home »

august 2008

Comment 1

August 26, 2008 | out and about

San Francisco offers floral delight this fall

by Jacqueline


Looking for a flower-focused getaway this fall? Try San Francisco, especially if you’re an orchid lover. While the summer months there can be surprisingly chilly, this famed city by the bay warms up in September, October and early November.

The temperate climate means you’ll see flowers all over the place, but be sure to spend some time at the Conservatory of Flowers, conservatoryofflowers.org, which boasts nearly 2,000 plant species from more than 50 countries around the world.

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
Historical Photo/Courtesy of San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

A national historic landmark, the conservatory is the oldest wood and glass greenhouse in North America; it was opened in 1879.

This gem of Golden Gate Park also houses the world’s largest public collection of high-altitude orchids (more than 700 of the 1,000 known species) as well as an important collection of endangered plant species.

The park “is a cultural and horticultural destination,” says Conservatory Director Brent Dennis, a landscape architect by training as well as an avid gardener and artist.

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
Photo by Kevin J. Frest/Courtesy of San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

“You could easily spend a whole day there if you like museums and gardens,” he says, adding that the Dahlia Garden, Rose Garden, Fuchsia Garden and Shakespeare Garden are among the highlights.

With so many flowers to choose from, can he name a single favorite? “I really do love roses, the fragrance, the color range, the beauty of their shape.”

Runners-up would be flowering shrubs like lilacs, magnolia and dogwood, which he first encountered years ago on his grandparents’ farm.

So, back to that flower-powered itinerary. Brent, a Toledo native and OSU grad, suggests that nature lovers also visit Muir Woods redwood forest while in the SF area.

And further afield? In the US, his favorite gardens include the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, mobot.org; Chicago Botanical Garden, chicago-botanic.org; and Huntington Gardens, near Pasadena, huntington.org. In Europe, he likes the formal estate gardens in Italy as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, kew.org, near London.

Flower Fact of the Day: Did you know that lily of the valley has a special connection to San Francisco? Find out what it is at: humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/comments/lily_of_
the_valley_up_a_tree.  
 

Comment 1

August 25, 2008 | out and about

Underground in Bloom contest spurs Tubes full of flowers

by Jacqueline


Flowers bring out the best in people, plain and simple. Research shows that blooms improve our moods and help us manage stress. Happy and calm, we become just that little bit nicer to be around. Guess we want to share the beauty and tranquility of the blossoms.

That probably sounds corny, I know. But if you don't believe me, consider the following examples and I'll bet you a bouquet that you'll change your mind.  

Flowers in a field

• In London, Underground transport system workers are proving that green thumbs aren't confined to country cottages. Nope, staffers of 45 stations and depots created gardens(!) amid the tunnels and platforms and trains that make up the Tube network. (The world's first underground railway, the system started in 1863.)
They're taking part in the Underground in Bloom competition, which awards a top prize of about $600. Categories include Best Overall Station, Best Hanging Baskets and Best Cultivated Garden; winners will be announced Sept. 9. To read more, visit: enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/localnews/3606904.Flower_power_
rules_on_the_Tube.

• A fellow blogger wrote about seeing Honor Flower Stands while on vacation in Long Island, dominomag.com/daily/blogs/germinatrix/2008/08/honor-flower-st.html. Here's the concept: flower growers fill stands with charming flowers, leave a jar or cashbox and trust that people will pay for what they take. Simple, huh?

• Not long after reading that, I learned from another blog twisstedswisster.com that Honor Flower Stands are common in Switzerland. As SwissMerica puts it: "The Swiss like flowers. Flowers are everywhere. The weekend market, the kiosk ... vending machines."

• Meanwhile, The Open Rose Florist in Santa Rosa, Fla., is giving away bouquets of roses for free! IF, that is, you keep one rose for yourself, and give the other 11 away in honor of Good Neighbor Day, Sept. 3. Get the full story at: srpressgazette.com/news/free_4679___article.html/
shop_nothing.html.  

Flower Fact of the Day: Like late bloomers? Then you'll love the bright purple Karvy flower of Mumbai (Bombay), which blossoms only once every 8-10 years. Read more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7580725.stm.  
 


Comment 1

August 22, 2008 | floral trends

Top 5 wedding flowers: Roses and ...

by Jacqueline


According to Brides.com, the most popular blooms with brides are:

Roses

Hydrangeas

Peonies

Gardenias

Sweet Peas

Pink rose
Photo courtesy of the American Rose Society

Those are all great flowers, though somehow I'm surprised calla lilies, orchids or amaryllis didn't make the list.

The site also offers a fun quiz to find your flower style, a handy guide of 44 blooms (complete with photos) that you might consider for your bouquet, and a tool that searches flowers by color, style and cost.

Check it out at: brides.com/weddingstyle/decorations/flowerfinder.

It’s a great place to get started, but nothing beats working with a talented florist. He/she can help you select flowers that reflect your personality and taste as a couple as well as the mood of your wedding. That’s often a tall order and online calculators don’t take into consideration the subtle nuances of who you are and what you want. Also, sometimes what you need help with is narrowing down the choices, not broadening them.

And a little snag with the search I mentioned was that several times it gave me: “No flowers matched your search. Select different categories.” My advice: Use those tools to educate yourself, then connect with your local Teleflora florist.

Do you have a favorite wedding flower or a question about choosing flowers for a wedding? If so, write in and I'll get you an answer.

Flower Fact of the Day: Nearly a million begonias as well as dahlias, grass and soil formed a carpet of flowers in Brussels’ Grand Place square last weekend. The event takes places every two years; this year’s pattern was inspired by a 17th century French carpet. To read the full story, go to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080815/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief
_belgium_flower_carpet and for visuals, visit: thefirstpost.co.uk/45149,features,brussels-in-bloom.  
 

Comment

August 21, 2008 | teleflora news

Teleflora’s Rich Salvaggio snags two awards in 10 days

by Jacqueline


When a prestigious group wants to surprise one of its members with a major award, it takes a carefully crafted strategy and lots of coordination to pull it off. No slips, no flubs and maybe a few fibs.

That was the case recently for Teleflora's Rich Salvaggio, who last month received the American Institute of Floral Designers' highest award: the AIFD Award of Distinguished Service. This commendation, held in Chicago, makes Rich a fellow and lifetime member. (To read more about the event and other award winners, visit aifd.org.)

But Rich went into the event thinking that, as the AIFD board had recently agreed, there would be no fellow named that year. He did a double-take when at the ceremony it became clear that a fellow would be named. Seven sentences into the introduction, it dawned on Rich that he was being honored.

Tom Simmons and Rich Salvaggio
AIFD outgoing president Tom Simmons (left) awards Rich Salvaggio the Institute's Award of Distinguished Service.

Overcome with emotion, his first thought was: "I have to go up there and say something smart," he laughs. "Of course, later I thought of 700 things I could've said that were brilliant."

Still, he managed to draw on his nearly 40 years in the floral business for some wisdom. "I talked about the importance of education and how important it is that when you go back home, you teach someone else what you learned. That's what makes the learning worthwhile, that you share the knowledge."

Rich is the AIFD's 27th fellow, many of whom joined him on stage. "These are the founding mothers and fathers of the industry and for education. They're floral icons. To think of all those icons and to all of a sudden be one, it's a great honor."

But the surprises weren't quite over. Less than 10 days later, Teleflora president Shawn Weidmann (who'd attended Rich's big night in Chicago) asked Rich to stay over one extra night at a Texas State Florists' Association event. The reason? Teleflora chairman Tom Butler would be receiving an award and a Teleflora representative needed to be on hand.

Rich agreed, suspecting nothing. When it turned out that Rich, in fact, had won organization's Lifetime Achievement Award, his head was spinning, yet again. "All I could think was, twice in 10 days, how could they have duped me a second time?!"

Flower Fact of the Day: The American Institute of Floral Designers was established in 1965 by a group of leading floral designers to promote the art of floral design as a professional career. Today, it is the floral industry's leading non-profit organization, with 1,200 members worldwide.
 

Comment 2

August 20, 2008 | out and about

Flower power transforms a school garden

by Jacqueline


I made two terrific floral discoveries and wanted to share them with you.

First, this Chinese proverb: "A garden, where one may enter in and forget the whole world, cannot be made in a week, nor a month, nor a year; it must be planned for, waited for and loved into being." 

I found this little nugget of insight on the web site for The Learning Garden at Venice High School in Venice, California: thelearninggarden.org.

Trumpet Vine

The Learning Garden, founded in 2001, is one of the country’s largest and most successful school gardens.

Previously, the 60,000-foot plot of land was filled with trash and weeds, and was a magnet for vandalism. But, thanks to the efforts of students, teachers, community organizations, benefactors and volunteers, today the garden is a magical place.

It boasts a California native plant and cacti garden, a large medicinal plant section, and a pond with a water garden and waterfall. Students grow organic food and take classes like tai chi and natural food cooking. Those who spend time there enjoy the visual beauty, relaxing atmosphere as well as the chance to connect with and learn about nature and the environment.

Julie Mann and David Crow founded the garden. The Garden Master is David King. Diane Pollock teaches the Horticulture Program at Venice High School. Students from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine played a major role in developing the Chinese medicinal herb garden.

The Agape Spiritual Center helps out with work days and special projects at the garden. The UCLA Horticulture Department teaches its extension program at the Learning Garden. Students from Emperor’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine contributed the herbal database.

Curious? Visit the garden's web site and take a virtual tour.

Flower Fact of the Day: Black-Eyed Susan is a plant that can take summer's sizzling temperatures. Betsy Jukofsky shares other flowers that can beat the heat at: islandpacket.com/lowcountrylife/story/579477.html.