The Wondrous Beauty Of The Seasonal Flowers Of Japan!

Perhaps the most famous seasonal flowers in Japan are the Japanese cherry blossoms which bloom every year in late spring, beautiful pink and white blooms whose scent fills the streets, wafting their way into windows and cracks in doors. As the flowers bloom and fall they carpet the area beneath the trees, with several trees in a row it can look like a carpet of pink leading off into the beautiful hills of Japan.

The Sakura blossoms as they are called in Japanese are a huge tourist attraction and are part of a spring festival that takes place in Japan every year. The celebrations include huge fireworks shows and much drinking and partying. If you think Japan is full of quiet, withdrawn people then you havent been to Japan during their spring Sakura festival. Japanese culture is all about nature and in Haikus any reference to the cherry blossoms is a reference to spring and the joy of new life. The cherry blossoms have become so popular that they are instantly recognizable as a symbol of Japan. Their incredible beauty and ephemeral nature has come to represent human life in Japanese culture.

Plum blossoms also find their way out of the cold and snow in spring, although much earlier in the season than cherry blossoms. These delicate purple buds are considerably less celebrated than the Sakura blossoms, however during the Edo and Momoyama periods they were all the rage in Japan, becoming the focus of painting compositions. Japanese painting is a search for perfection, a Japanese artist can dedicate his or her life to perfectly capturing the essence of a Plum blossom in spring or a cherry blossom and will dedicate twenty or thirty years only to painting these flowers.

The Iris and Morning Glory are also to be found seasonally in Japan. Irises are also spring flowers with beautiful dark purple petals and a complementary yellow inner ring. Morning Glories are gorgeous blue flowers that bloom in the morning and fade by late afternoon. Seasonal flowers are important in Japanese poetry and literature as the Japanese are very much concerned with subtlety and so any reference to a Sakura blossom indicates the poem is set near the end of spring and so on. Ceramic ornaments, lacquered dishes and kimonos are often decorated with highly stylized versions of these seasonal flowers.



By Sarah H

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A Guide for Choosing Perfect Valentine's Day Flower

Valentines Day is globally accepted as the special day for expressing love towards the special people. It has become hugely popular among all the sections of the society. And people of all ages are joining in on the days celebrations with enthusiasm.

To make the occasion more special, it is a very novel idea to exchange gifts. Even though it can be indeed a tough task to come up with varied gift ideas, flowers for ages have played the role of a perfect gift. Flowers represent eternal beauty and thus can be an apt expression for love.

How to make the choice

Valentines day gift should be as special as the day itself. The choice of the Valentines Day gift should be done rationally. The flowers perfectly suit the occasion and the atmosphere to the tee. It is very necessary to keep few things in mind while making the choice of the flower. The primary thing to look out for is the nature of the flowers. The receiver must like the flowers selected.

Keeping in mind the nature of the occasion, the flower chosen should be very vibrant in color. If the flower imparts good fragrance then it will add to the essence of the occasion. Flowers are often considered as feminine so it can be the perfect Valentines for wife.

There are few popular choices among the flowers. And to make the valentines gift presentation even more special, present the flowers with candy or another special gift. Popular flowers to give in February for this event are:


Roses

Carnations

Tulips

Daffodils

Hyacinths

Tuberoses

Freesias

To choose, consider what the recipient likes; favorite colors and scents (some are stronger than others), size (will they go in a small area or a large empty dining room). Ask the florist for help.

Presentation of flowers

The next thing to consider when choosing flowers is the packaging and presentation. The packaging and presentation of the flowers should be as such that they make the right impact on the receiver. And there are several experts available in the market that assists in designing a bouquet of flower.

Foremost to consider is the container of the flowers. Several options like baskets and pots are available in the market as the container for the flowers. Flowers can even be presented simply by tying the stems. And there are many decorative items that can be put in the bouquet of flowers.

A good caption or a nice card can be attached to the bouquet of flowers. Flowers can be the perfect gift for valentine. It is the messenger of love and prosperity.




By Natalie Aranda

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The Difference Between Annual and Perennial Flower Gardening

One of the most wonderful gifts that God has bequeathed this earth is the gift of vibrant and radiant flowers. It is truly hard to imagine a world without these colorful blooms that give life to our surroundings and uplift our spirits. Although there is a great variety of flowering plants, gardeners make things simpler by classifying them as either annuals or perennials.

Annual flowers are those that complete their lifecycle in only one growing season, which means that they grow foliage, bloom into flowers, set seed and dies all in just one year. Perennials on the other hand are more long lasting as they are able to re-grow and last for more than two years. Just looking at their lifespan, it is clear that annual and perennial flowers both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

By knowing these, it will be easier for you to make your choice as to which you will prefer to plant in your garden. For one, because of its short life span, it is important to know that annuals require more work than perennials because you will have to replant annuals each year. Not to mention, perennials are generally easy to care for and less prone to pest problems, thus are low maintenance compared with annuals.

However, take note that even though perennials have longer life spans than annuals, annual flowers bloom for a longer time, giving you more time to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the blooms, which last all throughout summer. Perennials flowers wilt more quickly and as a result you will have to content yourself in watching their foliage, which some gardeners find equally interesting and appealing.

Also, annuals are said to be more vibrant and colorful than perennials. But this part is of course a subjective area and depends largely on peoples personal taste. What is true however is how perennials are better investments than annuals in the sense that even if perennial flower seeds are more expensive than annuals, in the long run you will find that you are saving more with perennial seeds because they last for a longer time. Looking again at the aesthetics of the annuals, aside from having colorful and radiant blooms, annuals also provide excitement by giving your garden a brand new look each year, which is not possible if you are stuck with the same perennials every year.

However, those who are sentimental and have grown to love their perennials will not look at it as being stuck rather they see their plants as loyal friends and are grateful for having them for company for a long time. All things considered, it is not really a debate on which flower is more beautiful or longer lasting or easier to care for. What matters is choosing the right type that will suit your personality, abilities, and needs as a gardener.

If you are still torn between the two, consider growing both of these plants in your garden which will give you the loyalty of perennials and the radiance of annuals.

Jeff Dahlberg is the owner of an excellent cheap seeds website. If you have any questions about gardening or on the article, please contact him



By Jeff M Dahlberg

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A Man's Guide to Flower Delivery at the Office

The following guide will save you many headaches, and potential embarrassments, when selecting flowers for a coworker. Most men probably think roses are always a safe bet, but depending on the situation roses may not be well-received. In fact, sending roses when the situation is not appropriate makes you appear a little too forward, especially at the office where overt displays of affection are generally unwelcome. Deciding when and what flowers to send is the hard part, so here are a few of the best flower selections for those you appreciate.

Employee Illness
In most large organizations it is customary to send a flower arrangement to a coworker who is seriously ill. It is a nice reminder to those feeling blue that their friends at the office are thinking of them, and wishing them a speedy recovery. An arrangement of sunflowers makes an uplifting bouquet. Be sure to check with hospitals before ordering as some have implemented strict policies on flower deliveries. If necessary, have the order delivered to the employee's home address.

Death of a Loved One
If a coworker suffers the loss of a loved one you should consider sending an arrangement of flowers to their home. Consider asking the flower shop if you can include a hand written sympathy card as this makes the gesture more personal. Irises and tulips in pale shades of blue, yellow and purple are good flower selections.

Birthdays
Sending a big bouquet of lilies to a coworker on their birthday will have the desired effect of drawing lots of attention and brightening the mood of the entire office. Tread carefully here. If you send a birthday bouquet to your secretary, but not the office receptionist, employees could cry favoritism and your entire plan of improving employee morale will backfire.

New Additions
If one of your employees has become a new parent send over an arrangement of flowers to the maternity ward. Don't worry about pinks for girls and blues for boys, just stay with bright colors of seasonal flowers such as tulips or hydrangeas in the spring and summer months.
Apology
If you are like most men admitting you screwed up is about as easy as asking for directions, but simply owning up to your goof is not enough. Sending a simple flower arrangement along with a handwritten card will go a long way towards healing hurt feelings. Don't go overboard here or else your flowers will look more like a bribe. Stick to something simple like orchids in a small arrangement.




By Frugal Dad,

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Hydrangea Planting Guide

With hydrangea planting, you first need to choose what type of hydrangeas you wish to plant. There are many different varieties, all of which grow to different heights, work better in some areas, than in others, and require different levels of care.

For the most part, you will find hydrangeas very large and beautiful plants. With hydrangea planting determine the area you wish to plant, this will help you in determining the specific plant you want in regards to height. You can expect a hydrangea to grow anywhere from four to twelve feet tall, so you want to take this into consideration when planting.

Furthermore, choosing the site is probably the hardest thing about hydrangea planting. You have to be really careful of where you choose to plant your hydrangea. First, consider the amount of sunlight the area gets, as well as when it gets the most sunlight. Most hydrangeas thrive in areas that receive partial to full sunlight. Performance is at its best when the plant receives full sun in the morning hours and shade during the afternoon areas.

Next, look for an area in which the plant will be protected from wind. In an area that experiences high wind the foilage will dry out and cause extensive stress on the hydrangea. Because hydrangea planting is one of the easiest and requires the less fuss, you can relax knowing the the plant can grow in many different types of soil. However, you do want to check the soil and make certain it remains moist and is prime for a plant. You will have no problems in growing the plant itself in soil with lower pH levels, however, you will find that the soil itself can have a direct impact on the bloom color.

Hydrangea Planting - When To Plant

The most beneficial time of the year to plant hydrangeas is during the early months in the fall season. You should case out the area you wish to plant and make sure you place compost in the soil mixture. Know the size of your root ball, this will help in determining the width of the hole you need to dig. You should dig a hole that is about twenty-four inches wider than that of the root measurement.

Hydrangea Planting - Care

Hydrangeas require relatively little fuss. You may need to prune the plant lightly to ensure a healthy plant. Fertilization is recommended on a twice yearly basis, once in the latter part of the fall season and once during the early part of spring. It is recommended when fertlizing, that you use a slow release compound. Be sure you do not over fertilize the plant or you may find that you have beautiful foilage, but little to no flowering.



By: Lee Dobbins

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