Flowers Of The Month

Many individuals are aware of their birth stone. However, each month also has at least one flower that has a specific meaning for individuals born during that month.
January
The carnation is one of January's flowers. The color of the carnation is said to determine the meaning of the individual flower. White carnations are associated with purity, love, and luck. Pink carnations are a symbol of femininity and motherly love. Striped or purple carnations are rarely associated with the birth flowers because purple is linked to impulsive behavior and striped carnations are linked to regret.

The snowdrop is the less common alternate January birth flower. Interestingly, a substance in the snowdrop is used in Alzheimer's treatments.

February
Enduring faith and wisdom are represented by the iris for those born in February. Irises also come in a variety of colors, but less emphasis is placed on individual meaning for each color.

Violets are popular flowers, partly due to the heart-shaped petals. These plants have many uses, including use as decorations and as food additives.

The primrose, another February flower, grows expansively across open ground and blooms earlier than many of the spring blooming plants.

March
Daffodils are an ideal birth flower due to their association with beginnings. In some cultures, the additional meaning of rebirth also adds to the daffodil's symbolism.

The alternate birth flower for March, the jonquil, is a variation of the daffodil that has been cultivated to have certain visual differences.

April
The daisy, more than many other flowers, is associated with childhood and innocence. The different colors represent various meanings, such as playfulness and cheer.

The sweet pea, April’s alternate birth flower, is a resilient climbing plant that begins to bloom during the month of April.

May
Lilies are associated with many of the aspects of a newborn child, including virtue and sweetness. The white Madonna lily has been associated with the story of the Virgin Mary.

The meaning of the hawthorn, another May birth flower, is attributed to the flower's natural uses. Animals and insects feed on various parts of the flower, which reflects sustenance. Substances derived from the plant have been used to treat illnesses related to the heart, reflecting good health and endurance.

June
The ever popular rose is one of the June birth flowers. The different colors all possess different meaning, including red for love and white for purity.

Another June flower, honeysuckle, is also associated with love.

July
Larkspur lacks the seriousness of many birth symbols. It is associated with lightness and playfulness.

The water lily, another July flower, possesses a seed that can remain viable for up to 2,000 years.

August
The beautiful gladiola symbolizes infatuation. The additional meanings of strength and integrity are also associated with this bold flower, which derives its name from the Latin word for "sword."

The poppy, a resilient flower that is also an August birth flower, stands for fertility, eternal life, and lasting beauty. These flowers are a favorite for everyday occurrences and memorials.

September
Strength of body, mind, and spirit are linked to the aster. Some cultures have also used the aster to recognize a fallen soldier's bravery.

The morning glory, which blooms in the morning and dies before the next day begins, symbolizes affection.

October
Like morning glories, marigolds also symbolize affection. Due to the flower’s association with the Virgin Mary, grace and elegance are also portrayed by the morning glory.

Cosmos is a flower linked to harmony, possibly due to the ease of growing the plant and integrating the flower into a garden.

November
November only has one flower. The flower for November is the chrysanthemum. The flower has been connected to the sun and happiness. Upon blooming, the petals unfold in an orderly fashion, leading some cultures to associate the flower with perfection.

December
A plant associated with December, as well as with winter in general, is the poinsettia. The poinsettia symbolizes cheer and joy.

Narcissus, another December birth flower, is associated with sweetness and self-esteem.

Holly, a holiday and winter flower, symbolizes happiness in the home and protection from evil spirits.

Award winning designer, Heather de Kok, AAF AIFD PFCI has a passion for all things flowers. Come to 3811 – 99 street, 780-988-8588 or go to her website www.heatherdekok.com to learn more.

What happened?!

Well...I never thought it would happen to me but it did. I've lost the passion for the flower business. So..I'm taking time off to help reconnect with myself. Find my passion for life again. Yes. I'm happily married. Yes. I'm blessed to have the best 4 kids who I adore and who adore me. My personal life is wonderful but my business life has been a frustration. People have changed, the industry has changed. I'm left wondering what is the point. I've been off for 3 weeks and have loved spending time with my kids. I am attending AIFD national symposium as I gave my word I would be on stage. Perhaps it will help rejuvenate my love for the flower business. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE flowers. Its the business that I'm no longer enchanted with.  I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends and getting inspired by the talent there. Perhaps I will find out others have been where I am now and have moved past that feeling and love going into work. Time will tell.

Memo to Bosses - Thank your Employees!

Did you remember that Administrative Professionals week is just around the corner!? This is the time to recognize your staff for helping the company become successful through a lot of team work. One gift that says thank you so well is the gift of flowers. Research has proven that the gift of flowers for employees will lift an employees mood, create lasting memories, boost production and creativity.

I can't even make this stuff up! The research was conducted by A&M Texas University. They found so many benefits to having flowers in the work place while they were conducting the survey. Here is a link to the research which really is worth reading.

Click here to learn more

Adminstrative week is April 23-27 with the official day being on April 25, 2012

I for one believe in saying thank you to your staff. I do it through out the year as I honestly do appreciate everyone of my staff. They won't know how much you appreciate them if you don't tell them. And so, I will take this opportunity to say thank you to Roselle, Sany, Denise and Brena for making my store the place to buy your flowers! Couldn't do it with out you!

A few years ago, I did a florist design show at a local wholesale house here in my home city of Edmonton Alberta Canada. It was pretty well attended by a lot of florists in the area. I brought one of my employees, Roselle, to help me execute a bunch of ideas that I had. It was a fall and Christmas show. Basically, we make things and show florist different ideas and techniques. Well, for a few years I had been designing what I called at the time the Dr. Suess Tree. (wasn't thinking of copy rights at the time but have changed it to the Who Tree since) I designed the tree to help me use non traditional Christmas colours that were in my cooler at Christmas time that I didn't want to throw away. The funniest thing happened, it became a super popular seller! Not one to hide things, I decided to share this idea with the crowd at the show and they went forth and either used the idea or not. So, a few years later now, I was reading the local paper this weekend and low and behold.....a flower shop here is featured with a half page article about this tree! They describe how it is the most popular seller for them and how they make many versions of this amazing and whimsical tree! I was flabbergasted. You cannot imagine my excitement that someone took my idea and ran with it!! It is so great that this happened! I am truly honoured at this. It made me smile and goes to show you that ideas are meant to be shared for the good of the industry! If people are excited about flowers than we all win!

Roselle helping me with the tree at the design show!

This is this years design!
The Beary Nice Christmas Tree!

Fun and Fascinating Facts About Flowers

Have you ever spied a tiny wild strawberry blossom growing in your yard and questioned if there could possibly be a smaller flower? Perhaps you have pondered if any bloom could be larger than a giant sunflower nodding its head in the summer wind. You may be surprised by just how small, smelly, huge, dangerous, and edible some flowers can be.

World's Smallest Flower

The world’s smallest flowering plant is of the Wolffia genus, commonly known as watermeal. These tiny plants are nearly microscopic. A single plant weighs about the same as two grains of salt. Several individual blossoms can easily fit inside the eye of a needle. As a type of duckweed, they flourish in stagnant or slow-moving waters, such as ponds and streams. Watermeal is surprisingly high in protein and is often eaten as a vegetable.

World's Largest and Smelliest Flowers

Ironically, the world’s largest flowers also emit the foulest fragrance. Though they are unique in size and appearance, the smell of these flowers may be enough to convince the sensitive human nose that bigger isn't always better.

·        Largest single bloom

            The world’s largest flower also proudly claims title to being the smelliest. This stinky behemoth can stretch to an astounding 3 feet in full bloom. Its natural habitats are the warm tropical forests of Indonesia and Malaysia. Though the scientific name is Rafflesia Arnoldii, natives familiar with the stench refer to it as the “corpse lily.” An apt name for such an unpleasant fragrance!

·       

Tallest

            A similarly large flower, Titan arum, is also found in Indonesia's rain forests. Like the stinking corpse lily, it attracts bees for pollination by emitting an unpleasant odor. In fact, its alternate name is similar too, as it is often referred to as the “corpse flower.” Titan arum can tower up to 12 feet and weigh 170 pounds.

The overwhelming smell of these "corpse" flowers have even caused people to pass out from getting too close!



Deadliest Flowers     



Oleander Flower



It may be disconcerting to learn that some of the loveliest flowers are also the most dangerous. Cascading Angel's Trumpet, delicate Lily of the Valley, and fragrant and colorful Daphne can all be deadly to humans and animals if ingested. The lovely pink petals of the Oleander flower disguise the fact that it is one of the most poisonous plants on earth. The entire Oleander plant contains toxins that can affect the cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems simultaneously. The potency of these flowers proves that lethal things can come in deceptively pretty packages.

Tastiest Edible Flower



As everyone's taste differs, what one person believes to be the tastiest among edible flowers may contradict another’s opinion. Calendula, or marigold, flowers have a flavor that can range from spicy to bitter. They can be sprinkled on soup, salad, rice and pasta. Carnations have dramatically sweet petals that are often used in wines and desserts. Dandelions, those weeds so prevalent spring through summer, have buds that are honey-like in flavor. They are used to make wine and add unique flavor to salads and other dishes. The use of edible flowers in dishes and as a garnish is experiencing a recent resurgence in the culinary world. Other edible flowers include jasmine, lavender, clover, begonia, chrysanthemum, and the day lily. The list of edible flowers is quite extensive. Try one sometime. You might just like it!

A Black Rose?



Nope, it doesn't exist. In fact, you won't find a totally black flower of any type. Black doesn't seem to be nature's color for flowers. What many florists or gardeners may refer to as a black flower is actually an extremely dark shade of purple. Adding black accents to a bouquet with dark purple flowers, can give it the effect of looking black. 

I hope you learned a little something. You never know when trivia will come in handy!



The Link between flowers and mood

The Link Between Flowers and Mood

Flowers have a bit of a reputation for brightening up the surrounding environment, whether it is an office or a blossoming field of color, but how much of an impact do flowers actually have on an individual’s mood? According to recent research conducted at Scotland's Strathclyde University, flowers can actually have a positive effect on the mood state of individuals who are surrounded by flowers. Additionally, the joyful effects of flowers are noticeable almost immediately.

The Value of a Smile

A multi-faceted nine month behavioral study observed the feelings and behavioral responses of recipients who were given flowers as gifts. There was a universal positive reaction to receiving flowers across all participants in all age ranges. Researchers were able to observe "true" smiles upon receiving flowers. True smiles are distinguished by the use of particular facial muscles which are not activated during "fake" or insincere smiles, and trained researchers can easily detect the difference between the two.

The study also featured a long-term exposure to flowers, which was reflected by an equally long-term positive change in mood. Some participants self-reported negative feelings, including depression, prior to receiving flowers and later indicated a change to more positive feelings after receiving a gift of flowers. Overall ratings of life satisfaction actually increased.

Strengthening Bonds

Those giving flowers also reported positive feelings. Additionally, results of the study indicate that giving and receiving flowers can play a critical role in cementing the bonds between different family members. The researchers examined contact maintained between family members before and after a flower-oriented transaction, and an increase in family contact was noted after flowers were given or received.

The study also focused on the interaction between participants and flowers in the home environment. Flowers were put on display in the participant's home in open and heavily trafficked areas, and long lasting positive feelings were noted in these participants. The study also focused on positive experiences that guests had while visiting the homes of participants keeping fresh flowers in areas open to guests, and these guests reported increased and long lasting feelings of sharing and comfort after visiting these homes.

Conclusion of Study

The conclusions reached by the researchers at Strathclyde University over the course of the nine month study support the integration of flowers into all environments, including the home, office, hospitals and clinics, and businesses. As an application, businesses could use floral arrangements to create more open and trustworthy impressions on clients. The results also support the previously suspected benefits of giving flowers to loved ones and significant individuals. The positive mood changes could benefit individuals in everyday life, grief, sickness, and a myriad of other situations. This could contribute to the reported benefits of "get well" and sympathy floral arrangements. The effects examined were nearly immediate and long lasting, and no negative effects were reported. Changes occurred in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, meaning that flowers are an inexpensive and completely positive gift. Thanks to online ordering and easy access to local flower shops, using flowers to bridge family gaps and improve life satisfaction is easier than ever.

The Romantic History of the Rose

A Timeless Treasure: The Romantic History of the Rose

It is easily arguable that no single flowering plant has influenced civilization throughout history more than the rose. This flower, in all of its many varieties, has consistently been a central symbol for mankind in a wide range of areas, including mythology, art, religion, war, politics, medicine, music and love. With over 30,000 varieties in cultivation worldwide today, its beauty and fragrance still exert a powerfully historic sway over human emotions and creative outlets.

The Age of the Rose

Based upon fossil evidence found in Colorado and elsewhere, the rose genus is at least 35 million years old. The original rose habitat spread throughout all of the Northern Hemisphere as far south as Mexico, where some 150 different wild species can still be found growing in these areas today. The oldest identified wild rose still presently growing is the French rose, whose habitat ranges throughout central and southern Europe and western Asia. Although its exact origin has yet to be confirmed, traces of its presence appeared as early as twelfth century B.C. in Persian records that referred to it as a symbol of love. As near as anyone can determine, the human cultivation of roses began approximately 5,000 years ago in the area of Asia that is now China.

Ancient History

Throughout ancient history, the rose played a prominent role in everything from mythology to architecture. It was recorded in a Greek myth that it was Aphrodite who first gave the rose its name after it was created by the goddess Chloris. In an ancient Hindu legend, it was relayed that the god Brahma created the goddess Lakshmi from 108 large and 1,008 small rose petals. In ancient architecture, the rose played a central role in the detailing of sculptures, columns and wreaths for many civilizations throughout the world.

War and Peace

One of the more fascinating aspects of rose history is the prominence the flower gained as a symbol of excessive wealth and power as it became more widely cultivated. Confucius wrote in approximately 500 B.C. about roses growing in the Imperial Gardens. During the Han dynasty, these gardens grew so large that they threatened land needed for producing food. Not surprisingly, much the same thing happened during the Roman Empire. While peasants were starving, the rulers used much needed food land to grow roses so they could fill their baths and fountains with rose water, sit on carpets of rose petals during feasts and create perfumes. Later, the rose became a central symbol for both sides in the fifteenth century struggle for power over England during the War of the Roses.

Throughout the Ages

It is without question that the most enduring aspect of the rose throughout history has been its use as a symbol of love. From ancient times to the present, the rose has represented everything from undying devotion to friendship and everything in between. The rose always has been, and probably always will be, the ultimate symbol used to reflect love in stories, art and music.