In Lieu of
We have 5 funerals this week. People put notices in the paper about someone's death, and say, "in lieu of flowers, please donate to ..." And I have to respond, while there are many worthy causes worth supporting, it's so sad when there are no flowers at a funeral, because the flowers are supposed to be there to comfort the living. Flowers are there to uplift everyone, and remind us that life goes on. That we are all part of the circle of life. They really are a necessity not an extravagance. And besides, sometimes you just need something to focus your gaze on while the organ is playing.
The healing power of flowers is hard to explain, until you've experienced it. But I will say this- when there are floral tributes at a funeral, memorial or celebration of life, the world is a brighter place. We have done a variety of tributes this week, and each has been special and individual to the person being remembered, ranging from a deerskin in the casket piece for the hunter; and balloons with stars and light, cloudy flowers for the infant. We're honored to be included in people's lives this way, because we believe that our service helps people who are grieving.
People don't always remember who was at the funeral, but they do remember who sent flowers, food or cards, and it's something important to them. So next time one of your friends, neighbors, co-workers or acquaintances has a death in their family, be sure to acknowledge it-- with a card, a simple "I'm so sorry for your loss," or a bouquet of flowers. Not only will YOU feel better for acknowledging it, the bereaved person will be touched.
Keep blooming, everybody.
Celebrations and a New Start
Today is national Inauguration Day, as well as the start of the State Legislature. The mood is upbeat, and folks seem to be feeling a little more hopeful than we have for a while. Amazing, isn't it, the difference that can be made by just one person? Of course, President Obama cannot fix the economy, end the wars and cure everybody's asthma all by his little self-- we need to help him. Whichever side of the political aisle you're on, reach your hand across to the other side so we can once again enjoy the prosperity and abundance here.
There will be a celebratory gathering at my house tonight. And I plan on having a great big bunch of forsythia on the table- it's bright cloud of yellow, the color of sunlight, frivolity and laughter, by the way- acts as a beacon of hope.
Events have the meanings we assign to them. So If you're celebrating a new administration, or mourning the loss of the last one, treat yourself well today. No matter what happens, we are all in this together- we succeed, or fail, as one.
Keep blooming, everybody.
Love is in the Air
Yes, I'm talking about Valentine's Day. To most of you, it seems like Valentine's Day is almost a month away-- plenty of time to think about it. But in the flower world, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and some varieties of flowers are selling out fast. So I want to pass on some basic information and maybe clear up a few misconceptions.
There aren't quite enough growing days between Christmas and Valentine's Day, so growers must choose how much of their crops to grow for Christmas (with the second bloom cut coming mid to late March) and how much to grow for Valentine's Day (meaning the bench space growing Valentine's Day crop is unavailable for Christmas). Growers set the price for roses and other botanicals, based on what it costs to grow them. When the price of fuel goes up, the greenhouses that light or heat with fuel need to charge more to cover fuel costs. When growers commit an entire greenhouse to Valentine's Day product, they must raise prices to cover the lost revenue for that greenhouse during the Christmas season.
Like any other perishable, weather, supply and demand drive the price-- when everyone wants the same product at the same time, it becomes scarce. The scarcer the product, the higher the price goes. Add to this the fact that flowers are perishable -- the growers cannot grow all summer and stockpile for the winter holidays; plus, flowers are subject to laws of nature. Like when there's a freeze in Florida, the price of oranges and other citrus goes up- sometimes way up. When the product becomes readily available again, the price comes down.
If you insist on one specific variety- Freedom roses, for instance, instead of "red", expect to pay the highest price point. There are red roses available right now-- how many are Freedom, I don't know. There are, however, other varieties that are equally as lovely, and maybe more readily available in your area at this time of year.
It is better to leave your order somewhat open ended. Ask for "red" roses, or "pink" gerbera. If you have insisted on a certain variety, your florist will do what they can to give you that variety. This means, if you've asked for "Freedom" roses and the florist gets some that are 40cm, that's what you'll get. If you had asked for "red" roses, you might have gotten 60cm Charlottes or another red.
In a normal delivery day, we average 30 deliveries. During the week prior to Valentine's day, we average 100 deliveries, and Valentine's day we pump out 400+ The drivers arrive at 6AM, get loaded up, and keep coming back- we deliver until we're done. This is possible, because we take deliveries on a route-- we're not like the pizza guys who cook a pizza, deliver it-- cook a pizza, deliver it. We will give people windows of time for their delivery choice-- AM, or 1-3PM or 3:30-6PM. AM to us means, from 7 up to and including 11:59. To the people who come in and say, "it has to be delivered between 10 and 10:30" we say, "well then, you might have to do it yourself. We can manage these windows here," and show them the options. Drivers normally take 20-30 per run, depending on the size of their vehicle, so it's many drivers and many trips to get the day's deliveries out. If your Valentines day plan includes a very small window of time for flower delivery, consider asking a buddy to do the delivering for you.
Hope this information has been illuminating; and widened your perspective on the holiday of love-- which really should last all year, and be celebrated numerous times instead of just one day.
Keep blooming, everybody.
Shades of Australia
I love the forms of the primitive flowers, and right now we have some Australian natives coming in-- waxflowers and Kangaroo Paws, to name a couple. Kangaroo Paws come in many hues from yellow to red to lime green to black. Their stem is usually a red or burgundy, and they appear to have fuzz all over. As soon as I can, I'll post pics. They're considered a primitive, because it's all about sex (pollination)-- they have stamen, a pistil, and only one petal covering everything up-- no extras, like big fancy petals to attract bees or hummingbirds or butterflies. Because it's not as obvious to the pollinators what they are, Kangaroo paws and other primitives generally last a long time-- more time for pollination, you see. The advantage to us is, they last a long time!
Waxflowers have lemony smelling foliage, and small 5petal flowers in clusters. They're generally pinks, lavenders and whites, and we love them as an accent. This time of year, they're particularly lovely, because they have a light, clean scent with a fresh new flower shape to remind us there is a growing season somewhere, even if our front yards still have heaps and heaps of snow.
When we first started designing flowers, the most prevalant school of thought was, don't mix different types of flowers-- for instance, one never put tropicals with roses or bulbs. But today, we can incorporate these new forms from all around the world with what is grown in our own neighborhood, and relish the contrast of form, color and scent. It's a whole new world out there.
Keep blooming, everybody.
A Little Spring
Most of us are still in the throes of winter: here in southeast Alaska, we just got 24+ inches of snow, followed by what looks like a week of hard rain. Spirits are dropping; most of us have taken down the winter lights we put up at Christmas, so it's darker than we like.
Time for a burst of spring! The light IS returning-- and spring will come again. In the meantime, bring home some true spring flowers to help you feel better. All the bulbs are coming in now; they're greenhouse grown, so cost a little more than the field varieties available later, but worth every penny because they help us remember that winter isn't forever. Look for Tulips, Iris, Narcissus, and Hyacinthes at your florists'. Hyacinthes and Narcissus smell wonderful, Tulips come in lots of fun colors, and Iris usually have a second bud behind the first one. The branches are coming in as well-- Forsythia, Plum, Apple, Almond, and pretty soon, Cherry.
Whatever bloom strikes your fancy, bring it home. Even one stem will help you feel better. And when we all feel better, the world is a more beautiful place. If you're feeling really flush, get a few flowers for a friend or loved one, and share the joy. Keep blooming, everybody!
Bloom Where You're Planted
We're so excited after Christmas, because it means that spring is just around the corner! The forsythia, which has been in the steam room for a week or so, is about ready to be shipped to us, and the sunny yellow is always amazing! The rest of the blooming branches will follow soon-- apple, plum, cherry, and almond. We ship from California first, then Oregon & Washington, last from western Canada. This means we enjoy them for a couple of months. The exciting part is watching the blooms open. Once they open, the fruit branches generally last just a few days, the forsythia will look good for a week or more.
They're thirsty, so water daily. The stalks are heavy and woody, so use your sharpest pruner to make a fresh cut when you put them in water.
Keep blooming, everyone.
A Fresh Start
That's kind of how we view the new year, isn't it? A chance to start anew and improve our lives on a myriad of levels. Sometimes we get caught up in the "shoulds." But if a behavior or a change sticks, it's because we WANT to do it, commit to having it, take the actions required to achieve it. I don't know about you, but we're tired of the "shoulds." Here, then, is our list of improvements for 2009:
1. Take the time to really LOOK around. Notice what shapes / colors are pleasing and concentrate on those. See what I can do to improve my eye.
2. Spend time each day in nature. Some would argue that we work with nature, but it isn't the same as being out in fresh air and getting real light across your eyeballs-- plus, Nature is the perfect landscaper. If you want ideas on how to do your yard, watch Nature. Look for the botanical that catches your eye. If looking at a wide landscape, pay attention to how your gaze moves across the scene-- where does it pause? If you live in the city, notice the untended places-- even cracks in the sidewalk. There is rhythm everywhere.
3. Find something intriguing. Next time you buy flowers, choose something you wouldn't have before-- a different color palette, a different form. If you usually buy roses, which have a rounded shape, go for a spike-- like electric blue Volkenfreiden, or fucshia Liatris.
4. Do something nice for someone else. Not only can you cheer someone else up or help them out, you will feel better too. This could be as simple as choosing them a bunch of flowers when you choose for yourself.
5. It's all about how you feel. Take care of yourself first, because you can't help anyone else if you're not healthy. So do what makes you feel good today. Art isn't something that happens Friday afternoon if all the other chores are done, Art happens around us every day. Take the time to notice, and draw some of it into your life, and your whole outlook will improve.
There are many more improvements possible, but it's good to start with a manageable number, and add from there. Then you can add.
Happy New Year, everybody.