Top 5 Questions To Ask Your Potential Florist

 These questions will help you when choosing a florist for your wedding, price isn’t everything – knowledge is!

1. When do you get the flowers for the wedding?

Most flowers arrive at the beginning of the week of your wedding. Some flowers even arrive the week before. This won’t mean your flowers are “old” it means that they will be fully open and at their most perfect. Some flowers can take up to 7 days to fully open (lilies in particular) so you don’t your florist to be getting the flowers 2 days before the wedding, as they might not open in time. As well, if flowers that were ordered come in totally damaged or otherwise unusable, the extra time gives the florist a chance to reorder that flower or find a suitable substitution.

2. When do you create the bouquets?

It seems like the right answer would be as close to the wedding ceremony as possible, but this is not correct. Flowers can bruise and these bruises, just like on you or I, develop over time. This bruising can be caused in shipping or while creating the bouquets or other floral pieces. Be creating the bouquets a day or so before the wedding the florist can monitor any bruising and take care of any potential problems. When made at the last minute (night before or morning of) sometimes the bruising starts showing up just as you are posing for your first pictures. Not good.

3. What happens if my flowers become unavailable?

Flowers are a product of nature and nature can sometimes wreck havoc. When booking your flowers try to stick with flowers readily available and in season. If your flower comes in damaged or quite frankly doesn’t come in at all – Don’t Panic! Your florist should have a number of different suppliers that they deal with and more than likely will be able to get in your flower from somewhere else.  But if your flower is not available anywhere, they should be able to recommend a substitution that will still give you the same overall feel.  So yes, while your Grandmother carried Lily if the Valley in her bouquet and you wanted to as well, but now the flowers didn’t come. Ask yourself, will it ruin your wedding not to have it in your bouquet –  the answer is No. Instead, to honour your Grandmother, why not have a picture setup at the church or incorporate her image in a small cameo that is placed in your bouquet. A creative florist will always be able to come up with something.

4. Do you treat the flowers with anything?

Another big reason flowers don’t last is that they start drying out – not from the stem but from the bloom! Verify that you florist will spray your flowers and completed bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages with an anti-desiccant spray. This is a fancy word for a product that puts an invisible coating on the flowers that helps to prevent them from losing moisture by evaporation. The sprays go by names such as Crowning Glory, Finishing Touch and Hawaiian Mist.

5. Are the bouquets sent out in water?

You want your flowers to last as long as possible on your big day, so how your flowers come to you matters. If you are getting hand-tied bouquets, ensure they are sent out in vases of water.  Flowers start drinking as soon as you cut their stems, so they need to be in water to ensure that the cells of the flower stem are kept open. If they are not sent out in water the flowers continue to try and get water up the stem and instead end up sucking up air molecules. These molecules block the flower stem and long story short the flowers gets unhappy fast. If your bouquet is created in a hold of some kind, it has a built in water source, so you do not need to worry about it coming out in a vase of water.

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy - Whimsical Palette

Fun-loving, free-spirited, playful feelings are conveyed by the whimsical palette, which is characterized by bold, contrasting colors. Floral arrangements featuring these hues set an upbeat tone and are ideal for birthdays, graduations, promotions and other celebrations.

Flowers Featured: Professional florists call this casual garden style arrangement "vegetative" for duplicating nature as flowers would grow in a garden. Fuchsia stock, royal blue delphinium, yellow-orange spray roses, pink tulips, Italian ruscus and yellow-orange bell-like sarasonia ring out over golden-yellow mini gerberas, lime-green pompons and hot pink mini carnations.

Below are a few flower recommendations for each of the Whimsical palette colors. 

	Bupleurum Kermit Pompons Viburnum
	Tulip Rose or Spray Rose Stock
	Gerbera Daisy Ranunculus Alstroemeria
	Iris Delphinium Larkspur
	Campanula Queen Anne's Lace Lily Source: www.aboutflowers.com   Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy - Tranquil Palette

Serenity and relaxation are the essence of this color scheme. Its peaceful palette, reminiscent of sky and sea, is dominated by clear, light shades of green, misty blues and other cool hues. A vase of tranquility is perfect for busy moms, harried professionals and those who seek a moment of calm from life’s stressful situations.

Flowers Featured: An airy, asymmetrical design of lavender lisianthus, lavender larkspur, light blue delphinium, light blue hydrangea, eryngium thistle, seeded eucalyptus accented by dusty miller foliage is loosely grounded in river rocks resting in a glass cube. The water, visible through the vase, adds to the tranquil feeling.

Below are a few flower recommendations for each of the Tranquil palette colors.

	Seeded Eucalyptus Spiral Eucalyptus Dusty Miller (foliage)
	Hydrangea Delphinium Eryngium Thistle
	Lisianthus Larkspur Freesia
	Tulip Carnation Rose
	Silver Brunia Pussy Willow Caspia Source: www.aboutflowers.com   Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy - Sensuous Palette

The rich, luxurious color combinations of the sensuous palette set the mood for sophisticated, passionate and even seductive settings. Robust reds and purples, hot pinks and spicy oranges are at the soul of this dynamic floral feeling. Consider a sensuous arrangement for a very special evening or an elegant dinner party – anywhere you want to feel magnetic and extravagant.

Flowers Featured: This "pavé" arrangement fully blankets the top of a sleek black ceramic bowl. Orbiting lily grass frames rich maroon ranunculus, orange spray roses, two-toned reddish-orange and coral-apricot roses, burnt orange Asiatic lilies, hypericum berries, magenta phlox and variegated pittosporum.

Below are a few flower recommendations for each of the Sensuous palette colors.

	Carnation Alstroemeria Hypericum (berries)
	Anemone Phlox Liatris
	Asiatic Lily Rose or Spray Rose Ranunculus
	Hydrangea Gladiolus Bells of Ireland
	Tulip Lily Gerbera Daisy Source: www.aboutflowers.com  Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy - Romantic Palette

A sensation of intimacy, nostalgia and comfort is captured in this color palette, a blend of delicate warm and cool colors with lavenders and pinks at its heart. Romantic arrangements express loving sentiments and admiration to mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, best friends, significant others and brides-to-be.

Flowers Featured: An iridescent ceramic rose-colored container holds a radial cluster of deep lavender roses, pale pink roses, champagne spray roses, grape hyacinth muscari, pale pink bouvardia, blush tulips, lavender stock and lilacs, accented by asparagus plumosa. Professional florists refer to this opulent and compact design style as "Mille Fleurs" or a thousand flowers.

Below are a few flower recommendations for each of the Romantic palette colors.

	Lilac Lisianthus Sweetpea
	Bouvardia Peony Asiatic Lily
	Rose Stock Gerbera Daisy
	Eucalyptus Hydrangea Melaleuca (foliage)
	Mini Calla Heather Alstroemeria Source: www.aboutflowers.com   Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy: Nurturing Palette

A true sense of caring is created by a combination of colors that are fragile, soft and tender. Arrangements in pastel shades and the softest yellows, peaches, warm pinks, creamy whites and subtle greens make us feel safe, snug and loved. Consider a nurturing floral arrangement for a new mother, a sick friend or a grieving loved one – anyone who would benefit from a caring, loving embrace.

Flowers Featured: A string of smilax cradles apricot roses, creamy yellow tulips, pale green carnations, chartreuse viburnum, soft yellow freesia, lavender waxflower and heather. This garden-style arrangement rests in a white-wash willow basket. The casual grouping of flowers duplicates nature similar to how flowers grow together.

Below are a few flower recommendations for each of the Nurturing palette colors.

	Viburnum Carnation Smilax or Variegated Ivy (foliage)
	Tulip Rose Freesia
	Heather Waxflower Aster
	Snapdragon Stock Freesia
	Rose Stock Carnation Source: www.aboutflowers.com   Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Flower Therapy: Convey Any Feeling with Colors

Nurturing	Romantic
Sensuous	Tranquil
Whimsical

The power of color is well established. Throughout time, nature’s spectrum has played a vital role in areas that significantly impact our everyday lives, from the color of our walls, to our clothes, to our cars – and, even more meaningfully, our emotional responses. In this realm, color may be more essential to our consciousness than we realize.

International color expert Leatrice Eiseman, who has earned international acclaim for her five book titles, including Colors for Your Every Mood and The Color Answer Book, has unearthed the philosophy of Flower Therapy. Eiseman believes that certain color combinations – easily expressed in floral arrangements - can stimulate and relax the senses, release happy memories and enhance our moods.

“Our response to color is intensely emotional, and flowers can be a catalyst for feelings that stimulate more than just our senses of sight and smell,” said Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “An artful floral arrangement has the ability to convey a feeling or create a mood without using words, just color.”

Additionally, scientific research shows that flowers and plants have a beneficial impact on state of mind and emotions. Rutgers University behavioral studies have proven that flowers provide a simple way to improve emotional health – that the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.

Throughout our hectic, fast-paced lives, we seek to rejuvenate ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. According to Eiseman, flowers, in conjunction with their design and color schemes, create feelings that enhance our moods.

“Color can help us find the balance we seek from our surroundings. And, flowers are an ideal way to harness the power of color to enrich our lives,” said Eiseman.

The following are Eiseman's five emotional color palettes that are expressed through color combinations in floral arrangements and the flowers that bring them to life. Click the images to get a larger, printable copy, including a list of flowers featured.

“There is no doubt that beautiful surroundings provide us with a special environment that helps us thrive,” said Eiseman. “Flowers are an easy and affordable way to add a splash of color and emotion into your life.”

Your Florist =Your Flower Therapist

To achieve Flower Therapy, it can take just one phone call to your florist, a profession that for over a century has designed arrangements that make moments special. A good florist will ask questions about what atmosphere or mood you are trying to create and will provide expert advice on gifts that enhance any sentiment or occasion.

Source: www.aboutflowers.com

Guys Guide To Giving Flower

What’s the best way for a man to make a lasting impression on a woman? Recent consumer research shows that the answer to making a memorable impact is right under his nose– through flowers. In fact, the study shows that 92% of women can remember the last time they received flowers, and 89% say receiving flowers makes them feel special.

Giving great floral gifts, however, still remains a mystery to most men. To help them out, author and TV host Rebecca Cole provides guidance on giving females flowers.

“If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then the pathway to a woman’s heart is through her other senses,” said Cole, author of Flower Power and co-host of Discovery Channel’s Surprise By Design.

“Flowers are a sensual gift that can express any emotion so simply – with just a little knowledge and a phone call to the florist.”

Cole begins by offering advice to guys on how to send just the right message to the woman in his life – a new girlfriend, that special someone, Mom or a good friend.

• The New Thing. This emotion may be the most difficult for a man to express, so Cole provides style advice for the guy who wants to show his new romantic interest exactly how he feels. “A passionate arrangement is filled with hot pinks, oranges, reds and golds. Add a thoughtful card to help communicate just the right sentiment,” says Cole.
  
  
• The Real Deal. Flowers are intimately – and internationally – linked with the art of romance, and for good reason says Cole. “As relationships grow, flowers become symbols of different events and milestones in our lives together. Take note of her favorite flowers – the varieties at your wedding, flowers you sent her when you first started dating or the ones she buys for herself. Those will have great meaning and impact.”
  
  
• Leading Ladies. “No woman – especially moms, grandmas and sisters – should live without a little TLC,” says Cole. A fabulous flowering plant or a garden-style arrangement with greens and soft pastel hues – no matter what the flower – will send the message that you care.
  
  
• The Gal Pal. “Flowers that show you’re thinking of someone, but not in a sensual way, have a natural, just-picked feeling,” says Cole. She advises to ask for a selection of garden-style flowers or a bright bold color palette that is fun and whimsical. A basket with a mix of flowering and green plants delivered to her door or office is also a sure fire winner.

Research shows that 96% of women like to receive flowers when they’re not expecting them. “Guys should know that they don’t have to wait for a special occasion to give flowers,” Cole says. “Make an occasion by sending flowers to the woman in your life, just because. They’ll never forget it.”

Cole offers advice for men willing to try something trendy. She suggests these three top design styles that men can ask for with confidence:

• Monobotanic. Arrangements featuring only one type of flower (such as all roses, tulips, lilies or iris) are in style and may even include different colors of the same flower in the vase or container.
  
  
• Monochromatic. Pick a color, any color and stick with it! If her favorite color is pink, for example, ask your florist for a fresh bouquet of different flowers in the same color range.
  
  
• Bunches of Texture. Ask your florist to select complementary flowers of various textures to place in bunches in an elegant glass container. This unique look has a bold, contemporary feel and will surely provide the “wow” factor.

A Guy’s Checklist of Things to Remember

• Be Spontaneous. You don't have to wait for a special occasion to give flowers. In fact, most women say “no reason” is the best reason to get flowers.
  
  
• Size Doesn’t Matter. Trust your florist to help you send an arrangement that is appropriate for the occasion. Bouquets both big and small can make a bold statement. It’s the sentiment that makes the impact.
  
  
• Score Big Points. Surprise her by sending a bouquet to her office, and see how much attention you’ll get because of the attention she got.
  
  
• Relax. Flowers don't have to mean commitment. Women know when an arrangement simply means that you care.

“The most important thing to remember is that you simply cannot go wrong with flowers,” said Cole. “Your florist is there to help, but you’ll get all the credit.”

Source: www.aboutflowers.com

  Blog recreated by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Sending Flowers To A Man

Men love to get flowers for the same reason they send them - to be recognized. Everyone likes to feel special.

A good indicator of when it might be appropriate to send flowers would be to consider his favorite occasions for sending them. Does he send flowers for birthdays, or perhaps as a thank you? Don't forget that no reason is often the best reason!

Just as women love receiving flowers for no reason at all, a surprise floral gift will surely catch his attention too.

The Best Designs and Colors for Men

• Men are stimulated by color and are visually oriented. Research shows that men prefer vivid colors such as yellow, orange and red.
  
• Flower arrangements that are contemporary, linear styles or natural styles are best. Other favorites might include green or flowering plants.
  
• Tell your florist that you want flowers for a man and ask for specific suggestions. If your recipient has a hobby, perhaps you could highlight that. For example, if he is a golfer, tuck in a box of golf balls. If he is into cars, add an auto magazine or two. Your florist can offer creative suggestions for flowers that are sure to please.

Source: www.aboutflowers.com  

 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com. 

Flower Ordering Advice - What to Tell Your Florist

Florists are experts in many areas but they can’t read minds. So if you have specific flower or color preferences, be sure to communicate that to your florist. And don't worry if you are not familiar with the names of the thousands of flowers available. By following these simple tips you can order flowers from a florist with confidence:

• When ordering floral gifts, describe the recipient's personality type, as well as his/her favorite hobbies or colors if you know them. Your florist can match the floral arrangement with the recipient's personality.
• Tell your florist if the gift is for a special occasion (birthday, anniversary or other personal milestone). He or she can offer suggestions on how to best celebrate with flowers.
• If the flowers are for decorating or entertaining, describe the environment where the arrangement will be placed so your florist can create an arrangement that complements the style and colors of your home.
• Consider bringing in your own vase or container for an added personal touch. Ask your florist for specific colors or color themes.
• Let your florist know if you prefer a mixed flower arrangement or an arrangement made up of just one type of flower.
• Provide your florist with the necessary basic information - the name, full address and phone number of the recipient, the delivery date, your card message and payment information.

Whether sending flowers across the country or around the corner, your florist provides the expertise, convenience and service today's on-the-go consumers are looking for.

Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Source: www.aboutflowers.com

Garden Roses

Garden roses are really on trend right now for wedding and event work. They are fabulous and have only recently become available in Calgary. With their massive size, soft romantic look and fragrance you can see why they are so popular. They come in a fairly wide range of colors and have a fragrance that has sadly been lacking from the standard rose. While stunning to look at these are not a long lasting flower, average vase life is 3 - 5 days and they are decidedly more pricey than your average rose. This price though is reflective of the care taken from growing, harvesting, selecting right through to processing. Watch the videos below to see how the great people at Alexandra Farms - where we get these beautiful roses - take pride in their flowers and to see how much these spectacular roses open.

Alexandra Farms Harvesting Roses Video

Alexandra Farms Open Rose Video

The Final Piece In Our Series On Color - White

White, which technically is the absence of color is a very important part of the color spectrum. I always feel a bit of white in a flower arrangement is like a dash of salt in food - it just brightens everything up. White is THE most popular color for wedding flowers and for good reason. The sheer number of flowers that are available in white is amazing and the fact that is can go with pretty much any other color is the icing on the cake.The choice of flower ranges for the whimsical Daisy to the exotic Orchid with everything in between.  Some of the flowers are seasonal, which I feel adds to their allure. In the Spring we have; Tulips, Hyacinth and Iris. Summer brings with it; Larkspur, Queen Annes Lace and Astilbe. While the Fall showcases; Amaryllis and Kale. All the remaining flowers are available throughout most of the year.

 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com. 

Seventh In Our Series On Color - Yellow

Yellow, So bright and vibrant. It adds a punch of color to anything it is paired with.   Yellow is classically paired with deep reds and burnt oranges for a rich warm fall look. But don't just think of yellow in these terms; yellow with lime green and bright orange combines for a bright citrus look or yellow with hot pink for a trendy modern look. As for the availability there are some seasonal varieties. The Spring features; Tulips, Daffodils and Iris. Summer sees Gladiolas and Celosia, while the Fall brings us the fun Craspedia. Anyway you look at it yellow is a great color to add real vibrancy to your wedding flowers.

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Sixth In Our Series On Color - Orange

Fiery. Spicy. Vibrant. Playful. All describe our color - Orange.  Don't think of Orange as a color only to be used in a fall colored wedding, it's vibrant hue looks stunning and fresh when paired with hot pink or lime green.But don't forget the softer side; consider the peach shades. They add a softness and vintage feel like no other flower can. Most Orange flowers are available all year long with the exceptions being the following: Early and Late Spring showcase Ornitigalum and Tulips, while the Summer and Early Fall features, Knifofia, Gladiola, MontBretia, Centurea, Celosia and Dahlia.  Consider utilizing the more tropical looking flowers; like the Bird of Paradise, Knifofia, Pin Cushion Protea and Banksia. They are a great way of adding brilliant vibrancy and unique texture as well.

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Fifth In Our Series On Color - Red

Last time I discussed reds color "cousin" pink and now we are branching into the deeper richer shades. Red flowers bring to mind fiery passion and smoldering looks - the perfect sentiments for a wedding. Red roses are a wedding classic for a reason, they are a hardy and vibrant way to add a punch of color to your wedding. One thing to keep in mind if you dream of carrying a simple bouquet of just red roses - use 2 or 3 varieties of roses. This will give a bit more depth and interest to the bouquet; just make sure they are all in the same red color family - all blue reds or all orange reds. What do I mean by this you ask, I thought red was just red, check out the pictures below and you can see there is a dramatic difference in the shading.

So make sure to keep in the same color shade, this way the flowers will not clash with each other.

While the choices for red flowers is slightly less than pink we now get to see some of the funky and different flowers that are out there. Such as exotic orchids, fun berries, funky tropical flowers and unique foliage. Once again some red flowers are seasonal. Spring showcases Tulips, Peonies and Anemones. While Summer brings in Gladiola, Celosia and Sweet William. Late Summer and Early Fall features  - Dahlia, Amaranthus and Smokebush, with the Winter Amaryllis rounding out the list.  Black and White weddings featuring Red as the accent color are on the rise and the look really lends it self to a luxurious lounge/nightclub vibe.

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Fourth In Our Series On Color - Pink

I would never have considered myself as a pink person, I typically lean towards warm earth colors, but there is just something about a delicate soft pink flower or a bold in your face fuchsia bloom that makes me smile. It is the second most popular wedding flower color after white due to its' incredibly wide range of flower choices and bloom color. Now while there may be more pink flowers than the ones shown here, these are the one I have found to be most reliable and hardy.  One of the flowers that offers the broadest range of pink shades is the Gerbera, I show here a hot pink and a light pink, but they come in dark rich pomegranate pinks to the palest blush pinks and everything in between. The choice is incredible.  As for the other flowers some are seasonal. In the Spring  - Tulips, Hyacinth and Nerine Lilies show up, then as we move into late Spring the Peony's, Boronia and  Heather arrive. When Summer is in full bloom so are -  Aster Matsumoto, Gladiola, Veronica, Larkspur, Sedum, Astilbe and Celosia. All the other pink flowers are available year round. Because of the color choice available pink flowers can accent most any theme, soft and pretty for a vintage  look to bright and punchy for a rock and roll glam look.  Pink, Pink, Pink there is a reason it is so popular.

Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Third In Our Series On Color - Green

Ahh Green, there is nothing quite like it to evoke the feeling of something fresh and crisp. Green has been a rising trend and for good reason. Some of the flowers that are available in green are not available in any other color thus giving  a feeling of exclusiveness. Another great thing about the family of green flowers is the texture that is available. These different textures can help to enforce certain themes you may be considering. For example the soft and delicate Alchemillia plays up a vintage theme, while the richly textured Celosia accents an exotic marketplace vibe and the sleek lines of the Green Goddess Calla are the perfect accessory to a contemporary wedding.

Another plus for green flowers is that most are available all year long. The only exceptions are Celosia, Hanging Amaranthus, Buplerum and Alchemillia, these are only available from late Spring through to early Fall.  So think of adding a bit of green to your wedding, you will be happy that you did.

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Second in our series on color - Purple

So last time I talked about Blue flowers and this week I will broaden that color palette and introduce some gorgeous purple flowers. In the purple family colors can range from misty pale lavender, to pinky mauve, to true royal purple to inky black and plumy purple, so creating an all purple bouquet or adding purple accents to your wedding is fairly easy to do. I have not mentioned all the purple flowers available as my focus is on sturdy flowers that can withstand a busy wedding day and still look fabulous!  Again, as with blue flowers, some of the flowers in the purple family are seasonal.  Flowers such as Anemones and Agapathus are at there best in the Spring, while Veronica, Phlox, Allium and Stocks are at their best in late Spring and early Summer. Finally the late Summer Gladiola and Echinops are stunning. While some of the above mentioned flowers are available outside of the seasons mentioned, they are at their prime during the specified season. One flower that is great in all the massed designs that we are seeing this year is the Carnation. Now, I know, Carnations seem so 1980's, but the new Moon Series variety in deep dark blacky purple is nothing short of stunning. Massed together to form a big ball or unique head table piece, they loose the old fashioned vibe and become trendy and unique. The key is grouping them together in large numbers and keeping them stmes short so you just see their gorgeous heads.  For all the purple lovers out there, embrace your color scheme and get some help from Mother Nature. 

  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

First in our new series on color - Blue

When planning a wedding there are so many choices to make and one of the hardest can be a color scheme for the wedding. But once a color scheme has been chosen then you can really get going and things will start to fall into place. Something to keep in mind is the color availability of flowers, not all flowers come in all colors and some colors are harder to find in nature than others.

Blue is one of them. For a true blue flower you are limited to a few stems, but if you broaden your scheme a bit the color palette has a few other choices. For those of us  here in Calgary the blue flowers available are shown below, however, not all are available all year long. Brodiea and Cornflower are available in the late Summer, while Hyacinth is available in the early Spring. The remaining flowers such as Hydrangea, Delphinium and Iris are available all year long but the shade of color may be slightly different depending on the season. Beware of dyed blue roses and orchids as they not only don't look natural but dye can come off on your hands or worse still on your dress if the blooms get crushed slightly or rubbed the wrong way.  Stay clear of these for your bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages. You can introduce them into your ceremony or reception pieces, but our preference is to use some of the naturally blue flowers below or punch up the blue color with fun accessories like beads, gems, pins or ribbon. So for all the Brides out there that love blue - relax, it's doable, just be a bit flexible with your florist and they can put together something stunning in blue!

 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com. 

Our Final Guide in Our 3 Part Series on Orchid Care - Oncidiums

This varied group of orchids includes plants from any environments, some come from hot and dry areas while other grow in less severe conditions.

LIGHT

Most Oncidium thrive with one to several hours of sunlight a day. Generally thicker leaved plants can stand more light. In the home, east, shaded south and east windows are ideal.

TEMPERATURE

Temperatures for Oncididum should usually be 55-60F at night and range from 80 -85F or more during the day. Although higher temperatures force faster vegetative growth, higher humidity and air movement must accompany higher temperatures, the recommended maximum being 100F.

WATER

Generally plants with large fleshy roots and/or leaves need less frequent watering than thin leaved and/or rooted plants.  Plants should be thoroughly watered and not watered again until nearly dry through the pot. In the heat of summer in a dry climate like Calgary, this may be every few days and in the winter here, it may even be every 10 days. Also the type of potting media will determine the frequency of watering. Pots with moss generally take longer to dry out than plants potted in bark. Water only in the morning so the leaves are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the leaves.

HUMIDITY

Oncidium require humidity between 30-60%. In the home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so that the pot never sits in water or have a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or during dry weather in the morning only. Misting is not required for fleshy leaved types.

FERTILIZER

Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from about March to September and a fertilizer high in phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 weeks and when not growing, once a month. Thorough flushing with clear water every month is recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts.

POTTING
This is best done in the Spring after blooming.  Potting is usually done every 1 – 3 years. Mature plants can grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if plants are left in a soggy medium. A fine grade potting medium is usually used for fine rooted plants and coarser mixes with large rooted plants. To re-pot, remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft/rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a cone shape of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with medium, working it through the roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is at the top of the medium. Keep plant shaded and humid , but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to promote new root growth.

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