Category Archives: Flowers

Greenhouses

In Canada, we have greenhouses that supply the need for retailers. But have you ever wanted to know what country is the largest producer? Or how the Canadian greenhouse industry works?

The Floral Industry

The floral industry is one of the largest industry in the world. Providing jobs and resources for many communities. Floriculture began in the late 19th century in the United Kingdom. Flowers were grown on a large scale on vast estates. And today the floral industry is a dynamic, global and fast-growing industry.

The Netherlands remains the centre of the production for the European floral market. As well as a major international supplier to other countries. The flower market in Aalsmeer is the largest in the world. For example, Dutch growers produced over 8 billion blooms is 1995.

Greenhouses in Canada

In Canada we have a very large community of greenhouse growers. The organization that many belong to is called, Flower Canada Growers. They have a directory of greenhouses that are dotted all across the country. Making it easy for florist to buy their flowers.

Flowers bring us all a sense of joy and love and they make us feel special. They can change the atmosphere of our homes, whether thats on the outside in a garden or inside. It’s truly amazing how flowers can change our lives.

Send Some Flowers!

If you want to send flowers to someone you love, you can view our arrangements or you can create your own. Then we can make sure they’re delivered.

The Smallest Flower on Earth: Wolffia

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Flowers come in so many sizes and colours and are found all over the world. They brighten up any room and bring joy to everyone. But have you ever wondered what the smallest flower on Earth is? We discussed the largest flower in a past blog so it’s time to explore the smallest flower on Earth.

Smallest Flower on Earth

Recognized as the smallest flower on earth the Wolffia, sometimes called Duckweed, is also the smallest plant that produces a fruit. This plant was first recorded in New Zealand by Ruth Mason. The plant grows in freshwater or marshes and the species is worldwide, which consists of 9-11 species.

Where do they grow?

The Wolffia is an aquatic plant and tends to resemble specks of cornmeal floating on the water. Since the plant has no roots, they can easily float on the surface of the water. The flower is produced in a depression on the top surface of the plant body and it has one stamen and one pistil. They often float together in pairs or form floating mats with other related plants such as the Lemna and Spirodela species.

A source of protein

While it’s defiantly not a flower you would have in a vase, it’s still very interesting. And it’s actually a good source of protein. There’s an organization called the International Lemna Association (ILA) and they are promoting the plant as something that could help the planet. Since it’s a high source of protein, it could be an alternative source for human consumption. In fact, in some places in Asia it is used as a food source for many years

Small but fascinating

This plant might be small but it’s fascinating and we can learn a lot from the tiny flower. At Brant Florist we love learning about different plants and flowers and we hope you do as well. Make sure you view our selection of flowers or come by and visit us soon.

Different Types of Tulips

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Tulips come in so many assortments, colours and sizes, so sometimes we need a guide to help us know what’s what. Today we’ll explore just that, in fact we’ll talk about 4 different types of tulips such as, Single Tulips, Double Tulips, Darwin Hybrid Tulips and Lily-Flowered Tulips. And we’ll discuss what makes them unique and when they bloom.

Single Tulips

The denomination comes from their unique up-shaped six petal flower, these tulips can be early spring bloomers. Single Tulips range in size of about 25-45cm and the late spring bloomers are comparatively larger, ranging in size from 45-72cm.

Double Tulips

These flowers are also often called the “peony” tulips because of their shape, they’re an elegant flower and can be as wide as 25cm. Double Tulips are sensitive to rain and wind, so it’s ideal to have them in a sheltered place. The average size of this flower range between 30-40cm, similar to the Single Tulips, Double Tulips are both early and late bloomers.

Darwin Hybrid Tulips

This flower has an interesting history, it was developed in the Netherlands by D.W. Lefeber, a prominent breeder. He crossed the famous Red Emperor with various cultivars from the group of tulips known as Darwin Tulips. The result of this cross-breeding was a series of tulips that excelled do to their size and sturdy long stems. Their egg-shaped single blooms are up to 8cm wide and they are available in a wide range of colours; orange, red, yellow and pink. Darwin Hybrids also range in a variety of coloured speckles and stripes on their petals. These flowers provide blooms up to 5 years and grow as large as 50-70cm in mid-late spring.

Lily-Flowered Tulips

Whats makes Lily-Flowered Tulips different from other tulip varieties are there slender flowers with often pointed and recurving petals. Their flower stems are thin, making them susceptible to wind damage. Most Lily-Flowered Tulips bloom in late spring with a few blooming mid spring and are typically 40-50cm tall. These flowers make wonderful cut flowers and have a nice fragrance, perfect for any room in your home.

Get Planting

It’s always good to start thinking about what you want in your garden or what flowers you want in your home. Knowing what to plant and in what season is very helpful. Make sure you take the time to figure out how you want to approach your garden and then research the right plants for the season.

Autumn Flowers

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With all the leaves on the trees changing colour and the crisp cool air, Autumn is a wonderful season. And along with the changing leaves, our gardens change as well. The types if flowers that bloom are often different than the ones we saw during the spring and summer months. There’s a large variety of flowers and plants that make their appearance during the fall.

When is the best time to plant Autumn flowers? Well that can depend of the temperature in August. Planting early in the season (summer) will make sure that your garden is well established. But it’s a good idea to play it by ear, because it all depends on the temperature. Fall flowers bloom late, but they bloom best if they have been in the garden all season. Some examples of Autumn flowers are Balloon Flowers, Mums, Stonecrop, and Sunflower Perennials.

Ballon Flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are in the campanula or bellflower family. They start out as a puff or bubble and pop open when they’re ready to bloom. It’s colours are lavender-blue, pale pink, or white. This flower spreads slowly, filling in without becoming a nascence. And other than cutting the plants back in the spring or fall, there is no other maintenance required.

Mums (Chrysanthemum) comes in many varieties but the best one to plant for fall would be the hardier Mum. This plant should be purchased in the spring so that it is ready in time for the fall season. Keep them well watered and mulch them once the ground freezes. They come in a variety of colours such as, white, yellow, pink, lavender, red, and bronze. This flower lasts all the way until November in some climates.

Stonecrop (Sedum sp) or often called the “Autumn Joy” looks good all year and requires minimal attention, but if you live near a Deer population watch out because they love to eat Stonecrop. So be aware of your surroundings before planting this lovely flower. They come in shades of pink and mauve. This plant is usually left standing tall throughout the winter months.

Sunflower Perennials (Helianthus hybrids) are related to the Sunflower. However, they don’t get a large, or topple over like a Sunflower and look more like a Daisy. They bloom towards the end of the season and come in a yellowish colour. They grow much slower than the Annual Sunflower and they will come back every year.

What will you plant for your garden this Autumn? It’s good to get your garden planned out and planted in August. Whether you’re planting a new garden or adding to your current one, fall flowers need time. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year and what a better way to celebrate the season than with a beautiful garden.