I had plans to move in July. Things started going sour in June but I eventually made it into the new place! A little bit of everything happened during the moving process but it was all made right when I walked in the front door that first night.

My parents helped me move what was left of my stuff at their house. My father and brother did most of the heavy lifting so it seemed only right to take them all out to eat after we finished. Of course, my sweetheart has his own set of keys. He had said that he was going to pick up his daughter and would see me later, preferably after a shower. Yes I know, his humor is something else. I never suspected that what he was really doing was buying me my first housewarming gift!

Now I've lived in many different places over my short life. My first apartment was only an hour from my parents and a few miles from my love but apparently "my first apartment" wasn't significant enough to merit any sort of housewarming gift. Well, mom bought me a load of groceries. Does that count?

But I digress. I put my key in the lock and fiddled with it for a second until it opened. When I finally got it open, I saw a small bouquet of flowers on my makeshift dining room table. There was a card beside it that said "Welcome home." I could've bawled at that point but not being a cryer prevented that embarassment. I decided to call him after my shower so I went to my bedroom to get what I needed. I looked at the bedside table and saw what DID make me tear up. A can of carnation milk and a picture of us together on our first Valentines Day sat beside the framed pictures I have of the three of us.

If you don't remember, I'll let you know why this meant so much. On our first Valentine's Day together, he remembered my favorite flower but couldn't remember my favorite color of that flower. He wound up picking up a can of carnation milk which has three colors on the front. They happen to be my three favorites (though pink is my true favorite). He didn't have a picture of us from that day so he had to go through mine to find one of us that day but he did and placed them both where he knew I would see them when I got ready to go to sleep.

In hindsight, that's probably the reason why I love flowers so much. I know it's a big part of why I absolutely adore him.

Did you know that the Akron Community Aids Network is having an open house at their new offices today? This is a really beneficial, wonderful service that everyone in and around Akron, Ohio should check out.

A special thanks to Scott from Every Blooming Thing for the heads up! Every Blooming Thing has donated flower arrangements to the open house. That's just one more reason to go and support such a worthy cause.

Ask the Expert: pink flower ID
Everyone asks me what kind of flower it is, and I don\'t have an answer.  It is a shrubby spreader.  Pink flowers with about 4-5 delicate petals and a fluffy yellow center.  Sort of reminds me a bit of a pink dogwood blossom.  It has firm stocks that feel like velvet, with multiple round buds that have taken weeks to open up this summer.  Large green leaves, similar to a grape leaf.  About 3-5 feet tall.  Thanks for your help in solving this mystery. Kimberly

Plant Expert Reply:

Anemone Hupehensis

Without a picture I am taking a stab in the dark.  I think it is an Anemone hupehensis sometimes called a Chinese anemone. I found  a picture of this type of anemone on the Missouri Botanical Garden site.

Does your flower look anything like this one?

This particular Anemone is a woody-based, fibrous rootstock perennial. It blooms mid-summer to autumn with pink or white flowers.  It can get up to 3' in height and 16" in width.

Ask the Expert: peace lily
Does my peace lily need to have any sunlight? Right now I do not have it near a window at all.  Anne

Plant Expert Reply:

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) prefers bright filtered natural light. However, the peace lily is tolerant of low light levels making it an excellent houseplant. It can be used outdoors in warm humid areas with filtered light or partial shade. Exposure to direct light may cause yellowing leaves with a burnt appearance.

August is the official wrap of summer. Parents and children get ready to go back to school. College students begin the countdown to spring break. Couples celebrate anniversaries with the same fervor and passion as they did the very first time — or at least will with this fun idea!

Anniversary flowers are a must. Just like gifts on Valentines Day, most women expect something special on this day. Anniversary flower bouquets are a great way to celebrate your lasting romance, but why not spice it up a bit this year? A themed dinner date is a fantastic way to earn some laughs, share some kisses, and get bonus points for creativity. You never know. Your honey may pay you back with something creative of their own. Here are some ideas for a very special evening with spicy flair from some other cultures:

(Guys) Mexican Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become her Latin lover for an evening. If this seems like the cheesiest thing you can think of, great! Your lady will most likely give you credit for creativity, have a few laughs at your expense, and think you're adorable for trying. Then again, you could pull off the Rico Suave appearance.  Her reactions either way are worth a shot.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Keep two small vases of flower stems on the table while you eat. Red is a fiery color that excites the senses, especially the sense of passion. Also, a rose between your teeth as you invite her to tango–hot! Funny, but cute. Don't forget to shower your senora with compliments and present her with a very special bouquet of flowers for your anniversary. Flowers are something she can keep to remember the evening!

(Girls) Bollywood Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become his sultry Indian princess for an evening. Have fun with the outfit. Set the mood for an evening of great Indian food and a little show from the hottest dinner date he's ever had. As with all spicy foods, be wary of his reactions to spicy foods. If this one seems too much for his tummy, tone down the food but keep the theme of the evening.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Color is a huge part of the bollywood movement. India is full of rich color and beautiful surroundings. Live up to this theme with fresh flowers in vivid colors. Ask your local florist which flowers have the fullest color for your anniversary. Though he may not be riding an elephant to dinner, a large necklace of flowers is a fun way to remind him of the culture that you are celebrating.

What do you think? Think your guy/girl will love it? If this idea makes it way from your head to the anniversary night, please return to Flower Shop Network and let us know how it went. Happy anniversary!

Ask the Expert: Where do I cut off spent blooms on a peace lily?
Hi there,
I took home a beautiful peace lily plant from my father's funeral back in October of 2008.  Since then its been full and green and has had lots of blooms.  My question is when you say follow the bloom stalk to the to the base of the plant and cut it, does that mean to cut the leave that it is attached to as well?  I have cut off spent blooms only at the base of the stem that is attached to the leaf, as the leaf is green and healthy, by cutting the stem of the flower there I have had no damage to the leaf and the plant has been blooming more flowers.  My concern is that since cutting it there it has had no more blooms in the same spot.  Right now I have a bloom that will soon have to be taken off and this particular one is attached to a leaf that its stalk is attached to two other big and healthy leaves.  In a nut shell: should I see blooms in the same spot where I cut the dead ones off? And am I cutting in the right spot?  If I cut at the base of the plant, I dont get any more growth in that same spot the stem turns yellow and is easily pulled out. Melanie

Plant Expert Reply:

The proper place to cut the spent peace lily bloom is at the base of the plant and only the bloom stalk.  Whether you cut the leaf off or not, a bloom will not develop from exactly the same spot as before.  Now I am a little confused as to "stem turns yellow and is easily pilled out".  Do you mean the bloom stalk or the leaf stem?  You should cut the bloom stalk so that nothing is left to turn yellow.  That is why you go all the way the base of the plant where the bloom stalk orginates to cut it off.  If the leaf stem is turning yellow then, you may be damaging the leaf when you cut the bloom stalk off.  If the leaf stem looks damaged in any way, you need to remove it for the health of the plant. Sometimes because the way the blooms is positioned, I have to cut a leaf off as well.  Trimming your peace lily will not damage it.

Interested in a last-minute break before the back-to-school rush returns? Want a breather to end out the month? Check out these upcoming flower shows and florist association conventions.

August 14-16, 2009: Arkansas Florists Association Convention in Hot Springs Arkansas. Flower Shop Network will be attending this show. We hope to see you there! For more information call 501-354-2309

August 14-16, 2009: North Carolina State Florist Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina. Sure to be fun! For more information call 918-876-0687.

August 17, 2009: Floral Association of the Rockies (FAR) Hands-On Design Workshop in Denver, Colorado. Who wouldn't want an end of summer trip to Denver? Since it's on a Monday, this would make a nice three day weekend for florists. For more information call 303-888-0304.

August 28-30, 2009: Southern Retail Florist Association Showcase and Flower Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Flower Shop Network will be at this show also so stop by our booth and say hello! For more information call 804-986-1701.

If you like to garden and landscape, are a professional landscaper, or just want to learn more about these activities, visit these upcoming gardening and landscaping shows in August.

August 13-26, 2009: Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Nursery & Landscape Expo in Dallas, Texas. It's a mouthful but it's certainly worth visiting! For more information call 512-280-5182 or 800-880-0343.

August 18-20, 2009: The Independent Garden Center Show in Chicago, Illinois. Learn helpful tips and network with other garden center workers. For more information call 866-391-6220.

August 19, 2009: Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (VNLA) Field Day in Gainesville, Virginia. For more information call 540-382-0943 or toll free 800-476-0055.

August 20, 2009: Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (VNLA) Summer Tour in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information call 540-382-943 or toll free 800-476-0055.

August 20-22, 2009: The Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon. Great place to for learning about convservation, owning/operating a nursery, to earn pesticide certification and more. For more information call 503-682-5089 or toll free 800-342-6401.

Ask the Expert: Dead insects

We are on vacation and have a neighbor watching our house.  Over the past few days there have been many of these dead insects found.  See attached photo.  Any idea what they might be and how to get rid of them?

Thanks. Fay

Plant Expert Reply:

It could be a fruit or shore fly or even a fungus gnat.  It is hard to tell without an up-close picture.

Are these in your house or where you are vacationing? If they are in your house, did you leave any fruit behind? Decaying fruit can become a breeding ground for flies and gnats.  You will need to remove the breeding source - decaying fruit, soggy houseplant soil with fungus etc.  To get rid of the adults you can place traps or use an insecticide safe for the house. 

Good luck and keep me posted.

This particular "dumb" decision is the smartest decision you'll ever make. Not surprisingly, I have a dumb cane story ("dumb" story for short).

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia picta)

My grandma is all about houseplants. She's 82 now and has been keeping houseplants growing in her home as long as I can remember. She's pretty good at it but age is starting to creep up on her. That's the nice way of saying that she's bound to her motorized scooter and can't really care for plants herself anymore. Since she's only an hour away at any given time, my mother, sister and I usually rotate turns going over there to visit and to water her houseplants.

I was around 18 when she had hip replacement surgery and I stayed with her for a week to help out. She was so funny! All I remember was receiving instructions on how to do everything. If I decided to water the plants, I had to be shown how it was done 70 years ago. If I was dusting the furniture, I needed to know how it was done 50 years ago and why the 50 year old furniture still looks good. She's a hoot and a headache all at the same time.

I'd never seen houseplant leaves polished the way Gram did it. A military spit shine would've left something to be desire compared to this woman's plant care skills. She has Dieffenbachia all over her house so the first thing I remembered when I saw Dumb Cane plants in the photo gallery was the image of her bending over from her then hand-powered wheelchair to show me how experts care for Dumb Cane.

She gently rubbed the leaves of her dumb cane with the ease of a bomb deactivator but none of the steadiness. She mixed up some concoction of soap and water that I'm sure was repeated to me but it just seemed like soap and water. She washed the leaves and turned to me with a phrase I'm trying to forget but can't. It was too funny. Her brow was furrowed and a bit sweaty. Her hair was mussed from the day's chores. She looked at me with as deadpan an expression as she could've had and said "that's why I've had this plant since 1991." Knowing my grandmother, she was probably right. I still couldn't stop laughing, probably to keep from crying.

I've loved Dumb Cane since that day. One look and I'll always remember my Grammie.

What do you think of when you look at dumb cane houseplants? Did you receive one as a gift? Ever given one as a gift? Let us hear your Dumb Cane comments below!