Posted on Mar 01, 2010 under dried foliage |
Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following
suggestions will help insure that your roses grow into healthy
bushes, trees, etc.:
1.Your new roses have probably dried out during shipping or
storage, therefore before planting, either bury the roots in wet
saw dust or peat moss for several days or soak them overnight in
water. Keep the roots wet when planting, do not let them dry out.
2.Prune damaged and broken roots.
3.Prune main roots just enough to reveal white healthy tissue.
This will help more roots grow.
4.Prune the plant back to three or four healthy canes. Try to
keep the center of the plant empty. Prune the healthy canes back
to about six (6) inches using sharp pruning shears. Keep the
cutting blade on the lower side. Cut at a 45 to 60 degree angle.
Cut about one fourth inch above an outside bud union.
5.In order to prevent infection, treat the cuts with some type
of sealent or sealing paint.
6.Make sure that you have removed any suckers that may have
started growing during shipping or storage.
The following should be taken into consideration when selecting
where to plant your roses.:
1.Roses are susceptible to mildew and funguses, therefore plant
where there is good air movement in order to help the foliage
stay dry.
2.Plant where the bushes will get at least six hours of sun a
day with as much morning sun as possible.
3.Try to plant away from large trees and shrubs as they will
compete for food, moisture and sunlight.
4.Find an area with soil that drains well or add gravel or
cinder below the prepared soil. Poor drainage may cause root rot.
5.Try not to plant on a steep slope. Soil erosion can cause the
root structure to become exposed.
6.Plant the bushes at least two feet apart, two and one half
feet is better.
Digging and preparing the hole.:
1.Dig your hole twelve to sixteen inches deep and fifteen to
seventeen inches wide.
2.Work compost or planters soil (not potting soil) into the
loose dirt.
3.Make a cone of the prepared soil in the center of the hole in
order to support the spread out roots and to hold the bush at
the proper height. In cold winter areas the bud or graft union
should be between one and two inches below the soil level. In
mild climates the union should be an inch or so above the soil
level. Planting the union below soil level helps protect from
the cold and planting the union above soil level makes it easier
to detect and remove suckers.
4.Place the plant over the cone, spreading the roots and then
fill the hole with soil mix untill it is about two thirds full.
Now fill the hole with water, let it soak in and then fill with
water again.
5.After the second fill with water has soaked in fill the hole
to the proper level with the remaining prepared soil. Now gently
firm the soil around the plant.
After planting the roses it helps to add an organic mulch.:
1.Organic mulches can help rebuild the humus content of the
soil, retain soil moisture, encorage root growth, controll
weeds, prevent soil crusting and erosion, help even out soil
temperature, add helpful bacteria, etc..
2.There are numerous types of organic mulch, such as bark,
pecan hulls, peat moss and buckwheat hulls.
3.Contrary to old beliefs, mulch can and should be left on all
year long.
For more information on what to look for when buying
roses see http://www.nationalrealtorsdirectory.com/planbe
forebuyingrosesarticle.html
Technorati Tags: Bare, planting, Root, roses
Posted on Feb 23, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Drying roses with this method is fairly easy, and they turn out beautiful. Mine usually are mistaken for being freeze dried roses. First you’ll need a microwave safe bowl, one big enough that the entire rose will fit completely into. Next you’ll need silica gel, which can be purchased at a craft store. Silica gel is a granule-based substance, similar to the texture of sugar, which pulls moisture out of objects. It usually has blue “indicator” crystals in the gel showing you how much water has been absorbed. Cut the rose about 1/4 inch or so from the actual rose flower. This is perfect length for use in a wreath. If you need a longer stem for an arrangement, you’ll need to use floral tape and wrap a floral wire to it to create a stem. It is best to cut the rose late morning after all the dew is totally dry. Harvest the rose as it is in the early stage of full bloom. You don’t want it at the point that is has fully opened wide. Put about 1/2 inch or so of silica gel into the bottom of the bowl. Set the short stem of the rose into the gel. Begin slowly with a spoon to fill the bowl totally around the outside of the rose. Then gently sprinkle the gel onto the top of the rose. The gel will begin to work its way into some of the layers of the petals. Finally take the silica gel and completely cover the rose. At this point the rose should be fully buried in the silica gel. Microwaves vary on their power, but as a starting point put the bowl in, and set the microwave on the lowest setting and microwave for 2 minutes. This is the part that you’ll need to tweak with by experimenting with your particular microwave. Let the rose sit in the silica gel for about 3 hours or so. After that time gently dump the silica and the rose into another container to get the rose out. Take a soft artists’ paintbrush and gently brush off the silica gel that you can. Take a clothespin and clip the bottom of the rose stem, with a wire to the clothespin, and hang the rose upside down for a few days in a darkened room preferably. This will finish drying the rose completely. Take the soft paintbrush again and brush off any remaining crystals. Your rose is now ready for use. Roses will change color some from fresh to this dried state. Some of the discolorations will be for the good; some will be not so good. It depends on the rose variety. Try different ones and you’ll soon find your favorites. If you rose turns out brown however, it’s because you micro waved either at too high of a setting or too long or both, and it literally cooked. Back those down and try again. When the silica gel crystals start to turn a pink color, put the silica in a baking pan and cook for 1/2 hour or so according to directions in the oven until the indicators turn blue again. This evaporates the water in the crystals so they can be used again.
Technorati Tags: microwave, roses
Posted on Feb 17, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Although there are some things we wish could last forever or a moment we wish would never end, ultimately they do. The memory of the special event, however, can be preserved for us to recall and enjoy for a long time to come. Drying flowers is a simple and inexpensive way to preserve these cherished moments. There are multiple ways to use your flowers and preserve them for crafts and decorations. Whether they were a gift, or from a special day they can be made into something to enjoy long after that time has passed.Dried flowers can be used for a variety of purposes. For a special event, such as a wedding, some people want to preserve their bouquets. After following drying instructions bouquets can be placed as a wall hanging next to the wedding photo, in a shadow box, or simply placed on a table or in a hutch. After flowers are dried they can also be put back in a vase and set on a table. If a single flower is preserved, perhaps to save on space, it can be laid over the wedding frame on in front of the wedding photo. Individually dried flowers can also be used when making a wreath. Flowers do not have to have special meaning, any flower that dries well can be used to make an arrangement. In addition to adding a variety of leaves, berries, ribbon or other embellishments, dried flowers look beautiful in a wreath. Sometimes less is more, if your wreath is not looking right, try lessening the amount of items in it.Air drying is by far the easiest and cheapest method of drying flowers including roses. It is simple; all you have to do is follow these simple instructions. Start with perfect and unflawed roses on their stems. If the roses are not in perfect condition, they will wither and the petals will fall off. Remove any leaves that may be on the branches. Bunch them up together in a manner that lets them fan out. Tie the bottom with string or a rubber band. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry place for two to three weeks to be certain that they are completely dry.The rose drying technique using sand requires a bit more effort, but works good. Cut a rose while it is at its best, and clip the stem so that about 1 inch is left. Be sure the leaves and stem are dry. This means no dew or other water. Put florists wire into the stem and into the head of the flower. Next locate an open deep box and start filling it with white sand till the roses can stand erect in the sand.Now carefully start putting sand around the base, and over and under all of the petals. The object is to use the sand as a method to keep the shape of the rose. Continue filling the box with sand until every rose is enclosed. Move the sand and rose filled box to a dry place and leave it for 1 to 3 weeks. Be very careful when transferring dried roses, they are very fragile. With caution tilt the box to start emptying the sand. Hold onto all roses as they become free of the sand and keep going till all roses are sand free.Flowers can also be preserved by being pressed. This method is simple and can be used for things you want to keep forever, or for special cards or invitations. Although you can buy kits to press, they can also be made by having several layers of cardboard stacked with flowers laid out on each sheet and then bound with adjustable straps that you can tighten to ensure a successful drying process. Pressed flowers are very versatile in their uses. When making wedding announcements a pressed flower of the wedding colors is a beautiful addition to the invitations. They can also be used to make cards or baby announcements. Another option for pressed flowers is to place them as a garden scene in an old window or frame. Glue them on a separate piece of glass, not part of the original frame, cut to the same size and then placed and secured to the frame. Any size can be attractive and used any where in a home, from a bathroom to bedroom. The flowers do not have to be the center of the picture, but can also be placed around a photo or poem on the mat. This is a wonderful way to incorporate the flowers to the event, but do it in a small, elegant way.If you can find a way to preserve special memories they will bring joy for years. Although fresh flowers are beautiful, dried ones can be just as enjoyable. By finding various ways to use your flowers, you will be surrounded by your memories and remember those happy times when life might be more difficult.
Technorati Tags: memories, roses, Save
Posted on Feb 16, 2010 under silk flowers |
- Roses w/Ceramic Vase Silk Flower Arrangement.
- Bold and beautiful ¨C those two words perfectly describe this colorful arrangement of silk Roses.
- Ideal for any home or office space.
- ceramic vase lends an air of class that will stand the test of time.
- Height – 11 in, Width – 11 in. Pot size – W: 4.75 in, H: 6.75 in.
Product Description
The delicate petals of the beautiful, colorful Rose blooms are made all the more striking by the soft bed of lush green leaves, making this a rather prominent piece. And these colors are supported by a stately ceramic vase… More >>
New Nearly Natural Roses w/Ceramic Vase Silk Flower Arrangement Perfect Brilliant Color
Technorati Tags: arrangement, Brilliant, color, flower, natural, Nearly, Perfect, roses, silk, vase, w/Ceramic
Posted on Feb 09, 2010 under dried foliage |
- Premium Quality Silk Reproduction
- Elegant life-like design
Product Description
While roses provide the exquisite color, berries and twigs add texture to this contemporary square glass bowl. This delightful arrangement is sure to draw attention as a centerpiece in any area of your home or office. (L)8″(W)8″(H)10″… More >>
Faux Roses with Berries in Vase
Technorati Tags: berries, Faux, roses, vase
Posted on Sep 15, 2009 under dried flowers |
Wedding bouquets can be dried and preserved by simply hanging them upside down in a cool, dark place. Discover other ways to preserve a bridal bouquet with advice from the owner of a trendy boutique florist in this free video on wedding flowers.
Expert: Melissa Seykora
Bio: Melissa Seykora is the owner of A Village of Flowers in trendy Hillsboro Village in Nashville, Tennessee.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge
Duration : 0:1:29
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Technorati Tags: arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres, bridal, centerpieces, decorations, floral, florists, flower, flowers, lilies, ribbon, roses, vases, wedding, weddings
Posted on Sep 13, 2009 under dried flowers |
Large hydrangeas are perfect to use as bridal bouquets, and the stems simply need to be bound together with wire, dried off completely and wrapped in satin ribbon to match the wedding colors. Create a simple and fresh bridal bouquet with helpful tips from an experienced professional florist in this free video on wedding flowers.
Expert: Crystal Nassar
Contact: www.tuscanflorist.com
Bio: Crystal Nassar is a floral designer and part of a family-owned business, Tuscan Florist, with more than 30 years experience in the floral industry.
Filmmaker: Gina Miller-Britton
Duration : 0:3:39
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Technorati Tags: arrangements, bouquets, bridal, centerpieces, floral, florist, flower, flowers, fresh, hydrangeas, roses, silk, wedding
Posted on Aug 02, 2009 under dried flowers |
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/1748-flower-arrangement-grecian-urn-design
In this episode, the Flowergod designs a flower arrangement in a Grecian urn which consists of pink roses, hanging amaranth, lavender carnations, lemon leaf, Hianthus, Plumosa, dried kangaroo paw, dried green Hydrangea, and dyed silver dollar Eucalyptus.
Duration : 0:2:25
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Technorati Tags: Anniversary, arrangement, bouquet, centerpiece, decorator, design, Display", Event, floral, flower, how-to, instructional, Lesson, mindbites, roses, tutorial, video, wedding
Posted on Jul 31, 2009 under dried flowers |
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/1697-flower-arrangement-candle-centerpiece
The Flowergod designs a candle centerpiece using cedar, pine, some pine cones, roses, and seed pods. The candle is raised up above the container to keep the wicks dry. The rest of the materials are arranged in a low container.
Duration : 0:3:5
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Technorati Tags: Anniversary, arrangement, bouquet, centerpiece, decorator, design, Display", Event, floral, flower, how-to, instructional, Lesson, mindbites, roses, tutorial, video, wedding
Posted on Jul 03, 2009 under dried flowers |
Templates available from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=225e759a91841110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=paper%20roses&rsc=ns2006_m2
I had to pull the other one uploaded because of music… This video was never meant as an instructional. It was just something I did to show how easy a coffee filter could be made into a beautiful work of art. The video is far from sterling. The lighting is off. The rose is almost never center. But many people have requested it being slowed down. I would have to say, go to Martha Stewart’s website and see if they still have the video online. Get the instructions and templates there as well. Have fun.
Tools and Materials
Box of disposable cone coffee filters (8 filters will make one full bloom rose)
Scissors
Coffee filter rose templates
16-gauge floral wire
Floral tape
Water color paint
Flat brush
Bamboo skewer
Glue stick
Coffee Filter Roses How-To
1. Trace and cut petal shapes through both layers of filters, as per templates.
2. Form rose. With coffee filter No. 1, take four connected petals and poke an 18-inch length of 16-gauge floral wire down through the center of the bottom of one end petal so 1/2 inch of the wire remains sandwiched between two opposite petals.
3. Wrap adjacent two petals tightly around first two petals; wrap with floral tape around base, then 1/2 inch down wire, to secure.
4. When working with floral tape, pull it as you work to expose the sticky part of the tape.
5. With coffee filter No. 2, take four connected petals and sandwich “flower bud” between two opposite petals. On the adjacent petal pair, gently tear the perforation of the base so that you have a strip of 2 side-by-side petals. Wrap this petal strip around the other two petals and secure with tape.
6. With coffee filter No. 3, take four connected petals and gently tear the perforation at the base to create a strip of four petals. Wrap this petal strip around flower bud and secure with tape.
7. With coffee filter No. 4, gently tear the perforation at the base of petal shapes to create a strip of five petals. Wrap this petal strip around flower bud and secure with tape. (The folded petal gives rose stability and a more rounded form.)
8. With coffee filter No. 5, place three petals, overlapping slightly on rose and wrap just once (to avoid bulk) with floral tape to secure.
9. Wrap remaining three petals opposite the first three. Repeat for shapes cut from filters Nos. 6, 7, and 8. Use finger and thumb to separate petals, creating air pockets and making petals curve outward from the base. Use 3 or 4 extra single petals to fill in holes and give a rounded shape.
10. To paint the roses, use watercolor paints, mixed with a bit of water. Paint the base color, first doing the bottom, then the top, working from the inside out. Accentuate with a darker color on the tips. Use a flat brush to apply a third color of undiluted watercolor to edges. Let dry overnight.
11. Once painted roses are dry, curl left and right sides of outer petals around a bamboo skewer to create a point. Work your way from the outside to the inside of rose. Curl inner petals just slightly by wrapping top straight down around bamboo skewer.
12. Add five paper sepals secured with floral tape to short stem. Wrap floral tape in a spiral down wire stem several times to create a thick roselike stem. Burnish stem with skewer to smooth tape. Cut 6 paper leaves and sandwich a 4-inch wire between. Use a glue stick to stick 6 leaves together with a 4-inch wire stem.
13. Secure leaves to stem with floral tape.
Duration : 0:9:20
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Technorati Tags: coffee, filter, martha, Paper, roses, Show, stewart
