tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346466812012-01-23T06:17:10.458-08:00Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.comBlogger921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-6600247573674317562012-01-23T06:16:00.000-08:002012-01-23T06:17:10.464-08:00

Photo by Jim Mays on Flickr. This waxy flowering mound is also known as "winter-sweet" due to its striking aroma throughout the cold winter months. Ketzel Levine describes it as "neither cloying nor overpowering, but lemonlike and spicy" and suggests it for indoor aromatic use. It only blooms in the Spring and seems highly unremarkable in its dormant state, although one must always remark

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-63334895758576207672012-01-14T13:36:00.000-08:002012-01-23T06:16:43.866-08:00

None of the trees boast stubborn, dead leaves any longer. They're all bare. Save for an accumulation of snow on the sidewalks it's begun to feel like winter at last. My afternoon run felt more like a chore than anything else, me in my three or four layers and high socks, looking all frigid and stiff as I traversed the tiny roads of Carroll Gardens (though I was not the only one, which comforted

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-67682354741870275652012-01-06T12:52:00.001-08:002012-01-06T13:18:32.423-08:00

Even though winter is (supposed to be) upon us I often find little weed-sprouts squeezed between slabs of concrete or, more comically, residing in outdoor clay pots bereft of all "preferable" blooming plants. Artemisia vulgaris, better known as mugwort, seems inescapable. It populates street corners and trash-strewn empty lots and breaks up expansive grey spaces with greens and whites. The

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-18840321761012345132011-12-28T06:43:00.000-08:002011-12-28T06:43:38.059-08:00

In the mild climates indicative of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, even throughout the winter months, several species of rhododendron flourish beyond their usual blooming period (March through May). This can be extended through July or August and can begin as soon as January, if the weather's just right: moderate temperatures and ample rainfall when coupled with slightly acidic soil. Rhododendron

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-89154673943218545002011-12-18T11:53:00.000-08:002011-12-18T11:53:42.601-08:00

I've been dreaming of roses in the snow.

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-19761575898386830162011-12-09T11:44:00.000-08:002011-12-09T11:44:19.757-08:00

As a nod to the impending (and fast-approaching) holidays it feels appropriate to offer up this brief photo montage. My first memories of poinsettia are associated with Catholic Mass and the annual Christmas church bake-sale, though I always find myself impressed with their shocking red color.

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-62609907505485815982011-11-28T05:41:00.000-08:002011-11-28T05:41:12.263-08:00

As a nod to the continuation of the holiday season I thought it pertinent to post about Holly, as I myself knew little to nothing about the plant itself nor was I familiar with its origins within the Christmas tradition. An overview: Ilex aquiforium, or European holly, originated in the south of Europe and eventually spread through that continent, making its way to Australia. Although its

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-87579819611306636992011-11-20T07:03:00.000-08:002011-11-20T07:03:59.152-08:00

Image taken by Kyle Gercer on Flickr. This is a flower I've never encountered in person but have seen put to use as a fragrance for soaps, perfumes, and candles alike. Of course, those smells are infused with that of chemical bonding and unnatural additives, an unfair representation of freesia's actual aroma. What have I been missing? Just today I saw a photograph of freesia corymbosa (pictured

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-46850171932460256732011-11-13T06:53:00.000-08:002011-11-13T06:53:39.731-08:00

Although the height of blossoming has passed for most gardens, I find that I am always nostalgic for the city's community garden-spaces. Just down a few blocks on South 2nd is a lot that, until recent weeks, remained defiantly green despite the cold and diminished sunlight. A number of hand painted signs hang loosely upon the chain-link fence, one declaring the area as always welcoming new

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-39368708159642896362011-11-07T11:31:00.000-08:002011-11-07T11:32:31.712-08:00

Today I came across this photo, which features Ai Weiwei (a controversial and of-the-moment Chinese artist and activist) standing amongst one-hundred million handmade Sunflower seeds. This is his most recent installation, which can be seen at the Tate Modern Gallery in London. The brilliance and complexity of this installation mirrors that of natural design itself; whilst reading up on Weiwei's

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-24047865797485021372011-10-30T19:58:00.000-07:002011-10-30T19:58:05.848-07:00

Photo (c) the Christian Science Monitor. Halloween weekend and the Northeast saw its first snow of the season. New York City experienced record snowfall (around eight inches), which was accompanied by formidable gusts of wind and temperatures which dropped twenty to thirty degrees overnight. Hundreds of trees succumbed to the mounting weight of the snow, slush, and ice, causing particular trouble

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-17677371341810817292011-10-10T06:51:00.000-07:002011-10-10T06:51:00.815-07:00

Photo by Ashley McCormick I've come to the conclusion that chrysanthemum represents the epitome of hardy autumn flowers. Not only are they abundant but they're multicolored and of varying sizes and shapes (button mums seem particularly worthy of adoration to me). The color variety we see utilized most often in fall flowerbeds or potted arrangements are of the yellow/red-brown/orange variety, and

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-44087991179690472052011-09-23T06:53:00.000-07:002011-09-23T06:53:42.231-07:00

I don't think I have a favorite. Just the thought of leaves turning - green fading to red, orange, pink, blue, yellow - and I am disarmed. In Ohio the maple and oak trees always put on magnificent displays, especially in the Mohican State Park skyline. Years were spent rolling in fallen leaves, thwarting my father's plans for tidying-up the yard. Why do we rake them anyhow?

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-29226529774017003132011-09-15T07:13:00.000-07:002011-09-15T07:13:21.323-07:00

There's something enchanting about a rose. Admittedly, they've never been a favorite of mine, but I cannot deny their universal beauty - a quality which seems innate in the rose, almost foretelling, predictive. It makes sense that upon my first encounter with cabbage roses I was especially taken, what with their strong perfume and thick, full heads. I'm partial to the dusty-pink variety. They

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-76052553402324358432011-09-10T10:09:00.000-07:002011-09-10T10:09:57.708-07:00

Until my freshman year of high school we lived in a house with a lovely back yard, two young dogwoods manning the stairway into the bottom tier of the property, and I'd often just sit in the middle of it all and stare at the large hydrangea bush above the stone wall my father'd built into the hillside. At times I'd shove my face into the pillowy blooms and wiggle my head around, eyes closed,

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-67320361902998826012011-09-03T13:38:00.000-07:002011-09-03T13:38:53.089-07:00

Prairie Aster, aster turbinellis, comes to life just before the beginning of fall, in September; I am particularly fond of its purplish-blue coloration and it seems to be the perfect flower for hair-pinning, the making of floral wreaths and bracelets. Some other perks: asters are relatively easy to maintain, for they require only partial sunlight and require no fussing or pruning, a testament

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-32254950999775959462011-08-26T07:32:00.000-07:002011-08-26T07:32:37.039-07:00

"Flowering Coral" taken by Arne Kuilman This species of coral showcases a beautiful "flower" that ranges in color from the golden-yellow pictured above to a deep green or almost black appearance. It originates in the Indo-Pacific and can be kept in an aquarium, if introduced under the right conditions; these plants are extremely delicate and, therefore, must be handled with a careful and steady

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-41423636188755183832011-08-19T11:33:00.000-07:002011-08-19T11:33:57.547-07:00

I have never seen the cardinal flower in person, but I am taken aback by its orangey-red hue and distinct natural design. It is a native of the Eastern North-American woodlands and proves a hardy plant, especially in persistently wet conditions. Another characteristic to the cardinal's credit: it is long-lasting and late-blooming, sometimes showing through the beginning days of September. It must

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-16521736944277070252011-08-13T08:03:00.000-07:002011-08-13T08:03:06.698-07:00

Most of our favorite summertime perennials bloom from the end of May through early-mid July, but there are some which hold off until August or even September. A few of my late-blooming favorites are phlox, asters, and mums; and if we were to include annuals, I might add morning glory, verbena, and Mexican sage. We have much to anticipate with the coming of Autumn and cooler weather, and I am

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-84370333301825279282011-08-06T12:09:00.000-07:002011-08-06T12:09:16.053-07:00

I've only encountered wax plant a few times, and I couldn't even tell you specifically when or why - but they have remained a fixture in my mind, one of my favorite flowers about which I am endlessly curious and think of when anyone mentions "fairytale flowers". Unfortunate, that I will not ever happen upon them anywhere in the city, at least not outdoors, not in nature; for they are of East

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-82768546468717962632011-07-22T08:46:00.000-07:002011-07-22T08:46:28.639-07:00

Today the weather finally broke; the storms began this morning and will most likely last partway into the afternoon. For the past week or so it has been consistently humid and blue-skyed with only partial cloud-cover, and the sparse rains got me to wondering about flowers in the summertime, which are hardy and which are best left for seasonal planting, and I immediately thought of succulents. I

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-74344385371853964682011-07-02T10:32:00.000-07:002011-07-02T10:35:28.405-07:00

This will be my 23rd Fourth-of-July. It's a particularly nostalgic holiday, for I associate with it many wonderful memories from childhood: foot-long hot-dogs, lightning bugs, Bomb Pops, games of catch, writing our names in the dark with sparklers. The older I've gotten I find myself looking forward to nothing in particular about the 4th, but the colors red, white, and blue remain an appealing

Jacqueline M.https://profiles.google.com/104618103733389887873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-28868061009693841332011-02-08T08:58:00.000-08:002011-02-08T08:58:00.458-08:00

I read something recently that seemed somewhat profound about the use of the Acanthus leaf in ornamental design. The acanthus motif is always enduring, because it is independent of circumstances. Now this statement could run you in circles for hours, but I think what is important about this statement is that if you start to pay attention to all the ornamental motifs around you, you will realize

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-74365440999641073332011-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:002011-02-04T08:58:47.313-08:00

Some become offended by the laws of supply and demand. And especially when the laws fall prey to our human emotions, but the fact remains, that everyone wants red roses on Valentine's Day, and there aren't enough to go around on 1 or 2 days in February. Prices go up a resulting $25 per dozen for these ubiquitous flowers on Valentine's Day. The smart shoppers will plan ahead and buy something

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-83584872900619145122010-09-20T11:00:00.000-07:002010-09-20T11:00:03.071-07:00

Butterflies like this perennial plant, also known as indigo weed. It grows to around 3 feet tall and fairly wide - up to 4 feet - and very shrub-like. Many folks seem to like it as a background border for growth with other plants, and it flowers in the spring. The wild and native characteristics bode this well to "wildflower" type gardens, or could even be pretty planted in a field with full

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-49605985727921767402010-09-13T10:47:00.001-07:002010-09-13T10:53:10.992-07:00

We went from hot and humid to November in about 2 days. Not exactly what we like as humans, and I'm hopeful that the lavender will be more flexible. It seems like we needed another 10 days of summer to fully flush out a decent second harvest of flowers, but now it seems like our yield will be way down...Good news is the mature plants have given us many new babies to nurture through the winter.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-28133055840559049622010-08-12T12:33:00.000-07:002010-08-12T12:40:49.998-07:00

Most of us know this as the common Milkweed. Friends to butterflies - especially the Monarchs. What we may not know is that a tea from the root was at one time used to treat respiratory ailments and kidney stones. The sap has been used to treat warts and poison ivy. And during World War II during the shortage of natural rubber, there were many unfruitful experiments with milkweed sap as a

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-15495518884412096232010-06-28T08:12:00.000-07:002010-06-28T08:12:00.336-07:00

Taking a gander around the perimeter of our property last week, I wanted to provide an update on the black raspberries. The pruning job seemed to be successful! I'm not quite sure if it was 100% successful, but the berries seem to be a plenty. These are the tastiest black raspberries I ever remember eating. We could not eat them all they have been so abundant, and neither could the birds and

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-8166963970908294952010-06-21T08:08:00.000-07:002010-06-21T08:11:47.800-07:00

Thought you all would enjoy this view of this iris in full bloom. It looked better a day before I snapped the pic, but the lighting wasn't cooperating...

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-78685938568367911212010-04-22T07:50:00.000-07:002010-04-22T07:50:00.131-07:00

Quite a while ago I mentioned that we had started a small lavender farm in New York - About 90 or so plants, that have since developed another 25 or so plants, but we have lost most of the variety of Provence - seems like due to cold weather conditions during the winter and the placement of the plants along a windy corridor of the property. The grosso and hidcote are performing beautifully, and

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-55451072997027392562010-04-17T07:45:00.000-07:002010-04-17T07:45:00.992-07:00

My property that I recently purchased also has many grape vines that have been neglected for at least 15 years. While the business of renovating a house that was also in neglect has taken priority, as I mentioned in my last post I have finally begun pruning the grape vines, which today, produce few if any berry clusters. The ones that do produce are not that tasty. So, I'm just trying to

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-58288434005747588932010-04-13T07:17:00.000-07:002010-04-13T07:41:32.337-07:00

It seems like I got to pruning my black raspberry bushes and grape vines a bit late this year as there was so much business travel, but at the same time, the weather is still quite mild so I'm hopeful that it was not too late to produce some good fruit this year. Research tells me that I should have pruned them about 2-3 weeks ago. The other thing I learned is that I should be pruning black

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-513389608570909552010-03-23T13:33:00.000-07:002010-03-23T13:43:21.604-07:00

Sorry folks - Had to take a break - a bit of flower blog burn out - but I was inspired to get back into it after decompressing from some business travel, we had such a warm week last week that a couple snakes on the warm part of the property have started stirring and the daffodils are ready to pop! Flower buds have broke on the maple trees and the lilac bushes, and my wife just did some pruning

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-72665263408436706442009-12-07T08:56:00.000-08:002009-12-07T08:56:00.418-08:00

I think many of us have begun to ignore the very traditional Christmas centerpieces. A festive and unique addition to the dinner table or a coffee table in a Christian home. Poinsettias seem to rule the roost these days. This may be due to the proliferation in grocery stores creating a higher demand, or partly because they are an inexpensive gift to bring to a Christmas party. Centerpieces

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-64886868477483348432009-12-04T08:42:00.000-08:002009-12-04T08:56:12.974-08:00

First, off, the gifts should arrive before sundown on December 11, 2009. Second, flowers can be whites, blues, silvers, and even pastels are acceptable. Try cala lilies for an appropriate flower gift on Hanukkah. Blue hydrangeas seem to be popular, but not always easy to find this time of year. A mix of lilies and iris is also a nice combination. A poinsettia is not appropriate. 2009

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-66021762593463812202009-10-28T13:07:00.000-07:002009-10-28T13:08:18.657-07:00

Here is a Flower Pics photo of the fall landscape...http://flowerspics.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-colors.html

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-56772409090790840822009-10-28T07:52:00.000-07:002009-10-28T07:58:39.210-07:00

Ahh - the blue eyed maiden - the chicory flower is a rare beauty - blooming in the morning and dying off at the end of the day. This flower is also known as "corn flower" or "coffee weed" - Of course the root is ground up and used in the traditional drink, the leaves are eaten by humans and grazed on by cows, and the French have been known to do something with the roots in the winter to produce

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-81775596516167612632009-10-23T18:11:00.000-07:002009-10-23T18:21:26.084-07:00

I have wrote about the fall foliage in the past, and I say I'll be more creative and come up with something else to write about, but the palette of intense crimson, gold, burnt sienna paired with the sights and sounds of the wild animals rustling to gather their food for winter fighting over walnuts and leaves. So far it has been mild and the roses and other flowers are still around so enjoy

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-34503735648929979272009-08-04T11:49:00.000-07:002009-08-04T11:49:00.369-07:00

Someone sent me this painter's web site, and I really thought this painting of a sunflower was energetic to say the least...http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26955858I hope you enjoy as well...

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-45804529672169578552009-07-30T11:52:00.000-07:002009-07-30T11:55:55.561-07:00

Meaning of a dozen roses:There are many meanings - floriography, especially when throwing color into the mix. I'll give you my top 10:10 - Complete declaration of love 9 - Happy Valentine's Day 8 - Thinking of you every month of the year 7 - Perfect Love 6 - Sacred Love 5 - Mystical Love 4 - Be Mine 3 - True love 2 - Uncreative and unoriginal 1 - Anything less than a dozen red roses says you're

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-63218227842025567862009-07-09T07:01:00.000-07:002009-07-09T07:09:12.746-07:00

The lavender is just beginning to bloom, but some of the warmer weather varieties are just now forming stalks and buds. Since the weather has been a bit cooler this growing season, and winter was colder, there has been a loss on the Provence variety in the garden. As the Grosso flowers and the Hidcote buds the bumble bees are humming much more than last season. There must be 4 times as many

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-47693166529259046862009-05-10T11:23:00.000-07:002009-05-10T11:23:00.246-07:00

Tulips are a perennial favorite. See my pic site for more flower pics.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-52965152471105868052009-05-05T18:29:00.000-07:002009-05-05T18:31:31.680-07:00

This information was passed along to me by a colleague. His research tells us the following about Mother's Day gifts this year:"Flowers will be the most popular gift this year: 66.8% of shoppers will present mom with a bouquet, spending a total of $1.9 billion on blooms (compared with last year's $2 billion). The most popular flower for the holiday? The lovely rose." B. Tolces

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-67247441214177905102009-04-17T06:27:00.000-07:002009-04-17T06:34:27.702-07:00

The buds have broke, the tulips peaking, and the daffodils are almost done. The garter snakes are stirring the robins nesting, and the starlings grazing...The color of spring will soon be full bore and the browns and grays of winter a memory long gone...Find yourself a cozy spot and just sit, listen and watch...quite refreshing...

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-50921072213202521812009-04-13T08:35:00.000-07:002009-04-13T08:35:00.338-07:00

Photography contained in this post is Copyright Dave Huizinga, All Rights Reserved. To contact Dave, please email him at dhuizinga1 [at] stny.rr.com

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-13058745027727425372009-03-31T07:30:00.000-07:002009-04-01T07:40:37.868-07:00

Photography contained in this post is Copyright Dave Huizinga, All Rights Reserved. To contact Dave, please email him at dhuizinga1 [at] stny.rr.com

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-3457063578503036392009-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:002009-03-24T14:40:41.307-07:00

Click on photos to enlarge...Photography contained in this post is Copyright Dave Huizinga, All Rights Reserved. To contact Dave, please email him at dhuizinga1 [at] stny.rr.com

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-42471161923148046972009-02-05T13:58:00.000-08:002009-02-05T14:59:19.421-08:00

1. Did your date arrive with tequila and flowers?2. The florist and the butcher.3. The REAL reason you never received your flowers.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-16159499935571338642009-02-05T13:51:00.000-08:002009-02-05T15:41:58.870-08:00

As we peer into the dark side, the case of the florist and the butcher will have your hairs stand up and chills run up your spine...This has got to be the the most horrific and most bizarre incident involving a florist. Allegedly, a florist and a butcher mutilated and ate their victim. I was going to link to the story, but if you must read, search for florist and butcher . It's a cross between

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-36221919797982752262009-02-03T14:25:00.000-08:002009-02-05T14:47:15.982-08:00

This florists' delivery driver just dropped off a delivery to a high rise office building and proceeded to exit the building easement moving in a forward direction when he ran into and busted the rear flashing tail light of a PARKED fire engine! The driver was ticketed by the cops already on the scene, but ironically was able to keep his job delivering flowers. The best part - the florist says,

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-82816412117130472972009-01-30T09:39:00.000-08:002009-01-30T09:46:30.490-08:00

Be careful with your flowers. There are many varieties that can cause problems for cats and dogs, but be especially careful with lilies. They pose a significant threat to cats. Guys, when sending a floral arrangement, request that it contain no lilies if your lover has a cat as all species within the plant genera Lilium are toxic to cats. And please de-thorn your roses, as their sharp, woody

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-63306411271010914742008-12-31T07:02:00.000-08:002008-12-31T07:08:42.690-08:00

While it has always been tradition to send flowers to loved ones recovering in the hospital, researchers are backing up our niceties with evidence that suggests flowers and plants in hospital rooms reduce pain symptoms, the need for pain medication, as well as keep heart rates and blood pressure lower against those in the control group without flowers and plants. Even more interesting is that

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-11682746087568771722008-12-12T12:08:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:15:17.340-08:00

I'm sorry, but those of us Seinfeld junkies know darn well that the male nude and on occasion the female nude is not a pretty sight or a suitable gift for your significant other. We all remember the Seinfeld episode where Jerry's girlfriend lost her natural beauty when she decided to buff the wood floors in Jerry's apartment. And, come on' hardly anyone wants to see the boyfriend walking around

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-24722770969439874822008-11-16T07:30:00.000-08:002008-11-16T07:39:40.537-08:00

Miller's Flowers of Racine Wisconsin just turned 100 years old. The advent of the flower shop was when Robert and Ethel Miller, moved from Milwaukee to Racine in 1908 to run a greenhouse at 1848 Asylum Ave. Today it is owned and operated by their grandchildren, who have taken time to take an attempt at re-creating the last 100 years of the shop's existence. Over the years locations have

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-67770088209877315102008-10-20T14:56:00.000-07:002008-10-20T14:59:50.677-07:00

Fall foliage is officially at its peak in many parts of the Northeast - some of the best places to see fall foliage are listed here on this flower blog:Upstate New YorkPennsylvaniaMassachusettsPlease comment on your favorite spots to view fall foliage and the wonderful colors of the leaves...

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-89013681103355032172008-10-01T08:32:00.000-07:002008-10-01T08:46:20.653-07:00

Perhaps you didn't notice a few less flowers this year, or perhaps you were distracted by the economy, but the bees are still having trouble surviving in what many call a phenomenon, while others call it a result of either climate change, and the stress of transporting bees across the country to help pollinate crops for mass production. Queen bees longevity has decreased by 25 to 30%.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-16187955593239012012008-09-06T15:12:00.001-07:002008-09-06T15:12:50.508-07:00

The weather has been just too pleasant to be inside and blog. I was harvesting some lavender today, just after a small rain overnight and realized that I had left it a little too long on the plant...Some of one of the flowers had turned brown and dried out too much for how we like to enjoy our lavender - just ready to bloom, cut in stems and in waterless vases around the house. It was still

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-74906017246012465322008-08-12T06:27:00.000-07:002008-08-12T06:32:44.420-07:00

If he did, he may be a burglar in the Raleigh area. Ladies (or gents) beware of this combination of spirits and flowers if he hasn't already impressed you with these items on your date. If he has, please report him and get him help. This person has allegedly stolen a bottle of tequila from a Raleigh area bar, and then allegedly proceeded to break into a local florist and steal a bouquet of

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-14897921473355266892008-06-25T05:28:00.000-07:002008-06-25T06:07:45.414-07:00

Offsetting your Carbon footprint may be the most environmentally friendly thing one can do. This could also be one of the most important things one could do for their family, or even their country. Setting an example from the ground up is one of the best ways to invoke change, and as small as it might be, one can also deliver flowers to loved ones and offset the carbon impact of that

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-46757753171015623372008-05-08T09:19:00.000-07:002008-05-19T14:37:47.469-07:00

Spring's buds of flowers...A fully bloomed daffodil is quite a sight! The following is a link to flowers pics by me, Pinky. Have fun, it's new so check back often or subscribe to the various blog update services.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-47352416456479359432008-04-23T11:47:00.000-07:002008-04-23T11:56:08.377-07:00

Today is the official day for Administrative Professional's Day, and quite often these seasoned pros do receive flowers and plants from their high powered executives. There is usually a week of activities and gift giving as well as other sentiments of appreciation. Flowers and plants are probably the smartest gift to give to the administrative professional for 1 reason: greater productivity.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-3149301644332876222008-03-05T13:01:00.000-08:002008-03-05T13:20:45.390-08:00

I do not want this to become a flower blog full of doomsday posts, and this is probably the 2nd or 3rd post out of many that seems to highlight of potentially harmful changes to come, but it seems that there are many areas of the world that are seeing the timing of seasonal changes starting to vary, as well as the warming and cooling seasons vary. One example is that in some areas of New York

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-85864184374974965232008-02-06T05:31:00.001-08:002008-02-06T05:39:26.258-08:00

Once again, it is time to start thinking about your flowers for your sweety. You'll be on your way to a pressure free evening if you can get the flowers delivered to your sweety's workplace. Otherwise, you'll really have to work hard to make her forget that you did not send flowers to her workplace. And, that will take more than just a nice dinner. May I throw out some suggestions? How about

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-19513200054253618792007-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:002007-11-12T09:39:53.346-08:00

According to the California Cut Flower Commission, during fall time, flowers are sent most during Thanksgiving, followed up by Sweetest Day. The voting is still ongoing so for the latest results, please see: http://www.ccfc.org/Something interesting to note about Sweetest Day is that it was started in the midwest, and seems to be forgotten in other areas of the country. This is interesting as

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-35540665511972771852007-09-13T17:55:00.000-07:002007-09-13T18:04:36.836-07:00

I've been blessed with finding new sites that just radiate - in words - or in this particular case in art - flowers. This blog is all about flower drawings and seems to be from one artist who enjoys using watercolors in her pieces of art. The latest is an unidentifiable blue flower that looks as though it might be a rendition of hydrangeas, but you'll also find tulips in a dancing pitcher,

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-53448289676063008702007-08-31T08:55:00.000-07:002007-08-31T09:15:04.474-07:00

Plants and their integration into one of our favorite beverages - root beer - is one of those recipes that has evolved over the years. Original root beers were a bit different than today's versions. Most of today's versions predominate with wintergreen, and some vanilla. Centuries ago they may have contained ginger, licorice, juniper berries, and usually predominated with Sassafras and

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-89707171458577447632007-08-06T15:59:00.000-07:002007-08-06T16:05:01.633-07:00

I stumbled upon a new, and somewhat technical flower blog the other day. It offers insight into origins, history, and the use of flowers in modern times. One recent post goes so far as to reference the scientific name of the lisianthus used in the anime video game “Shuffle!”. As time goes on, this blog should turn out to be a very well rounded resource for those looking for more of this type

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-85819889835942575722007-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:002007-07-06T19:46:21.800-07:00

This is the tree that we can thank for quinine, which most importantly was used to ward off malaria or cure those who had it. Today, it is thought to improve circulation and aid in digestion, and still used in hospitals today to help with circulation. The quinine is extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree, and usually harvested at ten year intervals. It is also used in tonic water, which

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-40277897228779189352007-06-28T07:27:00.000-07:002007-06-28T07:44:00.824-07:00

I’ve recently been intrigued by milkweed also known as Asclepias. While it grows as its name as a weed implies, as I’ve watched it go through its stages of growth, I see that it is a very utilitarian plant to the environment around it. Most namely, bees and butterflies relish in this plant as a food and shelter source. The white pinkish flowers that bud on this “weed”, are in small bunches and

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-88502374408277825282007-06-07T03:14:00.000-07:002007-06-07T03:26:40.364-07:00

The weather is nice, and that means it's time to spend time outdoors in the garden or on the trails, or in the parks. Finding and eating edible flowers can be one of the many enjoyable outdoor activities. Commonly known edibles are roses, daisies, and violas. For safety from pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals, one should ensure that the petals are free from other human

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-11636567585302734432007-05-03T14:26:00.000-07:002007-05-03T11:26:30.243-07:00

Let's face it, a wedding without flowers is like a beach without sand. However, this is usually one of the final decisions and probably the most skimped on components of the big day. Trying to squeeze another 500 or 1000 bucks out of the budget becomes more of a struggle of principle than being another drop in the bucket. Perhaps it should be this way. You only get to enjoy the flowers for a

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-42185890929587846312007-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:002007-04-26T12:17:20.231-07:00

Lately, I've been on a fennel kick with cooking, and I find it most enjoyable with salmon. The mellow licorice flavor is a delightful balance to the sweet richness in salmon. The local grocer does not always have a trustworthy supply of it, so when they have it, I jump on it. The flowers of fennel, which you won't see at the grocery store, are a sort of canary yellow with a hint of green. The

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-36860283654618442942007-04-03T17:42:00.000-07:002007-04-03T17:45:38.656-07:00

I just discovered this blog directory that contains many other home and garden related blogs that may be of interest to you. This Blog Directory also has a plethora of other categories which you could spend the next 5 years perusing. Happy Blogging Folks!

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-13110442603754440952007-04-02T17:32:00.000-07:002007-04-02T17:40:43.676-07:00

Well, we've done loused it up again. Yes, that's right folks. Our unnatural manipulation of pollination - trucking colonies of bees around the country, or countries is starting to see a very natural result: disease. Disease in bees and disease in flowers and crops. This just disgusts me. We are smarter than this, and now we've got to figure out a solution to another problem we created.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1170798463041155472007-02-06T13:44:00.000-08:002007-02-06T13:47:43.050-08:00

I stumbled upon a flower topic with many unanswered questions that deserves its own blog. Time after time, someone asks me these questions, and I find it tedious to repeat myself so without further adieu I welcome you to find out how to send flowers.

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1170722329801482542007-02-05T16:34:00.000-08:002007-02-05T16:53:12.106-08:00

I stumbled upon this creative Valentine's Day gift idea and just had to let you know about it. This Bluegrass artist has come up with a way to take used guitar strings and make a lovely flower bouquet. I would call it more of a flower sculpture , but art is in the eye of the beholder, right?

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1170178449751792352007-01-30T09:14:00.000-08:002007-01-30T09:39:11.280-08:00

Since it's just around the corner, the cliche of red roses for Valentine's Day doesn't seem to be going anywhere. As a matter of fact, even though most women take it for granted, they'll also notice it if they don't receive them. Delivering roses at the workplace seems to be the most prevalent method, but more and more people are sending roses to the restaurant of the evening for a nice

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1169312811099011432007-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:002007-01-23T07:36:28.130-08:00

This year as many of us have had to deal with crop damage, plant and tree damage, mother nature reminds us of who is in charge. While unfortunate, it is quite amazing how 3/4 of an inch of ice accumulation on a tree or plant can injure it for the coming blooming and/or fruiting season. The branches and vines become brittle and do their best to hold to the trunk, but quite often a strong wind

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1168395038633939292007-01-09T17:54:00.000-08:002007-01-09T18:10:38.643-08:00

Your flowers and garden don't need an expensive spray, or toxic concoction. What they need is a guard dog, or at least some of the neighbors dog's droppings and/or shedding fur. Yep. That'll keep the deer away from your buds, fruit and other edibles. I've tried it multiple times and it works. The problem is that we are encroaching on what used to be the deer's land with our growth into the

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1168291311941894072007-01-08T13:09:00.000-08:002007-01-08T13:21:51.953-08:00

There has been some limited interest in my blog here, and I just wanted to post some more information here on this blog. I'm not a flower expert. I love flowers and plants. Flowers and plants are exponentially complex living things that provide us with medicine, beauty, knowledge, pleasure, sight, sound, taste and touch. It's that simple and that complex all at once. Yes, I know that Rosemary

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1167999702939076292007-01-05T03:58:00.000-08:002007-01-05T06:34:26.883-08:00

Without a greenhouse, I find that winter is high time for planning spring gardening. I'll be planting a new garden this spring and visions of perrenials dance in my head, from rosemary to thyme, and of course lavender. All of my research tells me that sowing seeds of lavender will most likely result in an ununiform look. Propagating from cuttings seems to be the best way, but I have a feeling

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1165586982877468652006-12-08T06:03:00.000-08:002007-01-05T06:32:59.343-08:00

Toxicologists at the ASPCA have concluded that poinsettias will cause upset stomach and gastrointestinal irritation, but it is not the deadly poison that seemed to have reached urban myth status. Says the APCC’s Dana B. Farbman, CVT, “In reality, ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation in pets, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.” So

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1165018049936895122006-12-01T15:59:00.000-08:002006-12-01T16:07:29.946-08:00

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts this year, poinsettias can last and reflower for years with proper care. With improper care, poinsettias will not last very long at all. I went into a big box retailer recently, and noticed the poinsettia selection. They had very nice looking poinsettias for about 15 bucks, and then they had some ready for the grave at a discounted price. You'll see

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1162942199337054212006-11-07T14:41:00.000-08:002006-11-07T15:29:59.353-08:00

This was the flag of 34 stars made in 1861. It featured a great star pattern of a flower petal. It featured the traditional 13 red and white stripes and the blue background for the stars. The petal-like curves of the star were graceful and poetic. This flag was believed to be inspired by those who called this country "Beautiful as a flower..."

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1162571688440508642006-11-03T08:22:00.000-08:002006-11-03T08:36:42.950-08:00

Seeing as November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it prudent to remind ourselves that there is much to be done, and you can send flowers in support of this cause and many others. You can send flowers from the Lung Cancer Alliance's flower shop. 12% of each sale goes straight to the LCA. You can also make monetary donations from the checkout page. The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1162238523169723812006-10-30T11:45:00.000-08:002006-10-30T12:02:03.176-08:00

Jumping on the Organic bandwagon, I noticed that there are now plenty of places to find organic foods, make up, shampoos and lotions. Sending organic flowers to someone, is a bit more difficult. If you want same day, forget it! It's obvious why the proliferation of organic cut stems have lagged in other consumer oriented products and gifts - we don't eat them or rub them over our body -

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1161632954100608852006-10-23T12:39:00.000-07:002006-10-23T12:49:14.106-07:00

We changed up the spray recipe a bit by adding some essential oil of citronella plant. We also started spraying the carpets and furniture. I was concerned about spraying a vintage victorian style couch with light floral pattern, but there doesn't seem to be any spots from the spray. This along with daily vacuuming (carpets and furniture), and combing (the pets) has abated the flea problem. As

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1160684431474665142006-10-12T12:58:00.000-07:002006-10-12T13:22:00.590-07:00

We had been using a mixture of the essential oils of lemongrass and eucalyptus along with water in a spray bottle. The proportions are 5 drops of eucalyptus and 4 drops of lemongrass in approximately 4-5 cups of water. It had been working very well on our dog, but we had some problems with our spray bottle and went about 2 weeks without regular applications. On the last visit to the vet, we

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1160413664554461762006-10-09T10:02:00.000-07:002006-10-09T10:07:44.563-07:00

The fall foliage is peaking now. Get outside and enjoy the the vibrant colors, the musty aromas, and the crispy sound of the leaves. The best vantage points are where you will be able to see across a panorama of fields and forests at or near the tops of tree lines. From a distance it is like a bursting bouquet of crimson, yellow, orange and peach flowers. For some great images check out NYS

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1159300647930484882006-09-26T12:49:00.000-07:002006-09-26T13:06:39.946-07:00

With Christmas season coming, it would be appropriate to remind ourselves that with proper care our poinsettias will last all year and will reflower. They must be pruned to promote new growth and it is picky on light and temperature, but not overly burdensome to maintain their requirements. Poinsettias can be repotted and then sunk in the ground outdoors in late spring or early summer. Shade is

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1158683242582388752006-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:002006-09-19T09:27:22.590-07:00

My friend ordered flowers for his girlfriend's mother through one of the big nationwide shops. The local florist seemingly messed up and didn't deliver the arrangement. So he called to fix the problem and their remedy was to deliver the arrangement 3 days late and a credit of 15 bucks towards his next order with them. I can appreciate that they would like to ensure a future customer, but does

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34646681.post-1158626567721634782006-09-18T17:16:00.000-07:002006-09-18T17:42:47.726-07:00

I made some lavender lemonade a little while ago; actually a few batches over a couple week span. It is a tasty way to liven up the old summer standby. I'm still working on perfecting the recipe, which I'll post when it is ready. I've read it also has some medicinal properties to it, but make sure to use the culinary lavender, preferably organic. There are a few good sources for it. This

Pinky Lavendulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05826317139528471925noreply@blogger.com0