Sarah G, Author at Petal Talk

Hot Pink Roses: One Hundred Years to Grow Perfection

September 4, 2018

Who could resist a rose called ‘Hot Lady’? It’s a spectacular hot pink rose, too, with two-inch-long buds that look good in a vase for at least 10 days. And the color! Hot, hot pink. It’s the kind of rose that florists love, not least because it appeals to the hot ladies for whom it was named.

As it happens, hot ladies have plenty of hot pink roses to choose from, thanks in large part to a century-old German firm called Rosen Tantau (Tantau Roses).

Just four men have run the company in that century, each one taking an inventive approach to rose breeding. Founded by Matthias Tantau in 1906 in a small town outside Hamburg, Germany, the firm became internationally known following World War II, when Jackson Perkins introduced ‘Garnette’, a popular red greenhouse rose, to the United States. It became a florists’ standard. Continue Reading…

Gifting

Teacher Appreciation: Gift Ideas to Celebrate Favorite Teachers

May 2, 2016

Each day for the past few months, your child’s teacher has spent hours patiently instructing, guiding and assisting a classroom full of impressionable children. Whether it’s Teacher Appreciation Day or not, you may wonder how to say thank you to your child’s favorite teacher. Your gift should express the depth of gratitude that you feel for this teacher’s hard work and joyful spirit.

Teachers have very important jobs. Each day they shape the future of our world as they mold the minds of children. Choose a teacher appreciation gift that will touch the heart of your child’s teacher whether it is on the first day or last day of school, the teacher’s birthday or just because.

Consider Personal Interests

Ask your child if he or she is aware of any of the teacher’s personal interests. If a teacher demonstrates a special fondness for gardening, a gardening kit consisting of a pretty watering can, gloves and some seed packets would be appreciated. A teacher who loves to cook might enjoy a basket of unusual spices for use at home. A chocolate-loving teacher would likely savor a box of gourmet chocolates as a special treat. If your child’s teacher has an affinity for special kinds of tea, you could create a basket containing a variety of herbal teas, a jar of honey and a CD of relaxing music. Continue Reading…

Floral Events & News

Visit Gardens with Garden Conservancy Days 2013

April 28, 2013

You drive through a lovely neighborhood and catch a glimpse of cascading roses through a wrought iron gate. A long bluestone driveway curves away under a canopy of flowering dogwoods and disappears. The scent of lilacs drifts over a dry-stacked stone wall.

What gorgeous gardens are concealed behind those tall walls and closed gates? Every year you have one day—or maybe two—to find out. That’s because on those days the members and supporters of the Garden Conservancy open the gates of their private gardens to visitors.

The Garden Conservancy, a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of extraordinary gardens in the United States, organizes the annual Open Days as both a fundraiser and a way of spreading the word about its mission. How better to discover that mission than by strolling through a 50-year-old garden that is the pride of its owner and creator? As a result, thousands of visitors have a chance to visit hundreds of private gardens throughout the nation. Click here to see schedule.
Continue Reading…

Floral Occasions & Holidays

Labor Day Picnic Gift Baskets

August 27, 2012

Labor Day is the celebration of the many workers in our country and all that they contribute to our society. As so, this holiday is meant to give workers time away from the workplace to enjoy themselves. Labor Day often symbolizes the end of summer, so many people set sail for the beach, mountains or any other outdoor location for some fresh air, great weather and time with friends and family. Labor Day picnic gift baskets provide everything necessary for a fun day out in the sun.

How to Make Labor Day Picnic Baskets

1. First you will need the baskets. The number and size of the items that will fit into the baskets will be determined by how much the baskets can hold. For this reason, it is important to get your baskets first. Baskets can be purchased from craft stores, antique shops or any number of home accent stores. Continue Reading…

DIY Flower Crafts

How to Grow Your Own Olympic Flowers

August 14, 2012

It’s only been a few days but we already miss the olympics! In this past 2012 London Summer Olympics, nearly 4,800 Victory Bouquets were given to medal winners. Designed by Susan Lapworth, the Creative Director at Jane Packer, the bouquet consists of yellow, orange, green, and pink roses, along with bunches of lavender, wheat, apple mint, and rosemary, all of which are grown in England. The International Olympic Committee wanted the bouquet to not only be fragrant, but also reflect the energy of the games.

Floral Events & News

The History of Flowers at the Olympics Games

August 9, 2012

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.
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Floral Occasions & Holidays

National Get Out of the Doghouse Day: Your Ticket Out

July 26, 2012

National Get Out of the Doghouse Day is a day for apologies and sweet words to get yourself out of the doghouse. Maybe you forgot to clean the dishes one night, much to the chagrin of your spouse. Perhaps you accidentally burned a hole in your partner’s favorite shirt. No matter your crime, this is a day for forgiveness and setting things right with your loved one. Words are a good way to start your apology, but a tangible token of love will help your case. Consider the following delightful items from 1-800-Flowers to help show your true feelings. Continue Reading…

DIY Flower Crafts

Flower Flavored Dessert: Homemade Rose Water Ice Cream

July 16, 2012

Persian restaurants and markets serve a lovely floral ice cream, fragrant with the scent of roses. Once you taste it, you’ll know that you have discovered the essence of summer. Unfortunately, not everyone has a Persian market nearby—but this rose water ice cream recipe is easy to make.

The key ingredient, of course, is rose water. It’s said that rose water is the vanilla of the Middle East, and it’s true that it flavors sweets throughout the region, just as vanilla is pervasive in the U.S. What is rose water exactly? Very generally speaking, it’s made by simmering rose petals (and only the petals) in water Continue Reading…

Fun Flower Facts

The World’s Biggest and Smallest Flowers

July 5, 2012

Flowers are little touches of color that make the world a more beautiful place in which to live. Scientists will probably never catalog and study every flower in the world because there are millions of types of flowers. Flowers come in countless shapes, sizes and colors, and they exist in almost every kind of climate across the globe.

The purpose of a flower is to create seeds so that the plant is guaranteed to reproduce itself. Most flowers consist of three main parts. The stamens are considered the male parts of the flower. In general, the stamens produce pollen. The pistil is considered the female part of the flower. The pistil contains the ovary, and in the ovary is an ovule, an unfertilized portion of the plant which will become a seed after pollination. If pollen from the stamens comes in contact with the pistil, the ovule in the ovary will be fertilized, producing a seed. The petals are the colorful flower parts that make flowers so lovely to see. Petals attract insects, like bees, wasps and butterflies, to assist in pollination. Continue Reading…

Gifting

A Gift Guide: Gifts for Dog Lovers

June 19, 2012

Dog flowers for dog lovers from 1800flowers.com.

Dog Shaped Flowers from 1800FLOWERS’ a-DOG-able® Collection.

Do you have difficulty shopping for gifts for dog lovers in your life? There is a lot of fun, pet-related merchandise on the market, so with a little creativity and some clever researching, finding the perfect gift for a dog owner can be a simple task. To guide you on your quest for the ideal dog lover gift, below are some ideas that are fun for owners and their four-legged friends.

For the Fashionista Dog Lover

The fashionable dog lover will adore matching doggie and owner outfits. T-shirts with favorite sports teams, symbols or sayings are cute with a hint of lovable humor. Check out local pet stores to find great deals on stylish doggie apparel.