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Posted on Mar 14, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
One of the most beautiful flowers that belongs to the Malvaceae family is the tropical hibiscus. Similar flowers in relation to the hibiscus are the “hardy hibiscus”, the “Confederate Rose”, and the “Hollyhock”. The flower is commonly found in the Pacific islands, as well as Asia. For this reason, it is only suitable that the hibiscus be the national flower for Malaysia. However, the hibiscus is commonly associated with Hawaii, much to the fact that the flower for Hawaii is a species of the hibiscus flower.
The hibiscus flower can be found in many colors and sizes, which will determine the specific type of flower. According to research information there are more than a thousand color options, but no blue or black in the true sense. The sizes will vary from 2 inch blooms to 12 inch blooms. Typically the flowers are found on bushes that will grow by a couple of feet in a year. There are some hibiscus bushes that will reach up to 15 feet.
If you are interested in growing these beautiful flowers that you would commonly see in a tropical area, such as Hawaii, then you need to keep several considerations in mind. For example, if you live in an area where you deal with a large amount of frost, then you would need to plant your flowers in pots so that you can transport them inside at night. However, do not let your climate keep you from planting the flowers in pots. Many gardeners who live in warmer climates prefer pots to the actual ground, and they are very successful at growing in the same condition. A great idea when contemplating growing a hibiscus is to seek the advice of other gardeners in your area who specialize in hibiscus flowers. They can tell you what tips work for them in the climate that you live in. The following are the most common tips shared between gardeners in relation to the hibiscus flower:
The fertilizer should be light and changed often. Hibiscus flowers are hearty eaters. This means they will gain nutrients from the potting soil you use. By offering fertilizer you can assure the plant gets enough copper and iron to feed. A dry fertilizer is useful, but you typically want a low phosphate count. Phosphate can actually hurt the plant with long exposure. Fertilizer with nitrogen should be used in a minimal fashion as well. Nitrogen may help the leaves, but it can hinder the actual bloom. The best fertilizer is one with water, especially for the potted hibiscus.
You also need to keep the insects away from the plant. The hibiscus should be checked for insects frequently, and you may want to use a type of insecticide or natural option to keep the plant safe. Insecticide use should be done in the mornings after the plant has been sprayed with water. A good temperature to spray at is below 80 degrees. You should spray both the top and bottom of the leaves.
You should prune the plant to help growth, but refer to a manual on pruning instructions. Pruning with any flower should be done at certain times of the year to help manage the plant’s size. You will want to remove dead leaves. Typically the Hawaiian Hibiscus can be pruned at any time when it needs it. Pruning is acceptable for shaping the plant. Angle down on the stem you choose to cut to get a clean node.
Technorati Tags: beautiful, flower, Hibiscus, tropical
Posted on Mar 13, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
The activity of gardening is gaining in popularity since it is being viewed as an extremely rewarding pastime that provides plenty of fresh air, exercise, and “beautiful” results. But most people are not content with just a garden full of ordinary plants, but wish to create a landscape of extraordinary flowers! And so the entry of “flower gardening”!
But wait a minute! There should be no mistaken belief that creating a garden full of flowers is an easy task. It involves tough physical labor and demands dedication. Only then will you be able to produce a “work of art”.
Any outdoor activity should be acceptable to the surrounding ecosystem; so also flower gardening. The suggestions listed below should help you to grow healthy plants–
(1) It is important to know the “hardiness zone” of the area you are located in. The USA and lower Canada have been divided into various hardiness zones by the USDA, according to a 10-degree Fahrenheit difference in the average minimum temperature. This division will allow you to note which plants can survive in which zones (seed packets or flower guides carry this information), and you can purchase the appropriate flowers for your garden.
(2) You have a vast range of flowering plants to choose from, including butterfly bush, butterfly weed, foxtail lily, African lily or the lily of the Nile, lantana and delphiniums. Nice insects like butterflies and bees will feel like visiting your garden!
(3) If you are unsure about the type of plants you need to pick for your flower gardening, take the help of garden guides and catalogs. They can provide you with all the information you want, including useful tips.
(4) Some of the tips given concern having a mix-and-match garden that displays flowers and plenty of colors all year round! There are early bloomers, late bloomers and mid-season bloomers to choose from. The “early” ones and “late” ones can grow in side-by-side rows, to exhibit alternate blooming times. So also perennials and bulbs. Many more combinations can be tried out, depending on your creativity!
(5) Though most plants have green leaves, there are some with silvery-colored leaves. Some exhibit burgundy-colored leaves. These can become “space fillers”, to make up for those flowers which have not yet blossomed/finished blooming.
(6) Before actually starting on your flower gardening project, keep aside a book as a gardening journal. This is what seasoned veterans do, and recording their earlier mistakes have helped them to do better the next time round.
Start off by preparing a sketch or plan of your new garden. Fill in all the details like–the location of your garden, its proposed shape, the flowering plants that you wish to have, a rough arrangement of the plants, and so on. Place pictures too, as you go along. Record your successes and failures. Over a period of time, this journal becomes a “chronicle” of your flower gardening efforts!
(7) Are you planning to have a container garden or a purely outdoor garden? If it is containers that are going to hold your plants, then ensure that the soil conditions are just right inside them. Also, you have to get only those plants that can tolerate temperature changes and exposure to sunlight, because all plants cannot face environmental changes. Again, all plants cannot be grown inside containers.
(8) If it is going to be an outdoor garden, the soil has to be tested first with the help of a soil testing kit. Many local gardening supply stores stock it; in case they are not able to supply one, they can always refer you to a place where the kit is available.
Even without a kit, you should be able to judge the quality of the soil in your yard with the help of your hands. Take some soil in your hand, and rub it back and forth. If the soil comes apart, it indicates the presence of too much of sand. So it cannot store nutrients. Sticking together, indicates that there is too much of clay in the soil. This type of soil does not drain well, and does not allow roots to penetrate easily.
Loam soil (equal amounts of clay and sand) is the best for flower gardening.
(9) Now that you chosen the spot for your garden, start digging. When you have gone about 8 inches to 1 foot in depth, extract the rocks and other unwanted debris that you can find there. Use a rake to split up clods of earth and level the area.
(10) The next step is tilling. About one inch or more of manure or compost is to be added to the dug-up soil. Add even more if it is of poor quality. Grass cuttings or peat moss help to increase water retention capacity if the soil has too much of sand in it. For acidic type of soil, add lime.
When you mix the soil and all the organic components that you have added to it, turning the whole thing over and over a few times, you have “tilled” the soil.
(11) Use the rake again to level the new bed. Some more ammendments have to be added to the soil. Compost goes into the top soil (about 6 inches), along with a general-purpose fertilizer (10-20-10).
(12) Do not start planting your flowers as soon as you have finished adding ammendments. Give them time to enter the soil and spread all across the plot designated for your garden. A few weeks of waiting is necessary. Meanwhile, you can browse the books again so that you are thoroughly prepared when it is actual planting time, with the plants as well as all their requirements.
(13) Now that the time has finally arrived, start sowing the seeds, or planting the seedlings. Smaller ones should take the front seats, while the bigger ones should be placed at the back. Ensure a distance of 3 feet between the plants and any buildings/fences. Also, there should be at least 20 feet of space between your flowers and large trees. Large bushes should maintain a distance of 5 feet from your plants. Other trouble spots to look out for are–steep slopes, places where water tends to stagnate and shallow and rocky soil.
(14) Now that you have come this far in your flower gardening project, it is time to put down a layer of mulch (indicates compost that has not completely decayed) over the garden. A word of caution–ensure that it does not come in contact with the stems of the plants. A layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch should remain around the plants all the time, especially during the growing seasons.
Weeds can prove detrimental to your garden. As an added precaution, keep layers of wet/damp newspapers under the mulch.
Why mulch? The benefits it provides to the soil include–stabilization of temperature, increase in water retention capacity, addition of nutrients and prevention of excessive growth of weeds.
(15) Do not go in for synthetic substances or chemical pesticides, despite advice from some professional gardeners. You have been “organic” so far; no point in going back to “inorganic”! All that you need to do to make a success of your flower gardening project is to keep the soil quality in top condition. Try to combine plants so that one acts like a “pesticide” for the other. For example, plants like rose and garlic are beneficial to their companions in the garden.
(16) If you are in a hurry to start growing your flowers, there is another option available. Get some jiffy pots that are made from compressed peat moss. Put in potting soil or starting mix. Sow the seeds. Place the pots inside the house in an area where they can can get sufficient sunlight.
Once the plants have attained a height of 4 inches, place the jiffy pots outside in a pre-designated location. The pots rot away and the plants get “attached” to the natural soil by their roots.
In addition, you can look for tips and information about seeds on the backs of seed packages, such as–when and how to sow the seeds, distance to be maintained between plants, etc. Seedlings of course, should be planted as soon as possible.
(17) Like many others, you may not really have an idea about compost or how it is prepared. So, here is some information about this “organic manure”.
How is organic matter different from inorganic materials? When there is decaying of the dead remains of animals and plants (remains of any living things, in fact), the decomposed material returns to the soil. The soil therefore gets enriched with vitamins and other nutrients. Its fertility is enhanced, enabling plants to grow healthy.
Thus, when soil is of poor quality, it can be “ammended” with the addition of natural manure or compost. Being totally organic in nature, it causes no harm to your garden or the surrounding environment.
Since compost is easy to make on your own, you save on costs as you do not have to pay for readymade manure purchased from the local gardening supply store. You save on time too. The environment will be thankful to you as you are taking care of the large amount of material collecting in landfills!
If your garden soil contains too much of sand, compost will help to retain water. If there is too much of clay, the compost enhances the soil’s capacity to drain well. And of course, plenty of nutrients get into the soil with the help of this organic manure.
(18) Finally, how do you prepare your own compost for your flower gardening project?
Dig a pit. Fill it with whatever organic wastes that you can get–lettuce leaves, tea leaves, coffee grounds, banana peels, grass clippings, shredded branches, hay, chopped leaves, garden plants that are free of disease and have finished their season, straw, weeds, shredded papers and newspaper. No bones or meat are to be put in. Whatever is put in, should be small in size–so use a lawn mower or a shredder to reduce the size of some materials.
Once the pile has attained 6 inches in height, use finished compost or soil or manure to cover it. The covering layer should be about 3 to 6 inches thick. Repeat the process of alternate layers of organic materials and finished compost/soil/manure. The final height of the entire pile should be 3 feet.
The compost pile should be started in a shady location. Whenever it seems to go dry, sprinkle water on it; enough to keep it damp, not to make it soggy. There is heat generated that helps to sterilize the forming compost. Keep turning the pile to ensure circulation of oxygen.
When there is no more heat being produced, the pile is ready for use. This compost has to be mixed with soil before planting flowers. It can actually be used in any way possible–as mulch, soil ammendment or potting soil. But use it as quickly as possible since the nutrients in it tend to get dissipated.
Thus, your flower gardening project has been entirely “organic” in nature!
Technorati Tags: bloom, flower, Gardening, great, Steps
Posted on Mar 13, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
A fresh flowers delivery ukraine can be the bright spot in anyone’s day and can provide a cheerful reminder of someone’s sentiment for several days. Sending floral arrangements or potted plants to others can represent an expression of goodwill, birthday wishes, romance, encouragement, sympathy or a sentiment of endearment ‘just because’. There are many online florist shops that provide a wide selection of floral gifts as well as same day and next day flower delivery services. A gift selection can even be made in advance and sent automatically on a future date to insure that a celebration is not forgotten for an important time in someone’s life.
Floral arrangements that are freshly cut, potted, dried and even silk manufactured have long held an appeal for home and workplace decorations. Most homes have at least one room that is highlighted by a beautiful centerpiece or that has a potted plant in some corner. In many homes, just about every room displays beauty through floral designs that are either purchased at shops or made by a family member. One of the most beautiful additions to any room, however, is an arrangement received from a fresh flower delivery service. Newly cut stems that explode with color are enough to freshen up any room for any occasion. Many people enjoy replacing each day’s arrangement with a new arrangement for an interesting change in their home.
For many people, the glory of God’s artistry is manifested in His creation of nature. “The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.” (Psalm 104:31) Many are fortunate enough to own and garden their own floristry making it easy to arrange and display the fruits of their labor. For others, a fresh flower delivery is the answer to their requirements for fresh cut roses or daisies added daily to their homes. Some florist shops have standing orders to fill every day that require newly cut floristry in offices, at restaurants or in some homes. Even though silk and other synthetic reproductions of floral arrangements can be purchased, some floral enthusiasts require freshly cut floristry with next day flower delivery services for all their orders.
A wide range of choices including orchids, roses, chrysanthemums, carnations and daisies are found in many floral arrangements. One of the most popular next day flower delivery orders that are sent throughout the country for many occasions are roses. Roses can be purchased in many colors including yellow, pink, and red with varying shades of each choice. Red roses have historically been the floral choice for Valentine’s Day as well as for weddings. A single red rose carries the sentiment of romantic love just as much as does a dozen, beautiful roses accented with baby’s breath. Other contemporary choices for special occasions include wild ukraine flowers and greenery well placed in several choices of vases.
Interesting floral designs need not be placed in the typical green vase but can be situated in mugs, jars, bowls, vases, ceramic pots and just about anything that creativity can conjure up. The base of any arrangement can be the accent piece that states the purpose for the fresh flower delivery. Such items as a baby’s drinking cup or a black ‘over the hill’ drinking mug can immediately convey a meaning to the recipient of an order. Traditional floral gifts are no longer the norm and finding a specialty item is not hard for anyone who wishes to browse through many of the huge online companies in order to find something unusual to send.
In fact, most companies also offer designer services through competent staff who are expert in customizing any idea you may have for a special floral production. Special floral arrangements may cost more than the usual pre designed floral arrangements since extra time and effort will be taken to reflect the arrangement anyone has in mind. If there is interest in sending a fresh flower delivery to someone special but not sure what would be best, many florist shops can offer helpful suggestions in choosing the best gift for the occasion.
Professional next day flower delivery services can also be sent that are guaranteed fresh and on time. Reputable companies back their products and services with guarantees to please or your money back. Don’t hesitate to demand the purchase price back if the service that is advertised for freshly cut floristry is damaged or loses its freshness by delivery time. If an order is placed in person, it may be wise to ask to examine which flowers are to be placed in within a particular gift. Since floral arrangements can be perishable, freshness is a must for a beautiful and reasonably lasting gift.
Items such as roses should last well over a week if they are freshly harvested and if the receiver takes care of them. Obviously, however, online flower delivery services do not have the option of personal examination but online stores do offer photos and visual displays of their arrangements. A choice can be safely made which is generally backed by a guarantee for quality. Check out several online floral shops in order to find the right prices, delivery policies and designs for gift floral arrangements that reflect individual taste and budget.
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Posted on Mar 12, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Your big day is over. Everything went wonderfully. You looked beautiful, your groom was handsome, the flowers looked and smelled great, and the food was as tasty as you imagined it would be. You just have one little problem. What should you do with all of those once-gorgeous flowers? Rather than throw them in the trash, consider these options to help you “give back” a little from your wedding day.
Use Centerpieces as Gifts
One way to honor those who helped make your wedding a special day is to give them a bouquet, perhaps a centerpiece, as a gift. Everyone loves fresh flowers, and with the right care those flowers will stay beautiful for a week or two after your wedding. The people that helped make your special day such a success can relive the beauty of your wedding every time they look at your beautiful flowers.
Before you gift flowers, however, make sure they are a gift that can be enjoyed. A massive centerpiece may not be appreciated by someone living in a small apartment. Also, some of your guests may have allergies that will be irritated by a gift of flowers. However, many of your helpers will be able to enjoy your flowers, making them an ideal gift.
Preserve Your Bouquet
You can have your wedding bouquet freeze dried to preserve it after your wedding day. Be sure you have this professionally done, as it takes special equipment to remove all of the moisture from your bouquet and preserve its shape and beauty. Once it is preserved, you can have it mounted to display in your new home. As long as you do not touch the bouquet, it should stay beautiful for several years. Imagine being able to show your children your wedding bouquet one day!
Having your wedding bouquet preserved is kind of expensive. If you have spent your entire budget on your wedding, you could request this as a gift from one of your parents or a close friend. When they ask you what they could give you to help you start off your married life, you could explain that you would like to preserve your bouquet. You also could use some of your monetary gifts to pay for this memory.
Start a Compost Heap
Composting is probably not on your mind on your wedding day, but if you intend to have a garden in your new home, your wedding flowers are the perfect way to start your compost heap. You can designate someone to collect the flowers after the party and take them to your home where the compost area is set up.
Keep in mind that a wedding bouquet or centerpiece is not entirely organic. There are wires, ribbon, Styrofoam, and other items in the bouquet. You will need to have someone remove these items and throw the flowers and leaves into the compost heap.
Once the flowers are in the compost heap, they can remain untouched until you return from your honeymoon. Then, you can add your kitchen waste and gardening waste to the compost heap as you begin your new life together. Soon you will have healthy compost that you can add to the soil of your next garden. Whether you want to grow food or plant flowers, compost, created with your wedding flowers, will help the plants grow big and stay healthy.
These options are much better than simply tossing the flowers in the trash. You paid a good amount for your wedding flowers. By gifting them, preserving them, or using them as compost, you can get even more benefit from the investment. Not only that, but you are also keeping more stuff out of the landfills, helping you to protect the environment as you clean up from your wedding.
Technorati Tags: flowers, Over, Should, Those, wedding
Posted on Mar 11, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing
Thomas Hood poem, The Language of Flowers
Flowers and bouquets of flowers have a meaning of their own. Most of us know that a dozen red roses means, “Be mine.” But did you know, for example, that a primrose means, “I can’t live without you,” or that a purple hyacinth means, “Please forgive me,” or that a pink carnation means, “I’ll never forget you,” or that a gladiolus means, “Give me a break?”
Flower meanings have been used to convey ideas, feelings and messages for centuries. The word, floriography, has been coined for the assignment of meaning to flowers. There is a meaning to colors of flowers, to numbers of flowers, and to groups of flowers. It is a silent language that has been largely lost to us through lack of use.
In addition to the obvious choices of color and variety, the language of flowers also includes the way flowers are worn or presented. Presenting flowers upright conveys a positive meaning, but if they are presented upside down the meaning is the opposite. If a ribbon is included with the flowers and is tied to the left then the meaning of the flowers refers to the giver, but if the ribbon is tied to the right then the meaning refers to the recipient. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”History
The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.
In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject.
During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow. Tussie-mussies, a bouquet of flowers wrapped with a lace doily and tied with a satin ribbon became a popular and valued gift of the times.
In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.Selected Flower Meanings
Here are some selected flowers and their meanings, a short dictionary.
Almond flowers — Hope
Anemone — Forsaken
Aster — Symbol of love
Balm — Sympathy
Basil — Best wishes
Bay leaf — “I change but in death”
Bell flower, white — Gratitude
Bergamot — Irresistible
Bluebell — Constancy
Borage — Courage
Broom — Humility
Campanula — Gratitude
Carnation, pink — I’ll never forget you
Carnation, red — My poor heart aches for you
Carnation, striped — Refusal
China rose — Beauty always new
Chrysanthemum — Love
Clover, four leaved — “Be mine”
Coreopsis — Love at first sight
Cuckoo pint — Ardor
Daffodil — Regard
Daisy — Innocence, new-born, “I share your sentiment”
Fennel — Flattery
Fern — Sincerity
Forget-Me-Not — True love
Furze or Gorse — Enduring affection
French Marigold — Jealousy
Gardenia — Ecstasy
Gentian — Loveliness
Geranium — “You are childish”
Hare bell — Grief
Heartsease — “I am always thinking of you”
Honeysuckle — Bonds of love
Heather — Admiration
Hyacinth — I am sorry, Please forgive me
Ice Plant — “Your appearance freezes me”
Ivy — Fidelity, friendship, marriage
Jasmine — Grace
Jonquil — “I hope for return of affection”
Lavender — Luck, devotion
Lemon Balm — Sympathy
Lilac — First love
Lily — Purity, modesty
Lily of the Valley — Purity, the return of happiness
Lily, Calla — Beauty
Marigold — Health, grief or despair
Marjoram — Kindness, courtesy
Myrtle — Fidelity
Oregano — Joy
Orchid — Love, beauty, refinement
Pansy — Loving thoughts
Periwinkle — Happy memory
Phlox — Agreement
Poppy, red — Consolation
Primrose — I can’t live without you
Rose, cabbage — Ambassador of love
Rose, red — Love
Rose, pink — Grace, beauty
Rose, yellow — Friendship
Rosemary — Remembrance, constancy
Rue — Contrition
Sage — Gratitude, domestic virtue
Snowdrop — Hope
Star of Bethlehem — Purity
Sweet Pea — Departure, tender memory
Sweet William — Gallantry
Tuberose — Voluptuousness
Tulip, red — My perfect lover, Reclamation of love
Violet — Loyalty, modesty, humility
Violet, blue — Faithfulness
Wormwood — Grief
Wheat — Riches of the continuation of life
Willow, weeping — Mourning
Wallflower — Fidelity
Yew — SorrowThe Rose
The Rose is the flower whose meaning we most understand, but here are some details of the meaning of the Rose that may be of further interest.
Rose, Black – You are my obsession
Rose, Champagne – You are tender and loving
Rose, Leonidas – Sweet love
Rose, Nicole – You are graceful and elegant, aristocratic
Rose, Orange – You are my secret love
Rose, Pink – Brilliant complexion; the glow of your smile; perfect happiness
Rose, Red – Passionate love; I love you
Rose, Single Stems – Simplicity
Rose, White – I am worthy of you; spiritual love; Innocence and Purity; Secrecy and Silence
Rose, White and Red – We are inseparable
Rose, White and Red Mixed – Unity; Flower emblem of England
Rose, White, Dried – Death is preferable to loss of virtue
Rose, Yellow – Friendship; Jealousy; I am not worthy
Rose, Bridal – Happy Love
Rose, Dark Crimson – Mourning
Rose, Hibiscus – Delicate beauty
Rose, Tea – I’ll remember always
Rose, Thornless – Love at first sight
Roses, Bouquet of Mature Blooms – GratitudeMultiple Roses
Single bloom red Rose – Love at first sight or I still love you
Single Rose, any color – Gratitude or simplicity
2 Roses – Mutual feelings
3 Roses – I love you
7 Roses – I’m infatuated with you
9 Roses – We’ll be together forever
10 Roses – You are perfect
11 Roses – You are my treasured one
12 Roses – Be mine
13 Roses – Friends forever
15 Roses – I’m truly sorry
20 Roses – I’m truly sincere towards you
21 Roses – I’m dedicated to you
24 Roses – Forever yours
25 Roses – Congratulations
50 Roses – Unconditional love
99 Roses – I will love you all the days of my life
108 Roses – Will you marry me?
999 Roses – I love you till the end of timeWhat To Do
With the lists above you should be able to assemble a meaningful gift of flowers or a bouquet that conveys a complex thought. Wrap the flowers appropriately and present them in a significant manner. Then, just to be certain that your efforts are not misinterpreted, include a card that fully explains the meaning of your flowers.
After a few flower presentations you should be able to drop the explanatory notes and begin enjoying and sharing the silent language of flowers.
Technorati Tags: flowers, Language, Meaning
Posted on Mar 10, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Pressing flowers, is a great way to preserve nature.
If you live in an area of changing seasons, you can really get creative with colors and displays.
Do you remember, sticking flower petals and leaves in a book to press when you were a kid?
Well, this has become a popular hobby, and also a lucrative business. Everyone loves flowers and you can create some great pressed arrangements to adorn gift certificates, cards, photo albums, or put them into shadow boxes, for a 3D effect.
The best flowers to press, are the small flat leaf types, this doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with the bigger flowers, but in my experience, the smaller leaves and flowers, tend to retain their color and are easier to put into a delicate picture after.
Roses, as beautiful as they are, are the hardest to press, since their leaves have more moisture. You can save roses for drying, if you wish to retain their shape, or you can take a few petals off of the rose, and press them separately and the create a flower in your display or picture using these rose petals.
Flower pressing, is a great way to preserve a nice bouquet of flowers you received, and you can forever treasure them in your display or picture you make.
You can buy flower presses, but you don’t have to spend that kind of money, to try it out first. You can use heavy books, after pressing your flowers between pages, just remember what page your particular flower is at.
Phone books are not recommended, because of their flimsy nature, and you could damage other flowers while trying to find or press another.
Pressing leaves, is another great addition to your displays or pictures, but only use a few little ones, so as not to overpower your display. Just a little spray of fern leaves, or small green leaves behind your colorful flowers makes a great addition.
The beauty of flower pressing, is that there really are no rules.. you can experiment with all kinds of little flowers and leaves, and you can learn different effects and how to arrange pressed flowers for a beautiful piece of art that you can keep or sell for profit.learn to press flowers
Technorati Tags: flowers, pressing, Profit
Posted on Mar 10, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Fruit flower baskets are widely used by celebrities, event partners, nation wide sports teams, special clients etc. Fruit flower baskets are examples of edible fruit bouquets. Flowers are used in fruit baskets to add beauty in fruit baskets. A fruit basket contains different kinds of fruits and flowers. Fruits are cleaned, cut and decorated in the fruit baskets. The Fruit flower baskets are one of the popular gift categories in all states. It contains all kinds of fruits and flowers. They are attractive and easily available in the market. There are various kinds of Fruit flower baskets. The Christmas baskets are designed with the winter fruits and flowers, which are popular in Eastern nations. Valentine day is another occasion when these fruit flower baskets are used. These baskets contain cherries and strawberries dipped in chocolate. They are ideal gift for your loved ones. The business of Fruit flower baskets is quite lucrative .This business options provide wide range of options to customers as well as to shopkeepers. These fruit flower baskets contain items such as grapes, apples, pears etc, they are then decorated by flowers such as rose, tulip etc. They are available in various attractive packing sizes. They can be beautiful gift for your friends. They can also used for showcases. These fruit flower baskets are available in attractive gift packages. People express felling by sending these fruits baskets to their loved ones. The shipping cost is decided by the distance and weight of fruit baskets. Fruit flower baskets provide easy shipment. They can be shipped across all states. Additionally they can be shipped to all European countries. They ca be unique gift option for people. They can be used for all occasions. They are most popular and easily available in the market. These fruit flower baskets are designed by specialists. Sometimes edible fruits that can be combine with organic fruits such as nuts and candies. With Fruit flower baskets people can celebrate all occasions, they can be customized for important people in your life. Flowers provide beautiful presentation for fruit baskets. They are most popular and widely accepted by all kinds of people. The cost of fruit flowers basket will depend on the type of flowers and fruits, these fruits and flowers will remain fresh for3 to 4 days. Therefore, it is not useful to prepare basket too early before the delivery. It is also useful to buy fruits and flowers some days before the preparation of fruit flower baskets. It is important to note that the prices of fruits will depend on the season.Additionally, people can prepare their own fruit flower baskets depending on their choice and tests. To prepare fruit flower baskets, it just needs some fruits, flowers and little bit creativity. Some guidelines and precautions are necessary to give attractiveness and usefulness to fruit baskets such as it is useful to keep fruits and flowers in cool and dry environment. It is also useful to clean flower and fruits before preparation of fruit flower baskets.
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Posted on Mar 09, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Although many flower essences may be bought in stock bottles at a store, it is possible to make them from scratch in your own backyard or nearby environs. In fact, this was Dr. Bach’s original intent. The materials needed are simple and easily obtainable and it only takes a few hours time. Making a new essence is fun and rewarding.
When making an essence, care should be taken to identify the flower as to correct species. References (such as the Peterson Field Guides) are helpful in this. The most common technique for making flower essences is the “sun infusion” method. For this, you need the following in your essence making kit.
* Warm, sunny weather (spring to late summer). You will need uninterrupted sunshine from early morning to early afternoon (about 3-5 hours, usually). You should pick a place that is protected and somewhat secluded (so the emotional environment is controlled). An occasional cloud is not a problem, but considerably cloudiness (or shadows from trees or buildings) can noticably weaken the remedy.
* A glass pan without designs or patterns. It doesn’t have to be very big.
* Water. Preferably spring water, especially if it’s allowed to “charge up” in the sunlight first. If from a natural spring, be sure it is pollution-free! Tap water is not acceptable.
* Brandy (about 80 proof) to use as a preservative.
* Plants with the appropriate flowers. They should be at the peak of their bloom. Use only healthy looking flowers; avoid any that “feel” wrong intuitively. Don’t take too many flowers from a single plant.
* Scissors to cut the flowers.
* Storage bottles for storing the essence. Should be dark colored to protect the remedy.
* A funnel (preferably glass) for pouring liquids.
* A big pan or pot for sterilizing all equipment in boiling water. Stainless steel or ceramic is excellent; avoid aluminum or plastic at all steps of the process. All equipment should be sterilized about 20 minutes and air-dried before starting to make the essence.
To make the essence, find “your spot” on that sunny morning near the flowers you will work with. You should be started by 8 or 9 o’clock in the morning, at the latest. As the person’s state of mind is considered important to the process, you should make sure the setting is peaceful and protected; your own emotional state should be calm and receptive. Place the pan on the ground and pour in enough water to cover the bottom (it doesn’t take much). Quartz crystals may be placed around the pan to focus the energies, but should not be placed in the pan (the remedy would pick up the crystal’s energies as well as the flower’s).
Next, pick the flowers and add them to the glass pan of water. You should “tune into the plant” before cutting any flowers, to sense which ones should be used. Ideally, cut the flowers and let them drop right into the pan, without touching or handling them. If this is infeasible cut them and transfer the flowers immediately to the pan, with a minimum of handling or waiting (no more than a minute or two). Cut enough flowers to cover the bottom of the pan. Choose flowers from a number of plants. And make sure to thank the plants for their gifts afterwards!
Return the pan to its “spot” and let it sit in the sun for 3 to 5 hours. It’s best to stay with the flowers throughout this stage of the process — gardening in the backyard is a good way to pass the time and stay in tune with the flowers. Let sit until early afternoon or until the flowers “feel tired” or “ready to wilt.” Remove the flowers (preferably with a leaf from the same plant, so you don’t touch the flowers or the water) and set them aside. Pour the water from the pan into a storage bottle (using the funnel); add an equal portion of brandy, as a preservative. The bottle should be shaken between your hands for a minute or two to “fix” the remedy.
The mother essence is rarely used by itself, but is diluted to the stock potency or medicine (dosage) bottle potency. To make a stock bottle, you need:
* One ounce eyedropper bottles, preferably dark colored. Sterilize all bottles!
* A mixture of 1 part brandy, 3 parts water (spring or distilled) for the inert carrier substance.
* 2 to 7 drops of the mother essence.
Put an ounce of the brandy/water in the bottle and add 2 to 7 drops of the mother essence. The exact number of drops is not too important, though some people love to argue about it. The bottle should be shaken in your hands for a minute or two (or until it “feels” done) to potentize the stock bottle. This “dilute and shake” technique is more or less the standard method in homeopathy for potentizing a remedy.
Many gems, minerals, and crystals have healing energies. These energies can be captured and administered by exactly the same techniques as used for flower essences. In fact, the only big change is to substitute “crystal” for “flower” in the instructions for the Sun Infusion method.
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Posted on Mar 08, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
What are the best choices for flowers during fall season? – Indianapolis Flower Shop can help you look for different flowers that are appropriate for the fall. There are different sites in the internet that provides creative information on various types of flowers for each season. What are the best choices for flowers during fall season? – Indianapolis Flower Shop has a wide range of flower arrangements for the fall as well as for the other seasons.
What are the best choices for flowers during fall season? – Indianapolis Flower Shop can answer that question by providing flowers for the fall with ideas of pumpkins and shades of orange as well as colors that are in darker nature. As September approaches, what are the best choices for flowers during fall season? – Indianapolis Flower Shop can provide you with the finest kinds of fresh flowers to help you create beautiful flower arrangements for the fall.
For the fall, darker moods are relative with tints of orange, yellow and gold. With the change of weather, plants and flowers are in full bloom. From the dry summer, the season shift to the approaching winter.
There are certain plants and flowers that are not available during the season of fall due to the shifting conditions and geographical settings. Nevertheless, you can have the opportunity to make creative arrangements with the use of warm color hues for the fall.
During this season, what are the best choices for flowers during fall season? – Indianapolis Flower Shop can still supply you with daisies, roses and orchids but for the fall, you can be more creative with the mixture of chrysanthemums, asters and hydrangeas that will give interest to other flowers with neutral colors of white and beige.
The best selections of flowers for the fall season are the following:
Chrysanthemums. These are one of the most common as well as the easiest plant to have. Chrysanthemums can be planted anytime, whether during winter, spring, summer and the fall. If you want to plant chrysanthemums, you need to have the right timing as well as the proper preparation to grow them fully. Chrysanthemums can be in daisy, spider form or decorative as well as buttons. These flowers are most popular for arrangements and bouquets.
Hydrangeas. Oak leaf hydrangeas usually blossoms during the early spring and the late autumn. Hydrangeas big and beautiful leaves shift colors into orange, yellow and red, making it one of the most stunning flowers for the fall.
Asters. Aster is associated with the sunflower family and bears a resemblance to daisies because of its appearance. With its violet patches, asters are best to combine with different fall flowers.
Fall flowers are perfect for wedding bouquets and flower arrangements. The lush and bright colors of yellow, orange, gold and red creates a feeling of excitement and delight. You can visit your local flower shop for different fall flowers. Online Flower Shop has a huge database of flower shops in every state wherein you can order fall flowers from your favorite florist without spending much time, effort and money.
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Posted on Mar 07, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Why should you buy flowers online? Well, the most important reason is better selection. Garden centers may have in store a stock of maybe one dozen varieties of roses while online stores can offer you scores of varieties and types of roses. There is a physical problem about garden or flower centers because there is just not enough space to hold all stocks available in only one place. This is non-existent with online flower websites. Web supplies are able to give you the widest choices of flower stocks that may be difficult to find in your local flower store.
Tips on Buying Flowers Online
The first thing to do is to find out how the website sends the flowers. This could be in a vase. If a website sends flowers already in a vase, it means that they are ready to be displayed upon delivery. Other websites may send flowers to Kiev in a box. This is common among growers or distribution centers. If this is the case, you need to set up the flowers first before displaying them. Decide how you would like your flowers to be delivered before settling down on a particular website.
There are the so-called “order gatherers” who are not legitimate online flower companies. They just take your order, pass it on to a florist to fill the order, and they get a commission. This means that you pay more than what you really should. To avoid “order gatherers”, you can call the “store” first and check out if it is legitimate.
You can support “green” farming all over the world by choosing to buy “green flowers”. These kinds of flowers are those that are eco-friendly and organic. Better farming practices are encouraged so as to minimize environmental problems. In addition, “green flowers” are also priced competitively with the regularly grown ones.
Of course you have to compare prices. Go through different online florists and have a comparison of their regular and value-added services. Since you have to pay for shipping and other service charges, you have to make sure how this would affect the total price. Also, find out if the vase is included in the price and how many flower stems you are going to get. This way you can estimate the price per stem. If there are freebies offered, find out if you really need those or if they do not affect the price.
Sometimes this one important consideration is taken for granted – that of the site’s terms and conditions. Read thoroughly their replacement or refund policy as well as their freshness guarantee statements send gifts to ukraine. This way, you could avoid undue problems due to your unawareness of their sometimes “hidden” terms and conditions.
How Do You Keep Your Flowers Fresh – Longer
When cutting the flower stems, you have to do it at a sharp angle. Doing so increases the surface area of the stem in contact with water and this allows for better absorption. Stems that are cut flat rest flush against the bottom of the container. They tend to block water from penetrating the stem, which greatly shortens the vase life of your flowers.
Place the stem immediately in water after cutting. Stems dry rapidly and when this happens they seal up the path of absorption. When extra bark remains at the tip of the cut part, remove it to prevent water contamination. Doing so would prolong the vase life of your flowers.
Leaves and thorns that will be below the water level should be removed or trimmed. These materials decompose under water and attract bacteria. Be particular even with small debris which could be small thorns or branching stems. Scrape all of these thoroughly before placing the flowers in water.
Nicks or cracks in the stem that are above the water level could block water flow to the flower. It is important to put the deepest water possible to prevent this, since water is not absorbed only through the base but also from the outside part of the stem. When cleaning the stems, be extra careful not to create cracks in the part of the stem that is above the water level.
Use water that is just warm enough. Warm water is absorbed better by flowers than cold water. Do not use hot water because it will cause shock on the flowers. Dip your fingers to find out the right temperature.
Decomposition rate of the stems submerged in water can be slowed down by making sure that the stems are clean. This is the reason why you should remove even the small debris. The cleaner the stems, the slower will be the rate of decomposition and the longer your flowers will remain fresh.
As much as possible, you should place only one kind of flower in one vase. Different kinds of flowers have different make up and decompose by different means. Mixed flowers in one container decompose faster than those of the same kind.
When cloudiness or discoloration of water starts to appear, bacterial growth has already started. It is advised that water should be changed at least every two days. You should be particular with this because bacteria grow very rapidly. Any delay could mean an irreparable damage. Replace it with warm water so that the stems will reopen and allow water to flow to the flowers. Again, water should be not be hot.
To Summarize
Buying flowers online would give you more benefits than the usual visit to the local store. Again, it is better selection that tops the many reasons why you should do so. With the helpful tips just enumerated, you can avoid any problem regarding online florists.
There are some recommended websites where you can buy your roses and other flowers of your choice. Find one that offers the best price, but also be particular with their delivery or shipping terms.
Find out other helpful tips to care for your flowers. Keeping them fresh for a longer time gives more life and beauty to your home, office or other places. You get more value for your money. Practicing the correct way of prolonging the vase life of fresh flowers is also a challenge to your self.
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