Bloomin' Blog

Like Pink Flowers? You’ll Love The North Dakota State Flower

August 5, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever been on a nature walk in North Dakota, you’ve probably run across the Wild Prairie Rose and didn’t even know it. It’s a gorgeous flower with 5 bright pink petals and a tight cluster of yellow stamens at the center. The Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana or Rosa blanda) grows along roadsides, near streams, in pastures and in meadows. With a prevalence and beauty unparalleled by other native North Dakota flowers, the Wild Prairie Rose has been the North Dakota state flower for over one hundred years.

Photo courtesy 50states.com

Though you probably weren’t around in 1907, the awe-inspiring Wild Prairie Rose has maintained its unique appeal for all of these years. Its charm never fades because it is instantly attractive. Its pink flowers help it pop next to wild grasses and other flora across the state. A nature walk is a chance to experience so much richness and natural beauty. Even in the midst of this often overwhelming experience, the Wild Prairie Rose is a diamond in the rough, unashamedly capturing attention but allowing viewers to revel in its beauty.

North Dakota florists are lucky. They do not have to travel far to enjoy the Wild Prairie Rose. It’s title as the North Dakota state flower may not mean much to a local florist, but it doesn’t have to. The Wild Prairie Rose has a reputation all its own and is beautiful enough to be momentarily captivating despite any title.

New Website Page: Hanukkah Flowers

August 4, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Hanukkah Flowers - Florist eCommerce Page

A new holiday page is now available to users of the Flower Shop Network ecommerce websites. A screenshot of the new page is listed below.

The new Hanukkah holiday page is available immediately to FSN members using our florist ecommerce websites. FSN members that have purchased Advanced Website Controls can turn on and edit the Hanukkah page by accessing website controls inside FSNF2F.com.

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: florist ecommerce, hanukkah, hanukkah flowers, MYFSN

Have You Heard of Chinese Valentine’s Day?

August 4, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Chinese Valentine’s Day is actually very cool. They do not regard their form of the holiday in the same way as we western hemispherians. (*grin*) It’s still a neat holiday for lovers and I’ll tell you why. But first! — a little Chinese Valentine’s Day history for you history buffs.

The History of Chinese Valentine’s Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. For those playing along at home, that’s August 26, 2009. The traditional story is a love story told of two star-crossed lovers (a droll joke, or so you’ll later learn). One is the 7th daughter of the Emperor of Heaven. Her love interest is an orphaned cowherd. A true “he’s from the wrong side of the tracks” story or a pasture in this case.

Anyway, the emperor couldn’t stand the thought of them together so he decided to banish them to stars far away. He sent his daughter to the star Vega and the cowherd to the star Altair. Being a somewhat benevolent father, he decided to allow them to see each other once a year. You can probably see where this is going. That day–now celebrated as Chinese Valentine’s Day–is the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar Chinese lunar calendar. You can almost hear the a-ha’s.

Modern Celebration of Chinese Valentine’s Day

Chinese girls and women do not take their dates for a night out and expect an armful of chocolates and flowers. Instead, they all visit a matchmaker in hopes that doing so will provide blessings for their future relationships. Couples in love also go to the matchmaker to ask for blessings on their relationship. There are several other interesting traditions but the one that really caught my eye for obvious reasons is how the young ladies use flowers.

They decorate the ox’s horn with flowers in hopes of preventing future disasters in their relationships. My only question now is where do I find a PETA approved Ox horn and a bucket full of flowers?

How Florists Help Celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day

Lovers may not be visiting their florist for love advice on this day but that doesn’t mean that florists can’t help lovers find a way to share their affection. In fact, the westernization of many traditional celebrations puts them in the starting line-up! Aside from the crazies like me muttering something about “flowers for my ox horn”, you can still give fun gifts from the local flower shop to your lover on this day.

If you are a Chinese-American or just one who likes to celebrate random holidays (and I do!), this is a fun occasion for gift giving. Surprise your date with a bouquet of flowers as you leave to see “the matchmaker” in your life. A cute little twist would be to send flowers with an enclosure card that reads “for your ox horn”. Now off to my local florist for a gift for the most non-traditional traditional holiday I’ve ever heard of!

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Chinese Valentines Day, Flower Suggestions, Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Dogs, Cats, Houseplants: Living Happily Together

August 3, 2009 by Leigh Morrisett 6 Comments

Pets And Houseplants – Achieving Compatibility

If you share your home with dogs or cats, keeping them safe and happy is often your primary concern. At the same time, having interior foliage really makes a house a home. Many houseplants actually improve air quality and create a healthy environment for you.

Although houseplants are pretty and help improve your life, they can sometimes pose a serious issue for your beloved pets. According of the Humane Society of the US there are 700 identified plants that have “toxic” qualities that can cause harmful side effects in animals. Does this mean you have to chose between living with your beloved pet or an awesome houseplant? NO! It doesn’t. By taking certain steps and knowing which houseplants are dangerous to your cat or dog, you can create a pet safe home that includes beautiful foliage.

Keeping Your Pets and Your Houseplants

Before you throw out all your houseplants for the sake of your kitten or puppy, take time to consider whether you’re dog or cat can live with your plants. Some dogs and cats never touch houseplants while others can’t leave them alone. You can still enjoy these plants, even ones potentially “toxic” to pets.

You can protect your pet by taking a few preventative steps. Place plants on stands or hang them out of your dog’s reach. This can work with cats as well. However with cats, the plant must be placed so that your kitty can’t climb up to or jump on to the hanging plant. Otherwise, all questionable plants will need to be placed in a room unavailable to the cat.

If you receive a new plant as a gift, take time to see if your pet is even interested in it. Most cats and dogs simply ignore houseplants and leave them alone. Kittens and puppies are a bit different. They are extremely curious and will chew or play with just about anything. If you have a puppy take time to train them to leave the houseplants alone. Spritzing them with water when they get near the plant is usually a sufficient deterrent. With kittens it’s a bit harder to train them; you may have to put the plants out of the kittens reach.

If you’re still leery about exposing your pet to houseplants, select [Read more…]

Filed Under: Newsletters, Plants & Pets Tagged With: Cats & Plants, Dogs & Plants, Houseplants, Newsletters, Poisonous Plants

Umbrella Plant, Octopus Plant, Schefflera Are One In The Same

August 3, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Schefflera

Octopus Plant

Ask the Expert: Can you tell me what kind of plant this is???

I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of plant this is so that I can look up more information on the care of this plant. Thank you. Tammy

Plant Expert Reply:
This plant goes by many names Brassia arboricola, arboricola, schefflera, octopus plant and umbrella plant. We have great schefflera care instructions for this plant in our flower gallery.

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Brassia arboricola, Octopus Plant, Plant Identification, Schefflera, Umbrella Plant

Polka Dot Plant Is A Nice Gift

August 3, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: Hi. I live in Florida and one of would you please answer my question?
Hi. I live in Florida and one of my students gave me this pretty plant with green leaves and pink spots. I would like to know how to take good care of it. Thank you so much. Isabel

Plant Care Expert:

Hypoetes phyllostachya

I believe your plant is a Polka Dot Plant (Hypoetes phyllostachys). Does your plant look similar to the picture shown?

If so the plant is relatively easy to take care of, just follow a few easy care instructions and your plant should thrive.

First keep the plant moist. Make sure it is in a container that can drain off excess water. Mist around the plant every other day or keep in a humid environment.

Second, give it plenty of light but no direct sun. In thie summer time you can set it outside under shade. This plant likes warm temperatures and during the growing season it likes to be fed every two weeks. During the winter feed it once a month.

To keep the plant shapely, trim leggy growth.

Although hypoetes is used as a garden plant, it makes a wonderful houseplant.

Good lucky with your plant and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Houseplants, Hypoetes, Plant Care Questions, Plant Identification

Aspects of Design: Closed Forms Versus Open Forms

August 3, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

To florists and floral designers, “form” is the word used synonymously with “shape” and refers to either the outline or three-dimensional shape of a flower arrangement. There are two key forms in floral design terms. These are “closed forms” and “open forms.” Both are key elements of floral design and are essential to creating beautiful flower arrangements appropriate for any space or occasion.

Closed-Form Flower Designs

Closed form flower designs can best be described as “dense” because these forms lack negative space. That is to say, the floral materials used to create the designs are tightly packed allowing little to no room for light to pass through, thus it is one seemingly continuous piece and consistent shape throughout.

An example of commonly used flowers with closed form designs are Beidermeyer style bouquets and centerpieces. These are very compact rings that together form a small dome shaped arrangement. Because there is little negative space (none) in a Beidermeyer style flower arrangement, these and other flower arrangements with similar styles are referred to as closed form flower designs.

Open-Form Flower Desigsn

Open form flower designs are the opposite. These are considered light and airy. They have more negative space which may prevent the outline from being fully defined. Not defining the outline allows the design to merely imply a geometric shape.

An example of commonly used flowers with open form flower designs are contemporary arrangements. While there are many closed form contemporary flower arrangements, most contemporary styles focus on the idea of the shape. Rather than present a shape, they present lines (linear flowers) that form unique angles, shapes, and appearances.

Consider placing a light behind both designs and looking at their shadow on the wall. Like mass flowers, closed form flower designs will reveal an easily defined shape. Open form flower designs will produce a shadow that looks like no particular shape, but rather a series of overlapping lines and patterns.

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Closed Forms, Floral Design Techniques, Floral Design Terms, Open Forms

Planting Peace Lilies Outdoors

July 31, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: Can the Peace Lilly be planted out doors?

Plant Expert Reply:
Yes and No. Peace lilies can be planted outdoors in moist but well-drained soil under deep shade conditions. They are not hardy in any of our zones. Therefore in the United States and Canada, they can be used only as an annual planting during the late spring and summer months.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum

Propagating Bird Of Paradise – Strelitzia

July 31, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: where are the seeds on a white bird of paradise?
I want to propagate my white bird of paradise but am unable to get the entire root system of the babies. I’ve attempted it and not been successful, seeing as how they’re too deep in the ground. They stay green for about a week or two then die. Is there a specific time when I should be doing this? I’m thinking maybe the seeds. Are the seeds in the flower itself? If not where? Arcelia

Plant Expert Reply:
To propagate Bird of Paradise (Strelitizia) you divide the root suckers from the plant in the late spring. You want to dig up clumps that have 4 or more shoots. You will separate them into single stems removing the dead leaves & roots. You can wash the roots and even soak them in a bleach water solution (1 part bleach – ten parts water) for ten minutes – this will help with any bacterial problems that can arise. Then you can plant the divisions – be sure they are plant at the same depth as they were originally. It can take up to 12weeks for new roots to form. So be patient. This propagation method will take 1 to 2 years to achieve a mature blooming plant.

You can start Bird of Paradise from seed. However, it will take 3 to 5 years for the seed to become a mature plant. If you plan on harvesting the seeds from your own plant, look for black round seeds that have a fuzzy orange cover on one end. Before you plant them you will need to soften the hard exterior of the seed. Do this by soaking the seeds in room temperature water over night. You will need to also nick the seed before you plant it. Keep you soil moist as the seeds germinate.

Good Luck and let me know how it goes.

Filed Under: Plant Propagation Tagged With: Bird of Paradise, Plant Propagation, Strelitzia reginae

Blind Plant Indentification

July 31, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask The Expert: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HOUSEPLANT AT A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER. IT DID NOT HAVE
ANY TAG AND NO ONE AT THE CENTER WAS SURE WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS TOO INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL FOR ME TO PASS UP. IT IS GROWING IN A NEAT MOUND SO FAR. THE LEAVES ARE OVAL SHAPED, ABOUT 1″X 2″. VERY DARK IN COLOR, THE UNDERSIDE IS DARK PLUM COLORED, THE TOP IS DARK GREEN WITH SILVER STRIPE
AND NICELY TEXTURED. THE NEW LEAVES ARE RATHER PLUM COLORED AND THEN GET DARKER. OVERALL IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO AN EMERALD RIPPLE OR SOME SORT OF PEPEROMIA. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT IS?? PATTY

Plant Expert Reply:
Nothing is more challenging than identifying a plant without seeing it. Your awesome description makes it a little easier. There are two possibilities: a type Pilea or a type Peperomia. Below are some pictures of different types. See if any look like your plant. If not, send me a picture of yours and I’ll try to make a better identification. My choice would be the Aluminum Plant.

: Peperomia carperata

: Watermelon Peperomia argyreia

: Pilea cadierei Aluminum Plant

: Pilea involucrata Friendship Plant

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Peperomia, Peperomia caperata, Perperomia argyreia, Pilea, Pilea cadierei, Pilea involucrata, Plant Identification

Pets And Houseplants – Achieving Compatibility

Keeping Your Pets and Your Houseplants

Closed-Form Flower Designs

Open-Form Flower Desigsn

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