flower blog

Today's post is from guest blogger Cindy Cragg, home stylist for WILLIAMSBURG®, williamsburgmarketplace.com, the lifestyle brand of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.





It’s probably no secret that in the 18th century, when the rules of courtship were very strict, flowers were used to communicate messages between lovers. Seriously, how romantic!!

I think today it is commonly known that a red rose signifies love but you might be surprised how many flowers have meanings attached to them.

For fun, I decided to “de-code” the Williamsburg Golden Pitcher bouquet, teleflora.com/williamsburg.asp to see what “message” it is sending.

Here’s a list of the primary flowers in the arrangement and their individual meanings:

• Carnations - fascination, admiration

• Chrysanthemums - cheerfulness, abundance, wealth

• Rose (yellow) - joy, happiness

• Rose (orange) - enthusiasm

• Golden Rod (Solidago) - the word solidago is Latin and means to strengthen.

With a lineup like that, clearly, this arrangement is meant to help heal the woes of the difficult times that many of us are experiencing. It is no mistake that when I look at this arrangement it makes me happy - it is full of positive “vibes”!!

Curious about the meaning of your favorite blooms? Teleflora.com has a great section that tells all about it. Here’s the link: teleflora.com/about-flowers/flower-meaning.asp.
 

Gerbera daisies take center stage in this festive Halloween arrangement.

Did you know:

• Daisies gave rise to the childhood game of “He loves me, he loves me not,” which started with the Victorians.

• Daisies are the flower for the 5th wedding anniversary.

• Daisies are the April birth flower.

• Daisies love water so give them lots. To make your gerberas last, be sure to refresh their water as frequently as you can and clean the vase each time you change the water. Why? Gerbera will droop if they encounter bacteria.

• The Gerbera gets its common name from 18th century German botanist Traugott Gerber.

Flower Fact of the Day: “Even leaves take on a special look when they are mixed in vases alone or with garden vines,” writes Nancy Gmeiner, Penn State master gardener. Read her tips on flower arranging at: eveningsun.com/localcolumns/ci_10689256.
 

On Wednesday, I joined several of my Teleflora colleagues at the Women’s Conference 2008 in Long Beach, CA. One of the nation’s largest women’s gatherings, the event drew 14,000 attendees. It was a great chance to connect, listen to amazing stories and get motivated to pursue your dreams. Oh, and see more than a few A-list celebrities (see below). This is a stone's throw away from LA, after all!

In addition to the conference sessions, there was also a huge exhibition hall, entertainment, shopping and snacks.

The Women’s Conference is a non-profit, non-partisan organization led by California First Lady Maria Shriver. With a mission of empowering, inspiring and educating women, the conference has formed partnerships, developed programs, and supported initiatives in California and beyond.

Thanks to the efforts of Joanne Milichich and her team at Glo White Florist, glowhiteflorist.com, Teleflora was able to donate more than 300 Sweet Pinks bouquets to this year's event. Sweet Pinks, pictured here, is among several Teleflora bouquets that help raise money for breast cancer research.

Maria Shriver’s speech, about aging, finding real courage and becoming your authentic self, had the entire audience close to tears. I will share excerpts from her talk in upcoming posts. Her daughters gave an intro speech; her sons were in the audience.

She and husband Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed an incredible roster of speakers and guests including:

Madeleine K. Albright, former Secretary of State

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State

Cherie Blair, human rights advocate and wife of former prime minister Tony Blair

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Christiane Amanpour of CNN

Chris Matthews of Hardball, MSNBC and The Chris Matthews Show, NBC

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer, PepsiCo.

Gloria Steinem

Bono, of U2 and co-founder of the ONE Campaign and (RED)

Diahann Carroll

Jamie Lee Curtis

Sally Field

Billie Jean King

Heidi Klum

Jennifer Lopez

Jenny McCarthy

Bonnie Raitt

Rachael Ray

Rita Wilson

To see a live webcast of the main stage sessions, view video highlights or to get more info, visit californiawomen.org.  

Flower Fact of the Day: Teleflora donates 15% of the purchase price of each BCRF arrangement to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The partnership runs through August 31, 2009. To learn more, visit: teleflora.com/bcrf.asp.  
 

If you need a way to brighten your doorstep or are looking for a great hostess gift, a plant is a terrific way to go.

They're fresh and festive, and they'll last all season, maybe longer, especially with proper care. Here are some tips to pamper your plants. Get the light right. Dwarf citrus needs full sun; day lilies need a little shade.

Your plant may come with an FYI on the best light for your plant, whether full sun, partial sun or shade. If there's no info, check online or in a gardening book before you find a spot.

When you receive the plant, water it and allow excess water to run out the bottom of the pot into a sink, bucket or saucer. After that, plan to water 1-2 times per week, more if it's a variety that thrives on moisture.

As a general rule, it's much better to give small drinks on a frequent basis than to drench it sporadically. So, if you can, give the plant half its portion in the AM, the rest later in the day or at night.

Prune leaves or blossoms that have dried out or died. Don't let dropped leaves or debris collect on top of the soil. Otherwise, you may face pests or plant diseases.

Keep your plant clean and shiny by wiping the leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

After you've had your plant a few months, consider repotting into a larger pot. Roots are like limbs, they need room to stretch.

Flower Fact of the Day: A-list designer Tory Burch www.toryburch.com has a fondness for flowers, as reported in Town & Country earlier this year. One of her favorite looks? Simple and elegant groupings of all one flower.