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!
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
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!
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
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
|
| |
|
|
1st Year Anniversary
|
Carnations or Pansies
|
|
2nd Year Anniversary
|
Lilly of the Valley
|
|
3rd Year Anniversary
|
Sunflowers or Fuchsia
|
|
4th Year Anniversary
|
Hydrangea or Geraniums
|
|
5th Year Anniversary
|
Daisy
|
|
6th Year Anniversary
|
Calla Lily
|
|
7th Year Anniversary
|
Freesia
|
|
8th Year Anniversary
|
Clematis or Lilac
|
|
9th Year Anniversary
|
Birds of Paradise or Poppies
|
|
10th Year Anniversary
|
Daffodils
|
|
11th Year Anniversary
|
Tulips
|
|
12th Year Anniversary
|
Peony
|
|
13th Year Anniversary
|
Chrysanthemums
|
|
14th Year Anniversary
|
Dahlia or Orchids
|
|
15th Year Anniversary
|
Roses
|
|
20th Year Anniversary
|
Day Lilies
|
|
25th Year Anniversary
|
Iris
|
|
30th Year Anniversary
|
Sweet Peas
|
|
40th Year Anniversary
|
Gladiolus
|
|
50th Year Anniversary
|
Violet
|
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!
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.
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
Flowers and Perfume
Perfume is the mixture of essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents used to give the human body, living spaces, animals and objects a pleasant scent. The aroma compounds that make up a perfume can be artificially manufactured or taken from plant or animal sources. Perfumes have existed since early human civilisation.
Flowers and blossoms have long been used in the making of perfumes - as a source of essential oils and aroma compounds. Flowers and blossoms are the largest source of fragrant compounds or aromatics used in perfumery. These include the flowers of several species of roses, jasmine and freesia as well as narcissus and scented geranium (to name but a few).
A common technique for obtaining aromatic compounds from plants, flowers and blossoms is the process of distillation - Where the raw material is heated and the fragrant compounds are re-collected through condensation of the distilled vapour.
Once extracted the various pieces of the 'perfume puzzle' are put together. The person who makes up a perfume is called a perfumer. The perfumer will blend all of the essential components to assemble a perfume, this is anything from ten to hundreds of different ingredients.
The proper preservation of perfumes involves keeping them away from sources of heat and storing them where they will not be exposed to light.
How to make perfume from flower petals:
You will need...
- Fresh flower petals - rose or lavender are a traditional choice
- salt
- large bowl
- metal pot or saucepan
- distilled water
- muslin cloth
- funnel
- glass bottle for keeping the finished perfume in
Four simple steps to make you own perfume...
1) Remove the moisture and fragrance from the flower petals - Place the petals into the large bowl and sprinkle some salt over them. Give this a good mix with a spoon (it doesn't matter if the petals get damaged as this can actually assist in the process). Leave to rest for about an hour.
2) Boil the petals - Put the rested petals into the metal pot or saucepan and add a couple of cups of distilled water to them. Bring this mixture to the boil on a stove or cooker, once boiling, reduce the heat and partially cover with the pan lid and leave to simmer for 2-3 hours. Then remove from the heat and allow the petal mixture to cool.
3) Strain the petal mixture - Place the muslin cloth inside the funnel and pour the petal mixture through into the bowl. Give the left over petal mixture retained in the muslin cloth a good squeeze so to get all of the petal essence.
4) Transfer the perfume into a suitable bottle - Use a funnel to pour the extracted petal fragrance (perfume) into a suitable bottle. Enjoy!
This perfume will last for only a few weeks as it contains no preservative. If the perfume begins to look funny or mouldy, do not use and throw it away.
For fantastic prize winning opportunities, fabulous flower information and magnificent offers and product news!
