Ask the Expert: I was hoping you could help identify this flower
These photos were taken from a garden in the Chena Village, along the Chena River outside of Fairbanks in July of this year.  I was hoping you could identify them, and let me know if they were native.  Thank you!

- Margaret

Plant Expert Reply:
The flower you have so lovely captured in the photos above is Delphinium. Florists in Alaska, as well as in other places, use this flower in arrangements because it is one of the few true blue flowers available to them.

Delphinium is a genus of 250 annuals, perennials and biennials. In 1998 while vacationing in Alaska, I saw some of the tallest delphinium I had ever seen. It was in the garden of a lady who was a sled dog racer. I believe Delphinium is native to Alaska. If it isn’t it should be, we saw it everywhere during our two week stay.

Some may call this plant larkspur. The terms are often confused and used interchangeably. However, Larkspur and Delphinium are not really the same plant but closely related. In your pictures the blossom shape looks more like Delphinium.

Flower Shop Network is now on Facebook! You can still find the same great information plus see pictures from friends and chat with us (Jamie & Brynn) as well as other florists. I can’t keep the excitement to myself any longer!!

We would also love to view your Facebook page so  let us know if you’re on Facebook as well!

To find/fan/fave us (any or all will do!), visit Flower Shop Network on Facebook.

Don’t forget to check out Wedding And Party Network and FGmarket.com on Facebook as well!

Ask the Expert: Please help me identify this flower/shrub

Mandevilla

Plant Expert Reply:
What you have is a vining shrub called mandevilla. It once went by the name Dipladenia splendens but the correct name is Mandevilla x amoena. At my husband’s garden center, we sell a cultivar called Alice du Pont. The plants are hardy in zones 9-11 and live year round. In zone 8 they die back in the winter and came back from the roots in the spring. In all other zones it is treated as an annual.

It loves full sun. Although a little mid-day shade is appreciated. They like plenty of moisture but it must have well-drained soil.

Ever wish that you knew someone who would go out of their way to make your order perfect, special and unique? That person is Kim at Toledo Florist & Gifts. Talk to anyone in Toledo, Oregon and they’ll tell you how Toledo Florist & Gifts is THE best place to go for flowers, unique gifts produced locally, and exceptional customer service.

It’s hard to hear a bad word about Kim at Toledo Florist & Gifts and I have yet to find someone who has one. In fact, a view of the testimonials for this flower shop reveals only praise. In a customer-oriented industry like the floral industry, mastering both floral design and customer satisfaction is something to be very proud of. Toledo Florist & Gifts, you deserve a pat on the back!

I rarely hear stories of a florist who offers to go so far out of their way to please a customer. One of Kim’s customers mentioned how Kim even offered to stop by the store and pick up cookies for a child’s classroom to deliver with the order. Wow! What’s even more impressive is that Kim just does these things because it’s who she is. She doesn’t do it for the recognition or the glory. She doesn’t do it so that she can BE the best florist in Toledo, Oregon. She just IS.

If you’re looking for a special florist that will deliver flower arrangements and gifts above every expectation, you’ll do well to visit Kim at Toledo Florist & Gifts in Toledo Oregon.

Ask the Expert: Can you identify this flower?

Veronica spicata

My wife and I saw this flowering plant in a garden near our home and we were intigued.  It stands only about a foot tall and the blue flowering stems are only about 6 inches in length.  I have attached a picture.  Can you identify it for us? Cliff

Plant Expert Reply:

It looks like a perennial called Veronica spicata,  possibly ‘Darwin Blue’ or ‘Royal Candles’.  I have a different Veronica spicata  cultivar ‘Blue Bouquet’ in my garden and I love it.  It performs very very in my area and is an attractive backdrop for the soft pink ground cover rose in my garden.  Veronica is also known as Speedwell and a fantastic summer bloomer.

Hi Jamie

I recently came across some of your posts regarding what i believe is lucky Bamboo.  I know nothing about plants this one was left by my ex and i have noticed that it has started to turn yellow and has some funny Little brown dots on the stems it doesn’t look to great, i’ve attached a few pictures and any advice would be very welcome.

thanks in advance.

errol

When I received this email and before I saw the pictures, I thought it can’t be that bad.  I was wrong.  At this point your lucky bamboo is damaged beyond repair.  The only hope you have is to start a new plant off the section that still is green.

You will need to clean the container with hot soapy water, as well as any pebbles or rocks.  Make sure to rinse all thoroughly.  Then you will need to cut the green part of the plant away from the diseased stalks.  Once the green part is cut off, it the cut end into rooting hormone - you can get powder rooting hormone at your local garden center.  Let the powder dry on the cut and then place in your container filled with distilled water.  In a few weeks, new roots will form and you will have a new lucky bamboo plant.

Just a little side note - Most lucky bamboo that turns yellow is caused by too much fertilizer or light.  In your case the lucky bamboo didn’t just turn yellow, it also developed little brown spots. This leads me to believe you that your stems had some type of fungus.  Treating lucky bamboo for fungus is a tricky thing.  It is usually better to start new ones than to try to save the diseased stalks.

Good luck and let me know if you need more instruction on how to propagate new lucky bamboo stalks.

Ask the Expert: CAN I USE BAMBOO PLANTS WITH BETA FISH?
FOR MY DAUGHTER’S WEDDING, WE WANT TO HAVE OUR CENTERPIECES WITH BETA FISH SWIMMING IN THE BOWL.  WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF GREEN PLANT FLOATING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE PLANTER.  I KNOW SOME USE PEACE LILIES, BUT WE LIKE LUCKY BAMBOO AND WONDER IF THAT WOULD WORK.   I DON’T WANT TO HURT THE FISH, JUST HAVE THE CENTERPIECE LOOK NICE AND BE DIFFERENT.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.  THANKS DEBBIE

Plant Expert Reply:

As far as I know lucky bamboo is not harmful to fish.  However, a long-term relationship between the two is probably not a good idea.  Although lucky bamboo will live in water, most fish forums do not recommend it for use in an aquarium.  I’m not sure why. It maybe an oxygen issue or something else.  (This might make a good science experiment for a high school student.) My suspicion is that the roots of the lucky bamboo will rapidly take over the bowl which is something the fish do not like.

As for the wedding, I see nothing wrong with using the lucky bamboo in the centerpieces.  I would use 3 or 6 stalks of lucky bamboo per centerpiece (which represents happiness) .  At the head table, I would create a larger centerpiece with 21 stalks (blessings).

Red or gold ribbon is often tied around lucky bamboo for extra lucky or good fortune. You may want to tie ribbon the same color of the bridesmaids dresses or wedding bouquets around your stalks instead.

Good luck and keep me posted.  When you create the wedding centerpieces, you should submit a photo of them to WeddingandPartyNetwork.com. They have an awesome wedding flower photo gallery.  Just think, you might start a new wedding trend.

Back to school parties are the highlight of the summer. They set the tone for the rest of the school year. After a long summer’s vacation (or a short one for year-round schools), it’s always nice to throw a little celebration that welcomes in the new school year and says goodbye to summer vacation. It’s not a time to mope though! Back to school parties are fun, exciting, refreshing gettogethers with friends. Where’s a cause for sadness in that??

So now that we’re up to speed on the tone of a back to school party it’s time to talk about decorating. Fresh flowers are, as with any party, the best way to bring life and vitality to the celebration. Streamers, balloons, and party utensils are all well and good. What really gets the party decorations bumping though–why, that’s flowers of course!

Here Are Some Clever Fresh Flower Decorating Tips for A Back To School Party

• Match the color of the flower arrangement to the decorations. If the team colors are black and gold, live it up with black and gold flowers! (Yes, it CAN be done!) If they are red and white, use red and white. And so on and so forth.
• Use your child’s favorite color(s) as the theme of the flower arrangements. This will help your child feel like they had a special hand in the party and that it really is something to celebrate part of their life.
• Ask each child to bring one fresh flower to the party. Use these to create a bouquet or two. Place these at the center of the room so that each child will be able to view their contribution. If an outdoor party, create a centerpiece for the picnic table or food table using the same idea.
• Decorate the main table with fresh flowers then give each child one as they leave. Stems of flowers are excellent gifts for young middle school children and older children. Young children are easily amused and glad to receive any gift. Older children recognize the significance and may choose to preserve the flowers, especially if it’s the Back To School Party for their senior year.

Have any other ideas? Send them our way by placing them in the comments box below. Who knows? Your idea may make it THE Back To School Party of the new millenium!

Crinum Lily

Ask the Expert: id a mexican flowering plant
If found this flowering plant in Matzaclan, Mexico. It maybe from a buld.  There was no one to ask what it was, so I took a picture of it. Maybe you can id it or let me know where I can go to get identified.
thanks,
Dan

Plant Expert Reply:

It looks like a Crinum Lily - maybe a Crinum strictum or Crinum americanum.  Crinum strictum are native to Mexico and is sometimes referred to as Texas Swamplily.   It is a bulb which reproduces very slowly.  If left undisturbed will bloom with out fail for many years.

People who received a birthday bouquet full of the birth month flower of August probably remember what it is. If you’ve read last year’s August birth month flower blog, “Glad To Have Gladiolus”, you probably remember also.

Ok. So I just gave you a huge hint. Don’t make me have to work here.

Red Gladiolus Are A Great August Birthday Gift!

The birth month flower of August is the gladiola. Though poppy holds this title, you’re not going to find it in a birthday bouquet from your local florist. What you are likely to find in a birth month flower birthday bouquet is a wide range of flowers centered around (or at least including) gladiolus in orange or red. Why orange and red? Because orange, red and light green are the official birth month flower colors for August.

Ready for the flower meaning of gladiolus? “Strength of character; Sincerity; Generosity; Natural Grace” These together make a gladiolus birthday bouquet one of the most meaningful, sweet gifts that you can send! Florists use gladiolus often because it’s a fresh and beautiful flower with a lot of features that enhance each arrangement. Add in a dash of meaning and a hint of happy birthday wishes and you have a great birthday gift!

Summer flowers like the gladiolus are perfect for August birthdays. Orange and red are excellent colors to represent the full summer sun, the breezy sunsets of the summer, and the way the seasons are preparing to change. Just before the leaves begin to turn color, August birthdays are very special because they are shared by people who are always on the cusp of something great. Luckily for you, it’s easy to find a birthday gift for someone this fantastic. Just ask your local florist about August birth month flowers.