Visitors will have the chance to take a trip down memory lane at one of Norfolk's best-loved events next month.
An exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia charting the history of the Sandringham Flower Show is being staged
at the 125th show on Wednesday, July 26.
The event is again being held in association with the EDP, which this year is introducing a new trophy for the best display by a local gardening club or society in the royal marquee.
There are hopes that show patron the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, will make their customary tour of the showground, which is set against the backdrop of the Queen's private residence at Sandringham House.
Last year the couple chatted to well-wishers during a two-hour walkabout.
Eight entrants will be vying for the EDP Best in Show trophy in the show gardens competition, which was launched in 2004 and is now a well-established feature.
The contest will be judged by top TV gardening presenter Chris Beardshaw, who will be making his third visit to Sandringham, joined by fellow horticultural expert Alan Mason.
Mr Beardshaw will also give a talk and take part in a gardeners' forum.
In response to public demand, the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers flying and wing-walking team will be returning to take part in the main arena activities, which will also feature medieval jousting, a dog team display, the Minden Band of the Queen's Division and the Sandringham Grand Prix with customised lawnmowers.
A packed programme will also include the traditional flower, fruit, vegetable and floral classes for people living on the estate, open amateur classes, more than 200 trade and horticultural stands, charity stalls and a craft marquee.
The show, whose enduring royal patronage was typified by the enthusiasm of the late Queen Mother, has raised £330,000 for good causes over the years and continues to pull in huge crowds, come rain or shine.
Posted by Guest at 6:41 AM on Tuesday, 27 June 2006
View [Sandringham flower show: A History]
Visitors will have the chance to take a trip down memory lane at one of Norfolk's best-loved events next month.
An exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia charting the history of the Sandringham Flower Show is being staged
at the 125th show on Wednesday, July 26.
The event is again being held in association with the EDP, which this year is introducing a new trophy for the best display by a local gardening club or society in the royal marquee.
There are hopes that show patron the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, will make their customary tour of the showground, which is set against the backdrop of the Queen's private residence at Sandringham House.
Last year the couple chatted to well-wishers during a two-hour walkabout.
Eight entrants will be vying for the EDP Best in Show trophy in the show gardens competition, which was launched in 2004 and is now a well-established feature.
The contest will be judged by top TV gardening presenter Chris Beardshaw, who will be making his third visit to Sandringham, joined by fellow horticultural expert Alan Mason.
Mr Beardshaw will also give a talk and take part in a gardeners' forum.
In response to public demand, the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers flying and wing-walking team will be returning to take part in the main arena activities, which will also feature medieval jousting, a dog team display, the Minden Band of the Queen's Division and the Sandringham Grand Prix with customised lawnmowers.
A packed programme will also include the traditional flower, fruit, vegetable and floral classes for people living on the estate, open amateur classes, more than 200 trade and horticultural stands, charity stalls and a craft marquee.
The show, whose enduring royal patronage was typified by the enthusiasm of the late Queen Mother, has raised £330,000 for good causes over the years and continues to pull in huge crowds, come rain or shine.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 4:45 PM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [Sandringham flower show: A History]
By
Judy AdamsonWhen it comes to glamour in the garden, there's no doubt orchids are high on the list. Growing and cultivating one of the thousands of species of orchid is no longer confined to the wealthy - or the wealthy with time on their hands - but it can still be an expensive hobby for those who become really passionate about the flowers.
"Once you're hooked, you're hooked," says Debbi Wares, who has been growing orchids for years with her husband, Garry.
"They're not cheap to buy and there's the ongoing time spent fertilising and caring for them as well.
"But the problem is once you get hooked you keep buying them - you keep seeing new ones ... it's just limitless, the varieties of colour you can get. You could never get one of everything."
The author of books on orchids and editor of
The Australian Orchid Review, David Banks, says that while young plants can be bought for as little as $5 or $10, the cost can soar into the hundreds and thousands.
"There's a bit of mystique about them," he says. "A hundred years ago orchids were only for the very, very wealthy - and that's obviously changed now, because superior propagation techniques have made the plants more readily available.
"I still believe there's a status sort of thing with them ... to me orchids are the pinnacle of the flowering plants. But I think the main thing that gets people in is that there's so much variety in orchids. There are more than 30,000 species - and a lot, obviously, that people have never seen".
"They cater to everybody: they're in every single colour that you can think of - even blues and blacks - and you get flowers from a couple of millimetres across [to more than 60cm]."
Living in Australia makes growing and caring for orchids much easier than in many countries overseas. Our climate means plenty of orchid varieties can be grown in the garden instead of a special greenhouse with heating or air-conditioning.
However, Banks warns those new to the art to research a plant's origin carefully before they decide how to look after it.
"You've got to do a bit of detective work because not only do you need to work to find out what country the orchid has come from originally, but also its habitat," he says.
"It's no use just saying it comes from Ecuador, because if it grows on the coast it's hot and tropical there, so it needs a heated glasshouse and wants to be kept warm and cosy all the time. But if it grows up in the high mountains just under the snowline it needs to be kept cool all the time. And it might be grown in a really wet area or a dry area.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 4:36 PM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [A Garden With Orchids is Wonderful]
Industry insiders are hoping the fast-blossoming horticultural industry will eventually turn Dalat into a prime nower city in Asia.
"Not many cities can grow flowers and Dalat has the potential to be the flower city of Asia," said Thomas Hooft, general director of Hasfarm, the leading grower in the Central Highlands and the only flower exporter in the country.
Starting with two hectares of greenhouses in 1994, Hasfarm has aggressively expanded its flower growing areas. After using all 29 hectares of land in the first phase, the company has now expanded over another nine hectares in Dalat.
The grower is cunently proceeding with a much bigger development, aiming to turn 250 hectares in Finom Don Duong area into a flower, vegetable and dairy farm, where it has built 15 hectares of green houses, eight hectares of net houses and raised 450 cows.
Expanding production has allowed the grower not only to meet demand from the domestic market, but also to become one of the leading flower exporters in the country. Most of its products are for export, earning the company US $10 million in revenue annually.
Hasfarm began with its first export order to Thailand in the mid 1990s and is now extending its reach to Japan and Australia. It has weekly orders to Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia and is aiming to penetrate east Asian markets.
Hooft said Dalat could become a new "Holland" in flower exports in the next 10 to 15 years if local fanners were helped to grow high-quality flowers on an industrial scale.
Hasfarm's success is encouraging Dalat fanners to expand their flower growing. Currently, some 6,000 families in the resort city are engaged in flower production with more than 1,000 hectares of green-houses.
"By starting flower production activity, we have created a flower industry for Dalat,' said Hooft.
The Dutchman said local farmers were now earning enough to buy motorbikes, televisions and build new houses, but that there was little investment in more sophisticated green houses.
"They need to invest in green- houses because their current flower quality does not meet standards for export. If they can meet export standards, we will buy from them," he said.
Hooft said only 10% of the company's local market share came from local fanners and the banks should lend to fanners so that they could buy more sophisticated greenhouses and irrigation systems to grow products for export.
Hooft said Dalat possessed good conditions for flower growing, as the city has a cool climate, no pollution and a nice landscape, which encouraged him to select the area as a production base after exploring several other countries in Asia.
Japan is currently the biggest market for Dalat flowers, and Lam Dong provincial authorities are hoping that a giant resort proposed by investors from the country would boost its image as a flower resort city in Asia.
Phan Van Dung, the deputy director of Lam Dong Planning and Investment Department, said provincial authorities were negotiating with Japanese investors over a plan to build a US $1.2 billion resort town in Dalat.
The Japanese investors have proposed the construction of a "Romantic City" in Dan Kia-Suoi Vang area, featuring thousands of villas with flowers growing in the surrounding area. (VIR).
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 4:26 PM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [Floral Business Blooms in Dalat]
By
Jeana Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Companies from Singapore and the Chinese province of Yunnan are tying up to bring flowers and other fresh produce to international markets.
Singapore's growing trade ties with Yunnan were given a boost on Friday when three Memorandum of Understanding agreements amounting to some S$20m were signed.
One of the projects unveiled at the Yunnan-ASEAN investment seminar on Friday involves homegrown specialised logistics services provider Trans-Link.
It is investing some S$8m over the next two years to set up freight and logistics operations with a cold chain focus in Yunnan's Gaoxin bonded warehouse.
Yunnan officials say Singapore's technical know-how, and business management skills will give its many agricultural exports easier access to international markets.
"It's fundamental that we improve the entire distribution and sales process for our agricultural products. This includes improving and completing the cold chain system. Singapore's world-class transport and logistics infrastructure, and Yunnan's rich agricultural products will complement each other," said Kong Chuizhu, Vice-Governor, Government of Yunnan Province.
The tie-up is expected to help boost the local flower industry. "Through certification of products that come out of Singapore, which increases the value proposition and the value to the customers overseas and better handling of the product, we see good opportunities for branding. All these factors will allow the growth of the flower industry in Singapore and to build a name for Singapore internationally as well," said Royson Wong, Deputy Group MD, Trans-Link Express.
The other part to scaling up Singapore's flower industry is to create a flower exchange or a marketplace where international players can gather to buy and sell.
One of the agreements signed involves putting up an initial investment of S$2m to set up such an exchange."
Industry players say they are considering various trading mechanisms such as the Dutch or open auctions to be located in Singapore.
"We haven't decided on the best method for us. We don't want to be a copycat - we just want to make sure that whatever we do decide on best fits Singapore and Asia," said Loi Pok Yen, Group CEO, CWT.
Singapore's flower export industry is now worth some S$40m.
Industry players are aiming to increase it by tenfold in five years.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 2:51 PM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [ Singapore-Yunnan investments set to grow local cold chain, flower industries]
By
Mary Beth Breckenridge, Knight Ridder News Service & Amy Bennett WilliamsExercise isnât always something hospital patients look forward to. And gardening isnât always something thatâs easy for people in wheelchairs to do.
Horticultural therapy is different.
For the four patients in a recent horticultural therapy session at Euclid Hospital in suburban Cleveland, this was a chance to chat, to create and to forget about their ailments for a while. It just so happened they also were working on such goals as improving their endurance and balancing on their feet.
So lifting a scoop of soil was a weight-bearing exercise disguised as a creative endeavor. Reaching for plants encouraged them to stand in the midst of a pleasant diversion.
Well, sometimes the exertion was evident. âIâm gonna get a hernia,â Thomas Metcalf joked as he struggled to pry apart the enmeshed roots of a spider plant.
At Heron House, a south Fort Myers assisted living facility, resident Omer Fortin, 83, knows that gardens are good for the soul. So the former farmer and skilled carpenter built special elevated beds that allow his friends in wheelchairs to harvest cucumbers, squash and other fresh veggies â not to mention stop and smell the flowers.
âThey like it,â the Maine native said. âItâs good for them to get out and enjoy the plants. And I enjoy it, too.â
Horticultural therapy involves working with plants in a way that benefits peopleâs physical and emotional well-being, said Karen Kennedy, manager of wellness programs at Holden Arboretum and the leader of the class.
Research shows working with plants helps people feel better, and the class is designed to capitalize on that by incorporating activities targeted toward such goals as building strength, improving coordination, sharpening cognitive skills and reducing blood pressure.
Cards printed with the patientsâ individual goals reminded them that this was a therapy session, but somehow, it didnât seem so much like work.
âItâs interesting and fun, and not stressful,â Kennedy said. â... Youâre more apt to try if youâre motivated to go get that plant.â
The emotional benefits were immediately clear. The participants fell into an easy conversation as they worked on creating dish gardens under Kennedyâs direction. They shared stories about gardening at home, laughed at their struggles and told each other about their families.
It also helps take the patientsâ mind off pain. When the hospital began offering the program, it had participants fill out pain surveys before and after the class. The decrease in pain experienced by the patients was marked, recreational therapist Karen Burns said.
Horticultural therapy also is something patients can continue at home on their own, Kennedy said.
June Nipros seemed set on that.
âThis is going to fill out, and it will be beautiful,â she said, admiring the arrangement sheâd created. She fingered the leaves of a tiny plant that hugged the soil in her pot. âIâm anxious for this waffle plant to grow,â she said.
Plants, Nipros realized, can get better with time and care.
And so can people.
Reference
Posted by Guest at 2:37 PM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [Horticultural Therapy]
By
Cathrine Duffy for
NewsdayEver since there have been kids, there have been kids in the dirt. And these days, that's a good thing.
Charlie Nardozzi, senior horticulturist at the National Gardening Association, says that heightened concern about kids getting enough exercise and eating right has brought a new generation of children into the garden.
"Gardening is a great way to take care of both of those issues, says Nardozzi, whose group encourages children's gardening through programs and the Web site, kidsgardening.com. "You're planting things, bending, stretching, moving your body.
Planting fruits and vegetables encourages young children to actually eat them, Nardozzi says. "Most children today don't have a sense of where their food comes from, he said. "It's amazing to see the expression on kids' faces when, for the first time, they eat a pea or a bean that they've actually grown.
Ronnie Doucette, a master gardener and coordinator of the summer program at the Children's Garden at Cornell Cooperative Extension's Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank, says
being in a garden allows kids to unplug from their busy daily lives and connect with nature.
She describes "harvest parties at the farm, in which children involved in the summer program get to pick the fruits, and vegetables, of their labors and eat them. "We pick tomatoes, chop herbs, she says. "And when they eat it, it comes together for them.
Curricula incorporating gardening are coming into the classroom more and more, Nardozzi says. "It's a way for a science teacher or a math teacher to present a different kind of learning. It's a lot more hands-on.
Caroline Kiang, director of the cooperative extension's community and environmental horticulture, agrees. "We're getting more requests for advice on children's gardens in schools, she says. "There seems to be more interest.
Not just in school:They're also popular outside the classroom, everywhere from the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, where gardening workshops are offered, to the Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson, which features children's organic gardening.
Doucette says that, beyond the obvious science kids glean from gardening, there are other benefits. "They learn math skills, weights and measures, Doucette says. "There's a lot of different skills that get incorporated. The students sometimes keep a journal about their gardens, so there are writing skills involved.
Research supports a link between children's gardens and learning.
A 2005 study in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science found that third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students who participated in school gardening activities scored significantly higher on science achievement tests than students who did not.
As far back as 1909, influential educator Maria Montessori found that gardening can help children appreciate nature, learn about responsibility, have better relationships and develop patience.
Growing with the plants:Laurie Farber, executive director and one of the founders of Starflower Experiences, a Long Island-based nonprofit educational organization which will soon be moving into Huntington, has seen students grow along with their seedlings in the after-school program she runs at the Martin Luther King Elementary School in Wyandanch.
The children's garden at the school began three years ago as an outgrowth of a nature program her group runs called Rangers of the Earth. "The fourth graders in the program wanted to start a garden, they wanted to get involved, Farber says. To start the garden, she says, she made a list with the students to find out what plants they were interested in growing.
Strawberries have been a big hit at the school, and Farber says the kids take pride in their harvests. "They know if they worked on it, they get to eat it, Farber says. "Our garden is not big enough that we'll ever be able to have a whole meal out of it. Usually, when things ripen, the kids want to eat them right out of the garden. And that's nice too.
Fifth graders in the gardening program say all the work has its rewards. "We get to go out and play in the mud, says Shirley Roberts, 11. "We have to weed and put the wood chips in the walkway. But I tell other kids that it's fun.
Read more.
Posted by Guest at 10:17 AM on Monday, 26 June 2006
View [The flower of youth: How gardening can help children grow]
Mumbaiites (india) starved of space for greenery on Monday received a precious gift in myriad colours and fragrancesâa garden dedicated to roses.
The gardenâit is
the first of its kind in the cityâspread over 1,000 sq mt in the premises of Nehru Science Centre (NSC) at Worli, was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai, A D Sawant, who is also the president of Mumbai Rose Society (MRS).
Three hundred and twenty plants of 50 rose varieties have already been planted and form a riot of colours.
ââI thought of a rose garden for our city after visiting similar gardens in Hyderabad and Bangalore last year,ââ said Rajendra Aggarwal, president of Rotary Club of Bombay Queen City, that will provide the funds for the maintenance of the garden.
ââSince then, we started working towards mobilising funds and getting this land. We worked very hard to restore this land, which had been lying barren and now, our efforts have paid off,ââ he added.
The Rotary Club has spent Rs 60,000 on the garden since February and the expertise for planting and nurturing the plants is being provided by the MRS.
ââThere will be miniature âbuttonâ rosesâthose with petals of more than one colourâand plants with more than one colour of flowers. The garden will be a real treat for the city,ââ said Dr Vidyadar Ogale, President MRS, formerly head of the Landscape Department at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Others involved with the project shared his enthusiasm.
ââThis popular flower will attract thousands to the garden. We will improve it further in the next few months and after the rains, we will sow even more hybrid varieties that will be in bloom throughout the year,ââ said Padmakar Nandakar, director, Rotary Club. The garden is open to visitors on all days between 10 am and 6 pm.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 5:32 PM on Friday, 23 June 2006
View [First Rose Garden in Mumbai]
By
Mary Hirshfeld, Horticultural Curator,
Cornell PlantationsSeptember brings to mind thoughts of the approaching riotous finale of bright leaves that gild the Ithaca hills in October. However a select pallet of herbaceous perennials awaits the final days of summer to begin its flower display.
Goldenrod and asters are familiar examples of fall bloomers. But less well known are toad lilies, turtleheads, and anemones.
Just as gardens begin to look weary of the summer heat and ready for a fall frost,
toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp.) come into their own. Native to China and Japan, these woodlanders are best sited where their unusually patterned flowers can be closely viewed. The exquisitely shaped flowers are composed of six basally fused upright petals crowned with a central columnar star of stamens and pistils that resembles an arching fountain.
Luckily, several other selections are far less prone to this problem. 'Miyazaki', a more
compact and floriferous selection of Tricyrtis hirta, is less prone to infection and provides a stunningflower display. Both Tricyrtis formosana and T. formosana var. stolonifera (a widely distributed hybrid of formosana and hirta) are graceful plants that form carpets of erect two- to three-foot stems clad in bright green foliage. Small terminal clusters of purple spotted flowers are held clearly above the foliage, producing a good display. A lovely new hybrid, 'Togen', also remains disease free, and carries flowers larger than most other toad lilies, their cream-colored petals suffused with amethyst. Both T. hirta and T. formosana have variegated forms whose soft green leaves are gilded with a pale golden edge.
Yellow waxbells (Kirengeshoma palmata) is a plant that impresses me more every season. A native of Japan, this robust woodlander reaches three to four feet in height, is adaptable to sun or shade, and brings a bold texture to the garden throughout the summer. Stems are often purple-tinged, strong and upright, and clad in bold, lavishly lobed foliage. Waxy yellow bell-shaped flowers are held in terminal clusters in August and September. Because the weight of the flowers causes the stems to bow gracefully forward, these plants are best displayed on a slope where they can cascade smoothly downward and the flowers can be seen from below. Despite its many positive attributes, and availability via some mail order nurseries Kirengesgoma remains relatively difficult to find. A similar plant, Kirengeshoma koreana, is inferior in ornamental
value, its foliage a paler green and less elegantly lobed. Its faint yellow flowers are held horizontally and pass swiftly.
Japanese garden anemones are the royalty of late summer and early fall gardens. The first to bloom is the strongly rhizomatous Anemone tomentosa, still most frequently sold
as A. vitifolia 'Robustissima'. Plants reach 18 inches in height and rapidly form dense colonies of wiry stems adorned with substantive three-parted leaves. In early August, clusters of dusty pale pink flowers open to reveal a central tuft of golden stamens and are followed by woolly white seed heads. Anemone tomentosa is the easiest, hardiest, and most adaptable of the fall flowering anemones and will quickly get out of bounds if its foraging network of rhizomes is not controlled. Less rampant and slightly more refined is Anemone hupehensis, which closely follows vitifolia in sequence of bloom. Its flowers are a lovely two-tone pink; the backs of alternate petals are a rich dark pink, while the interior is several shades paler. 'September Charm' is a lovely selection of A. hupehensis, forming a cloud of airy pink in the peony garden at Plantations throughout September.
The real gem of the genus is Anemone xhybrida, a hybrid of A. hupehensis var. japonica and A. vitifolia. Since the original hybrid was developed in 1848, many stunning cultivars have been developed, offering single and semi-double flowers in white, cream and various shades of pink. One of the oldest and best selections is 'Honorine Joubert' a vigorous five-footer that produces masses of crystalline white, single flowers accented by a central cluster of golden stamens. A mass planting of 'Honorine' in the ground cover collection at Plantations reliably stops September garden visitors in their
tracks. 'Max Vogel' is another vigorous five-footer that displays dense clusters of large, single pink flowers. 'Whirlwind', with its delicate semi-double white flowers, is one of my favorites. If your garden can't accommodate these very tall, vigorous growers, try 'Prince Henry', a diminutive grower that reaches only two feet in height and carries semi-double rosy purple flowers on wiry stems.
All the Anemone xhybrida selections are more clump-forming than either A. tomentosa or A. hupehensis. However, once well established, they will begin to move out from their original cluster of stems to form loose colonies. Fall anemones should be sited with care in a soil that drains well, since the fastest way to lose these plants is to let them sit in a wet site over winter. They are best moved in the spring. Like many plants that wait until fall to fully develop, fall anemones can be slow to emerge and begin active growth and can easily be mistaken for dead. Be patient-they will emerge!
The
pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) is a sturdy native of the southeastern United States that, unlike anemones, enjoys wet feet and performs best in rich moist soil in full sun. The
rose turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) is very similar, but the flowers are darker pink, and plants are less cold hardy. The pink turtlehead forms a nice clump of sturdy waxy green leaves carried in opposite ranks on stiffly upright two-foot-tall stems. In late August, the tops of these stems are decorated with dense clusters of pink tubular flowers, each peeking out from its enclosing calyx like an inquisitive turtle's head peering
out from its shell. There is also a creamy white flowered form, 'Alba', and another selection with the enticing name of 'Hot Lips', which has darker foliage and richer pink flowers.
A well-behaved goldenrod that you may want to invite into your garden is a selection of the
rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) dubbed 'Fireworks'. Typically, S. rugosa reaches four to five feet in height and can run quite vigorously, forming large colonies of floppy hairy stems that are not particularly ornamental. 'Fireworks' was first noticed in the wild by Ken Moore of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, who was drawn to its shorter stature and more clump-forming habit. He brought the plant back to the garden for evaluation and later introduced it to gardeners through Niche Gardens Nursery.
'Fireworks' has been contently living at Plantations' peony garden for the last five years, requiring only mild removal of its running stems each spring to keep it in its designated spot. The three-foot-tall stems are unbranched for about 2/3 of their length. Then suddenly, they explode into many slender side shoots, each of which in turn carries an explosion of axillary branchlets coated with tiny yellow flowers. The effect is that of a star-shaped firework that continues to open outward in successive explosions. Its decorative habit and delicate flowers make this plant an exceptional addition to any fall garden.
Another interesting goldenrod is 'Gold Spangles', which displays irregular gold splashings on its leaves. Surprisingly, this plant performs best in partial shade, where its two-foot-tall stems of jaunty gold-patterned leaves brighten up dark spots.
These are only a few of the fall flowers that can be seen at Plantations. Purple-leaved bugbane (Cimicifuga ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty'), dwarf cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium), late-blooming plantain lily (Hosta tardiflora), and the magnificent pink flower heads of Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum 'Gateway') are also in bloom. Come look for them!
Posted by Bailey at 11:47 AM on Wednesday, 21 June 2006
View [Flowers of Fall]
An 18-month program sponsored by USAID and the Colombian Association of Flower Growers (Asocolflores) trains displaced Colombians to become floriculture technicians and managers, bringing hope to this highly afflicted sector of the population.
More than an estimated three million Colombians are displaced due to the ongoing struggle between illegal armed groups and the government for control over strategic and economically valuable regions of the country. One such region is the southwestern province of Nariño, which shares borders with the Pacific Ocean and Ecuador.
On the maps of Colombia provided by the National Antipersonnel Landmine Observatory and included along with Shared Responsibilityâs May 2, 2006 featured story, Nariño stands out as one of the provinces with the highest density of coca crops. Consequently, it is also plagued by mines, violence and high numbers of displaced people. According to figures presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) more than 4,000 people have fled Nariño in just 2006, most of whom are indigenous, seeking to avoid violent combat taking place between illegal armed groups (who fund their violent activities through drug trafficking) and the government.
Most recently 1,700 of Nariñoâs citizens have fled to the city of Sánchez, where national and international organization have set up camp to try and meet the humanitarian needs of this new group of refugees. Concerns remain, however, for their well-being and for their safety.
Fortunately, not all news is bad.
As the indigenous people of Nariño flee the violence sparked by illegal guerilla groups, other displaced Colombians are finding new hope by learning all about the flower business, a booming Colombian industry. Participants are taught, over a period of a year and a half, about business management and the technical aspects of growing flowers, while receiving a stipend, housing and access to psychological experts who can help them with the trauma of displacement.
Graduates of the program have been able to find jobs in private flower-growing companies, making a good living for themselves. And, some have even started flower businesses of their own.
In addition to gaining a new lease on life, trainees provide much-needed expertise to a growing industry in need of skilled laborers. Over the past decade, Colombia\'s flower industry has become a world-class industry, second in production only to Holland\'s.
The program, jointly managed by USAID and Asocolflores, is being used as a model for other programs seeking to assimilate displaced people back into the general population. Hopefully, the displaced people of Nariño will also soon be given a similar chance to smell the roses once again.
Posted by Guest at 2:24 PM on Tuesday, 20 June 2006
View [Colombian Refugees Find Hope among the Flower Beds]
Colombian Refugees Find Hope among the Flower Beds
An 18-month program sponsored by USAID and the Colombian Association of Flower Growers (Asocolflores) trains displaced Colombians to become floriculture technicians and managers, bringing hope to this highly afflicted sector of the population.
More than an estimated three million Colombians are displaced due to the ongoing struggle between illegal armed groups and the government for control over strategic and economically valuable regions of the country. One such region is the southwestern province of Nariño, which shares borders with the Pacific Ocean and Ecuador.
On the maps of Colombia provided by the National Antipersonnel Landmine Observatory and included along with Shared Responsibilityâs May 2, 2006 featured story, Nariño stands out as one of the provinces with the highest density of coca crops. Consequently, it is also plagued by mines, violence and high numbers of displaced people. According to figures presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) more than 4,000 people have fled Nariño in just 2006, most of whom are indigenous, seeking to avoid violent combat taking place between illegal armed groups (who fund their violent activities through drug trafficking) and the government.
Most recently 1,700 of Nariñoâs citizens have fled to the city of Sánchez, where national and international organization have set up camp to try and meet the humanitarian needs of this new group of refugees. Concerns remain, however, for their well-being and for their safety.
Fortunately, not all news is bad.
As the indigenous people of Nariño flee the violence sparked by illegal guerilla groups, other displaced Colombians are finding new hope by learning all about the flower business, a booming Colombian industry. Participants are taught, over a period of a year and a half, about business management and the technical aspects of growing flowers, while receiving a stipend, housing and access to psychological experts who can help them with the trauma of displacement.
Graduates of the program have been able to find jobs in private flower-growing companies, making a good living for themselves. And, some have even started flower businesses of their own.
In addition to gaining a new lease on life, trainees provide much-needed expertise to a growing industry in need of skilled laborers. Over the past decade, Colombia\'s flower industry has become a world-class industry, second in production only to Holland\'s.
The program, jointly managed by USAID and Asocolflores, is being used as a model for other programs seeking to assimilate displaced people back into the general population. Hopefully, the displaced people of Nariño will also soon be given a similar chance to smell the roses once again.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 1:59 PM on Tuesday, 20 June 2006
View [Colombian Refugees Find Hope among the Flower Beds]
Organic Gardening: Chemical Free Zone
By
Louisa PearsonWith the best will in the world, the notion of an all-organic garden can seem daunting. Like growing old gracefully, we know it's the right thing to do, but like that anti-wrinkle cream that promises a better, younger you, the fertilisers and weedkillers on sale at the garden centre can be awfully tempting.
But if you've previously adopted the quick fix approach in the pursuit of a plentiful flower bed or vegetable patch, John Fedor is a man who might persuade you to change your ways.
Fedor's book, Organic Gardening, sets out to prove that gardening without chemicals is the healthier, cheaper and more satisfying option. After all, the idea of working with, rather than against, nature is a logical one. From a safety point of view - for yourself and the environment - the risks are minimised, meaning there's no need to worry about young children coming into contact with synthetic weedkillers or causing unintentional harm to visiting wildlife.
Then there's the cost. "With organic gardening, very few commercial products are required," says Fedor. "Kitchen and garden waste are recycled into compost, reducing the amount of rubbish sent to the incinerator or landfill."
The principles are sound, but what about the nitty-gritty of making organic gardening work? First of all, Fedor points out that the approach is nothing new. "I think it's about returning to the attitudes of days of old," he says. Beautiful gardens existed long before chemicals for garden use were invented, although they were inevitably more labour intensive. Fedor says that selecting plant varieties that best suit your region and climate will reduce pest and disease problems. And when you find a plant that works well in your garden, saving the seed provides an inexpensive, reliable way to use the crop again the following year.
Fedor is a big fan of heritage and heirloom varieties, firstly because, unlike many modern hybrids, their seed can be saved and replanted. They also benefit from having been proven over many years. A good way to start is to become a member of the HDRA Heritage Seed Library gardenorganic, which gives you access to several hundred of these versatile plants.
One of the hardest mental barriers for some of us to get over with organic gardening is that quick fixes aren't recommended. Fedor says that although you can get fast organic solutions - a high nitrogen liquid organic feed to improve an ailing crop, for example - it's better to focus on the long-term solution. A dose of inorganic fertiliser might seem harmless, but, explains Fedor, "each teaspoon of soil contains hundreds of thousands of living organisms. If the pH is changed or there's an excess of some unnatural compound in the soil, these organisms aren't able to do their work." For healthy organic plants, Fedor says that looking after the soil is the organic gardener's number one task. In many ways, this simply involves mimicking nature. Adding compost to the soil reflects the way that, in a wild setting, fallen leaves, animal droppings, annual roots and so on would all decompose, turning into humus and feeding the soil. Gardeners effectively perform the same task by replenishing the soil with compost, and give the crops a helping hand by weeding and watering.
"It's a wonderful help in the garden to look at how things work in nature and try to imitate them," says Fedor. If you want to go organic, establishing your own compost heap is a must.
After nourishing the soil, Fedor says that planning is the next most important step to a successful organic garden. Picking the right plants for your climate and location can combine with crop rotation to bring excellent results.
For the best yield, never follow this year's crop with another member of the same family and arrange your plan so that heavy feeders always follow legumes. The way you plant also makes a big difference. Fedor suggests planting seeds close enough so that the mature plants touch. This means that light to the soil surface will be restricted, preventing it from drying out, and keeping weeds at bay.
Companion planting is another useful trick for the organic gardener, and Fedor suggests you experiment to see what works best for you. French marigolds are often popular, helping to kill nematodes in the soil and deter whitefly in the greenhouse. Other tips include growing parsley to deter carrot flies and avoiding growing tomatoes close to brassicas as it impedes their growth.
But what if the worst should happen and your plants suffer from disease or get destroyed by insects?
"Conventional thinking on pests and diseases is to find chemicals that kill or control them," says Fedor. "Many organic gardeners have taken this same approach and seek out organic pesticides and fungicides that do the same job." But he says this is flawed thinking, because healthy plants, in the right conditions, grow vigorously and almost never require chemical protection against pests and diseases.
If your garden has a diverse range of plants, this should encourage beneficial insects which will, in turn, keep pests under control. Other approaches include installing physical barriers or using organic pest control methods such as a soap spray - but be aware that this could kill beneficial insects as well as pests. Biological controls, such as parasitic wasps to keep greenhouse aphids in check, are available from specialist suppliers.
It's also worth remembering that the organic approach applies to the whole garden, not just the vegetable patch. There's an organic solution to most problems - for example, a flame weeder should get rid of those weeds between paving stones just as effectively as a chemical solution. And when trees, shrubs and flowering plants are grown organically, they provide a healthy habitat for insects and animals.
"Things do get easier," says Fedor. "After a certain number of years of working on your beds, there's very little to do but seasonal maintenance." So it might sound like hard work, but once you've created your own environmentally friendly eco-system, success should come naturally.
Reference.
Posted by Bailey at 7:27 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Dutch Creations set to take off
Leading breeders of cut flowers and pot plants are set to work together in Dutch Creations.
Schreurs Gerbera & Roses!, Van den Bos Flowerbulbs, Anthura Corn. Bak, Jn. Haakman & Zn. P. Kooji & Zonen BV, Könst Alstroemeria and Fides are expecting more marketing opportunities.
Harry Kloppenburg at Fides, the groupâs spokesperson, said: âEvery company focuses mainly on his own product group, from market research to development of new products and services.
âOur main interests lie in the exchange of market information, product and market development as well as joint promotion on a retail level.â
Dutch Creations has a broad range of products within the breeding lines, and the group will be an attractive partner throughout the supply chain, according to Kloppenburg.
The International Hortfair 2006, from October 31 to November 3, will be the first joint presentation by the group, and the booths of the individual companies will be clustered together at the event.
âDutch Creations wants to inspire both retail and wholesale partners,â Kloppenburg added. âWith our combined knowledge and creativity we can add a lot of value for the growers as well.
âAt the Hortfair, this will be shown in a creative and inspiring way. For example, there will be presentations of various designers from every part of the world, including the USA, Japan and Europe.
âAll companies keep their own identity within Durch Creations, so our customers and contacts will feel at home with us always.â
Reference.
Posted by Bailey at 7:03 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Rhododendrons for Long Island Gardens
Rhododendrons have always had a special charisma. They developed a reputation for being the royalty of shrubs, probably because they were an expensive indulgence by the owners of the great estate gardens of Britain and early fine gardens in the United States.
William R. Coe developed his estate and gardens at Planting Fields after World War I by importing hundreds of rhododendron plants from England. Today a wide variety of rhododendrons is available in nurseries to be enjoyed by many Long Island gardeners. Visits to Planting Fields in April until early June acquaint you with great numbers of handsome flowering rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as many other fine flowering trees and shrubs.
The genus Rhododendron is extremely large, with 900 to l,000 species found growing in many parts of the world. The largest numbers are native to Japan and in mountains and valleys from China to India. Only a handful are native to America's forests, valleys and mountains. One of these, Rhododendron catawbiense, a native of the Smoky Mountains, was introduced to England about l860. This hardy species was crossed with other more tender species from China and gave rise to a host of hardy hybrid rhododendron varieties. These "ironclads" were the principal varieties imported by Coe and others for their gardens at the beginning of the century. Many of these fine old hardy varieties are readily available in nurseries today. âRoseum Elegans', 'Roseum Pink' and 'Catawbiense Album' and are still highly recommended.
Rhododendrons are popular in the Pacific Northwest, where the rainy humid environment and mild winters are ideal for their growth. Hybriditists in Oregon and Washington, as well as several successful breeders in the Northeast, introduced many new varieties that rhododendron enthusiasts eagerly sought for their gardens.
Perhaps the most striking development of beautiful hybrids hardy for the Northeast was made by Charles O. Dexter, who carried on a massive breeding program at his estate in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Making extensive use of the Chinese species Rhododendron fortunei, Dexter produced a remarkable number of hybrids characterized by dense foliage, large stature and flowers of superior size and color, many of which are fragrant. Notable among the Dexter hybrids are 'Scintillation,' 'Betty Hume,' 'Parker's Pink,' 'GiGi,' 'Mrs. W.R. Coe,' 'Wheatley' and 'Westbury.'
Many of the more tender varieties, grown reliably in England and the Northwest, find the winters on Long Island more severe than they can stand without injury or winter kill. Unfortunately, some varieties available in garden centers on the Island, shipped here from West Coast growers, are not always reliably hardy. They should be tried only in the most protected locations.
An excellent way to become acquainted with rhododendrons best suited for Long Island gardens and to learn how to grow them is to attend the meetings of the New York Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. They are held at Planting Fields Arboretum. Visitors are cordially welcomed. If you talk with Rhododendron Society members, you will soon learn the varieties they consider the "good doers," or most reliable, in their gardens. Some of those considered best for dependable hardiness and performance are listed in Table 1.
Ensure success with newly purchased rhododendrons, or any other shrub or tree, by proper planting and after care. The old adage of preparing a five-dollar hole for a 50-cent plant is still good advice. It is imperative to dig a hole at least three times the diameter of the root ball. It is good practice to prepare an entire bed area at the same time by incorporating organic matter (composted materials or peat moss) and rototilling the area to obtain a uniform soil consistency.
A plant should be placed with the root flare or root collar set at or slightly above the natural grade. The hole should be only as deep as the depth of the root ball. This insures that the root ball rests on firm soil to prevent settling after planting. Rhododendrons are surface rooting plants whose roots occupy the upper 3 - 5 inches of soil and need a loose, porous soil to permit adequate oxygen and moisture penetration for the roots. When the hole is filled and the soil is tamped around the root ball, form a 4" deep "saucer" with a rim of earth about 4" high around the plant "pocket." This helps facilitate watering the first month or so. This should be removed after a few months. The rule of thumb is not to fertilize newly planted shrubs until one year after planting. More on
Rhododendrons.
Posted by Guest at 2:32 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Self-seeders are a Gardener's Delight
By
Jean Longo-Anderson for Gardening For All Seasons
Annuals are great for filling in holes in your garden and they give you a lot of color, but you have to purchase them every year or start them by seed in February or March on your window sill. Perennials are wonderful and they come up every year in the same spot but you should split them every three years or so, unless you have room for them to spread or don't mind the wild look. They can also be expensive.
Then there are the self-seeders.Self-seeders are "volunteers" that self-sow themselves and multiply to their gardener's delight in most cases. These can be either annuals or perennials including herbs and vegetables.
Some examples of Self-seeders: Cosmos, forget-me-nots, datura, foxglove, moss rose, perilla, morning glories, calendulas and larkspur will pop up in spring.
Some gardeners think they are perennials because they can come up in the same spot year after year. You think they are, but they are not perennials - they are self-seeders. These are wonderful volunteers in the garden. They will drop their seeds in the fall only to have them winter over in the garden and they sprout in the spring.
Sometimes a beginner gardener will pull them up thinking that they are gone, but there they are again the next spring!
Some self-seeders can be very invasive and take over your gardens. When this happens, you may pull them out like weeds. It is better to figure out which ones you like before you let them re-seed themselves. Do a little research to see which ones you will like that are best suited for your soil and environment. There is a lot of information to be found online, just by doing a search for self-seeders or self-planters.
Most of these plants are easily transplanted which is good because they can pop up almost anywhere. You can combine a lot of these self-seeders and create a very nice "wild flower" garden that could be very easy to maintain and attract butterflies and birds. I do have many of these varieties available for sale from my garden. Contact me for more information on starting a wild flower garden in your backyard.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 1:29 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Ethiopia: Over 600 Mln. Birr Obtained in Flower Export
Ethiopia has secured over 600 million birr in flowers exports revenue over the past few years.
President of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association, Tsegaye Abebe told Ethiopian News Agency that the foreign currency the country is getting from export of flowers has been increasing 50 to 100 per cent annually.
The country has generated over 180 million birr from the sector during the previous year, Tsegaye said.
Due to expansion works on existing flower farms and increase in the number of investors engaging in the sector, the total export income from flowers is expected to double over the coming year, he added.
Currently, 39 flower farms are engaging in the floriculture industry, Tsegaye said, and added that the industry has so far created employment for 25,000 people.
Though the government has placed due attention to the sector, shortage of construction materials and limited access to loan service from banks as well as poor infrastructure facilities are among the challenges faced by the sector, he added.
Since the new cargo terminal at the Bole International Airport has begun providing service for the shipment of flowers, problems which had been faced due to lack of air freight to transport the perishable products in time have come to be reduced.
Tsegaye also said agreement has been reached with officials of the Ethiopian Airlines (EAL) to charter cargo airplanes that will provide service for the flower sector.
The Association has been exerting efforts to attract local investors to the sector, Tsegaye said and invited the Ethiopian Diaspora to come to their country and invest in the floriculture and horticulture sector.
Ethiopian flowers have won wide demand in the international market, the President said, and added that Ethiopia would become pioneer in the flower industry in Africa over the next few years.
Reference.
Posted by Guest at 1:21 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Insects & Critters Mulching is a big treat for your plants
By
Tim Lockley for
Sun HeraldThey remind me of volcanoes with trees growing out of them.
I'm talking about mulch.
I've seen people pile up chips over 12 inches high around the trunk of a tree. That pile of mulch keeps the moisture high and, over time, will lead to all sorts of insect and disease problems. Never let mulch touch the bark of a tree. Make a doughnut around the tree, leaving 4 to 6 inches clear of the bark.
Don't get me wrong. Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your plants. Look around - Mama Nature doesn't like bare dirt and does her best to cover it up.
Mulching preserves the moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation. It also moderates soil temperature both in the summer and in the winter. It keeps dirt from splashing onto lower leaves, preventing soil-borne fungal diseases. And, over time, organic mulches decompose and add important nutrients to the soil, keeping the top layer loose and airy. Roots have to breathe, too, you know.
Mulching isn't rocket science, but there are common mistakes people make when applying mulch. As mentioned above, the most common is adding mulch layers up the trunk of trees and shrubs. Apply a layer of mulch 3 to 4 inches deep and a yard out from the trunk. Too deep a layer will allow weed seeds to germinate and take hold on top of the mulch.
Another mistake is thinking that the simple act of piling on mulch will kill the weeds that are already there. Sorry. You're going to have to get down on your hands and knees and dig up or spray the weeds before you put down anything. If you use a herbicide, read the label. Most take a minimum of a week to work. You can't expect to spray in the morning and mulch in the afternoon.
Mulching your shrubs is similar to mulching around trees. The depth should be the same.
However, when possible, shrubs look best when they are mulched in beds together. When planting shrubs, avoid making them into islands in your landscape. Flowers and vegetable gardens should also be mulched. Around 3 inches will be a better depth for them.
You might want to use a finer mulch in flower beds than around your trees and shrubs. Your perennials won't mind as much as your annuals about having mulch around their base, but it has a lot to do with the plant and its growing habits.
When it comes to the types of mulch, there are a lot of choices. The most common is bark. You can get it shredded or in large or small chips. This is my personal preference for use under trees and shrubs. It breaks down very slowly.
Some research has shown that the larger chunks give better weed control. If you have good soil already, this is an excellent choice, since the slow decomposition of bark means that it doesn't supply much in the way of humus for your soil.
In flower beds and vegetable gardens where you will be adding plants, dividing plants or planting seedlings, other mulch materials are more appropriate. Commercially available compost, laves and even partially decomposed sawdust make good mulches.
Read more.
Posted by Guest at 12:06 PM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Scientists Seek Source of Spicy Smells
By
Michael Balter for
Science NowIn 1667, after more than a century of bloody battles, the Dutch and the English settled their dispute over the spice trade. Although the conflict centered on cloves and nutmeg, plant researchers have long known that the fuss was really about two closely related organic molecules, eugenol and isoeugenol, which give the respective spices their characteristic aromas. But
the researchers did not know exactly how plants make these compounds. Now a team has elucidated the biochemical pathway responsible, as well as identified the key enzymes involved. The findings could have important applications in the food and flower industries.
The research group, led by molecular biologist Eran Pichersky of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studied two model organisms that are easily manipulated in the laboratory: basil, which produces large amounts of eugenol, and the petunia flower, whose scent is caused by three aromatic compounds including isoeugenol. In the wild,
such aromatic compounds repel herbivores and bacteria while attracting pollinating insects. When the researchers scanned their database of DNA sequences from basil leaves and petunia flowers, they spotted a sequence that matched a gene implicated by another research group in producing the petunia's scent. Pichersky's team fully sequenced this gene and found that it was very similar to another gene in the database that came from the basil plant, the team reports online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Suspecting that these genes might code for enzymes involved in eugenol and isoeugenol synthesis, the researchers genetically engineered Escherichia coli bacteria to carry either the petunia or basil versions. When the bacteria were cultured with a precursor in the synthetic pathway, coniferyl alcohol, they obligingly produced the two aromatic molecules--which control bacteria did not do. In further experiments with basil plants, the researchers discovered how coniferyl alcohol is metabolized into an intermediate molecule, at least in the lab, then converted to eugenol.
The work is a "major step forward," says Robert Schuurink, a plant molecular biologist at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Schuurink adds that the identification of the enzymes as well as the intermediate step in the biochemical pathway "now opens the possibility of genetically engineering the aromatic contents of spices." And Pichersky sees other applications as well, such as making plants more resistant to animals and engineering the scents of crop plant flowers to improve their pollination, thus increasing their yields.
Posted by Guest at 11:26 AM on Monday, 19 June 2006
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Count on coleus for lots of color
By
David Alosi, U. C. MASTER GARDENER
Ornamental gardening is as much about shapes, textures and juxtapositions as it is about colors. Besides flowers, an excellent source of color in the garden is the multitude of plants with variegated and colored foliage. I doubt that any single group of plants comes remotely close to the rainbow of colors available in the leaves of the coleus, a common tropical plant that has been in and out of favor with gardeners since the 1800s.
Coleus is native to Java and other areas of Southeast Asia. It was introduced to Europe by Karl Ludwig Blume during his travels in the early 19th century. The plant was originally named Coleus blumei in honor of Blume, and it became extremely popular in Europe. Victorian "carpet bedding," a technique of making patterned flower beds using colored flowers and foliage, relied heavily on coleus to create bright and intricate patterns in the garden.
Coleus is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, which includes mint, basil, salvia and rosemary. One of the easily identifiable family characteristics is having square stems. It has recently been reclassified botanically, and its new scientific name is Solenostemon scutellarioides. I find "coleus" a lot easier to pronounce.
Coleus plants are tender and won't live through Napa Valley winters unless brought indoors. Used as annuals, they add color to the garden from April to November. Coleus is currently enjoying a comeback, with several hybridizers working to create new and exciting cultivars that are now appearing in nurseries.
Most will tolerate full sun exposure but the colors of some can become dull and bleached out. They are happier in locations receiving morning sun, bright indirect light or partial shade.
These colorful plants are easy to grow. Plant masses of them together for bright color in a shady area. Combine them with other foliage plants or with flowering annuals for spectacular container plantings. The lower-growing varieties (6 to 12 inches) will create a colorful border, or you can use the taller types (up to three feet) as background plants. You can use branches of these larger varieties in long-lasting bouquets. They will add a lot of color and may grow roots in the vase before they are thrown out with the faded blooms.
Coleus has average water needs but should not be over-watered. It performs best in evenly moist, fertile soil, although once established, it can tolerate some drought, making it a great choice for containers. The plants need excellent drainage and regular applications of nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Mulching with compost or wood chips is a good way to reduce their water needs.
Coleus is resistant to serious disease or insect problems when grown outdoors under good light and soil conditions. Pests to watch for include mealy bug, aphids and white flies. Potential diseases include stem rot and root rot, usually the result of poor drainage or over-watering.
Coleus also makes a good houseplant in bright light. Some trailing varieties will perform well in hanging baskets. Propagation is easy. Start new plants by placing tip cuttings in water, which is also a good way to preserve plants over the winter, to be planted out after the last spring frost. Learn more about
Coleus...
Posted by Bailey at 12:29 AM on Friday, 16 June 2006
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Surrey Gardeners Have the Greenest Fingers
People in the South East have the greenest fingers in the UK, spending the highest amount of money on visits to garden and DIY stores, according to research by Barclays Insurance. The first Saturday of June is supposedly the busiest day of the year for the countryâs amateur gardeners, handymen and home improvers with over 1.2 million people expected to visit their local DIY or garden store, a 50 per cent increase from the average number of shoppers on a normal Saturday. Over £50 million is expected to be spent as gardeners are inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show and the prospect of a long weekend with, hopefully, some fine weather.
The research from Barclays Insurance reveals that residents of South West Surrey, covering towns such as Farnham and Godalming, spend the most on their gardens (Over £350 per capita per year, see table in notes for editors). Other top garden spending areas are North East Hampshire, Mole Valley, Surrey Heath and Tonbridge and Malling. Outside of the South East, Somerset and Frome and Tiverton and also see large sums spent on gardens and home improvements.
Londoners spend the least on their home and garden and make the fewest visits to garden and DIY centres, perhaps unsurprising given the shortage of green space in the capital. However outside of London, Yorkshire and the North East are the two regions which spend the least on with less than £180 a year spent on DIY and gardens in these areas.
Read more.
Posted by Bailey at 11:29 PM on Thursday, 15 June 2006
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College Scholarships From freeplants.com
The gardening website,
http://www.freeplants.com/, is offering a $1,000 college scholarship to one lucky
high school senior.
And, to make things interesting the recipient of this scholarship will have to build and use the homemade plant propagation system featured on this page of the web site:
http://www.freeplants.com/homemade-plant-propagation.htm
It only costs a few dollars to create a simple homemade plant propagation system, and you'll be amazed at the different kinds of plants you can grow with this simple system.
Details about the scholarship are here:
http://www.freeplants.com/college-scholarship.htm
Posted by Guest at 1:23 PM on Thursday, 15 June 2006
View [College Scholarships From freeplants.com]
Great Yards Are a Great Investment
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Think about that the next time you're driving around looking at houses. Curb appeal is so important, whether you're putting your house on the market or wanting a fresh look for your home.
A great yard definitely improves real estate value, and sprucing up your yard doesn't have to cost a fortune.
A recent study states that
houses with tidy gardens, freshly mowed lawns, wellstocked flower beds and one or more trees will sell quicker and for a better price than a comparable one without the green features. If you're selling your home, you'll find that everything will be coming up roses (or pansies, or begonias ...) if you simply plant some flowers to brighten your yard.
Spring is a great time to plant. Gorgeous flowers in a multitude of colors are available at lawn and garden centers this time of year. Do a little research and choose flowers that will complement your home as well as thrive in your area.
A smart way to showcase your flowers and landscape beds is with a great border. Easy Gardener makes a wide variety of edging. One of their borders that will let any landscape bed shine is Emerald Edge. To install, just hammer it into the ground with a mallet. Emerald Edge comes in easy to handle four foot sections and costs less than $1.50 per foot in most stores.
Another attractive edging option is Fiber Edge. It is one of the most durable on the market, yet it bends easily and conforms to almost any landscape design. Made of a strong UVresistant fiberglass, this innovative edging comes in an attractive green color that won't rust, rot, crack or fade.
If you're opting for something ornamental, try Garden Braid Border. The pound-in border's braided detail beautifully frames any landscape bed. Don't let its good looks fool you; this stylish border works hard, keeping creeping weeds out of flowerbeds while holding mulch in. Best of all, it is sturdy and maintenancefree.
Read more.
Posted by Guest at 12:47 PM on Thursday, 15 June 2006
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13 orchid varieties on verge of extinction
Thirteen varieties of orchid in South China's Guangdong Province are on the verge of extinction due to the worsening environment and the invasion of alien species, according to a recent report by Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau.
"We did extensive research throughout 2005, and discovered that Guangdong's biodiversity is falling much faster than at any time in the past. This is due to both natural laws and man-made problems," Peng Shaolin, leader of the investigation team, told China Daily. "Orchids are one group of plants that are being seriously affected."
According to Peng's report, there are 230 varieties of orchid in Guangdong, and most of them are in trouble.
The report investigated in total 360 endangered species in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Of the plants, 59 are under State protection.
"Although orchids are expensive and difficult to plant, planting orchids at home has become a trend since the 1980s," Peng said. "Lots of flower traders exploit wild orchids illegally, causing a great loss of resources."
The 13 most-endangered varieties include Aerides odorata lour, Calanthe nankunensis, and Coelogyne primulina barretto.
Since the over-exploitation of orchids is a worldwide concern, all orchids were listed as key preserved plants by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 2000, Peng said.
The over-exploitation mostly happens in developing countries in tropical zones, which are the major habitats. Controlling exploitation is tougher in these areas, Peng said.
Besides exploitation, the increasingly polluted environment and the industrialization of agriculture and forestry has also caused the extinction of orchids and the loss of biodiversity.
Peng said the government should do more to publicize the concept of biodiversity protection. He said he hoped the International Day for Biological Diversity, which fell on May 22, could be enlarged.
He also recommended that species similar to orchids that are also endangered should be moved to preservation zones.
Source: China Daily
Posted by Bailey at 10:41 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
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Modified Interactive Packaging for Cut Flowers
By
William Lyons for Scotland on Sunday
To the naked eye it looks just like any other form of plastic packaging found hanging from fruit and veg counters up and down the country. But look closer and the clear packaging has an unusual matte film, is slightly cloudy and slightly sticky to touch.
Successful trials show that the packaging - a permeable film called
Modified Interactive Packaging (MIP) - extends the life of cut flowers by up to three weeks, giving the suppliers the option of shipping their produce by sea rather than using air freight, which will reduce costs, uses less fuel, and is more environmentally friendly.
Manufactured by Long Life Solutions (LLS), a packaging technology business headquartered in East Lothian, MIP is, according to chief executive Andrew Wright, the most permeable film on the market. He believes it will offer huge cost savings to businesses worldwide.
Food waste and environmentally-friendly packaging is big business - LLS is tapping into a market estimated to be worth more than £7bn per year. And that figure is expected to rise substantially as companies, supported by government initiatives, move to higher value waste management options, such as recycling, the incineration of rubbish for energy and heat, and the use of landfill gas to generate power.
Last month LLS signed a deal with Hampshire-based World Flowers - the UK's largest flower supplier - to use MIP to wrap all their cut flowers shipped from Kenya to the UK. The deal means World Flowers can save up to £3,000 per container in air freight fees and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000,000 kilos per year.
Ian Finlayson, technical director of World Flowers, said MIP packaging could revolutionise the market. "It could be hugely significant," he says. "There are still a few barriers to go through to get it perfect, but from the trials we have done so far we are sufficiently convinced with the product. We are using it on a small scale at the moment, but we hope to start using it in larger quantities next month with a [full] roll-out later this year."
Designed and patented by Australian scientist Jeff Peck, the MIP film has a honeycomb structure and contains tiny stress fractures which manage the atmosphere within the sealed shipping container. Its unique make-up manages the oxygen and carbon dioxide expressed by flowers and slows down the respiration of the produce to keep the product fresh. The packaging also contains an antibacterial formula so when the flowers release carbon dioxide, the formula protects the product and kills bacteria within the produce itself.
Wright, who met Peck when he was working as a food supply consultant in 1999, was so convinced by the idea that - with the help of a number of private investors from countries that have a history in packaging and biotech, such as Israel, Holland and Spain - he set up LLS four and half years ago specifically to bring the product to market.
"At the time we saw the test data that Peck was using and we knew it wasn't quite there, but with a bit of R&D we could get it to work," says Wright.
The firm outsources all its research to institutions including Essex University, Davis University in California and Stellenbosch University in South Africa. It also outsources manufacturing to a number of companies in the UK and US.
LLS is now developing similar technology to be used for fruit and vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, strawberries and spring greens.
"We have a number of developments in the pipeline that could be very exciting," says Wright. "At the moment we are a small private company that have kept quiet and kept out of the headlines. After all, we are a supply chain, we are not the most interesting firm. But if this product is as successful as we believe it will be, then it will be huge."
Wright says the firm has been valued at £50m but his aim is to grow the business to £200m within the next three years. A listing on the stock market would follow.
Waste and packaging have in the past held little fascination for the stock market. But as the government has sought more environmentally sound - and potentially more profitable - methods of waste disposal, the sector has changed markedly.
In March, Severn Trent announced it would demerge Biffa, the UK's biggest waste manager. Analysts predict the firm is likely to enter the FTSE 250 as the UK's biggest waste stock when it lists before the end of this year.
And specialist packaging is becoming more commonplace...
Read more about the new packaging system for cut flowers.
Posted by Guest at 7:49 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [Modified Interactive Packaging for Cut Flowers]
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2006
For one week in July the majestic Hampton Court Palace provides the perfect backdrop for the worldâs largest annual flower show.
This RHS event features more than 700 exhibitors and illustrates the best in horticulture during high summer.
Around 50 gardens showcase established garden designers and new talent, and an array of looks from traditional to contemporary. Visitors can buy plants - new varieties and old favourites - from more than 100 of the UKâs top nurseries and growers, and the finest gardening gifts and accessories from hundreds of stalls.
Floral art, fruit and vegetables, plant heritage and floristry are also on show, alongside the unique water gardens and the worldâs largest annual gathering of roses in full bloom, making the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show an unmissable day out.
The Flower Show showcases a
Festival of Roses which is held in its own marquee, which holds Britainâs largest annual gathering of roses in full bloom. Step inside and experience the sight and scent of thousands of roses under one roof. This is the place to see and buy the best quality roses from the UKâs top growers. Catch one of the talks and demonstrations throughout the week to help you get the best from your roses. Know more about the
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2006.
Posted by Guest at 7:38 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2006]
Community Building and Organizational Development through Community Gardening
Join the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) for an in-depth,
hands-on workshop based on ACGA's curriculum for leadership development at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Learn proven strategies that community organizers use to develop dynamic leaders and create strong communities through a participatory approach to community building. You will learn the principles and practices of community building, and how to pass these techniques on to others in your community by conducting your own workshops.
This two-day workshop will cover Community Organizing, Leadership Development, Grassroots Fundraising Basics, Communications Planning, Coalition Building and is appropriate for community gardeners, non-profit organizers and city greening agency staff. Participants receive the "Growing Communities Curriculum," a 352-page resource workbook, which includes curriculum materials that walk the reader through the process of conducting training workshops. The Curriculum also addresses Diversity, Meeting Facilitation and Group Decision-Making, Developing a Board of Directors, and Grassroots Fundraising - Specific Strategies. Refer the
Michael fields website for details on registration.
Posted by Guest at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [Community Building and Organizational Development through Community Gardening]
Baguio is ideal place for cherry blossoms
By
Harley Palangchao for CBN News
Baguio will have another attraction if the planned propagation of trees with colored tops, including the famous cherry blossoms, turns out to be viable for the resort capital.
City Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia filed a resolution requesting the City Parks and Management Office to research the viability of propagating cherry-blossom trees, Asian plums and maples and flowering redbuds here.
"Having trees with colored foliage and blooms at certain times of the year can add vibrancy to our parks, roadsides and mountainside, and it could be an alternative attraction to local and international tourists," Balajadia said.
He said Baguio has potential areas where these trees can be planted, because the city maintains a number of parks and watersheds where trees, local or endemic, can be propagated for environmental and aesthetic reasons.
One of the most visible trees with colored leaves is the jacaranda, which is planted mostly around Burnham Park.
Balajadia, chairman of the committee on health and environment, added that one of the foremost concerns of the city is to preserve and enhance the ecological resources that define the renowned temperate climate of the city.
Read more...
Posted by Guest at 7:19 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [Baguio is ideal place for cherry blossoms]
A New Paradigm Replacing the Old
The other day, I was visiting der Eidel blogger, who was discussing the rising rents and impending demise of New York’s Flower District. He made an offhand point, about using FTD.com to buy flowers, which got a tad under my skin. I commented on his post, but there’s a lot more to be said.
The best man in my wedding spent several years working for FTD (along with one of it’s subsidiaries, Flowers All Hours). Since we regularly chat about business, and the various business models our companies followed, I have a more-than-rudimentary understanding of how FTD works. Thankfully, he’s moved on to greener pastures, so if I illuminate people as to how their business works, it’s no skin off him.
So let me make sure everyone, off the bat, understands one thing. FTD doesn’t sell flowers. They don’t make flower arrangements, they don’t deliver flowers, and they don’t own any flower shops. They are only one thing: an order fulfillment service.
FTD is a network. They work with individual florists, and when someone from, say, Massachusetts wants to send flowers to a friend in California, they contact FTD. FTD takes their credit card info, for a $50 arrangement, tacks on $10-20 in fees, plus a $10 delivery fee, and sends the order to one of the florists in their network. They don’t particularly care if the florist is wonderful or simply adequate, they’re just looking to pass along an order and get their commission. As a consumer, you’re getting a $50 arrangement for $80, but since you don’t know the florists in California, you know you’re getting an adequate product, but without having to know the reputation of the florist you’re working with. Of course, FTD constantly has to monitor their florists to make sure they don’t short their orders, since it’s rare that someone who’s receiving flowers knows the difference between a $40 and $50 arrangement. And the individual florists have ample reason to try to game the system, because they’re spending boatloads of money to be a member of the FTD network, and want to ensure it generates a positive cash flow.
Well, that business model may have made sense a few years ago, but with new information, it’s much better to simply cut out the middleman. Why use FTD, for example, when you have CitySearch? Instead of placing an order for adequate flowers using FTD, knowing for a fact that I’m being overcharged, a quick search of local florists on CitySearch can provide reviews, ratings, and an assurance that other consumers have been happy with that florist’s products. I know that instead of the adequate, overpriced arrangement I might get through FTD, I’m likely to get a spectacular and properly-priced arrangement from a florist that is trying to impress a potential repeat customer.
Five years ago, before the internet had reached its current level, FTD was an indispensible tool in sending flowers to someone across the country. Now, it’s a wasteful middleman who serves no purpose. It will take a couple years for that message to reach down to the average person like me, who– without having a friend in the business– wouldn’t have had a clue about the flower industry, but it is something that can easily change over time.
But flowers are just one facet. To see where the flower industry might end up in several years, we should look at the current travel industry. 10 years ago, if you wanted to go on vacation with your family, you’d look around for the best travel agent in your area, set up an appointment, and let the travel agent book and organize your trip. These days, however, I doubt that a single one of the readers of this blog has done so for a trip they’ve made in the last year. If they have chosen to do that, I’ll bet they’ve looked back on it with at least a small bit of regret, assuming they’ve actually done some research on their own since.
Years ago, the only way that someone could reasonably keep on top of travel deals and knowledge of destinations would be to make it a full-time job. Travel agents were a necessary middleman in the business. If I wanted to travel to, say, Montreal, I could look around at the library and bookstores for Montreal travel guides. I could call around to all the airlines to find who had the best fares, call all over the place for the best hotel deals, and then call all around to find out the best rental cars. I might spend several days compiling all this information before making a decision. Or, I could simply pay a travel agent a small fee to take care of it. I may spend a small amount of time talking to friends and coworkers to find a reputable agent, but beyond that, it’s just not worth it to do the rest of the research on my own.
These days, though, all the information a travel agent has is at my fingertips. I have a host of different web sites I can use to find the best airfare, car rental, and hotel deals, complete with pictures, ratings and reviews, and much more information than a travel agent of 10 years ago could have dreamt of. To say that the internet has empowered individuals is the only apt description, because it has given laymen the power that only professionals once had.
This scenario is being played out in far more places. Nobody needs a Zagat guide when they have a myriad of sites for restaurant reviews. Purchasing maps is slowly phasing out, with the advent of online point-to-point directions and the lower costs of GPS navigation systems. Even such things as retailing are feeling the pinch, as a greater number of items are being offered online, and a greater number of people are self-selling items through services such as eBay. The old paradigm, where local businesses acted as gatekeepers to information, is imploding. Information is both expanding and becoming more accessible at an ever-increasing rate, to the point where the cost of information– in many areas– is simply zero.
Does that mean that travel agents and FTD will disappear in the near future? No. Travel agents are still more efficient at booking vacations for large groups than the internet. For example, my company is doing a trip later this year, and to pile the work of organizing dozens of people strewn all over the country to get them to the destination onto one admin is absolutely insane. For the moment, at least, those sorts of arrangements work better with someone who is used to arranging group discounts and group trips. Likewise, for the moment, the ease of FTD is still preferable, to most people, than the hassle of searching CitySearch to find a highly-rated florist who can provide a great product, regardless of the cost savings which might follow.
But these things are changing. Just as travel agents for personal vacations and the Zagat guide are simply obsolete, services like FTD will become so soon. The world is changing quickly, and the only way to prosper is to see which way it’s headed.
Posted By: Brad Warbiany @ 7:06 pm || Permalink
Posted by Guest at 1:32 PM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [A New Paradigm Replacing the Old]
Annual Sequim Lavender Festival!
Come celebrate the joy of lavender from July 14 - 16. Celebrate eight beautiful
Farms on Tour in the stunning Sequim-Dungeness Valley. Celebrate the essence of purple fields swaying in the breeze, the heady aroma of sun-kissed flowers, and the many tastes of lavender. Visit the Street Fair, featuring Northwest crafts and Olympic Coast cuisine. Join more than 30,000 visitors from all over the world in this glorious Festival!
The Lavender Festival is also hosting the
3rd North America Lavender Conference Immediately following the Sequim Lavender Festival on 17th and 18th of July, 2006. If you're interested in growing lavender, distilling lavender oil, making lavender products, marketing lavender, or simply utilizing this amazing, fragrant herb in your home, garden, or otherwise, you don't want to miss this conference.
Read more...
Posted by Jasmine at 9:59 AM on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
View [Annual Sequim Lavender Festival!]
Malacca Flora Fest Blooms
By
Christina TanThe flora fest organised by Malacca City Council has gained popularity among gardening enthusiasts and also businessmen in the horticulture industry.
This year the fest was extended to six days from three due to overwhelming response from participants and visitors.
Large crowds could be seen admiring the colourful fresh flowers on display daily when the event was held between May 26 and 31 at Dataran Sejarah in Ayer Keroh.
Datuk Bandar Datuk Zaini Md Nor said 50 entrepreneurs set up booths to display their plants, flowers and gardening tools.
âThe fest has become the platform for the council to increase awareness and interest among the people on flora and fauna, which are the important elements for a balanced environment,â he said.
A participant from Shah Alam, Mohd Morhanic C. M. Ali said he quit his job as bank officer and ventured into growing orchids five years ago.
He said gardening was his hobby since young but he never dreamt of making it a career till he saw the prospects in growing flowers in the recent years, he said.
â
The love for flowers kept me on although I was struggling in the first few years,â he said.
Read more...
Posted by Bailey at 6:17 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Malacca Flora Fest Blooms]
Israel Benefits From Flower Price Surge
Fresh InfoProblems with flower exports from Kenya â the largest supplier of cut flowers to western Europe â and cold weather in Europe at the end of May and in early June contributed to a steep rise in the prices.
Due to a shortage of labour, Israeli growers were unable to meet the demand for their flowers on the markets, but still had one of their most profitable periods for some time. The export of flowers from Kenya was halted due to suspected plant diseases. Secretary of the Israel Flowers Growersâ Association Chaim Hadad said that during the first week of June,
Israeli growers exported 20 million flowers, 33 per cent more than during a "regular" summer week. He said the average price per flower was â¬0.3, double the price fetched on the markets during other weeks. Total sales returns in the first week of June totaled NIS35 million (US$7.6m).
The flower industry in Kenya was established with the help of Israeli flower growers and experts who were unable to expand their farms in Israel due to then shortage of water and the shortage of manpower.
To combat labour problems, sources at the Ministry of Agriculture in Israel told FPJ that the government will approve the entry of 5,000 additional foreign workers, mostly from Thailand, bringing the total number of foreign workers in the agricultural sector to 26,000.
Posted by Bailey at 5:29 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Israel Benefits From Flower Price Surge]
The 2005-2010 World Outlook for Florists
This study covers the
world outlook for florists across more than 200 countries. For each year reported, estimates are given for the latent demand, or potential industry earnings (P.I.E.), for the country in question (in millions of U.S. dollars), the percent share the country is of the region and of the globe. These comparative benchmarks allow the reader to quickly gauge a country vis-Ã -vis others. Using econometric models which project fundamental economic dynamics within each country and across countries, latent demand estimates are created. This report does not discuss the specific players in the market serving the latent demand, nor specific details at the product level. The study also does not consider short-term cyclicalities that might affect realized sales. The study, therefore, is strategic in nature, taking an aggregate and long-run view, irrespective of the players or products involved.
Posted by Guest at 3:26 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [The 2005-2010 World Outlook for Florists ]
Floristry Market Report
The UK market for cut flowers and floristry products was estimated to be worth £929m in 1997, up from £868m the previous year.
Specialist florists still account for the majority of sales in 1996, they sold 44% of all flowers and arrangements by value. The fastest growing sector is supermarket sales, which have now moved on from plain bunches to bouquets, arrangements and flowers by order. These currently take 28% of value sales, although much more by volume.
Specialist florists are typically `micro-businesses' 77% employ fewer than five people, 64% have an annual turnover of less than £100,000 and there are only a dozen chains of any size in the market, the majority being independent shops. The largest groups are the relay services, such as Interflora, which are membership organisations.
Interflora is the largest organisation in the market, turning over more than £11m. However, the largest company in the market is Flying Flowers, a mail order business based in the Channel Islands, which also has other interests, including retail nursery.
59% of flowers, by value, are bought as gifts or for personal use. There are also distinct markets for corporate arrangements (for example at conferences, hotels and restaurants) and for personal ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals.
Telephone and distance ordering through relay systems already accounts for 25% of the market. However, it is anticipated that new services being offered through major supermarket chains, which benefit from consumer perceptions of quality and value, will develop this sector further, raising its share to 30% by 2001. There is also a small, but developing Internet sector.
The future prospects for the industry are for overall growth, but retail florists may struggle to maintain their share of the market. Although flowers are becoming more affordable and fashionable, small individual stores will have to consistently upgrade both quality and service to match the variety or quality offered by mass-marketing organisations.
Key Note forecasts that sales of cut flowers will be worth £1.19bn by the year 2001.
Get this report now.
Posted by Guest at 3:17 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Floristry Market Report ]
Fresh Flowers & Plants in China â A Market Analysis
This updated
report on the development of the market for cut flowers in China deals with the growth in consumer and institutional demand for cut and fresh flowers in the PRC. Chinaâs flower market has grown nearly 20 times in the last decade.
The market for fresh flowers in China is growing rapidly as increased personal incomes allow more and more consumers to purchase fresh flowers as a gift or treat. Additionally, the government is encouraging gardening as an activity as part of Chinaâs âgreeningâ campaign in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to compliment the new parks, green spaces and flower baskets cities are installing. This growth is occurring at a time when Chinaâs logistics and transportation system is improving to a level that makes moving flowers around the country from the rural areas to the cities, which are the main markets, far easier than previously.
Reflecting the two trends above most of Chinaâs major cities have seen both new flower markets as well as burgeoning chains of florists in recent years.
Additionally all cities have clusters of flower sellers such as those found around the Shanghai Flower market between Shaanxi Lu and Maoming Nan Lu in Shanghai where many florists stay open until 20:00 hours or later at night.
Additionally, people are using flowers to decorate their homes as part of the general improvement of homes in China as people purchase their properties. Finally, the growth of flower giving at events such as Spring Festival and newer imported traditions such as Christmas, Motherâs Day and Valentineâs Day are boosting the market.
Finally, there is a growing internal and export market for sub-tropical plants from Chinaâs southern provinces.
China is also a major producer of flowers. Currently, China has the greatest amount of land area in the world devoted to the growing of flowers and plants - a third of the world's total flower producing area. However, cultivation is highly inefficient and China only accounts for 0.5% of the world's total production while in contrast the Netherlands makes up only 10% of the world's total, while the country's export volume accounts for 70%.
Posted by Guest at 3:05 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Fresh Flowers & Plants in China â A Market Analysis]
50 of the Largest Companies Operating in the Florist Sector Occupy 6 Percent of the Market
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2006--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the First Research report: Florists - Industry Profile to their offering.
Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:
The retail florist industry includes about 22,000 retail flower shops with combined annual revenues of $7 billion. While there are no national florist chains, independent florists are usually linked into national wire services providers FTD and Telaflora. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has over 100 franchised and company-owned shops and franchisor Kabloom also has over 100 franchise locations. Independent florists are usually linked into wire service providers, such as FTD and Teleflora, which connect customers with florists. The industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest companies holding just 6 percent of the market. Average annual sales per flower shop are about $300,000.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand for flowers depends on discretionary consumer spending. The profitability of individual shops depends on effective marketing. Companies focus on a local or regional market and compete based on convenient location, price, and customer service. Florists also compete with supermarkets and mass merchandisers selling flowers, which can often sell at lower prices because of volume purchases from growers or wholesalers. The industry is highly labor-intensive, with annual sales per employee of about $60,000.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products are cut flower arrangements, potted plants, and loose cut flowers. Flower arrangements account for 55 percent of industry revenue, potted plants for 15 percent. Stores may also sell vases, artificial flowers, and other gift items. The top-selling flowers are roses, carnations, and lilies.
Posted by Guest at 3:01 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [ 50 of the Largest Companies Operating in the Florist Sector Occupy 6 Percent of the Market]
Fathers Day is June 18th, How It Began
Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad. It is a day to not only honor your father, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers." They all have their favorite chair.
While listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a "father's day. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972 Each year we celebrate by giving gifts and floral bouquets to our fathers, men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers, or special friends."
"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!"
-- Lydia M. Child
Posted by Guest at 1:14 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Fathers Day is June 18th, How It Began]
Interesting Trivia About Flowers
Flowers is not just about biology. There are numerous trivia associated with each flower that includes interesting, mindboggling, amazing and fun facts, as well as legends and myths. And, to begin, here's a trivia on trivia: Trivia is the plural of 'Trivium' and a synonym of trifles!
Here are some very interesting trivia on flowers. Enjoy them!!
1) Archaefructus sinensis is considered the world's oldest flower. Scientists discovered the flower fossil in north-east China, dating back to 125 million years ago. The Fossilised flower resembled the modern water lily.
2) The Agave flower stem is fermented to make the popular Northern Mexican wine called Pulque.
Learn more interesting facts about flowers @
Flower Trivia...
Posted by Webmaster at 12:13 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Interesting Trivia About Flowers]
Thanksgiving Flowers
Canadian Thanksgiving is Monday, October 9, 2006. American Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 23, 2006.
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving every second Monday in October. Thanksgiving is celebrated to commemorate a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the native Indians.
Most of North America celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday as an expression of gratitude, usually to God. Thanksgiving is a day marked to give thanks to God for the bounty of the autumn harvest. Thanksgiving Day in America is a time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. But the table would be incomplete without a Thanksgiving Flower centerpiece or cornucopia (horn of plenty) in red, yellow and orange colors of autumn. Read more on Thanksgiving Flowers
Posted by Webmaster at 12:05 PM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Thanksgiving Flowers]
Wedding Flower Bouquet
Wedding Flower Bouquet is commonly the Bride's Bouquet and the Bridesmaids' Bouquets. The choice of a Wedding Flower Bouquet for the bride should be made to complement the dress and body shape, and reflect the bride' personality.
The bridal bouquet originated from the ancient belief that spices and herbs, with strong odours, (including garlic and chives) protected wedding party from bad luck, evil spirits, and ill health. The Greeks and Romans would strew flowers before the bridal couple to symbolize the essence of love. In modern times, the choice of flowers for the wedding may be influenced by Meanings attributed to flowers during the Victorian era. Read more on
Wedding Flower Bouquet
Posted by Webmaster at 11:57 AM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Wedding Flower Bouquet]
Wedding Flower Arrangements
Wedding Flower Arrangements are an essential part of a wedding in any culture. Wedding Flower Arrangements add the elements of style, beauty and charisma to a wedding. Flower arrangements for weddings are an integral element for the special day.
For any flower arrangement to look better, you need to have an indepth understanding of the wedding site so that you have an idea of color and theme of the Wedding Flower Arrangement and thereby estimate the number of flowers required for your decoration. Learn more on
Wedding Flower Arrangements
Posted by Webmaster at 11:52 AM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Wedding Flower Arrangements]
Wedding Ceremony Flowers
The Wedding Day is one of the most important days of the bridal couple's lives. Flowers are one of the most important elements, and indeed an integral part of any Wedding Ceremony across cultures.
Whether in a Church, a hotel, a plantation or a garden, every Wedding Ceremony needs a focal point. This focal point creates the space where the all-important vows will be exchanged. And, this focal point is incomplete without the Wedding Ceremony Flowers...Read More on
Wedding Ceremony Flowers
Posted by Webmaster at 10:56 AM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Wedding Ceremony Flowers]
Wedding Flowers
Wedding Flowers are both decoration and a wedding tradition. Flowers are one of the most important elements of a Wedding Day. Wedding Flowers - Wedding Ceremony Flowers and Wedding Reception Flowers - set the mood and tone for the day. Apart from natural Cut Flowers, artificial flowers like porcelain bridal flowers, handmade flowers with Swarovski crystals, and silk wedding flowers are also very popular and last a lifetime....Learn more about
Wedding Flowers...
Posted by Webmaster at 10:27 AM on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
View [Wedding Flowers]
Mississippi State Flower (Magnolia)
Magnolia flowers do not true petals and sepals but are composed of petal-like tepals. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) was officially designated as the Mississippi State Flower in 1952. Magnolias trees have large fragrant white flowers and evergreen leaves that make them one of the most splendid of forest trees and a very popular ornamental plant. Magnolia blossoms grow at the end of the tree's branches. Magnolia flowers are saucer shaped and are found singly. Magnolia is a characteristically showy, fragrant flower that is white, pink, purple, green, or yellow.
The article on Mississippi State Flower also broadly speaks on the general information about Mississippi State . The popularity of magnolias is reflected by the fact that
Mississippi is also known by the name Magnolia State. The Mississippi state's Capital City is Jackson. Mississippi was admitted into statehood on December 10, 1817. Mississippi's economy depends upon Agriculture: Cotton, poultry, cattle, catfish,... Learn more about Mississippi and the state flower, magnolia @
Mississippi State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 10:42 PM on Monday, 12 June 2006
View [Mississippi State Flower (Magnolia)]
Lovely Lisianthus...
Commonly reffered to by such names viz., Prairie Gentian, Texas bluebell, Tulip gentian, Bluebells and Lira de san pedro,
Lisianthus (Eustoma), is a wonderful gift for Saggitarians (born between November 22 and December 21) from the perspective of Astrology. Lisianthus is popular in horticulture, as an ornamental, a potted indoor plant, and as a cut flower.
Lisianthus are long-stemmed flowers in cymes, with often only a few opening at a time. Sepals on Lisianthus are only fused close to the base and are much smaller than petals. The petals on Lisianthus are purple or bluish, large and rounded, with only a fused at the base. The petals of the Lisianthus form a trumpet or funnel-shaped corolla, and are often yellow on the inside close to the mouth of the flowers... Learn more about
lisianthus...
Posted by Webmaster at 10:25 PM on Monday, 12 June 2006
View [Lovely Lisianthus...]
Organic fertiliser
By
Lam Peng SamIt s a rigid law of nature that the dead, often complex, organic remains of plants and animals must be broken down into simpler compounds or components that can be used by living and growing things.
These organic debris or remains are integrated with water, air and the mineral material of the soil to form humus â soluble nutrients that serve to raise the fertility of the soil.
In nature, this organic recycling goes on year after year, unimpeded, and in this way soil fertility is built up.
In gardens, however, much of the plant cover (in the form of food crops and flowers, et cetera) are removed and seldom replaced. The organic and humus content of the soil thus decline.
Previously, one could buy well-rotted organic manure and use it as a good replacement of humus and plant food to sustain healthy plant growth.
However, these are getting scarce and difficult to come by. The other option is compost and many reputable firms make it from old shredded oil palm bunches and other organic materials.
Making your own compost is not difficult. Compost is the end product resulting from the breakdown of organic debris by bacteria and other micro-organisms, assisted by macro-organisms such as insects and earthworms in a moist, warm and aerated environment.
The basic materials required for compost-making are readily available at little or no cost from your home and garden.
The process demands little skill or know-how and produces an end product which is a cheap and valuable organic fertiliser. It is ideal for improving the quality of your garden soil. Read more on the benefits of
organic fertilisers and and how to produce them.
Posted by Jasmine at 10:14 PM on Monday, 12 June 2006
View [Organic fertiliser ]
Minnesota State Flower (Pink and White Lady's Slipper)
In the language of flowers, Lady's Slipper means Capricious Beauty. Pink and White Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae), one of Minnesota's rarest wildflowers, is the Minnesota State Flower. It is also the state wildflower of New Hampshire. Blooming season of the flower is very short... between June 20 and July 5.
The article on Minnesota State Flower, besides speaking in detail about the Lady's Slipper, also speaks on general information about the state of Minnesota. Minnesota state's nicknames are North Star State, Land of 10,000 Lakes. Saint Paul is the capital city of Minnesota state. Minnesota attained statehood on May 11, 1858. Learn more about the
Minnesota State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 7:26 PM on Monday, 12 June 2006
View [Minnesota State Flower (Pink and White Lady's Slipper)]
X-Ray Flowers...
boobeaumont.orgHave you ever heard of X-Ray Flowers?
X-Ray Flowers are now on display... Be amazed by an array of award winning x-ray flower images on display in At-Bristol from UK artist Boo Beaumont.
In her extraordinary collection Boo has used X-ray photography to explore the interior architecture of the flowers. They have an amazing silliness about them that transcends their physical structure, conveying both a sensual and fragile presence.
Boo Beaumont's x-ray flowers will be on display in the IMAX Theatre foyer
from 1 July - 31 August, 2006 and is entirely free of charge.
Posted by Bailey at 5:30 PM on Monday, 12 June 2006
View [X-Ray Flowers...]
Michigan State Flower (Apple Blossom)
Apple blossom is the Michigan State flower. It is also the state flower of
Arkansas. The apple tree is a native of Europe. The blooming season of Apple blossoms is from April to June. They have Cherry pink and white petals.
The Apple blossoms are very fragrant and scent the landscape in May. There are, probably, nearly 1000 varieties of Apple blossom cultivated in the United States. Learn more about the
Michigan State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 5:15 PM on Saturday, 10 June 2006
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Rafflesia - Largest Fleshy Flower
Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest, solitary, fleshy flower in the world. Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that grows on the lower slopes of mountain ranges, in certain areas of South-east Asia. (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo). The
first Europeans to discover the Rafflesia were Sir Stamford Raffles (founder of Singapore) and Dr Joseph Arnold in 1816, near the town of Bencoolen (Bengkulu) in Sumatra and this particular species was named Rafflesia arnoldii in their honour.
Besides being the world's largest bloom, it is a very strange and baffling plant. Belonging to the family Rafflesiaceae together with Mitrastemonaceae and Hydnoraceae, they constitute the order Rafflesiales. The Rafflesia has no specific flowering season. It has no roots, stem or leaves. In addition, each flower produces just one seed and this seed can only germinate if it succeeds in lodging itself in the tissue of the Tetrastigma vine, which crawls along the rainforest floors. This is why the Rafflesia is usually floor bound. The flower extracts food from the vine by extending threadlike filaments into its tissue. Its penchant for attaching exclusively to the Tetrastigma partly explains why the flower is very rare.
After taking approximately 9 months to mature into a cabbage-sized bud, the plant opens. The petals, usually 5, sometimes 6, are red in colour and covered with lighter coloured spots. When in full bloom the flower emits a foul odour which attracts flies and other insects. It only flowers for 5 to 6 days, before the petals blacken and the flower withers. The flowers are either male or female. Pollen is most likely transferred from one plant to another by flies, whilst scientists believe that the small mammals that eat the fruit of the plant transfer the seeds (via their droppings, claws and facial hair) to other host sites around the forest floor. Although the Rafflesia can grow up to one metre in diameter, the flowers are usually half that size with the occasional monster-sized bloom appearing from time to time. The record bloom of Rafflesia arnoldii that made its way into the Guiness Book of Records, stretched 91cms (3 ft) in diameter, 1.9 cms (3/4 ins) thick and weighed 7 kgs (15 lbs). Read more about the
flowers of Malaysia.
Posted by Bailey at 5:03 PM on Saturday, 10 June 2006
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Daffodils, Daffodils and Daffodils...
Daffodils are the
symbolic flowers of friendship. Daffodils are one of the most popular flowers exclusively due to their unmatched beauty. Daffodils belong to the genus
Narcissus. The name Daffodils includes the cluster-flowered yellow Jonquils and the White Narcissi , as well as the include as the more common trumpet shaped flowers , members of the genus Narcissus. The
earliest known reference to Daffodils can be found in the 6th century A.D. writings of Prophet Mohammed. Read more about
Daffodils...
Posted by Webmaster at 11:28 PM on Friday, 9 June 2006
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Massachusetts State Flower (Mayflower)
Mayflower (Epigaea repens) is the Massachusetts State Flower. The page on Massachusetts State Flower speaks in detail about the Mayflowers. Mayflower is a small evergreen creeping shrub, found in sandy soil in many parts of North America, in the shade of pines. Mayflower has long been in cultivation as an ornamental. Mayflowers are Pale pink or white. The Mayflower blooms are waxy, exquisitely
sweet-scented flowers intensifying with age...
The Flower Expert, in the page, also briefs about the Massachusetts State, in general. Massachusetts was admitted into statehood on February 6, 1788 as the 6th state of the union. The capital city of Massachusetts is Boston. Massachusetts flag came into existence on November 1, 1971... Read more @
Massachusetts State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 7:20 PM on Friday, 9 June 2006
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Maryland State Flower (Black-eyed Susan)
Black-eyed Susan, also called as Gloriosa Daisy is the Maryland State Flower. The Black-eyed Susan was designated the state flower of Maryland on April 18, 1918. Black-eyed Susan is found throughout the United States. Black-eyed Susan flowers are among the most cherished state flowers. Black-eyed Susan flowers are colorful with yellow-gold single petals... Learn more about the
Maryland State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 8:13 AM on Friday, 9 June 2006
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Irises Are The Rainbow Totem Of The Flower Bed
By
Cheryl Moore-Gough of Montana State UniversityIrises, named for the ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow, grace many landscapes in the Rockies, and why not? The many types and colors are enough to keep anyone entertained throughout the growing season, and those with roots and shoots that grow underground are easily grown. Many of us go hog-wild tucking irises into every available corner of the yard.
These flowers give a strong vertical accent to any landscape and can be massed or used as individual specimens.
You can double, or even triple, your gardening pleasure by gently digging up the underground shoots, known as rhizomes. This produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent and helps alleviate overcrowding.
Divide irises every two to four years, immediately after flowering. Carefully dig up the plants and cut off the old portions of the rhizome. The healthy part will be succulent and firm, while the dead and dying portions will be brown and shriveled.
Cut the vigorous rhizomes into pieces containing at least one lateral bud. There should be four to six leaves attached to the healthy pieces. This is called the foliage fan. Shorten the leaves of the foliage fan by half their length.
Read more...
Posted by Bailey at 10:27 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Maine State Flower (White pine cone and Tassel)
Maine is the
only state that has selected an official floral emblem that does not offer a flower. The White pine cone and Tassel (Pinus strobus) was named the Maine State Flower on July 21, 1945... Eastern White Pine cone tree is monoecious. The
pattern of flowering in Eastern White Pine tree is uncertain. The male strobili are oval, 8 to 10 mm long and occur mostly on the basal part of new shoots and mostly on older lateral branches in the lower crown. At the time of pollen shed, they are light brown to brown. Eastern White Pine cone and Tassel female flowers are found most often in the upper crown, primarily at the apical end of the main branches in the position of subterminal or lateral buds. At the time of pollination, they are green, and 5 to 38 mm long. The Eastern White Pine cone and Tassel male flowers develop from one to several weeks before the female flowers. Trees may start to bear female flowers when 5 to 10 years old. Learn more about the
Maine State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 10:11 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Louisiana State Flower (Magnolia)
Magnolia, believed to be the
earliest known flowering plants dating back to about 130 million years ago, is the Louisiana State Flower. Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. The genus Magnolia is divided into subgenus Magnolia and Yuvalia. Magnolia contains the American evergreen species Magnolia grandiflora, which is of horticultural importance, especially in the United States. Learn more about the
Louisiana State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 9:57 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Mother's Day Draws Millions of Last-Minute Online Shoppers to Flowers, Gifts & Greetings Category
Site Traffic Spikes and Online Sales Approach $200 Million in the Week Prior to Mother's Day
comScore Networks released a review of Internet activity in the weeks leading up to Mother's Day 2006. comScore reported strong growth in traffic and sales for online retailers of flowers, gifts and greetings compared to the previous year.
Read Further
Posted by Guest at 7:18 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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A Happy Mother's Day for America's Independent Florists?
With a Sales Dip Expected for the Year, Mom-and-Pop Florists Are Losing Market Share to Big Retailers, Says Business Information Analysts IBISWorld
NEW YORK, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunday is Mother's Day, the time of year
when children young and old say thanks for the compassion, nurturing and
relentless hard work that goes with being a mom. And in millions of households
across America, the preferred gift for mom again this year will be a bouquet
of flowers.
Will a surge of flower power be a boost to the nation's independent
florists? Yes, but probably not enough to counteract a predicted small sales
dip for 2006, or to reverse the momentum away from the mom-and-pop stores that
still dominate the business. Just as in so much of modern retailing, the
little guy is being squeezed by big retailers.
To be sure, Mother's Day is an important annual milestone for the
$7.7 billion (2005 sales) U.S. retail floral industry. About one-fifth of the
year's holiday retail flower sales occur over the days leading up to Mother's
Day.
The industry remains, for now, a decidedly decentralized business.
According to a recent IBISWorld Report
(www.ibisworld.com/industry/definition.asp?industry_id=1096), there are some
47,000 independent florists in the U.S., employing about 136,000 workers. The
industry today has a low level of concentration, with the top four enterprises
accounting for less than 2% of overall retail sales.
But as is so often true, there are emerging trends behind today's numbers
that could mean a very different business environment on the horizon.
"Larger economic factors have taken a toll on the nation's floral
business," says IBISWorld's Richard Buczynski, Ph.D. "Over the past few
decades, the U.S. fresh-cut flower growing business has been negatively
affected by more liberal trade policies, particularly those with South
American countries. The market share of domestic flower growers dropped from
96% in 1971 to an estimated 12% at present today."
At the same time, Buczynski says, anecdotal evidence suggests that
traditional florists have been losing market share to supermarkets and box-
store mass merchandisers, as well as to online flower-ordering services such
as 1-800-FLOWERS.com, Proflowers.com, FTD.com and others.
"We see growing sales by large retailers and the online services,"
Buczynski notes. "In a relatively flat market, that can only come out of the
pockets of the Main Street retailer."
And the trend will continue.
"It is the big retailers which are most able to benefit from the cross-
border supply chain," says Buczynski. "In our increasingly price-driven retail
culture, it is not surprising that the independents are losing share - they
simply can't get their costs down enough."
What's more, the remainder of this year does not look particularly robust
for independent florists either.
"Flower purchases represent discretionary spending and are determined by
disposable income and consumer sentiment," Buczynski says. "We see the
prospects of high fuel costs and rising interest rates potentially impacting
much of the retail sector, including flowers. There is a palpable downside."
IBISWorld expects floral sales will drop by 2 to 3% in 2006.
Against that backdrop, it is not surprising to see independent florists
moving fast to expand their product range to include non-floral items and
other related merchandise, such as chocolates, teddy bears, balloons, gift
cards and, in some states, champagne.
"If there is one thing that we have seen again and again across any number
of the industries we track," said Buczynski, "it is that business people are
resilient. They can deal with change, and that holds true for the nation's
independent florists. Mother's Day may always mean flowers for mom, but
there's change ahead for the nation's independent florists."
MEDIA CONTACT
John Buckman
Buckman Communications
for IBISWorld
412.381.2900
jbuckman@buckman.biz
Posted by Guest at 7:05 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
View [A Happy Mother's Day for America's Independent Florists?]
Fnd an FTD Florist
Posted by Guest at 6:51 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
View [Fnd an FTD Florist]
Study: Shoppers Go Online For Mom
Motherâs Day was a special time for web-savvy moms and their families according to new data released today from Nielsen//NetRatings. The data demonstrates that the Web has become an important tool for remembering Mom with greeting cards sites growing collectively 83 percent week over week, increasing from a unique audience of 5.9 million to 10.7 million, in the week ending May 14. Yahoo! Greetings, 123Greetings.com and AmericanGreetings.com Network increased 216, 186 and 122 percent, respectively.
Advertisers have taken notice of this growth with an estimated online ad spending on gifts and flowers image-based impressions totaling $4.6 million in the week ending with Motherâs Day. The ads surrounding this holiday target both consumers visiting greeting card sites to send e-cards and the recipient, Mom, who will see the ads surrounding the actual e-cards.
The study also found that consumers used the Internet to purchase flowers and other gifts for their mothers helping related Web sites grew collectively 38 percent week over week, increasing from a unique audience of 5.2 million to 7.1 million, in the week ending May 14. FTD.com, 1800flowers.com and proflowers.com were the top three fastest growing gifts and flowers sites, increasing 205, 127 and 96 percent, respectively. Finally, the fastest growing site during that time was Yahoo! Greetings, which increased 216 percent from a unique audience of 565,000 to 1.8 million. The second fastest growing site was FTD.com, which increased 205 percent from 899,000 to 2.7 million unique visitors.
Reference Used
Posted by Guest at 6:27 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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FTD is Back in Bloom
The floral outfit's once-wilted shares have come back to life, thanks in large part to strong growth in its gift business and improved margins.
Read Further - Insight from Standard & Poors
Posted by Guest at 6:15 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Floriculture sector in Malawi
by
Frank Phiri, 14 May 2006
-
08:04:07
There is money in flowers
Many Malawians do not regard floriculture as a worthwhile economic sector. Yet worldwide, floriculture is a thriving industry accounting for an estimated annual trade turnover of about US$35 billion. In Malawi, Crystal Floristâa brainchild of veteran florist Crystal Hawkenâis a role model of how to thrive in the flower business. FRANK PHIRI caught up with HAWKEN to trace her progress and the potential of the floriculture sector in Malawi.
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Posted by Guest at 6:05 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Interflora marks a record year with 1m orders online
by Sarah Woods Brand Republic 15 May 2006
LONDON â Interflora has posted a record-breaking financial year for online sales, with 1m orders being made through the flower experts' revamped website.
The orders were made in the first 10 months of this financial year, leaving two more months for further orders to contribute to this figure.
The breaking of the online order record follows the unveiling of Interflora's fully revamped website and a rebranding by direct marketing agency WWAV Rapp Collins Leeds to persuade customers that only Interflora is the real flower expert.
The website launched last year to give Interflora's online customers a more seamless shopping experience.
The new interface is clearer, helping to guide users around the site -- whether they want to search by product, occasion or price. The site was created by Novator.
In addition, Interflora has in the last year launched more product choices online and expanded its range to alcoholic gifts, hampers and plants.
Adrian Pritchard, Interflora's head of e-commerce, said: "We invest considerably in our website and this year's Interflora customers would have seen a great deal of enhancement and development to their online experience.
"We're looking forward to further successes in the next financial year and celebrating with our next million customers."
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.
Posted by Guest at 6:01 PM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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FTD Group names new CFO
JUN. 5 8:08 A.M. ET
Flower delivery company FTD Group Inc. on Monday named Becky A. Sheehan chief financial officer, effective July 5.
Sheehan replaces Carrie Wolfe, who has been named a director of the company and will continue as its principal accounting officer until the end of the fiscal year 2006 audit and filing of the company's 10-K.
Sheehan was previously lead client service partner and leader of the consumer business and manufacturing audit practice for Deloitte & Touche LLP in Chicago.
Posted by Guest at 11:44 AM on Thursday, 8 June 2006
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Just Jasmines...
It is no wonder if one uses the word
jasmine as a synonym for fragrance... Jasmine is a very popular flower around the world, especially in tropics because of its unique fragrance.
Jasmine flower and the essential oil extracted from the flower are being used extensively in cosmetics and perfumery, and as a calmative (relaxing properties, sedative) and aphrodisiac (intensifies sexual desire).
Unlike most genera in the Oleceae family, which have four corolla lobes petals, Jasmines often have five or six lobes. Jasmines are often strongly and sweetly scented. Jasmine is widely cultivated for its shining leaves and beautiful clusters of fragrant flowers. Flowering in Jasmines takes place in summer or spring, usally six months after planting. The Jasmine flower releases its fragrance at night after the sun has set and especially when the moon is waxing towards fullness.
Jasmine flower buds are more fragrant than the flowers. Learn more about
Jasmines...
Posted by Webmaster at 7:35 PM on Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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Kentucky State Flower (Goldenrod)
Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis var. scabra), a very popular
flower filler in flower arrangements, is the
Kentucky State Flower.
The Page on Kentucky State Flower speaks in detail about the goldenrods... The species of Goldenrods - Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) are typical autumn flowers of the United States that grow in woods, meadows, hills, and on rocky ground.Goldenrod blooms between August-October. Numerous small flower heads, composed of multi-flowered rays, crowd together to form clusters at the top of Goldenrod stems. Goldenrod has yellow flowers. Goldenrod blooms with about 9-15 flower rays that are 3 mm. The flowers occur along the upper part of each flowering Goldenrod stem.
The page also speaks about the state of Kentucky in general... The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort. Kentucky is also called Bluegrass State. Kentucky's official state flag was adopted in 1918, but the design was not finalized until in 1928. The flag was again changed in 1962. Read more on
Kentucky State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 7:20 PM on Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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Kansas State Flower (Sunflower)
The
Sunflower (Helianthus annus) is the
Kansas State Flower. The Flower Expert makes an attempt to discuss in detail about the Sunflower. The Sunflower is actually a head (formerly composite flower) of numerous small, tubular flowers surrounded by a fringe of large yellow petals. A large, solitary Sunflower blossom, sometimes as large as a meter in diameter, is composed of yellow ray flowers and a central disk of either yellow, brown, or purple flowers, depending on the species. A Sunflower head may measure more than 1 foot in diameter and produce up to 1,000 seeds...
The Flower Expert also broadly speaks about the Kansas state in general. Topeka is the capital city of Kansas. Kansas became a state on January 29th, 1861. Kansas State official flag was adopted in 1927. The flag has a blue field, the word KANSAS, the Sunflower (the state flower), and the state seal of Kansas. Read more from
Kansas State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 3:04 PM on Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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Iowa State Flower (Wild Prairie Rose)
The Wild Rose became the official
Iowa State Flower in 1897. Synonyms of the Wild Prairie Rose are Rosa pratincola; Rosa suffulta var. suffulta and Rosa suffulta var. relicta, Rosa alcea Greene, Rosa conjuncta Rydb, Rosa relicta Erlanson, and Rosa suffulta Greene.
Wild Prairie Rose flowers are about 2 inches broad and fragrant. The five petals on the Wild Prairie Rose vary from pink to white or rarely deep roselight and the flowers usually bloom in groups at ends of branches.
Three or more Wild Prairie Rose flowers are borne on new-growth branches that are unarmed with prickles. Inflorescence of the Wild Prairie Rose is a corymb. The peduncles on the Wild Prairie Rose are glabrous with five sepals. The styles on the Wild Prairie Rose are not exserted, but persistent, while the stamens are numerous. Learn more about the
Iowa State Flower...
Posted by Webmaster at 2:47 PM on Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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Redbuds Populated the Earth from Pangea Days
By
Maureen gilmerIn Asia it is called "Bauhinia," or the Hong Kong orchid tree. In southern Africa it grows in such numbers they are referred to as "Colophospermum mopane" forests. In America, redbuds are found from coast to coast. All three of these exquisite small trees share their ancestry in the Leguminosae or pea family. It is most evident in the pea-like pods that carry their seed.
How can three nearly identical trees exist independently on such vastly different continents? Do they share a common primordial ancestor?About 200 million years ago, Earth was just one enormous continent scientists named Pangea, which translates to "all earth." Perhaps these three trees share a single parent genus that shaded that land and, after Pangea separated into different continents, the fractured tree populations evolved independently of one another.
Look at them closely and you'll see the most visible link is in the leaves often described as butterfly-shaped. All tend to prefer poor soils with limited fertility. This is in part because as pea family members were given a unique ability to harness atmospheric nitrogen when it is absent in the soil.
Of these three different genera, the native redbuds, genus "Cercis," are our own legacy of Pangea. They can be found wild all across America represented by a few primary species. In the eastern states "Cercis Canadensis" is the native most widely cultivated and hardy to Zone 5. Texas redbuds are "Cercis Canadensis var. texensis." The Oklahoma redbuds, noted for greater drought resistance and redder flowers, are forms of "Cercis reniformis," but may be sold as "Canadensis" cultivars. The western redbud is "Cercis occidentalis," found west of the Rockies. All of these make exceptional landscape trees that are not only beautiful, but as natives they are our most sensible choices.
The redbuds are as close to a four-season accent tree as you can get. They are so named for their very early spring flowers that bloom before most other plants in the wild. Their showing of color is so early that the Kiowa called them: "drive winter out." Redbuds bloom so prolifically on bare branches that they rival the flowering cherries in some years. Flower color is a bold magenta pink, but varieties 'Alba' and 'Texis White' bloom pale. Read more about
red buds.
Posted by Bailey at 11:20 PM on Tuesday, 6 June 2006
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Orchids, Orchids and Orchids...
No flowering plant has captured the attention of humans, or stirred their passions, in quite the way that Orchids have. In the past, Orchids have been hunted and collected in almost every part of the world. Today, millions of people remain devoted to the plant and its exotically beautiful "faces."
The human fascination with these strangely compelling flowers is often refered to as Obsession with Orchids.
The Flower Expert has come up with a page on this exquisite and fascinating flower. Read more on The Flower Expert about
Orchids...
Posted by Webmaster at 11:08 PM on Tuesday, 6 June 2006
View [Orchids, Orchids and Orchids...]
Indiana State Flower (Peony)
The Flower expert's page on
Indiana State Flower discusses in detail about the Indiana State Flower (
Peony).
The Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)is the Indiana State flower. The Peony was adopted as the state flower by the General Assembly in 1957. Peony is extremely popular for decorating grave sites for Memorial Day and is cultivated widely throughout the state. Peony flowers are extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented cut flowers. Peony is a herbaceous perennial, with 30 species, but some are woody shrubs with 10 species. Peony is native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America. Peony is one of the oldest plants cultivated. Peony was in cultivation in China about 1,400 to 4,000 years ago.
The Peony features five or more large outer petals called guard petals. At the center of the Peony are the stamens or modified stamens. The Peony plant produces large, fragrant flowers in shades of red to white or yellow, light pink to magenta in late spring and early summer. Read more about Indiana state Flower by clicking on the above link.
Posted by Webmaster at 10:59 PM on Tuesday, 6 June 2006
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Wedding Flowers Page
A new page on
Wedding Flowers was created on The Flower Expert which discusses in detail about the use of flowers in weddings, both for decoration and in different traditional contexts.
The wedding flowers page goes on to say that Wedding Flowers set the mood and tone for the day. Apart from natural cut flowers, artificial flowers like porcelain bridal flowers, handmade flowers with swarovski crystals, and silk wedding flowers are also very poular and last a lifetime.
The choice of Wedding Flowers can be simple and elegant or elaborate and specifically designed to personal tastes. The Floral decorations and pieces can be sparse or plentiful and flamboyant, depending on personal taste. Read more on wedding flowers by clicking on the above link.
Posted by Webmaster at 10:48 PM on Tuesday, 6 June 2006
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Snow Rose, The Tree of a Thousand Stars
The small shrubs of Snow Rose (Serissa) are much
loved as bonsai for their tiny flowers which may occur 2-3 times yearly, gnarled trunks, and naturally miniature leaves. Most bonsai are S. foetida, of which many cultivars are available.
Probably the two most common bonsai purchased by the casual bonsai buyer in America are Juniperus and Serissa. Judging from the number of junked junipers and shriveled Serissas, beginners would be far happier with elm and Ficus. Serissa is a notoriously fussy bonsai. The good news is that they aren't that hard to keep alive. But considering that most people buy Serissa on impulse because the plant is so spectacular at the store, the bad news is bad indeed. The plant will generally drop its flowers within a day or two. Then the plant will drop its leaves. If the grower doesn't panic (and many Serissas are inadvertantly killed by panicing beginners who respond by drastically over/underwatering the plant) the plant will soon regrow its leaves. A power struggle then ensues. The grower soon discovers that the Serissa drops its leaves if it has too much water. Too little water. If it's too hot or too cold. If it's moved, or there is a shift in lighting or temperature. If you cough near it or use a vulgarity in its presence. If it doesn't like your looks.
Until someone develops Serissa subliminal motivation tapes, (the calming sound of waves upon the shore as voices whisper, "You are lush; you are green; you want to keep your leaves...") the ugly truth is that some growers develop a knack for the foibles of the Serissa, while others are doomed to wait hand and foot upon a plant which looks like it's auditioning for a role in "Les Miserables." However, because the plant is so lovely, widely available, and popular as a traditional bonsai, most of us try our hands at it at one time or another. So for the masochist in all of us, here is the care information for Serissa! Learn more about
snow rose...
Posted by Bailey at 10:35 PM on Friday, 2 June 2006
View [Snow Rose, The Tree of a Thousand Stars]
Ten Winsome Wildflowers for Your Garden
The delicacy and exotic nature of woodland wildflowers can make them seem more formidable to grow than they are. As with any plant, simulating the wildflowers' native habitat is the key to success.
Shade or filtered sunlight provided by deciduous trees or spare stands of evergreens is necessary to prevent scorching of the plants, points out William J. Hamilton, Jr., who has been a gardener for 70 of his 82 years and a consultant to the Cornell Plantations for 30 years. Hamilton, an emeritus professor of zoology at Cornell University, has more than 100 native Northeastern wildflower varieties in his 3-1/2-acre Ithaca garden.
He suggests that ferns, especially Christmas, maidenhair, and wood ferns, be planted among the wildflowers to maintain soil coolness and to provide shade for the smaller plants.
The best companion trees for a wildflower garden are hemlocks, spruces, pines, firs, beeches, oaks, and birches. Their needles and leaves decompose into acid humus, an essential ingredient for many wildflowers. A cheap and rewarding way to increase the number of shade trees is to start them from seed. Acorns, for example, can be collected along roadsides or sidewalks right after they have fallen to the ground and then planted a few inches apart and an inch deep. In a few years' time, the seedlings will valiantly furnish traces of shade and a little protection from the wind.
In preparing the soil bed, a 50-50 mixture of soil and damp peat moss should be dug into the ground at a depth of 12 to 18 inches. The final mixture, says Hamilton, should be friable, "falling apart in the hands like a fresh chocolate cake -- spongy yet crumbly."
"Sprinkle a 1/8-inch layer of superphosphate, ammonium sulphate, or powdered sulfur over the soil and rake in; these chemicals increase the soil acidity. Adding finely shredded rotted wood chips, rotted leaves or sawdust, or decomposed grass clippings each year will enrich the soil, he notes. To gauge a soil's pH (acidity or alkalinity) before starting a garden and to monitor the pH thereafter, have the soil tested.
Wildflower seeds and plants can be obtained from mail-order companies, some local nurseries, and occasionally, botanical societies. Although botanical societies usually restrict seed sales and exchanges to members, a few will sell to nonmembers. For names of sources, refer to publications on wildflowers (see as examples suggested books at end of article) or contact local garden clubs or your county Cornell Cooperative Extension office.
Fall is the ideal time for transplanting. The cooler weather minimizes the risk of dehydration and yet permits the plants to establish a strong root system before frost ends the growing season. Fall is also a good time to plant seeds, and some wildflower varieties; for example, certain ladyslipper orchids do best when seeded then.
Wildflowers on publicly or privately owned land (other than one's own) should never be picked nor their plants collected, Hamilton emphasizes. Many are protected by law, and increasing numbers are becoming endangered as their habitats are lost to commercial and residential development. In New York State, several dozen varieties are protected, including all native ferns and orchids, and picking or transplanting them is a punishable violation.
Some varieties are extremely slow to flower from seed -- the trout lily (Erythronium americanum), for example, doesn't bloom until its seventh year -- and can discourage all but the most committed gardener. For those who don't mind the modest to not-so-modest wait, seeds are an economical route to variety and quantity for a showy display.
There is a large selection of native wildflowers that will thrive under shadier-than-average conditions in the home garden, but Hamilton offers this list of 10 that he regards as ideal beginner's varieties:
Large White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda), Black Cohosh; Bugbane; Fairy Candles (Cimicifuga racemosa), Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides), Virginia Bluebells; Virginia Cowslips (Mertensia virginica), Herb-Robert (Geranium robertanium). Read the original article from
Cornell University...
Posted by Jasmine at 11:30 PM on Thursday, 1 June 2006
View [Ten Winsome Wildflowers for Your Garden]
Rare Blooms: Erythroniums
Erythroniums are a rare species of flowering plants. Early spring flowering, lily-like plants are produced from fleshy corms. Species described have narrow to broad, lance shaped green leaves often mottled.
Nodding flowers have six pointed petals and all are more or less reflexed. All thrive in well drained humus-rich soil in shade to semi-shade. Read more about
Erythronium flowers...
Posted by Bailey at 10:25 PM on Thursday, 1 June 2006
View [Rare Blooms: Erythroniums]
Getting Rid of Poison Ivy
Well, June is here, which means many of us will be spending more and more time outdoors viewing our flower gardens. But that, in turn, means more and more chances of encountering poison ivy -- and coming down with the rash it causes. In this article I provide tips for
getting rid of poison ivy. Since successful identification of the weed precedes getting rid of poison ivy, you can follow the links here to identification resources, too.
Posted by David Beaulieu at 6:29 PM on Thursday, 1 June 2006
View [Getting Rid of Poison Ivy]
Growing Carnations
A question to The Flower Expert Webmaster by Betty Clover:
What kind of climate do Carnations grew in. Watering,sun or no sun?
The Flower Expert Webmaster Answers:
Carnations should be grown in a fertile, slightly alkaline, neutral,
and well-drained soil. Carnations require 4-5 hours of full sun each
day. When palnting, care should bre taken to plant them 12-18 inches
apart.
Seeds of Carnations can be sowed, 1/8 inch deep in a well drained mix of
soil during spring or early summer. The compost should be moist but not
wet. Occasionally, Mist spray and keep it moist. The seeds germinate
in 2 to 3 weeks. Transplant these into pots or on the ground when large
enough to handle.
Carnations should be kept some hours of full sun each day and should be
kept moist. Over-watering should be avoided, as it may tend to turn the
foliage yellow. Learn more about
carnations.
Posted by Webmaster at 11:09 AM on Thursday, 1 June 2006
View [Growing Carnations]
