Florist Tips - How To Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer

By following a few simple steps on how to treat cut flowers, you will have the pleasure of them lasting so much longer. Once the stems of flowers have been cut you have removed their life support system, so flowers should be placed in water as soon as possible.

Picking Your Own Flowers If you are picking your own flowers it is best to do this in the morning or the late evening. Sugar reserves in the stems are at their highest in the mornings or evenings. Ideally the best time is early morning when flower stems are filled with water after the cool night air. You should never pick flowers in the middle of the day when the sun is at it's hottest.

The heat of the sun lowers the water content in the stems and the flowers will not last nearly as long. If it has been raining and the flowers are wet, shake them gently to remove the excess water. Too much water will often damage flowers - especially delicately petalled flowers.

When to Pick Flowers Most flowers should be picked when they are in bud or half open. You will then have the pleasure of seeing them slowly open up. The colour of the petals should be starting to show. If picked too tightly in bud, they may never open. This is especially true of tulips and roses. The green pointed sepals around the base of the rose should be starting to turn downwards. Irises and daffodils should be half opened. Gladioli should be picked when the bottom three or four florets are open and the top florets are still in bud. Carnations, dahlias, marigolds, hydrangeas, camellias, gerberas and chrysanthemums should be picked when they are fully opened.

Fill a plastic bucket a third to half way with warm water. Warm water should be used as flowers take up warm water more readily than cold. Its preferable to add preservative to the water. (The use of preservatives is fully explained further on). Flowers only drink through the ends of the stems and not through the sides of the stems, and for this reason buckets should not be filled right up to the top with water, as foliage left on stems below the water line will rot and pollute the water. This will cause bacteria and the flowers will die more quickly. The foliage of marigolds, chrysanthemums, stock and daisies send off a particularly strong odour when left standing under water over a period of time.

Take the bucket of water into the garden with you. Use a sharp pair of secateurs and cut the flower stems on an angle - a slanted cut allows a better intake of water. Remove all foliage from the lower portion of the stems which would stand under the water line. Place the flowers immediately in the water.

Never overcrowd flowers. Allow enough air to circulate between each flower. Too many flowers crowded together in a bucket may cause the petals to become squashed and bruised. Place the bucket in a cool dark place and allow the flowers to have a long drink before being arranged. When picking short-stemmed flowers, use a smaller container.

Conditioning Flowers and Foliage Allow flowers to have a good drink for four to five hours, preferably overnight before arranging. This step is called conditioning. It allows the stems to fill up with water and the flowers will become crisp. These flowers will last twice as long as those that have not been conditioned properly.

Bought Flowers Bought flowers should be placed in warm water as soon as possible. Remove the wrapping paper, as paper can bruise the flowers and cellophane can cause them to sweat. When cut flowers have been left out of water for any length of time, cells start to form over the cut ends of the stems, which will prevent the stems taking up water readily. To remove this sealed portion, snip off about 2.5cm (1") from the stem ends and then place in water preferably with preservative added, and allow the flowers to have a long drink before arranging.

You may be given flowers when you are away from home. It may well be several hours before you are able to place them in water. The best way to keep flowers fresh is to place them in a strong plastic bag with some water in the bottom. Secure the bag with a rubber band. Another method is to wrap flowers in damp newspaper. If travelling by car, place the flowers in the coolest spot. As soon as you get home, recut the ends of the stems, place them in water and allow them to condition overnight before arranging.

Preservatives A flower preservative helps destroy bacteria in the water. Flower preservatives are available in garden centres or supermarkets. Another alternative is to use a capful of household bleach in the water. If a preservative is not used, the water needs to be changed and the stems cut on an angle daily. If a preservative is used, the stems do not require recutting and water needs changing only about twice a week. Flowers like freesias, spray carnations and liliums have lots of buds. By using a preservative in the water, it helps develop the buds to open.

Special Treatment Special treatment should be given to certain flowers to give them the longest life possible. Flowers with woody stems do not take up water readily. Woody-stemmed flowers include lilac, hydrangea, and rhododendrons. To help break down the thick fibres, you can split the ends of the stems upwards for about 5 cm. (2") After this treatment, place the stems in a container filled with warm water and give the flowers a long drink before arranging.

Flowers with Milky Stems Poppies, poinsettias and dahlias have a milky liquid flowing through their stems. To seal this liquid in and make the flowers last, the ends of the stems should be held over a flame like a candle, gas jet or cigarette lighter. Hold the end of the stem over the flame for about thirty seconds until the end of the stem turns black. The flowers should be held on an angle to protect the delicate petals. Another method is to dip the stems in boiling water for about thirty seconds. Hold the flower heads away on an angle and protect the petals from steam by holding newspaper around the flowers. Place stems immediately in warm water and give flowers a long drink before arranging. If stems need to be recut later on when arranging flowers, you will need to repeat the above steps. To avoid this you could cut the stems to different lengths before sealing the ends of the stems.

Bulb Flowers Certain flowers grow from a bulb. These include tulips, daffodils, jonquils, narcissus, irises and hyacinths. These flowers often have a white portion at the ends of the stems. Cut this white portion off before conditioning as only the green part of the stem can take up water. Daffodils, jonquils and narcissus have a thick sap which oozes from the end of the stems when they are cut. Wipe it off before placing the stems in water. Keep these flowers separate from other flowers when they are being conditioned as the sap can affect other flowers. The thick sap can clog the ends of stems and prevent the uptake of water. Stand the stems in about 7.5 cm. (3") of water and allow to stand at least six hours before arranging. Bulb flowers prefer shallow water. If daffodils, jonquils and narcissus are placed in deep water, the thick stems can become water logged and the stems shrivel up and the petals go papery.

Wilted Flowers Wilted flowers can often be revived by standing the stems in fairly hot water right up to the flower heads. After the water has cooled, allow the flowers to stand in the water for a few hours before arranging. Roses can often be perked up by floating the whole stem, head and all, in warm water for half an hour.

This article may be published in its entirety on the Internet as long as the live links are included

Fay Chamoun is the Principal of Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School.The school was established in 1972 and offers Floral Design Courses for a career or hobby http://www.floral-art-school.com.au

The Florist's Secrets: Discover how to care for your Flowers

Flowers immediately brighten up a room, adding a sense of spring and joy. As flowers are a living and a relatively costly decoration, it

pays to keep them alive and healthy looking for as long as possible.Knowing some of a florist??s secrets for flower care are the best means

of ensuring a prolonged life for a healthy bouquet of flowers. The first thing to know about floral care is immediate care. You can compare

a florist to a doctor in a maternity ward, checking that the newly arrived bundle is in good health and will stay that way. As soon as a

floral shipment arrives, the florist gets to work, as immediate care is necessary for living plants. As our world is becoming considerably

more ecologically conscious, many florists use natural methods of prolonging the life of plants, which often turn out to be less expensive

methods. If you are ecologically conscious, you may prefer knowing some natural tips for floral care. There are some secrets not widely

known which offer great protection and life extension to your flowers, as well as some widely known old-wives tale type of tips, which often

do have merit to them. Uncovering these secrets of the trade will simplify floral care and leave your flowers looking better for longer.

From the moment cut flowers are in your possession, you must take measures to care for them. Time is of the essence in these moments of

primary care. Immediately place the flowers to soak in a bowl while you get yourself ready: find the appropriate vase, have the plant food

at hand, find a strong pair of shears or a sharp knife, and room temperature water (on the cooler, rather than warmer, side). Fill the vase,

and add whatever plant food/ anti-bacterial product you plan to use. Turn on the tap, and placing each stem under the running water, cut

about an inch and a half off of each flower. It is important to keep the flower under a constant stream of water, as this will avoid air

bubbles from forming, which temporarily cut off the water supply to the flower. Use either a knife or very sharp shears to cut the stems, as

a terrible mistake is to cut with scissors that end up flattening the stem without cutting it. This will also damage the water supply from

stem to flower. When cutting, cut at an angle, as that makes greater surface area for the water to enter the stem. Cut off any leaves that

will be under water, as left on the stems, they will begin to rot and promote bacterial growth. Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight and

heat, and change the water often. These initial steps will ensure a healthy bouquet.

For those seeking natural means of protecting and caring for flowers, the only thing to avoid from the above-mentioned description of flower

care will be the plant food and anti-bacterial preservative to keep the plants healthy. There are many natural formulas for those preferring

to avoid the chemicals found in plant food. Water is the essential element for all of life to survive. So, ensuring that your plant gets

the best water for it will ensure a longer life. Soft, acidic water is best for flowers, as it optimizes the flowers?? veins bringing up

water to the rest of the plant. When you change the water daily, trim off a bit more of the stem to cut off any bacteria that may be living

at the stem entrance, as well as reopen the stem??s vein. Use a vase that allows room for the flowers. When flowers are packed together

tightly, they have less air, and more chances of rotting. White sugar is really all that plants need for food, and can substitute plant

food. Old wives?? tales often turn out to be valuable natural care methods, so read on to learn about these.

As silly as some old wives?? tales seem, this folklore often has a scientific basis, and should never be discarded off the bat. Instead of

using the chemicals of plant food, throwing a copper penny into the vase really will help your plants, as copper is a natural fungicide which

prevents the growth of yeast and fungus. Acidic water is healthy for flowers, as it helps keep levels of bacteria in water low. While

throwing an aspirin into the vase won??t bring down a fever, it will help kill bacteria, as aspirin is acidic. Lemon juice or vinegar, with

their strong acidity, work as well. To finish up, let??s divulge some little known secrets of the florists! Always keep your bouquets away

from sources of electricity, as the waves emitted dehydrate flowers. If you notice that your flowers are already dehydrated and weakening,

there is a "miracle cure" hot water treatment. Wrap the ends of the stems in a newspaper, secured by a rubber band, and immerse into boiling

water for about 20 seconds, followed immediately by immersion in cold water. This is known to bring life back to flowers by stimulating

water absorption. Another great tip that helps prevent wilting is to keep your flowers refrigerated (in water) for a few hours before

displaying them. For instance, imagine flowers for weddings - it??s often impossible to prepare the flowers the day of the wedding. So

florists prepare them a day in advance, and keep them in a large fridge overnight.

Florists follow these time tested tips, and as a result, they show off beautiful, healthy flowers. You don??t need to be a florist to show

off your own beautiful flowers! Taking care of a bouquet can extend its life by as much as a few weeks, and the effort needed to achieve

this is quite minimal. Remember that the most decisive moments of your flowers?? lifespan are the moments the flowers are first in your

possession. Take good care upon receiving them, and they will thrive. In caring for them, many natural methods are just as useful as plant

food and preservative, so they are worth looking into. Lastly, don??t ignore the folklore surrounding flower care, as it holds much wisdom

and does improve a bouquet??s health! As with all things natural and living, it is often the simplest things which are needed to stay healthy

and strong. So keep your flowers watered and fed, and you??ll have a healthy bouquet which will age beautifully!

This article was sponsored by http://www.serenataflowers.com/, an independent florist. Serenata delivers bouquets within the UK and removes

the costly middleman by buying directly from the grower. Fresher than any bouquet you'll find in traditional flower delivery shops, shop

Serenata Flowers for exclusive, well cared for bouquets at reasonable prices. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must provide

a link back to http://w

Choosing A Florist For Angelina Jolie's Wedding Flowers

Rumors of an impending wedding for famous Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are rampant. The glamorous couple have almost certainly begun discussing wedding details and making decisions about the where's, when's, and how's. They may have even gone so far as to book a location, plan wedding attire, and choose a cake flavor. But have they chosen a florist yet?

Choosing a florist for your wedding is certainly one of the most important decisions you can make for the event. Because your wedding guests are likely to see the setting for the event before they see you, the flowers you choose can set the tone for the entire day. For example, if your wedding is a very formal affair, traditional flower arrangements in muted tones and elegant styles will convey this to your guests. However, if you're having a relatively informal beach wedding, you'll probably want looser, more brightly colored designs. It is your florist's job to help you make decisions about your wedding flowers and develop designs that will reflect your personal style and the feeling you want for your special day.

Finding the right florist can be a confusing task if you've never had occasion to work with a florist before. Your florist should be someone you're comfortable talking to, whose opinions you trust, and who you'd consider continuing to turn to for your floral needs even after the wedding. The Society of American Florists recommends you look for the following in your florist:

? Find a florist that offers a good mix of products, a high level of service, and the types of designs you find most appealing. To do this, you'll want to ask your florist to show you pictures of flowers they've designed for other weddings and special events. If you don't like what you see, keep looking.

? Great customer service is key to a good floral experience. Your florist should be willing to spend time with you and get to know what you like and dislike. They should ask plenty of questions and really listen to your answers. They should also offer helpful advice. If you feel rushed or uncomfortable, this won't be the right florist for you.

? Look for a florist with fresh, good quality flowers. Your florist should carry only the best flowers and floral products. They should offer flower food with all arrangement purchases and be full of advice on floral care.

? Work only with florists who are part of a professional affiliation, such as FTD, Teleflora, or the Society of American Florists.

Choosing the perfect florist may take some time and require a lot of footwork, but proper selection of the florist who best meets your style and needs will make selecting the wedding flowers themselves infinitely easier. The time you spend in searching for a florist will be made up for in the beauty and quality of the flowers for your special day. Just remember, your florist should be friendly and willing to help regardless of whether or not you're a big star like Angelina Jolie.
Wesley Berry is the President of Wesley Berry Flowers established in 1946. He is also the Headmaster of the Professional Florists' Institute, floral design school in Michigan. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com

Choosing a Florist for Your Wedding

Have you ever wondered if what you know about wedding flowers is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on wedding flowers.

The florist that you choose for your wedding may play a significant role in your wedding so it is important to choose your florist wisely. Just a few areas where the florist plays a role in the wedding include the bouquets that are carried by the bride and her bridesmaids, the flowers carried by the flower gift the flowers the groom and his ushers wear in their lapels and the flowers that decorate the ceremony locations. In addition to all of that the florist may also design center pieces for the tables at the reception and decorate the cake with fresh flowers. The use of flowers throughout the ceremony and reception makes it critical that the couple exercise caution and choose a competent and creative florist.

One of the most effective ways to choose a florist for your wedding is to find a florist who is recommended by a trusted friend or family member. Wedding planners and others in the wedding planning industry may have a vested interest in recommending a particular florist for your wedding but a friend or family member makes their recommendations simply because they were happy with a previous performance by the florist. If you have been to a number of weddings in your area and were pleased by the floral arrangements you may want to consider contacting the host of that wedding to find out who they used as their florist. When it comes to choosing a florist, previous performance is the best indication of how the florist will perform in the future.

While the aesthetic appeal of the flowers is important, price will also likely factor into your decision to choose a particular florist. It is important to establish a budget for flowers before you meet with potential florists for your wedding. When you do meet with them get a detailed estimate and discuss what is included in the estimate that they have provided. It is also important to find out if there are any additional fees that have not been included in the estimate such a delivery charges and set-up fees. If possible try to negotiate having these fees incorporated into the estimate to avoid any unexpected charges.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

It is also important to consider whether or not the florist specializes in weddings. A florist who regularly completes arrangements specifically for weddings is much more likely than another florist to be aware of everything that is involved with being a wedding florist. They will not only know all that is required of them but they will also likely have established relationships with local venues.

Another important consideration in choosing a wedding florist is how much support they are willing to offer. Some florists may simply deliver the flowers to the destination and will not take care of setting up the flowers. You will want to find a florist that is willing to send a representative along with the delivery to ensure that the flowers are set up correctly and that they look fresh and attractive. It is ideal to have your florist remain onsite throughout the wedding and reception to ensure that there are no issues with the flowers but if this is not possible you should have a florist onsite at the very beginning of the party as minimum.

The delivery system employed by the florist is also important in determining whether or not to choose a particular florist for your wedding. Many florists employ independent contractors to take care of their delivery needs. The delivery person drives their own vehicle and operates independently from the florist. While this situation may work out very well for the florist, it could be the recipe for disaster at your wedding. It is important to remember that if the delivery personnel are driving their own vehicles then it is likely that the florist does not have a backup vehicle in case something happens to the delivery truck. However, if the florist employs their own delivery personnel who drive company supplied vehicles then the florist most likely has a contingency plan for when a vehicle breaks down.

Choosing a florist for your wedding is very important. Seeking opinions of friends and family members is one of the most effective ways to choose a qualified florist. Careful review of recommendations is another important step in choosing a florist as is understanding their payment structure.

Knowing enough about wedding flowers to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about wedding flowers, you should have nothing to worry about.

James Mahony is the founder of The Wedding Handbook - A site dedicated to Weddings

The Wedding Handbook :: Articles for Website Content
 

A Florist's World

A Florist's World

How pleasant it is to enjoy the aesthetics of a vase full of colorful and aromatic flowers. Flowers are known to have positive effects on our moods, perhaps due to the fact that they are a living creation of art, and thus the bilateral relationship developed with their owner -- flowers offer their beauty in return for their owner's attention and watering. This living relationship is not the flowers' sole relationship. Don't be alarmed, your darling flowers aren't cheating on you! But your flowers have already shared a vital relationship with the florist, who decides which flowers to buy and where to buy them from, who takes care of the flowers even before they are in her possession, and who certainly leaves a personal touch on the flowers, using the talents of artistry and style to create a bouquet you won't want to take your eyes off. Thus, it is the florist who prepares your flowers for you -- not only in the beauty of a bouquet, but also in the care that the flowers will expect us to continue giving them.

Thanks to today's leaps in technology, specifically communication and transportation, a flower growing in Mexico, for example, can be transported to France within the span of twenty-four hours. Of course, this seemingly simple statement involves a lot of work. A good florist will scan the world market for quality and prices. Naturally, flowers that can be bought locally will be, as they will have less distance to travel, and arrive at the florist's shop quickly and safely. Since, however, freesias don't often bloom near London in January, a large quantity of cut-flowers do use their frequent flyer cards as they make the trip from this to that country, or this to that continent. Needless to say, extreme care goes into preparing these travelers for their voyage. When flowers are coming right from the grower to the florist, they are usually cut right before leaving for the airport (talk about last minute preparations!) and prepared in the trucks on the way to the airport. Flowers that retain water well are laid flat in boxes, while more perishable and exotic flowers are guarded by individual water holders on the stem. In this manner, the well-prepared flowers make their trip. Most flights for these delicate passengers will be extra cool to provide for a most enjoyable flight. Upon arriving, the flowers are transported to cooled trucks which take them to the florist. This exchange -- directly from the grower to the florist -- is ideal, as the flowers spend less time traveling from here to there, and the costs won't be increasing as the flower quality is decreasing.

The florist keeps track of the above-mentioned process to ensure the fresh and happy arrival of her materials. Upon receiving the packaged-up bundles of joy, the florist is like a new parent for a few minutes, unwrapping the flowers with utmost care, in order to get the flowers the nutrition and safety they need. However, during the caring and feeding, the florist will consider the new arrivals with much more scrutiny than would the parent of a newborn (or so we hope), checking for imperfections and making sure quality is first-rate. Once the flowers are cut to appropriate lengths and safely refrigerated in water, the florist communicates to the grower that all is well, and ideas are exchanged for future interactions. Communication is a large part of the florist's job, and this conversation with the grower was certainly not the first, and will not be the last.

A good florist, while being a client of the grower, is also a seller, and knows the importance of communicating with people like you -- her clients. And communication with a florist is important. In a job that requires such care for living flowers, as well as artistic talent in arranging, the busy florist is never too busy to hear your input, and in fact needs this important information: if the client is to be happy with the result, communication must be strong between the florist and client. Flowers truly can convey what words cannot say, so the specifics of what type of event, who they're for, preferences in colors, flowers, textures, even the types of leaves used to give the bouquet body, is important information. Specific holidays, such as Valentine's Day or Mother's Day will also influence the client's choices. The florist needs your feedback to create the right bouquet. Watching a florist at work certainly gives the impression of an eccentric or a mad genius at work. Suddenly, a flower that was placed with such care is pulled out of the bouquet with a displeased look, then placed almost identically back in its place. But something is different, and the florist continues working with an appeased mind. Florists are artists, and take care to create the perfect picture, whether it is one conveying carefree joy or somber mourning.

When admiring your bouquet sitting on your dining room table, keep in mind that the florist who arranged it has done much more than arrange. The florist ensures that the quality of the flowers is top notch even before laying eyes on them. The quest for the freshest flowers is now an international search, and the florist makes sure her flowers are treated like first-class passengers during their trip to her store. Once at her door, the florist continues the care she started, dexterously cutting and submerging the stems in water. Happily seeing that the flowers are finally safe and ready for the chef d'oeuvre, the florist will create the masterpiece based on what her client is looking for. The florist, a person of many talents, is, at the end of the day, a businessman, a caretaker, an empathetic listener, and an artist.

This article was sponsored by http://www.serenataflowers.com, an independent florist. Serenata provides flower delivery within the UK and removes the costly middleman by buying directly from the grower. Fresher than any bouquet you'll find in traditional flower shops, shop Serenata Flowers for exclusive, well cared for bouquets at reasonable prices.

What to Look for when Choosing an Online Florist

Choosing an online Florist - what to look out for to ensure you get the flowers you want, when you want.

Ordering flowers is a fickle business and it's easy to part with your cash expecting a beautiful bouquet only to be disappointed by the reality. Here at Flowers 4 Online International we pride ourselves on the quality and value of Online Flower Delivery and have created this checklist to help ensure you can choose a reputable Florist.

How long have they been in business? Do they have experience in the type of event you have in mind? Can they work in your price range? Our experience includes a range of events; we can quickly "size up" what you have in mind.

Are the pictures you see on the site, pictures of Flower Arrangements they have created themselves? Is there a wide price range of Flowers, and do you have the option of sizes of bouquet ranges?

What guarantees do they offer for delivery? Can they offer same day and next day flower delivery? What about international orders, can they also deliver these at short notice? Do they have a large number of international florists they work with to deliver anywhere at short notice? Is pricing totally transparent? Can you see the prices you pay including delivery charges before you pay?

Flowers4 has enabled thousands of customers to send flowers online for over five years through its own Flower Shops, affiliates and website. It is a name you can trust for quality Flowers at good prices with an excellent reputation for timely delivery.

Clinton Porter is a search engine optimisation consultant with Nvisage (http://www.nvisage.co.uk/whatwedo/search_engine_optimisation.asp) for Flowers4 Online flower shops and florists (http://www.flowers4.co.uk/) specialists in Wedding and bridal flowers, Funeral and sympathy flowers. Order and send fresh flowers online for same day and next day delivery.

Finding A Florist When You Need One

It's not always easy to find the right florist. Florist retail shopping can be so time consuming and florist retail prices vary so much from shop to shop, season to season, it's hard to know if you're getting the best flower selection and the best price. Don't you wish there was an easier way to buy flowers when you need them?

Well, there is an easier way; buying flowers online. Online florist companies take the headaches out of flower selection, and a simple search on the internet can provide hundreds of quick results. You can find a florist who will take your order, take your credit card, and deliver your flower arrangement or bouquet right to your loved one's door, often on the very same day.

Need to send a flower arrangement to a sick friend's hospital room? Your online florist will be happy to take care of that for you too. In fact, your florist will provide delivery anywhere in your city, and perhaps in nearby areas as well.

But what happens when you need to send flowers outside of your local area? Shipping can leave your floral arrangements looking worse for wear, so travel needs to be kept to a minimum. Online florists, such as Society Hill Florist and Sycamore Florist, are often members of a network of florists across the country that can take your order and forward it to an approved florist in your destination city. You simply place your floral order and your network florist will take care of all the troublesome details.

Using an online florist network can also help you save money on your floral purchases. Less travel means less delivery expense. Larger florist networks often have the capacity to hold larger stocks of the most popular flowers, and good supply usually translates to better pricing, which your florist then passes on to you. Sounding better all the time, isn't it?

The computer age has brought a lot of conveniences to modern living. Instead of rushing from store to store, most things are available right at your fingertips. You never have to worry about reaching a store before it closes. Shop 24 hours a day if your like. You never have to rush with your selections because there is no grumpy customer waiting in line behind you. With all this convenience, should your floral shopping be any different?

Once you've experienced the services and selection of an online florist, you may never buy flowers any other way again.

Muzrak Maksidov runs the website http://www.society-hill-flower-buy.com, which is provide all information related to flowers. This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and link is hyperlinked.

Online UK Florist Saves the Day

 Here it is Thursday afternoon, and Evelyn sees no break in her hectic schedule for the weekend. She has a presentation due on Monday morning and a meeting on Saturday most of the day with her team. The bad part is, her favorite aunts birthday is on Saturday and she is turning 65 years old and this is one birthday that Evelyn did not want to miss.

She thought maybe she could rush through the meeting but there is no way she could make it in time from London, UK to Birmingham, UK to attend the festivities that the family has planned. The worst part of it all is that now it is too late for her to even go out shopping for a unique gift and have it arrive on time.

Before leaving work, she talks with some of her friends and they suggest sending flowers, but all the florist are now closed it is 7pm at night, and she has a meeting with an associate at 8am when the florist opens. She goes home, feeling defeated, not knowing what to do, she gets on her computer and just types in overnight flower delivery from London, UK to Birmingham, UK and her dismay quickly turns into triumph.

She clicks on a link for a florist and learns that the flowers can be ordered online from London, UK and sent to her aunt in Birmingham, UK and will arrive early Saturday morning, even before anyone else in the family arrives.

She begins to look at all the different options that the online florist has to offer. Her only problem now is choosing from the several wonderful arraignments, types of flowers and plants, and even some other surprises such as balloons or chocolates.

With all the options that Evelyn has available such as the variety of flowers such as curcumas, freesias, gerberas, lilies, tropical flowers and plants; the style such as contemporary, elegant, or simple and even by color such as blue, orange, white and red, she could make a decision that would be sure to please her aunt. She could choose her aunts favorite flower, or color or even order an elegant arraignment. She decided first to click on Birthdays to see what they suggested.

Under birthdays, she had a wonderful choice of a Gerbera bouquet, yellow roses in a stunning vase, and even a desert rose in its own vase. She knew that any of these unique and wonderful flower arraignments would put a smile on her aunts face. All the flowers were in her budget and she ordered her flowers online and went to sleep with peace of mind. The online florist saved her from her dilemma, her aunt was overjoyed with the flowers and her meeting was a success.


You have permission to publish this article electronically free of charge, as long as the bylines and links in the body of the article and the bylines are included

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. She spent a summer in UK in 1998. She enjoyed the online shopping experience with flower shop in Edinburgh http://www.serenataflowers.com/sendflowers/Edinburgh.htmfor http://www.serenataflowers.com/sendflowers/Birmingham.htmBirmingham flower delivery.

The Art Of Rose Pruning - Keep Your Rose Garden Looking Beautiful

To keep your rose garden looking beautiful your roses need regular trimming and deadheading. These are very important parts of your rose care routine. People differ in their opinion about when and how to do these tasks.

Individual rosarians already have their favorite tried and tested methods. This article is meant only for new rosarians. Here are some guidelines for the newcomers about where to start.

Once you start you will gradually learn by yourself where to make changes and also invent some new techniques of your own. You are welcome to use your own method as long as it doesn't kill your roses or damage the rose bush.

Rose pruning isn't as difficult as people generally think. There are only four basic rules and some common sense that is required. If you can follow these basic rules you'll achieve fabulous results. Beautiful rose bushes, reflecting your caring touch, will welcome you whenever you set foot in your garden.

First of all you have to keep the center of your bushes free of growth. This will keep the bush insect free and allows good air circulation which is necessary to keep down occurrences of fungus infection. The next rule is to remove any dead or rotten growth including the withered blooms (this is called “deadheading”). By pruning this unwanted growth your bushes will not only look neat but disease and insects will keep their distance from your precious roses.

Another tenet that you must follow is to carefully shape your rose bushes as they grow. This is necessary to add symmetry to your garden. Shaping will magically change your bushes from wild and messy to neat and respectable, a look that will make people envious of your gorgeous roses. The last rule is to remove branches that cross over in order to promote stronger growth.

Pruning shears must be kept sharp and clean. You have to clean the pruners every time after use to remove any disease or fungus infection. To keep out disease close up the pruning cuts you've made in your rose bushes. You can use Elmer's glue which works just fine and is much less expensive than any other commercial preparation.

Now let’s discuss some common pruning terms and techniques as well as some guidelines. You can choose which one is necessary for your variety of rose. The first is hard or low pruning. Be ruthless with your pruning – starting from the base or bud union, cut the canes on an angle just above the third or fourth bud. The aim is to have healthy main canes about four and a half inches long.

Use this pruning technique with new hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda varieties to stimulate their growth. Don’t do hard pruning with established bushes because they may not revive. This should be done only as one last effort to revive sick or neglected bushes.

In case of fair or medium pruning you have to cut strong canes back to approximately half of their length. But sometimes if the stems are weaker you can cut back even more severely. This technique works well for established gardens containing floribundas, hybrid teas, grandifloras, and standard tree roses.

In light pruning, you cut off only the top 1/3 of the canes. After pruning you should remove all unwanted wood and ‘tip’ the remaining stems by just cutting the very tip off. Light pruning is not usually recommended because the bush blooms too early and produces poorly developed flowers. Only use this technique if the usual pruning methods are not working and the plant looks like it won’t survive.

For more information on Rose Gardening and tips for cutting roses visit http://www.rose-gardening-explained.com/

Hot Rose Gardening Ideas - Tips and Tricks To Growing A Better Rose Garden

A lot of people love roses, and that's hardly surprising. When your rose bushes are thriving and covered in blooms, they look absolutely stunning. But if you're just starting out with a rose garden, it's not always easy to know how to arrange your garden to make it as attractive as possible. There are many difference factors that you need to take into consideration when planning your rose garden, including more than just what color the flowers will be.

Start by taking a look around at the various resources available to you. This can include rose gardening books, magazines, and websites on the Internet. Browsing can give you lots of good ideas, but here are a few to get your started.

First, how much space do you have available in your garden for roses? Once you know the space available, you will be able to work out how many rose bushes you need to plant. This is also dictated by the type of rose you choose, and some can be placed quite close together, whereas others, such as climbers, may need to be as much as twelve feet apart. If your rose garden area is small, it may be wise to choose miniature roses for the best effect. These are very attractive when they are planted closely together in a garden bed.

Next, think about colors. Do you have a favorite rose color? You might want to design your rose garden around that color there. Perhaps you want to create a pattern with different colored roses, or just find roses that will complement the color of your house. Many people find growing red and white roses alternately in a rose garden makes a pretty, patterned effect. If your house is a shade of peach, however, you might like to choose a mixture of peach and yellow roses instead.

Also, think about what plants you want to put around the base of your rose bushes. For part of the year roses are not particularly attractive and can even be a little bare, so it's good to have some other plants to fill in the gaps in the rose garden. Choose plants with flowers that blend well with your roses. They don't necessarily have to be the same color, just complementary. For example, a low growing purple flower would go well underneath a row of peach roses. Red blends well with pink or white filler plants.

Now that you've worked out exactly what effect you want in your rose garden, it's time to begin the preparation process.

For more helpful rose gardening tips to growing a beautiful rose garden be sure to visit Rose-Gardening-Made-Easy.info where you will find an abundance of information to include autumn, spring and summer rose gardening tips.

You Can't Grow A Beautiful Rose Garden Without The Right Rose Gardening Accessories

Once you start to develop your rose garden, a time will come when you start to think about adding some rose gardening accessories. These might be aesthetic additions, or they may be accessories that will help you maintain a healthy rose garden more easily.

The word accessories is a rather vague one. You need to think about what exactly it is you're looking for when it comes to rose gardening accessories. Do you mean tools that aren't essential for developing or maintaining your rose garden, but would certainly make life much easier for you? Or would you like to add some decorations to your rose garden, to help improve its appearance.

If equipment is what you're looking for, there are many different products that you can use to help make taking care of your rose garden easier, and even more enjoyable. Some people find that once they get started on a rose garden, it just seems to keep on getting bigger. If that’s you, then you may want to trade in your garden claw and get a good quality auger instead. You can even use a drill with your auger, if you buy the right one, which makes loosening the soil a much easier job. Plus it's a good excuse to use a power tool! Stakes are another great accessory, and make it much easier for small, flimsy rose bushes to develop a strong, upright pattern of growth.

There are also a huge variety of decorative garden items available, if that's what you're looking for. Garden gnomes are always popular, and nowadays you can buy small concrete statues in a huge range of creatures and colors. Fairies are wonderful if you've got hidden nooks and crannies in your garden. Perhaps you want to buy an accessory that's both decorative and practical - such as a miniature picket fence. This can look very attractive around the border of your rose garden, but at the same time keeps your pets or small children away from the thorns. Nightlights are also great for enhancing your garden, and you can buy all sorts of interesting designs such as castles or lighthouses.

If you're looking for rose garden accessories, the best place to start is in your local nursery or a home and gardens store. Have fun making your rose garden more beautiful!

Interested in growing a beautiful rose garden? The try visiting Rose-Gardening-Made-Easy.info where you will find helpful information, tips and advice on spring rose gardening, summer rose gardening, early autumn rose gardening and late autumn rose gardening

Improve Your Rose Garden With These Tips And Advice On Where To Find Rose Gardening Help

When you are looking for rose gardening help, you have several different source options available to you, all of which are compiled by experts and other gardeners to assist you in your efforts. Besides books and magazines, you can also find volumes of help on the internet, where you can perform a direct search for the problem at hand.

While you could visit your local library and index books, magazines, and other periodicals, the internet is now the information superhighway, where you are guaranteed to find information related to your search on gardening help. There are several sites around the world dedicated to rose gardening, and these collect articles, web blogs, and other various information on roses, cultivation of the garden, and various problems that may arise.If you prefer the old-fashioned method of research and help, you can visit the library. There are a large number of books dedicated to horticulture and gardening, and several of these concentrate on tips and tricks for rose gardening. You can also index periodicals and references such as encyclopedias to see if the question you have is answered in this media. If all else fails, you can ask for help at a local nursery or perhaps sign up for a rose gardening club or class, where you’ll find lots of help from both instructors and peers.

If you can’t find what you are looking for in a general article on rose gardening, you can find help from others who may have experienced the same problem. The internet contains discussion forums on almost any topic, including rose gardening. Here, other gardeners have discussed issues they’ve come across in their gardening efforts that have stumped them. Once a problem is presented, other rose gardeners offer help by sharing their experiences and solutions. If you can’t find the help you are looking for there, you can always present the question yourself and wait for a response.

For more information on rose gardening help and early spring rose gardening please visit http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.info, a popular website that provides rose gardening tips, advice and resources to include information on summer, winter and spring rose gardening.

All About Rose Petals - Information, Tips, and Suggestions on Using Rose Petals for Your Wedding

When shopping for rose petals you first need to decide whether you would like to use fresh, freeze dried or silk. What you plan on using rose petals for will help you decide on which type is more appropriate for your wedding needs.

• For Outdoor use: Fresh or Freeze dried are more appropriate as they are a natural, biodegradable product.
• For Indoor use: Freeze Dried or Silk rose petals are more appropriate. Fresh petals can stain or be slippery. You don't want to slip when you walk down that aisle!
• Flower Girl use: any type will do, since they do not need a large amount and the rose petals will not be closely examined by your guests. However, keep in mind that indoor use of fresh rose petals even in small amounts can be slippery!
• Table Decoration: freeze dried petals are the real thing only preserved at the peak of their freshness. They look more realistic, but also are more costly. Silk petals can give the look of rose petals at a fraction of the cost.
• Tossing at Church or after the Ceremony: again, if it is outdoors use fresh or freeze dried, as they are degradable. Indoors, silk would be appropriate.

Now that you know where you plan on using your rose petals, lets discuss the three different types, as you can use more than one type in several areas.

• Fresh Rose Petals: the most expensive of the three types, not only because they are fresh but because the roses will have to be de-petaled at the time just before use. They are all natural and biodegradable which is a good thing! However, because they are bio-degradable, they will degrade fast - sometimes so fast they often do not look good by the time they are used. Must be obtained the day needed, sometimes just before use. Another disadvantage is that fresh rose petals can stain and be slippery.
• Freeze Dried Rose Petals: not as expensive as fresh but more expensive than silk, freeze dried gives brides a long lasting alternative to fresh with the look and feel of fresh petals (after all they are real petals!). Freeze dried petals can be ordered and received several weeks before the wedding, avoiding the last minute stress for the bride. Freeze dried petals are preserved at the peak of their freshness for excellent quality when they time comes to use them.
• Silk Rose Petals: often the least expensive of the three options, silk rose petals are wonderful for indoor use. They work well when large quantities are needed for indoor pathways or table decorations. If you plan on purchasing silk rose petals try and ask for a sample first from the retailer if you can't see them in person. There are many websites out there which offer cheap silk petals - but if they are cheap, they more than likely will look cheap, feel thin, be all the same size or even be almost transparent. Don't waste your money on poor quality silk rose petals. Quality silk rose should vary in size - after all real rose petals vary in size too! Quality rose petals should not be transparent, but should be made of a microfiber peach silk, giving them the texture and the weight of real rose petals.

Now that you have decided where and what type of petals you will be using, you need to know how much you need! Here are our recommendations:

For Silk Rose Petals

• Tossing: 100 petals per 6 to 8 guests
• Table Decoration: 100 petals per 1 to 2 tables with centerpiece
• Aisle: 100 petals will cover: 1 square foot (dense), 2 square feet (moderate coverage) or 5 square feet (light coverage, like a scattering of petals)
• Flower Girl: 100 to 200 petals depending on how she tosses them and how long the aisle is.

For Real or Freeze Dried Rose Petals Quantities can vary but on average there are 25-35 petals per cup (like a measuring cup) of real or freeze dried rose petals. SInce real and freeze dried rose petals can vary in size, the actual petals per cup can vary.

• Tossing: 1/3 to 1/2 cup per guest
• Table Decoration: 2 to 4 cups per table with centerpiece (depends on how dense you want it to be)
• Aisle: 8 cups per square foot (dense), 4 cups per square foot (moderate coverage), 2 cups per square foot (light coverage), 1 cup per square foot (scattered look)
• Flower Girl: 4 to 8 cups

How to Use Freeze Dried Petals

Using freeze dried petals at your wedding does take some minor prep work to make them useable. The easiest way to soften them is to place them in the bathroom while taking a shower. While they do not become as soft as a fresh petal (so don't expect that) they do soften and become more pliable. The longer the petals are exposed to moisture, the softer they will get. If the outside air humidity is normal to humid, this process can take a few days to achieve the softening. If the outside air (the air in your home) is dry then the petals can dry out again if you attempt to soften them too long before your wedding. Softening petals by exposure to moist air will also brighten darker colored petals.

We recommend shipping your petals with 2 to 4 weeks before your event for the best quality. Don't purchase freeze dried petals months ahead of time just "because". Many colors will fade over time, especially when exposed to light and humidity.

Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Wedding Favors which carries thousands of wedding favors and wedding accessories to suit every couple's style, theme and budget.

In Order To Grow A Beautiful Rose Garden You Need The Right Rose Garden Tools And Necessities

After the difficult decisions involved in planning your rose garden, the next step is to start planting your roses. It becomes obvious that in order to have a successful rose garden, you need rose gardening tools and products. Most of what you need are standard gardening tools. However, roses can be temperamental plants, so it is important that you take care of them properly using the right gardening tools. Be prepared ahead of time and your planting job and rose maintenance will be much easier.

You need to plant your roses in soft dirt, so often a garden claw or an earth auger is necessary to get the soil loosened up. This prepares a great comfy spot for your roses. A shovel will allow you dig a nice deep hole to make sure the roots go down deep enough to take hold. Roots should never, ever be exposed; cold weather can be fatal to your roses. If you are concerned about a deep freeze, mulch can simply be applied to the areas around your roses, which helps insulate the soil and roots.

Planting roses requires gloves. Thorns will be a problem when you plant and prune, so don’t forget to buy a good pair of gardening gloves. You will also need gardening shears and hedge pruners to keep your roses shapely and free of dead, wilted blossoms.

Roses often attract bugs and diseases. It is a good idea to keep on hand products that repel insects and prevent disease. Do not hesitate to approach a professional gardener or a nursery owner/employee to ask about the bug and insect problems in your rose garden. They will often be able to help you diagnose the problem and suggest good remedies. If you are Internet savvy, you can also find information online on how to deal with rose garden pests.

For more information on growing a rose garden in the spring try visiting www.rose-gardening-made-easy.info, a website that specializes in providing rose gardening advice, tips and resources to include information on summer rose gardening that you can use to grow a beautiful rose garden.

A Rose is Not Just a Rose

The rose is perhaps one of the most powerful symbols in the metaphysical world. It is also one of the most accessible tools that can be used for everyday magic. The gift of a rose is also one of the simplest ways to say, "I love you" without too much hocus-pocus. The thorns on its stems represent the "prick" of love and the overcoming of obstacles to achieve your desires. It is the pinnacle of metaphorical purity and symbolizes completion and perfection.

The element associated with the rose is Water, so it is particularly friendly to the astrological signs of Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. Both Mercury and Venus rule this flower. A bath in rose petals or rose water (which is distilled from the buds) is said to attract love to the bathing beauty. An ancient custom is to sprinkle the bed of newly weds with rose petals to sweeten the initial carnal relations. In ancient alchemical formulas the red rose is used as a masculine principle and the rose represents the feminine or receptive principle. The combination of the two (perhaps growing the two bushes intertwined in the garden) represents harmony and unity.

Rose oil, which is extracted through a rather expensive process from the petals of the flower, is also prominent in both love and healing rituals. When applied the temples the oil is said to cure a headache. When applied to the thighs or breasts it is supposed to attract a suitor. As an essential oil, the rose's essence is thought to relieve depression, PMS and postnatal depression. It is also said to cure frigidity and impotence. Bach's Herbal Remedies makes a distillation of the Wild Rose. Taking drops of this under your tongue is thought to help the patient free themselves from a rut or feelings of hopelessness and being trapped by fate. Rose water is used in cooking spells and added to curries and cake mixes to infuse the dish with good spirits and love attracting qualities. The water is also splashed on the skin (but not around the eyes) to give you a complexion as dewy as the flower.

The rose historically also symbolizes the female genitalia and is associated with Cupid, Eros, Adonis, Aphrodite, Isis, Hathor, and Demeter. Rose water and rose petals are often used in magical rituals to honor these gods and goddesses.

Although red roses are traditionally seen as symbols of lust, love and the flower also has a long association with such qualities as purity, compassion and divine perfection. The white rose in particular has an affinity with the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit.

The color of the rose is also significant. Red roses symbolize love, sex and passion. Pink roses suggest friendship, joy, gratitude and fun. Yellow roses can symbolize enthusiasm, but according to some folklore, the yellow rose can symbolize deception or "the perfect crime." Orange roses signify enthusiasm, passion and a lust for life. White roses are symbolic of significant landmarks in life (such as death, birth and marriage), unconditional love, purity and innocence.

The flower is not the only part of the rose that is used in divination and magic. To discover their romantic future, women used to take pluck three green rose leaves and name one after each of their suitors. The one that stayed green the longest was her soulmate. Rose hips can be strung like beads on a thread and worn as a necklace to attract love. Drinking rose-hip tea is thought to increase one's powers of prophecy.

Ironically, for a flower that is often given as a gift, the most powerful roses are said to be those that have been stolen from another person's garden.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy Samantha's books about metaphysics click here http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110 You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com

 

Promise Her a Rose Garden, An Antique Rose Garden

Why antiques? Antique roses are those breed by species, sports, varieties, or cultivars prior to the first hybrid tea, (LaFrance) in 1867. Some people are not as strict in their interpretation of antique roses as the American Rose Society, and claim any rose 75 years or older as being old.

Why antiques? They have withstood the test of time. Many are alive and well, living in old grave yards, home sites, and near public buildings that are over 100 years old. Although some get black spot or something, they nevertheless flourish.

Why antiques? Modern day roses, especially the hybrid teas have to be pampered and babysat. Not only do they have to be fertilized, watered, and prune just right to live for any length of time. Hybrid teas are usually grafted on to other root stock. It appears to most horticulturalists the plants are hardier on their own rootstock.

Why antiques? Hybrid teas have been breed for form of flower, how well they do in vases, and repeat bloom. Fragrance, hardiness, and other great qualities have mostly disappeared, although now there are hybridizers experimentally with fragrance. I read recently of petunias being used in experiments to give hybrid teas and other new roses an old flower smell. For the most part, new roses make the ugliest of bushes, whereas the antiques are often graceful in form.

In the late 1700's to early 1800's, visitors to China, specifically botanists, brought back to the west rose that would bloom more than once a year, called remontant. They named these roses "China" Roses and "Tea" Roses. Until then, all roses in the west bloomed only once a year. These were the hardy roses, sports, and varieties grown in the Americas, Europe, and parts of Asia. These roses flourished in the wild, even. The Chinas and Teas did very well in warm climates. In northern Europe, they could not withstand the cold. So nurserymen and other began crossing the Tea and Chinas with such native species as the dog rose, the Centifolias, Damasks, and Gallicas. The end product of all this hybridizing produced Bourbons, Grandifolias, Hybrid Perpetuals, Noisettes, Portlands, Polyanthas, etc.

Old roses look spectacular in all types of situations. The native species of rose go swell with other natives, especially on rustic, naturalistic sites. Antique roses look well in rustic garden laid out formally or informally. Most old roses look fantastic in abstract modern, baroque, or classical formal or informal gardens. The antiques set off perennials, herbs, and other shrubs in the border. They are at home on either city plots or vast estates.

So the least you can do for your one and only is to give her a rose garden. After all, Napoleon gave Josephine, "Malmaison", outside Paris, reportedly the greatest rose garden since ancient times. Josephine had a painter who strolled around her garden painting flowers, particularly roses. His name is Redoubte and his works command a high price.

Some of the rose varieties grown at Malmaison can be purchased today, as well as, many others. Petals From the Past in Jemison, Alabama is a great place. So is the Antique Rose Emporium in Tyler, Texas and Suburban Atlanta. In Watsonville, California, there is Roses of Yesterday and Today.

You can order old roses from http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/ and http://www.rosesofyesterday.com/rosenn.htm.

My name is August and I am a baby boomer. I retired 4 years ago. I enjoy gardening, reading, and studying finance and investments.

Visit my Contemporary Home Gardens blog and my Contemporary Home Gardens Website.

Visit my contemporary garden design in blog and my Contemporary Home Gardens website

Rose Gardening

 

A rose is said to be a symbol of love. For generations, the rose has been the most popular flower known not only for its beauty for the significance it holds. There are so many varieties and different colors of roses. Rose gardening is perhaps the most popular among all flower lovers. You need to take care of your garden in all seasons to make sure that your flowers remain as beautiful as it should be.

You should keep in mind some things if you want to keep your rose garden healthy.

Planting:

Before planting your plant, you should first check the soil and the location. Always select a sunny, well-drained location. Remember to trim off all broken and bruised roots and cut top growth back to 6 to 8 inches. Dig planting holes at least 6 inches deeper than needed for the plant roots. The holes should be large enough to accommodate roots without crowding or bending, and then place a handful of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of holes to facilitate drainage. Mix about 1 tablespoonful of fertilizer with the soil placed over the drainage material. Cover this mixture with plain soil, bringing the level to desired planting depth. Make a mound in the center to receive plant and set plant roots over this mound, spread the roots and fill in with soil. Firm the soil tightly 2 or 3 times while filling the hole.

FEEDING:

There are different types of roses and all need different care and attention. Some are winter roses; some are summers and some spring roses.

Hybrid Tea, Polyantha, Floribunda Types:

For these types of roses the first feeding comes in early spring as soon as the leaf buds begin to swell. You should clean the mulch and work plant food into soil around the plant. Use about 1 tablespoonful of fertilizer per plant. Then comes the second feeding which should be made at the same rate and immediately following the first heavy bloom. The third feeding is done in late summers and should also be made at the same rate. You should follow a regular monthly feeding program during the growing season to get good results.

Tea Roses:

The same procedure is followed for this type also but the amount of fertilizer used is a bit more. Here you should use one half of the above amounts, applying in a similar manner and at the same times.

Hybrid Perpetual, Climbing, Shrub Roses:

For these types about 1 tablespoonful of fertilizer is used to each square foot of space around the bush in early spring. When blooms start to appear the plants are to be fed again. In both cases work the fertilizer lightly into the soil to within 4 inches of the plant.

DISEASES AND PESTS:

Fungal infections are common in roses. Early summer is when fungus most commonly appears on roses. Black-spots appear on the flower. Insects, such as aphids, thrips, and red spider, are some of the insects that cause problems. Control is easy and prevention is practical with the regular use of chemicals that controls most fungus diseases and chewing and sucking insects. Neem oil product is not only rated for fungal diseases, it will control spider mites and pest insects, as well. Regular dusting every week or 10 days will make the disease-insect problem easy to handle.

Keeping in mind these points will help you take care of your rose garden, free from insects and diseases. Of course who wouldn't want to show off their beautiful garden. The time and effort you put will definitely not go wasted.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information and Articles of interest. Learn about more about Rose gardening at http://www.jam727.com/bestrosegardens/index.htm

Perfect as a Rose

 

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God's business.” Michael J. Fox

“The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is.” John Lancaster Spalding

The American Rose has been described as the perfect flower. Do you strive to be perfect like the rose? I used to; I tried to do everything just right. If you told me I was good enough, I would say “Yes, but…” and tell you something I still needed to fix.

Perfection is the Enemy of Excellence

For me, needing to be perfect started at an early age when I felt abandoned. I imagined that no one would abandon a perfect person and I believed that, if I tried hard enough, I could be perfect. I fixed one aspect of myself, then another and another. Whenever I failed, I looked for more imperfections to fix.

For example, when a girl rejected me I felt undesirable because of my “short-guy” syndrome. If only I were taller then she would have dated me. I would obsess about how to make myself look taller.

Sound familiar? Take a look at the list below. If you can say, “If only I ___________, then I’d get what I want (or be happier)", then you might be suffering under the “Perfect Rose Syndrome."

__Were taller, thinner, prettier, younger, etc.
__Were from a good family
__Were wealthier or smarter
__Had graduated from a great school
__Had a better job or career
__Were married
__Had a boyfriend/girlfriend/children
__Had a lot of friends or connections
__Had wide public recognition
__Placed higher in the rankings
__Had more talent
__Were more experienced
__Were more charming
__Lived in a nicer house/neighborhood/geographical location
__Were of a different ethnicity
__Had a nicer car/wardrobe
__Had better health

By now you may have realized that, even if you fixed everything that was wrong with you, you would still find something else to work on.

Self-Acceptance

I wanted to show the world only what I believed the world wanted to see. It wasn’t until I learned the skills of knowing and accepting myself that I began to recognize and accept that there were qualities in me that I didn’t like. I learned that those things didn’t make me a bad person. I no longer believe that I must be perfect to be a good person. I need only to be who I actually am.

With more self-acceptance, I stopped being inhibited by how I presented myself to others. Of course, nailing down the skill didn’t happen overnight, but I get more relaxed and content about who I am all the time.

Five Ways To Begin Accepting Yourself

Accepting doesn’t mean liking everything about yourself, deciding that you’re fine just the way you are, or that you should stop trying to improve yourself. It’s that you can begin to acknowledge and accept even the aspects of yourself, which you don’t like. Acknowledging and accepting are the opposites of rejecting and denying.

You can learn to do this:

1. Give yourself permission to be wrong. Recognize that just because you do or say something wrong doesn’t mean that you as a person are bad or inferior.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others.
3. Identify your strengths, values and life purpose.
4. Make a list of all the words that describe qualities you don’t like and imagine three ways each word could apply to you.
5. Work on giving up your need to control outcomes.

As you become more comfortable with yourself, you will keep reducing the need to impress people with your looks, words, accomplishments and good deeds in order to feel worthy. You’ll discover that you’re not that bad, after all.

Self-acceptance is so important to your overall emotional, mental, and physical well-being that you will most likely want to enlist the aid of a trained professional therapist or coach to help you identify where you judge yourself, and to stop those negative, self-defeating thought processes.

Let me know if what I’ve written doesn’t help you to stop trying to be perfect and I’ll answer questions and respond to comments. If all else fails, remember this: a rose may be perfectly beautiful, but some people just prefer daisies.

I am grateful for my colleague, Robyn Yurcek, and my girlfriend, Kathryn Beyers for their contributions to my articles, including this one.

Rich Rusdorf of San Rafael, California, is a certified coach, speaker, workshop leader, and author. An expert on behavioral authenticity, he helps people identify their life purposes so they can have the freedom to achieve their desires by being who they really are. You can read more about him at TheCourageousWay.com.

Wedding Flower Arrangements

 

Each wedding is unique in its essence and so are its flower arrangements. It reflects the personal preferences and style of the bride. These are some of the points about the arrangements.

Flower arrangements include everything from the bridal bouquet to the central pieces in tables. There is no guide to proper flower arrangement. Anything personal would do the trick. Flower arrangement includes everything: the flowers, the colors, the greenery and the garnish.

There are various things which can be incorporated in a flower arrangement. Small flowers can be attached to candles to create centerpieces. Flower buds can be arranged in bowls of water to be placed in the reception. Flowers can be attached to archways to indicate the entrance. The same color scheme can be followed throughout, including ribbons and beads according to mood, budget and style.

Wedding flower arrangements can be added in areas like dressing rooms, guest room tables, reception table, gift table, church door handles and so forth.

Choosing a good florist is very important. A florist whose general idea matches with the bride does tend to be more successful with last minute replacements. The choice of the bride and groom, the location, the color of the bride’s and bridesmaids’ gown- all set the mood for a particular flower arrangement. Bouquets can be of many shapes and sizes, proportionate to the size of the person carrying it.

Some of the most popular arrangements are:

Round: sometimes called a “colonial bouquet”. This type has the flowers bunched together into a tight or loose cluster and can include formal or informal arrangements.

Nosegay: A small round cluster of flowers, often not as dense as traditional round bouquets. It often includes more greenery and ribbon streamers.

Cascade: sometimes called the teardrop or waterfall, this arrangement can give a “wispy” feel. Flowers with heavy blooms are arranged with flowing foliage.

Biedermeier: A European-inspired bouquet with blossoms of different types and colors placed in a defined circular pattern.

Heart: often seen at Valentine's Day, symbolizing love and romance. It is an alternatively shaped bouquet featuring two full, arched shapes at the top, while tapering down to a point at the bottom of the bouquet.

Single stem: While not technically a bouquet, single-stem arrangements have gained in popularity in recent years, as simplicity has become the trend. Single-stem designs generally feature a unique design element, such as an intricately wrapped stem (for a long-stemmed flower), elaborate bow, streamers, or a decorative lace bloom collar (for a shorter-stemmed flower) to give the design more interest and appeal.

Basket: flowers arranged and carried in a shallow basket and often used in a garden-like wedding setting, most often carried by young attendants.

These are the basic popular wedding flowers arrangements. They are as unique as any individual wedding.

Wedding Flowers provides detailed information about wedding flowers, fall wedding flowers, silk wedding flowers, spring wedding flowers and more. Wedding Flowers is the sister site of Wedding Flowers.

Birthday Flower Arrangements

 

If you have a friend or relative's birthday coming up and you don't quite know what to give her, flowers could be a good idea. If you can't choose the flowers, leave it to a florist, he will ask you questions about the birthday girl and select the flowers accordingly. Besides sending on beautiful flowers, florists' websites also send fruit baskets and personal care items as birthday gifts.

If you've decided on flowers, you can choose flowers specific for her birth month. If her birthday is in January, send her carnations; in February, violets; March, jonquils; April, sweet peas; May, lilies; June, roses; July, larkspurs; August, gladioli; September, asters; October, calendulas; November, chrysanthemums; and December, narcissuses.

For younger women and girls, your flower arrangements could be based on a flower theme for her birthday party. You could create large paper blooms, perhaps of sunflowers, and do up T-shirts with flowers in thumbprint designs and get them to carry cake and confectionery bouquets.

Begin with the party invitations and design them in the shape of large flowers with each petal bearing all the details of your party. Make these cards with a sheet of card paper from which you will need to cut four-inch long petals. Now, cut a 1.5-inch diameter circle from the remaining sheet. In each petal, punch two holes, one in the center and the other at the narrow end. Pile up all the petals and cover them with the circle, ensuring that the holes are in line with each other and stick them together with tape. Open each flower and write the details of your party on each petal.

Flower Arrangements provides detailed information about flower arrangements, Christmas flower arrangements, dried flower arrangements, and more. Flower Arrangements is affiliated with Growing Hibiscus.