Christmas Spirit

The silly season is upon us, hold on to your Christmas hat here we go! There are a number of reasons in why I don't usually enjoy this time of year the first being the mad rush , what’s that about? I really don’t see the point of running everywhere, driving faster, rushing around the shops buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t have for people you don’t really care about. Stop, breath enjoy the Christmas decorations, brows the shops and be inspired by the unique gifts that have been put on the shelves. Go into a bookshop or music store and spend an hour it’s good for your soul, if you can’t find the time “Houston, we have a problem”.

My other niggle is the “year end get together”  every person you’ve ever met  or any organisation or club you’ve ever been affiliated to has to get together for lunch, dinner or the never ending couple of drinks. If you’re the proud parents of a couple of children your problems are trebled .Year End concerts, final assemblies, Christmas parties the list is never ending.

This year I’m doing things differently, I’m going to take time and choose my gifts with care. I’m going to the all the Christmas markets I can get to and where ever possible I’m going to purchase all my gifts and festive season goodies locally, so as to improve the season for people in my community instead of adding to the coffers of the multi nationals who wouldn’t know the Christmas spirit if they were run over by it.

 I’m not the gringe who spoiled Christmas I’m the founder member of the “Slow Christmas Movement” the membership is free, all that is required is that you stop and think. Spend time with the people you love, share a smile with people you’ve never formally met and do a kind deed for someone who is less fortunate than you are. Lastly be kind to yourself, you’ve made it.  2012 is nearly in the bag, instead of freaking out about all the things you haven’t done count all the things you have done, great experiences you’ve had and wonderful people you’ve spent time with. Give yourself a pat on the back and a hug while you’re about it, you deserve it.

May the next three weeks in your world be filled with the true spirit of Christmas.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living My Dream”

Wedding season is upon us. Once upon a time weddings were big business for florists, but like most things this has changed.  Wedding venues now offer a full wedding package including flowers. On the whole I think this way of doing business is much less stressful for the bride. The only exception is the flowers for the bridal retinue. Thousands have been spent on the dresses and suits, the pictures will be looked at for generations - don’t skimp on the bridal bouquet. Even if you want it to look like an informal bunch of flowers, get a professional to select the flowers, tape and wire each flower and place them perfectly. Ribbons and bows are very important, always go for the ones made in Germany or France; they are much more expensive but can’t be compared to their cheaper competitors.

If you’re planning a wedding, the first step is to go through all your bridal magazines and scour the internet for images you like, this will give the florist a good idea of your taste and a feel for the theme of the wedding.  Remember, in most instances you are going to get overseas images so the flower selection will be different. We don’t get flowers like “Lilly of the Valley” and a lot of Bridal work in the UK is done with Hydrangeas, which although perfect for their summer will last about 5 seconds in our summer weather.  Be guided by an expert.

Next step is to book time with the florist, you need an hour or so to chat and swop ideas. Get a quotation in writing. Once a bride has accepted our quotation I always suggest a meeting a week before the wedding where you can see the exact selection of flowers that will be used in your arrangements. If you’re ordering table arrangements this is the point at which you want to see a mock up. Finalise collection times and make sure everything is in writing. All this preparation converts to less stress on the day.

This whole process is not only about your special day - it’s about building a lasting relationship with a professional who would like you to be a satisfied client who will continue to use their florist services many times in the future. There is nothing like the satisfied “YAY” of a thrilled bride. I have only ever had one unhappy bride, she burst into tears when she saw her bouquet and yelled at the top of her voice “I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!” I will never forget how disappointed I was; I worked on that bouquet like a mad person till we were both happy. That was 16 years ago, since then we have sent her tons of flowers for various occasions -  when she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, came up with some great ideas when she  met and wooed a new love and did all the flowers for her wedding party after she eloped for her second marriage. Nowadays she often pops into the shop on a Saturday afternoon when we both have time for a good old yak. Every bead of sweat I put into making my bride happy was so worth it, I made a customer for life but more than that a friend, and as we all know those are priceless.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living my dream”

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, African Daisy, Barberton Daisy, and Veldt Daisy these are a couple of names for our amazing Gerbera. These flowers are a firm favourite of many a young girl, not surprising when you see the amazing variety of colours they come in. They have a vase life of between 7 to 10 days and are available all year round. When purchasing Gerberas look for unbruised fully round heads with unblemished petals on long, straight, upright stems. They come in two sizes the normal Gerbera and a Mini Gerbera which is half the size and more than half the price. If you purchase Gerbera regularly it would be worth your while to cut a piece of chicken wire to fit the top of a bucket, the flower stems get cut under water and then suspended on the chicken wire into the water without touching the bottom of the bucket. This will ensure the stems are straight and eliminate the out dated idea of wiring the stems.  

The meaning of Gerbera flowers stem from those attributed to the general daisy family. These meanings include innocence and purity. Daisies are also a classic symbol of beauty however the Gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colours available.

Now for the hard part, growing Gerbera plants, considering they are native to Gauteng this should be easy. Your Gerbera Daisy plant flowers best when it is growing in a small container and is slightly pot bound. Repot growing Gerbera Daisies in April. Use an open, free draining soil mix. When re potting ensure that the crown of the plant is above the level of the soil. Rot will occur if the crowns are buried or the drainage is poor. After repotting keep them in a shaded location until they're established. The best position for growing Gerbera Daisies is in full sunlight to ensure maximum flower production. Keep your plant slightly moist at all times, especially when in bloom, but don't let the pot sit in water. In summer feed regularly every 2 weeks with a weak liquid fertilizer, and regularly pick off the dead flowers to promote further flowering. Indoor growing Gerbera Daisies can flower all year round. Also remove old leaves regularly to prevent fungus infections developing. I feel it only fair to mention I’ve tried all of the above and failed no Gerbera green fingers for me.

Have a happy flower week and remember “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “living my dream”

What is your flower heritage?

Heritage Day is one of our newly created public holidays. It’s a day in which all are encouraged to celebrate their culture and traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa. In 2005 after media campaign we generally refer to this holiday as national braai day. Never underestimate the power of advertising!

Seeing everyone in their cultural dress yesterday made me think of our diversity and our different backgrounds would effect our “flower heritage”. Protea are our national flower and although I now appreciate their beauty this was not always the case and they don’t feature in my flower culture. My earliest flower memory must be the “Yesterday Today and Tomorrow” in my grandmothers, Jessie’s front garden. Strange as it may seem she also lived on Queen Street in Kensington, three blocks from our shop. African Violet plants would also feature as her kitchen was never without one.

I also remember walking home from school and picking the Rthumaleln Creeper flowers taking them appart and sucking the sweet nector. My first introduction to cut flowers came from the” Biggie Best” store in Eastgate, they used to sell bunches of mixed flowers in buckets outside their store and I remember begging my mom to buy me one for my birthday. As a result every time I make a bunch of flowers with Cape Green and Statice my memory is tweaked and I have a smile on my face. I love these triggers that take you back to your past and ensure that you never forget. Mostly I enjoy the warm wave of love and appreciation that engulf you, even for a second.

Be mindful of the fact that you are creating these same memories for the little people in your life every time you interact with them. Teach them to appreciate the beauty of flowers and plants and you might be part of their “flower heritage”

Have a wonderful week and remember everything you do is important as you have exchanged one day of your life for it.

Written By Jackie West-Evans “Living My Dream” 

I want to start this week with a blog about gratitude.  After last week, which can only be described as “horrid” we are moving forward.  I will never understand why we have to be dealt so many challenges in a short time, instead of karma giving you one or two challenges a week. We glided into Secretaries Day week with relative ease, we are always prepared to work long hours and expect a hectic day. True to form the orders started to pour in on Tuesday and after finishing very late on Tuesday night we were good to go. At this point the details get a bit blurred, windows froze on my laptop, the backup didn’t work, our delivery van broke down, the laptop got hit by lightning , the vehicle took a day longer to fix than quoted and one of my precious staff member got arrested in error by a couple of over enthusiastic police officers. Yes this all took place in four days. Why you might ask am I filled with gratitude, well that’s easy, in time we will fix all of the above.  I started last week by watching an interview with Joost Van Der Westhuizen last Sunday night, and although not a fan due to his extra mural activities I was blown away by his positive attitude and fight for life in the face of real adversity. Life happens and although tough to understand at times it really is the way we respond to what happens that will determine our future.

This week we have a whole lot to be grateful for. My interview for the Small Business Awards in this morning at 8:45am, hold thumbs. I’m fully prepared; if I can talk about any subject at length it’s my business. I’m so passionate about our company and industry and have so many dreams that will be fulfilled in time. My only concern is that they have allocated us only 2 minutes with each of the 5 judges, how are they going to shut me up? Tuesday night is the gala dinner where the winner and two runners up will be announced. This whole experience has been invaluable to our business and has opened up so many opportunities going forward. It is wonderful to read all the comments our clients and friends have posted on the 702 website (only able to view from a smartphone) for this I am so grateful.

I hope your week is filled with many blessings I know for sure mine will be. Follow us on Facebook for a week of Gratitude.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living My Dream”

What a fantastic week it has been!   The week started with a smell of spring in the air, which put a huge smile on my face - and as the week went by the smile got bigger and bigger.  On Monday we were notified by 702 that we had been nominated by a customer of ours for the SBA.  We were required to complete a document and give them a short explanation of what we do.  I must confess that although I was thrilled, I repeated my learned behaviour of “Yeah right! Like we could ever win something like that”.  On Wednesday I emailed the documents back and thought that would be the end of that.  Late on Thursday afternoon I was doing some paper work - my least favourite job - when I received the call “Kindly hold the line for David O’Sullivan” my heart stopped, I blinked twice and the live interview was done.  We were finalists!

The days that followed have been crazy; the listenership of 702 is beyond amazing. I would go as far as to say there are fewer people who have heard the interview than have not.  The spinoff is multifaceted - from people who have driven past the shop on numerous occasions but never stopped, who came in to meet us, telephonic orders from new customers who heard the interview and tons of congratulations from friends of Country Flowers.  The most fun was a recipient's husband who I phoned to arrange a time of delivery for his wife’s birthday flowers arranged by her best friend, he recognised our company name straight away from our radio spot and asked to be added to our data base. Then there was the call from a girlfriend of my father’s who he hadn’t spoken to for 20 years. “It’s all about spreading the love Dad!”.

The competition will run for the next two weeks and on the 10^th September the finals will be held in the form of a “speed -dating event” which will help the judges determine the winner and runners up. The winner will be announced on the 11^th September at a gala evening held at the Michelangelo. Softline Pastel will award the winner and runners up with a laptop pre-loaded with Accounting, Payroll, HR and other software.  They will also receive a free Pastel training course or seminar of their choice as well as a year’s worth of software support. The winner will also be awarded R100 000 in airtime on 702 Talk Radio. How amazing would that be?

In closing, never again will I doubt what we are capable of, we work hard, are passionate and committed to our customers, our community and our industry. We are in it to win it!  Your comments on the 702 Small Business Awards page would be appreciated http://www.sba.702.co.za/Home/Profile/17.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living My Dream”

Spring is coming

The truth of the matter is winter is getting ready to pack up and leave. It’s been a long four months for us, never before have I seen flower prices spike like they have this year. At times the roses have been more expensive than on Valentine’s Day, this is highly unusual. All our flowers are bought on auction so as the supply of flowers drops because of the cold weather the prices will rise as the demand remains fairly constant and wholesalers are willing to pay higher prices. What happened this year? Nobody seems to know, the quantity of flowers just wasn’t available and the variety very limited. This was also evident in the quality of flowers available, not the usual high standard for our flower market. This same principle of supply and demand is what drives flower prices up on Valentine’s Day, Spring Day, Secretaries Day and Mother’s Day.

Enough of economics 101, the good news is the change of season is here. Last week we bought Ranunculus, Freesias and Sweet peas … real spring flowers!  It’s so invigorating being able to create arrangements with bright colours and sweet fragrances, even the Chrysanthemums and Asters look so much better surrounded by their new friends.  As the weather warms up the market will be flooded with large quantities of wonderful  flowers and demand will drop after the first week of September,  we should be in for some great prices so save your “shekels “we’re about to have some fun again. 

  

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “living my dream”

Eid ul-Fitr, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast". The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. On the last day of Ramadan after sunset, people start sighting the crescent moon. As soon as the moon is spotted the celebrations for the Eid-ul-fitr begin for all the Muslims.  Eid-ul-Fitr is the time when Muslims send their warm wishes to their dear ones and offer gifts that can brighten their days and bring a smile to their faces.

In Cape Town, hundreds of Muslims will gather at Green Point in the evening of the last day of Ramadan each year for the sighting of the moon. The gathering brings together people from all walks of life, and everyone comes with something to share with others at the time of breaking the fast.  The Maghrib (sunset) prayer is then performed in congregation and the formal moon-sighting results are announced thereafter.

The festival of Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated by first attending the mosque in the morning for Eid prayer. This is followed by visiting relatives and neighbours. Children receive presents and money from elder members of the family, relatives and neighbours. Most people wear new clothes with bright colours, while biscuits, cakes, samoosas, pies and tarts are presented to visitors as treats. Lunch is usually served in large family groups.

The most common greeting is "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid) so don’t forget to wish all your Muslim friends and colleagues, and maybe a good wish and an Eid gift will guarantee an invitation to an Eid celebration next year. I love the idea of all those bright colours, cakes and samoosas.

To our many Muslim clients and friends:

“May the choicest blessing of Allah fill your life with joy and prosperity.

EID MUBARAK”

written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers " Living my Dream"

London Olympics 2012

It’s started, at last.  No matter how cynical you imagine yourself to be, do yourself a favour and jump on the Olympic band wagon it cost nothing and promises 17 days of fun, facts, victory and heartache.  As South Africans we generally get caught up in the negative sentiments of these events - who can forget the furore about the one medal in Beijing. (Men's Long Jump Mokoena Khotso –silver)  I can just imagine the hoopla that will follow us not returning home with 12 medals. The media machine is already churning about Banyana Banyana as token entrants.  For goodness sake let just stop and have some fun. The excitement we all enjoyed last night thanks to Cameron Van der Burgh’s gold medal win in the 100m breaststroke should be enough to lift all our spirits.

I was thrilled to learn that Joy Packer, a renowned British floral designer created the bouquet which will be handed out to all winners at the London Olympics and Paralympics. Sadly she passed away in November 2011 but leaves behind a beautiful legacy.  The bouquet consists of four different types of roses sectioned into quadrants to mirror the 2012 logo. The roses being used are Illios (yellow), Marie Claire (orange),  Wimbledon (green) and Aqua (pink). The quadrants are then separated by English lavender, rosemary, apple mint and wheat which also provide a lovely fragrance. All of the elements of the bouquet are home-grown The 4,400 bouquets required will be made with the help of floristry students throughout Great Britain.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics 1,800 Winter Olympic bouquets were handed out.  For two years prior to the event the floral designers submitted 23 design samples using flowers native to British Columbia. The design panel chose an all-green bouquet tied with a blue bow. The inspiration was to showcase flowers and greenery grown in British Columbia. 

I thought that the bouquets handed out at the Summer Olympics in Beijing 2008 were really gorgeous. They were composed of nine Chinese roses and six different ornamental grasses, tied together with a red ribbon in the shape of a red flame. The number nine is an imperial number that symbolizes immortality and cooperation.

Can you just imagine the fantastic bouquets we would produce should we host the games, Protea, Pincushions, Kol Kol, Cape Green; it would be a show stopper. I hope the opportunity arises for us to stand together again and show the world the wonder of the southern tip of Africa we are lucky enough to call home.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living my dream”

Houseplants survival guide

Thanks to our mild winter the selection of plants available at the moment are quite extensive. They always look so inviting when you see all the plants grouped together in your local Florist or Garden centre. A trip to Flora Farm or Life Style Garden Centre is a must and definite food for the soul at this time of year. With a little knowledge you can get almost any plant to flourish at home.

Azaleas are one of the most beautiful winter flowering plants, and do well indoors or outside. They are prone to few pests and diseases, which makes them easier to care for than other plants.  If the leaves dry and fall, the environment is too hot and dry. If the buds fail to open the plant is in a draught or waterlogged, move to a new location and water less frequently. When the plant is in flower it should be watered every 2 days, never let it dry out. They need a light location out of direct sunlight and prefer a cool temperature of between 10 – 15° C. A weak liquid fertiliser given in water every two weeks will help maintain lush green foliage.

The Cyclamen is another winter favourite. Always choose a plant with upright leaves and flowers. Look among the leaves to make sure there are plenty of healthy buds. Given cool light and airy conditions, these plants will remain in flower for a long time. Avoid direct sunlight. They like the temperature to be between 13 – 18°C. If the environment is too hot the leaves will yellow. Never allow the soil to become sodden, water from below but don’t allow the plant to stand in water for a period of time. No harm will come to the plant if you allow the leaves to wilt slightly before watering. A weak liquid fertilizer given with each watering is required whilst the plant is in leaf.

Primula are a favourite of mine during winter, I can’t resist there bright colours and they are so easy to look after.  Choose a plant with vibrant green leaves with a few flowers showing and lots of buds. They like plenty of light but no direct sunlight. Primula like a fairly cool environment, between 10-15° C  especially if they are in flower. They thrive on a plentiful supply of water, however like the cyclamen they don’t like wet feet, and like to be watered from the bottom. Feeding them with a weak liquid fertilizer every second week will extend the flowering period.

A Potted Rose Bush is always a firm favourite. Choose a plant with lots of buds and a couple of blooms,the leaves should be bright green and healthy. I have never had any luck with roses indoors so my potted roses always find their way to the balcony. Roses in pots must be watered sufficiently every second day, never being allowed to dry out completely. The also thrive in full sunlight. As with all other flowering plants cut off the dead blooms to make room for the new buds.

I hope this information makes your pot plant experience more rewarding.Remember to feed as instructed. You will not believe the difference. We use Nitrosol Natural Organic Plant Food on all the pot plants in the shop to ensure they are healthy.

As with most things in life a little care and attention goes a long way with plants. Have a great week and work those green fingers.

Written By Jackie Wes-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living My Dream”

The perfect Lily

As a lover of flowers the impossible question is always “Which is you favourite?” As the seasons change so does my answer. I have a real fondness for lilies and can never resist a Casablanca Lily, it's perfect bloom that changes so drastically from bud to full bloom and the intoxicating sweet fragrance that follows consumes me. There is nothing as welcoming as the distinct fragrance that fills your home as you unlock the front door after a long summer day in the florist. It’s amazing that I work with flowers all day but they still have the ability to take my breath away.

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That being said a burnt orange Tiger Lily can add a new dimension to any arrangement of flowers. There are a couple of things you need to bear in mind when buying lilies. Always try and choose stems that are thick and firm. There should never be any slimy reside on the stems. Plan ahead and always buy lilies in bud form. If you open them at home you will ensure perfect flowers with no pollen stains and no damaged petals. Tiger and St Joseph Lilies are sold single buds or multiple buds, the singles often being the cheapest. Personally I prefer one or two buds per stem, the stems with five and six blooms are more difficult to arrange and the small blooms never open fully which halves my pleasure. Pollen is synonymous with lilies and can be easily dealt with. Always remove the pollen as soon as the lily opens, before they become “fuzzy”. If you get pollen powder on your hand never rub it off, hold your hand under running water and the pollen will simply wash away. If you should get pollen on your clothes or furniture remove it with sticky tape wrapped around your fingers the wrong way and dab it off, don’t rub it. Removing the pollen also prolongs the vase life of your lilies.

Arum Lilies are so easily grown in the garden and once cut if you put some cello tape on the bottom of the stem this will hold the stem intact and ensure a long vase life. “Take time to enjoy the simple things in life”, for me a vase of lilies at home is definitely in that category.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living my Dream”

Spending your flower budget wisely

Organising functions and helping clients host the perfect party is part and parcel of what we do. The perception when someone consults a florist is that the flower/decor element of the party will be expensive. As with everything else I have found there is a smart inexpensive way of doing everything. You just have to learn to spend you budget wisely.  

When planning a wedding the most important element as far as I’m concerned is the bridal bouquet. This is the one element you need to be perfect, consult a professional  and be guided by their advice. You will spend a large portion of you budget on the wedding dress and complimented by a stunning bouquet, the resulting photographs will be placed on the mantel piece and passed down through generations. Whereas the table arrangements and flowers in the church are used to set the scene but will be forgotten once everyone is driving home.

                        

When entertaining at home I always try to theme the occasion and decorate all the area the guests will have access to, including the bathroom. Start a collection of inexpensive vases, buckets, candles, place mats and ribbon. With the various Chinese markets, Mr Price Home Sales and don’t forget “Biggie Best” this shopping expedition can be very cost effective and great fun.  The next thing you need to do is plant a bed of roses cactus in the garden at home. They grow well in full sun and multiply with ease. They are so versatile, even when cut and placed in a vase of stones they are a R10 show stopper! This whole process is made easy by building a relationship with your local florist who will pre-order special flowers for you function. Why buy 20 roses when you only need 2? And nothing can be worse than planning a dinner party around pink gerberas and on the day your local supermarket only has yellow……Oops. Happy party planing and remember the fun factor.

Follow us on Facebook this week for some great do it yourself flower ideas.

                                          

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living my dream”

               

Let's Celebrate Tradition

Independence Day (4^th July) in the USA this week is said to be the biggest birthday celebration in the world. It commemorates the USA’s adoption of the declaration of independence in 1776, and severing ties with Britain. It is celebrated with barbecues, picnics, parades and fireworks. This got me thinking, how important are traditions in this day and age, how do we celebrate them and more importantly how do we keep them going.

Flowers are an integral part of most traditions. They have always held meaning in cultures throughout history. Traditionally flower garlands in India are worn or given to show respect to an individual or Deity, mark an occasion such as the beginning of a journey, and celebrate anniversaries and weddings. Red roses, spider lilies, frangipani, jasmine, and marigolds (used in wedding garlands) are the most popular flowers used in garlands. Hinduism attaches religious significance to some types of flowers.In my own culture, flowers are given and received with various assumptions behind their meaning. Special considerations should be given to certain types of flowers when giving them as gifts. The idea of color has also held many traditions when coupled with flowers. Consider red roses for Valentine’s Day and from a cultural point of view we know never to send chrysanthemums to Italian customers. In the Ukraine, tradition is that odd number of roses is for happy occasions and even number of roses are for sad occasions (funerals)

In my humble opinion traditions, national, cultural, family or religious are something we should embrace and carry forward.  They have a way of binding us together, giving us a sense of belonging and offer us the opportunity to share. As members of the human race what more do we need!  A solid foundation is required in all relationships that are of value, family, friends, community and business. I have learned that all of these require effort and commitment, and traditions be they thanksgiving, national braai day, Christmas lunch, Easter hunts, watching the FA cup final or sending valentines flowers are the glue that holds these relationships together. They also offer us the opportunity to play and have fun and I for one can always find time for more of these two things.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living My Dream”

Once upon a time in Queen Street ....

"Living My Dream"

On the 1^st April 2011 Country Flowers moved to 150 Queen Street Kensington. We purchased the house in 2002 and it can be best described lacking a little TLC. It was in such an unsavoury state I couldn’t bear to have a full inspection when I first saw it, all I remember is lots of small dogs and the brown gloss ceiling in the kitchen. The deal was done the loan approved and we took occupation on the 2 January 2003, unfortunately the estate agent who had the keys was away on her annual vacation and our poor house stayed locked up for a month in a glorious hot Johannesburg January. The day we received the keys will remain in my mind for as long as I live and every time I dare to go there the memory never fails to make me roar with laughter. Annie, my dearest mother and best friend joined me as I bravely opened the front door. We were apprehensive to take a good look around the house we had staked our future on. We made it in the front door, through the entrance hall and into the back room, a strange sensation had come over me I felt as if my skin was crawling and one look at Annie told me she was feeling the same way. Together we looked down and to our horror we were being eaten alive by fleas. Pandemonium followed, about turn, hand bags on heads, run for the door, find the right key to lock the house, jump in the car, drive the 8kms to Annie’s home, scratching all the time. Every time we looked at each other we squealed in horror and laughed to beat the band. Arriving at Annie’s the idea was to get out of our flee infested clothing but as we got out of the car the pool came into sight and we both made a mad dash. Clothes and all we were in! It sounds like a slap stick movie but no we lived it, we laughed, we panicked and nearly drowned together. I couldn’t have asked for a more memorable start to the next chapter in living my dream. 

Welcome to ORANGE week @ Country Flowers

Every year it’s a given, winter follows autumn and comes before spring in September followed closely by seven month of glorious southern hemisphere summer. It never ceases to amaze me how unprepared we are and how much complaining we manage to fit into these 12 winter weeks. If I had a rand for every time I’ve heard ”It’s so cold”, “ I hate Winter”,” flowers are so expensive”, “the variety of flowers is so limited”…….I’d be rolling in cash. I’ve had enough! I’ll tell you something I do know winter in the florist business is the season for wreaths and sympathy arrangements. Now that is something “real” to feel blue about.

As long as I’m here on this amazing, ever-changing planet we call earth I’m going to celebrate winter. It makes me think of all the things I’ll miss when spring arrives. Winter boots, open fires, glühwein, cosy rugby afternoons on the couch, hot curry, butternut soup, autumn leaves and navel oranges, I could go on and on.  As I made this list the colour that popped into my mind was ORANGE, in all its wonderful hues. Warm, comforting, bright and so versatile. The selection of flowers in season at the moment which come in orange is extensive, Roses, Carnations, Alstromeria, Lilies, Streletzia, Snaps and Leucodendron, to name just a few.

The other great thing about it being a little colder is how long cut flowers last, they might be more expensive but my word there longevity ensures you value for money. Orange is also a fantastic colour to use in interiors, try this fun ideas at home.

Have an awesome winter week and remember  “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” Anton Chekhov


Written by Jackie, owner of Country Flowers, "living my dream"