Artistic Flower Arrangements

Seems like the rain just does not want to quit.  Been raining most of the month.  Everytime I go outside I end up in a small puddle.  The ground is thoroughly saturated and needs a good rest to dry out.  It really looks like this will be a short summer and fall  weather will be settling in early.  I don’t mind the cooler weather I feel much better and can get out and do more.

HOPE EVERONE IS ENJOYING THE LAST OF THIS SUMMER, I can’t believe it is almost August already.  Where do the days go?

I Give Up

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Flower arranging has become an art form in itself. The arrangements can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. However, most people think that putting some flowers and foliage into a container constitutes an arrangement, leaving what they think is a difficult design to a professional. The truth actually is that anyone can learn how to make some amazing floral arrangements by knowing the basic principles of the art and by practicing them as much as possible.

One the more important principles of floral arranging is Proportion. Very simply put, proportion deals with getting the scale and the overall appearance of the flower arrangement right. It is the correct selection of the elements in the arrangement in terms of size and shape. The proportion of your floral arrangement can be determined in two ways – either through the container you have, or based on the flowers you’re using. Whatever you decide on first, there are certain rules of proportion in arranging the flowers. The amount of flower material you use should be three-fifths of the final design, and the container, two-fifths. For example, if you are using long stemmed roses, it makes sense to use a  taller container instead of a  low round one to match the flowers. Round containers go well with flowers that are roundish in shape like the daisy and gerbera daisy or denser like the standard mum or carnation.

While creating a floral arrangement, to get the proportion right, make your arrangement slightly taller than you want it, since it is always easier to cut the stems if it’s too tall.

Proportion in a floral arrangement is also visible in the colors used. To have a visually appealing flower arrangement, select colors that will be proportionate to each other i.e. the amount of each color used in the floral arrangement. If you’re using three colors, use more of one color for your central point, less of the second color and only a moderate amount for the last choice of color. When determining the color proportion in any arrangement, you should also try and keep in mind the light and dark shades so that your arrangement is not completely dark or light, but a balanced effect which will suit the setting.

Along with the size and color, proportion in a floral arrangement can also be developed in the textures, such  as rough and smooth, or finishes like  shiny and dull. This provides some depth and character to the flower arrangement eliminating the monotonous appearance. By breaking the arrangement into different kinds of textures, it makes for a more attractive and eye catching work of art.

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The flower is a source of natural beauty and sustenance to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. For this reason, many an avid gardener will create a butterfly and hummingbird habitat in their backyard flower garden.

Butterflies don’t ask for much, just large, open sunny areas, a few flowers for adults, a few food sources for caterpillars and shelter to hide from predators so they can lay their eggs. The flower varieties, of course, are only part of the planning; you’ll also need water, a mix of sun and shade, hiding spots and breeding grounds.

the flower
The flower varieties you choose will make a big difference. Planting larger groups of flowers will help butterflies notice them. Many gardeners start with a purple or bicolor butterfly bush and surround it with perennials. Consider the purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Brazilian verbena, daylily, catmint, lavender, phlox, goldenrod, ironweed plant, aster and sedum.

Annual favorites for a butterfly-magnet flower garden include zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, sweet alyssum, cleome and lantana. These are the beauties of your garden, but you’ll need to also be considerate of your larvae hosts. Foxgloves, sunflowers, birches, willows, wild plum, spicebush and passion vines also attract butterfly breeding.

floral bouquets
Once the flowers for your plant habitat are in place, take other environmental factors into consideration.

Your precious butterflies want a floral wonderland, but also a place that is safe from wind, rain and predators, so try adding hedges and small, dense shrubs like honeysuckle or butterfly bushes; trellises or fences covered in passion vines or hops.

Generous brush piles of bark, logs, rocks and leaves allow for hiding during winter months or stormy days. Even “organic” pesticides agitate the sensitive butterfly, so keep your guests protected from any chemical sprays or dust. Be sure your butterfly habitat has at least six hours of full sunshine, with flat rocks where they can bask in the sun to warm up before taking their early morning flights.

Just like humans, bachelor butterflies also want a place to drink after work: mud puddles, shallow pans of damp sand and gravel or wet dirt all make ideal gathering spots. Rotting fruit, watermelon rinds and seeds are delicious nutrients that create a true butterfly nirvana.

If you’d also like to take advantage of the hummingbird-attracting powers of flower garden and create your own rose bouquets, a hummingbird habitat is just as simple. Usually a bright red nectar feeder is the quickest way to invite these quick, tiny creatures to your backyard.

flowering
However, to keep them around at all times, they’ll need fresh water to drink and bathe in, a combination of sunny and shady perches, willow or eucalyptus tree nesting materials, as well as delicious plants, such as flower power dahlias, cosmos, foxglove, geraniums, petunias, irises, honeysuckles, trumpet vines, azaleas, butterfly bush, hibiscus, cardinal flowers and snow angels will increase the flower power of your garden.

A flower garden can be a place of respite for you, but also an epicenter of life for colorful insects.

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This year our magnolia tree has more blooms than ever. Maybe the lack of a draught this year had a lot to do with it. All the trees and flowers have been lush and green. Getting up each day is such a pleasure, to be able to stand out on the front porch and looks at natures beauty.

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Flowers make the ideal gift for nearly every occasion. Whether someone has had a baby, celebrated a birthday or lost a loved one, flowers are the ideal gift. The vast range of colors and types that are available means you can literally find something for every occasion. People love to get flowers, too, so that makes them an even better gift. But how did we get started giving flowers? Go to flowers for more information.

In the Beginning
No one knows exactly who gave the first bunch of flowers, but it could easily go as far back as Adam and Eve! Toddlers automatically pick wildflowers to give to their mothers, drawn by the colors and prettiness.
We do know, however, that each culture has used flowers for different reasons. In Ancient Greece, flowers were considered to be property of the gods, making them very special. There are accounts of flowers being given as a gift for many thousands of years. The majority of these would have been flowers that where picked wild, plus a few from the garden.

The Language of Flowers
In Victorian times, flowers were used to express more than just admiration or love. Entire letters could be written with blossoms alone! Each flower has a specific meaning, though the exact meaning depends on a variety of factors, including color and size. For example, a red rose means “passion”, pink means
“romance” and coral colored roses mean “friendship”.

Back in the day, people knew the meanings of all the most common flowers and this made each and every bouquet full of much more meaning. A young man might send a girl a bunch of wildflowers, but it would really be a message in disguise! Even today, some people enjoy learning the meaning of flowers and adding these special flowers to their bouquets. It really adds a whole other dimension to a simple bunch of mixed flowers.

This time period was definitely the most meaningful of all for flower giving. With the extra messages contained in bunches of flowers, it was one of the big gifts of the day.

Modern Flower Giving
Traditionally, men gave flowers to women, but now it’s quite acceptable to give a man a bouquet of more masculine blooms, too. Even children get into the act!
Try giving a little girl a bunch of roses for her birthday or Valentine’s Day,  and you’ll make her day.

These days, it’s quite common and acceptable to do your own floral arranging and give flowers as gifts. We aren’t restricted to simply wild flowers or those available in the garden anymore, either. Now there are tropical blooms and more delicate varieties of flowers available year round. This makes giving flowers a more exciting experience.

With the ability to grow many flowers in hothouses right in country and also the ability to import those that don’t grow well in the greenhouses, your options at the florist are stunning. No longer are we restricted to daisies and roses. Now you can select a delicate orchid, bird of paradise or lily for that special someone. It really opens up the realm of possibilities, thanks to airplanes and special technology.

Another modern convenience is the internet, which lets anyone anywhere in the world buy flowers online and have them delivered to a specific destination. You could easily be in the US and have flowers delivered to your mother in Spain! This turns the art of giving flowers into something so easy to do that you don’t even have to leave your own home or office. Just find a good website and you can send flowers without ever having to set foot in a florist shop. Visit flowers for further information.

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What a beautiful, beautiful day for celebrating our nation’s birthday.  This evenings fireworks should be spectacular.  I hope everyone is enjoying this special day.  Have a safe and fun 4th of July everyone!

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Many people buy the fresh cut flowers at florists, but there others that cut them from their own garden. Flowers come in many shapes and colors, this way you have many choices to choose from to do the floral arranging you want. Once the flower is cut the life expectancy is not very long, you can use tricks like aspirin in the water to keep them living as long as possible. A cut flower is one that has been cut at the stem and placed in a vase of water. Go to flowers for more information.

Cut flowers are grown from both annual and perennial plants. Do not place your fresh cut flowers in front of heaters, electrical devices such as TVs or computers. Cut flowers will stay fresher and look vibrant if you keep them out of drafts and direct sunlight.

Dropping a penny in a vase will increase the lifespan of flowers. Cut flowers in a vase are the perfect decoration for your home; they bring a waft of fresh air in the room and make people happier. Bacteria are the main cause of deterioration of flowers.

Make sure that your water and vase are clean before use. Adding the proper plant food to your arrangement will keep your bouquet healthy. If you add warm water to your bouquet the flowers will open faster. Refer to flowers for more information.

An air bubble in the stem would prevent the flower from getting water and nutrients. Also make sure that only the flowers stem is under water. Always replace your water after 2-3 days. When you place the flowers in water and the leaves are submerged in the water, bacteria might form on the leaves that are under the water so cut them off. You want to cut them at an angle to give them more surface area to absorb nutrients through. Cutting them under water is important because it prevents air from getting into the veins in the stem of your flower.

Certain flowers need special care. Flowers last longer when you trim the stem on an angle; this allows the water to flow up thru the stem. Flowers that have a woody stems will last longer if you crush the stem and split it to all the water to flow easily thru the stem. If you are making a floral arrangement and you do not want the stems to show, place them in a criss cross pattern so the end of the stems are in the middle. Placing flowers that are fresh around the house will help perspective buyers look at your home as well kept. A few extra stems will allow you to add special touches.

The colors of tulips typically follow the color trends that are generally popular. Decide what kinds of flower go with the kind of party you’re going to throw. Roses are one of the romantic flowers, tulips are known as elegant flowers, sunflowers and daisies are known as free and whimsical while carnations are especially known as being the casual flower. One of the more popular flowers are tulips, they are easy to grow and they don’t need much care, and when you cut them and put them in water they look great, this is what makes them so popular. Visit flowers for further information.

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