February 25, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline
As predicted in Friday’s post, flowers made an appearance at the Oscars red carpet in more ways than one. There were the fresh blooms lining the walkway, natch.
The floral color scheme was yellow, cream, white and green, which is extremely photogenic, says Rich Salvaggio, who works on the event in conjunction with Charisma Floats and Designs charismafloats.com. Red flowers, conversely, show up much darker, almost black, on TV.
Also photogenic were the celebrities who scored high marks for style in their flower-motif dresses.
Hilary Swank looked stunning in a black, one-shoulder Versace gown with delicate flower detailing. Lots of ladies chose red – Katherine Heigl, Miley Cyrus, Heidi Klum, Helen Mirren, Ruby Dee – but our fave was Anne Hathaway’s one-shoulder Marchesa creation with a sash of fabric red roses draping her elegant frame.
Also striking and inspired by nature was best actress winner Marion Cotillard’s ivory fishscale dress by Jean Paul Gaultier. (She won for her portrayal of singer Edith Piaf in “La Vie En Rose.”)
The topic of flowers even came up in red-carpet chit-chat. First, fashion designer and TV commentator Randolph Duke pointed out that at a packed, high-profile event such as the Oscars, a bright color like red pops, just as a flower does. “It’s a good day to be a flower!” he laughed.
Tilda Swinton, winner of the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in “Michael Clayton,” compared the red carpet to a flower bed. “But I don’t often stand in a flower bed in high heels,” she said.
This was, of course, before she snagged her statuette. Afterward, according to the Associated Press, she was so surprised by her win that all she could say was “wow, wow” as she left the stage.
As for post-show flower power, the Vanity Fair party was cancelled, but there were flowers galore at the Governors Ball, thanks to Mark's Garden marksgarden.net in Sherman Oaks, CA. The color scheme was simple: red and gold. Red roses (15 different kinds) and gold orchids from Thailand were the featured blooms. For a full report, visit yumsugar.com/1058444.
February 22, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline
Flowers were featured so prominently in spring fashion collections, it seems a good bet that we’ll see some floral accents at the Oscars on Sunday – perhaps a fresh bloom behind the ear of Keira Knightley or twice-nominated Cate Blanchett? Or maybe even Johnny Depp, definitely a risk-taker on the fashion front!
But even if they don’t, there will be flowers galore on the red carpet and everywhere else. This year, the color scheme is TV-friendly (I can’t say any more than that) so they should look just as pretty to viewers around the world as they do to the lucky few who see the ceremony in person.
I checked in with Rich Salvaggio (pictured above), who helps direct the massive project with Charisma Floats and Designs charismafloats.com. Specifically, he coordinates the efforts of 21 floral designers from around the country who come in to lend their talents.
Between 70,000 and 80,000 stems are used for the Oscars, including roses, lilies, carnations, alstroemeria, freesia, hydrangea, mini cala lilies, orchids, mums, sunflowers, snapdragon, French tulips, fresh wheat, ferns and ivy.
Most of the flowers arrived on Tuesday, which gives them time to open. The designers will be super busy right up until 11 a.m. Sunday, their final deadline.
In addition to decorating high-traffic areas – like the arrivals tent, artists’ entrance and the red carpet, just to name a few – there are 100 VIP arrangements to be made as well as bouquets for the dressing rooms. And new this year: special flowers for the winners’ walkway that only those clutching their awards will get to experience!
The stars, the gowns, the flowers, Jon Stewart – is it Sunday night yet?
February 21, 2008 | floral calendar
by
Jacqueline
Portland Flower Show
An annual rite of spring in Portland, Maine.
When: March 6-9, 2008
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Portland Company Complex
Price: $15 at the door, discounts available
Contact: 207-775-4403 or portlandcompany.com/flower/
February 21, 2008 | teleflora news
by
Jacqueline
Did you know that 2008 is the 100-year anniversary of Mother's Day? That's a big deal and a great time to celebrate all the good times you have with your family.
So, Teleflora is presenting a contest called America’s Favorite Mom. Your fave mom could win serious cash and prizes, and might get the chance to star in a primetime special on NBC! There are lots of other ways to win and even more ways to make this year's Mother's Day the best ever.
Check out these prizes:
• $25,000 grand prize for Most Popular Mom online contest
• $5,000 prize for Most Humorous Mom online contest
• $5,000 prize for Most Inspiring Mom online contest
• 15 chances to appear on the “Today” show
• 5 chances to star in NBC’s prime-time special on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May, 11)
• 17 chances to win free flowers for a year
• 85 chances to win $100 cash in a weekly sweepstakes
All you have to do is nominate a mom (yours or someone else’s).
For more information, go to americasfavoritemom.com.
February 20, 2008 | out and about
by
Jacqueline
Roses, lovely as they are in a bouquet, can be intimidating to gardeners.
But beautiful back-yard roses really don’t deserve their high-maintenance reputation. So says Steve Jones, president of the American Rose Society. “Generally speaking, roses are very easy to grow, despite what people think. They’re resilient plants.”
Just be aware of what disease problems you might face, depending on what part of the country you live in. If you deal with East Coast and Midwest humidity, your roses might be prone to black-spot fungus. On the West Coast, mildew on the leaves causes them to be white as well as distorted and curled.
So, before you plant, make sure you choose the best variety for your soil and climate. That way, your roses are less likely to depend on fungicide or pesticide to stay healthy and look good.
“There are so many types of roses – you can find one for almost any color and size in your yard,” he says, adding that there are about 40,000 rose varieties worldwide.
For more information about choosing, growing and pruning roses, to find out about an upcoming rose show or to become a member of the American Rose Society, visit ars.org.
On a personal note, Jones’ passion for roses runs in his family. His grandmother’s first name was Rose and his mom’s middle name was Rose. “She liked roses,” he says of his mother, “so we always did rosy things.”
(Rose photo courtesy of the American Rose Society.)
