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March Birth Flower: Daffodil

It’s no surprise that daffodils are the birth flower for March, since they ring in springtime. They are the perfect choice to send to anyone born in the month of March to let them know you’re thinking of them. Learn more about what makes daffodils so special:

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Holiday Highlight: Mentoring Month

January is Mentoring Month! Mentors are all around us and deserve to be celebrated. But what exactly is Mentoring Month and how can you participate? Keep reading to learn more about its history and the best flowers to send. [Read more…]

Flower Spotlight: Daffodils

Daffodils are a part of the amaryllis family, native to northern Europe and grown in temperate climates around the world. With many varieties, daffodils make for a perfect spring bouquet! Keep reading to learn more about their origin, meaning, and some interesting facts! [Read more…]

Find Your Fortune With Flowers

Do you believe in superstitions? It has been said that superstitions are the brain’s rational way of dealing with incomplete information. Superstitions live on because they have been passed down from generation to generation. Beliefs people have about flowers and their magic are still common today. Some even believe that certain flowers can tell one’s fortune.

Put the superstitions to the test and see if your fortune comes true!

 

Daffodils

Daffodils are considered to be the flower of luck. A flower arrangement with twelve daffodils is said to bring luck for twelve months!

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7 Yellow Summer Arrangements

SUMMER BLOOMS(2)
Bring sunshine to your home with these bright yellow summer blooms. These seven fresh arrangements are guaranteed to light up your space. Embrace the energy of bright summer days by bringing the outside, in!

1. Sunny Flower PatchThis adorable basket is a flower-lover favorite with yellow gerberas, alstroemeria, and cushion poms.

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Flower Spotlight: Daffodils

Spring marks the rebirth of nature! It is the season in which we see bright colored blooms, like daffodils, come to life once again. Let’s start the season by learning more about the beautiful flower of March!

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What Plants Repel Mice and Rats?

Ask the Expert: What plants repel mice and rats? -Joy

Flower Shop Network’s Plant Expert Reply: There are many plants that have pest repelling properties. You might try planting these in or around your home to keep the mice away: any type of mint, amaryllis, sweet pea, lavender, daffodils, wood hyacinth (or squill), grape hyacinth, alliums, catnip, camphor plant, elderberry, euphorbias, and wormwood.* Oak and bay leaves are also known to repel rodents. Planting any of these outside your home is a good way to deter mice and rats from coming into your house. You may also make sachets out of the leaves of some of these plants to use in drawers and closets, especially mint, bay and lavender.

Flower Shop Network has not tested these, but they are known to work.

You might also like: Plants for Pest Repellent That Actually Work!

Hanakotoba: The Japanese Language of Flowers

"Noble Wealth"

"Noble Wealth"

In the Victorian Era, flowers were used as a means of communication. Each flower had it’s own, particular meaning and bouquets were used to send coded messages. People today still send flowers chosen specifically for their flower meanings.

Not only did the Western world have its own coded, flower language, the East had one as well— Hanakotoba, the Japanese language of flowers. Although, obviously not as popular today as it once was, Hanakotoba is still used in many Japanese movies and animations.

Kanji

English

Meaning

アマリリス Amaryllis Shy
アネモネ Anemone (white) Sincere
椿 Camellia (red) In Love
椿 Camellia (yellow) Longing
椿 Camellia (white) Waiting
カーネーション Carnation Passion
Cherry Blossom Kind/Gentle
黄菊 Chrysanthemum (yellow) Imperial/Elegant
白菊 Chrysanthemum (white) Truth/Self-Esteem
水仙 Daffodil Respect
天竺牡丹 Dahlia Good Taste
雛菊 Daisy Faith
勿忘草 Forget-Me-Not True Love
フリージア Freesia Immaculate
梔子 Gardenia Secret Love/Pure
紫陽花 Hydrangea Pride
アイリス / 菖蒲 Iris Noble Heart/Good News
白百合 Lily (white) Purity
百合 Lily of the Valley Sweet/Promise of Happiness
鬼百合 Tiger Lily Wealth
マグノリア Magnolia Natural/Love For Nature
雛芥子 Poppy Comfort
紅薔薇 Rose (red) Love/In Love
薔薇 Rose (white) Innocence/Devotion
桃色薔薇 Rose (pink) Trust/Confidence
黄色薔薇 Rose (yellow) Noble
チューリップ Tulip Charity/Trust

Contact your local florist today and ask for an arrangement using your favorite Hanakotoba flower meanings.

This post is brought to you by local Honolulu Hawaii Florists.
Not in Honolulu? No worries, use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of local florists to find a florist near you!

Flowers in the Headlines: How Flowers and the Floral Industry are Impacting the World

Flowers have been popping up in some unlikely places in the news lately. Florists and flowers have made their way into headlines where you would least expect. However, given flowers’ emotional connotations, it makes sense that they’re appearing in some of today’s most emotionally-charged new stories.

1. Ash Cloud Costing  Kenya’s Floral Industry Millions Daily

Nearly 500 tons of flowers sit in cold storage in a Nairobi airport as cargo trucks carrying tons more continue to be turned away at airports across East Africa.

The cancellation of flights across Europe following a massive ash cloud stemming from an Iceland volcano is taking a toll on Kenya’s flower industry. According to the BBC, flowers account for 20 percent of Kenya’s exports, and losses are approaching $2 million daily. The BBC reports 97 percent of flowers harvested in Kenya are sent to the European Union.

In an interview with the BBC, Kenya Flower Chief Executive, Jane Ngige, said the industry must continue to harvest flowers, although most will never arrive in European markets. Many varieties of roses, including tons Tropicana roses and Valentino roses, are rotting during the delays.

The Guardian reports that thousands of flower harvesters, some of whom make only a few dollars a day, have been laid off.

However, despite the losses, industry leaders remain hopeful. A handful of cargo flights from Kenya and southern Europe took flight Monday, raising hopes that the worst is over. “I don’t think that four days is going to bankrupt the Kenyan flower industry,” said Peter Szapary, owner of Wildfire Flowers in Naivasha, told The Guardian. “But if it goes on for two weeks then it will be a problem for us.”

2. Royal Florists Spill Wedding Details.

Are Prince William and Kate Middleton making it official?

As reported in The Gaea Times, The Telegraph quoted royal florist Simon Lycett as he speculated about his plans in the event of a royal wedding. “For his father, we had 30,000 Narcissus daffodils, so if it was the spring months it would be lovely to do the same. Certainly, it would be British flowers; lots and lots would be gorgeous, like roses, delphinium and sweetpeas,” Lycett said.

Although the couple has made no announcement, Lycett’s comments have fueled a rumor mill that has been in overdrive as wedding rumors continue to make their rounds. Lycett told the telegraph, “I think they (the couple) are relatively traditional.”

Will Lycett have the privilege of adorning the royal wedding venue? We shall see!

3. Flowers Used to Honor Victims of Polish Crash New York Neighborhood.

Late President Kaczynski called “the flower of Polish intelligence.”

The world sat in startled disbelief following the tragic deaths of President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others including his wife, military, political and religious leaders when their plane crashed in Russia April 10. While many in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a traditionally Polish neighborhood, sought relief from the shock, they turned to Sky Flowers, a local flower shop across the street from St. Stanislaus Kostka, to memorialize those they lost.

In an interview with the New York Times, Elzbieta Gawel an employee at Sky Flowers, said “Even if ordinary people die in such a crash, we would be devastated. Here, the flower of Polish intelligence died. So now what can people do? They can buy flower to commemorate them.”

Many mourners placed flowers at the church and attached black ribbon to Polish flags in store windows throughout the neighborhood, where the often controversial president was generally well-liked, according to the New York Times.

4. Honey Bees Mysteriously Dying

Honey bees have been dying in large numbers and scientists are searching to find out why. According to ABC News, Beekeepers in Florida and California are struggling to keep bees alive to pollinate crops throughout the United States.

“One in every three bites of food you eat comes from a plant, or depends on a plant, that was pollinated by an insect, most likely a bee,” Dennis vanEngelsdorp of Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Science told ABC News.

Scientists are researching possible causes of the losses, which have been building over the last four years. Cell phone radiation, pesticides and possible environmental causes, such as viruses and fungi, continue to be studied to prevent future losses. “All the bees we’ve looked at, you can’t look at a single cause,” said Jeffrey Pettis, research leader for the Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland.

According to ABC News, nearly 29 percent of the honey bee population in colonies across the United States collapsed, sending production and purchase costs skyward for a number of agricultural-based industries.

In the UK, where The Telegraph reported about a 70 percent decline in the honey bee population between 1970 and 2009,  interest groups are advocating for bee-friendly flowers to be planted on public lands. Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeepers Association told the Telegraph, “Members can campaign locally to help broaden awareness of honey bees in the community, they can lean on local authorities to be more ‘bee friendly’ by allowing bee hives on allotments, providing land for apiaries and ensuring pollen and nectar rich trees are planted in streets and open spaces,” he said.

When speaking to ABC News, David Mendes, president of the American Beekeeping Federation, said, “In many ways we view honeybees as an indicator species, like the proverbial canary in the coal mine,” he said. “We don’t know what’s going on. And we all share the same earth.”

Photos courtesy of NASA Goddard Photo and Video, plasmastik, and david.nikonvscanon

This post is sponsored by Brooklyn, NY, florists.

Flower of the Month: Daffodil / Narcissus

800px-yellow_daffodil_narcissus_closeup_3008px

Daffodil, narcissus, jonquil, Lent lily, Easter bells, whatever you call it, this little yellow wonder is one of the most popular springtime flowers of all time! Maybe it’s because when the daffodils are in bloom we all  know it’s the beginning of spring and warm weather. (And I know we are all ready for that!)

The original name for the daffodil was ‘affodyll.’ The ‘D’ is somewhat of a mystery, but it’s believed to be a merger with the Dutch article ‘de’ as in ‘de affodyll.’ They also have the cute little nickname ‘daffadowndilly’ and white ones are sometimes called ‘paperwhites.’

DAFFODIL /
NARCISSUS

Scientific name: Narcissus

Use: Flower

Type: Bulbous Perennials

Height: 6-30″‘

Astrological Flower: December Flower

GROWING

Planting Zones: 4-10

Requirements: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Full sun is also required, but very easily achieved. When these are in bloom, most trees are still bare.

DESIGNING

Stem: 8-32″

Blossom Size: 2-5″

Texture: Satin

Silhouette: Solid/ Cup

Vase Life: 3-7 Days, keep growing in vase

Colors: Yellow, white, and orange

Bloom Season: Late winter, early spring

Flowers Available: Year Round

HISTORY OF DAFFODILS

There are two legends of note about the origins of the daffodil, each being very different. It seems this flower has different meanings for different cultures of the world. For the West, it’s vanity, and the East it means fortune and prosperity.

Narcissus by Caravaggio

The first legend is one you might be familiar with: it begins with a young Greek boy named Narcissus who was completely obsessed with himself and his beauty. (As you might have guessed, this is where we get the concept of narcissism.) One day, the boy found a small pond where he was able to see his reflection; he was so completely engrossed with himself he refused to leave and died of starvation. The gods turned the boy’s remains into the first “Narcissus” flower and that is the origin of the lovely flower we see today.

The second legend comes from Chinese culture and is a little more positive. It is said that a poor but good man was given cups of gold every morning from this flower.

I also found a story about two brothers who were given land from their dying father. One brother seized the good, hardy land; the other got the rocky leftovers. The poor brother found the beautiful daffodil flower on his land and begin to cultivate it. The bulbs did very well and brought him fortune. The evil brother was jealous and bought as many bulbs as he could to cash in on his brothers fortune. The greedy brother’s bulbs ended up dying and the good brother was able to buy back his father’s land.

The daffodil is the official flower of Whales, and on March 1st it is custom to wear a daffodil in honor of St. David’s Day. It is also a Welsh custom; whomever sees the first daffodil of the year will be blessed with prosperity for the next 12 months.

The East has a long history with the narcissus. It is one of the most highly revered flowers and the symbol of the Chinese New Year.

Daffodils seem to symbolize both good and bad fortune. When giving daffodils, take extra care to  give a bunch, giving one can bring bad fortune.

TAKE CAUTION WITH DAFFODILS

You may not know this, but daffodils are actually quite toxic. Florists sometime get daffodil itch: dryness, fissures, scaliness on the hands and thickness under the nails due to exposure to calcium oxalate in the sap. The plant itself is only slightly toxic, but the bulb is very dangerous.

FLORIST TIP — Daffodils secrete a substance that is damaging to other flowers sharing the same water in a vase. Keep them separate for at least 24 hours before putting daffodils with other flowers. Change the water often to keep the secretion from damaging other flowers.

Roman soldiers used to carry a satchel of daffodil bulbs with them into battle. If they were injured to the point of death, they would eat these toxic bulbs to relieve pain and hasten death.

According to the BBC, in May 2009 a number of school children fell ill at a school in Suffolk, England after mistaking a daffodil bulb for an onion and adding it to soup during a cooking class. The kids were taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure, but were soon allowed to return home.

TYPES OF DAFFODILS

Types of Daffodils

Daffodils come in hundreds of styles and colors. For horticultural purposes [Read more…]