The East Williston Summer Recreation program at North Side Elementary School in East Williston, NY was the latest stop during our Summer of a Million Smileswhere the 1800Flowers’ Creative Team creates crafts with kids. On Friday, August 3rd the creative team from 1-800-Flowers.com dropped by to make some crafts with the kids.
With different stations set up for each craft, the children created everything from butterfly clothespins to flower faces and keepsake smile doodles. Best of all, at the end of the day they were given one more surprise as we handed out smiley face gerbera daisies. Each of the happy campers was delighted to be a part of such a fun afternoon and expressed their thanks with big smiles and many thanks.
Gabrielle Bacarella, an Interactive Marketing Intern, also of previous “Petal Talk” fame, talks about her experiences interning at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for the second consecutive summer. Her are Gabrielle’s insights in her own words:
“When I entered my first year at Boston College, I had no idea what I wanted to major in, let alone pursue a career. After taking several courses, I found that I really enjoyed Human Psychology, declaring it as my major with a minor in Human Resource Management.
This is actually my third intern experience at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Last year, I spent time with the company’s latest brand, Fruit Bouquets. I had so much fun and learned a great deal that I came back here during my winter break and again this summer working with the Marketing department.
The part I love most about my internship is how my work is both creative and interactive. I have written a number of articles for our “Petal Talk” blog site, worked on the company’s Google+ program and our daily rankings on Google for Search Engine Optimization team. Through my experience here at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, not only have I met brilliant and inspiring people but I have expanded my skills within the marketing industry, a new found interest of mine.”
-Gabrielle Bacarella, Interactive Marketing Department, Boston College
Cooking with zucchini flowers is a delicious delicacy, especially in Italy. They can be found in pasta dishes, risotto and even with ricotta cheese. But the dish that is most popular is fried zucchini flowers. Zucchini flowers are commonly battered and fried almost like a vegetable tempura. To compliment their salty and crunchy taste, they are sometimes drizzled with honey and topped off with powdered sugar. Preparing an old Italian favorite can be easy with this simple recipe.
Ingredients for Fried Zucchini Flowers:
18 zucchini blossoms
3 heaping spoonfuls of flour (enough to make the batter thick enough to stick to the blossoms)
A pint of cold milk, water, or a mixture of beer and water
Salt
An egg, lightly beaten
Olive oil or lard for frying
Steps:
Pour 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer or large, heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. (Be sure to keep hot oil away from children’s reach, parental supervision required.)
Lightly beat the egg yolks and pour in the ice water (or water and/or beer) in a deep mixing bowl to make the batter. Add the flour and continue to mix until the batter is a heavy cream-like consistency.
After rinsing the flowers, pat completely dry and remove the pistols. Dip 2 zucchini flowers at a time in the batter, make sure they are completely coated. Allow the excess to drip off.
Allow the flowers to fry and get golden brown for about 2 minutes in the oil.
Lightly season them with salt and pepper either before adding them in the oil or while they are frying.
Once golden brown, place them on absorbent paper to soak up the oil. Repeat and serve hot!
*If desired, drizzle honey and powdered sugar as a finishing touch!
The gorgeous grounds at Michigan State University: W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens (Courtesy of W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens)
Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan is fortunate enough to have one of the oldest and most beautiful collegiate botanical gardens in the United States: The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. In fact, it is the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden of its kind in the United States. The garden was founded in 1873 by Professor William James Beal. There is a rich history in the gardens that few know about, notably the large ginkgo tree that is located next to the Beaumont tower on campus. This tree was a gift from the famous botanist Professor Asa Gray of Harvard University in 1863.
The Pond at W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens
(Courtsey of W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens)
The Michigan State University W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens consists of over 5 acres while its corresponding arboretum encompasses the entire developed campus of approxmately 2100 acres. As the arboretum essentially is the entire Michigan State campus, it is hard for students to escape it. The Botanical Gardens however are only in an area on the north end of campus near the North Campus Library. The beauty of the Gardens is admired by the entire student body at Michigan State making it a popular location for studying. An especially popular area for students is near the pond which has a number of benches, making it a great place to enjoy the garden and find serenity within the campus.
One of the famous aspects of the Gardens is it’s extensive research program. Students and faculty use the garden and it’s resources to conduct their own research. Some of the studies that have been recently conducted at the Gardens are: a study on the waxy layer of bayberries related to the understanding of plants and oils for biofuels, attempting to breed trees that are resistant to some fungi, and studying insects that attack apples by using their crabapple and cedar trees. One of the more fascinating and long standing studies that has been going on at the Gardens is the Beal Seed Viability study.
The Al and Jean Goldner Daylily Collection at the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens (Courtesy of W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens)
In the autumn of 1879 Professor Beal planted a bottle of seeds on campus and every 20 years the bottle is unearthed and the seeds are examined to see which will germinate. In 2020 the 140th year bottle will be excavated. For more information on the Beal Seed Viability study click here.
The garden just recently added the Al and Jean Goldner Daylily Collection and next year will be celebrating its 140th anniversary.
Olive laurel wreaths were used in ancient Olympic Games.
Every four years the overwhelming event known as the Olympic Games captures the entire world as all of the greatest athletes gather together to proudly compete for their home country. With almost 300 events in 26 different sporting events, sometimes the minor details and hard work that go into the Olympics tend to get overlooked. One of those things is something that everyone sees but does not necessarily understand the importance of: the flower bouquets.
The history of flowers at the Olympic Games dates all the way back to Ancient Greece, the competing athletes in the first games were given Olive leaf wreathes that were placed on their heads. At the time this was the only reward the athletes received, the medals did not come until much later. The presence of flowers finally sprung up during the Victorian era, where each individual flower was thought to have a different meaning. These meanings have carried over into the present representations of the Olympic Bouquets given to athletes on the champions’ podium after every event.
Today, there is a very competitive and specific selection process as to who gets the opportunity to design the host country’s bouquet. The entire process is observed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as numerous florists from the host country place their bids for the right to honor their country with their design of the Olympic Bouquet. What many people do not know are the numerous rules and regulations every design must take into account before allowed to be presented to the IOC. Many of the rules are common sense, such as size, cost and availability, but some other rules you may not have thought about. Bouquets must be pollen and scent-free to protect athletes with allergies. Also, the bouquets must be sturdy enough to be manhandled, while at the same time be free of sharp edges and points. After all, in all the excitement who doesn’t want to celebrate their tremendous victory by tossing their bouquet in the air amongst crowds of fans? In the end, one cannot simply expect to gain the IOC’s favor by simply following all the rules.
The florist who eventually wins the honor to design the Olympic Bouquet must focus on incorporating their national identity into color and flower selection. Many designers in the past have simply fused their country’s national colors into an arrangement with numerous local flowers. However, in more recent events designers have celebrated the Olympic spirit by incorporating their community into the process as well. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, florists June Strandberg and Margitta Schultz used their design process to help out at-risk women in the Vancouver area. They went to nearby prisons and shelters for women with drug and abuse problems to teach their trade. The women hoped that by doing this some of the women would have experience in a trade they could eventually turn into a career when they were reintroduced into society. The IOC certainly took this into account when they made their selection as the Olympic spirit is all about community and unity.
So when you are watching the 2012 London summer games, make sure to think about all the hard work and planning that goes into the almost 4,400 bouquets the champion athletes will hoist in the air with pride.
Seeing all of the Olympic Bouquets has really got us in the Olympic spirit! The idea of the Olympic Games was conceived in ancient Greece but ended around the time of 393 and 426 AD. The Games started up again in 1896 back in its birthplace, Athens, Greece. There have been a total of 30 Olympics in the modern era, not all have actually happened or were attended by all of the world’s superpowers but this 2012 Olympics marks the Games of the 30th Olympiad.
1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece
1900 Olympics in Paris, France
1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
1908 Olympics in London, UK
1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden
1916 Olympics in Berlin, Germany (canceled due to World War I)
1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium
1924 Olympics in Paris, France
1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands
1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America
1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany
1940 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan (canceled due to World War II)
1944 Olympics in London, UK (canceled due to World War II)
1948 Olympics in London, UK
1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland
1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia
1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy
1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico
1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany
1976 Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1980 Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union (boycotted by the U.S.)
1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America
1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea
1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain
1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia
2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece
2008 Olympics in Beijing, China
2012 Olympics in London, UK
2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
2024 Olympics in Paris, France
2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Some colleges are lucky to have either a botanical garden or arboretum located on or near their campus, however the University of Michigan has the great fortune of having both within walking distance of campus. The Matthaei Botanical Gardens which is nearly 250 acres is located just off of campus but close enough to walk to and the Nichol Arboretum, commonly referred to as the “Arb,” 125 acres, is on central campus. Both the Gardens and the Arb are associated with the University.
Joseph Mooney the Marketing Director for both the Gardens and Arb described them both as, “places where people can escape from the nearby urban environments and engage with nature.”
The Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (Courtesy U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols
The Arb offers a place in the center of campus for students to be immersed in a naturalistic landscape while studying and meeting up with fellow students. The Botanical Gardens offer a large conservatory that contains three different climate zones. There is the Tropical House which has a tropical climate that features blooming flowers all year round; Warm Temperate House that has climates similar to the Mediterranean and West Asia; and finally the Arid House which has similarities to desert climates. This is an obviously desirable location for studying in the winter as students are battling the harsh Michigan winters.
Both the Gardens and the Arb offer summer internship programs as well as volunteer opportunities for students. This summer nearly 40 interns worked at the Gardens and Arb in a variety of departments from nature preservation to marketing to visitor services and more. During the school year dozens of students volunteer their time by helping out at the Arb and Gardens.
Each location has their own unique aspect that really makes them stand out. The Arb for instance has the largest collection of antique and heirloom peonies in North America. The Peony Garden which blooms in May to June is one of the most popular collections at the Arb. At its peak, the garden contains over 10,000 blooms with some of the plants being nearly 100 years old, having been in the same spot since they were initially planted at the beginning of the 20th century. Along with its amazing conservatory, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens is home to the only venomous snake in Michigan, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.
The Arb and the Botannical Gardens are both very involved with the community of the University of Michigan along with the town that houses the college, Ann Arbor. The Gardens and Arb both have extensive educational opportunities for children. They have partnerships with local groups such as: the local Audobon Society, Sierra Club, and other floral societies. The majority of this programming is offered free of charge. The Arb also holds annual 5K family runs, a Shakespeare festival called Shakespeare in the Arb, and music which is all held at the Arb’s amphitheater. The Matthaie Botanical Gardens hosts annual plant sales in the spring and has regular conservatory exhibits.
Currently at the Gardens, workers are constructing a Great Lakes Garden which will feature plants that are native to the Great Lakes region including over 100 species of native orchids. The Arb will also be renovating its large collection of heirloom peonies which will be a multi-year project.
So as you can see, there is a lot to be excited about in the upcoming years at the the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and the Nichol Arboretum. Interested in visiting? Click here to receive visitor information.
