Thursday Fun and Facts:
It’s a wet and miserable Thursday morning out there, with the puddles on the road doing their best ‘look at me, I’m Loch Ness!’ impression. But here at CF we’re relentless in the pursuit of light entertainment, and not even this interminable drizzle will prevent us from our noble quest to give you, the reader, the mildly diverting selection of floral facts which you’ve come to expect upon a Thursday morn.
When the weather’s like this, suddenly trees are everybody’s favourite plant. After all, you can’t shelter underneath a nettle (or can you?). So in tribute to our sheltering cousins, today’s weird plant superstitions are all about trees.
1. Most superstitions seem to involve spirits chilling out where they shouldn’t, but it’s not every day that the poor spirits have to put up with paperwork. The Izhuvans of India have done their best to rectify this; as they believe that trees are inhabited by spirits, proper notice of ejection is given to them before a tree is cut down.
2. Of course, if a strange folklore belief isn’t about spirits, it’s likely to be about predicting a wedding…anyone remember our bizarre ‘fact’ about tea from our blog a couple of weeks ago? Well it’s not just tea; trees get involved in future nuptials too.
In Franconia, on St. Thomas's Day, the girls go to a tree, knock upon it three times with due solemnity, and listen for answering knocks within telling them what sort of husband they will get. Presumably ‘silent’ or ‘inarticulate’ are common results…?
3. And one more weird old belief for the day, this time from Sicily, where there is an old belief in tying stones to fruit trees in order to ensure a crop of fruit. Shouldn’t come as a surprise really…every time I eat a peach, there’s a stone in the middle. I’ll … I’ll get my coat (after all, I'll need it out there).
That’s it for another day, blog fans. Have fun plashing through the puddles!
Thursday Factoids and Fun
'This must be Thursday,’ said Arthur Dent in The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. ‘I never could get the hang of Thursdays.’ Given that we’re posting this blog out on a Friday morning, maybe there’s a little bit of Arthur Dent in all of us. But if you’ll forgive the delay, allow us to get back to your regularly scheduled fascinating facts and ridiculous riddles…
Weird plant superstitions
Plants have been around, well, much longer than us. So it’s no surprise that plenty of strange beliefs have sprung up around our native plantlife down the centuries. Here are just a few entertaining plant superstitions:
-- Garlic is regarded as a protector in many countries around the world: even today we associate it with protection from vampires. In ancient England they thought it could cure the possessed, in the far east it was said to bring back lost souls, and in Serbia, ‘Rubbing the breast with garlic is a protection against a spirit that flies about at night’ (sound familiar?).
-- Blackberries, meanwhile, are less well thought-of. In France, they used to believe that blackberries had been coloured black by the devil.
-- Even your morning cup of tea might be a little spookier than you think: one tradition says that if young girls pour milk into the tea before putting in the sugar, they will die as spinsters. Which is a bit rough if you don’t take sugar at all.
Riddles!
Of course it wouldn’t be Thursday without turning your brain into a gentle mush. Can you tell what’s going on in these situations:
Q: A woman has incontrovertible proof in court that her husband was murdered by her sister. The judge declares, "This is the strangest case I've ever seen. Though it's a cut-and-dried case, this woman cannot be imprisoned." Why not?
A: (Highlight to view) The sisters are Siamese twins.
Q: Easy one! There are a carrot, a pile of pebbles, and a pipe lying together in the middle of a field. Why?
A: They’re the remains of a melted snowman.
Tips to keeping your Orchid alive
Orchids are a one of the largest families of flowering plants. With over 22,000 accepted species and being capable of surviving in nearly every type of habitat across the globe it is a wonder many people struggle to keep them alive. Here were going to give a few simple tips to help make sure your orchid continues to flower over and over again.
Giving too much love
One of the first problems many people face is they are to kind too there orchid, over watering it and placing it in direct sunlight under the assumption that they are native to warm tropical climates and this is what they like. Unfortunately this is primary reason why orchids fail to live up to many peoples expectations as over watering or watering to frequently will kill the roots. The general rule of thumb is an orchid only needs watering every 5-12 days with such a large variance taking into account factors such as the location, the species, the room temperature and the time of year.
Each species of orchid falls into three basic types, those that like to be kept moist, those that like moisture during active growth and those that should be kept nearly dry between watering's. The easiest way to find out which category your orchid falls into is to ask for watering instructions when you buy it.
Lighting the way
Orchid's like all plants need light to photosynthesise and create energy, the right amount of light coupled with the right amount of water will produce a happy orchid. However when your orchid fails to bloom it is most likely due to insufficent light. A good indicator for the correct amount of light is an orchids leaf color. A dark green leaf suggests the orchid isn't receiving enough light where as a red/green leaf color suggests to much. The best location is in a south or west facing window where it should receive strong but be placed in preferably indirect light.
If all else fails
If your orchid will just not flower but has thick green leaves and a strong stem cut the stem up high just below the lowest bloom and just above a node. This will allow the plant to produce a new flowering branch at this location. However if your orchid has thin wilted leaves then you should conserve energy to replenish its leaves by not flowering straight away, with careful watering and fertilising the stem will grow back into shape allow for flowering in the future from a brand new stem. This however can be a slow process as the orchid can take up to a year to regrow.
Father's Day - 19th June 2011
With Father's Day just around the corner, we've been discussing gift ideas to let our amazing Dads know just how amazing we think they are! Chocolates and gadgets are high on the list for most of us, but what about flowers?
When thinking of gifts to send to our loved ones, flowers spring immediately to mind for the ladies in our lives, but tend to be less obvious a thought for the men. And yet, flowers are a loving, thoughtful gift and surely something that can appeal to everyone, so what better way to show your appreciation for your Dad this Father's Day than with a special arrangement that shows him how wonderful he is?
Some Father's Day Facts:
- The celebration of Father's Day began in America in 1910, spreading worldwide after 1924 when the US President declared it a yearly national event.
- In most countries, it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June, but the dates and months vary for other countries across the globe. It's September for Australia and New Zealand; March for Spain and Belgium; December for Thailand; and November for Sweden, to name just a few.
- The official flower for Father's Day is the rose: people traditionally wear a red rose for their living father, or a white rose in honour of their deceased father.
- Ties are the most common gifts (A surprise to me as that's not something any of us had thought of!), but other popular gifts include slippers, chocolate, tools and socks.
What will you be getting your Dad this year?
Spring Flowers - Daffodils vs Tulips - You decide...
The most popular and familiar spring flowers are daffodils and tulips. As seen all over the country in many varied locations. Both very different in appearance from each other, they are the sign to us that spring has sprung and finer weather is on it's way. Both are well recognised and very popular, but is one more celebrated than the other?
Narcissus is the botanical name for a daffodil; a mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbs in the Amarylis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The flower meaning of daffodil is; You're the only one, regard, unrequited love and the sun shines when I'm with you. The daffodil is an emblem of Wales.
The tulip is a bulbus plant with showy flowers from the family Tulipa and belongs to the family Liliaceae which is native to North Africa and Iran to the Northwest of China. The flower meaning of tulip is; Perfect lover, fame, love and passion. The tulip is the national flower of Turkey.
Here is our interpritation of Spring Delight; an arrangement of 100 stems of glorious golden daffodils and tantalising tulips, encompassed in luxury florists gift wrap. Hand-tied in house by our expert florists, ready to place in a vase and situate where ever you want the essance of spring to be experienced.
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
Happy Mother's Day to all you Magnificent Mum's
This Sunday, 3rd April is Mother's Day in the UK. It is the celebrated annual occasion when children pay respect to their mother's. Often by bestowing them with a gift and a card, and as Mothering Sunday occurs during spring, a present of spring flowers is often a popular choice - presented as an expression of gratitude for all their kindness, love, affection and attention that they have exhibited throughout the past year.
In the UK, Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day (as it is widely known) has been celebrated on the fourth Sunday of lent - 40 days before Easter. This is why the date of Mother's Day changes each year. Originally a day to honour Mary, the mother of Christ and then becoming more traditional during the time when the wealthy employed the poor (specifically poor children) as servants, who lived in quarters in their employee’s homes - it was a day dedicated to celebrating Mother's by their children especially those who returned to their families from working away. Since these times it has become the special day to celebrate and to show gratitude and acknowledgment to our Mother's.
Mother's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world and at different times of the year, but when and wherever it occurs, the meaning is the same...
To commemorate our marvelous mum's!
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Are Flowers Relevant?
I like to browse through flower related compositions, blogs and web sites, searching for articles of interest to digest and comment on. There is so much information available to us, that at times it can be a bit overwhelming. Whether looking for information on floristry, flower meanings, flower delivery, the latest designs of flower bouquets or flower trends, there is sure to be plenty of articles of interest to satisfy the keenest of flower enthusiasts.
Here is a short list of some of the best informative blogs and sites I have come across that I would like to share with you:
Recommended Blogs to follow, read, peruse and enjoy:
- Planet Flowers Blog
- Simply Flowers Blog
- Gardeners World Blog
- Frary's Fresh Flowers Blog
- Only Flora Blog
Wonderful Websites for you to look at:
- About Flowers
- Garden Guides
- Flower Experts
- The BBC - Nature - Flowers
- Floral Craft Resource
And so, Are flowers still relevant?
Of course they are! We all love flowers and the feelings that they evoke, their shapes, colours and scents, the way that flowers are used for so many occasions and celebrations, to say thank you and sorry. To commiserate and show sympathy and to congratulate. Flowers today are as popular as they ever have been and these wonderfully inspirational blogs, articles and web sites just go to show that the spirit and the powers of flowers is blooming.
I hope you find them as interesting and enjoyable to read as I have.
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
The Valentine's Quiz Answers
A BIG Thank you and congratulations to all of you who have taken part in our special Valentine's Quiz. I must say that I am very pleased with the response. I have posted the answers to the twelve questions below and the winner will be notified at midday today and everyone who entered will receive a little thank you gift. All will be notified by facebook message.
Right then, here are the answers:
1) Love - 20 Red Roses.
2) Valentine's Tulips.
3) Bob Marley.
4) Two dozen (24).
5) Single Best-Grade Red Rose.
6) Heartfelt sentiment.
7) The beautiful Dozen Valentine's Red Roses hand-tied bouquet, a chic glass vase, a sumptuous box of Thorntons Continental Chocolates and a handwritten Valentine's card.
8) 12 first grade red roses with gypsophila and hypericum berries.
9) A Dozen Orange Roses.
10) Yellow Roses.
11) The Freesia Fragrance Bouquet.
12) A Single Red Rose and Thorntons Continental Chocolates.
I hope you enjoyed the quiz, we shall be doing some more throughout the year so keep your eyes peeled!
I'd like to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day - All you need is Love!
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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!
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
Wedding Anniversary flowers:
Weddings are the most popular celebratory Anniversary globally. There is no better way to express your feelings and show your love and respect than with fabulous flowers. Do you know someone who is celebrating a wedding anniversary this year? If so did you know that there are specific flowers that are dedicated to the anniversary year? A magnificent bouquet of fabulous fresh flowers - sent from the heart is a perfect gift for those celebrating... From their first wedding anniversary to their fiftieth golden wedding anniversary; a gift of flowers is sure to delight and deliver heart felt sentiment.
Bellow is a list showing what flower and flowers are used in the celebration for a particular anniversary.
| Year Anniversary |
Anniversary Flower
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1st Year Anniversary
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Carnations or Pansies
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2nd Year Anniversary
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Lilly of the Valley
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3rd Year Anniversary
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Sunflowers or Fuchsia
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4th Year Anniversary
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Hydrangea or Geraniums
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5th Year Anniversary
|
Daisy
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6th Year Anniversary
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Calla Lily
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7th Year Anniversary
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Freesia
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8th Year Anniversary
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Clematis or Lilac
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9th Year Anniversary
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Birds of Paradise or Poppies
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10th Year Anniversary
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Daffodils
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11th Year Anniversary
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Tulips
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12th Year Anniversary
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Peony
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13th Year Anniversary
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Chrysanthemums
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14th Year Anniversary
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Dahlia or Orchids
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15th Year Anniversary
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Roses
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20th Year Anniversary
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Day Lilies
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25th Year Anniversary
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Iris
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30th Year Anniversary
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Sweet Peas
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40th Year Anniversary
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Gladiolus
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50th Year Anniversary
|
Violet
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If you are looking for a particular flower or flowers to send to that special someone, we have made it easy for you. Simply go to our web site; www.clareflorist.co.uk and click on the 'Flowers by Type' button.
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
