Send A Holiday Norfolk Island Pine

Until recently I did not realize the impression that norfolk island pine houseplants can have on someone. I decided to visit Aunt Cathy one day and stepped into her office for some chit-chat. In a corner of the room stands this incredible plant that towers over a small file cabinet. It certainly adds a grand atmosphere; that's for sure!

Well there are many reasons why Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) plants are so popular, especially during the holiday season. You can place these plants in an office, a corner, or in brighter lights. The room can be slightly cool, normal, or warm. Norfolk Island Pine thrives in all of these environments.

Bright fluorescent lights of an office work just as well as the incandescent bulbs of a home or the natural sunlight of a patio. It's a pretty versatile plant. Most people wanting to send the gift of a houseplant gravitate toward Norfolk Island Pine for this reason.

Caring for Norfolk Island Pine is a breeze compared to plants of similar stature. I was rereading some plant care information about Norfolk Island Pine houseplants and had the following reactions:

• "Keep the soil surrounding the plant evenly moist." Uh huh. Can do.
• "Norfolk Island Pine requires ample light but never direct sunlight." So you mean I don't have to keep transferring it inside and outside of my house to make sure it has enough light? Score! "
• "Another unique use for this popular plant is for bonsai, the Asian art of sculpting miniature trees." I've been needing a new hobby. And short trees. I definitely need short trees.

Because Norfolk Island Pine houseplants come in a variety of sizes, these plants make excellent gift ideas. If your friend needs a colorful way to decorate an office nook, send them a Norfolk Island Pine plant. If your loved one wants to fill out a sunroom with more greenery, give this plant.

Another great thing about this plant (as if these weren't enough reasons) is that it has a lot of great qualities that people look for in a holiday gift idea. Norfolk Island Pine plants are easy to care for so you are not putting a burden on your loved one with these plants. You're lightening up their scenery. You can find these plants in many sizes. In this way, it's easy to satisfy the recipient whether the plant is for an office, an indoor living space or somewhere else. Because I'm a bit quirky, my favorite thing about sending houseplants for Christmas is that you can wrap a pretty red bow around the baskets of the green plants. Now you're talking quick and simple gift wrap in Christmas colors.

Let's review:  1) Caring for Norfolk Island Pine doesn't require much effort. 2) You can't get more simple but appropriate with the gift wrap. 3) This plant thrives in many environments. 4) Big enough or small enough for most homes and offices.

What's not to love!?

There's a special feeling that we all feel when our friend has achieved a special accomplishment. It's a warm, fuzzy feeling that is slightly addictive and definitely contagious. In the spirit of sharing our warm fuzzies with the rest of our friends, I have to say that major kudos go out to Oopsie Daisy Floral.

This Mesa Arizona florist was recently awarded the 2008 Best of Mesa Award in the florists category. That's a pretty big deal! Way to go, guys! In case anyone is wondering what makes this award such a big deal, here's some background info. The United States Local Business Association (USLBA) "Best of Local Business" award program annually recognizes local businesses across the country. The winners are local businesses in several categories that have really shed a positive light on small business thanks to their incredible customer and community service.

Well, those guidelines say a lot about what it takes to even be nominated let alone to win. So much time in customer service makes me especially proud of those individuals and businesses that take the extra time to make sure that they have a positive impact on the people around them. Flower Shop Network is very proud of Oopsie Daisy Floral for all of the hard work and dedication. So here's to you, all the gang at Oopsie Daisy Floral. Way to go!

Ask the Expert: What do I do with my schefflera?
I left my schefflera outside and it was cold, I brought it in and all the leaves are brown and droopy. I don't think it is completely dead. What can I do to insure that it will survive? Barbara

President-elect Obama is not the only Illinois native that is striking up conversation in local flower shops. The state flower of Illinois (Violet viola) also engages florists in conversations about how inspirational the Violet can be. Though there are few truly blue cut flowers, violets inspire a wide range of blue and bluish purple arrangements throughout the year.

When spring comes to life in March, so does the creative juices of florists looking for the next big color scheme. Blues and purples are bright, airy and fun. In other words, perfect for spring flower arrangements!

When winter yields its many gloomy days, flower arrangements using purple or blue flowers drive the grays away. It's hard to stay morose when such colorful flowers are in the room! Even the color violet is so bold and eye-catching that it chases away the snowy day blues.

When harvest time is settling in, violet-inspired flower bouquets are beautiful additions to the table. Warm purples go very well with the other soft colors of the fall season such as orange, burnt red, brown and yellow. Plus, a striking color livens the bouquet and stands out next to the rest of the flowers.

Summer days mean festive fun is on the horizon. The state flower of Illinois (Violet viola) brings a lot of color and action to fun summer flower arrangements.

For every season or for any season, the violet is a great inspiration for Illinois state florists. Take a look at this colorful flower and watch how inspiration pours your way.

The color of violets inspires this gorgeous arrangement of iris.

One of the best things about art class was being able to mix the paints and see all of the variations of color that formed from the controlled spills. Our eyes are naturally drawn to color and soak up the creative hues. Well, florists have the same opportunity every time an arrangement is started. Flowers come in a rainbow of colors so blending the shades and hues into a dazzling, eye-catching bouquet is truly an artform. Skilled floral designers are able to master this technique thanks to the color schemes found in the color wheel used by artists in a variety of genres.

Primary, Secondary, and Intermediate (Tertiary) Inspiration

Most artists are familiar with the primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary or intermediate colors. These colors form the basis of most other color schemes. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These are the colors that can be blended or toned with achromatic hues to form every other color. Primary colors tend to be vivid and can therefore play a part in any arrangement needed a vibrant pop. These colors are often used alongside achromatic hues (white, black, gray) to please the eye. Secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. These are the colors formed from mixing one of the primary colors with another primary color.

Tertiary colors are the colors between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel. Red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green, and yellow-orange are the tertiary colors. These are formed from mixing a primary color with the closest secondary color on either side according to the color wheel. Tertiary colors are particularly appealing in fall flower arrangements and other occasions that require warm, muted bouquets.

The Eight Main Color Harmonies

Understanding the basic colors and the basis of special colors is just the beginning in mastering the unique interweaving of colorful flowers into a dazzling arrangement. There are also various groupings of colors and their hues. Hue refers to the value of a color, i.e. the rich presence of a color as it applies to the gray scale. Basically, that's a lengthy way to say how vivid or subtle a color is.

A color harmony is a grouping of specific hues and/or different values of a hue. There are essentially eight (8) color harmonies, though several have popular variations. These color combinations are:

1. Achromatic: Color scheme referring to a grouping of colors without hue. This includes white, black, and any shades (values) of gray.
2. Monochromatic: Grouping of various values of one hue; can include achromatic hues (white, black, gray.)
3. Polychromatic: Color grouping of multiple hues which may be related or unrelated.
4. Complementary: A pair of hues directly opposite each other and equidistant on the color wheel. Complementary colors and schemes have many variations such as near-complementary, split-complementary, analogous complementary, and double-complementary.
5. Analogous: Color scheme referring to the grouping of three adjacent hues on the color wheel wherein one color dominates. Ex:  deep red, dusky red, dark orange.
6. Diadic: two colors that are two colors apart on the color wheel; may also be seen as Dyadic referring to a grouping of two.
7. Triadic: grouping of three hues that are equidistant from one another on the color wheel.
8. Tetradic: a grouping of four hues that are equidistant from one another on the color wheel; forms an equally spaced double-complement.

Using these color schemes, a florist can easily create dimension and a colorful dynamic in flower arrangements. Knowing which colors appeal the most to the eye when paired with other colors is as much a matter of science as talent. While no one doubts the designer's eye of a florist, using the color schemes of the color wheel provides another form of inspiration for floral designers.

Ask The Expert: My lucky bamboo is not really growing much although its roots are growing very fast.  I have to keep buying bigger containers to put it in as the leaves turn yellow.Can I trim the roots..appreciate any advise. its looks silly a small plant in a big pot.
thank you, cynthia arcese

It’s almost too easy to celebrate the season this December. Family, friends, good food and great traditions make Christmas one of the few holidays that really move me to the core. It’s probably for this reason that I chose the Celebrate The Season arrangement as the featured flower arrangement of December. And why not? It’s the perfect addition to holiday decorations. It’s colorful, festive, cheery, and nearly bright enough to guide Santa’s sleigh.

Flowers are the perfect way to Celebrate The Season!

I’m a big fan of color during the winter months and I’m quite sure that I’m not alone in this. It is very common for the bleak white, blue and gray landscape of winter to leave people feeling rather blah. I do everything that I can to avoid the feeling of blah. I want my friends and family to enjoy the Christmas season with me also without the wintry blues. That’s easier this year than the last now that I have the Celebrate The Season arrangement sitting atop the piano in my living room where my very musical family spends hours upon hours each year during the large Christmas get-together.

There are many ways to decorate with flowers every month. Whatever design is your favorite, decorate with colorful flower arrangements this December and brighten your holiday. I guarantee that it’s much harder not to smile when seeing vibrant colors of fresh flowers.