Blog Category Archives: Flower Care Tips

Fresh Cut flowers have different life spans. Alstromeria, Daisies and Carnations, for example, can remain vibrant for longer periods. Roses have a shorter life, but are prized for their special and delicate beauty. Here are some tips that will allow you to enjoy your fresh flowers longer.

- Vases and arrangements should not be never on electrical appliances such as televisions and stereos this can dry them out. Your flowers will last longer in areas that are moderate in humidity.

- Use the floral food provided with your fresh flowers. Please read direction on package for amounts. The floral food will also help ward off bacteria. Keeping flowers fed and reducing bacteria will help your floral arrangements last longer.

- Keep away from heat or extreme cold (65-72 degrees Fahrenheit), Keep away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and direct drafts from ceiling fans. Heat will shorten the life of any fresh flowers- keeping them in moderate temperatures helps your floral arrangement last longer.

- Water should be added to baskets and containers daily. Use warm water. Warm water has less oxygen in it and will lessen chances of air bubble being trapped in stem. Giving your fresh flowers clean water regularly will keep them lasting much longer.

- Vase water should be added to daily and changed often with stems being re-cut to increase longevity. You flowers need a constant supply of fresh, clean water. Giving them fresh water keeps floral arrangements lasting longer.

- If water becomes cloudy, replace it entirely. If possible, re-cut them by removing one to two inches. Remove leaves that are are below the waterline. Rotting leaves will contaminate water and also shorten life. Clean water is essential - keep the water clean and you will enjoy your fresh flowers longer!

Aquatic flowers, plants that grow in or on the water, are becoming more and more popular as an increasing number of people delve into the arena of water gardening. Creating a pond in your backyard not only sets your garden aside from others around it, but effectively creates a centerpiece for your yard around which the rest of the property can be designed.

There' nothing quite like sitting next to a peaceful pond after a hard day' work, especially if you built it yourself. The sense of pride will guarantee you'll feel good whenever you walk past. If you're planning a pond or water garden, it' important to learn about aquatic flowers – namely, which varieties of aquatic flowers are suitable for your climate, your budget, and your overall goals.

Aquatic flowers come in a few different varieties, based on size, appearance, and the nature of how they grow. When you compare lily pads to a bulrush, for example, you can see the difference straight away. Combining the different varieties leads to a unique and healthy garden that will please you and your entire family. It will also create a diverse ecosystem friendly to all sorts of beneficial critters, and their delivery into your yard will be entirely beneficial.

Lily pads and plants with exposed roots create havens for frogs, which will in turn keep the bug population formed by the still water under control. Shady and sheltered areas with many aquatic flowers appeal to a large number of pond fish, such as the Japanese Koi, who like to be able to rest unmolested. The increase in insects will also increase the number of songbirds, who like nothing more than a crunchy bug for a snack. As you can see, it' a thriving healthy ecosystem with many benefits

Aquatic Flowers – Some Common Varieties

Here we've listed some of the common aquatic flowers to include in your pond. Maintain a good mixture and you'll ensure the maximum potential health of your backyard' ecosystem.

Water Lilies
The water lily is the classic lily pad associated with ponds and frogs. These aquatic flowers are an absolute must for any successful pond garden. Not only do they provide blossoms for a lengthy period of time, but they also spread shade in the water. This cuts down on algae, which requires sun to grow, and keeps the water clean and clear. Make sure to remove old flowers and leaves every few weeks, as this will encourage healthy growth.

Pygmy Water Lilies
These are a smaller variant of the above, and suitable for smaller ponds of tub-based gardens. They take up less space will still providing shelter for frogs and fish, and while still producing pleasant aquatic flowers to look at.

Water Poppy
These are small yellow aquatic flowers with bright green leaves. They are common throughout the late spring and summertime, and are perfect for placement amongst lilies due to their unobtrusive size. They require a good amount of sun to remain fresh and healthy.

Water Hawthorn
This variety of the hawthorn plant produces fragrant white flowers with a black center in late winter and during the spring, and has bright green floating leaves for the rest of the year. They can tolerate a bit of shade, if needed, but should still have access to some sun for best results. These aquatic flowers are also great to mix with lilies because they can grow up between them.

Duckweed
Duckweed is a floating plant that is a great addition to any pond that will have fish living in it. It provides peaceful shelter for them, and is also a great source of food for larger types of fish.

Water Lettuce
This floating plant resembles a head of lettuce. Don't include it if you live in a climate with high chances of spring frost, as this will damage and often kill the water lettuce.

Japanese Iris
The Japanese iris can grow to three feet in height, and produces purple, white or dark red blossoms in November and December. These aquatic flowers require a lot of sun to thrive.

Lizard' Tail
This plant sports heart-shaped leaves and pleasant creamy-white flowers in the summertime. It grows best with access to the sun.

Water Cress
The water cress enjoys a quick growth period, and displays attractive small white flowers. These aquatic flowers need sun to remain healthy. Of interest – water cress can be eaten, is a popular healthy ingredient in many leafy salads.

The above aquatic flowers and plants, when combined, will produce a truly enviable and enjoyable pond or water garden. Be sure to find out the best methods for planting each variety, including optimal soil composition, required ratio of sun to shade, and any other information that might be critical. You'll enjoy nature' gifts as they flourish in your garden, and will provide new homes for local animals at the same time.

Annual flowers can be described as those which complete their entire life cycle within one year. What this means is that they will sprout from seed to plant, mature, flower, propagate and then die all within or close to a single year. When planting a garden, one thing to keep in mind is that annual flowers must be replaced on a yearly basis, and that they will not re-grow like their perennial cousins.

It is possible to extend the lifespan of annual flowers beyond the one year point by preventing them from seeding, but this is an advanced technique best left to experienced gardeners and botanists. Fortunately, most annual flowers are extremely affordable when purchased from a garden center, meaning that their yearly loss will not be a burden to you financially.

Annuals tend to flower in the spring and summertime, and are hardier than perennials. This results in a longer blooming season, and thus more time spent making your garden look nice. Annual flowers scattered throughout or dominating your garden will allow you to enjoy fresh and vibrant colors for as long as possible, and will make your garden the envy of your friends and neighbors.

Most domestic crop plants, which are those plants grown for consumption or conversion into food, belong to the annual family. Some common examples include grains, corn, beans and peas. These must all be re-planted each year, and are perfect for crop rotation strategies. A plant that requires replacement allows for fields to remain fallow or switched to another crop with great ease.

Annual Flowers – Common Varieties

Annual flowers are very popular choices for home gardens. They are hardy, long-lasting, and require generally little maintenance. This makes them a great option when you're planning your landscaping work, as generally the less maintenance required the better. We've listed here some facts and information about some common varieties of annuals for your perusal:

Begonia
Begonias are annual flowers of tropical origin, and technically classified as herbs or under-shrubs (meaning that they commonly grow under and around larger shrubberies). Because of their attractive and showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet and yellow, many species and countless hybrids are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be cross-bred with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of hybrids. This means that a large variety is at your disposal for gardening. In fact, you could successfully plant a garden featuring only begonias of varying type.

Impatiens
Impatiens are annual flowers found all over the world. The only place where they are not found is South America. Some species of impatiens are actually perennials, and flower for multiple years.
The plant derives its scientific name Impatiens and the common name "touch-me-not" from the plant's seed pods. When the seed pods mature, they explode when touched, sending seeds several meters away. This is a highly evolved means of propagation, and ensures that the largest number of seeds possible will have the potential to mature into flowers.

Marigold
Marigolds are annual flowers that are common in gardens across Europe and North America. They are even classified as natural weeds in some parts of Africa and Oceania. They generally have flowers colored red, gold, orange, yellow and white that release a pungent aroma. This aroma is effective in keeping away some pest insects, and so the marigold is popular as a row plant that acts as a guardian to other flowers susceptible to consumption.

Snapdragon
Snapdragons are a large family of attractive annual flowers that include many varieties found in both Europe and North America. They derived their name from the resemblance their flowers share with the head of mythological dragons. They are best planted in well-drained soil to keep the roots from rotting. When combined with other annual flowers, they create a very attractive presentation and delivery, and one that will be envied by neighbors.

Annual flowers make a great addition to your home garden. They are cheap, attractive, and come in a staggering number of varieties. These little gifts of nature will allow you to develop a garden to your liking, as pretty much every possible combination of size, shape and color is available. The best places to inquire about annual flowers are local garden centers, where you can acquire plants of all varieties, and your local florist, who will often sell seed packets.

Mixing these with perennial plants is a long tradition in gardening and can lead to some truly remarkable combinations. You will enjoy the results of your hard work when you're able to sit outside in the summer sun soaking in the fragrance and color of your beautiful garden.

African Flowers – The Appeal of Tropical Plants

African flowers, along with many other species of tropical and exotic plants, have stirred the imagination and captured the hearts of explorers, gardeners and common man alike for centuries. Often so different from European species that they seemed almost alien, exotic African flowers were the source of many expeditions into the heart of the massive continent.

Due to the popularity of these African flowers, Royal bounties were occasionally created to encourage explorers and botanists to find new and rare species that could grace a court and impress friends and rivals alike. Many of these expeditions took place over several hundred years, with numerous species of African flowers, plants and animals being discovered each time.
Although these expeditions were often fatal, (the local wildlife might opt to say "tasty" instead), they attracted many well-off people with imagination and wanderlust. Great numbers of books and sketches were made of these species, and eventually many African flowers were brought back home for cultivation.
In modern times, a large number of these African flowers are commonly present in gardens are used as gifts. It's quite common for people to be wholly unaware of the origins of these plants.

African Flowers - Rarity

Unfortunately, like many other wild species of plants and animals, African flowers are being endangered by human expansion and industrial development. Habitat loss is a serious issue that can be difficult to content with, and even more difficult to prevent. Most corporations back the destruction of natural habitats due to the amount of potential profit involved in doing so.

Most governments back this as well because the corporations back the governments. Without corporate support, most political parties have no sources of income. Because of this corruption, it can be almost impossible to deal with habitat loss in Africa, South America and Asia. African flowers and other species will continue to be threatened as a result.

This is not just damaging to the flowers themselves, but to the entire ecosystem of the area, and the world. By removing an integral component of an ecosystem, you generate a backfire effect that can wipe out far more than it might originally seem possible. When a species of plant disappears, the lives of animals and insects that relied on it for food and shelter are also hindered.

The animals may be forced to eat or shelter under other species, which can put undue strain on their ability to grow. If there are no alternatives, they might end up starving, decreasing populations across the board. Once the animals start to die, other animals that hunt them will be limited for food and forced to find other sources or also face dying off.

Once the plants and animals have died off, a giant cascade of destruction will severely damage or eve wipe out the entire ecosystem of that region. Once that has occurred, the entire planet begins to suffer. The loss of large oxygenating plants like trees will increase greenhouse effect, which can ultimately tie into global warming and the destruction of the ozone.

All of this is caused by people cutting down trees to make paper products like flyers and junk mail that gets thrown in the garbage and left to rot in a landfill. It doesn't make a great deal of sense, when considered carefully, but from a business point of view it often doesn't matter what the future ramifications are. Future profit is not as critical as present profit, after all.

African Flowers – What You Can Do

Fortunately, there are some things that can be done to help. By joining activist or environmental organizations, you can begin to learn more about the harmful effects of human expansion. Once armed with this knowledge, it becomes easier to share it with others, in hopes that they too will seek out more information.

As residents of this planet, we have a duty to ensure that it survives. If we don't, we won't survive either. Corporate greed and mass ignorance are both things that need to be dealt with before it's too late. If this is not done, African flowers and other species from around the world will soon vanish.

African Flowers – How to Enjoy Them

In the meantime, if you have an interest in growing, collecting or displaying African flowers in your garden or at home, your best resource is the local florist. You can often find many species of rare and exotic African flowers in their shop. They can make great additions to your home or garden, and work well as gifts for people with a passion for exotic species.

Visit their online store to order and arrange delivery of African flowers. This can save time if you are busy, and ensure that you or your friends and family can enjoy them in no time at all. Bouquets and other floral displays involving these rare species will be easy to love and treasure, just as they should be in the wild.

This is a good question, and important to have answered if you are planning a primrose garden. The simple answer is that they bloom in early spring, and are among one of the first flowers you'll end up seeing every year. If you're considering a primrose garden, we've dug up some tips and information for you to help you grow a great garden you'll be proud of all year long. The first tip is to make sure you don't plant your flowers where there's too much light. Too much or too little sun can have negative effects on the growth of your plants, which is why it's so important to remember this rule. Primroses are known to carpet forests where there's enough room, which means that they have to get by with minimal light due to the shade-creating canopy overhead. They'd make an excellent addition to a shade garden as a result, which is one of the reasons why they are so popular. We've included some additional suggestions and advice below, but if you have any additional questions about when do primroses flower, or if you are curious about other aspects of gardening or about flowers themselves, please feel free to contact us – we'll be happy to help!

Additional information
When do primroses flower? We answered that above, but now we'd like to provide you with some more useful information about gardening. We discussed the importance of balancing light and shade, but there are other things to consider as well. Soil quality is very important – the richer the soil, the healthier the plants generally become. Pick up a few bags of manure or some peat moss to help enrich the earth and you'll notice a difference not only in quality, but in how the color of the blooms stands out more with darker soil. Flowering plants, like all others, require a healthy amount of water to stay alive. In wetter seasons you may not need to water as often, but in the summer it will usually be necessary two or even three times a week. Follow these simple tips and you'll start to notice positive changes in no time at all. So now that we've answered your question, "when do primroses flower," we invite you to contact us with any further inquiries you might have about the primrose itself or any other flowers you are interested in. As always, we're happy to help!