Clare Florist Blog

Parade of Roses Flower Floats

The tournament of Roses Parade occurs before the coveted Rose Bowl football game and is considered Americas New year Celebration. During the week of the parade which occurs on new years day or the day after if new years day occurs on a Sunday over 1,000,000 people visit Pasadena, California to see some amazing flower-covered floats, marching bands and equestrians. Below is a selection of some of the stunning floats which make up the bulk of the parade and here is an astonishing fact it takes around 36 marigolds, 30 roses or 20 daises to cover one square foot of a float a rough calculation estimates the total number of flowers used in the parade to be around 18 million!!!

 

Interesting facts about New Year

Did you know?

In Thailand the festival of Songkran sees people visit their families, parading of statues of the Buddha from the temples and also throwing water at passers by to wash away any bad luck that they may bring with them into the New Year

 

The song Auld Lang Syne which we all sing at new year rather merrily at Midnight means "old long ago" and is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788.

In Ecuador there is a New Years Eve tradition know as the burning of old years in which effigies of people and events of the previous year are set alight in the streets.

 

The New Years Eve ball in Times Square that is dropped at 23.59, is six feet in diameter, made of Waterford Crystal and weighs a large 1,070 lbs

 

The tradition of fireworks and firecrackers at New Year stretches back to belief that the bright flashes and loud bangs would scare away the evil spirits for the year.

In Spain it is a ritual that at the strike of midnight on New Years Eve to eat twelve grapes, one at each chime, to secure twelve happy months in the coming year.

Tips for Tuesday - All Things Christmas

Our tips for Tuesday this week sees all things christmasy dominate with some video instruction to make your Christmas even more AWESOME!

Making Your Own Crackers

 

Wrapping Your Presents Creatively

 

Making a Christmas Tree from Paper

 

A Designers Tips on Christmas Decorations

 

Making Easy Fabric Decorations

 

Why Christmas Crackers?........

As we are under a week, yep its only 6 days now till the big day, we will take one last look at a Christmas tradition that is one of my personal favourites, it’s the awesome tug of war which occurs around the dinner table whilst praying for a win and for the gift to be good, its non other that Christmas crackers. As we all know, they are awesome but how did they get to be on our dinner table, where does this rather strange tradition come from?

 

The Christmas cracker has a rather simple beginning and was invented in 1846 by Thomas Smith after a trip to the French capital Paris. During his time in Paris he came across bob-bon, a sugar coated almond that had been wrapped in tissue paper and had been twisted shut at each side. On his return to England he decided to try selling similar sweets in the lead up to Christmas. His sweets sold particularly well during the Christmas period but suffered poor sales during the rest of the year.

 

After sales began to decline Thomas came up with a few new ideas to help in promoting his sweets. The first was introduced in the 1850s and it was to include a motto in with the sweet which, since they were usually bought for women by men, were usually a simple love poem. As this only provided a temporary improvement in sales Thomas wanted to add a crackle effect to the sweet that he heard from inside a wood fire. The banger as it became meant the packaging had to changing and became more akin to the shape we are use to today. As his new crackers began to take off many copy cats came along that led Thomas to switch out the sugar coated sweet with a surprise gift that varied amongst cracker. Other changes to the cracker came after Thomas died when his sons took over the business as at the start of the 1900s paper crowns were added and in the 1930s the simple love poems had been replaced by jokes and limericks.

The Meanings of Many Christmas Flowers

Each week we have looked at one of the many flowers, trees and other foliage that we associate with at Christmas. Below is a round up of all the ones we have covered just in case you missed any!

Christmas Flowers - The meaning of the Christmas Wreath

As we get closer to Christmas (only 13 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees, each one is steeped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at one of the most symbolic pieces of foliage of this winter season, one you will find hanging on many front doors, in homes and offices or even as the centre piece on a table, its non other than the Christmas Wreath.

 

The Christmas Tree - History and Tradition

As we get closer to Christmas (only 19 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees, each one is steeped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at one of the most symbolic pieces of foliage of this winter season, the ever festive Christmas Tree.

 

Christmas Flowers - The meaning of the Christmas Rose

As we get closer to Christmas (only 26 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees, each one is stooped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger.

Flower meanings – Christmas Mistletoe

As we get closer to Christmas (only 33 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees, each one is stooped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at Mistletoe.

Flower meanings – Christmas Holly

As we get closer to Christmas (only 40 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees each one is stooped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at Christmas holly.

Flower Meanings - The Christmas Flower

Now were into November and there is just under seven weeks left till Christmas, I think its perfectly acceptable to start talking about Christmas flowers and what better way to begin than with the UKs best selling Christmas Flower, Euphorbia pulcherrima.  The Christmas Flower, also know as the Christmas Star, poinsettia, noche buena or Atakurks Flowers is one that epitomises the Christmas feel, with its lush red bracts and deep green leaves it has all the colours associated with any bouquet you’ll see from any florist this Christmas period.

Fun Christmas Facts

With us being close to the end of the week, our brains are tired, were looking forward to the weekend and in need of some mental stimulation. Here are some facts, figures; challenges and general fun to keep us all occupied for one more day and this week it’s got a little festive theme to it.

Did you know?

• For Santa to be able to deliver presents to every house within the Christmas day time frame he would have to travel 650 miles and deliver to 822 houses each second!

• Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was the created in 1939 as a advertising campaign for a US retailer

• The staple Christmas treat of gold chocolate coins comes from St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.

• Christmas was banned in the English civil War by Oliver Cromwell from 1647 to 1660

• Pine needles from your Christmas tree are a good source of vitamin and can make a great cup of pine needle tea from.

Fun!

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

 (Highlight the text below for the answer)

- Frost Bite

 

What kind of candle burns longer, a red candle or a green candle?

 (Highlight the text below for the answer)

- Neither, candles always burn shorter

 

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?

 (Highlight the text below for the answer)

- He had low elf esteem!

Tips for Tuesday - Making a Christmas Wreath

Tips for Tuesday – Make your own Christmas Wreathe

 

With Christmas getting ever closer many of you will have already put up your Christmas decorations or will be planning to do them over the weekend, the Christmas shopping is becoming ever more frantic and fridge will be start to fill up with all those yummy Christmas treats (pigs in blankets!!!). One great way to have a break from the Christmas Carnage is to make your very own Christmas wreath, it costs just a few quid and means you have an excuse to get out the house of go for a nice country walk.

Making your wreath

Making a natural wreath is really very very simple, it can take a bit of skill and patience’s to get that professional look but with such low costs it’s a great way to hone your crafting skill.

You will need to go foraging for

• Leaves

• Berries (be aware these can be poisonous so keep away from curious little fingers)

• Twigs

• Evergreen branches, fir tree branches

• Dried oranges

• Cinnamon sticks

• You can even use fresh herbs

You will need purchase

• A wire ring from a local florist or online

• Gold and silver spray paint

• String, wire or twist ties for attaching everything together

You will also need spongy moss which holds moisture this can either be found in the wild or purchased from a garden centre.

Step 1

Go for a walk with a bag and pick up the various foraging items from common land, roadsides and even your own garden. Keep those eyes peeled for a variety of colours and textures.

Step 2

With the wire ring from the florist there should be an inside area and an outside. We are going to stuff the inside ring of the wreath with moss as this will hold moisture and will help keep the exterior foliage alive for longer. Once stuffed warp with string to keep it in place.

Step 3

The key to the wreath is layering. Take your foraged foliage and make little bunches and bind them together with string or wire ties. Once you are happy with the bunch you want to use a loop of wire or a long twist tie to fix it to the wreathe, have it pinned securely to the wire ring. Repeat this process layering the little bunches across one another until all the moss is covered and you have a plump looking wreathe

Step 4

Break up the ever greens with coloured ribbon, gold and silver pine cones, candy canes and any other festive things you can thing of.

 

 

Christmas Flowers - The meaning of the Christmas Wreath

As we get closer to Christmas (only 13 days now) we will be taking a look at all those different types of foliage we associate with Christmas, from poinsettia to Christmas trees, each one is steeped in symbolism and tradition that is really quite interesting. Today we will look at one of the most symbolic pieces of foliage of this winter season, one you will find hanging on many front doors, in homes and offices or even as the centre piece on a table, its non other than the Christmas Wreath.

 

Wreaths have been used symbolically for centuries. As early as in ancient Rome, wreaths became a symbol for powerful people and given as gifts for victories in battle. The name wreath is thought to be linked to the word wrist and the old English word wrethe which means a twisted band or ring of leaves or flowers. The circular shape of the wreathe symbolises eternal life with a circle having no beginning or end, the addition of colourful, bright foliage and materials into the wreathe stood out and brightened up the home in the bleak and desolate winters.

 

One of the reasons holly is used within a festive wreaths is that the ancient Druid priests believed that holly with its shiny prickly leaves, glossy finish and lush red betties had magical powers as it stayed ever green all year round.  Because it was considered to be pagan, in 575 AD it was forbidden by a Catholic bishop and it would take a long time for holly and ever greens to fall back in favour with the church.

 

Christmas wreaths these days can come with many designs, sizes and with variety of additional foliage but each with fall into one of two main categories, wither they will be a decorative wreath or a advent wreath. The decorative wreath is a festive decoration, like a Christmas tree or Christmas lights whereas the advent wreaths celebrate the everlasting light of Christ with 5 candles each light in the weeks running up till Christmas.

Facts For Friday

With us being so close to the end of the week, our brains are tired, were looking forward to the weekend and in need of some mental stimulation. Here are some facts, figures, challenges and general fun to keep us all occupied for one more day.

• Bamboo records a growth rate of a blistering 0.0002 mph, however at a rate of three feet in a day that’s pretty quick

• Even though they are available all year round, the peak time of the year for freesia is in the spring.

• The chocolate cosmos plant has a scent quite similar to chocolate!

 

Riddle

At one time in history, I was respected and considered useful. These days, I'm usually greeted with weed whackers and herbicides.

Who am I? (Highlight text below to view punch line )

- Teasel

Once used in the textile industry to raise the nap on felt, I'm now banished to roadsides and empty fields.

 

Jokes

Why are husbands like lawn mowers? 
They are difficult to get started, emit foul smells, and don't work half the time.  

What kind of socks does a gardener wear?

(Highlight text below to view punch line )
- Garden hose.

Weird and Wonderful Flowers - Exotic Tree Dahlia

Our weird and wonderful flowers blog each week takes a look at a species or two of flowers that the majority of people would not have any clue even existed. From rare and exotic species to ones which have evolved highly unique mechanisms to increase their chances of survival, each week we bring you a highly unique and interesting plant to help increase your interesting flower knowledge. Today were going to look at a plant that has seen the benefit of our rather warm autumn this year, the exotic tree dahlia.

Native to Mexico, Colombia and regions of Central America the tree dahlia is not really a tree but a tuberous perennial like other plants in the dahlia family. However it can grow as big as most trees with this amazing plant reaching heights of 20ft to even 30ft under the most favourable of conditions which occur in the uplands and mountains at around 1500-1700 metres high. There are two very impressive things about this plant its growth speed and its flowers. The tree dahlia is incredibly impressive in how fast it can grow, with its thick bamboo like stems and tropical foliage this plant is a real head turner as it noticeably monsters upwards. The stems which can be around 4 inches in diameter at the base and hallow are tremendously strong for being able to keep the plant vertical. The stems themselves where used by the ancient Aztec people for carrying water due to their light weight and durable properties.

As well as its shear size the flowers the dahlia produces are beautiful. Measuring around 6 inches in diameter the flowers are a soft shade of pink with a rich orange centre grow on sprays which can be up to 3 ft across and filled with multiple flowers all of which look down on the garden. One of the problems gardeners find growing this plant outside of its native climate is that since it blooms late in the year around November to December and not very hardy the first frost generally kills all the flowers and gardeners must wait till next year. This problem occurred in the UK to a dahlia in the grounds of Bicton College in Devon which has failed to bloom for 20 years  but this year, due to the warmer autumn bloomed for the first time with over 100 stunning flowers!!