure up some sort of general emotion, they cannot touch individual hearts with the same tenderness as a child. They rarely accomplish the feeling of awe as a child watches the wrinkles of her mother’s face melt away, replaced by the bright smile of a little girl. Though many offered ideas, few would've thought that the perfect gift with the most special touch was the one that I’d almost overlooked though all it really needed was my mommy-daughter touch.

Daisies For My Mother

– Brynn Jackson FSN –

I spend a good majority of my time telling people about the benefits of using a real local florist; about the power of flowers and what a great gift they make; how to take care of the flowers they receive; and what flowers are appropriate for whatever occasion. Of course, I always picture people popping into their local florist to place their order or to pick up some flowers. But last Friday while I was thinking of blog ideas for this week, I made a note to discuss how to order flowers online. I thought this would be a timely blog topic since the Mothers Day holiday was fast approaching.

So Sunday when I was reading USA Weekend, there staring me in the face were the very tips I was going to discuss with all of you this week. Of course they had beaten me to the punch and done it quite well, especially since USA Weekend and Amy Stewart recognized FlowerShopNetwork.com as a authoritative place to find real local florists online.

So instead of reinventing the wheel I though I'd republish the tips written by USA Weekend on Sunday May 4th, 2008 –:
Buying flowers online

1. Check the company's website to see how it sends the flowers. Are they in a vase or are they boxed? "Flowers sent through a local florist typically arrive professionally designed in a vase or container, ready to be displayed," says Jennifer Sparks, vice president of marketing for the Society of American Florists. "Flowers sent through a grower or distribution center usually arrive in a box and must be set up by the recipient."

2. Beware of "order gatherers" — companies that take orders through the Internet, pocket a commission and pass on the remaining money to a local florist to fill the order, says Amy Stewart, author of "Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers." "Consumers receive less than what they pay for and have little recourse for resolving problems. Order gatherers appear to be local but are based somewhere else. If in doubt, call them to find out." If you want to buy online but still support a local business, then try FlowerShopNetwork.com or B. Brooks Fine Flowers (bbrooks.com), two online networks of local florists.

3. Select "green" flowers. Consider eco-friendly, organic, fair trade or VeriFlora-certified flowers. "Buying 'green' flowers is a great way to support better farming practices all over the world, and they're priced competitively," Stewart says. Find eco-friendly options at organicbouquet.com and www.flowerbud.com.

4. Compare prices. Find out how much will be added to the price for service charges, shipping or delivery and whether a vase is included in the price. "A good way to comparison shop is to find out how many stems you're getting, then calculate the price per stem," Stewart says. "Mixed bouquets and potted plants are good values, too."

5. Read the terms. Check the company's replacement or refund policy and freshness guarantee. Find out who will deliver the flowers — a ground carrier such as FedEx or a floral shop employee. Provide the correct delivery address where the recipient can receive the flowers directly. — Janet Reese</i>

These are some of the most helpful tips for ordering flowers online and we appreciate the nod given to our service of providing consumers with a way to contact a real local florist. Although I would have added a 6th tip.

6. Fill Out The Special Instruction Box. When ordering on line fill out the special instruction box with things like — Will be home after 3pm or their cell phone number or apartment is on the second floor. Information of this nature will help the delivery drivers find and deliver your gift in a timely fashion.

Ordering flowers online may not be as fun as popping into your local florist but the convenience factor is tremendous. If you follow these tips, your flower gift giving will seem almost effortless while the recipient will think you work hard to give them something special.

Ask the Expert: What can I do to save my sister's Peace plant?

My sister received a peace plant last November, 2007 as an offering for my mother's death on the 12th. It was root bound and had to be transplanted into a larger pot so she did just that. I bought a bag of Miracle Grow plant soil which she used along with a larger pot. She pulled the roots apart before she put the plant in the soil.

It was drooping before it was transplanted and it's still drooping. Drooping more each day. It was transplanted last Sunday.

HELP!!! What can we do to save it?

Carolyn Shane

Ask the Expert: my son is having an outdoor wedding reception

In June it will be very informal type BBQ outside. What suggestions would you have for some sort of floral arrangement that is both economical and able to stand the possibilities of say wind..etc that day? Her colors are black, white and a touch of orange. We thought of tiger lilies will they be in bloom by June 14th? Besides putting something in a vase that could blow over what else can we do? Thank you. Diane