Find Your Not long ago Brynn wrote about the memories she had of her grandmother picking daffodils from the roadside. Now every time she sees a daffodil it reminds her of her mother and grandmother. Recently, I had the task of writing a newsletter for Flower Shop Network. I thought long and hard about the special memories I had and most of them involved flowers. So I wrote a newsletter called Flower Memories which caused me to wonder what kind of flower memories others had. So here I am wondering and there you are with some great memories. Lets share! You can read my Flower Memories in the newsletter and I invite you to put your flower memories on this blog.
Archives for March 2008
Peace Lily Is Becoming A Brown Betty
March 31, 2008 by
Ask the Expert: I have a peace lily that was given to us for my mother-in-law when she passed. The leaves are turning brown and have a hole is coming in on some of the leaves. I am trying not to over water so what could be my problem? It is in my living room away from windows, I never been to good at caring for indoor plants. Needless to say I don’t have a green thumb. I would appreciate any input on what I may or may not be doing. Linda
Linda,
I assume you peace lily came from a florist shop and arrived in beautiful foil with a bow. The foil and bow are used as a way to decorated the plant. However, for the long term [Read more…]
Mystery Iris.
March 31, 2008 by
Ask the Expert: What kind of iris is this?
This house has been in my family for about nine years and this is the FIRST time this plant has bloomed. I believe it’s an iris, but after looking at several pictures, I can’t figure out what kind of iris. Can anyone help me out? Do they always take years and years to bloom? There are others there but the green is only about three inches tall… the same height as nine years ago…
Amy,
From the look of this picture you have a Siberian (beardless) iris which is a rhizomatous type of iris. Although it is a little early for Siberian irises to bloom, it could be a variety called ‘White Swirl’. The only other option I can think of is that it is a Reticulata (Dutch iris) which is a bulbous iris.
Rhizomatous iris have rhizomes as rootstock that are close to the surface of the soil. Bulbous iris have bulbs as storage organs which are plant below the surface of the ground. Siberian iris reach a height between 18″ to 48″ – Dutch iris reach a height of 6″. Knowing this may help you decide which type of iris you have.
As for lack of blooming, if the soil level is completely covering the iris’ rhizome blooming can be inhibited. Lack of proper nutrition and environmental conditions can also inhibit blooming. Although iris can be found in rock gardens, they may not like the pea gravel bed. You might try a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus than it is in nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can also inhibit blooming.
Spring Has Sprung With An Abundance of Spring Flowers
March 27, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Despite the bad weather occurring across the nation, mother nature perseveres. Spring flowers like tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils have been popping up all over the place. Every day on my way to work, I pass a house with a driveway lined in daffodils. It is an absolutely amazing display. My mother’s hyacinths and tulips are gorgeous this year. They even survived the storm last week that blew the fence down behind them.
It is refreshing to see these flowers and to know that spring is once again upon us. It seems these spring flowers are exciting to everyone. In fact, Steve Pelham (our VP of Technology) snapped a picture of these beautiful daffodils in the yard where his daughter Alice was participating in an Easter Egg Hunt.
Many of you may have daffodils in your yard or may have received potted daffodils last Sunday for Easter. If so, you might be interested in Caring for Daffodils.
Now is the time to Welcome Spring and enjoy all the flowers you can.
One Man’s Weed Is Another Man’s FLower
March 24, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Ask the Expert: Please identify, whether this is weeds or not?
I found this ground covering plant in my garden, with purple flowers in Spring. It has a strong lavenderish/menthol smell when the leaves are broken. It looks like a ground cover. The purple flowers are constantly visited by insects too. Is it a weed or not? Please let me know if I can propagate them further? Bianca
Bianca,
I believe you have a form of Salvia. I think it is Salvia melissodora. However, the height is of concern. Salvia melissodora can become quite tall. How long have you noticed this plant? How tall is it? Where are you located and when was the picture taken? I am concerned because most Salvia plants don’t bloom until summer. The Salvia genus contains about 900 species. In order to truly pinpoint the identification, I would need a little more information. But based on the picture and the scent description it could be Salvia melissodora, Salvia officinalis, Salvia chamaedryoides. This genus is often referred to as Sages. Many species in this genus are edible.
As to whether it is a weed or a flower, that’s a tricky question. Every perennial flower is a weed somewhere. If you didn’t plant this specimen, it may be invasive. However, it was purposely planted by someone it may be a perfectly good perennial plant or an annual that has re-seeded itself. My rule of thumb is – if you like it and can control it – leave it.
If could take picture with a close look at the flower, it could help with identification.
Kalanchoe
March 24, 2008 by 1 Comment
Ask the Expert: what kind of plant is this? is it safe for pets?
I can’t find it on the internet….it’s one of the only things I can grow inside and not kill, because I’m not very good with house plants. Also, I’m keeping it away from my cats since I don’t know what it is or if it’s poisonous. Could you tell me what it is called, and if it’s safe for pets?
Thank you,
Lee Ann / Fort Worth
Lee Ann,
You have a Kalanchoe. Although I haven’t heard of any cats having a problem with Kalanchoe, it is listed as a plant that has some toxicity for cats. According to the ASPCA poison plant list “This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate”. Dogs can also be affected. However, it is my understanding that they would have to ingest a fair dose to cause severe problems. Most animals stay away from the plants that are bad for them. Azaleas are listed as toxic to dogs, but my dogs have lived around Azalea for six years. If you have a very curious cat who likes to chew on inappropriate items, I would keep it away from the Kalanchoe.
Is The Flower An African Lily or Sweet Garlic?
March 24, 2008 by
Ask the Expert: Identify the flower bulbs
Please tell us the name of these purple flowering bulb plant. The flower emerges in early spring and the leaves are similar to the Agapanthus leaves. The flowers are a bigger version to the wild garlic flower plant. Elzet
Plant Indentification – Plants from South Africa
March 24, 2008 by
Ask the Expert: Please, I need to know what kind of tree is this?
I found this small tree on our smallholding, near Bronkhorstspruit Gauteng, SA and would really like to know its name and origin. I have replanted it and it survived the transition very good. Please advice?!! Elzet
If Easter Flowers Could Talk…
March 20, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Many of my fondest memories as a child with my mother and grandmother took place out of the window of a small, slowly creeping car as we drove by fields, stones, and structures of personal significance to the two older ladies. Few moments were as special as the first time we, along with my younger sister, stopped on the side of the road for our first view of the magnificent spring blooms. At that moment, neither my sister Shannon nor I could pronounce the name Narcissus for the beautiful daffodils (jonquils) lining the road ways. Neither did we know of the many stories that shroud these gentle blooms with popularity. What Shannon and I did know is that our mother and her mother seemed completely enamored by the sweeping flow of the delicate, pure white or yellow daffodil blooms. Both ladies meandered into the ditch to feel the petals for themselves and to pull one from the earth for each of us to hold. My sister and I, though then confounded at the sight of the women prodding through the dirt for a mere flower, now recall the story affectionately with each other and our friends.
Our grandmother, considering herself somewhat a story aficionado, regales us yearly with another story as we present her with the first blooms of the season. Sometimes new, sometimes not, Shannon and I never tire of the expression on her face as she first sees the brightly colored flowers and the smooth and gentle green stems. For just a moment our grandmother is a child again, as much a child as we ever were. The lines and age of her face fade and, even for just a split second, she’s a little girl standing with her sister and gazing in awe at the sight of her mother bending and stooping in a dirty ditch for just a simple Easter flower.
It was only when I began working for Flower Shop Network that I realized how many different flowers are called Easter flowers. Though I consider the dutch master daffodil my Easter flower, many other flowers herald the celebration of spring, purity, hope, and restoration and so are regarded as Easter flowers. Daisies, brightly colored tulips, hyacinths, crocus, potted azaleas, Easter lilies and a host of other flowers help welcome the new season.
Arguably the most popular Easter flower is the Lilium longiflorum or Easter lily. The graceful white blooms are spotted at Easter plays and spring celebrations across the nation and are widely accepted as the quintessential Easter flower. This is almost comical considering that this flower is naturally a June and July bloomer.
Easter flowers, whichever variety, probably hold a special story related to a beautiful occasion, cherished gift, or beloved friend or relative. As unique as each new spring day are the flowers that help celebrate birth in the new year, hope for a brighter morning, passing of the dreary gray season, the purity and miracle of life, and as many other beautiful emotions and memories as the pure white or yellow petals on along the roadside as viewed from a small, slowly creeping car.
Daffodils – My Grandmother’s Easter Flower.
Easter Lily know to many as the Easter flower.St. Paddy’s Day Flowers Don’t Have To Be Green
March 18, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Hope everyone had a good St. Patrick’s Day. Tracey, Flower Shop Network receptionist, had a wonderful day yesterday. She received these wonderful flowers.
The flowers weren’t green, but St Patrick’s Day was still celebrated with the green bow. The offer still stands – send me a photo of your St. Patrick’s Day flower arrangement and I’ll post it on the blog.
