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”