Flowers And Morning Moods

** The Following Information is courtesy of The Society Of American Florists

Recent research confirms that flowers might be the perfect pick-me-up for millions of Americans who do not consider themselves “morning people.” Participants of a behavioral study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that they feel least positive in the early hours but reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning.

“The morning blahs, it turns out, is a real phenomenon, with positive moods – happiness, friendliness and warmth, for example – manifesting much later in the day,” says lead researcher Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D.“Interestingly, when we placed a small bouquet of flowers into their morning routines, people perked up.”

Dr. Etcoff is referencing the fact that participants in the study responded to the flowers, which had been placed in rooms they frequented in the morning. Overall, the participants reported they liked to look at the blooms first thing in the morning, particularly in the kitchen. The final study results demonstrate that flowers impact people emotionally at home, causing them to feel less anxious and more compassionate. They even reported a boost of energy that lasted through their day.

“What I find interesting is that by starting the day in a more positive mood, you are likely to transfer those happier feelings to others – it’s what is called mood contagion,” says Etcoff. “And, the kitchen is the place where families tend to gather in the morning – imagine how big a difference a better morning mood can make.”

Top Floral Designer Offers Quick, Simple “How-To’s” on Fashioning Flowers for Positive Moods in the Morning

New York City floral and garden designer Rebecca Cole, host of Discovery Channel’s Surprise by Design, is not surprised by these findings. “I grew up with a kitchen often decorated with flowers,” says Cole. “My family knew instinctively that flowers brought joy to the people who came in contact with them – and now there is scientific proof.”

Cole shares her floral design experience with others, showing them how to use flowers to capture emotion and encourage community in their kitchens.

“There are so many places for flowers in the kitchen – the room where we spend most of our waking time,” says Cole. “From the breakfast nook to the table to the counter top, flowers just belong. It’s even the most convenient room to change the water!”

Cole suggests the following tips for experimenting with color to trying new, dramatic styles to the creative use of containers.

• Cut flower stems short and place flowers in interesting or everyday kitchen containers such as tea tins, jelly jars, salt and pepper shakers or even pretty wine glasses. Pick something to match your personal style.
• To make a big “wow” statement, choose lots of one type of flower. Take off the leaves below the waterline and place them in a big jug, teapot, coffee tin or water pitcher for a burst of cheer. Select surprising color combinations to make a bold statement.
• For example, try red and purple stems in grouped vases. Or, use monochromatic flowers, from one color family, to create a simple, pleasing effect.
• Choose citrus-colored flowers for a sunny feeling. Place a bud vase holding a few stems of yellow and orange blooms inside a bowl filled with oranges. Or, place a narrow vase of flowers inside a wider, but equally tall, vase. Fill the larger vase with lemons or limes to surround the smaller vase for a fresh look.
• Play off of accent colors in your kitchen to bring a splash of color with flowers. Look around and match flowers to decorative wall plates, place mats or curtains to pull out key accent colors.
• Line three bud vases or decorative bottles, low or tall, along the middle of your kitchen table or along your sink for a fun, dramatic effect. It’s also a great conversation starter when guests drop by.
• Inspire neatness. Place flowers where kitchen clutter typically congregates to prevent future messes from settling there.
  
  
  
   

“What could be simpler than bringing home a few blooms to brighten your kitchen table and your mood?” says Cole. “Experiment, design and smile.”

6 Styling Tips For Your Fresh Cut Flowers!

So your going to bring your grocery store or florist bought flowers home, now what?

I have seen many people just plunk them in a vase of water and that’s it. Sometimes that works but here are some simple tips to make you look like you’re a pro at it.

1) In a clean vase, take your greens first, snip the ends off to the size you want and then start criss crossing the stems into the vase so that you have stems all around inside the vase. There are two reasons for this. One is because you now have a base for the flower arrangement and two; a criss cross of stems makes it easier for flower placement.

2) If you are making a small, low arrangement, slide in the flowers in a criss cross so that the stems are all around the inside of the vase. You should now have a vase with a ring of flowers on the out side and nothing but stems showing in the middle. (The more stems you have in the vase, the easier it will be to have flowers stay put!) The rows of flowers are going to be higher each time you get them in until you have a nice rounded arrangement.

3) If you are making a tall arrangement, then use a tall slim vase. Your flowers will hold up better and it will look well proportioned. Great flowers to use are gladiolas, blue delphinium, lilies, snapdragons etc. Sometimes you can get tall tulips and that looks fantastic too.

4) A design mistake I have often seen is placing the flowers in a vase perfectly even. The reason this does not work is because it looks unnatural. Have a look at any garden and you will see some of the blooms are sticking out, some are tucked in; some are almost hidden but still contribute to the overall look. Mimic nature and you won’t go wrong! Don’t be afraid to tuck some of those flowers in a bit.

5) A good rule of thumb is to use odd numbers of flowers. What I mean by that is to use 3 roses together or 5. Even numbers are not as effective. If you use 5 roses for example, Place 3 together (touching but at slightly different lengths) near the bottom center of the vase and then two more higher up.

6) The next best advice I can give you if you are really new at floral design, is to collect pictures of floral arrangements you like and with the tips I’ve stated above, practice while looking at the pictures. Before long, you’ll be looking like a pro!

Top 10 Ways To Accessorize Your Home Garden

A well-kept garden is a joy to behold. Adding to the curb appeal of your home, carefully chosen garden accessories can match or contrast with the style and color of your house. Whether you are a weekend flowerbed gardener, or whether your garden is planned to feed your family through the winter, lovely and fanciful accessories will add to the enjoyment of the outdoor living space.

Surround your garden with fencing

Fencing for your garden is needed to keep wildlife from eating the nasturtiums but it also provides a quiet oasis to enjoy the beauty of your planned garden. Fencing can be six foot high cedar that blocks traffic noise, or it can be white wicker that is only tall enough to delineate the perimeter of your garden. 

Don't leave your garden in the dark

Think about accent lighting highlighting your prize plantings. Patio lights can be judiciously used to make your gazebo comfortable for a late evening get together with friends. Insect zapper lights get mixed reviews, since they can be noisy as the insects are incinerated. They also tend to have a harsh brightness that is annoying to some. On the positive side, outlining pathways with small lights prevents stumbles in the twilight. 

Garden furniture

Spending a lot of time just relaxing and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of a flower garden can be done from a gazebo with sturdy and comfortable garden furniture. Tables, chairs, lounges and foot stools are obvious choices for furniture in the garden area. A grill or barbecue unit located nearby means guests can enjoy the space while grilling fresh produce from the garden. Corn on the cob from the vegetable garden can't get any fresher. 

Plan garden beds

Many gardens would be beautifully accessorized by adding carefully chosen raised garden beds. Look at the style of your house and design the garden plots for pansies or potatoes in garden beds that enhance the look of the house. For example, if your house is split level suburban, why not add a couple split level beds. The construction materials for the garden beds can be anything from concrete to Plexiglas.

Garden in three dimensions

Well-planned flower vegetable or even herb gardens don't have to stay at ground level. If your square footage is limited, cube it by the use of attractive and functional trellises or rails to bring plantings into the air. Surround a tree with vinyl coated wire and bring climbing roses into view.  Create a secluded outdoor room by trellises covered with decorative flowers, vines or even vegetables. Scarlet runner beans are pretty to look at and nutritious to eat. 

Make pathways interesting

A planned garden that has permanent beds can also have interesting and decorative pathways.  Think about using aquarium colored pebbles with a seashell motif for edging. Try pathways that meander according to your planned beds rather than sticking to straight lines. Maybe you would like to have a yellow brick road as a pathway in your garden. 

Choose colorful or whimsical containers

If a large garden is too much to manage in your free time, or if you are working in limited space, think about establishing your garden in unusual containers. Or, such containers can be simply an interesting accessory to the real garden. Colorful ceramic pots in large sizes and shapes can be placed randomly amongst the flower beds to hold herbs or a salad or two. An old claw footed bathtub or a little red wagon both make great containers for garden plants.

Add Color

You can add color by the plants that you choose or by the containers you pick for spots of color.  Look for ways to make color spots show up even better by putting them against contrasting background of other plants, walls or trellises. 

Delight the wee folk

Adding whimsical statuary or ornaments to your garden plots can be fun and useful as well.  Garden gnomes, leprechauns and perhaps even a fairy or too can be an adventure to undertake with your child or grandchild. A ceramic frog by a garden pond is a common sight around gardens, but have you ever seen a dragonfly or a small fire breathing dragon. Choose a copper weather vane or a bird house decorated like a fairy tale castle.

Five senses

A well planned garden with carefully chosen accessories will be a delight to all five senses. You see the beautiful colors in the plants, flowers and accessories. You feel the texture of the earth as well as the crisp vegetables that are picked for culinary enjoyment. You can smell the perfume of the flowers and trees. Tasting fresh produce from the garden is a bonanza for your taste buds.  Finally, your sense of hearing is able to pick up the sound of the wind in a set of wind chimes.  Wind chimes are decorative and can sound melodic or mournful, tinkling or hearty.  

Plan your garden accessories to appeal to each and every human sense and your garden will be a place where your spirit is uplifted.

Roses, Again?

By Avantika

Whether it is Valentine's Day, a birthday, wedding anniversary or any celebration, people usually choose roses when placing an order for flower arrangements. If you would like something unique and original, consider placing an order for the following flowers when you are next at your florist’s shop.

Sunflowers

From the ‘Helianthus’ genus of flowers, the sunflower has around 65 species. Originally from America, the sunflower is actually, ‘a head of numerous small, tubular flowers surrounded by a fringe of large yellow petals’. The central disk, which contains the tubular flowers, can be yellow, brown or purple in colour. You might be asking yourself, “How can a sunflower possibly be romantic?” Well, consider this: on any given day, even if the sun is barely peeping out from behind the clouds, a sunflower will turn to face the sun. Imagine your loved one giving you a bouquet of sunflowers and saying something along the lines of, “You remind me of sunflowers. When I am miserable, I turn to you because you are my ray of sunshine. You always brighten my day.” 

 

 

Orchids

Orchids are said to belong to the largest and most diverse plant. The most famous orchid is the ‘Vanilla Orchid’; vanilla is extracted from this plant and used in food. There are over 35,000 species of orchids with many more hybrids in the world. Orchids were difficult to cultivate and often perceived as a ‘rich man’s plant’. Fortunately, because of modern propagation techniques, orchids have become more affordable. Now available in all colours of the rainbow, choose an orchid that is a favourite colour of your loved one and you will present flowers that have a reputation of being both opulent and glamorous.

 

 

Tuberoses

The Tuberose is also known as ‘polianthes tuberosa’. Although the word ‘rose’ appears as part of its name, the tuberose is in a different genus from roses. It has a long green stem with white flowers. A suitable arrangement of tuberoses often features groups of the flowers placed in a glass vase. In many Asian countries, the tuberose is weaved into marriage garlands and form part of the floral decorations for the bridal bedchamber. Next time, present your loved one with an arrangement of tuberoses and the haunting scent of this flower, very much like a jasmine flower, will ensure that you are not easily forgotten. 

 

Conca D’Or Lilies

Most of the time, people associate lilies with wreaths for funerals and death; perhaps, this is because the most common lilies in the market are white in colour. This is, however, a misconception because there are many varieties of lilies with many different colours. A popular choice today is the ‘Conca D’Or Lily’. ‘Its petals are lemon-yellow in the centre and pale white at the edges.’  The scent of this flower is intoxicating and spicy; in addition, the flower does not wilt for many days. You do not have to buy a dozen stems of this flower to make a beautiful arrangement. Place two stalks, which might give you up to five blooms, in a glass vase and it will be enough to brighten anyone’s mood for many days. 

 

Next time you are at the florist’s shop, opt buying roses as a gift for your loved one. Instead, present a bouquet that features any of the flowers mentioned above. You will not only pique the interest of your loved one, but leave a lasting impression of the effort you made to choose a unique gift.

Heather de Kok AAF AIFD PFCI Biography

Heather de Kok’s shop "Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers" is located at 3811 - 99 street in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The business has been owned and operated by Heather and her family for over 20 years, having moved to this new expanded location in 2003. It is "Store #1 and the official Training store for Canada's largest fresh cut Flower Franchising Company "Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers Inc.". (Today Grower Direct has grown to over 50 stores)

FTD has awarded Heather's shop  with it's "Master Florist" designation.   This designation is FTD's way of identifying the "best of the best"  in the florist industry and  Heather's Grower Direct is the only such FTD member in northern Alberta.

Heather began at an early age working in the floral industry with her parents, Skip and Caren Kerr. She has been involved with floral industry for well over 17 years now and she has long since replaced her parents in the day to day operations of the store. Her responsibilities not only include being the Store Manager of the family shop but also include being Corporate Store Trainer for the Franchising Company. (Including both Day to Day in-Store Operational Training as well as Ongoing Floral Design Training and upgrading for the franchise members of the Grower Direct Franchise group)

Heather de Kok, AAF AIFD PFCI  has shown commitment to the industry by her hard work and dedication.

Heather was officially inducted into the American Institute of Floral Design (AFID) in July 2007, at their national symposium. She was the only Canadian to achieve this honour from a group of over 150 worldwide applicants. (Each year approximately 50 percent of the applicants who apply for the designation are able to meet and pass the rigid qualifications and standards required).

Heather was the inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) at the Society Of American Florists 2008 annual convention. Established in 1965, the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) recognizes industry members that meet the Academy's high standards of service to their industry and community. Nomination and acceptance into the Academy is open to all qualified persons in all segments of the industry.

In September 2009, Heather was inducted into the Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI). This is given to floral professionals who are knowledgeable in the floral industry and are talented and effective communicators who give amazing demonstrations. Heather is the first and only one in Canada to be inducted into PFCI. There are only 126 members that have been given this exclusive designation world wide.

Further to all of the above Heather participated as a designer in the 2008 Tournament of Roses parade held New Years day in Pasadena California. She worked on 2 of the floats for the parade both of which received awards. She has also been a featured designer at various design seminars throughout the country as well having been one of three  judges at the most prestigious Sylvia Cup International Design Competition, held in Florida in 2008.

Heather is also very involved in her community. Currently President of her Rotary Club, she has been a very active member since 2001.  Heather is also very involved with Scouts Canada. She has been a leader for the Beavers for 3 years and sits on the Group Committee for her Colony. 

Heather summarizes her positive can do attitude as follows: 

“I can't believe that everyday I wake up and am ready to get to work long before my stores even open. I get so excited every time I see something new or even old that I may not have seen in a while. New staff look at me like I am crazy but my senior ones just smile and say "she really means it, she is excited". I intend on getting even more involved with our industry as time goes on. After all, it is the best industry in the world!"

The Ecology Of Flowers

** The Following Information is courtesy of The Society Of American Florists

Harvard: Living with Flowers Strengthens Feelings of Compassion, and Decreases Anxiety and Worry

With people’s desire for tranquility and stress relief stronger than ever, fresh research takes an insightful look at flowers and the important role they may play in our daily lives. A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.

“Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them,” Etcoff says. “What we didn’t know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.”

The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at Harvard uncovered three main findings:

1) Flowers feed compassion.

Study participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.

2) Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues at home.

Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days.

Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning.

3) Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work.

Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home living environments.

“As a psychologist, I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,” Etcoff says. “Our results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well being.”

Little Known Facts About The Calla Lily

Zantedeschia aethiopica... Sounds complicated right? This is the actual scientific name for the flower commonly refered to as the Calla Lily. 

Native to Southern Africa, the Calla Lily is one of the most common flowers used in weddings and special occasions. 

The Calla Lily ranges in color, anywhere from pure white, yellow, peach, pink, red, burgundy and deep purple. 

The Calla Lily grows in almost any type of soil, and returns every year as long as the conditions are favourable.