Using Colour in Floristry
It is the colour of flowers that first attracts the eye. Just think how often you have walked into a florist’s shop and thought ‘Aren’t those deep red roses gorgeous!’, or wandered through a friend’s garden and gasped at the golden roses tumbling over the wall.
Flowers in their natural settings never clash; they always have foliage to soften the edges and merge the images. When we cut flowers and bring them into the house (or get our flowers delivered Forest Hills into the home), however, we alter the setting by changing the lighting and background.
We now need to look at the individual colours and see how we can use their particular qualities to the greatest effect.

Summer’s Grand Parade of Color
Much as I admire dahlias, summer is too rich in blooming bulbs to permit one favorite to monopolize the season. Half a hundred genera of bulbous plants flower in summer, although the most popular (in addition to dahlias) are lilies, gladioluses and tuberous begonias. Among lilies alone there are hundreds of varieties, with flowers held upright like cups, horizontally like trumpets or hanging like bells, on stems that range in height from less than a foot to 8 feet. The spectrum of colors that has been brought about through modern hybridizing methods is astonishing. Beginning West Derby florists tend to think of lilies as white, and indeed the familiar Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum, and many others are. But in the genus Lilium, which includes all the true lilies, as opposed to day lilies, Hemerocallis, and the many other plants that have the word "lily" in their common names, hues range from yellow to orange to red to purple, with many varieties spotted and striped.

Brightening your wedding venue

There are lots of ways to spruce up your venue such as a vase containing smooth stone or glass pebbles, water and a candle (sounds good hey?) plus flowers of choice, sitting on top of a mirror. The candlelight will reflect from the mirror and be a constant talking point for your guests.
Also consider using calligraphy candles as place cards for your guests. This can also be kept as a memento of your special day by your guests.
I love to transform wedding reception venues into a magical room that guests will always remember. So if you're looking to transform the most basic of venues into a floral extravaganza, contact your Dargaville Florist today for some great advice, and flowers!

Style of wedding headdress
It is important, when helping a bride to select a headdress, to apply certain fules. As with the bouquet, the headdress must link with the dress style, fabric and colour, and also with the bridal bouquet. It must also be suitable for the bride’s hair style. It is no good to choose a comb or slide fitting if the bride has short silky hair through which it would slip. The design must suit the shape of the bride’s face, her type of hair, and also her hair style. When the wedding is approaching fast, the flower delivery Jindalee is critical. Make sure that all necessary arrangements have been made to get those wonderful blooms delivered on time and to the correct location to avoid disappointment.

Design Principles
Composition is the organization of the elements within a design to achieve unification. Form, color and repetition contribute to the composition of the design.
Unity is created when the elements in a floral design relate to each other. The individual materials then blend together to produce a unified whole. This is achieved through color harmony as well as material selection.
Proportion refers to the correct relationship of the design elements; they should be of comparable size. The container or base determines the size of the items; a small wreath should not be overwhelmed with overly large flowers. Focal points should be similar sizes, whole fillers should be smaller. In addition, the scale of a design in relation to its surroundings must be considered. A tiny basket will look out of place on a long, formal dining table. For this reason it is often necessary to have an idea of your recipient’s home décor if you choose to send flowers Jenny Lind as a gift.
Balance results in visual and, often, physical stability. Placing smaller flowers of lighter colors at the top of a design with larger, darker flowers at the base provides visual stability. For symmetrical balance, place the elements in the design with equal visual weight on each side of a vertical line. By placing the items unequally on each side of the imaginary vertical line (heavier on one side), asymmetrical balance is established.

Space and Texture
Space refers to the area within the design. Positive space is the area which is occupied by materials, either one piece or a mass of pieces. Negative space is the area between flowers in an open design. If the design consists only of positive space (for example, a mass of flowers filling the entire design), more emphasis is placed on the form or color, while negative space puts emphasis on the separate elements. This centerpiece incorporates negative space between the upper vines and the wreath as an element of the design. This space is important and establishes the feeling of openness.
Texture is achieved by varying the types of materials in a design. The viewer’s eye will stay within the design longer, exploring the changing textures. Even something as simple as having flowers delivered Highland Park with contrasting textures, ribbons of different materials, and bases with interesting textures makes a design more attractive, providing they complement the arrangement as a whole.

Line and Form
Line is the visual path established by the floral materials through the arrangement. A static line remains inside the form of the design following the width, length or depth without providing any unusual movement within the design. A dynamic line provides continuous movement within a design; it is active and displays an unusual element, such as a curving line within a triangular arrangement.
Form is established by the appearance of a design of flowers Adamsdown. The visible width, height and depth define the form. A “closed form,” such as a wreath, is a solid, compact design. An “open form” has spreading and radiating parts with air or empty space among the materials.

Rhythmic Harmony
Rhythm is established by repeating segments within a design. A certain flower appearing with regularity or repetition of an established shape will produce this effect; however, the repetition should not be dull. There must be excitement created by different elements, yet this shouldn’t harm the rhythmic flow.
Harmony is achieved by combining similar materials and using correct color combinations. Using differing components can also result in harmony by combining dissimilar, yet related items. For example, a wildflower design displayed by a florist Templeton will have varied textures and shapes but will be related through the wildflower theme; the container or base should also relate to this theme.

Packaging Box Advantages
Boxes are delivered as flat packs, so are easy to store, and at peak sales times ready- packed boxes of flowers can be stacked in delivery areas and then quickly packed into the van. (Remember to place the envelope where it can easily be seen.) A box also gives protection against severe weather, is easy to carry, and prevents the flowers from being crushed.
Assembling a box pack
Collect all materials, equipment, flowers, and foliage. Working on a clean bench, make up the box, inserting a white or colour coordinated paper lining if none is supplied. Place long-stemmed materials in the box first; fill in the sides, and place special flowers at the centre. Finish with short-stemmed flowers at the bottom. Tie the stems firmly together, perhaps adding a bow to cover this. Place flower food and a care card inside the flower delivery Beswick; secure the lid with sticky tape, and finish with the greetings card, and a ribbon trim, if desired.

5 year garden plan
When you have decided on the basic layout, it is time to get out the squared paper and carefully plot out the area each plant will need when it is fully grown. But don’t attempt to buy and plant all of the flowers in one season. I find it best to have a five-year plan and work outwards, concentrating first on the area near the house. If you are lucky enough to have a pleasant view, you need do no more at first than plant for a little colour and flowers to pick, but even in later years, remember not to interrupt the view.
The 5 year plan will be ample time to construct a garden which is regularly producing enough flowers so that you no longer have to have so many flowers delivered Ely to your home. Just think of the savings, but do spare a thought for your poor florist!

Everlasting Annuals
Annuals are plants that complete their life cy­cles in one growing season. One of the great features of annuals is that they can be harvested and enjoyed in just a few weeks. Annuals come in a wide range of colors, textures and heights, and most are easy to grow from seed that you can obtain from Redondo Beach florists at a reasonable price. Everlast­ings are annual flowers with petals that are nat­urally strawlike and stiff, even when growing.
You will find that everlastings can be very use­ful in the garden because they hold their color throughout the summer and tolerate heat and dryness. They can also be harvested in stages to prevent bare spots in midsummer. Some of the more unusual everlastings are Lunaria annua (money plant), Moluccella laevis (bells of Ireland) and Lagurus ovatus (hare's-tail grass).

Slowing down flowering
There are times during the seasons when it may be advantageous for a florist to ‘hold’ the development of a flower, perhaps to even out a glut of flowers, or before a peak sales period. Tulips, gladioli and peonies are especially suited to the following method.
It is essential to use flowers that are in good condition, showing no signs of mould or fungal diseases, so a thorough inspection is recommended. If the cut flowers are flaccid, they will need a drink to regain firmness before storage. Excess foliage is removed and bunches can be re-wrapped in paper. Shake off surplus water. Cellophane should not be used, as it can induce moulds. Once wrapped bunches are carefully packed into boxes.
Placed in the cold store, or in a cold dark cellar, the flowers can be kept for five to seven days, and conditioned in the normal way when required prior to the flower delivery Rugby.

Best loved flowers - Dahlia
Characteristics: Dahlias come in a variety of sizes, shapes and foliage colors. The showy flowers bloom from midsummer to frost. Dahlia flowers range in size from large dinner-plate size to tiny pompons less than 2 inches across. Single, double, cactus, pompon, peony and quilled flowers types are available by Roslyn flower delivery in most areas. Foliage comes in medium to dark green and deep bur­gundy. There are dwarf varieties with large 2- to 3-inch flowers for the front of the border, medium-height varieties for the middle, and tall varieties for the back of the border. The tall varieties can also be grown as a floral hedge. Some continue blooming late in the fall after light frost and right up to heavy frost. In warmer climates dahlias will overwinter.
The smaller double or pompon dahlia varieties make wonderful dried flowers. Try Burpee's 'Pompon Dahlias Mixed', which bloom in white, pale pink, yellow, orange and red.

The Lily: Symbol of Purity
"The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Naza­reth, to a virgin [whose] name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, thou that art highly fa­vored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women .... thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.'''
One of the most tender scenes in the New Testament, St. Luke's account of the Annunciation provided a favorite text for the painters of the Renais­sance. The Holy Ghost customarily appears overhead in the form of a dove. The Blessed Virgin is already crowned with a halo, signifying her ho­liness. The angel, who had traditionally borne a scepter to show that he was God's herald, now comes holding a white lily, a symbol both of the Virgin's purity and of her role as Queen of the Angels. Many people today still appreciate the imagery of the white lily when they send flowers Gorton.
This imagery was not new; Greek mythology claimed that the lily had first sprung from the milk of Hera, the wife of Zeus. Christian legend adopt­ed and embellished the symbolism of flowers and their sacred associations. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a mystic of the 12th Century, declared ecstatical­ly of Christ's birth that "The Flower wished to be born of a Flower, in a flower, at the time of flowers."

The message card

When you send your flowers to your girl, don't just say, "Happy Birthday! Love, John." (particularly if your name is not John). The right words will be the perfect accompaniment for your floral gesture. Include a romantic phrase or two to really set the pulse racing.

Sending flowers is a great way to get out of trouble, stay out of trouble, or score extra points for the next time you get into trouble with your girlfriend. A flower delivery Throgs Neck is a guy's best friend!

Love these flowers series - Chionodoxa
In Asia Minor only a little over a century ago, the Swiss botanist Pierre-Edmond Boissier discovered chionodoxas blooming at the edge of the retreating mountain snows. Today three species are widely available from St Marylebone florists. They bloom in early spring shortly after the first crocuses open and, in light shade, the flowers will last three to four weeks. The most common species is C. luciliae, a 6-inch gem that bears eight to 10 violet-blue, white-centered 1-inch flowers on each stem. The white C. luciliae alba and lilac-pink C. luciliae rosea bear two to three flowers on a stem. C. sardensis is also 6 inches tall and has ¾-inch porcelain-blue flowers with a touch of white at the throat; it bears six to eight blossoms on a stem. C. gigantea grows 10 inches tall and bears eight to 10 1½-inch pale purple-blue flowers with white centers on a stem. The white C. gigantea alba is rare, but C. gigantea rosea 'Pink Giant,' with eight to 10 blush-pink 1½-inch flowers per stem, is usually available; it is often listed in bulb catalogues as a form of C. luciliae. Chionodoxas are most effective in large groups under deciduous trees, in front of early-flowering shrubs, or on banks where they can be naturalized. Though short stemmed, the blossoms are also attractive and long lived in cut-flower arrangements.

Dried Flowers
Dried flower arrangements have become increasingly popular as the price of fresh flowers in winter continues to go up and the ever-rising cost of oil makes heated greenhouses more and more expensive to run. For myself, dried or any kind of preserved flowers can never replace the value or delight one gets from fresh flowers, especially in winter. I think I still prefer to preserve background material in glycerine and use this with fresh flowers or foliage until one can pick a bunch of spring flowers or get them from a local Birchgrove florist. But the occasional pot plant can sometimes take their place and last Christmas was made easy for me because of a superb white azalea which has been sheer delight.
There are many aspects of dried flowers and foliage and different ways of using them. You can make colourful posies which will last all winter, remaining pretty and cheerful, or for background material you can use the more sombre and neutral colourings which are ideal when mixed with a few salmon or apricot chrysanthemums, or some variegated leaves. In this way you can make a large arrangement when flowers are scarce and expensive. Many flowers of attractive colouring can be grown from seed for drying and more lovely grasses become available every year.

Worldwide Market
The cut flowers and foliage sold in your local florist shop come from almost every part of the world. Tulips from England and the Netherlands sit in vases next to carnations flown in from Columbia, Turkey or Italy. The availability of cut flowers and foliage has expanded dramatically over the last twenty years, and the number of countries that grow and export cut materials continues to increase. Several factors have contributed to this growth:

• Faster and better methods of transport, including air freight, ensure the flowers are kept at optimum temperatures during their journey
• Sophisticated packing methods enable even delicate flowers to reach their destination in perfect condition
• The use of pre-treatments and flower foods has increased the life of cut flowers, making life a whole lot easier for Chino Florists

Sympathy Tributes
Sympathy flowers form an emotional link between the living and the deceased. They are a way of expressing grief and help people to mourn. Designs have become more informal, perhaps reflecting today’s lifestyle. There is often a request for family flowers only, or for donations; this may be due partly to the cost of flowers as well as to changing attitudes.
It is very important that flowers, if they are sent, should be of excellent quality and beautifully presented. All designs should be well constructed with fresh good quality flowers; wilting, over-mature flowers or badly constructed designs are not acceptable.
Funeral work has changed dramatically in recent years for a florist Bassendean due to the introduction of plastic foam, which has speeded up the process of construction by doing away with the mossing of bases and wiring of flowers. Most flowers have also been developed to last much longer now than ever before.

Varieties of Hybrid Teas
Most hybrid teas bear double blossoms with 20 to 50 velvety or satin-textured petals; some have 70 or more. A few have single blossoms with five to seven petals; others are semidoubles with less than 20. The blossoms, some as large as 6 inches across, grow on bushes that range in height from 2 to as much as 6 feet if the plants are not cut back by pruning or severe winter damage. Colors include many shades of white, yellow, orange, pink, red, lavender and maroon; there are also blends and multicolors. Leaves are generally dark or medium green; in a few varieties new foliage is dark red before becoming green. The texture of the foliage ranges from glossy and leathery in some varieties to dull and almost paper thin in others. Most hybrid teas have fairly large thorns, but are still the most popular roses selected for Heath flower delivery.

Focal point and line
Area of dominance, accent point, centre of interest — these are just some of the design terms used to describe areas of emphasis and interest. The focal point and line exist for the following reasons:

• To attract and stimulate interest, the main focal point catching the eye and leading it into and through the design;
• To give emphasis and provide a strong visual line;
• To provide a sense of order and coordinate all materials within the completed design, as all lines and groupings should radiate from this;
• To avoid monotony, through its bold form, colour and large size.

Achieving a focal area
There are several methods used by Lafayette Square florists to achieve a focal area.

• Form — select materials, such as lilies or gerberas, which are either round or have an interesting form, as this will attract and stimulate the eye.
• Lines — the main focal point is the most dominant line, formed by using 3, 5, 7 or more flowers (even numbers may also be used) to form a direct line. A graded line of flowers avoids the obvious ‘bull’s eye’ focal point. All secondary lines must appear to radiate from or converge at this point.
• Repetition — use the same form and colour of one type of flower, in varying sizes, to create the main line.
• Gradation — buds are placed at the outer edge, then come the semi-open flowers, and larger materials are placed at the centre.
• Colour — full hues are used at the centre to attract the eye; paler colours are placed to the outside, where the design must appear lighter and have less visual attraction.
• Grouping and recession — a grouping of flowers or leaves, recessed at the focal area, will strengthen the visual depth of the design.
• Contrast — greater emphasis can be achieved by contrasting the forms, colours and texture at the main focal area.

Damask Roses
The damasks provide flowers East Bronx in white and in shades of pink from pale to rose red. They grow in arching shrubs that can reach 8 feet, though most are from 3 to 5 feet high. Blossoms are semidouble or double with up to 60 petals and grow in long clusters, surrounded by foliage that is usually a downy gray; the scarlet hips are large and round. The canes are thorny and the pale green stems are weak. Aside from the Au­tumn Damask and varieties derived from it, which flower a second time in the fall, damasks bloom once each year, usually in June, sending forth the famous fragrance that has been used since the First Century B.C. in preparing attar of roses. The plants are dis­ease resistant and hardy, and may be grown without winter protection in mild climate zones.

Placing Flowers in an Arrangement
Once you have decided on your color scheme, container and general theme, you can begin. To keep everything tidy, do your arranging on a flat piece of plastic such as a garbage bag. First fit your Oasis or floral foam tightly into the container and secure with floral tape to prevent it from shifting around. The first flowers to place are the taller ones, which will define the height and shape of the arrangement. Also, try to add flowers with thick stems early on to avoid damag­ing more delicate flowers. Place very delicate flowers last to avoid rough handling, especially if you are having the flowers delivered Richmond upon Thames. When you have finished placing the flowers, add filler material such as Gypsophila to fill in any holes and give a finished look. When you are working on the arrangement, step back occa­sionally and look at it from all angles. If it's to be a center­piece, walk around it and view it from the back and sides. If it's to sit on a mantel, look at it from below.

Preparing an Open Posy
With the materials and container ready and prepared, start by using a sharp knife to cut foliage stems to points, then insert the foliage securely into the foam to form a circular outline around the rim of the container.
Add pieces of foliage to the top of the foam to create a domed profile. Next, add a curving line of focal flowers, the main flower being the tallest, and positioned at the centre. Fill in the outline shape with the bud materials. Insert open flowers and pieces of foliage at varying levels to fill in the centre of the design and to strengthen the elevated profile.
Recess some flowers and foliage to hide the foam and give visual depth. Look at the posy from all angles to check that it is complete and that no foam has been left visible. Ask your assistant florist Rusholme to spray lightly and store in the chiller.

Longer lasting flowers
In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase in consumer purchases of cut flowers. Worldwide, the sales of flowers can be numbered in the billions. Mirroring this growth in the flower industry has been extensive scientific research into the post-harvest care of cut flowers and foliage. For many customers the quality of the flowers is determined by their longevity; the professional florist will need to ensure that cut flowers achieve their maximum vase life if consumers are to be kept satisfied with their flower delivery Moston.

My Favourite Flowers - Agapanthus
The Headbourne varieties are the best hybrids of this popular perennial plant. Headbourne hybrids,
Carrying round heads of clustered florets on stout, smooth stems that grow 60—90 cm (2—3 ft) high, they are most welcome for the flower arranger as they give a blue flower head at a time when there are few other tall blue flowers. I have always felt that agapanthus was not hardy, but today there seem to be several hardy strains. Whether grown against a wall, or in the herbaceous or shrub border, they provide a lovely patch of blue and a nice change of form, with their decorative strap-like basal leaves.
Cultivation
Plant in April or May in any good garden soil, but preferably against a south- or west-facing wall. It is a worthwhile precaution to protect the plants against winter frosts by covering them in October or November with a 15 cm (6 in) layer of peat, straw or bracken. This is also the best time to get them from your local florists Frankston .
Conditioning and preserving
The flower heads last very well with no special treatment but, rather like azaleas, it is important to remove each floret as it dies, or the whole head begins to look dead long before it is really over. The buds continue to open in water, so you can keep the flower stems in a vase for a few weeks.
For preserving, leave the flower heads on the stems until the seed is well formed, then cut and hang the stems upside down to dry off thoroughly. They can then be used whole, or taken apart and used individually in smaller vases.
Arranging
I think one of the best examples of the use of agapanthus can be in an arrangement with acanthus, though they will mix well in any large arrangement, using the stems short or full length. They add that vital touch of blue so important in mixed flower groups, or make an excellent focal point for a foliage arrangement in late July through to September, the combination of blue colour and rounded shape making an excellent foil against mixed leaves.

Cake and Table Decorations
Delicate fresh flower and foliage, with pretty ribbons, daintily arranged, make a charming cake-top decoration for various occasions, including anniversaries and engagements and, of course, weddings.
The wedding cake is an important feature of the reception, but if placed in front of the bride and groom it can hide them from their guests. Suggest that the cake has a place of honour on a separate table, to be decorated by you. This will create interest and provide a centrepiece for the cutting of the cake.
Always ask the bride for details of the cake, as today’s cakes are very individual, and there are innumerable styles and sizes. Some cakes may take the form of initials or hearts, but traditional cakes are either round or square, with one, two, three or more tiers, supported on pillars. The current trend is for perspex or steel stands, which suspend the cakes on various levels. Knowing the cake's details will ensure your flower delivery Garston goes without a hitch.
The traditional container was a silver vase, though sometimes a wine glass was used instead, but hiding the foam used to be a problem. Now the foam can simply be surrounded with crumpled strips of cellophane which, when filled with flowers, looks like crushed ice. Specially-designed foam bump on a plastic base provides an excellent foundation, making assembly quick and easy.

A pretty flower - Salvia (salvia, sage)
Characteristics: There are many types of saliva (both annual and perennial), and I have found that most air-dry beautifully. They bloom in a wide range of colors including palest pink, fire engine red, deep purple and bicolor.
One of my favorite annual salvias for drying is Salvia farinacea, which has beautiful spikes of white or blue flowers. Mexican brush sage and 'Purple Majesty' are also grown as annuals in my garden and are the highlight of the late summer garden. No florist Taylor would be without clary sage (S. sclarea), with its brightly colored bracts ranging from greenish white to purple. Common sage (S. officinalis), which is usually grown as an herb, has attractive and aromatic foliage that can be dried and used in arrangements. Meadow sage (S. pitcheri), a dark blue sage that blooms in late summer, is one of my favorite perennial salvias. I have found through experimentation that most salvias hold their color, shape and fragrance long after drying.
Harvesting/Drying: Cut salvia when bracts feel slightly papery. Remove the foliage of Salvia farinacea, Mexican brush sage and 'Purple Majesty' before collecting into small bunches. Tie into small bunches to avoid crushing. Hang up to air-dry.

Preserving in silica gel
Preserving in silica gel is a marvellous way to make a truly lovely everlasting bouquet or arrangement.
To sum up, there are two different approaches to preserved materials. One is to dry for colour, especially flowers like statice and helichrysum whose colour range today is much wider than it used to be. With acrolinium, achillea (yarrow), hydrangeas, delphiniums, larkspur, grasses and the like, you can make a colourful arrangement that will last all winter.
The second use is as background material — beech branches, seed heads, and the leaves of plants such as mahonia and laurel make a good background for the fresh flowers available. For me, the combination of fresh and dried is the answer to winter arrangements, and something that florists are starting to include within your average flower delivery Mauriceville.
A footnote: many people ask about putting dried stems in water. It is all right to do this as the stems come to no harm and when using them a second time you just cut off the soggy end and start again.

Flower Growing and Retailing
Within recent years flowers have been more and more in demand and this has given rise, not alone to the development of large centers of flower production, but also to artistic flower-stores and other means of Barrs Court flower delivery. The growing of flowers is essentially an agricultural industry. The work can be carried on successfully only by men adapted for this specialized field. On the other hand, the selling of flowers demands a man with an artistic temperament as well as a keen business mind. The two types of men are so radically different that whenever possible the growing of flowers should be kept separate from the retailing.
Recently the business of flower-growing has changed in a marked degree. Certain lines of production have gone into the hands of a comparatively few persons. As an illustration, most of the roses are grown under glass for cut-flower purposes by a few firms. The grower of miscellaneous florist crops has found that he cannot raise roses economically on a small scale and in competition with the rose specialist; therefore he devotes his activities to other lines of production, and buys from the specialist such roses as he needs to supply his retail trade.

Contract Flower Designs
A contract design can be a ready-made display of fresh flowers and foliage, made to a set price and delivered on a certain day (usually a Monday), or displays of dried and fabric flowers and foliage which are changed at regular intervals.
Contract displays are used to decorate numerous venues, and you could be arranging a flower delivery Llanishen to any of the following:

• Various types of shops, such as antique, jewellery, furniture or fashion shops, or large
  department stores;
• Hairdressers, beauty salons and health clubs;
• Offices, banks, hotels, theatres, restaurants and private homes.

Where to Plant Bulbs
The ease of concealing unkempt bulbs as they mature is one consideration in choosing sites for them. But to my mind it is more important to place the flowers Penylan where they can most readily be enjoyed. Spring bulbs will bloom while the temperatures still range in the 30’s and 40’s; at a time when I, for one, am not yet ready to stroll in the yard. So I put mine where I can see the flowers easily from the windows of the house. Plants bearing relatively large flowers (tulips and daffodils) may be planted some distance away and still be enjoyed. So may the little snowdrops, snowflakes, striped and Siberian squills, grape hyacinths and white crocuses, if they are planted in sufficiently large quantities and massed dramatically against a contrasting dark background such as a group of evergreens. But these little plants, as well as such colorful jewels as dwarf irises, spring meadow saffron and winter aconites, are equally appropriate in beds or borders near the front door where you and arriving guests can enjoy them at close range.

Getting to the Root of the Problem
Trees and shrubs adjacent to a flower garden can be a problem not only because of their shade but also because their large roots are likely to creep into the beds and rob your plants of nutrients and moisture. It is difficult to gauge what might be an adequate distance to separate a garden from a tree, since the roots of a large shade tree growing in shallow soil can extend 100 feet or more from the trunk. If the area gets plenty of sun, it is possible to garden near trees, tall hedges, and shrubs, as long as you are prepared to provide enough moisture and nutri­ents to nourish both your garden and the larger plants. Depending on the type of flowers Chorlton-cum-Hardy you are growing, you may be able to plant them in close proximity to the trees and shrubs. Some gardeners bury a metal or concrete barrier 2 or more feet deep between a newly planted hedge or shrub border and the garden to keep the roots from venturing where they are not wanted.

Making Bows
Making a bow is one of the first skills that a florist must acquire. There are various techniques, each giving a different finished result. Perfect bow-making requires practice, but once perfected, your skill will often be admired by customers, especially if you make bows in the shop, where they can see and appreciate your artistry. A pretty ribbon bow will often be kept by the customer as a memento of a special flower gift.
A well-made bow has many uses: it can complete the gift-wrapping of flowers; it may add an attractive finish to a hand-tied bouquet or flower arrangement, or lend a touch of glamour to a door garland.
Polypropylene (or Polytie) ribbon bows are mostly used in funeral tributes, as type of ribbon does not absorb water. The more expensive satins, velvets and lacy ribbon bows are added to corsages, headdresses, posies and bouquets, and a ribbon bow is attached to the handle of the bridal bouquet to give an attractive finish.
Bows can be large and bold or small and dainty, depending on the width of ribbon. A single bow is made with one type of ribbon, but a double bow may combine two types or colours of ribbon. A completed bow may have two, four, six, eight or even more loops, depending on its use.
For the peak selling periods for having flowers delivered Oudtshoorn of Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, bows should be prepared during a quiet time in the shop, colour coded and stored in polythene bags until required.

Majestic Salvia
Some of my favorite annuals for drying are marigolds, zin­nias, celosia and ageratum. I also adore salvias. Annual and biennial salvias are easy to grow, and they bring an unmatched beauty both to the garden and to dried arrange­ments. The biennial Salvia sclarea (clary sage) is a real eye-catcher in the garden bor­der. It has striking, whitish­-blue flowers with white- and rose-colored bracts. Another terrific salvia for drying is Salvia viridis (also known as S. horminum), which produces multicolored flowers of white, pink, blue and purple all on the same stem. ‘Indigo Spires’, probably not your first choice if you intend to have flowers delivered Chigwell to someone, as it is a majestic 5-foot-tall salvia and has intense purple-blue spikes that appear in late summer.

Flowers for dad
Moms are so much easier when it comes to Mother's Day. Just invite the whole family over for a 5 course meal, do all the cooking and all the cleaning and let her sit back and enjoy the company without having to do any of the hosting or cooking or cleaning work. If you want, you can easily make her day with a visit to a luxurious spa. You can easily find something or someplace to pamper her and make her feel like a queen.
Fathers can be relatively easy to find gifts for. If your dad is a techno-geek, an outdoorsman, a sports fanatic, or a home theater nut, there are countless gift ideas readily available at your nearest shopping mall. Just get him a car for his train set, a new computer gadget, a couple of tickets to the game, or the latest DVD. You can also plunk yourself down in front of your computer and find several gifts for him on the Internet. Even so, do any of these really show our fathers that we appreciate them?
Fear not, for there are always alternatives to everything. Likewise, you can easily find other great gift ideas for your father, like plants and flowers. Not something that one usually associates with Father's Day, right? How many people give flowers and plants to their dads on Father's Day, or for any other special occasion, for that matter? But maybe for that reason, a flower delivery Three Kings would be an ideal gift for that Dad who has everything else.
Believe it or not, there are masculine plants and flowers that can symbolize the very things that we've decided are paternal qualities. You want an example? Take the sunflower for example--big and strong, its bright face like a shining symbol of hope in a dark place. Violets are great as well. Violets have long been associated with fidelity and trust as well as with sacrifice and devotion. Now those are gifts that any father would like.

Packing Wedding Flowers
As the time for the wedding draws near, the bride’s home will be full to overflowing with relatives, friends and perhaps neighbours, and the florist can be sure of some appreciative oohs and ahhs when the flowers are delivered, especially if they have been specially packaged.
When you have taken so much care with the preparation and designing of the wedding flowers, it is worth paying some attention to the presentation of the designs.
Packaging practicalities
In addition to its impact value, packaging has other positive and practical advantages for the florist, not to mention assisting in ensuring the flower delivery Mt. Washington is undamaged. The tissue paper should be printed with your business name, so that everyone can see where the flowers were designed, with your business address and telephone number, for ease of contact.
Quite apart from the advertizing value of the packaging, the enclosing cellophane will protect the flowers from extremes of temperature while they are being transported to the bride’s home, and will help to create the moist microclimate that is essential if the flowers are to remain in tiptop condition until they are needed. Good packaging is inexpensive in both cost and time, and its benefits are more than just oohs and ahhs.