Month: September 2009

Native to the Mediterranean region, Lavender is a member of the mint family and is one of the oldest and most widely used of all flowers in the world. Lavender is grown for its oil which is used as an antiseptic, insecticide and for aromatherapy. The flower buds are dried for potpourris and sachets. Lavender […]

There are many Floral Design competitions throughout the world. In the United States, the most prestigious and longest running contest is “The Sylvia Cup”.  Hosted by the Society of American Florists (SAF), this competition is structured very much like an “Iron Chef” competition; selected top floral designers throughout the United States are given a surprise […]

For centuries floral design has been accepted in Asia as an art form, yet only recently has the western world begun to accept floral design as a true art form. In the late 1980s French Floral Designer Christian Tortu began his revolution of Floral Design as Art. Andrew Goldsworthy an accomplished English artist and sculptor […]

There is always time for a backyard barbecue. Call your friends and throw the burgers on the grill. Plans to be made – checkerboard table clothes, plenty of napkins, fill the Ipod with dancing tunes and gather up the flowers. For fresh inspiration, create a floral centerpiece in a watermelon or pick an excellent arrangement […]

There are so many flowers to choose from, where do I even begin? Pick your favorite color and choose one of everything you can find. Yes! That is the perfect answer. Mother Nature knew best when she designed the explosion of blooms at the end of the harvest. There is no need to limit yourself […]

A drive through the countryside will surely bring you to an apple tree laden with fruit. And, of course, wild roses have grown gangly extending their branches out along the fence rows. Interesting tidbit of the day…did you know, the apple is a member of the Roseceae family? Yes, the rose and the apple are […]

Grandparents Day, first observed in 1978, started small and has grown into a celebration of respect for all elders. Founder, Marian McQuade would be proud to see how it has grown beyond recognizing our blood relatives to including older friends, the elderly and the shut in. The day recognizes the contributions our senior citizens have […]