Flowers and Gardening Blog

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (1/24/2012). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower Articles

Grow Your Own Potatoes From Seed Potatoes
Have you ever considered growing your own potatoes? They are a nutritious and popular vegetable, and everybody has a favourite method of cooking them, whether mashed, boiled or fried. The great thing is that are fairly easy to grow, and below are a few tips to get you started. (More)

Growing and Storing Garlic
Garlic is a vibrant, delicious staple in the kitchen, however, most of the garlic purchased at the grocery store is old and the flavor is diluted. With very little effort, you can grow your own garlic in your kitchen garden and experience the difference cooking with fresh garlic can make! (More)

Hydroponics For All – The First Steps
I Watched a TV program the other day about space tourism, where they showed what they called a Luna greenhouse for growing food in space, if that appeals how do you get started? First decide to do it, buy your seedlings and nutrients and ‘have at it’, how hard can it be? Here is how I started. (More)

Benefits of Artificial Grass
The use of Artificial Grass by house holders increase ever year. When you look at the significant benefits, you will understand why. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (1/17/2012). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

City welcomes Year of the Dragon with special flower street
The Tet flower road will return to Ho Chi Minh City this Friday, highlighted by a giant dragon blowing blooms, as the city starts celebrating the Year of Dragon. (More)

Plant flower bulbs right to avoid spring no-shows
If your bulbs have been stored in a cold place and don’t have brown or black spots, you can still get them in the ground for spring blooms. Using a trowel, bulbs are planted individually or in small clusters, with the small bulbs planted 5 inches deep and the larger bulbs 8 inches deep. (More)

Central Valley Flower Shop, The Thoughtful Flower Announces Their Relocation
Central Valley’s The Thoughtful Flower in Modesto recently relocated to 500 Scenic Drive.Modesto, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2012 Central Valley’s flower shop, The Thoughtful Flower recently relocated to a bigger and better space at 500 Scenic Drive in Modesto, allowing it to better serve its customers.”This facility is centrally located in an iconic building in the Modesto Area. The spacious store … (More)

Flower Articles

The Hydroponics Gardening Method – What Is It?
Hydroponics Hydroponics is a method of growing terrestrial plants without the use of soil. Using water, nutrients, and a light source, plants can be grown in a mineral nutrient solution. Scientists have found that plants obtain nutrients by absorbing them from the soil, but the soil itself is not necessary for plant growth or survival. (More)

How to Grow Seed Potatoes
Like any fruit and vegetables, growing your own seed potatoes is both fun and exciting and most definitely rewarding. Not only this; it is also easy and simple to do and is a great start to growing your way to 5 a day! (More)

Proper Pruning of Trees and Shrubs
This is often an overlooked topic. Think about it, how often have you thought about how your pruning and trimming techniques affect the plant? This can either make a plant thrive, or decline, nevertheless, we feel it does deserve an explanation. (More)

4 Tips For The Organic Garden
Gardeners need to take more care of the organic garden than conventional gardeners. A conventional garden can always rely on a handful of chemical fertilizer, or bug spray, or weed killer to get than out of a jam. The organic gardener must think ahead to avoid the problems that a lot of other gardeners get themselves into. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (1/9/2012). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Fire deals devastating blow to Winter Haven flower shop
O’Connor’s Flower Haven has been a mainstay in Winter Haven for almost 30 years, but a fire that ripped through the business Wednesday has left the business in shambles. (More)

Lantana Plants
There are so many different perspectives from which we look at plants. Take lantana plants , for example.
In the North, where they are treated as annuals, many see them as occupants of hanging baskets (a popular way to sell them at garden centers). But in Florida, where they have naturalized, they are often viewed as invasive plants by residents.
But we may also form impressions of plants based on encounters with them in our travels. I encountered lantana plants in the Mojave desert when I was journeying on historic Route 66. To be sure, they were not growing wild. But a general store just of (More)

Flower Girl World Launches as Go-to Place for Parents, Brides, and Young Girls Who Dream of Walking Down the Aisle
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. , Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Flower Girl World, a new publishing property and lifestyle brand, captures the fun, fantasy, and excitement of being a young girl in a wedding. Through an … (More)

Make Her Feel Special
Who said the age of romance was dead? If youâ??re looking for a special romantic gift why not choose a pretty bouquet of flowers. Traditionally, seasonal blooms have always conveyed the feelings we want but today we have more ways to show what we are thinking. We can also show our nearest and dearest how we feel with chocolate or perhaps cakes marking a special occasion. If chocolate be the food of love then play on with handmade Belgian ones that are delicious little pieces of love and can certainly convey that important message for you. Increasingly we are looking to send hand decorated (More)

Trend of gifting flowers on new year increase in Pune,India
Retail florists in Pune,India has experienced a significant increase in the number of early New Year orders, owner of Sneh Florist said “Giving fresh flowers or bouques is one of the best ways to show someone love and devotion,People use this occassion to greet their clients to develop relations and reletives and friends like they wish them on ospicious Dipawali fest”. (More)

Flower Articles

So You Want to Get an Allotment?
During the second World War allotments were an essential way to supplement food that was difficult to come by and fast became a popular pass time for both those living in the countryside and in cities. Council allotments were formed on the edge of villages and in urban areas to encourage people to grow their own. However, with the onset of processed foods and supermarkets during the early sixties, the enthusiasm for allotment plots died away and many were left fallow and uncared for. However, today’s interest in organic produce, along with concerns about how our food is grown has led to renewe (More)

Choosing Leaf Blowers
Leaf blowers are every garden lover’s ultimate best friend. It is the best tool for getting rid of unwanted leaves in the garden or yard. But many consumers become confused when trying to buy one because of the wide selection available and the various brands that offer different features. (More)

Some Favourite Trees for the Garden
One plant guaranteed to give your garden depth and character is a specimen tree. We all admire the majestic presence of the oak or sweeping branches of the beech, but not many of us have room to accommodate such large trees. However, there are many beautiful and easy to grow specimen trees suitable for even the smallest garden which will provide a focal point and all year round interest. Here are just a few of my favourites. (More)

Urban Organic Vegetable Gardening
Organic vegetable gardening is possible in an urban setup using containers. Having an organic vegetable garden right in your apartment has several advantages enumerated in this article. Lastly, if you do well in growing your own, you might even have some excess to sell to your neighbors or even start a small business. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (1/2/2012). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Flower of Carnage Records: WARNING/WARNING & 12XU LPs – Out Now!
Momo, a Frenchman who lives in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, runs this nice little label called FLOWER CARNAGE and he’s been in touch with us for quite a while now – here are the latest releases on the label and they rocks! get in touch with the guy and support the label! * WARNING//WARNING : There’s [...] (More)

Business blooming for flower shops
Flower shops in Qatar report brisk sales of both indoor and outdoor seasonal plants as many residents seek to beautify their homes. (More)

Flower power is back
The power of the flower is pretty hard to match, whether it be the joy of giving or receiving a freshly hand-picked posy or bunch of flowers, or watching as something special starts to bloom for the first time. (More)

Flower Articles

A Cup of Tea and a Seed Catalogue
Christmas is over and a new year beckons with the promise of spring around the corner. However, the garden is still gripped by winter weather – winds and rain, or frozen in the stillness of a hard frost. As a gardener you are itching to be out there, frustratingly waiting for the first bulbs to poke their heads through the hard ground. Not much to be done in the garden, but you can console yourself with planning for the year ahead in your garden with a nice cup of tea and a seed catalogue. There are an abundance of good seed catalogue companies and it is both enjoyable and enlightening to peru (More)

Hydroponics 101 – Hydroponics Systems Explained
Hydroponics gardening is the method of growing plants without the use of soil. You can use this method of gardening to grow almost any plant, from flowers and herbs to edible vegetables and fruits. There are many different types of hydroponics gardening. Ebb and flow, aeroponics, continuous-flow solution culture, and deep water culture are just a few of the systems in use today. (More)

Gardening in Spain – Some Tips
You might imagine that gardening in Spain would be a pleasant pastime. What could be nicer than spending a balmy evening doing a little gentle dead heading? Actually, it’s the hardest gardening I’ve done anywhere but here are a few tips that I’ve picked up during my time here for people who live on the Mediterranean Costas. (More)

Garden Planning 101
Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. We have all heard this saying but one may wonder what that has to do with gardening. Gardeners who do not plan run the chance of producing too much, too little or creating a garden full of problems. The planning process should never become a chore but instead a time to revisit the past, evaluate the present, and plan for the future. (More)

5 Household Items That Can Be Reused In the Garden
Landfills are filling up and prices on everything are escalating. You can do a few small things to help keep things out of the landfills and reduce your cost of gardening. You can save money and reduce landfill waste by taking some common household items and finding alternative uses for them. Here are several suggestions: Egg cartons, plastic containers, soda bottles, vegetables, and newspaper. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (12/25/2011). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Little Flower giveaway brings joy
Leaning on a pair of crutches, Shelly McCullough waited patiently in line outside Little Flower Catholic Church’s O’Grady Center. (More)

Coming Event: 31st Connecticut Flower & Garden Show is February 23-26, 2012 in Hartford
HARTFORD, Conn. — The “31th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” — one of the largest and most prestigious flower shows in New England — is set for Thursday, February 23 through Sunday, … (More)

Add Beauty To The Season With Christmas Flowers
Flowers are a welcomed addition at almost any time of the year, but Christmas flowers provide a magnificent spark to the holiday season because in most areas, there are few blooming plants in the winter. The poinsettia has long been the Christmas flower of choice for many around Christmas, and if they are missing from the decorations during the holiday, a large void would need to be filled. Other popular Christmas flowers include holly, mistletoe, ivy, the Christmas cactus, and the legendary Snow Rose.
Christmas Flowers Make Great Gifts
It is often difficult to find presents for some friends (More)

Flower Articles

Constructing A Grow Box That Produces Results
People everywhere love growing their own fruits and vegetables, but very few have the space to do it in. Anyone can grow correctly and in a very small space today because grow technologies have evolved so much. Today, growing vegetables is efficient and safe, without all the bad factors classic grow containers come with. (More)

The Role Of An Orchid Farm
An orchid farm has an important role to play. Besides providing beauty, orchids also make up the largest plant family. Orchids grow wild in many countries around the world. (More)

Geodesic Dome Greenhouses – Biological Pest Control
One of the main reasons to build geodesic dome greenhouses is so you control what is and isn’t put onto your family’s food. Most commercial greenhouse operators believe that it’s impossible to run a greenhouse without pesticides. Getting these chemicals out of your food is probably why you have or want to build a greenhouse in the first place. (More)

How to Grow a Garden in Greenhouse
Have you ever enjoyed your annuals in the summer time, but then were sad when the freezing temperatures of October and November killed those plants? Perhaps you had a beautiful large coleus one year and left it outside during the winter and could never find that variety again. (More)

Learn All About Gardening and Gardens Simply By Reading Books
Books are incredible for relaying information on gardening and gardens of all types, shapes and sizes. The range covers subjects from allotments to composting and growing vegetables to garden design and just about everything in between. Having your own compost bin in the garden is a simple and effective way to recycle kitchen and garden waste whilst benefiting your garden and also the environment. Although it is possible to buy a ready made compost bin why not endeavour to make your own so that it blends into the garden naturally. Books are a great source of information when it comes to making (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (12/16/2011). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Flower sale blooming for Red Cross
abottrell@nptelegraph.com (More)

Botanists Answer Mystery Of Glowing Buttercups
As a child, did you ever shine a buttercup flower under your chin and witness a yellow glow to test whether you or your friends like butter? Well scientists have taken a closer look to better understand how this works and discovered the distinctive glossiness of the buttercup flower is related to its unique anatomical structure, according to a study published in the Royal Society journal … (More)

Car slams into pedestrian, flower shop
A person waiting for a bus was struck by a car that then crashed through the windows of a flower shop on the Northwest Side. (More)

Malcolm and Flower win coaching prizes
England cricket coach Andy Flower wins two prizes at the UK Coaching Awards and Malcolm Arnold is honoured for his contribution to athletics. (More)

Flower Articles

How to Build Your Own Orchid Farm
If you decide to build an orchid farm you must first choose which orchids are ok to grow. The good thing is that there are thousands of different orchid types all over the world used to all kinds of different conditions, so when you build an orchid farm you just have to choose the right orchid types that can easily adapt to the medium you can provide for them. For example if you live in a hot, humid place like Florida you can grow Vanda orchids. But if you live in San Francisco, a place close to Pacific with warm summer days mellowed by cool ocean breezes, you can easily grow Cymbidiums and De (More)

What Is Grape Vine Pruning?
What is the meaning of pruning? Okay, generally speaking pruning means cutting of shoots and branches beside the roots, flowers and buds. It is the regular process on plant maintenance. When it comes to grape vines, the older vines or branches are being cut off so as to push new parts to grow. There are also times that buds are being pruned as well to make sure there is not an excess during the growing season of grapes. But the question is when to prune grapes? (More)

Hydroponics 101 – A Beginner’s Guide
Hydroponics gardening is a method of growing plants in a controlled indoor environment without the use of soil. The grower provides plants with a light source, mineral nutrient solution, and/or an inert growing medium. There are many different kinds of hydroponics equipment, and almost any and all plants can be grown. (More)

Hydroponics 101 – Good for the Environment?
There are many reasons to garden. Health benefits, daily dose of Vitamin E from sunlight, ability to save some money by growing vegetables and fruits- these are all great reasons to start gardening. However, what about the environmental benefits? It’s true that there are many harsh chemical pesticides available on the market today, and these can lead to a toxic situation for your plants and soil. But with some research and eco-minded purchases, you can grow a garden that is organic, and does not do damage to the ecosystem. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (12/9/2011). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

WISE COLUMN: Belva’s Flower Shop puts down new roots
Belva’s Flower Shop, a mainstay at 875 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant since 1956 next to Royall Hardware, has relocated for more room. The new location at 1409-B Stuart Engals Blvd., behind Glasspro, is 1,500 square feet, nearly twice the size of its former leased shop, co-owner Chris Williams said. (More)

Flower Articles

Your Lawn Spreader Options – Which One To Choose
If you’re in the market for a new lawn spreader you may be having trouble deciding on which one to buy. Really it depends on the size of your lawn, but there are some that will make the job easier than others. Here’s what we recommend. (More)

What Cold Frames Are and How They Are Used
The cold frames are typically boxes low to the ground, which are designed to start seeds or grow plants out of the elements. These can be conveniently located near your outdoor garden or by your greenhouse. Years ago, you would have had to build your own from scratch, but today all the parts can be found in kits. (More)

Best Season to Plant Trees
A Well designed landscape with thriving plants and trees can be an asset to any property. Majestic trees standing in the yards add to the beauty of any house. Trees take time to mature but once they have grown, they serve many purposes in the garden. Depending on the kind of trees you are planting, they can provide you with fruits, edible nuts, shade and shelter. (More)

The Many Uses of Solar Lights
Of the many kinds of solar lights in the market, solar spot lights are quite popular. You get them in a number of sizes and you will see them at night time functions and even fixed to the bottom of commercial notices and flag poles. They are bright and therefore provide a great deal of security. Spotlights can be extremely handy however there is a great deal of wiring that goes into them. It is the single biggest reason why most people do not like to use them. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (12/2/2011). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Poinsettia Plant Care
The Flower Expert received a question from a flower lover about the care for Poinsettias. For the benefit of others who are looking for answer to this question, we are publishing the same. Poinsettias are great potted plants and provide effective color for the home
decor during and after the holiday season. Proper care of the plant is a
must to be able to maintain its vigor. The following tips would enliven your
poinsettia:
Keep your Poinsettia plant near a sunny window where it will have the most
available sunlight. Sunlight should be available for the Poinsettia for
atleast five hours a day. (More)

Flower Articles

Rose Growing
Learn the secrets of growing roses successfully. When to prune as well as how to prune. Do I transplant my roses now? What are the best roses? (More)

December Gardening Tips and Snips
During December there is an assorted array of colourful houseplants available such as Poinsettias, Cyclamen and Azaleas. Poinsettias offer a traditional Christmas feel to your room but require a little extra care to keep them looking good. (More)

How to Worm Compost
Just about anyone from school-aged kids to adults can learn how to worm compost. It is done by growing worms in compost. This can be done in a compost pile of any size and shape. (More)

Cat Safe Houseplants
Home owners should be aware that cats and some houseplants just cannot exist together. To get a full list of these plants you could contact your local ASPCA or SPCA but we can give you a broad outline of cat safe houseplants in this short article. So before you bring that precious kitten home yes it’s best to check what’s safe and what isn’t for sure, some like English Ivy is poisonous to your cat which is such a shame because its such a lovely plant and is just fantastic as one of the best plants to clean air… (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.

Dear Florist4Us.com Readers,

Welcome to the Flower Newsletter (11/25/2011). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: Florist4Us.com.

Flower News

Ethiopia: Flower Exports to Be in Standard, Uniform Box
A total of five companies have applied to receive quality certification to produce the corrugated fibber board boxes set as a standard for packing and exporting cut by the Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise (ECAE). (More)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Blu-ray)
Skip It The Film: Several appealing themes and historical allures adorn Snow Flower and the Secret Fan : the camaraderie that forms amongst women, the practice of legally acknowledging that bond in 1800s China, and the use of a retracting hand fan as a means of secret communication between them. Most of these trace back the source material, Lisa See’s heartrending novel that explores the pains … (More)

Flower Articles

How to Compost And Make Your Garden Beautiful and Rich!
Composting is easy and a great way to get that beautiful garden you’ve always dreamed about. This article will show you just how simple composting is for anyone interested in boosting their soil’s growing power. (More)

What Animal Manures to Use for Compost?
It was not so long ago when animal manures were the life and soul of the compost heap and their role in keeping the soil fertile and productive was never in question. It is only in the last fifty years or so that manures have come to be regarded as unwanted waste products and a problem to dispose of. (More)

Indoor LED Grow Light – The Perfect Project for a Do-It-Yourselfer
LEDs are a popular option for indoor gardening enthusiasts for a number of reasons. They are extremely energy efficient, put out very little heat and have a very long lifespan. It is possible for a person to purchase this type of unit from a number of different retailers, but building an Indoor LED grow light is a great way for a person to build an energy source that perfectly fits their needs. There are kits available for a person to build a unit of this type, or an individual can purchase the components individually and build the entire unit themselves. (More)

400 Watt Metal Halide Grow Light – Avoid These Mistakes in Selecting Your Grow Light
Don’t select a grow light until you know what you want to grow. Plants have different needs when it comes to light. When trying to grow inside, you have to take these needs very seriously. (More)

This newsletter is provided by Florist4Us.com.