'World's smelliest flower' disappoints Botanics
Here in Edinburgh we are lucky enough to have access to one of the world’s finest Botanic gardens in the form of the Royal Botanical Gardens just south of the city center. This weekend the record breaking Amorphophallus titanum, which has been the center of attention due the possibility of a rare flowering, has failed to bloom ending months of anticipation. Known as the Corpse flower for its unique scent that smells like a decaying mammal, it is considering one of the most foul smelling plants on Earth. It, however, rarely flowers in the wild and even less so in captivity, but in April botanists prediction that this summer could see such a rare event occur created a flurry of excitement. However over the weekend the 153kg giant opened up to reveal, to the displeasure of all, a 14ft leaf and not the flower everyone had hoped for. All hope is not lost though, as the Botanics predicates that we could see the first blooming of the Amorphophallus titanum plant as early as March 2013, so keep those fingers crossed and souvenir t-shirts at the ready.
Picture from www.bbc.co.uk
Celebrating Summer
The sun is shining, the skies are blue, and the tennis is in full swing... it sure does feel like summer! I don't know about you, but Wimbledon's had it's usual effect on me - the talent and dedication is simply inspirational and each year I find myself in awe of the great players out on the court. There's such a buzz about it that it's hard not to get swept up in all the excitement. And with crowds in high spirits and the sun beating down, what a great way to spend summer days... Here are a couple of arrangements we think tie in with the spirit of Wimbledon:
The last couple of days have been the hottest so far in 2011, so here are some top tips to make your flowers last longer in the heat:
- First and foremost, bleach vases before use to get rid of any bacteria, as these can multiple in the heat and be harmful to your flowers;
- Before arranging your flowers, soak them in deep water for a few hours, or overnight, to allow them to absorb lots of water;
- Re-cut the stems before placing in the vase so they can continue taking in plenty water;
- Clear any excess leaves or stalks, particularly any below the water line;
- Keep your bouquet in a cool spot, away from direct heat and sunlight.
25th January - Burns Supper
Robert Burns, born on 25th January 1759. Rose from humble beginnings to become 'Scotlands favourite son'
His work is celebrated worldwide...
So pour yourself a wee dram and pipe in the haggis and celebrate a nations favourite...
Address to a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit' hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout, 
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect sconner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit:
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.
Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!
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Very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Well, what a busy time we have had here at Clare Florist HQ! The run up to Christmas has been wonderfully manic, with so many orders to process, make up and deliver to all the lucky recipients. We hope everyone enjoys them as much as we enjoyed making them for you. So it is now time to put our feet up, have a wee dram and wait for Santa and his sleigh to arrive.
Then a relaxing couple of days with friends and family - getting into the festive spirit! Then it's the New Year, 2011 - who'd have thought it could come round so quickly. It is going to be an exciting one, with lots of fabulous new bouquets and arrangements on offer.
So all that remains to be said to you all - Our fabulous customers, friends, followers and 'likers' is;
"Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
We hope that santa brings you all that you wished for and that you all have a magical 2011.
See You in the New Year...
The Team at Clare Florist
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Christmas Flowers
At Yuletide there are many popular Christmas flowers that we use to honour and mark the festive season. All over the world flowers and plants form a major part of Christmas decorations by adding colour as many of these Christmas flowers happen to bloom around the months of December - coinciding with the Christmas holiday season. Plants and flowers such as; holly, ivy, mistletoe, Christmas Roses (Helleborus) and Poinsettia.
In many Western cultures, holly is used in Christmas wreaths and is used to symbolise truth. Ivy was believed to have magical powers as it remains green during winter and it symbolises eternity and resurection. Mistletoe was believed to have healing powers and was used as an antidote for poison, infertillity and to ward off evil spirits, it was seen as a symbol of peace. The Christmas Rose is a celebrated English plant that is regarded as a true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose and it blooms during the winter months in the mountains of central Europe. 
The Poinsettia is known as the flower of the holy night and due to its magnificent red colour during the festive season it is extensively used as decoration and it's star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolise the star of Bethlehem.
Here at Clare Florist we have a superb selection of Christmas flowers, Maggie's Charity Christmas bouquets and Christmas Gift Sets that are sure to make a gorgeous gift or a tempting treat. A Christmas flower delivery is guaranteed to evoke festive feelings and bring Christmas Cheer to any person or setting.
All of our Christmas flowers and Christmas bouquets, all available for delivery to any address in the UK, they make make perfect presents and Christmas gifts and they will certainly show that special person, family, friend and loved ones just how much you care and appreciate them.
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It's SNOW Joke!
With a week of wintery weather behind us and more on it's way. Things have been rather hectic here at Clare Florist HQ. We have had so many normal orders and the Christmas flowers orders are stacking up nicely. We have all been called into action with snow clearing duties and we are pleased to tell you we are experiencing only a slight disruption to our flower delivery service. Keep an eye on the Clare Florist web site, twitter and facebook for more information.
We are pleased to announce that; this December and for Christmas, Clare Florist has teamed up with Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres Charity and have produced two unique, stunning Christmas bouquets - where a percentage of the price goes to Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres Charity. These bouquets are available to purchase from our Christmas Flowers range and also from the Maggie's gifts website. These are available now - including standard Christmas flower delivery to anywhere in the UK.
Don't forget that we also have a whole range of Christmas Flowers and bouquets, all beautifully designed in-house by our clever team of festive expert florists. These are also available for flower delivery to any address in the UK right up untill Christmas. Please note that the last delivery date is: 23rd December 2010.
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Qixi Festival - 16th August 2010 - Chinese Valentine's Day
The Team at Clare Florist would like to wish all our friends, followers and customers a happy Qixi Festival.
Qixi is the Chinese romantic festival, like the western tradition of Valentine's Day. It falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, this year being the 16th August.
The story goes:
A young cowherd named Niulang, came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he stole their clothes and waited to see what would happen.
The fairy sisters elected the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinü "the weaver girl", to retrieve their clothing. She agreed to do so, but since Niulang had seen her naked, she agreed to his request for marriage. She proved to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang to be a good husband. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess of Heaven found out that Zhinü, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal. The Goddess was furious and ordered Zhinü to return to heaven. On Earth, Niulang was very upset that his wife had disappeared. Suddenly, his ox began to talk, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin, and carried his two beloved children off to Heaven to find Zhinü. The Goddess discovered this and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega. Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children
But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon.
We are excited to celebrate Qixi and have a wonderful array of romantic flowers, Tiger lilies and Oriental orchids to offer you; ensuring that your celebrations go the way of the two lovers, bridging the gaps that life sometimes throws at us.
Clare Florist April News Special:
Clare Florist has today announced it is to sell a new range of ever lasting fresh flowers.
Clare Florist has been working closely with a team of Dutch flower experts (Con van de prank) who specialise in the plastination technique which was discovered by anatomist Gunther von Hagens, who invented the preservation process and is the force behind the "Body Worlds" museum exhibitions (von Hagens's organization has plastinated elephants, humans, and other animals). The specialist process involves replacing flower fluids with silicone. This will lead to flowers being preserved indefinitely and giving a more natural effect than other fake or false flowers or silk flowers that are on the market. They require no water or looking after and can be rearranged time after time.
These flowers will be presented in an array of live forever bouquets and will be available as of today priced from £1570.23 (As the process is improved the price is expected to come down)
Industry insiders are said to be concerned about these everlasting flowers hitting the shops as they will be a threat to the real fresh cut flower industry, the "ever lasting" fresh flowers range do not however keep a scent so every purchase comes with a free litre bottle of flower perfume which should be sprayed on the bouquets every 2 hours.
Order Yours today, go to: http://www.clareflorist.co.uk
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Floral Names
Driving through the city last weekend I was looking at all the amazing colours upon the trees, especially when the sun was shinning.
It got me thinking about all the different varieties of trees we have here.
As we know floral names have always been popular for baby girls:
April, Bluebell, Daisy, Heather, Iris, Jasmine, Lily, Poppy and Violet to name but a few.
But now it seems that some people are choosing Tree names. However I think they are more suitable to baby boys names as they are more strong, sturdy and masculine.
Tree names suitable for boys:
Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Cedar, Elm, Maple, Oak, Teak and Yew.
I really cant see these catching on - can you ?
These tree names would be good for girls :
Apple, Hazel, Cherry, Holly, Laurel, Myrtle, Olive and Willow.
Do you know any guys who would suit this name ? OAK ?
