Kamis, 05 Maret 2009

The Secret To Caring For Your Flowers

Knowing some of a florist's secrets for flower care is the best means of ensuring a prolonged life for a healthy bouquet of flowers. The first thing to know about floral care is immediate care. You can compare a florist to a doctor in a maternity ward, checking that the newly arrived bundle is in good health and will stay that way. As soon as a floral shipment arrives, the florist gets to work, as immediate care is necessary for living plants.

As our world is becoming considerably more ecologically conscious, many florists use natural methods of prolonging the life of plants, which often turn out to be less expensive methods. If you are ecologically conscious, you may prefer knowing some natural tips for floral care. There are some secrets not widely known which offer great protection and life extension to your flowers, as well as some widely known old-wives tale type of tips, which often do have merit to them. Uncovering these secrets of the trade will simplify floral care and leave your flowers looking better for longer.

From the moment cut flowers are in your possession, you must take measures to care for them. Time is of the essence in these moments of primary care. Immediately place the flowers to soak in a bowl while you get yourself ready: find the appropriate vase, have the plant food at hand, find a strong pair of shears or a sharp knife, and room temperature water (on the cooler, rather than warmer, side).

Fill the vase, and add whatever plant food/anti-bacterial product you plan to use. Turn on the tap, and placing each stem under the running water, cut about an inch and a half off of each flower. It is important to keep the flower under a constant stream of water, as this will avoid air bubbles from forming, which temporarily cut off the water supply to the flower. Use either a knife or very sharp shears to cut the stems. It is a terrible mistake to cut with scissors as it will end up flattening the stem without cutting it. This will also damage the water supply from stem to flower.

When cutting, cut at an angle, as that makes greater surface area for the water to enter the stem. Cut off any leaves that will be under water, as left on the stems, they will begin to rot and promote bacterial growth. Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight and heat, and change the water often. These initial steps will ensure a healthy bouquet.

For those seeking natural means of protecting and caring for flowers, the only thing to avoid from the above-mentioned description of flower care will be the plant food and anti-bacterial preservative to keep the plants healthy. There are many natural formulas for those preferring to avoid the chemicals found in plant food. Water is the essential element for all of life to survive. So, ensuring that your plant gets the best water for it will ensure a longer life.

Soft, acidic water is best for flowers, as it optimizes the flowers' veins bringing up water to the rest of the plant. When you change the water daily, trim off a bit more of the stem to cut off any bacteria that may be living at the stem entrance, as well as reopen the stem's vein. Use a vase that allows room for the flowers. When flowers are packed together tightly, they have less air, and more chances of rotting. White sugar is really all that plants need for food, and can substitute plant food.

Old wives tales often turn out to be valuable natural care methods, so read on to learn about these. As silly as some old wives tales seem, this folklore often has a scientific basis, and should never be discarded off the bat. Instead of using the chemicals of plant food, throwing a copper penny into the vase really will help your plants, as copper is a natural fungicide which prevents the growth of yeast and fungus.

Acidic water is healthy for flowers, as it helps keep levels of bacteria in water low. While throwing an aspirin into the vase won't bring down a fever, it will help kill bacteria, as aspirin is acidic. Lemon juice or vinegar, with their strong acidity, works as well.

To finish up, let's divulge some little known secrets of the florists! Always keep your bouquets away from sources of electricity, as the waves emitted will dehydrate flowers. If you notice that your flowers are already dehydrated and weakening, there is a "miracle cure" hot water treatment. Wrap the ends of the stems in a newspaper, secured by a rubber band, and immerse into boiling water for about 20 seconds, followed immediately by immersion in cold water. This is known to bring life back to flowers by stimulating water absorption.

Another great tip that helps prevent wilting is to keep your flowers refrigerated (in water) for a few hours before displaying them. For instance, imagine flowers for weddings – it's often impossible to prepare the flowers the day of the wedding. So florists prepare them a day in advance, and keep them in a large fridge overnight.

Florists follow these time tested tips, and as a result, they show off beautiful, healthy flowers. You don't need to be a florist to show off your own beautiful flowers! Taking care of a bouquet can extend its life by as much as a few weeks, and the effort needed to achieve this is quite minimal. Remember that the most decisive moments of your flowers lifespan are the moments the flowers are first in your possession. Take good care upon receiving them, and they will thrive. In caring for them, many natural methods are just as useful as plant food and preservative, so they are worth looking into.

Lastly, don't ignore the folklore surrounding flower care, as it holds much wisdom and does improve a bouquet's health. As with all things natural and living, it is often the simplest things which are needed to stay healthy and strong. So keep your flowers watered and fed, and you'll have a healthy bouquet which will age beautifully!

About The Author
edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

How to Increase the Live Span of Your Flowers

Many people buy their fresh cut flowers at florists, but there are others that cut them from their own garden. Flowers come in many shapes and colors, this way you have many choices to choose from to make the arrangement you want. Once the flower is cut, the life expectancy is not very long but you can use tricks like aspirin in the water to keep them living as long as possible.

  • A cut flower is one that has been cut at the stem and placed in a vase of water. Cut flowers are grown from both annual and perennial plants. Do not place your fresh cut flowers in front of heaters as well as electrical devices such as TVs or computers. Cut flower will stay fresher and look vibrant if you keep them out of drafts and direct sunlight.

  • Dropping a penny in a vase will decrease the lifespan of flowers. Cut flowers in a vase are the perfect decoration for your home; they bring a waft of fresh air in the room and make people happier. Bacteria are the main cause of deterioration of flowers. Make sure that your water and vase are clean before use. Adding the proper plant food to your arrangement will keep your bouquet healthy. If you add warm water to your bouquet the flowers will open faster.

  • An air bubble in the stem would prevent the flower from getting water and nutrients. Also make sure that only the flowers stem is under water. Always replace your water after 2-3 days. When you place the flowers in water and the leaves are submerged in the water, bacteria might form on the leaves that are under the water so cut them off. You want to cut them at an angle to give them more surface area to absorb nutrients through. Cutting them under water is important because it prevents air from getting into the veins in the stem of your flower.

Certain flowers need special care. Flowers last longer when you trim the stem on an angle; this allows the water to flow up thru the stem. Flowers that have woody stems will last longer if you crush the stem and split it for all the water to flow easily thru the stem. If you are making an arrangement and you do not want the stems to show, place them in a criss cross pattern so the end of the stems are in the middle. A few extra stems will allow you to add special touches.

The colors of tulips typically follow the color trends that are generally popular. Decide what kinds of flower go with the kind of party you're going to throw. Roses are one of the romantic flowers, tulips are known as elegant flowers, sunflowers and daisies are known as free and whimsical while carnations are especially known as being the casual flower. One of the more popular flowers are tulips, they are easy to grow and they don't need much care, and when you cut them and put them in water they look great, this is what makes them so popular.


About The Author
This article is written by Doug Mahopac and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

How To Make Cut Flowers Last Longer

If you want to make your investment in the flowers you purchase at your local florist or any other location last then there are some things that you must do to ensure that they last.

A main cause of deterioration in flower vases is bacteria. Make sure your vase is clean and your water is pure, plus replace your water after 2-3 days. If any of the leaves lower down the stem are submerged under water, cut them off to prevent the spread of bacteria. Also, using floral food provided by your florist should kill harmful bugs and dirt.

The first thing that you want to do is cut off excessive leaves and greenery which will just suck up the water and nutrients that you want to go to your flowers. Next, cut the bottom of the stems on an angle to open the flowers up to receive the water and nutrients. As you place them in the vase you will want to criss-cross the stems to allow the flowers to be arranged more easily and present a fuller look.

For a taller floral arrangement you will want to use a slimmer and taller vase to make your flowers look better proportioned and last longer. Tulips and Gladiolas are a couple of types of flowers that work well in this type of situation. A tall arrangement really stands out and makes an impression.

Another trick that helps to make your floral arrangement look more natural is to cut the stems of the flowers at different heights. Doing this will allow your arrangement to mimic the look of a natural garden. Also use odd numbers of flowers, such as using 3 roses together or 5. Even numbers just don't work as effectively. If you use 5 roses for example, Place 3 together cut at different lengths near the bottom center of the vase and then two higher up.

Never place your flowers in bright or overheated areas in your home. This breeds bacteria and causes an excess water loss. Use a vase that is in proportion to the size and amount of flowers that you have ordered. This could create even more water loss that you are not aware of.

You can't go wrong with flowers as a gift but by following the tips above, the flowers will last longer. Be sure to teach the person you are giving the flowers to the tips so that your gift will be appreciated and enjoyed much longer.


About The Author
This article is written by Gregg Hall and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Flowers: Rose & Roses, Flower Tips, Flower Care

Most individuals could not defy a rose's beauty and aroma. These flowers are considered a bit hard to grow, but anybody can begin rose gardening in the convenience of their own backyard.

To be sure that your most treasured roses are in the pink or even red of their health, just follow these tips on coping with every rose health perplexity:

1. Black Spots on Foliage
This disease is usually known as black spot. Black spots occur as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They make the leaves yellow. The answer is to get rid of the infected foliage and collect any fallen leaves around the rose. Artificial sprays may be used to stop or treat this type of rose disease.

2. Stunted or distorted young canes

Called powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that blankets leaves, stems and buds with wind swept white powder. It causes the leaves to roll and become purple. Spray with an organic antifungal to treat this fungal disease that could destroy your rose garden.

3. Injured underside of leaves
A disease of roses called rust is characterized with orange-red blisters that turn black in the fall. In spring, it blisters new sprouts. This disease can even live through winter. What you can do is to pick up and toss away leaves that are infected in the fall. Organic anti-fungal spraying every 5 to 7 days may help.

4. Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers

What probably caused this is the occurrence of spider mites. They are small yellow, red or green spiders on the underside of the foliage. They suck juices from leaves. The application of a strong stream of water may help in treating this infestation.

5. Weak and blotched leaves with tiny white webs under them
This might be the work of aphids. They are tiny soft-bodied insects that are normally brown, green or red. Sometimes clumped under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from the delicate buds. A strong stream of water from a garden hose may help roses to endure these bugs.

6. Flowers that don't open or are distorted when they open.
Thrips could be the cause behind this distortion and unopened flowers. It is defined with slender, brown-yellow bugs with bordered wings flourishing in flower buds. These bugs also suck juices from flower buds. You should cut and get rid of the infested flowers. Using neem oil spray may also treat this problem of your roses.

This important information concerning the diseases your roses are inclined to have will prove to be very helpful in making your rose gardening effort more rewarding.


About The Author

This articles is written by James Ellison and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. James's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics.



Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Rabu, 04 Maret 2009

6 Most Common Dangers to Roses and Their Fix

Most individuals could not defy a rose's beauty and aroma. These flowers are considered a bit hard to grow, but anybody can begin rose gardening in the convenience of their own backyard.

To be sure that your most treasured roses are in the pink or even red of their health, just follow these tips on coping with every rose health perplexity:

1. Black Spots on Foliage
This disease is usually known as black spot. Black spots occur as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They make the leaves yellow. The answer is to get rid of the infected foliage and collect any fallen leaves around the rose. Artificial sprays may be used to stop or treat this type of rose disease.

2. Stunted or distorted young canes

Called powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that blankets leaves, stems and buds with wind swept white powder. It causes the leaves to roll and become purple. Spray with an organic antifungal to treat this fungal disease that could destroy your rose garden.

3. Injured underside of leaves
A disease of roses called rust is characterized with orange-red blisters that turn black in the fall. In spring, it blisters new sprouts. This disease can even live through winter. What you can do is to pick up and toss away leaves that are infected in the fall. Organic anti-fungal spraying every 5 to 7 days may help.

4. Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers

What probably caused this is the occurrence of spider mites. They are small yellow, red or green spiders on the underside of the foliage. They suck juices from leaves. The application of a strong stream of water may help in treating this infestation.

5. Weak and blotched leaves with tiny white webs under them
This might be the work of aphids. They are tiny soft-bodied insects that are normally brown, green or red. Sometimes clumped under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from the delicate buds. A strong stream of water from a garden hose may help roses to endure these bugs.

6. Flowers that don't open or are distorted when they open.
Thrips could be the cause behind this distortion and unopened flowers. It is defined with slender, brown-yellow bugs with bordered wings flourishing in flower buds. These bugs also suck juices from flower buds. You should cut and get rid of the infested flowers. Using neem oil spray may also treat this problem of your roses.

This important information concerning the diseases your roses are inclined to have will prove to be very helpful in making your rose gardening effort more rewarding.


About The Author

This article is written by James Ellison and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. James's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Beautiful Silk Flowers

Nothing is as refreshing as having a fresh bouquet of Silk flowers in your home to brighten up your mood. Not only do they add some class but they make you feel better. If you want to enjoy the benefits of having a variety of flowers in your home everyday but can't afford the costs or bear to cut that many of your beautiful flowers then you can always go with a range of plastic or Silk flowers. To add some scent you can apply some potpourri oil to the foam at the base of the vase and it will seem as though you are smelling fresh flowers.

To create your own personalized floral arrangement, all you need is a pair of pliers to bend the wire, a pair of wire cutters to cut the stems, tape, wire, floral tape, and foam. Next, select a wide container such as a basket, vase, or bowl. Go with a holder that matches the color of the room that you plan to place it in.

Select silk flowers that are proportionate to each other so that they will blend in nicely together. Silk flowers make the perfect decoration for any occasion. If you are looking to pick up the atmosphere in your home or you have an event that you would like to add extra flavor to, go with silk flowers.

The nice thing about silk flowers is that the beauty is everlasting. You don't have to worry about your poor plant not getting enough water and dying in the sun. Silk flowers will never die, and the color will also stay true. They are also very convenient to use, as they don't require as much attention as typical flowers do. You can leave them in a nice ceramic vase and they will be just fine for years to come.

About The Author
This article is written by Jane Smithston and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

The Benefits of Silk Roses

No one can argue the fact that any kind of rose is beautiful, any color, any shape. You can get them in red, pink, cream and yellow. But when it comes to silk roses, you may get them in just about any color you like. They can be used for anything from weddings to gifts.

If you have decided to use silk roses for your special wedding day, it would have been a good choice as they will not die and fall apart before the ceremony – they will still look beautiful years later! The nice thing about using silk flowers for a wedding is that you can also use them to celebrate your first anniversary. It will make the day even more unique if you used the same flowers as you did on your wedding day for your anniversary. If you bought a lot of silk roses for the wedding, you could also hand some out to the guests as they would appreciate that. What will also be nice for the wedding is having the flower girl throw silk petals or just drop them as she walks.

Silk roses are available in many different styles too. You can get them in a bouquet or just a single rose. You may also choose the color and if you ask nicely I am sure you could get a bouquet of silk roses mixing all your favorite colors! For weddings and occasions like that, you could have your silk flowers in pretty little baskets.

Women will also appreciate a bunch of these silk roses. There doesn't have to be an occasion for a man to buy his girlfriend or his wife a bunch of silk roses. He could just do it every now and then to remind her how much he loves her.

Overall, silk roses make the perfect compliment to many different occasions. The timelessness of silk roses gives it a unique edge in the world of flowers.


About The Author
This article is written by Jane Smithston and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Tips on Silk Flower Arrangements

I bought some beautiful fall silk flowers and I put them in a vase and I just can't get them to look right. Ideally, the tallest flowers should be two to three times as tall as the vase you're using. That will depend on the size of the vase. The larger the vase, the taller the flowers should stand. Otherwise, you're going to draw attention to the vase rather than the flowers.

Arranging silk flowers is much like arranging fresh ones. You should start with some short greenery around the top of the vase to hold taller flowers in place as you add them. That way you get an idea of where you think the taller flowers would look best in the vase. When you start from the bottom and work your way up, the idea of how you want the flowers and the vase to look will be there before you know it.

I'm not sure which look you're going for - loose and airy, or rich and dense. If you're going for loose and airy, it's best to use flowers in odds. I start around the base of the vase, using an odd amount of the same flower in even spaces. Then the next layer toward the middle will be a bit taller, and the same flowers will fall sort of in between the first layer.

Reduce the number of flowers you use in each layer until the arrangement is pleasingly rounded on top. Then fill in with accent flowers. With this type of fall arrangement, I always recommend to use some wheat, cat-o-nine tails, or some curly willow tips which are my personal favorite, to trail off from the top of the arrangement.

If you're looking for rich and dense, then I recommend grouping in similar colors and textures. When colors are grouped, it has a much larger visual impact than if they are peppered throughout the arrangement. So grouping is perfect for making a bold statement. I'd also use larger flowers for this, such as clusters of hydrangea, sunflowers, large mums, and roses. With this type of arrangement, you'll stay away from too many fillers. They'll just cause a messy appearance.

When I'm using large flowers like these, I make a basic circle around the bottom, beginning the color-grouping, then I put a tall flower in the middle. Then fill in between with groupings of flowers. Depending on your personal preference, you can make the groups very defined, or you can sort of fade from one color group to the next by mixing a couple of flowers with the neighboring color.

Whichever type of arrangement you choose, try to use various heights and depths. The general idea is that the center flowers should be the tallest, the outermost flowers should be the shortest. This is a good rule to make the basic frame of your arrangement by. However, if you follow this to the T, you're going to end up with a blah arrangement that isn't very interesting to the eye.

So once you have your foundation flowers in place, make sure to stick a few flowers a little deeper than the ones surrounding it, and a few just slightly raised from the rest. This will keep the viewer's eye moving and really draw them into the arrangement.

They will be able to see all the colors of the flowers that you put in the vase and be able to admire the way that you put them together. Just make sure that when you put the flowers into the vase that not all of the flowers that have the same color are next to each other. Use different kinds of colors next to one another. That way, you will be able to see certain colors bring out other colors.

With most people, when they do flower arrangements they sometimes use the same color next to each other and that makes the people that are looking at your arrangement think that the flowers are too big to be put in the vase. So try to avoid that kind of thing. You can use the same color next to each other as long as one of the colors are either darker and lighter than the other one so it won't throw off the look of your arrangement.

About The Author
This article is written by Victor Epand and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. Victor Epand is an expert consultant.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

The Many Sides of Flowers

Funerals and weddings have something in common – flowers! In both cases, flowers are used to celebrate life; the end of a life and the beginning of a couple's life together. Flowers send many different messages for all sorts of different occasions.

An arrangement of daisies can be sent to cheer someone up and let them know that you're thinking of them. A dozen long-stemmed red roses says, “I love you” quite clearly. Flowers can be sent with get-well wishes, happy birthday wishes, congratulations on your new job or graduation, apologies, and of course, to new mothers to celebrate the birth of their new little one.

But let's face it; people can get through an illness, a birthday, a graduation, and more without a single blossom. That's not the case with a wedding. Start talking about a wedding and images of flowers come to mind. A wedding simply wouldn't be a wedding without a bridal bouquet and the many other arrangements that are part of the big day. From reception centerpieces, to corsages, to flower girl baskets to the wedding bouquets themselves, flowers are an essential element in a wedding.

When it comes to ordering flowers for your wedding, where do you begin? You can go from florist to florist scheduling consultations, or you can shop online for silk wedding flower packages that will cover all of your needs. Just turn on your laptop in the comfort of your living room or at a coffee shop with WIFI connection and you'll be on your way to planning the floral wedding of your dreams!

Silk wedding flowers are not only beautiful, but they're also practical. With silk flowers there isn't any worrying about whether or not the wedding bouquets will hold up in the heat or freeze in the cold. There are more colors and hues available than with fresh flowers and the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres are more durable than their fresh counterparts. If a silk bridal bouquet is dropped, it can easily be prepared if a bloom falls off or a stem gets bent. That's certainly not the case with fresh floral arrangements.

There isn't a better choice for the sentimental bride either. While you can preserve your fresh bridal bouquet, it's not going to look as good as your beautiful silk wedding bouquet ten or twenty years from now. You certainly can't pass your fresh bouquet on to your daughter for her wedding like you can your silk bridal bouquet.

Depending on the age of your flower girl, you may want to consider having a silk flower girl basket, no matter what. Children can be careless at times and you wouldn't want the flower arrangement that she's carrying to end up dropped and ruined.

If allergies are a problem with anyone in the wedding party, silk wedding flowers are the answer. There are many different silk wedding flower packages available online. Take the time to check them out before meeting with a local florist. You may be surprised at how much money you will save going with a silk wedding flower set.

About The Author
This article is written by Bonnie Goodwin and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. Bonnie Goodwin Ray has more than sixteen years experience in the wedding industry. She is the author of Wedding Planning Made Easier and has become a leading expert in silk wedding bouquets design.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Advice For Wedding Flowers

In recent years, silk flowers have become popular because it is a cheaper alternative to fresh flowers. Inexpensive silk wedding flowers can save money for your wedding. Designer wedding flowers are out and less expensive silk wedding flower arrangements are in.

Inexpensive silk flowers are easy to find and can even be used for you wedding flower centerpieces. Silk flower wedding arrangements have become an art. No longer is it simply a bunch of silk flowers stuffed in a green Styrofoam container. These days, silk flower arrangements can be made as elegant and stunning as fresh flower arrangements.

Inexpensive silk wedding flowers can be a great way to save money on flowers. One of the best things about using discount silk wedding flowers is that when the wedding is over, your guests can take home the centerpieces and have a stunning reminder of your wedding that will last forever.

A common wedding theme these days is NASCAR. Finding things to match the black and white theme you will use for your NASCAR wedding can be tough but finding black and white fresh flowers is impossible. This is where silk flowers can come in handy. If you're in need of black and white wedding flowers just visit your local silk flower shop. Silk flowers can be dyed any color you want. This ensures that no matter what the colors of your wedding you can get the perfect match.

With fresh flowers there is also a problem of certain flowers only being available during certain seasons. Try using a fresh daisy wedding bouquet or a fresh tulip wedding bouquet during the middle of winter. Not going to happen unless you're willing to pay a fortune. With silk flowers you don't have to worry about whether the particular flower you want is in season or not. You can find calla lilies and stars of Bethlehem any time of the year in a silk flower store.

Buying flowers that are native to your area can also save you money but what if the flowers you want for your wedding are native to Australia and you live in Ireland . Not to worry, silk flowers aren't native to anywhere. Silk flowers stores carry a large variety of silk flowers to fit their customers needs, and if they don't have it they can usually order it. Ever tried ordering a specific type and color of flowers from a florist, most won't guarantee the color because they never know exactly what colors will be available.

Finally, Silk flowers is less expensive and last longer than real flowers. Besides, it helps you save your money to plan for your wedding. Happy wedding!


About The Author

This article is written by Adelina Saelac and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.


Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Using Fake Flowers For Your Wedding

Just like the cost of everything else, the cost of having a wedding is skyrocketing. This is no surprise to anyone who has been recently involved in a wedding, and it is certainly no surprise to someone who is currently involved, in any way, with a wedding. If you are looking for ways to cut costs, one of the best ways is to do so by using silk flowers instead of real flowers for your wedding.

Wedding flowers can start to get pricey, especially if you want to use roses, lilies, or flowers that are out of season. Having them arranged is also an expensive proposition. By using silk flowers, however, you can cut your floral costs by between $100 and $800, depending on how many flowers, and what kinds of flowers, you were planning to use. Opt to do the table arrangements of your flowers, keeping them simple, and you can cut your flower related wedding costs by another $100 to $300. Some people save as much as $1,000 or more just by going with the fake flowers and doing most of the arrangements themselves.

Silk wedding flowers often look as good as the real thing. It is impossible to tell the difference from far away, and even up close, a good fake flower looks very nice. Your wedding can still retain all of its elegance when you use silk wedding flowers. And you will likely get a better price on a variety of flowers, especially roses, if you choose fake flowers. Most floral shops offer silk flower arrangements, and you can visit your regular florists and look at fake floral bouquets, boutonnières, and corsages. Additionally, you can ask about buying individual flowers or small table arrangements. It is also possible to have large arrangements made and delivered to the wedding or reception location using fake flowers (but keeping the arrangements small and simple so you can pick them up will save you more money).

The other advantage of using silk wedding flowers is their staying power. In today's more mobile world, chances are that you will need to have more than one reception (so that you can have some sort of celebration with both sides of the family). Real flowers are pretty much done after one use. They wilt and brown. Fake flowers remain fresh-looking and attractive, so you do not have to buy the flowers all over again at the next reception or open house. Additionally, they will keep forever. All you have to do is keep them dusted. No frustration or expensive processes to preserve your wedding bouquet. You can easily cherish your wedding bouquet, keeping it looking as beautiful as the day you wed, long after the last piece of frozen wedding cake has been eaten.

Silk wedding flowers can be a great way to make an elegant expression without spending a great deal of money. If you are looking for ways to have a wedding on a budget, using fake wedding flowers is a great way to cut costs.


About The Author
This article is written by Charles Kassotis and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Flowers For Your Wedding Day Hairstyle

Weddings are said to be the most important event in bride as well as groom's life. Brides are often seen fretting and fumbling over the best style that suits them due to the number of options to choose from. And what better way there is to choose a style than to include the flowers in the hairstyle as it provides both conventional as well as an exclusive approach.

Brides have been wearing flowers incorporated into their hairstyles for thousands of years. The early brides often wore simple clothing, but dressed up their treasured locks with buds and blooms from fragrant flowers. Often, these living tokens were symbols of good luck and prosperity.

Using simple flowers in a hairstyle works out to be much less expensive than choosing a costly headpiece or veil. So, if you are on a tight budget, don't add up extra expenses. Just get some beautiful stems and ask your hairstylist to include these blooms into your style.

It is always wise that your hairstyle should match the theme of your wedding, so give a close look at your dress and think what suits you more. Try to use few flowers so that the buds add grace to your marvelous face and not hide it. It is advisable to go in for trials before so that your hairstylist is able to give you that "oh, so perfect" look.

If you're going for an informal wedding, you may want to incorporate flowers in your wedding theme. Some brides use entire wreaths or combs of flowers in their hair to present that personal and informal touch. This is really beautiful during the spring or summer when the air is rich with fragrance and flowers are in abundance.

Consider incorporating flowers into your bridesmaids' hair as well as your own. Instead of carrying a traditional bouquet, have your maids or matrons don a headdress of fresh flowers that match your theme and colors. Many brides have used this option and found the results are simply stunning. Also, do not forget your flower girl when planning flower decorated hairstyles. Often, young girls wear a halo of blooms in addition to carrying a basket of petals.

Just picture the scene when you're throwing the ring of flowers instead of a traditional bouquet. This sure is an unusual way to lend that personal touch to the ceremony. Once you have decided on wearing a veil then either the flower can be included in the headpiece or even made a part of the veil. This will result in a beautiful and gorgeous you.

There are a numbers of ideas when it comes to incorporating the flowers to your hairstyle. Whatever may be your chosen and desired look, it can be easily achieved with these splendid blooms. You can find a style to call your own from any of the books and magazines giving basic knowledge on this. You can also access the Internet for more detailed information. Choose to radiate in all the beauty showered upon you by these beautiful flowers.


About The Author
This article by Ngo Franz and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Impress Your Loved Ones With Special Roses

Since ancient times, roses are considered to be the symbol of love and for centuries, giving someone a rose has been considered a beautiful gesture. Because roses are involved in so many stories and legends, each type of rose has its own meaning. So in a way, you can say that roses speak their own language.

Nowadays roses can be made more beautiful with the help of special inscriptions and other enhancements, and you can make your loved ones a really beautiful gift by giving them a special unique rose that will certainly impress them. You can do this without leaving your house with the help of the Internet. You can find special stores on the Internet that sell customized unique roses and deliver them to whomever you want together with a message from you if you want. This will definitely be a present that they will never forget.

There is a large variety of special single roses or rose bouquets that you can find available to order. Here are a few beautiful examples of what you can offer your loved ones :

If you want something simple, you can offer them a single stem rose that has a customized message on it. This message can be anything from 'Happy birthday', 'i love you', or even 'will you marry me'. These single roses also have a special wrapping around it.

If you want something more impressive, you can send a customized rose bouquet. This will contain the freshest roses, wrapped in a unique bouquet, and that can have your special messages printed on their petals. This bouquet may even have 30 roses in it, so it will surely impress.

You can also make some combinations with roses and other nice gifts like chocolate or champagne. Your loved one can receive a beautiful single rose together with a box containing the finest chocolate, and a love message from you. Or she can receive the rose (or rose bouquet) together with a bottle of luxury champagne.

Also, if you would like, you can send an artificial silk rose to your loved one, so she can keep it for a long time. These silk roses can also be sent with a special message on them or together with chocolate or champagne.

All the roses are very fresh and the bouquets are arranged by professional florists, so they would be a beautiful perfect gift for anyone!


About The Author

This article is written by Groshan Fabiola and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

The Meaning Of A Single Rose

Many feelings can be expressed by flowers, and this non-verbal language is very popular nowadays. Each one of us has sent at least one message to someone with the help of a flower. Sometimes whole conversations between two lovers are spoken through flowers. The most meaningful flower of all is considered to be the red rose. A single red rose is now usually used to send a message of love. There are also many messages that can be sent through single roses, like :
  • A single white rose is used by someone that wants to say 'I'm sorry' to his/her significant other. It also has some other meanings. Since medieval times, white roses are considered to be a symbol of light, purity and innocence. So sending a single white rose may also mean that you consider that person to be pure, or that your love is very pure.
  • A single yellow rose expresses happiness and love. Sending a single yellow rose to your other half means that you are happy with your love and relationship. But be careful because single yellow roses have two meanings! They can also express jealousy, so sending someone one can mean that you are jealous. The best thing to do is to attach a note to the rose, explaining exactly what you mean.
  • A single peach rose is used to send a message of friendship to a best friend or even to a lover.
  • A single purple rose expresses beauty. So if you want to tell someone he/she is beautiful send him/her a single purple rose.
  • A single pink rose is an elegant way of thanking someone because this is what pink roses transmit: gratitude.
  • Finally, a single black rose says 'it is over'. This is a way of ending a relationship - sending a single black rose together with a note.
But, as mentioned before, the single red rose is considered to be the most beautiful and romantic. Even from the ancient roman times, lovers give each other red roses. In those times, roses were the symbol of the Roman goddess Venus, the goddess of love, so ever since then a single red rose clearly states 'I love you'.

Also the red rose petals are used to symbolize love, and to create a romantic atmosphere. They can be left to float in the bath tub, or simply spread throughout the house or near the fireplace. If your lover is away, you can add some rose petals to your letters.

Red roses have been a continuous source of inspiration for artists everywhere and thousands of paintings and poems have been written inspired by roses or by a single red rose. It has been said that a single red rose speaks volumes, so choose the finest rose and send it to someone you love now.


About The Author

This article is written by Groshan Fabiola and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

How Do I Make My Dozen Roses Look Right?

When I first started to design flowers I often heard how designers had difficulty making a dozen roses look nice. That it was hard to keep the roses in place. But it is really very easy to do if you know a few simple basics.

1) First prepare the rose by taking off the bottom half of the leaves and popping off the thorns. Most people prefer the thorns off but as much as possible I leave the thorns on.

This is because taking them off can leave open wounds and may allow microbial bacteria to enter and shorten the life of the flower.

2) Cut the rose stem slantwise under water (so they don't get an air pocket that prevents them from drinking) and place in small bucket or vase that has warm water and flower food.

3) Make sure you have the right size vase. Too small and you'll have them all standing up straight and it will look funny. Too big and you'll have way too much space to fill in. This may sound like common sense but believe me; all beginning designers have made this mistake.

There are two ways that I have found to be the best:

a) Fill a vase with water ¾ of the way full. Take your greens (usually leather leaf) and start putting them in the vase starting from the outside all around and moving inward. The greens should be crisscrossing themselves. This gives a good stiff base for the roses to be able to stand without flopping.

Or:

b) Take a dry vase and clear floral tape. You can get this at a craft store and it is very sticky and water proof. Use this tape at the top of the vase by making a grid. You should leave enough room to allow the stem and greens to pass through. Fill the vase with water and flower food and start putting your greens in, same as before, start inserting from outside towards the inside stems crossing each other. The advantage to using the grid is you can use fewer greens. Now you are ready to place the roses in.

In most floral designing you design from the outside inward. But for roses I prefer the opposite. I start with what I call the anchor rose. I take my longest stem and stick it right in the middle. If you have done your greening correctly, is should stand straight up. Place the next 4 roses in around the first rose but slightly shorter. Continue in this fashion until all roses have been placed. Now stand back and look at it to see if you need to make any adjustments. Then place in the filler of your choice such as baby's breath. Finish with a bow and enjoy your creation.

There are many ways to place the roses but remember, keep it simple. Don't make it complicated. There is a beautiful motivational print called Beauty-White Magnolia that says, “Appreciate Simplicity”. That's my motto.

Enjoy!


About The Author

This article is written by Willie Jones and edited by Sophia from Streetdirectory Malaysia. Willie Jones is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist, for Art Inspires, Inc.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting

Significance of Roses

The rose, beautiful in all of its colours, is the most popular flower in the world. They are the very symbols of love and beauty, and are shrouded with layers of rich symbolisms. Whether or not you particularly like roses, you cannot deny that roses are widely used to show heart-felt sentiments and at important events such as weddings.

Here at Flower Advisor, we have an excellent variety of roses of various colours. However, let's start out by learning the significance and related facts about roses in general.

Origins
Did you know that the origins of the cultivated rose are speculated to be Northen Persia, on the Caspian, or Faristan on the Gulf of Persia? Or the fact that the oldest rose fossil to have been found was located in Colorado dating more than 35 million years ago?

Amazing isn't it?

As for the name, the word "rose" is of Latin origin from the word "rosa". It is also known as "acicularis", derived from the Latin word "acidula" which translates to "needle-like prickly", which is of course inspired from the thorns of roses.

Countries that produce roses
Roses mostly thrive excellently in temperate climates. However there are a few species that can be cultivated in sub-tropical and even tropical climates.

Amongst the countries that produce roses are India, Columbia, Ecuador, Uganda and Kenya in Africa, Israel and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is in fact, the top exporter of roses in the world.

Roses and numbers
Every denomination of roses serves a unique meaning in itself. So if you are seeking to send roses with a message in mind, this list should help you make a decision:

1 Rose - Love at first sight; you are the one
3 Roses - I love you
12 Roses - There are a dozen ways I care about you
18 Roses - I am sorry
24 Roses - Can't stop thinking of you - 24 hours a day
36 Roses - A romantic attachment unlike any other
48 Roses - An unchanging and unconditional love
99 Roses - I will love you for as long as I live
100 Roses - Devoted to you until we are at a ripe-old age
108 Roses - Please Marry Me!
999 Roses - Everlasting and eternal love

Roses and colours
Here's a brief mention about the significance of rose colours and combinations:

  • Red: An expression of love; a symbol of courage and respect
  • Pink: Admiration; a new love that has yet to bloom, appreciation, motherly love
  • White: Innocence, purity, secrecy, marriage, loyalty, reverence and humility
  • Yellow: Joy and deep friendship or platonic love. It could also denote jealousy, infidelity, a dying love and farewell.
  • Blue: Mystery, the impossible and the unattainable
  • Purple: Love at first sight, enchantment and all things magical

Roses in religion and mythology
Roses have always been symbols of love and beauty, since ancient times. The rose was sacred to the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite and thus the ancient Greeks and Romans associated roses with the Goddess.

Another Goddess that has been associated with roses is the Egyptian Goddess Isis. In ancient Egypt, roses were considered the most sacred of flowers and were used as offerings for Isis. Roses have also been known to be found in Egyptian tombs, where they have been used as funerary wreaths.

The rose is also often used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. It is said that roses are Mary's favourite flowers, and she used roses as a sign of her presence several times in history. She wore three garlands of roses and had tiny roses around the rim of her slippers at La Sallette. She brought lovely roses with her at Lourdes, Pontmain, Pellevoisin, Beauraing and Banneaux. To Sister Josefa Menendez she showed her immaculate heart encircled with little white roses.

Mary's wedding garment was also said to be “richly embroidered with blue, white, violet, and gold roses”. It is said that at the Incarnation, while the Angel vanished into the path leading to heaven, half-bloomed roses fell on Mary.

With all these associations with the beautiful flower, it is no surprise that Mary is referred to as the Mystical Rose, or Rosa Mystica in Latin.

Roses in history
Roses created an impact on history as well:

  • In England :
    In the 15 th century, the English were already cultivating and making hybrids of roses. Tudor Henry VII, the winner of the English War of Roses created the Rose of England by crossbreeding other roses. This Rose is also known as the Tudor Rose.

  • In China :
    Philosopher Confucius was said to have reported that the Imperial Chinese library is well-stocked with books on roses.

  • In Mesopotamia :
    Ancient Sumerians mentioned roses in a cuneiform tablet (a system of writing). It was written approximately 2860 BC.

Other facts about roses
As a National, State and Provincial flower

  • The rose is the national flower of England and the United States
  • The white rose is the provincial flower of Yorkshire and the red rose is the flower for Lancashire – both provinces in England
  • The rose is also the state flowers for Iowa, North Dakota, Georgia and New York
  • Portland, Oregon is also known as the City of Roses and holds a Rose Festival at a yearly basis.

As a symbol of secrecy
Sub Rosa, a Latin phrase translates into “under the rose” which basically means secrecy or confidentiality.

The rose and its connotation of secrecy started way back in Ancient Egypt and Greek Mythology.

In ancient Egypt , the rose was the Emblem for the God Horus. Horus was later known as the God of Silence.

In Greek mythology, it was said that Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and beauty gave her son Eros (Cupid) a rose. He in turn, gave it to Harpocrates (Horus), the God of Silence to make certain that his mother's indiscretions were kept under wraps.


About The Author
This article is written by Nuraishah from Streetdirectory Singapore.

Popular Search Tags: Flower Flowers Gift Basket Gifts Plants Presents Floral Baskets Bouquet
Lifestyle Popular Tags: Writing Arts Gambling Movies Automotive Wine Watches Golf Music Parenting