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I ask myself, like I am sure many others do, what makes a flower green? I am somewhat environmentally conscious, I know anything from dish detergent to cars can be green. But I have always looked at flowers as being part of nature and just obviously green. But this is not the case…

With Mother’s Day coming up, it would be a nice idea to make sure that you and your mother’s conscience is clear. Buying locally grown flowers is the first step toward making smart choice.

By buying flowers locally, you ensure that the money you spend is spent well and that your gift is even better thought out. This way a difference can be made with every penny you spend. Flowers24hours.co.uk, works with local flower wholesalers, meaning your flowers travel a lesser distance and pollution from fossil fuels is minimized.

Eco-conscious consumers are already making carefully thought out choices when they purchase paints, cabinets, floors and other cleaning products. Now, flowers are also being added to the list of things to buy green.

Many factors go into making a flower green, primarily; the use of pesticide, sustainable crop production, ecosystem protection and fair labour prices. But the point of agreement for most the most important aspect is that flowers are bought locally.

This movement for greener investments in flowers began in Europe and was not taking all that seriously by the rest of the world. But now many countries are following suite. People are not just looking at how much money is being spent but where.

There is only one drawback, to buying flowers green; the fact that some flowers are only available during certain seasons. But most of us can live with that, as almost every season has something beautiful to offer!

You can be sure you are making an environmentally conscious decision, when you order from Flowers24hours.co.uk! Especially, now that among several other awards, we received a ‘Highly Commended’ award for Best Green Business at the Lambeth Business Awards. Let your mum know that you care about her and the environment you live in!

Spring is just around the corner and so are spring shopping trips. We are soon going to be searching the shops for dresses, necklaces, cardigans and other light apparel. In addition to these regular spring purchases, it will be important this spring to keep flowers in mind.

This spring flowers will not only be delivered to your front door, but will become a crucial part of staying trendy for spring.

This years trends are proving to be quite decadent, and flower pins and accessories are a part of the ruffles, feathers and shine that will be adorning our spring wardrobe.

Along with flowers, romance is also a hit this season with soft fabrics, blouses, floral prints, pearls and gentle colours filling the stores.

Most of have met with flower pins, especially fans of the hit series “Sex and the City.“ Sarah Jessica Parker brought this trend to life about 10 years ago, and it looks they are seeing another run in the store isles.

This is a fairly flexible accessory, as it can be worn in your hair, on handbags, jackets and they can even attached to necklaces. They can also be worn with just about anything.

Not only are flowers appearing separately as pins, but they have been incorporated into many pieces of clothing for this upcoming season. They can be found anywhere from shoes to the neckline of a dress.

Floral prints are also very popular, and there is no need for minimalism this year. Flower prints are big and bold.

Spring fashion trends can also become a deciding factor in the gifts we choose for this spring events. If you are stuck on what kind of gift to get for an important occasion, make your decisions based on fashion trends.

This basically means that you can go for either bouquets that are refined and romantic, choosing pearly colours and small details. Or if you are looking for something bold then go all out choosing bright colours and big flowers. Flowers24hours.co.uk., can help your gift even more smashing by having it delivered for you at the time and place you wanted.

Some girls may have had their fill of asking their boyfriends, why they aren’t getting flowers. The answer is simple, some men simply don’t understand the reasoning behind giving this kind of gift. They see them as impractical, all they do is wilt away and end up in the garbage.

Many men out there are not aware of the symbolic nature of flowers. How they can show affection; a simple purple violet can show that you have fallen in love at first sight, while, a simple variation in the shade of pink in a rose, and already you are saying something different.

Women are a bit more adept at reading into the meaning behind the rose. That is why it is important for men to begin understanding flowers, a bit better, it can make communication all that much easier.

It is important to understand that flowers house a world of meaning which extends to just about every culture in the world. Flowers are not just sappy ‘girly’ romance.

For example, in Greek and Roman times, flowers were a symbol of honour and power, and they were, in fact, given to men. Spirituality is symbolized by flowers for Hindus. The male deity, Hindu, is represented by the lotus flower. Another good example of floral symbolism, is the War of the Roses, roses symbolized two warring houses and held deep meaning.

If you have been yearning for a bouquet of flowers from your boyfriend; there is quite a bit of history behind flowers to show they are not a senseless gift, but something integral in to almost every society. This is why you deserve a bouquet too!

If you are a guy that hasn’t sent a bouquet recently, or maybe ever, pick out a bouquet and make that special girl happy. The moment she receives those blooms will make that bouquet priceless.

If this is the first time you give this kind of gift, don’t get to lost in the meanings. Pick a bouquet that has her favourite flowers or colours. While Flowers24hours.co.uk, will make the delivery process a breeze.

Days spent in the hospital recovering can be difficult, and sometimes the only thing that can brighten a person’s day are the flowers, fruit and chocolates brought to them by friends and family. However, for the past decade or so there has been an ongoing debate over, whether giving flowers as gifts is good practice. In most hospitals bringing flowers to patients is not permitted.

Hospitals claim that flowers bring an added risk of infection, while spilt water and broken vases are said to be dangerous. The fact that flowers and other plants have been proven to have a positive effect on the recovery rates of patients, has been proven by several studies.

Research has shown that although it is possible to find bacteria in the water of cut flowers, but there is no evidence that this kind of bacteria has ever caused infection. As we all know putting bleach in the water kills bacteria, and extends the life of cut flowers, so this problem can easily be solved.

Flower vases, are just as dangerous as jugs or glasses of water, though it has been argued that the water found in vases could cause accidents with electrical equipment.

There is evidence that patients who are recovering from surgery, need less painkillers if they are in a room with flowers. It has also been shown that these patients are less anxious, feel less pain, have lower blood pressure and less chances of having a high heart rate.
This ban seems to have a closer link to the added work posed by the care for these flowers. Nurses face a lot of pressure in the current healthcare system, and are often unable to handle this extra work load.

What should we do, if a friend or relative is in the hospital and we still want to show them our love and care? The first step to take, is contacting the ward to find out whether or not bringing flowers is permitted. If it is possible, make sure the flowers you take are not big and hard to manage. Avoid taking a glass vase, other options are flowers placed in florist’s foam or a plastic container. Make sure the vase or foam has a firm base, ensuring that it does not tip over. Flowers that have strong scents should also be avoided.

Flowers24Hours.co.uk, can also provide you with some other gift ideas, giving teddy bears and chocolaters, with a small flower can be just as heartwarming as a big bouquet!

Sources: Guardian.co.uk

Winter can be long and tiring, and after the long cold months have passed there is nothing more refreshing than seeing spring bulbs pushing their way through the spring soil. They bring us tons of colours right at the beginning of the season, along with the hope for milder weather. It is also a lucky situation for gardeners — not only do they offer colour but they are easy to care for.

This is the time of year when you need start investing in spring, to get your bulbs into the ground. Once you have chosen your bulbs, they need to be placed and planted properly and you are on your way to having a beautiful spring garden.

Make sure you plant them in an area where they are sure to get lots of good sunlight. The drainage also needs to be good as bulbs can rot. If your soils are poorly drained, you need to run organic matter through them to make an improvement.

The size of the bulb dictates the depth at which you need to plant. The rule of thumb is to plant three times as deep as the bulb is wide. Bulbs like snowdrops, crocuses and scillas should be planted at 4 to 6 inches deep, while bigger ones like hybrid tulips, daffodils and hyacinths should be planted at a depth of 8 inches…

[Via: CBS]

A lack of funds is not a good excuse for the fact that your walls are bare. Not everyone can afford Picasso or Renoir, but a bit of creativity does not cost a penny. This time of year is as good as any to create botanical prints.

This form of floral decoration dates back to Victorian times, when scientist’s leaves and flower specimens were made into art.

Botanical prints are too intrusive so you can make them fit in just about any room.

If you get several matching frames you can really create a point of interest in just about any room.

Botanical prints are not at all difficult to make — they can become the product of a walk in the park. The only thing you need to be sure of is that you are not picking somebody else’s flowers!

You need to gather fresh flowers and other foliage, dry them out and put something heavy on them to press them out. The time they take to dry varies from flower to flower…

[Via: nydailynews.com]

Gardening has a gone a long way over the past few decades, and now garden centers have a wide variety of things to offer, for just about any garden or gardener. Here are some basic things you should know before starting your own garden.

Annuals are important for most gardeners. This category includes impatiens, begonias, geraniums and marigolds. They do not need much care and bloom for most of the summer season, almost until the first frost. Gardeners are getting creative with the containers they plant them in, using anything from sneakers, paint cans, old bathtubs, cinderblock or other planters.

Perennials are a bit more permanent – they bloom each spring, and their tops die out each autumn, but roots stay alive underground. There is a wide variety of perennials to choose from in different heights and colours, and they bloom at varying times during the year.

Finally biennials bloom a bit longer than annuals but not as long as perennials. They usually live for about two years, developing their root system and above ground stem and leaves in the first year, and flowers in the second year, after which the plant dies…

[Via: examiner.com]

It seems that most gardeners and hummingbirds seem to have a similar taste in flowers. But many gardeners have not yet realized how great the penstemon or the beardtongue is. These easy-to-grow flowers are native to North America, and are a favourite of hummingbirds.

They grow an upright stalk, off of which dozens of flowers shaped like bells grow, and this shape is exactly what hummingbirds and bees like to go for.

The beardtongue and other wildflowers usually reach their blooming peak in August in mountainous areas, so this is where you can usually find hummingbirds at this time of year.

At lower elevations this flower will bloom in late spring or early summer, but the purple varieties seem to stick it out in August, as well.

Beardtongues can be found at many nurseries and they come in many different sizes to suit your taste. For drier areas it is best to get a smaller variety, but if you have a nice fertile flower bed, then a larger type can be great for borders in a garden.

[Via: wenatcheeworld.com]

Your garden may be looking a bit drab at this time of year and if you are looking for something to brighten things up for autumn, try introducing some pots or containers with some new flowers.

Bill Calkins from Simply Beautiful Flowers says, “Just as bright, lively varieties fill our flower beds and containers with cheer in the spring, autumn-coloured flower selections can add beautiful elegance to a home and accent the landscape as the colours begin to change.”

“Fall is a great time to experiment with texture and colour in your container gardens. While mums and asters can be spectacular and classic in a autumn container garden, there are lots of other choices that will last beyond the first frost. Try combining different heights and forms, or go simple and pot a single dramatic plant in a beautiful container.”

Go to your local garden center to see what is available and from there you have a world of choices. It is up to your creative time to make something beautiful out of your end of summer garden.

[Via: cleveland.com]

For years gardeners who plant bulbs have really stuck to the saying “strength in numbers.” Planing masses of bulbs together to create an impact of colour at the end of winter and early spring.

But plant and flower design has started to evolve and one Dutch landscape architect has decided to create less of an impact and to give his bulbs a bit of space.

Coming up with new combinations of tone of and colour Jacqueline van der Kloet has been choosing her bulbs carefully and planting them between a scattering of perennials.

Sally Ferguson, spokeswoman for the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center says, “Jacqueline’s idea of liberating tulips and other bulbs from drifts is radical. Perennials become the bones. The underlying tulips, daffodils and other flesh out the early growth with their subtle colours.”

She is not the only one who has caught onto this idea, many landscapers have been using bulbs in a more natural way. Most bulbs originate from Asia, where they grow in solitude in mountainous areas, and this trend in gardening is really bringing them back to nature.

[Via: freep.com]