The selection process of your wedding flowers will usually begin with a discussion of the Bride's bouquet. You will have a choice of several basic styles. These are cascade, crescent, contemporary, nosegay, hand tied bouquet and arm or presentation style. You can better prepare for your first meeting with your florist if you bring the following;
o A list of those in your wedding party that will need flowers.
o A list of what flowers you will want at the ceremony.
o A list of what flowers will be needed at the reception, including table count, size and shape.
o Color/fabric swatches and pictures of your dress and bridesmaids dresses, if you have them.
o Feel free to also bring pictures of flowers that you like.

Your florist will also have pictures of flowers, bouquets and arrangements to help determine exactly what will create the wedding of your dreams. If your wedding has a "theme", let your florist know before the consultation, as they can prepare suggestions to fit the style of your wedding. After style, the next thing to consider is if there are any specific flowers you want.

Keep in mind that some flowers are not in season year round. The flowers that will give the best presentation are those in their season prime. Make sure you let your florist know if your ceremony and/or reception will be held outdoors. Certain flowers do not hold up in hot/humid conditions. Consider color, shape, and fragrance when selecting your bouquet flowers. A note of advice on color choice, avoid all white flowers, they do not photograph well.

It is important that you are upfront with your florist about your budget. Not just for your bouquet but for all of your flowers. Be realistic. You may want a $200 bridal bouquet, but if you only have $400 for a flower budget, you will not have enough left for 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 2 corsages, 3 boutonnieres and 15 centerpieces for your reception. Choose similar flowers to be used throughout your wedding. Using 20 different kinds of flowers will quickly increase the cost. Your florist can balance your needs with your budget. They can offer alternatives. Exotic flowers such as Orchids are very pretty, but they are more expensive. Consider more affordable flowers if you are on a budget. Don't plan your wedding near big flower holidays, such as Valentine's Day, Easter and Mother's Day. If you do, expect to pay more for your flowers. Not because the florist's want to charge you more, but due to the fact that the wholesalers charge more during these busy holidays based on growing and demand.

Once you have chosen your Bouquet you have selected the "center" of your wedding flowers. The other pieces can be used to incorporate your bouquet flowers throughout your entire wedding. The following is an example list of the flowers you may need for your "Special Day"...
o Bride's Bouquet
o Toss Bouquet for Bride to Throw
o Maid of Honor Bouquet
o Bridesmaids Bouquets
o Grooms Boutonniere
o Boutonnieres for Best Man and other male attendants in the wedding
o Boutonnieres for Father of Bride and Groom
o Corsages for Mothers/Grandmothers and/or Guests of Honor
o Boutonniere for Ring Bearer
o Flower Basket (with petals?) or small bouquet for flower girl*
o Ceremony Arrangements (can serve double duty at your reception perhaps at your buffet)
o Vase at Guest Book Table
o Centerpieces for Reception Tables (make sure you get an accurate count)
o Centerpiece for Head Table (usually larger than other centerpieces)
o Flowers or Petals for Cake Table (Flowers for Cake if necessary)

*If you are considering petals for the aisle at your ceremony, make sure your accomodations allow them. Also remember that roses with color petals will stain the carpet if stepped on. White petals are recommended for carpeted areas.

A very important detail is to make sure your florist knows exactly when and where your flowers will need to be delivered. They will also need to know ahead of time if you will need them to set up the flowers. If you have someone else handling set up, make sure your florist knows who they are and how to reach them. You will probably want your flowers to arrive at least an hour before you need them. Make sure you have somewhere safe and cool to keep them until you use them. Always leave your florist a phone number of someone you trust (preferrably with a cel phone) that can handle any last minute decisions regarding your flowers.

Finally, when it comes to your wedding flowers, don't skimp! I have heard many sad stories about bride's trying "do-it-yourself" flowers or having a friend design them, only to end up with bouquets falling apart minutes before the wedding! Don't risk it! Experienced florists process and design your wedding flowers for optimum presentation and performance. Your flowers are one of the most important elements of your wedding! You want them to be beautiful. They compliment you, your wedding party, your wedding photos and provide an elegant atmosphere for you and your guests on your special day!

Congratulations!

Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of [http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com] (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design. Please email the Author directly for reprint permission of this article.

You have now spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on flowers for your wedding day. You wouldn't want all of those beautiful flowers to die, so why not preserve them and use them around your home?

You can preserve flowers in a couple of different ways. I will explain the following:
* Professional preservation
* Pressing
* Air drying
* Silica gel

Professional Preservation

Using a professional to preserve your flowers is the most efficient and reliable way to keep your flowers. Professionals usually use the freeze-dry method, also known as lyophilization, which takes approximately four weeks.

Each flower must be placed separately in the freezer. Therefore, the first step to the freeze-drying process is to clip each flower individually. The stems should be about one inch tall. After each flower is clipped, it is placed in the freezer. This freezer will be set at a temperature of about twenty degrees Fahrenheit below zero. All of the moisture is than removed from the flowers using a vacuum. After they are dried, the flowers are gradually restored to room temperature.

A professional should be consulted about two months before the wedding in order to guarantee they will have the time and the room to preserve your flowers. When choosing a professional, you should talk to them regarding the following steps in the freeze-drying process. Without all of these steps, you might be disappointed in the long run.

* You want them to pre-treat and re-hydrate the flowers before freeze-drying them. If this is not done, the color of the flowers may fade and they may not look at natural.
* You may want to ask if they photograph each bouquet so they will reassemble them correctly. Remember that in order to freeze dry them, each flower is set in the freezer separately.
* After the freeze-drying process, you want them to post-treat them. During the post-treatment, they will dip each flower into a solution that will create a transparent layer. This layer will protect the flowers from things such as light and humidity.

You may have to ship the flowers to the preservationist. In order to do this safely, the flowers should be laid in a large plastic bag. In order to keep the flowers fresh, you should blow air into the bag, twist the bag shut and put it into the refrigerator. You will not want the shipment of these flowers to take more than two days.

Pressing

If you do not have the budget to have your flowers professionally preserved and you do not have too many flowers, you can press them yourself. If your flowers naturally have flat faces such as pansies, petunias, violas and daisies, they will press very easily. If you have full flowers such as roses, each petal should be pressed separately and should be put back together when the flower is completely dried.

In order to begin this process, you must purchase or make a flower press. These can be found at your favorite craft store or made with two boards and some weights. First, take a flower and place it between two pieces of blotting paper and put this in a flower press. Leave them for about two weeks so they will be able to dry completely.

Air Drying

Air Drying is one of the more simple ways to preserve flowers. First, separate the flowers into small bundles, take the leaves off and tie the stems together. You want to find a warm, dark room and hang the bundles upside down. It will take approximately two to three weeks to dry completely.

These flowers will be stiff. Some colors, such as yellow and blue, will keep their shade but other colors, such as pink, will fade. Expect some flowers such as roses and peonies to shrink a little during the air drying process.

Silica Gel

In order to begin the silica gel preservation, you must purchase about three pounds of the gel from your local garden center or craft store for every twelve average-sized flowers.

First, find an air tight container and fill the bottom inch with the silica gel. Remove the leaves of your flowers and cut the stems to about one-half inch long and place them upright in the gel. You will then pour more gel into the perimeter of the container without touching the flowers. After this is complete, you want to tap on the container so that the gel will cover the flowers. You do not want to pour directly onto the flowers because it will weigh the flowers down. You may repeat this step as much as you need to in order for the flowers to be completely covered. When each flower is coated, you should pour another inch of silica gel on top. The container should be sealed and left for about a week to dry. This method is perfect for flowers that are more full such as roses.

When using any of the above methods, you should always keep the preserved flowers out direct sunlight and humidity. This will make certain that the quality of the flowers will stay over time.

List of Common Early Spring Flower Names
* Anemone
* Azalea
* Begonia
* Bleeding heart
* Calla Lily
* Creeping Phlox
* Crocus
* Daffodil
* Dahlia
* Daisy
* Gardenia
* Hyacinth
* Impatiens
* Lilac
* Lily of the Valley
* Magnolia
* Mountain Laurel
* Pansy
* Peony
* Petunia
* Primrose
* Tulip
* Tiger Lily
* Rhododendron
* Vinca
* Wisteria

Tulips
Tulips are a perennial and come back year after year showing off their green foliage which can be seen coming through the ground in early spring. These wonderful spring flowers come in a variety of bright colors. They can grow very short or there is also a long stemmed variety of Tulips. The blossoms from the Tulip are typically shaped like a deep cup with a waxy exterior coating. Tulips have very few leaves compared to other types of flowers and do not emit a noticeable fragrance as many other flowers.

Tulips need a period of dormancy in order to thrive. These spring flowers grow best on a hill or mountainous area which have longer and cooler spring seasons and combined with earlier summers to accommodate longer winters. If Tulips are grown in a warmer climate they often need to be replanted annually. These beautiful spring flowers can be propagated with seeds and offsets. Growing from an offset is botany term where a cutting from a mother plant is used to generate another plant (cloning). However, this method produces a plant with the exact same genetics as the mother plant. When growing Tulips from seed this method requires five to eight years of growth before they begin to flower. This is a considerable reason why commercial growers utilize cloning in order to produce flowering plants in as little as 1 year. However, growing Tulips from seed will often produce a healthier (more disease resistant and greater variety and newer hybrids.

Interestingly Tulips derive their name from a Persian origin which has a meaning of Turban. It is common knowledge that Holland and the Netherland area is considered to be the Tulip botany capitol. Many varieties of Tulips are grown and cultivated in this area and shipped all to various countries. Perhaps this is why Holland has been deemed the commercial Tulip flower capitol.

Tulips are another very well known flower of spring which blooms relatively early. Similar to the Daffodil, their flower bulbs are concealed underground protected throughout the winter, so Tulips are a bulbous plant as well. These spring flowers belong to the flower family species Liliaceae. It is amazing that these beautiful flowers have a native range which extends from the northern Africa area to northwestern China. Tulips are grown in multi-colored tulip gardens, displayed in pots and are often sold as cut flower bouquets.

Daffodils
Daffodils are brightly colored yellow flowers which are often seen in large groups or rows throughout the countryside. Sometimes mistakenly called an Easter lilies, the daffodil flower is from the Narcissus family of spring flowers. A more accurate name that has been given to these early spring flowers is Easter Bell, which originates from the culture in Germany. The Daffodil has a moderately long trumpet shaped center surrounded by six delicate leaves often of the same pale yellow color, but may vary due to natures wild interbreeding of this species spring flower.

Daffodils are some of the first spring flowers to protrude up from the ground in early spring. These floral shoots often are the first recognizable signs of spring flowers in late February and early March. Look low near the ground for green pointed sprouts directed straight up. This growth will often protrude through frost or snow covered ground and force their way through leaves or other ground cover. The early spring growth comes from bulbs that are several inches below the surface. Daffodil flower bulbs have been mistaken for wild onions in the past and have been the cause for poisoning, as these flowers contain a dangerous toxin. After several weeks of only seeing the green shoots from the flower bulb the daffodil blossoms will begin to form.

Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox are another variety of early blooming spring flowers. This low ground hugging herbaceous plant is a perennial and native to the wooded areas of the Appalachian mountain range. These multi-colored flowers come in various shades of pale white, light purple or pale pink. Though the flowers are rather small they are many on each cluster and they create quite a spectacular display in lawns and gardens.

Creeping phlox are hardy flowering plants and once rooted can withstand considerable trimming throughout the growing season. They can thrive best in areas that are shady, and thus make an excellent ground cover around the base of trees. One benefit of these vigorous growing flowers is the more they are cut back, the more they spread and grow. Creeping phlox often are seen hanging from rock walls and spread around the base of larger shrubs in order to help control weeds and other undesirables from growing near flower gardens.

There are several dozen types of spring flowers which are loved and cherished by flower horticulturalists around the world. The spring flower season is a wonderful time of the year which brings a refreshing and welcome display of beautiful colored flowers after a long winter. So certainly it is worth the effort to take the time this spring to enjoy all the colorful spring flowers and various scents in your area. If you simply set aside a few minutes each day to relax and view the beautiful flowers around us all during the spring season, the inherited benefits of natures new life spring brings with it will rejuvenate your heart and mind as well.

Flowers are beautiful and professionally designed bouquets are especially attractive. Flowers can also carry huge sentimental meaning because they are often given as gifts from people close to us. So it's little wonder that we would want to extend the life of our flowers and enjoy their aesthetic and sentimental beauty for as long as possible.

With proper care and attention most flowers will last around 7 days with some varieties lasting for as long as 14 days. Here are some practical steps to help extend the life of your cut flowers.

Get flowers into water

After only a short time out of water flowers will begin to dehydrate. Therefore it is essential to get flowers into a vase or container of water as quickly as possible. When you first get the flowers home use warm water, not cold or hot, as this is the quickest way to rehydrate the flowers. Warm water will also promote opening of the blooms as most flowers are shipped with the blooms in a closed or tight stage.

Technically speaking the optimum temperature is 37.5C (99.5F), which is roughly body temperature. At this temperature air bubbles, which may have formed in the stem, tend to breakup. Also water that is warmer than the surrounding air is more readily taken up by the flowers.

Change the water regularly

Try to change the water every two days. The flowers should be well hydrated by now so you can use cold water instead of warm. This helps keep the flowers cool which is a key part of keeping flowers in good condition.

Use flower preservatives

Each consignment of Affinity Flowers comes with a sachet of flower preservative. Flower preservative contains two main components, carbohydrates and anti-bacterial additives.

The carbohydrates act as food which helps to sustain the flowers. The carbohydrates will also stimulate flower heads to open quicker. This is handy when you're trying to open flowers that usually ship with tight blooms like lilies.

The bactericide component inhibits bacteria developing in the water. Bacteria laden water will cause flowers to deteriorate quicker. Bacteria is also a problem because it can block flower stems and hinder the uptake of water. If left long enough the bacteria will also discolour the vase water and produce an unpleasant odour.

Simply empty the contents of the flower preservative sachet into the vase water.

If you don't have flower preservative you could add 1-2 drops of bleach to the water instead. The bleach will act as an anti-bacterial just like the additives in commercial flower preservatives.

Remove leaves that will be under water

This is important as leaves that are below the waterline will deteriorate quickly and become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you have a professionally arranged bouquet you'll find that the leaves have already been removed by the florist. But flowers bought loose or unarranged might still have leaves low on the stem.

Trim the stems

Take a pair of scissors or a sharp knife and trim 2-3cm (1 inch) from the bottom of the stem. Try not to crush the stem while you're doing this. Cut the stem on an angle to increase the surface area exposed to the water. Cutting on an angle also stops the stem sitting flat on the bottom of the vase and blocking water uptake. Once cut immediately place the flowers into water.

Water is sucked up the stem like a straw. If there is anything blocking the straw then it will impede water flow to the head. Over time the end of a stem can become blocked with impurities from the water and bacteria. Also, if a flower has been out of water for any period of time, air will be drawn into the stem which will block its ability to draw water.

Some florists recommend cutting the stems underwater which prevents air being drawn up the stem.

Re-cut stems every two days or when you change the water.

Keep flowers cool

Flowers should be kept in cool conditions. Keep them away from direct sunlight, heaters, lamps and other heat sources. Also try not to leave flowers in a hot vehicle when transporting them. This is why specialist flower delivery couriers have chilled storage on-board their vehicles.

Each variety has its own optimal holding temperature but the ideal temperature for most flowers is a chilly 4-5C (39-41F), about the temperature inside your refrigerator. Obviously these aren't ideal temperatures for people but if you really wanted to extend the life of your flowers you could place them in the refrigerator overnight or if you were going to be away for an extended period.

Keep flowers away from fruit

Fruit and vegetables produce ethylene gas which is detrimental to flowers. Carnations and Delphiniums are particularly susceptible. Try to keep flowers away from fruit and vegetables to keep them in good shape.

Similarly domestic gas is also damaging to flowers. There is a story of a flower grower who found it difficult to keep cut flowers on his farm. He suspected his gas supply may have been the cause and a check by a specialist confirmed he had a gas leak on his property.

Keep daffodils separate

The sap exuded from the cut stems of narcissus varieties like daffodils is detrimental to other flowers. No other flowers should share the same water with daffodils or any narcissus varieties.

Bill Koia is Managing Director of Affinity Flowers, a New Zeland flower company specialising in Roses and NZ native fauna. Bill writes helpful articles about fresh flowers and his experiences building an online flower business.

Find out more at http://www.affinityflowers.co.nz

Everybody likes flowers, remarkable ability to brighten up a room or the outside of your house is second to none. When it comes to arranging flowers you might be happy with just bunching a number of different types together in a vase and leaving it at that, but you could have a much more impressive display. All that you need is a touch of imagination and creative thinking. Arranging flowers isn't a difficult task, try out the tips below for some impressive results.

Form of Arrangement

You may be surprised to discover that there are a number of different standard forms of flower arrangement, these are:

Vertical arrangement: As the name suggests these are tall, slender arrangements. If you've got a number of long focal flowers you wish to show off utilize this arrangement.Make use of a tall container to put your flowers in, it only needs to be wide enough to use only a small number of surrounding flowers.

Horizontal arrangement: broad and low arrangement, good for a large table design.A traditional horizontal arrangement is symmetrical in form and the placement of flowers. The width needs to be two times the height.The container needs to be shallow and broad, the focal flower(s) in the middle and line flowers inserted almost horizontally.

Triangular arrangement: quite possibly the most common kind of arrangement.The line flowers are first positioned to form a triangle, the triangle ought to always be taller than it is wide.

Oval arrangement: a great arrangement for a formal setting or a living room.The oval arrangement is quite straightforward and ideal for showcasing 1-3 large or medium sized flowers. Choose a short and wide container for this kind of arrangement.Use the line flowers to create the height and shape of the arrangement and place the focal flowers at the centre and fill the gaps with smaller blooms.The arrangement is not intended to be looked at from three hundred sixty degrees.

Minimal arrangement: this kind of flower arrangement usually consists of only a few flowers in a smallish container. Minimal flower arrangements are able to look elegant and understated. Selecting the vase for a minimal arrangement is a lot more important than it is for other types - pick something small but stylish.

Hogarth's Curve: challenging "S" shape which usually demands some skill to get right. Fundamentally the Lazy "S" is a minimal flower arrangement based on the "S" curve. The line flowers make the S shape (much easier if branches are used) and other flowers fill the centre.

Crescent arrangement: the crescent flower arrangement is somewhat more difficult when compared to some of the other arrangements though works excellent as a small table decoration. An asymmetrical arrangement the crescent needs to be well balanced, not only aesthetically nut also physically so it does not fall over. It is probable that you will also require a number of leaves or branches to form the crescent. In order to keep the arrangement secure it is best to use a wide, low container/vase.

Pick a Colouring Scheme

Would you like a dark, calming green/lilac/blue arrangement or a more lively red/orange/yellow one? Colours are possibly the most important factor when selecting your flowers.Understanding basic colour theory can be very helpful here - there are numerous guides on the net. Some common blends include: Analogous colours - these are colours which are adjacent to one another on the colour wheel like orange, yellow and green; or you could try complementary colours - colours from opposite sides of the colour wheel; or triads - 3 colours equally space around the colour wheel. Another alternative of course is to apply a less academic method and just decide on colours that you simply find appealing.Keep in mind colours can often express a number of feelings like love, sympathy, friendship, happiness etc. Choose the right colours for the sentiments you are trying to convey.

Selecting Appropriate Flowers

With so many types this can seem like a overwhelming task initially however we are able to break them down into three different types:

Line flowers - taller flowers which determine the shape, height and width of the arrangement, they usually have flowers or buds along their stem.Common line flowers are snapdragons, gladiolus, curly willow, delphinium, tuberose and bells-of-Ireland.

Mass flowers - big round flowers on a single stem, they are the main focal point of the arrangement.Typical mass flowers (also called focal flowers) include daisies, magnolias, roses, daffodils, carnations, tulips, sunflowers, iris and lilies.Mass flowers are sold in bunches, you should place these in the middle of your arrangement.

Filler flowers - filler flowers consist of stems with plenty of little blooms and leaves, these fill the gaps and give a visible link between the line and focal flowers.Good examples of these are: ferns, aster, baby's breath, feverfew, Queen Anne's lace, heather, eucalyptus.

When selecting the flowers also think about the following factors:

Seasonal flowers - blooms that are in season are usually much better value compared to flowers which aren't owing to the simple fact that flower growers have got so many of them

Flower meanings - Floriography (language of flowers) - just as with colours, since Victorian times a number of flowers have had certain meanings/symbolism.

Forget the rules - there are a great number of guides and articles written on mixing colours and flowers and along with them many rules. If the rules state that they should never go together but you feel they should, put them together - you are probably right.

Arranging the Flowers

Don't forget, line flowers initially then mass/focal flowers and lastly filler flowers.As you position the flowers try and allocate each flower its own space within the arrangement while maintaining a balance of colour throughout.

Preferably use floral foam within your vase, it can make it far less difficult to position and support the flowers. Remember to soak the floral foam in water and food.

Position a flower at a time. Cut short the size of any stems as necessary. All the flowers need to face in an outward direction at an acceptable angle. Use a sharp knife to cut the bottom of the stems.

Annual Flowering Herbs

Petunia- (Petunia spp.)

Petunias are tender flowering herbs that adorn the garden with a variety of striking colors such as, red, pink, white, violet or a mixture of white stripped with violet or blue.

They are more attractive when planted closely in flower beds forming a blanket of red or velvet blossoms. Petunias are mostly cultivated in pots or window boxes.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil where petunias are more adaptable is a well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils.

Propagation.

Petunias are propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes and later on thinned and planted in pots or beds.

Plants in full bloom may be brought inside the house for a day or two but should be exposed to full or partial sunlight to maintain normal growth.

Cock's Comb - (Celosia argentia cristata )

There are two types of cock's comb like; dwarf and tall or medium height varieties.

There are as many colors of the rainbow as there are cock's comb varieties. Most often, the dwarf varieties are planted in group as low borders, while the taller varieties serve as background and foundation planting.

Thee flowers stalks vary in size where the taller ones have bigger clusters.

Propagation.

Cock's comb are easily propagated by seeds either by direct seeding or transplanted singly by seedlings.

When direct seeding is applied, you should do the thinning to avoid overcrowding of the plants.

Marigold - (Tagetes erecta)

Marigold, a native of Mexico is a member of the sunflower family is a hardy annual, bushy, producing flowers with raised centers of golden-orange petals gradually turning to reddish-brown in the outer petals.

Soil Requirements.

Marigold thrives best in a light loam soil with a good drainage and exposed to full sunlight.

Propagation.

Propagation by seeds is the only method to multiply marigold. They are easy to grow although they seem to disappear in most gardens.

Balsam or Touch-Me-Not - (Impatiens oppositfolia, I. glandulifira )

A native of Africa, balsam or touch-me-not derived its name from its characteristics where the fruits when touch at ripening stage burst even just upon a slight contact.
They have a striking beautiful flowers ranging from pink, white, purple, and red double petalled which resembles the rose flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Balsam usually prefers rich fertile soil with abundant sunlight.

Propagation.

Balsam can easily be germinated by seeds. The seeds easily germinate when touch to the ground.

Carnation - (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Carnations are lovely, double-fringed, fragrant flowers. They are favorites as cut flowers, for borders and beds.

Good as potted plants, carnation, when planted properly blooms 5 to 6 months. They may last for more years if you'll properly care them and fertilized properly.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for carnation is a well drained and rich in organic matter soil with a cool climate and enough supply of solar radiation.

Propagation.

Carnation is propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes before they are transferred to individual pots or plots when planted in the field.

Verbena - (Verbena hortensis )

An excellent ground cover because of its compact habit of closely massed of flower heads.

There are three colors of verbena such as, red, purple, and white flowers which are attractive when planted in group as ground cover.

Soil Requirements.

Verbena grows best in a well drained, fertile soil and enough supply of sunshine in high altitudes during its growing period.

Propagation.

It is propagated by seeds when planted in temperate countries. However, they can also be propagated by cuttings where, you have to include the rooted portion of the stem to make a sure growth development.

Periwinkles- (Vinca minor)

Known as chichiricas or tropical periwinkles, they have a white or lavender flowers and said to have medicinal values.

They are excellent as border flowers, flowering hedges or foundation plants along bases of walls, fences and buildings.

They are attractive because they flowers the whole year round. You need less attention in replanting them since they grow vigorously.

The only attention you'll make is to continuously pinch the tips to keep them bushy and busy producing flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Periwinkles grows in any type of soils especially in a well drained rich in organic matter soil medium.

Propagation.

Propagation by cuttings is ideal for periwinkle but they multiply even faster when grown by seeds.

They prefer to bloom abundantly when exposed to full sunlight, though they also produce flowers in partial shaded areas, but not as good when planted with open sun exposure.

Bachelor's Button - (Cyntaurea cyanus )

Belongs to the Amaranth or Colitis family, bachelor's button is also known as butones, butonisan or botoncillo and is relative of cock's comb, Joseph's coat and cucharita.

Their flowers varies from purple which dominates of all varieties to white, pink, and orange colors.

Propagation.

The methods used in propagating bachelor's button is by seeds. They multiply fast and are easy to reproduce.

Perennial Flowering Herbs

Star cluster- (Pentas lanceolata )

A native of Africa, this flowering plant is a newly introduced to the Philippines.

They are an attractive herb with a cluster of red, star-like flowers. Although there are pink, white and lavender varieties, the red is considered the most attractive.

Star cluster becomes shrub reaching a height over seven feet as it develops woody tissues through the years of its growth.

To produce a continuous blooms the whole year round, you have to cut the flower stalks after the flowers have fallen down.

Propagation.

Propagated usually by young cuttings ( the hard or matured stems generally do not develop roots).

Anthurium - (Anthurium andraeanum, A. spp. )

Anthurium,also called flamingo flower because of its showy, waxy bract of flaming, deep red or pink color, often mistaken as the flower, is gaining popularity as a cut flower or potted plant.
When used as cut flower, anthurium lasts for as long as one month which explains why it's expensive and prized by many florists.

There are a hundred varieties of anthurium scattered in the Philippines, but only a few are truly attractive accepted by florists.

Proper care and watering of anthurium is advised to enhance a continuous flower blooms.

Soil Requirements.

Anthurium thrives best in a well drained rich, sandy loam soils.

They usually favors in a cool climate and high elevations, like Baguio and Bukidnon. However, they can be made to flower just as beautifully in greenhouse or controlled environment.

Propagation.

Propagation is usually done by dividing the suckers or shoots, including some roots.

The newly propagated plants must be placed under the shade until they have recovered and new shoots developed.

You have to avoid anthurium exposure to the noon day sunlight. They are intolerant to too much heat of the sun.

African violet- (Saintpaulia spp.)

A native of Africa as the name implies, also known throughout the world as Saint Paulia by gardeners, this flower plant is loved by many because of its soft, waxy leaves and flowers that stays the whole year round in different shades of blue, white, pink, and purple colors.

This plant loves the morning sunlight. They dies easily when exposed to extreme heat and too much water.

African violets can be grown successfully when grown in pots as well as on screened window boxes.

They can also be grown in greenhouse of which they produce more attractive flowers.

Spanish flag - (Gonioplectus hispanus )

Spanish flag also known as canna or bandera espanola are ideal when you want to establish a new garden and an instant supply of flowers.

They are in handy, bearing a profusion of attractive colored flowers within a few weeks.

Their flowers are numerous from streaked to just plain white, cream, pink, deep red, purple, tangerine, lavender or sometimes a combination of two or more colors.

Spanish flag have numerous hybrids. You can select from among the hybrids you think attracts your interest or plant all them if you wish a colorful flowers in your garden.

If you want to maintain large, continuous flowers the whole year round, you have to cut the stalks which have flowered since they'll compete for food with the rest of the developing plants. These stems will eventually dies anyway.

Soil Requirements.

Spanish flag grows best in rich, friable, sandy loam to loam soils. However, they also grow well in clay loam soil.

Generally, they produce attractive flowers when planted in an open field with abundant supply of sunlight.

But there are other hybrids that shows an excellent flowers even in partially shaded areas.

Propagation.

The easiest way to propagate Spanish flag is by separation of rhizomes which multiplies easily.

However, seeds may be used in propagation but it will take a long time to bear flowers compared to those propagated by rhizomes.

Red Billbergia- (Billbergia spp. )

A member of the pineapple family, red billbergia have a strikingly beautiful red or pink flowers which blooms during the months of May, June, and November in Luzon, Philippines.

They grows well in partial shade or full sunlight.

Soil Requirements.

Billbergia thrives best with a mixture of soil, ground charcoal, moss and other medium used in planting orchids.

Propagation.

They can be propagated by separation or by division of the young shoots which comes out after the flowers have wilted and the old plants have died.

Camia- (Hedychium philippinense K. Schum. )

Camias are shade loving plants to which they can be grown under trees. Their flowers are white with a fragrant scent which makes them favorite as cut flower and also for corsages or bouquets although they doesn't stay fresh very long.

Their flowers are numerous during the rainy season and the plants gradually die as the dry season sets in. However, the rhizomes send out new shoots again once the rain starts to pour in.

You should prune the stems which have flowered just above the ground level to induce more flower blooms.

Camias have a cousin called the yellow camia or India Ginger which produce yellow flowers and a native of the Himalayas.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for camia is sandy or clay loam with sufficient amount of moisture.

Propagation.

Camias can be propagated by division of the rhizomes or root stock. They are planted at a distance of half a meter apart directly in the field which have been properly prepared.

Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook "Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening" and "Vegetable Gardening Made Easy", also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: http://www.crisramasasa.com

Send flowers cheap, don't send cheap flowers!

When you are short on cash but you want to send someone flowers, don't try to save money by going to the first online flower delivery service you see and choosing their cheapest floral arrangement, because you'll end up sending cheap flowers. What you want to do is find the best deal on the nicest flowers, so you end up saving money, but not compromising on quality.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #1: Order Flowers Online
The way to get the best deal is to order flowers online for delivery. Local florists have huge overhead and sometimes their flowers are not as fresh as you'd like them to be. But when you order online, the flowers are usually coming direct from the grower.

Online flowers are cut that morning, put into your flower arrangement and sent out before they wilt. That means you get the freshest, most inexpensive flowers because there is no middleman. Just a website between you and your flower delivery.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #2: Choose Weekday Flower Delivery
Deliveries during the week, Monday to Friday can save you a lot of money on delivery charges. Some places, charge way more for Saturday deliveries. Another tip to keep in mind is that most florists don't work on Sundays, so if you send flowers on Monday, you are likely getting flowers that were cut on Saturday. For the freshest flowers, have them delivered from Tuesday to Friday.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #3: Choose Seasonal Flowers
When you browse through a website looking for just the right flower arrangement to send, go directly to the seasonal flowers. It's usually called, Spring Flowers, or Sale Flowers, or Best Sellers. These flowers are growing strong and lovely right at the time you order so they are the best choice for three reasons. One, there are a lot of those flowers available. Two, they will last longer because flowers are strongest when they are in season. And three, because florists have an abundance of seasonal flowers, they want to sell more. Seasonal flowers are the most inexpensive flowers online.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #4: Order Early for Special Occasions
Some online flower shops raise their prices around special occasions like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. especially for delivery. But if you place your order at least 7 days before the big day, you can save money on delivery and you can usually get a great deal on the flowers too. The best flower delivery services do not raise their prices during special occasions so you can send flowers cheap for any occasion.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #5: Buy a Year's Worth of Flowers at Once
I know it sounds crazy, but more and more online flower delivery services are doing this. They offer monthly gifts, a different flower arrangement every month for a year. They send out the freshest, in season flowers once a month to your recipient. You can personalize the card each month so your recipient doesn't have to know you bought them all at once. The advantage to this is that you can save a lot of money by buying in bulk. They give you the best deals possible when you order a year's supply at once. If you don't follow any of the other tips above, follow this one and send flowers cheap all year long. You'll be a hero in your recipient's eyes.

Sending flowers cheap doesn't have to be difficult especially when you follow these tips and view online product reviews of flower delivery services to find out what real, unbiased customers are saying about the best places to buy flowers online and to send flowers cheap.

Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for a guide to the best places online to order flowers and send flowers cheap with unbiased customer reviews of popular online flower shops. Read the guide to the best places to order flowers online for delivery, read what others are saying and leave your own review of your flower delivery experience. The flower delivery services reviewed at Obituaries Help.org do not raise their prices during special occasions so you can send flowers cheap for any occasion.

Visit http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ the complete online resource for obituaries, genealogy, guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning. Send flowers cheap and send sympathy gifts, using free product reviews and write your own unbiased customer reviews.

How can you send flowers cheap? A common question because there are so many flower shops and online flowers delivery services that you can never really know if you are getting the best deal. Another problem is that sometimes choosing the inexpensive flowers looks like a bargain, but it may result in fewer flowers.

Saving a few dollars doesn't necessarily mean it's the best deal for sending flowers cheap. The real trick is to send the best flowers for the least money.

Order Online Flowers
If you want to send flowers cheap, ordering them online is your best bet. Inexpensive flowers are available online for delivery because florists online are equipped to handle large numbers of orders. Online florists pass on good deals to you, the consumer, when there is an abundance of one type of flower. Also, online flowers are usually the freshest flowers because they haven't been handled as much or transported as much as the flowers in a flower shop.

Finding Online Flowers
Just doing a search on Google or any other search engine is going to bring up thousands of online flowers. You could spend hours comparing them until you end up either not sending the flowers, or sending flowers you won't be happy with.

Likely, you'll end up sending flowers from some online florist that looks good but you will be disappointed. Either the flower arrangement won't look like it did on the website, or there will be services charges on top of the delivery charges and above the cost of the flowers. You will end up being disappointed. So what do you do?

Compare Online Flowers
Always shop around. One online florist may give great shipping deals so you can afford to upgrade your flower arrangement, other florists online may have seasonal flowers on sale so you can get more flowers for your money. It's best to compare online flowers before you choose an online florist. But it can be confusing to know where the best places to get flowers online.

To get the best deal when ordering flowers online for delivery, you have to sort through thousands of online florists. But who has that kind of time? Especially when you are sending flowers for a last minute delivery or when you are too busy to go through all of those websites.

The Best Places to Buy Online Flowers
Take the guesswork out of buying online flowers by reading unbiased customer reviews of flower delivery services. Online, you'll find unbiased customer reviews of the best places to order flowers online for delivery. They've done the comparing for you by evaluating the best places so you can send flowers cheap for any occasion. You can see a comparison of the top four online florists before you spend your money. You can even read what others are saying and leave your own unbiased review of your flower delivery experience.

The four top online florists aren't the big names, because even though they have their brand and image, they are not the best places to order flowers online for delivery, especially if you want to send flowers cheap. Those big names are not giving you the best deals available. No, if you want the best deals, you have to go to some of the smaller but better companies.

Sending flowers cheap doesn't have to be difficult especially when you follow these tips and read unbiased customer reviews of flower delivery services to find out what real customers are saying about the best places to buy flowers online and to send flowers cheap.

Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for finding the best places online to order flowers and send flowers cheap with unbiased customer reviews of popular online flower shops. Read the guide to the best places to order flowers online for delivery, read what others are saying and leave your own review of your flower delivery experience. The flower delivery services reviewed at Obituaries Help.org do not raise their prices during special occasions so you can send flowers cheap for any occasion.

Visit http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ the complete online resource for obituaries, genealogy, guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning. Send flowers cheap and send sympathy gifts, using free product reviews and write your own unbiased customer reviews.

"Earth laughs in flowers."-Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes

Gifting Flowers to your near ones is a special experience which can not be expressed in words. It is all about a rich feeling which springs from the heart. It is a source of pleasure which can be compared with none. Flowers are one of the best gifts for any occasion. Nothing can convey your emotions better than flowers. A single rose expresses the inner most feelings of the heart in a beautiful manner. Assortments of flowers are even better! They are about enriched feelings and sensations. A colorful assortment of flowers is one of the best gifts that one can offer to their loved ones.

The origin of the process of gifting flowers is obscured in history. It is a widely prevalent process cutting across cultures.Flowers were revered in ancient Greece as property of the Gods. In the other ancient cultures flowers were given to near ones as gifts. Flowers had a special importance in the Victorian times. They were used to convey eternal love. Lovers used to write a whole letter with flower petals to express their inner feelings. The form of expressing love changed with time and it gained momentum with the passage of every century to invade the space of almost each and every occasion.

In modern times, flowers are not only sent to women but it is gifted to men as well. A nice flower bouquet can be an exclusive gift for the man of your dreams. Even children nowadays get in to the act of wishing their dear ones with flowers. They present roses, gerberas or other vibrant flowers to their friends, class mates or their class teachers.

While gifting flowers, the occasion for which it is being given is to be kept in mind. Roses can be gifted in a number of events. Red roses are taken to be the most romantic gift during Valentine's Day, Wedding Ceremony and Anniversaries. The color red stands for "love" and "passion". Pink Roses can be sent to a lover on Valentine's Day because it signifies "romance". Yellow Roses can always be gifted to a special friend. White roses and other white flowers are apt for a funeral ceremony. Lilies, Gerberas, Carnations and Orchids in bouquets, baskets and other arrangements can just light up different occasions. During events like Raksha Bandhan, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Durga Puja, Diwali and Mother's Day flowers of different colours are prized gifts.

Different Types of Flower Arrangement

Assorted Flowers

A rich assortment of flowers are always special. They are associated with multiple emotions. Imagine the love which is linked with a heart shaped floral arrangement! They just speak your heart. Consisting of exotic, elegant and wildly beautiful variants Assorted Flowers light up moods.

Carnations

Carnations are wonderful flowers which are associated with love and fascination. A beautiful arrangement of carnations make life appear bright. Carnations as gift bring difference to life with a newfound freshness.

Flower Bouquets

A bouquet of flowers are all about love and care. Flower Bouquets appear in exclusive shapes. There are heart shaped bouquets, flowers wrapped in attractive foils and other fascinating variants to express your heart. Flowers Bouquets are big sized arrangements for those with a big heart.

Flower Baskets

It appears really nice when you gift your loved ones in India flower baskets . Different flowers in attractive cane baskets of beautiful shape and design add a different and refreshing dimension to occasions. They are baskets filled with love.

Flowers in a Vase

Imagine the beauty of a room where there is a vase filled with bright flowers! They define the decor and convey a sense of goodness. Flowers in fashionable vases are gifts to enrich the life of those you love.

Gerberas

Gerberas , one of the most colorful flowers, have the advantage of being kept in a vase for a long time. They don't wither away easily. Having beauty of their own, gerberas only fascinate.

Orchids

There is a lot attributed to the charm of orchids . They can be presented all the year round. Having amazing shapes and colors, orchids are gifts to win a persons heart.

Roses

The king of flowers are roses . Red, pink, yellow or white, roses are a class apart. A nice looking arrangement of roses can be sent to India for expressing love, friendship or condolences. Roses are exceptional gifts for different occasions. They communicate a lot in very short time.

Flowers are all about higher emotions. They bring smile to faces and spread a sense of happiness which stays for a long time. Celebrating occasions like birthdays and anniversaries with flowers is fun! Flowers are always there as trusted friends when love blooms between two individuals. In times of condolence flowers help in expressing sympathy. Flowers have even a greater role to play; they help in mending bridges in relationships when differences occur. They have innumerable roles to play in life, roles which are divine. Flowers speak a thousand words which are prized and straight from the heart. A heart which beats all the time for ones who are special.

The author manages the website http://www.GiftsToIndia24x7.com which is a one stop shop for sending fresh flowers to India. Flowers to India can be sent on all occasions. The website displays a wide range of flowers which can be sent as gifts to India.

Modern life can cause stress. It's a fact that many people deal with on a daily basis: work deadlines, parenting struggles and relationship challenges are all in a days work. On the bright side, there is a relatively low-cost and all natural way of handling and combating stress. Flowers have been proven to relieve stress, plus beautify your home or office at the same time. Flowers are not only stress-busters, they evoke feelings of compassion, enthusiasm and energy - giving you a reason to start your day off right. Read on to learn more about how color affects mood and how strategically placed flowers can give you that extra boost when you need it most.

Color is everything!
Although we may not recognize it, we are affected by colors everyday. It is a fact that specific hues and shades of colors stimulate certain emotions - the same goes for flowers. Selecting a color of flowers is important based on your personality. Whether you are the type of person who needs to relax to relieve anxiety or would rather bring to mind feelings of cheerfulness to rid yourself of worries, you need to choose the color of your flowers according:

Red
A warm color that is all about energy and vitality. It can also be used for indicating anger and danger. Since red is the most emotionally intense color, using all red flowers may not be a good idea, depending on whether or not you like the color red. Red flowers can also have positive meanings when used in moderation - love, enthusiasm and exhilaration, all which are perfect for people who need that extra lift of energy sometimes. Red is also perfect for stirring up excitement, especially at night time.

Where to place red flowers: Since red is the color for stirring up excitement, than placing red in a living room or dining room can draw people together and stimulate conversations. In an entryway, red flowers create a strong first impression of your home. Red is usually considered too strong for bedrooms, so use flowers in a dark, intimate setting where the flowers will appear more rich and elegant. The best way to combat stress with red flowers is to place them where you can view them by lamplight to help you feel relaxed and at ease.

Orange
A warm color like red, orange represents energy, warmth, balance and vibrancy. Flowers such as roses, tulips and daisies are perfect for emulating spring-like geniality and childlike playfulness. Orange is also a great color for increasing energy levels. Orange flowers are used for bringing out all the emotions you need when starting off your day!

Where to place orange flowers: The warmness of orange flowers can be beneficial in a kitchen or exercise room. Placing flowers in your kitchen can help you boost feelings of compassion and enthusiasm, while giving you the liveliness needed to get though the day. Also, placing orange flowers in your fitness room can provide motivation for these groggy days, since exercise is also a great way to relieve stress.

Yellow
Associated with sunshine and summer, the color yellow communicates happiness. In chromotherapy, yellow is believed to stimulate nerves and purify the body. Yellow flowers such as tulips, lilies and roses are used to characterize new opportunity and growth. Using yellow flowers in a mixed bouquet can help you achieve feelings of cheerfulness, but be careful not to over do it, for the color yellow is also known to provoke frustration.

Where to place yellow flowers: Yellow flowers are perfect for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms, where this happy shade is energizing and uplifting. Placing yellow flowers in hallways, entryways and small spaces can make your house feel more open and airy. Using yellow flowers to get rid of stress is most effective in congested, tight areas where yellow flowers will make your home feel more welcoming.

Blue
The color of serene, blissful relaxation. The color blue is proven to lower blood pressure and slow respiration and heart rate. Blue is the perfect color for encouraging relaxation and tranquility. Even though blue may be great for resting, hardly any flowers grow naturally blue. Look for flowers such as an iris or rose, that can come in hues of the color blue. "

Where to place blue flowers: To promote relaxation, place blue flowers in bedrooms, bathrooms or dens. Blue flowers are perfect for resting the mind and soothing frustrations after a hard day at work. Lighter shades such as periwinkle, are known to provide calmness, while deeper shades can remind some people of sadness. Stick to softer shades of blue to provide you with comfort.

Purple
The color of richness, sophistication and creativity. Depending on how deep the shade, purple can bring about many emotions, such as motivation, fame, power and courage. Lighter shades of purple have a restful quality about them and are good for assuring a good nights sleep.

Where to place purple flowers: Purple flowers often provide the same restful quality of blue, without the chance of feeling "too blue." Purple flowers are beneficial in bedrooms and bathrooms, where they can promote unwinding, but they also have enough warmth to instil comfort and togetherness. Flowers in any hue of lavender are just right for a luxury evening of letting go of your troubles.

White
Although white is a neutral, it can have the same emotional impact as any other color. White usually symbolizes purity, cleanliness and innocence. White flowers can bring an airy lightness to any room and can help bring about emotions of spaciousness. If you have an area of your home or office that is crammed and cluttered, placing white flowers there can help beautify the space and provide a much needed break for you from the mess.

Where to place white flowers: Placing white flowers in areas where you generally tend to relax, such as bathrooms or bedrooms, can provide a tranquil and calming air about your space. White flowers have the power to provide a powerful comforting effect on the mind because of it's "plain" look. Also, placing white flowers such as roses and iris' in tight spaces can help bring a breath of fresh air into your living area.

Fresh cut flowers in your home can chase away moments of fear, worry, sadness and anxiety. People who regularly live around flowers are found to have less negativity in their thinking and are more active as a result of heightened productivity and energy. Flowers can also be used as a means of connecting and creating new bonds with others, making you less stressed about relationships. Welcome flowers into your life and experience the positive impact on your emotional well being!

Janna Hagan is the webmaster of [http://www.special-flower-delivery.com] Send flowers to family and friends online!

Tips for the beginner Gardener

Not all Garden flowers are created equal there are some easy grow easy care flowers that go above and beyond the call of duty, that bloom for months at a stretch. Every sensible Gardener should try to make these types of flowers the foundation of his/her flower garden. When you have areas of color you can rely on each season, you have extra time to invest in feature or specimen flowers that often require more specialized attention. Here are some tried and tested long blooming flowers for your home flower garden.

Rudbeckia (some times referred to as Black-eyed Susan) Perennial Flowers

USDA Zones: 3 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3 Months mid Summer- Mid Fall
Full Sun-Partial Shade
Rudbeckia flowers make themselves at home anywhere and many are native to many parts of North America you often see their bright yellow flowers growing along the banks of highway ditches. These flowers like well-drained, somewhat poor soil and full sun. Deadheading will extend their blooming period, a bonus is the fact that cut Rudbeckia flowers will last a long time in water so make excellent cutting flowers for the cutting garden and to bring into your home for vase displays. Their flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees and their seeds can be eaten by birds during the winter months. They are relatively long lived plants that require very little maintenance and are true easy care flowers, Rudbeckias can be easily multiplied by division. There are many varieties of hybridized Rudbeckia flowers but my favorite and most hardy is Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm", which are native North American wild flowers. Plants form upright bushy clumps offering a very generous display of brown-eyed, golden-orange daisies from midsummer through the fall. Plants may be easily divided in early spring and transplanted to other garden areas where their bright cheery flowers may add color to a more dreary spot

Veronica spicata (Spike Speedwell) Perennial Flowers

USDA Zones 3 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3-4 Months
These flowers start blooming in the spring and keep going all the way to the first frost. The genus speedwell includes a broad range of flowering plants, but Veronica. spicata is the most popular form chosen for most garden environments. It forms a low growing dense mass of dark green foliage from which arise its flowers in narrow upright spikes, many varieties are available bearing flowers in shades of blues, reds, pinks, whites and purples. Removing the faded flower spikes will keep the plants flowers in blossom for much longer. Drought tolerant, Veronica prefers a well-drained soil, excellent for cutting; the flowers are a favorite with butterflies. Clumps should be pruned hard if they get floppy and divided if they become bald in the center; time to divide these flowers is in the fall or early spring.
My favorite- Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist/or sometimes love in a puff) Annual Flowers

The Nigella flowers are delicate, feathery, often blue-flowers but can be obtained in shades of pink, purple and white, an annual, displaying delicate fern like foliage and attractive unusual eye-catching seedpods. They self-seed readily and to my mind this feature along with their incredibible beauty is why these flowers deserve inclusion as an easy care low maintenance flowers .They Come into bloom very quickly, if successive sowings are made every two or three weeks in the summer months by saving some of the previous years seed rather than allowing them all to self sow and merely scattering the seed on the soils surface, you will ensure a continuous supply of beautiful and unusual flowers all summer long, Nigella does well in warm or cool areas but prefers a slightly moist soil. you could not find easier to grow flowers ,I seldom rave over annuals to tell the truth there are only a few that I give garden space to but love in a mist is one of them they're a must have flowers for any new gardener.
My favorite-Persian Jewels (seeds) that include flowers from all Nigella's color ranges.

Day lily /Tiger Lily/Ditch lily/Hemerocalis fulva (Perennial Flowers)

The omnipresent Day Lily, found almost everywhere in North America, or at least it is if you live here in Ontario as it is one of the most beautiful of Ontario's wild flowers. a profuse propagator by means of tuberous roots. Transplanting is best in spring or fall, water generously after transplanting .They do not mind overcrowding, as a matter of fact these flowers look their best when in bloom in a large, close knit mass planted groups forming patches of bright orange flowers here and there, dotted around the garden .These wild flowers are incredibly easy to grow just try and stop them. They are at home in nature, or as a back drop or foundation flowers for your home garden. These Day lily's require little to no attention. they provide summer and fall interest and once established are a tall impenetrable ground cover I under plant and inter plant mine with other bulbs that display their flowers when the Day Lily is not blooming, they prefer moist to wet soils, but will grow anywhere sun or shade ,only two years ago I established a large patch in what was largely gravel just off my back patio That's why they grow so well in and near ditches hence one of there common name Ditch Lily, always seems a little insulting to refer to beautiful large star shaped orange flowers by such a demeaning name. Fertilizer is not necessary, except in the poorest of soils. These flowers do not need winter protection and once established, thrive and increase year after year.

For pictures of these plants and for many other easy care low and no maintenance flowers for your flower garden visit my website Gardeners Insights at http://wandasworx.com/gardening

Find cheap flowers online :-

Flower deliveries online is a huge business. This is because of the fact that women love to receive flowers. Even special events needs flowers and thus, if you search online, it is possible to find cheap flowers for any and all occasions. The trick however if you want to buy cheap flowers online is to purchase them way in advance. One month ahead of the actual event or occasions, you can find special deals that will make the price of the flower seem cheap.

Another trick online is to find an online flower shop that links to local flower shops in your area. They will surely provide you with discounts because delivery cost for the flower shop maybe avoided.

Final trick if you want to buy flowers online is to find coupons where you can find deals such as free delivery, 10% to 15% discount or dollar discount. This is the best way to find cheap merchandise online. Find coupon that will give discounts to your purchases. You may find discount codes, coupon codes or downloadable coupons to buy your flowers online. Couponing will make your purchase practical and thus your flowers will end up to be cheap flowers.

Find cheap flowers in flower districts :-

Some states have flower districts where you can purchase your flowers at bulk prices. You may need to drive at a distance but the discount you get from buying in a flower shop as compared to a flower district may seem worthy enough.

Another trick if you want to find cheap flowers is to buy it way in advance. Buy it a month before Valentines Day but schedule a pick up of course on the day of Valentines Day or the night before will still be practical.

Some flower shops even in flower districts provide the flowers at as discount if purchased way in advance because demand is still low and they want to be sure that the flower they will purchase for Valentines Day will have sure buyers.

Buying Flowers for Weddings or special occasions :-

Valentines Day is one event that flowers are very important. Thus, on that very day, the flowers are more expensive as compared with other dates before that.

If you have an event or wedding few days after this occasion, then you can surely buy your flower requirements cheaply. The demand that was on its peak on Valentines Day will make the flowers the day after offered at half the price.

Of course, if your event or wedding is not the day before, it may not be good to buy the day after Valentines Day. In this, you have to research and move around to purchase your flower requirements. It may not be cheap but shopping around will provide you a way to find cheap flowers.

Flowers are important especially for women, and thus you have to learn how to find cheap flowers if you want to please your woman.

At some point in our lives, we would experience the joy appreciating the beauty of flowers, the happiness in giving flowers or and the excitement of receiving them. A flower itself does not have any meaning, just like a cat or a fish. But it's the human emotion that gives a certain value to it and our interpretation gives it a consistent meaning over time. For example, you will see a man giving a bunch of red roses to express his admiration and love to a woman. But you will hardly see anyone with the same bunch of red roses at a funeral. The meanings of the same flower would evoke different emotions with different implications on a different context.

It is the same with flower tattoos. Different flower tattoos would evoke a different emotion and therefore a different meaning to the beholder. Not only the women are getting flower tattoos, some men like to ink them too. Most flowers have acquired a consistent meaning over time, but when you combine it with a different object in a tattoo, the meanings get altered altogether. Have you seen a black rose with a chain around it as a tattoo on a man's chest? Do you think the flower tattoo would mean love or perhaps hatred?

The fact is that flower tattoo designs are going to be popular. Dragons are popular with men but flowers are most sought after by women. Maybe it's the color, or the shape, or the scent of it or a combination of all the senses that makes people want to see, touch and smell it. Flowers can calm a person and gives you a sense of peace. Having a flower tattoo inked on your body is like having a permanent flower with you all the time, except this particular flower does not withered over time.

What most tattoo artists are concern about is the customer who is not sure of what she is tattooing and would like to change the design after the tattoo is permanently inked on the body. The sad truth is that tattoos cannot be removed easily without some form of scarring and pain. The reasons for wanting to change the design are varied, but one of the common reasons is that they did not understand the meaning of the flower tattoo until much later. So to prevent this kind of 'accidentally' tattooing the wrong flower on your body, here is a list of common flowers tattoos and their meanings.

1. Meaning of Rose Tattoo
Rose tattoos are stunning when done tastefully on a woman. So far it is the most popular tattoo with the females although we have seen men with rose tattoos. Somehow men shun away from flowers because the flower tattoo would mean a soft and gentle character and towards a feminine personality. It's is quite weird to see a huge macho muscular male with six packs and a flower tattoo on his arm. But if that flower tattoo is combined with a skull, then the softer meaning of the flower would be even out by the skull, which would mean guts, courage and fearless.

Different types of roses have different meanings. For example, the red rose means sincere love and respect, courage and passion. You have seen in the movies or maybe even done it yourself and give a red rose to a loved one to express your love and passion. So instead of giving a rose to a love one, you may want to tattoo the rose with her name on it on your arm or your chest. That way, that flower tattoo would mean you love and respect her forever. (But no skulls please) If you are able to get the tattoo artist to add in some colors to the flower tattoo, you may want to consider a yellow rose tattoo. Yellow roses meant jealousy in Victorian times. But in our contemporary world, they signify friendship, joy, gladness and freedom, the promise of a new beginning. A pink rose tattoo means grace and gentle, a white rose means spirituality and purity and a lavender rose means love at first sight. A blue rose tattoo means mystery and symbolizes "achieving the impossible". A black rose tattoo symbolizes death, either you are mourning the death of a love one or you are very pessimistic.

2. Meaning of Hibiscus Tattoo
The hibiscus flower is another popular flower tattoo with tattoo artists. The hibiscus flower is most commonly seen in the tropical country but is less often used as a gift. The hibiscus flower belongs to the family Malvaceae. It gets its name from the Greek words Hibiscus meaning "mallow" and rosa-sinensis meaning "Rose of China". The flower itself means delicate beauty. If you decide to ink the hibiscus flower tattoo, then other than its aesthetic attraction, it would symbolize exquisite and elegance. It would also mean you have grace and charm. Depending on the combination of colors, the hibiscus flower tattoo can really enhance a person's grace. You can combine the red flower tattoo with bright green petals. That would be really charming.

3. Meaning of Lily Tattoo
The Lily flowers are cherished for their fresh and calming colors and can be used for many occasions, like visiting a sick friend in the hospital. Lily has been an important flower ever since the Biblical period. According to the Bible, petals of white lily signify virginity, purity and the radiant soul of Virgin Mary. The Chinese and the Greeks have also used white lily to symbolize purity. To the Chinese, the lily flower is used to symbolize summer and abundance. The Greeks believe that Lilies were born out of the breast milk of Goddess Hera. The Lily flower is also associated with the Roman Goddess Venus. So inking the Lily tattoo would mean purity of the person and you want the tattoo to symbolize peace and harmony.

4. Meaning of Lotus Tattoo
In Buddhism the lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment. All the petals means the different constant struggles in our lives and the center of the flower represents the state of enlightenment. The development of the lotus from ground up symbolizes the awakening to the spiritual reality of life. For the Buddhists, Lotus symbolizes the most exalted state of man, his head held high and his feet rooted in the world of experience. You can see the Lotus flower carved into every platform supporting a statue of Buddha. It is a very powerful symbol and meaning in the religion.

This symbolism is also evident in Hinduism where the lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. According to Hinduism, within each human inhabiting the earth there is the spirit of the sacred Lotus. It represents eternity, purity and divinity and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, youth and describes feminine beauty. So a Lotus tattoo would be used as a symbol of life. The Lotus flower tattoo would be most suitable for those seeking an understanding of humanity and has probably been through the ups and downs of life. You may also use the Lotus tattoo to depict a struggle in life.