She’s there to hold your hand on the first day of school…
She’s always there to kiss it better when you hurt…
She’s there to be understanding and offer advice when you need it.

Most of us have very fond memories of our childhood days, when Mom made sure we had the very best! Always putting us first, whether she was the head of the household, head of a company or both! She is a perfect role model with her endless abilities, sensitivity, charm and her unconditional love.

Baseball practice, ballet lessons, piano recitals – not only did she drive you all over town, she would stay up late to make your costume, wash your uniform or bake cookies for the school bake sale. And she was always there – front row centre - to lend her support! She was and probably still is your biggest fan.

She always knew exactly what to do when you were sick and being in her hands helped you get well in no time. She taught you the meaning of love, the importance of friendship and the difference between right and wrong.

The History Of Mother’s Day…

Honouring our Mothers is not a new concept. Basically, this has been going on for centuries! The ancient Greeks were the first to pay homage to mothers. It was a spring celebration in honour of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600’s England began to celebrate “Mothering Sunday”, which is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In 1907, “Mother’s Day” began as a simple tribute to the memory of a mother who had passed away. Within the next few years, the idea was adopted by many throughout North America, and in 1914 was finally given it’s own special day… the second Sunday in May. Traditionally a carnation was worn… red if your mother was alive and white if she wasn’t.

Flowers For Mom…

From the very beginning, flowers have been a part of Mother’s Day. And sending flowers couldn’t be easier! Many of us don’t live in the same town, province or even country as our Mother’s do. But that doesn’t have to stop you from letting her know you remembered her on this special day. Your local florist can help you with what to send, and get it there – even if you leave it to the last minute. Today, with the 24/7 world we live in, your florist can get Mother’s Day Flowers delivered anywhere in North America usually the next business day, and overseas within two business days. And some Florists offer Same Day Delivery for your convenience. With so many beautiful flowers to choose from, a professional floral designer can create a bouquet exactly to your liking. Whether you are looking for something unique or traditional. If you are lucky enough to spend the day with your Mother, drop into your florist shop on the way and surprise her with an arrangement sure to make her smile. You can call ahead to place your order, or order on-line and your flowers will be waiting for you when you get there. She’s your Mom and she deserves the very best… This is a good time to reverse rolls and show her that you really do appreciate all she has done for you.

Flowers are a wonderful gift and are probably the first thing you gave her when you were a child. From that little handful of dandelions you picked yourself to an array of gorgeous blooms – let’s keep the tradition alive…send Flowers!

And Dads….. Don’t forget “First-Time Moms”. Think how excited she will be to receive her very first Mother’s Day gift from your little one.

Mom is a very special person. She got us through those awkward times growing up, taught us about life, and even made sure we got better when we were sick. That is why Mother’s day is such a special day. It is a day that is designated for us to tell mom that we appreciate her for everything she did for us while we were growing up and for the things that she does now. Even though a bouquet of flowers is just a small representation of how we feel about her, it lets her know that we remember everything she has done throughout the years.

But it does seem that Mother’s Day sneaks up on us quickly. We become so wrapped up in the things that are happening in our lives and then look at the calendar to see that Mother’s Day is just a day or two away. Sometimes the realization doesn’t happen until the day has arrived.

Buy flowers quick

When that special day is coming near, there are several ways in which Mother’s Day flowers can be taken care of quickly without making them look like they have been thrown together. There are actually services that can do flower delivery on the next day. These services can be found online and they can also be found in the phone book. All you have to do is describe what you want and they will put it together for you after billing a credit card. These are services that normally specialize in last minute Mother’s Day flowers. These types of things are expected by these businesses when the big day comes, so don’t think you’re the only one that is running late, but it would be very bad to forget your dear Mom on mothers day.

But what happens if it is Mother’s Day and you are just now realizing that fact? The good news is that you can also utilize services that do same day delivery. Simply choose what you want, pay for it, and Mom will have it sometime that day. If you don’t know exactly what you want or you don’t know much about flowers in general, Moms typically love flowers such as lilies, roses, daisies, and even orchids. The orchid is a unique flower that almost anyone can appreciate.

If you’re having difficulty deciding, think about flowers that your mom has had in the past and how well she enjoyed them. Does she like adorning her house with floral prints? Get her something that will match the floral prints and the themes in her home. Mom’s love it when things match and you can do that with flowers if you are not sure what to get her.

However, if you are really pressed for time, there are retailers that have Mother’s Day flowers already put together for you. You can run inside, pick out what you know your mom will love, and then present her with the beautiful gift. There is always a way to get those last minute Mother’s Day flowers even if you have to put them together all on your own. Unless you have experience putting together flower arrangements, it may not look like it came from a professional shop. However, your mom loves you and will look at them the same way she did when you brought home the Mother’s Day card that was stuck together by semi-wet glue! No matter what you do, she will know that you’re giving them to her out of the love that only a child can give. That makes them special no matter what.

People use flowers for a number of reasons. They are sent to people when something great has happened in their life, as an expression of love, for encouragement, and also for sympathy. Flowers are one of the great ways people let others know that they are thinking about them in both good times and in bad times. Unfortunately from time to time people will experience hard times and need to know that they are supported, particularly in a time of grief.

Flowers for sympathy

Flowers for sympathy are certainly not meant to take away the pain that comes during a time of grief. However, this gesture is a great way to let other family members and friends know that they are not alone in their grief; that they have someone by their side for support. It is an honorable gesture, a gesture of kindness, and one of respect. The act shows those grieving how the life of the deceased touched the life of the one sending the flowers.

The best sympathy flowers
The debate on what flowers are the best sympathy flowers has been ongoing for quite some time. Some may say lilies are the best while others say yellow roses are a great expression of sympathy.

Many people have their preferences and their favorites. You’ve probably even sat in a funeral home, looking at all of the different flower arrangements and thought, “that is an interesting choice of flower.” It is not at all common to see flowers that do not look like the traditional funeral flower.

However, flowers of many different colors seem to be favored and are an adequate choice for sympathy flowers. It is amazing how many buying flowers for sympathy do not think of the colors of the flowers. Then again, there are many who do. Even something as simple as picking out your favorite colors can be adequate.

What is ideal is buying flowers that were the favorite colors of the deceased, if that is known, and even finding out what their favorite flower was. If not known, pastels make a great choice and it is always safe to go with lilies and roses. A light pastel red makes a wonderful color of flower to show sympathy.

Real VS Artificial

The decision to use real or artificial flowers is generally made by the person who will be sending the flowers. Real flowers smell very sweet and give the grieving a comfortable feeling. However, the sender usually states that they want a particular arrangement to go to a specific person and may want the flowers to last them for a while once in their home. Many times these flowers may have a candle or another centerpiece included with them, which makes it ideal to choose artificial flowers.

If the sender knows the person receiving the flowers likes real over artificial, that is a great way to solve that dilemma when buying sympathy flowers. The idea is to give the grieving individual something that can be enjoyed in their time of grief.

The perfect flowers

With this said, it is fair to say that the best sympathy flowers are going to be those that are colorful. The flowers should also be either a favorite flower of the deceased or the person receiving the arrangement. If not sure, then roses and lilies make a great choice. Whether or not to buy real flowers or artificial flowers depends on what you would like the recipient to use them for. If you want to provide an environment that is comfortable, then the sweet aroma of real flowers can be quite soothing.

Everyone wants to be in love, especially on February 14th. If cupid has shot his arrow and hit his mark, then you are probably in love or at least “smitten” with someone special.

The Language Of Flowers is synonymous with the language of love and plays a very intriguing role in showing your affections. A bouquet of red roses speaks volumes as a Valentine token of love. Indeed, any beautiful floral bouquet can surely warm a heart. You can choose from a wide selection of cut flowers to create a stunning Victorian bouquet that will convey a message of caring and love.

“May fortune weave a wreath for thee of all her choicest flowers.”

Since Victorian times, Valentine’s Day cards have been adorned with hearts, flowers and yes, even our charming friend cupid, when paper lace Valentine Cards were sent by a “Secret Admirer”.

Times have changed in many ways. Feelings are no longer secret and flowers are not sent just by men …. nor only to lovers! Although the vast majority of men’s valentine day purchases are for their wives or girlfriends, statistics show that women send expressions of love to parents, sisters, daughters and friends.

However, did you know that 60% of men, from young to not so young, said they would consider it very romantic to receive flowers on Valentine’s Day? Sadly, only 40% claim to have been so honoured.

So ladies - surprise your lover this year! Show your romantic side and send flowers. And guys, don’t forget to dazzle your Special Valentine!!

Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic days of the year and the most popular gift to give is flowers. Flowers are possibly the most romantic token of your love and affection! Your local Florist can make choosing the perfect flowers for your loved one easy . . . whether you go with traditional roses or something different! Here are the top seven most romantic flowers in our book.

1. Roses. Clichéd perhaps, but still very romantic. The colour of rose you select means different things. Red is for passion, pink is romance, and yellow for friendship. But if yellow roses are someone’s favourite flower – why not? However, growers have produced so many beautiful colours that they just couldn’t keep up with different meanings for such a large selection. So whatever catches your eye – go ahead and start your own tradition!

2. Tulips. Tulips traditionally mean “perfect love” and are really a great alternative to the rose. Tulips come in a variety of hues, so it is pretty easy to find one that comes in your lover’s favourite color, even if that’s black. This simple flower really symbolizes the perfection of your love, with its sculpted petals and beautiful cup. A simple bouquet of tulips is ideal to give to your darling this Valentine’s Day.

3. Lilies. These elegant flowers are stunning when presented alone or in a cluster and do best when not combined with any filler. They are come in several colours, including red, white and yellow and symbolize beauty . . . just right for letting your girl know how lovely you consider her to be. Lilies really do embody beauty and create a very romantic environment.

4. Carnations. Another fairly traditional flower is the carnation. They come in hues like pink, yellow, white, and red, as well as more stunning shades of purple, burgundy and green. Some carnations even have dual colours, with the outer edge of the petals in red or pink while the main flower is white. Carnations have a longer shelf life then most cut flowers and can be quite stunning.

5. Orchids. The meanings of this delicate flower are many, including seduction, love, beauty and refinement. A single orchid can be a lovely way to tell someone that you care about them and is considered to be quite romantic. Plus, it’s about as far from the traditional rose as you can get!

6. Alstroemeria. is another popular flower for Valentine’s Day. This is very similar to the lily, in fact alstroemeria is often referred to as a Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas. A delicate blossom that is often variegated or spotted, these flowers are a beautiful gift for that special person in your life.

Flowers in general are a romantic gift for Valentine’s Day, but these flowers hold more romantic connotations than others. Whether you choose to go with the traditional rose or something a little more unique, you can guarantee that your gesture won’t be misinterpreted if you give flowers.

With flowers being the most popular gift on Valentine’s Day, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to purchase them. To be sure of the best selection and to avoid disappointment, most florists encourage you to put in an advance order. Then you can pick them up on the big day.

Definitely easier and faster for you! Browse through your local florist’s website to choose the bouquet you want to buy. Then you just need to specify when it will be needed. They can send it directly to your sweetheart, a great option if you have a long distance relationship.

However, if you want to do something extra special, you may want to phone or visit the flower shop in advance and discuss your options. While online ordering is fast and convenient, if you want to do something unique, it is best to discuss it directly with your florist. This way you can arrange to have the arrangement ready for you on the day you need it.

It’s wonderful to have fresh plants and flowers in your home and backyard. You get to enjoy their fresh, cheerful look and their amazing fragrances. So do your pets. Although most pets don’t bother with these,there are some pets enjoy plants a little too much, and may have a tendency to eat them. And while many plants wont hurt your dog or cat, some will– if you have pets, it’s important to consider their safety before planting or buying any kind of flower or plant.

Here, we’ll describe some of the dangerous plants that pose the biggest danger to your dog or cat and symptoms to look for.

1- Creeping Charlie. All parts of the plant. Creeping Charlie causing sweating and drooling. Symptoms are dramatic, but usually are not fatal.
2- Castor Bean. All parts are dangerous, but chewing the seeds is most dangerous. Castor bean causes nausea, abdominal pain, loose, bloody stools, dehydration, shortness of breath, thirst, bodily weakness, muscle twitching and convulsions, and even coma.
3- Johnson grass. Especially in younger plants, the leaves and stems are dangerous. They cause problems breathing, convulsions, coma, and death. Fortunately, an antidote exists for this plant, and can be given to the animal intravenously.
4- Jimson Weed. This plant causes an increase pulse rate, rapid breathing, restlessness, frequent urination, diarrhea, weight loss, weak pulse, convulsions, coma, and death.
5- Nightshade. This plant is dangerous for animals and humans alike. It causes hallucinations, severe intestinal irritation, diarrhea, sleepiness, numbness of skin and extremities, labored breathing, nasal discharge, weak and rapid pulse, paralysis, and severe shaking of the rear legs. It can be fatal.
6- Pigweed, Redroot. Pigweed causes trouble breathing followed by trembling and weakness, then potential coma and death.
7- Pokeweed, Inkberry. All parts of this plant cause diarrhea, colic, bloody stools, possible anemia, and occasionally death.
8- Rhubarb. The leaves of rhubarb plants are dangerous to pets. They cause trembling, difficulties breathing, weakness, diarrhea, and increase in drinking and urinating. They can be fatal.
9- Water Hemlock. Water hemlock is very dangerous and kills quickly. It causes dilated pupils, foaming at the mouth, muscles spasms, and convulsions. Death comes within 15 minutes to about 2 hours.
10- Yew. Yew causes problems breathing, trembling and weakness, heart problems, stomach irritation, and very sudden death.

There’s something very special about a meal garnished with bright flowers. It seems strange that anything so pretty could be anything other than strictly decorative, but some flowers also taste wonderful! Just as we can eat the leaves and stems of many types of flowering plants, we can also eat the flowers. The truth is, flowers have been used both to decorate food and flavour it for thousands of years.

Types of Edible Flowers

Alliums. Unlike most edible flowers, alliums are pungent and savory, as they come from blossoming onion-type plants like garlic, shallots or chives. Chive blossoms, which are a pretty lavender colour with a fluffy, thistle-like shape, lend a lightly onion-y flavour to a dish. Garlic blossoms are also pretty and come in either a light pink or white colour. They add a pleasant garlicky flavour to dishes, yet are milder than actual garlic. Both taste terrific in salads.

Borage. This plant has pretty star-shaped flowers in a bright periwinkle blue colour. The flowers themselves have a cool taste which is similar to a cucumber’s. They are a wonderful flower to float in drinks, like a punch or a lemonade, or they can be used to decorate fruity sorbets.

Broccoli Flowers. As a broccoli plant grows, the top part eventually turns into flower buds. If you let them sit for long enough before picking, each bud will turn into a bright yellow flower. These little yellow flowers have a bit of a broccoli flavour, and are also mildly spicy. They are wonderful in salads and stir-frys.

Carnations. These flowers can be soaked in wine, candied, or even used as cake decorations. The petals of a carnation are surprisingly sweet, but the white base they grow on is quite bitter. To use the petals as decoration, cut them away from the base and sprinkle them over cakes or salads. As an aside, carnation petals are one of secret ingredients used in the famous French liqueur, Chartreuse, and have been since the 17th century.

Chrysanthemums. These beautiful flowers are widely used in Japan and the rest of Asia as an addition to stir-frys. They can also be used to make a wonderful salad dressing. Mums are tangy and just a bit bitter, and can range in flavour from slightly peppery to tasting a bit like cauliflower. Their colour can be yellow, orange, red or white. Blanch whole flowers and remove the bitter base of the flower before eating.

Pansies. These are very popular flowers to use in salads or to garnish any dish. This is because, unlike most edible flowers, pansies can be eaten whole, allowing them to maintain their shape and making for gorgeous presentation on the plate. The flowers themselves have a slightly sweet, mildly grassy taste. When eating the petals only, you will note very little flavour from the actual pansy. If, however, you eat the whole flower, you will notice a slightly sharp green flavour, similar to the dandelion. Use pansies as pretty garnishes, sprinkle them in fruit salads and green salads, or use them in or on desserts.

Flowers are beautiful. They can brighten up a room and make everything in it seem more attractive and cheerful. For most people, a vase of flowers on the table signifies that the room is a happy, comfortable place to be. For most allergy sufferers though, a vase of flowers is far from inviting.

If you’re one of those unlucky people who enjoy fresh flowers but suffer from allergies, plastic flowers are not your only option. You just have to know which types of flowers are dangerous. Of the huge variety of flowers that you can plant or buy, there are many types that will affect your allergies very little, or even not at all.

Dangerous Flowers for Allergy Sufferers

The truth is, if your allergies are particularly severe, most flowers are going to affect you negatively. In general, the more harmful flowers are the ones that have a lot of pollen. So a good guideline when decorating with flowers is to avoid those that have visible pollen.

Tree flowers are particularly bad for allergy sufferers. If you are creating a flower arrangement, be careful not to include almond, cherry, orange or any other kind of tree blossom. Though they are beautiful flowers, they can have quite the detrimental effect on your allergies.

In addition, lilies can be a dangerous flower for allergy sufferers, as parts of them are covered in a powdery orange pollen. Strangely enough, however, they can also be a good choice for allergy sufferers, as it’s easy to simply remove the stems of pollen from each flower. Just have a friend or family member that doesn’t have allergies do this particular job for you, as the pollen will probably leave you sneezing in seconds!

Good Flowers for Allergy Sufferers

There are several types of flowers that affect allergy sufferers less. Chrysanthemums and daisies can be a good choice for those worried about their allergies. Because while regular mums and daisies do have lots of pollen, there are new hybrid types of these flowers called formal doubles that do not have any pollen at all, and therefore won’t aggravate your allergies. Forma double flowers were bred so that the parts of the flower used to produce pollen now produce petals. Watch out for regular mums and daisies, however, as they can affect your allergies. If in doubt, ask your florist.

Another great choice for the allergy sufferer is the rose. Roses are some of the most beautiful and elegant flowers you can find, and fortunately for allergy sufferers, they don’t have much effect on allergies. The reason for this is that their pollen is too large in size to be able to become airborne and truly infiltrate the respiratory system. If you’re still worried, choose a bouquet with little or no smell as less smell equals less pollen.

Last but not least, one of the best kinds of flowers for allergy sufferers is the orchid. Orchids are gorgeous and exotic flowers that come in an amazing variety of shapes and colours. Very few types of orchids cause any pollen-related allergies, and so are quite safe for those allergic to most flowers.

Orchids

There are more than 25,000 species of this rare and beautiful cone-shaped flower. While some of them are extremely expensive, rare and difficult to look after, other varieties are affordable, common and simple to grow. The Lavender Orchid is a great pick for those new to growing this plant.

Hibiscus

There are 10,000 named varieties of the tropical Hibiscus flower. These beautiful and colourful flowers come from places like Florida, Hawaii, Jamaica or India, and are representative of their lush, tropical environments. Hibiscus are wonderful for decoration because the flowers will not wilt until their natural time to close, even if they aren’t watered. In addition, storing Hibiscus in the cold slows down the flowers closing by a few hours. Opening buds can be picked early in the day, stored in a cool place and brought out for your evening centrepiece.

Torenia

Also known as the Wishbone Flower, these annuals and perrenials originate in tropical Asia and Africa. Torenia grow to be about a foot tall, with toothed, ovular leaves. They produce a striking amount of beautiful pouched flowers that can grow to be an inch across, and they are noted for their wide range of beautiful colours. Tornias can be grown with proper care in an environment that maintains a temperature of 70 degrees or more.

Lamium

Also known as White Nancy, Lamium is a beautiful ground-covering plant with white heart-shaped leaves and short spikes of pink flowers. Lamium blooms in the summer, can grow up to eight inches tall and are tolerant of a wide variety of soil conditions. Although the Lamium is accepting of different soil conditions, the optimal growing conditions are in shady, wooded areas.

Portulaca

Portulaca is an annual group of flowers that come in several varieties. Native to Brazil, Portulaca grow stems that spiral up to five inches long and they have cylindrical leaves with bright, colourful flowers up to an inch in diameter. The flowers come in many different colours like purple, yellow, pink, scarlet. To cultivate Portulaca successfully you need to plant them in a spot with plenty of sunlight and sandy soil.

Gazania

Gazania, native to South Africa, is a beautiful, perennial ground cover with colorful daisy-like flowers. Gazania flowers boom in late spring to early summer and come in shades of yellow, orange, white and pink. Gazania thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil.

Pentas

Simple to cultivate, easy to care for, and beautiful to behold, Pentas is a wonderful choice for your garden. Pentas is native to tropical Africa and its beautiful red, pink, white and lavender blooms are well-known for attracting hummingbirds. The plant grows up to three feet tall and wide and does well indoors, potted in a sunny spot or outside in warmer climates.

Lavatera

Though named for a Swiss botanist, Lavatera are actually native to the Himalayas, Siberia and Australia. These plants come in several varieties, both perennial and annual, and can have bush-like growth or tall straight stalks. Their large, beautiful flowers last only a day or two before wilting, but new flowers are continually produced for an extended period of time.

Sedum

Sedum, which come in hundreds of varieties, are an easy to grow, late-blooming, hardy plant. Sedum plants have thick stems, fleshy leaves, and flowers that resemble lavender broccoli. These plants do best in well-drained soil and can tolerate both droughts and rainy weather. Because they bloom so late in the year, they often remain attractive throughout the winter.

Abutilon

Also known as the Flowering Maple, the Abutilon is a beautiful plant that does well indoors. Abutilon’s lovely blossoms range in colour from red, yellow, and blue to shades of orange. Depending on how much space it has to grow, Abutilon plants can become very large, which is why the plant is best kept indoors in a small to medium sized pot.