Shannon O'Connor, Author at 1800Flowers Petal Talk

Types of Fuzzy Plants & Flowers

fuzzy flowers with Pussy Willow Close-up

There are lots of words that can be used to describe flowers and plants — between their scent and appearance alone, we could create a list that goes on and on. One of the most interesting descriptions, however, would have to do with how they feel when they are touched. Adjectives like “prickly” or “soft” might immediately leap to mind, but another word we think when we picture certain types of plants and flowers is “fuzzy” — and there are quite a few out there that fit that description.

Here are some specifics about these oh-so-touchable fuzzy flowers and plants.

Fuzzy plants

Angel’s hair artemisia

If you’re looking to attract some visitors to your garden, such as birds and butterflies, consider adding some angel’s hair artemisia. The foliage produced by angel’s hair artemisia is gray/silver in color. Should you choose to add these fuzzy garden wonders to your yard, keep in mind that they can become invasive under the right (or wrong) conditions, so monitor their growth closely.

Dusty miller

You may be better able to recognize dusty millers if you live in a warmer climate, but even if you don’t, you may have seen them before as flower fillers. Visually, dusty millers have mostly gray leaves, as well as some yellow foliage, but they can appear silver depending on how you look at them.

Fountain grasses

Whether you’re looking for a short or tall, dark or light addition to your garden, you’ll find success with fountain grass. Able to grow at various heights and in various colors, fountain grasses share fuzzy flowers that you’re sure to fall in love with! Similar to angel’s hair artemisia, fountain grasses can become invasive under certain circumstances, so keep an eye on them as they start to grow.

Lamb’s ears

Best grown in USDA zones 4 to 10, lamb’s ears are suitable if you’re looking for a ground cover or edging plant. Ideally, lamb’s ears require full sun to partial shade, and grow best with moderate to regular amounts of water, although dry conditions won’t wipe them out completely. If you find the right kind, you may even see some beautiful purple flowers start to bloom among their fuzzy green leaves!

Licorice plant

Best known for their ability to add a little something extra to flower and plant arrangements, licorice plants grow fuzzy leaves that can be any color from gray/green to various shades of cream and green. And though their scent does resemble the classic smell of licorice, don’t be too tempted to taste — all parts of licorice plants are toxic to humans if ingested.

Old man cactus

Wondering where this type of cactus gets its name? It’s from the fluffy white hairs found on the surface. This fuzzy white plant can serve as the perfect houseplant, especially if you’re looking for something unique. Better yet, they can be grown outside too: USDA zones 9 and 10 are particularly favorable for outdoor growing.

Panda plant

Panda plants are typically grown just for their foliage. If you see one, you’ll notice that their leaves are covered with soft silver hairs, which contribute to its fuzzy appearance. In addition to their beautiful silver and green colors, the edges of panda plant leaves usually have a brown or rusty tint to them, making for a beautiful color combination.

Fuzzy flowers

Chenille plant

Parts of this flowering shrub are so fuzzy that you might not even recognize it as being something that grows in nature! Often used as houseplants, chenille plants are best positioned in a spot where they can drape downward and really show off their fuzzy blooms. Chenille plants need humid conditions to really thrive, so choose a location in your home wisely.

Jerusalem sage

Although its name suggests it is a member of the sage family, Jerusalem sage is actually closer related to mint. In some zones, you can find this fuzzy bloom as an evergreen (zones 8 to 10, to be exact), while in others (zones 5 to 7), it will die back in the winter. Beautiful and bright in color, Jerusalem sages look excellent in a number of floral arrangements.

Pussy willow

Perfect for spring — although, depending on the conditions, they can start to bloom around the first of the year — a pussy willow will produce amazingly soft catkins (long, slim, petal-less flowers). The best place to situate one of these shrubs is a window that receives full sun daily (if you are lucky enough to have one). There, it will act as the perfect piece of home decor!

What Type of Flower Is Your Mom?

Ask anyone what they’re getting Mom for Mother’s Day, and we’re pretty sure “flowers” will be included in their answer. But how much thought do most people put into choosing which type of flower to get their mom for Mother’s Day? Chances are, not much.

If you want to take your Mother’s Day gift giving to the next level, read on to learn more about Mother’s Day flower types and find a flower that is a perfect match for mom, her personality, and the bond you share.

Roses

Roses are an absolute classic, and, thus, are one of the most popular flowers for Mother’s Day. Depending on the color you choose, roses can symbolize everything from love (red) to purity (white), friendship (yellow), joy (pink), and passion (orange). If you’re looking for a combination of emotions to describe mom and your relationship, you can even choose from a bouquet of mixed colors.

Tulips

An extremely popular spring flower is the tulip. These bright beauties are the perfect choice for any mom who has an upbeat, energetic personality, and they’re also a great option for moms who exhibit a natural grace. Tulips are also known to symbolize love, so they can work for any mom you’re showing appreciation for on Mother’s Day.

Lilies

Lilies are said to signify purity and refined beauty. Additionally, lilies have a sophisticated side, so they are the ideal choice for any mom who is strikingly elegant and sophisticated herself. Whether you choose calla lilies, Oriental lilies, or Peruvian lilies, if mom likes to make a statement, this is the flower for her.

Orchids

Did you know that in China orchids symbolize “many children”? Not to mention, they also serve as a symbol of beauty, love, thoughtfulness, strength, wisdom, and charm. If Mom possesses any of these characteristics and has a sophisticated yet simple side to her, consider a bouquet of phalaenopsis, dendrobium, cymbidium, or oncidium orchids.

Daisies

Considered more simplistic in nature, daisies are an excellent choice for moms on Mother’s Day — especially new moms. That’s because daisies symbolize new beginnings. If you know a mom celebrating her first Mother’s Day, surprise her with a bouquet of these beautiful blooms to brighten up her home.

How Flowers Were Once Used to Deliver Messages

The Meaning of Victorian Flower Messages

Today, most people use flowers as gifts for special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, baby showers, and promotions. However, flowers weren’t always used as such: Back in the 19th century, Victorians used to present them to one another as a way to deliver secret messages.

Floriography

“Floriography” is the term people use to describe Victorian flower language. (If you need something to compare it to in the modern world, think of their use of flowers as analogous to the way we use emojis.) Over time, floriography became so popular and widespread thanks to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the English ambassador to Turkey, that between the years 1827 and 1923, you could find at least 98 different flower dictionaries across the United States.

Flower messages during the Victorian Era

Flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that were so secret or unconventional at the time that they could not be spoken aloud. And although not all books and dictionaries agreed on the same meanings, people during this time period were generally able to understand the messages being sent based on factors such as the way flowers were presented and the condition of the flowers. Here are some examples:

victorian flower messages with a picture of yellow flowers

If flowers were given to a recipient upside down, it meant that they were intended to mean the opposite of what that arrangement typically symbolized.
If flowers were given to someone using the right hand, they were used to answer “yes” to a question. On the contrary, if they were given using the left hand, they meant “no.”
If someone received an arrangement of lupins, hollyhocks, white heather, or ragged robin, they were being wished good luck.
If someone received an arrangement of delphiniums, hydrangeas, oleander, basil, or birdsfoot, it was meant to deliver a more negative message, such as “You’re heartless” or “Beware.”
Giving someone hyacinths could symbolize a few things, such as play, “Forgive me,” or games.

In addition to the actual flowers, the ribbons added to the arrangement also held significance — specifically, if the ribbon was tied to the left, the flower symbolism had to do with the giver. However, if it was tied to the right, the message was about the giver.

Victorian flower meanings

In addition to the messages that floral arrangements shared, flowers had their own individual meanings during the Victorian Era too. Some examples include:

Daffodils: Known to represent chivalry and unrequited love
Daisies: Often symbolized innocence and purity
Roses: Symbolized love (as they do today)
Crocuses: Meant youth and cheerfulness
Violets: Symbolized faithfulness and modesty

Although floriography vanished around the end of World War I, and many people today prefer digital means of communication to send messages and speak with family and friends, flowers will always have meanings of their own and symbolize certain things.

3 Simple Ways to Clean Your Glass Flower Vase

What’s the first thing you do after being handed a fresh bouquet of flowers? Many of you would answer, “Put them in a vase!” Glass vases in particular are such a beautiful way to display bouquets of flowers, but after a while, we know that glass vases can get rather dirty.

how to clean glass vases with vase of lilies sitting on table

If you have glass vases at home that could use some cleaning up, here are three simple techniques that you can try.

1. Use salt and vinegar

While you may think of salt and vinegar as something you keep in your kitchen cabinets for cooking, they can also double as a cleaning product. To create a solution that can clean your vase, take ½ tablespoon of salt and add white vinegar until the mixture becomes paste-like. Once you have the right consistency, rub the paste all over the vase, especially those areas that have built up residue from dirty water. After this is done, let the paste work its magic for about 10 minutes, and then wipe it off — the result should be a sparkling clean vase!

how to clean glass vases with woman cleaning glassware

2. Use Alka Seltzer

This method is one of the best for when you have vases that are too small or uniquely shaped to fit your hand and sponge into. Simply fill the vase with hot water (seriously, make sure it’s hot) and then add either one or two Alka Seltzer tablets — they’ll take care of the rest!

3. Use baking soda and vinegar

The vinegar is back! Instead of using salt and vinegar, you can also use baking soda and vinegar to get your glass vase looking clean again. First, fill your vase with warm water. Then, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda (unless the vase is large, in which case you’ll need more) and mix in some white vinegar. When these ingredients get together, they should start to fizz, and eventually they’ll begin to work on getting rid of any residue.

We weren’t kidding when we said these techniques were simple! Although it’s a good idea to wash your vases after every use, if that doesn’t do the trick and they start to look cloudy and dirty, the above methods should take care of everything!

7 Awesome Flowers for Kids

You’ve probably heard that one of the best ways to get good at something is to start while you’re young, and gardening is no exception. What’s even better about this activity is that kids love to get messy, so if gardening is a hobby that you want them to take up, there’s a good chance they’ll love planting and digging in their early years.

Keep in mind, though, that the way you garden with children will be different than how you do it on your own: You’ll need to start them off slow and simple so that they really learn the ins and outs of it all.

With that in mind, here are seven of the best flowers to plant with kids.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a great choice for first-time gardeners because their seeds are pretty large and, thus, easier to manage. And since they do well in just about any sunny garden, maintenance isn’t too complex either. For that reason, sunflowers are also ideal if you’re looking for flowers to give to children in a vase: You’ll only need to re-cut the stems and change the water after three days, and keep them in a sunny spot.

Impatiens

Impatiens is another flower that doesn’t require much attention in order to thrive; ultimately, you really just need to give them enough water to quench their thirst and put them in a nice shady spot. These are fun flowers to plant with kids during the warmer months, and, depending on where you get them, planting can be as simple as digging a quick hole and sticking the roots in.

Roses

There’s nothing quite like a rose bush in full bloom! If your yard has the space, these flowers are great to grow with kids — just be sure to warn them about thorns as the bush grows.

In terms of care, water is huge for roses, whether they’re in the ground or a vase. If you plant them in the ground, they like rich, loose soil. Roses in a vase may need some extra water every day, so make sure to check that the level doesn’t get too low.

Tulips

A tulip‘s beautiful colors and bright shades are sure to catch your children’s eyes. Should you be looking for a flower to give your child to care for rather than to plant, tulips fit the bill nicely since maintenance is pretty basic. The flowers just need to be kept in a spot that does not receive direct sunlight or any drafts, and the water will need to be changed every 2-3 days. (You can help them with this one by cutting the stems during water changes!)

Daffodils

Daffodils should be planted in the fall, so if you’re looking for a fun family activity to do when the weather starts to get cooler, head out to your garden with some daffodil bulbs! While results won’t be instant (they’ll bloom in spring), we’re confident that both you and your kids will be amazed when the flowers start to poke through the ground. As for a location, plant them in an area of your garden that’s either totally or partly sunny.

Daisies

Daisies, and especially gerbera daisies, are another flower that’s perfect for parents and kids to plant and care for together. While seeds for gerberas will require daily watering, they don’t have to be watered too much, so they’re great for teaching children about how to be careful and precise with watering. As they start to grow, you can show them how to remove the dead blooms, which is a great learning opportunity for your children.

Carnations

Carnations are a classic, and they’re one flower that we love to see in floral arrangements. They’re easy to work with, not just for planting but also for making unique creations, such as our flower birthday cakes!

7 Unique Black Flowers and Plants for Your Garden

When you picture a garden, chances are your mind is drawn to flowers and plants that produce blooms of all sorts of bright and cheery colors – we’re thinking pinks, reds, yellows, purples, oranges, and blues. But, does that mean that there aren’t any plant and flower species out there that come in darker shades? Of course not!

With Halloween just around the corner, our minds are focused on all things orange and black, which is why today, we’re covering some black flowers and plants that you can consider for your garden! Here are some of our favorites:

Black Hollyhock

Block hollyhock plants are sure to stand out among the other blooms in your garden due to the size of their stems and their flowers’ color. The blooms on these plants are typically deep maroon – black in color, and the stems are rather tall, making them some of the first plants you’ll see in a garden of plants that don’t reach similar heights.

Phantom Petunia

Phantom petunias are absolutely stunning and are extremely unique in their design. A bicolor petunia, their velvet petals are mostly black, but a bright yellow star runs through them. These work well with other plants that love the sun and will most definitely turn the heads of people who pass by.

Petunia Sweetunia Black Satin

Though they have striking green foliage, sweetunia black satin plants are one species whose blooms are essentially all black. Thus, if you’re aiming for your garden to have more of a dark look and feel to it, this is a great option as the only part of the plant that has any color is the leaves.

Black petunia flowers closeup, Sweden in October.

Happy Days Purple

Dahlia “happy days purple” plants give you the best of both worlds – their foliage is black, but the flowers produced are bright pink. So, if you’re looking to add a little mystery to your garden but don’t want to overdo it, happy days purple would be the perfect choice since part of the plant is still bright in color.

Dark Angel Hydrangea

If you love hydrangeas, then dark angel hydrangeas are worth adding to your garden to mix things up. Similar to happy days purple the foliage of dark angel hydrangeas is black, but they produce gorgeous flowers whose colors are sure to pop!

Before the Storm Tall Bearded Iris

Irises come in a number of different colors and shades, which is why it’s not surprising that many gardeners love to plant them. In addition to brighter colors, though, did you know that there is also a purple/black variety? If you normally choose traditional irises each year, we encourage you to give these a try next time (they bloom in early summer) to see which kind you like best!

Black Coral Elephant Ear

This is one intriguing plant, that’s for sure! Elephant ear plants produce super large leaves, so when those leaves are black in color, they become even more captivating and unique! To be specific, black coral elephant ear plants can grow to be about 4 feet tall and produce leaves that are 3 feet wide or more across.

The next time you’re looking for new plants and flowers to test in your garden, we highly recommend you seek ones that are a bit darker in color – you might just find that you like them even better! And should you be seeking a particular flower that you can’t find in black, keep in mind that flowers can be painted or dyed – we focused on orchids in particular in this blog post, but you can help other flowers achieve your desired color too by adding dye to the water or by spraying flowers with the right kind of paint.

Guide to Salutations and Complimentary Closings

Ever find yourself writing an email, a thank you letter, a birthday card, or a congratulatory note and stop before you even have one word written down? Or maybe you’ve gotten through everything but feel stuck just as you’re about to end things. Depending on your relationship with the person you’re writing to, we know it can get tricky when deciding how you’ll address them at first and sign off at the end. But don’t worry – we’ve got a list of salutations and complimentary closings that you can refer to if you ever get stuck again!

salutations with a girl writing a card for her mom

Business

Regardless of whether you’re writing to your boss, a prospective employer, a client, a customer – anyone in the business world, really – you’ll want your opening and closing statement to reflect your professionalism. When you first address your recipient, consider one of the following:

Dear [Name],
Dear [Name]:
To Whom It May Concern,
Good Morning/Good Afternoon [Name],
Hi/Hello,

Then, when it’s time to finish your email or letter, choose from one of these closings:

Thank you/Thanks,
Best,
Best regards,
Warm regards,
Sincerely,

Bonus tip: When addressing someone in business, carefully consider whether you should use their first or last name – this you can determine based on your professional relationship.

Thank You

We say thank you for a lot of reasons, and one of the most important things to do in a thank you card or letter is to be sincere! We’d recommend similar opening greetings for thank you notes as we did for business communications (see above), but here are some different closings you may want to choose from:

Many thanks,
Yours truly,
With gratitude,
Kind thanks,
With thanks and appreciation,

Love and Romance

Love and romance cards, notes and letters allow you to get a bit more personal. While you may prefer to stick with the classic “dear [name]” as you address your recipient, some other openings that work well under this circumstance are:

My Beloved [Name],
To the One I Love,
Dearest [Name],
To My One and Only,
My Dear Sweet [Name],

After you’ve put together the body of your love letter, here are some sweet and romantic options for signing off:

Love always,
Always and forever,
All my love,
Xoxo,
Hugs and kisses,

Sympathy

Sympathy cards can be some of the most difficult to write in general, and considering the situation, you want to make sure that your opening and closing statements are sincere and considerate. Under these circumstances, you’ll want to stay away from casual greetings such as “hi” – instead, stick with salutations such as “dear,” “dearest,” or even begin just by addressing your recipient by name. Once you’re ready for your closing, here are a few suggestions to choose from:

With sympathy,
With prayers and sympathy
Thinking of you,
God bless,
My sincere condolences,

Congratulations

From graduations to engagements, weddings, babies, and more, anytime there’s a reason to celebrate, why not put your excitement in writing? Your greeting will have a lot to do with who you’re celebrating – for example, if it’s a loved one, you’ll likely choose a salutation from our “love and romance” section. However, if it’s a co-worker you’re writing too, you’ll want to keep things more professional and choose a salutation from our “business” section. Then, regardless of who you’re writing to, select one of these closings:

Best wishes,
Warmest congratulations,
All the best,
All life’s best to you,
Congratulations and best wishes,

Birthday

Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t forget about birthday cards! We suggest you follow the same advice here that we gave in our “congratulations” section – if you’re addressing a close friend or family member, you can get more personal, but, if you’re addressing a co-worker or someone that requires you to be more formal, stick with greetings such as “dear [name].” For your closing, we suggest one of the following:

Warmly,
Lots of love,
Best wishes,
Love,
From,

Remember, as we’ve said a few times, the most important thing to do when choosing your opening and closing is to think about your relationship with the person as well as the situation – these two factors all heavily impact the nature and tone of your communication!

Figs: Fruits or Flowers?

Chances are you know figs as being rather soft, pear-shaped fruits, that are often eaten in a dried form. These fruits are members of the mulberry family and offer a number of health benefits to those who consume them, such as:

They contain plenty of fiber, which aids in keeping digestive health in good condition.
They are filled with vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A, iron, calcium, magnesium, and folate.
They are relatively low in calories and low in fat.

Fresh figs halved on wood close up shoot

But, despite what you may have heard about figs in the past, we’re here to share something pretty shocking that you may not know – truth be told, figs are actually flowers.

Yes, you read right, technically speaking figs are not a fruit, but rather are inverted flowers. According to The Huffington Post, unlike the way apple and peach trees flower, the flowers from fig trees are actually found within the pear-shaped bloom they produce, and these flowers eventually turn into the fruit that we eat – we know, we couldn’t believe it either when we first found out!

The Pollination Process

Now here’s where it gets even more interesting. Since fig flowers do not bloom in a way that they can count on bees or wind for the purpose of spreading pollen, they need to rely on fig wasps instead. Here’s how the process works:

A female fig wasps enters a male fig – at this point, the female’s antennae and wings break off, so there is no escaping once they’re in.
New wasp eggs are laid by the female wasp, and the baby wasps are relied on to continue the life cycle (this is because the original female wasp cannot get out).
Male baby wasps mate with the female baby wasps and dig a tunnel out of the fig.
The female offspring leave the fig and take the pollen with them. This step is solely intended for female offspring since male baby wasps are not born with wings!

In the event that a fig wasp enters a female fig rather than a male fig, it will die inside since there is no room for reproduction to take place (male figs on the other hand are shaped in a way that reproduction can occur, which is why it’s so essential that female fig wasps enter male figs).

So which figs do we eat – male or female?

The answer to this question is female figs, and knowing this and the facts above, we know what you’re probably going to ask next – does that mean we’re eating fig wasps? Technically you could say yes, but figs use the enzyme ficin to turn the wasp into protein, so that should give you some peace of mind. Additionally, most commercially available figs here in the United States don’t actually require pollination, so that should make you feel better too!

Pretty interesting, isn’t it? Now that you have some newfound knowledge about figs, we encourage you to share it with your friends and family – we promise they’ll be surprised too!

How to Change the Color of Hydrangeas

Most people would agree that plants and flowers bloom in certain colors, because, well, they just do. And while this may be true for some plant and flower species, one in particular that you have some control over (and can even change) is hydrangeas. How so? It all has to do with your soil.

pH levels 101

In scientific terms, a soil’s pH level refers to the acidity or alkalinity of the soil; “pH” is the units in which this reaction is measured. PH levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 14; soils with a pH of 0 to 7 are considered more acidic, while a pH of 7 to 14 labels soil as being more alkaline.

Generally speaking, a pH of 6 to 6.5 is ideal for plants to access the nutrients they need. When pH levels are too high or too low, it makes it harder for plants to absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil. So, a soil’s chemistry plays a big role in plants’ survival.

pH levels and hydrangeas

For hydrangeas specifically, the difference in color from plant to plant has to do with how much or how little aluminum compound is found in the flowers. To take it a step further, blue hydrangeas get their color as a result of aluminum being abundant, whereas pink hydrangeas get their color from a lack of aluminum. Hydrangeas whose color is somewhere between indicates that some aluminum is present.

hydrangea color with purple blue hydrangea

Where does pH come in?

Ultimately, a soil’s pH level impacts a hydrangea’s color because it affects the amount of aluminum that is available in the soil. Aluminum is more abundant in acidic soils, so hydrangeas planted under these conditions are normally blue, and hydrangeas planted in soils that have a higher pH level tend to be pink.

Changing the color of hydrangeas

Interested in learning how you can change the color of your hydrangeas? Follow these four steps.

Step 1: Check that your hydrangeas can actually change color

hydrangea color with light blue hydrangea

Not all hydrangeas produce the same type of flower, and some varieties will only produce one color. For example, Annabelle hydrangeas will only bloom white or cream flowers. So, if you want to change the color of your hydrangeas, make sure you’re working with hydrangea macrophylla.

Step 2: Measure the pH level of your soil

You can measure the pH level of your soil using a simple soil test kit. Remember, soil with a pH level of 5.5 or lower will produce blue flowers, and soil that has a pH level of 6.5 or higher will give you pink flowers. With a pH level of between 5.5 and 6.5, you will typically see a variety of pink, blue, and even purple flowers.

Step 3: Make changes depending on your preference

If you’re happy with your pH level, great — just sit back and watch your hydrangeas bloom over time. However, if your soil has a lower pH level but you want to pink flowers instead of blue (or vice versa), there are a few ways you can go about manipulating the soil.

For example, if you want to raise the pH of your soil, start by adding some powdered Garden Lime to it; wood ash can also work too. If you want to lower the pH level of your soil and make it more acidic, add ammonium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, or a soil acidifier. Some other methods you can try to lower pH is adding oak leaves, coffee grounds, or sawdust to the soil.

Step 4: Monitor the soil

The process of changing your hydrangeas’ color won’t happen overnight, so you’ll need to continue to monitor your soil and treat it as necessary to produce the desired results.