Is Cleanliness next to Godliness?
When it comes to vases, YES! If your vase isn't clean enough you wouldn't mind drinking out of it, it isn't clean enough for your flowers-- unless they're silk! How do you get your vase that clean?
First, don't let flower stems stand in water past the life of the flower head. The longer they degrade in water, the more bacteria and gunk accumulates. This just makes more work for you later. Depending on what the vase is made of and how big the opening is, many may be cleaned in your dishwasher. Inspect the vase after the run-- if you can see a white or grey film on the inside, it still isn't clean enough.
Our preferred method of cleaning is BLEACH. A generous amount of bleach and hot water up to the opening of your vase will remove a multitude of bacteria, and it only takes about 20 minutes. Then follow that up with a thorough rinse. Voila! Your vase is just like brand new. And that's healthier for any kind of flower.
Why is this important? Flowers have tiny vascular systems. When the vascular system gets clogged with bacteria, it radically impacts water uptake (the flower can't drink). When they run out of water, they die. For the life of your flowers, and your own pleasure, the cleaner the vase, the longer you can enjoy your spring favorites.
Bulbs, lilies, anemones, blooming branches-- it's a whole wide world of blooming product right now. So take a moment, make sure your vase is spotless, and then welcome spring with a bright bouquet.
Keep blooming, everybody.
A Spring Fling
The winter holidays are all over. It's a long time until Sewards Day (Celebrated in the great state of Alaska on the last monday in March, commemorating the birthday of William H Seward- the forward thinking man who convinced the rest of the US Gov't to buy Alaska from the Russians for 2 1/2 cents an acre); and that means no more bonus days off.
Help yourself feel the breath of fresh air that spring brings, by bringing home some hyacinthes, narcissus, iris or tulips. Accent them with a spring bush such as Forsythia, Andromeda, or Acacia for a lovely bouquet. Throw in some waxflowers for a lemony fresh scent, and you have a real Spring Fling going on! A stem or two of anything will help you hang on until Spring truly arrives in your corner of the world. Already in southeast Alaska the days are getting longer, the air is lighter, some days we can smell the trees. Spring IS coming-- it's just a matter of time.
Be good to yourselves, everybody, and keep blooming!
the perfect valentines day
Lots of people are put off by the commercialism of Valentines day-- the same ones who decry the commercialization of Christmas, no doubt. Here's the thing, though-- It's OK to show someone you care about them; and a lot of us do it with gifts. The bigger point, we think, is that it isn't quite so special a gift if you just go out and blindly purchase the first thing you see with hearts on it.
As with any other gift, it means a whole lot more if you put some thought into it--- and make it his or her favorite color, or scent. If you KNOW her favorite rose is orange, then send them-- don't go with red just because that's the norm. If you don't know what his favorite color is, ASK. Then tailor your gifts accordingly.
It's also OK to celebrate your love and caring all year long-- you don't need the "experts" to tell you what or when to celebrate. You can make up your own traditions to celebrate, and celebrate them how YOU want to. Do you celebrate your anniversary every month, or once a year? Do you celebrate someone's birthday month, or the day?
Our perfect valentines day looks like this: The freight comes in on time-- every flower is umblemished and usable; the staff is focused and working efficiently; deliveries are gotten out in a timely manner; every recipient is easy to find, and right where they are supposed to be; each order has all it's "parts" when it's delivered the first time around-- balloons, candy, right number of roses or other flowers.....
What does your perfect valentines day look like? Give that some thought, and make it so. If now is not a convenient time to celebrate for you and your mate, make up your own date. The important thing is to acknowledge each other, and show appreciation.
Keep blooming, everybody.
Louie Blue Eyes
Four years ago, I "retired." While I was in Hawai'i, my sister got lonely and adopted two cats from the Humane Society. Newkea lived at the shop for about a year and had a heart attack and dropped dead the busiest day of the summer. Louie arrived at the same time, and now enjoys being an only cat. He's our PE (personnel evaluator). We have found him to be a pretty good judge of character; and if he doesn't like you, you cannot be in the workroom.
We like having him around, because not only does he help us laugh every day, he's also very comforting. If you are having a bad day, pet a cat. There is something about stroking an animal while they express their appreciation by purring loudly enough to be heard across the room. He lounges on the seat we removed from the delivery van, and he'll share if you need it-- if you let him lean on you.
As you can see, he also holds down my desk, so that it doesn't go flying around the room. This requires stretching out as long as possible, covering as much surface as possible. And that is considerable on his part. He was found by Humane Society staff abandoned outside the shelter, emaciated and matted. They caught him, cleaned him up; and when he got to the cat room, he crawled into the catfood bag and didn't come out until it was empty and he weighed 20 pounds. His hair is about 4" long- -we keep it short most of the year because he gets way too warm, and lets us know by sitting in the flower cooler for long periods of time.
I like watching him when the new product comes in, and wonder what he can extrapolate by smelling everything. He'll come over and pull down greens or babybreath in front of his face, sit behind it like he's hiding under a bush; and thinks no one can see him because his face is obscured. He spends a lot of time sniffing the stems and the blooms he can reach, then he opens his teeth just a little and draws the scent over his glands at the back of his throat, then sniffs again.
We back up to the grocery store; and in winter the mice come in. Louie can hear them moving in the walls, and it drives him crazy. They know he's too portly to get under the rolling carts we use for shelving and dividers; and they can travel through our part of the building by staying under the carts or moving in the walls. Louie will come and tell us he needs help-- he catches them only by default. If you follow him, he'll lead you back to where he's been pawing at the walls, and look up with impossibly blue eyes. Can't you help me, he'll implore.
Louie is the latest in a line of feline ambassadors at the shop. He entertains us, and enriches our lives. What would our lives be like if he weren't there? I wonder.
Love, Love, Love
Ok, maybe you folks are done with your Valentines shopping; but ours is just starting to arrive-- the bulb plants come first; followed by blooming branches and foliages so they can have a good healthy drink before we prep containers this weekend; then all next week, boxes of fresh product arriving every day to be processed and cooled before going out for sale.
Red anything is always popular; and it certainly shows up well. Most of our folks prefer "spring flings," lots of mixed spring and seasonal flowers in a myriad of colors. If you get some roses, some lilies, some bulbs, you really can have the best of all worlds-- good smells, true spring, and the symbol of love.
The shop smells the best this week and next week of anytime during the year-- so if you are close by, stop in. If you're not close by, stop into your florists' this week and treat yourself to some eye candy.
Keep blooming, everybody.
Share the Love
The origins of Valentine's day are many and varied-- ranging from as many as 9 different early priests martyred by the Catholic Church for performing secret marriages and other infraction; to Christians wishing to cover up pagan fertility rites and spring celebrations. The common thread seems to us, to be love.
Everyone you care for deserves a valentine! And while you could spend unlimited amounts of money, you can also remember everyone thoughtfully on a budget. Here then, are our best suggestions for the most thoughtful bang.
1. Your primary love relationship should get the biggest "show." Sometimes it's charming to match it on a smaller scale, but ONLY for your daughters-- in their preferred color scheme, of course. Your mother, grandmother, sister should get something different from your primary love. After all, you wouldn't get them all the very same piece of jewelry, would you?
2. Show up during the workday YOURSELF with bouquet in hand and his/her favorite coffee drink. Don't interrupt others working, but do say something appreciative to your loved one. Discretion with Public Displays of Affection should be considered. This one requires advance planning if you have something specific in mind for your bouquet.
3. Plan several small surprises during the week proceding Valentine's day. These could be handwritten cards & notes tucked into places you know your loved one will find, or poetry you find meaningful. Make sure you have read the entire poem first if using someone else's work.
4. If you don't already, take care of dinner at least once the previous week-- and I don't mean go out. Plan the menu according to what you know you can prepare, including the kids. It could be as simple as sandwiches and salad, or as elaborate as you have a trusted recipe for.
5. If you don't already arrange for these things, take care of any or all:
* getting the car serviced.
* getting the kids to daycare or school.
* take out the rubbish (unless that's the kids' assigned chore)
* clean up after the cat or dog (only if that's not a chore assigned to the kids).
* the one chore or errand your loved one usually does, but you KNOW they really don't like to.
Remember, it's about showing your loved one that you pay attention, and are doing what you can to support them and your family unit. And remember, Valentine's day may only come once a year, but can be practiced on any and every day.
Keep blooming, everybody