Archive for March, 2008
“The breeze and the dew make tranquil the clear dawn; Behind a curtain there is one who alone is up betimes. The Orioles sing and the flowers smile – whose then, after all is the spring. Li Shange-Yin
Flowers enhance the appearance of any room
Participants in the Harvard study reported the greatest mood-boosting effects when fresh cut flowers were placed in common areas of the home such as the kitchen, dining room and family room. To make a small room appear more spacious use bold colored arrangements near the entrance of the rooms and more subtle shades of the same color theme around the room.
Or brighten an office with colorful, spring flowers. Here are just a few ideas
Place bud vases in high traffic home areas – with even just a few flowers. Any decorative glass from the kitchen will do!
The kitchen table might be the best place for flowers, because it’s where people gather together.
Stop by a florist or supermarket, where you’ll find a wide selection of flowers from which to choose. 
Decorate any table in the house with fresh flowers to brighten a corner, or add life to a room.
The foyer, entryway or sunny window always look good with a vase of fresh flowers.
Fill open spaces bold flowers. An abundant arrangement of lilies, gladiolus, sunflowers and other large blooms create an inviting environment for an expansive entryway or dining room. 
A bouquet can also perk up personal spaces such as bathrooms and bedrooms. 
flowers on a windowsill make a perfect accent to your view. 
Those looking in and those looking out can enjoy the healing power of fresh flowers.
Make it a family affair! Gather flowers from your favorite florist and let the kids help put them together.
For more information on how flowers in the home can lift the spirits, visit http://www.aboutflowers.com/decorating_b3.html
Stop by your local florist and pick up a beautiful bouquet (or several) of your favorite cut flowers. If you are in South Broward (Florida) be sure to stop by Eden Florist (in lovely downtown Miramar). Tell them Heidi sent you! (Society of American Florists - aboutflowers.com)
March 29th, 2008
Really, it is “Make up Your Own Holiday Day,” so I decided to call today March 26, Florists Day!
How can you celebrate? By calling up your favorite florist and saying HI! And thanking her or him for taking such good care of your business.
You can send a card, postcard, a screensaver, an email greeting (or a check – *SMILE) if that feels right.
How about a virtual flower to your favorite florist? You can even build your own flower garden.
The other 364 days of the year are Customer Appreciation Days (and so is today) so you may be hearing from us
Have a happy Florists Day,
Heidi & Staff – Eden Florist & Gift Baskets (in lovely downtown Miramar)
March 26th, 2008
Lily (lilium candidum) ~ Purity
” My beloved has gone to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens,
and to gather lilies” - Song of Songs 6:2 –
The lily, regarded as the symbol of purity, is one of the oldest flowers in the world. It can be found painted on the walls of ancient Greek palaces where it was the personal flower of Hera, the moon goddess. Legend has it that the first lily sprang from the tears dropped by Eve when she left the Garden of Eden. A garden is portrayed as the dwelling place of the gods in the religions and mythology of nearly every ancient nation in the world. Indian literature states that the gods resided in the Garden of Indra, among fruits and flowers giving immortality to all who visited. Many sacred meanings – handed down from generation to generation – have been given to the plants that first grew in these incredible gardens, and since dedicated or symbolic to the gods and prominent figures of the world’s religions..
In biblical times all the way through the Middle Ages, the emphasis of flowers was for their fragrance, their healing powers, not for decorative purposes, and perhaps more so for their sweet smell since bathing was not a regular activity. Decorating with flowers is a relatively modern term. The bible only mentions picking of flowers once, as referred to in the above sited verse from Song of Songs. And the Mishna speaks of the picking of lilies (Toh. 3:7). According to the Mishna, rose gardens existed for their fragrance and were used in preparation of perfumes.
Some of the flowers mentioned in the Talmud are the narcissus, jasmine and saffron, each widely used both for aromatic and medicinal purposes.
Abraham Ibn Ezra probably had the White lily in mind when he stated that the names Shoshan and Shoshanna are derived from the Hebrew word “Shesh,” which means six. The white lily has six white petals, as well as a pistil and five staman – six in total. This large, beautiful flower is often referred to today as the White Mountain Lily or Casa Blanca Lily and can still be found in forests in Galilee and Mount Carmel areas of Northern Israel.
“And the stately lilies stand
Fair in silvery light
Like saintly vestals, pale in prayer;
Their pure breath sanctifies the air,
As its fragrance fills the night.”
- Anonymous -
Order a Lily bouquet from Eden Florist
To read more about the Language of Flowers visit Eden Florist’s Language of Flowers
March 24th, 2008
Aries – March 21-April 20th Aries are spontaneous, risk takers. They love competition, always going for the gold. They champion the underdog and welcome a good debate.
Aries flowers are amaryllis and tulips both, which compliment their confident nature.
Need to order flowers for the Aries in your life? Visit EDEN FLORIST
March 21st, 2008
Narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for all daffodils. Botanists differ, but there are at least 25 species, some with a great many different forms, and several natural hybrids. In addition to the species, the current printout of the Daffodil Data Bank lists over 13,000 hybrids which are divided among the twelve divisions of the official classification.
Between Mohammed and the 16th Centry, daffodils were relegated to the wild and were essentially forgotten. However, around or about 1629 a group of Englishmen took the daffodil out of the weeds and put it into the garden. Daffodils were in favor again.
Daffodils were brought to Britain by the Romans who thought that the sap from daffodils had healing powers. Actually the sap contains crystals that can irritate the skin.
Greek mythology gives us the term narcissus. There was a young Greek named Narcissus. A nymph called Echo was in love with him, but Narcissus broke off the relationship. Heartbroken she hid in a cave and died. Later Narcissus, who was very handsome and quite taken with himself, saw his face in a pool, and as he leaned over to see better, fell in and drowned and became the flower.
(Source Suite 101, American Daffodil Society, Urbanext)
Visit The American Daffodil Society for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Order Daffodils and other Spring Flowers from Eden Florist
March 21st, 2008
Spring
Spring makes the world a happy place
You see a smile on every face.
Flowers come out and birds arrive,
Oh, isn’t it grand to be alive?
Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. Astronomically, it begins with the spring equinox (begins today - March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere, and around September 23 in the Southern Hemisphere), and ends with the summer solstice (around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 21 in the Southern Hemisphere). In meteorology, it is by convention instead counted as the whole months of March, April, and May in the Northern Hemisphere and September, October, and November in the Southern Hemisphere. However, in the Irish Calendar it is counted as the whole months of February, March and April.
Spring, Almost
The sunshine gleams so bright and warm,
The sky is blue and clear.
I run outdoors without a coat,
And spring is almost here.
Then before I know it,
Small clouds have blown together,
Till the sun just can’t get through them,
And again, it’s mitten weather.
April
April is a rainbow month,
Of sudden springtime showers.
Bright with golden daffodils
and lots of pretty flowers.
Click here to download our Easter Coloring Book
Click here to Order FLOWERS
March 20th, 2008
The History of Easter
Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead three days after his crucifixion on Good Friday and marking the end of the Lent.
Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar, followed by Christmas and is recognized as a legal holiday in most countries with a significant Christian tradition, with the notable exception of the United States where Easter is only celebrated on Easter Sunday (and not also on Easter Monday).
The timing of Easter depends on the Jewish Pesach, in English Passover, which commemorates the sparing of the Hebrew first-born, as recounted in Exodus, since it is during this holiday that Jesus is believed to have been resurrected.
Easter and the holidays that are related to it are moveable feasts, in that they do not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar (which follows the motion of the Sun and the seasons). (Source: Easter Corner.com) 
The Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.
The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America . It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.
The Easter Egg
As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians.
From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.
Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs — those made of plastic or chocolate candy.
(Source: The Holiday Spot.com)
Order Flowers for your favorite somebunny today at Eden Florist!
March 20th, 2008
Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns
who are clever as can be
With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and little coats of green
The leprechauns busily make their shoes and try hard not to be seen.
Only those who really believe have seen these little elves
And if we are all believers
We can surely see for ourselves.
(Irish Blessing)
Shamrocks have been symbolic of many things over the years. According to legend, the shamrock was a sacred plant to the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad, and three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion, as in many others. St. Patrick used the shamrock in the 5th century to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as he introduced Christianity to Ireland. In written English, the first reference to the Shamrock dates from 1571, and in written Irish, as seamrog, from 1707. As a badge to be worn on the lapel on the Saint’s feast day, it is referred to for the first time as late as 1681. The Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan’s Parliament in the 1770′s, before ’98 and The Act of Union. So rebellious did the wearing of the Shamrock eventually appear, that in Queen Victoria’s time Irish regiments were forbidden to display it. At that time it became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross colored red and green.
As a symbol of Ireland it has long been integrated into the symbol of the United Kingdom, along with the Rose, the Thistle and the Leek of England, Scotland and Wales. So today, on St. Patrick’s Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army. The shamrock became symbolic in other ways as time went on. In the 19th century it became a symbol of rebellion, and anyone wearing it risked death by hanging. It was this period that spawned the phrase “the wearin’ o’ the green”.
Today, the shamrock is the most recognized symbol of the Irish, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, when all over the world, everyone is Irish for a day!The original Irish shamrock (traditionally spelled seamróg, which means “summer plant”) is said by many authorities to be none other than white clover (Trifolium repens), a common lawn weed originally native to Ireland. It is a vigorous, rhizomatous, stem-rooting perennial with trifoliate leaves. Occasionally, a fourth leaflet will appear, making a “four-leaf clover,” said to bring good luck to the person who discovers it. (Source: Taunton.com and Funmunch.com) Take the shamrock personality test! Here’s mine:
| What Your Shamrock Says About You |
 You are brilliant, analytical, and somewhat of a perfectionist. You are ultra competent and knowledgeable.At times, people find you intimidating. You can be a bit sarcastic and harsh.
You don’t really consider yourself a lucky person. In your view, people create their own luck.
You are creative, innovative, and complicated. You definitely have a unique spin on the world.
|
Celebrate Saint Paddy’s Day with flowers from Eden Florist!
March 17th, 2008
Ever noticed how good it feels to be around green, growing things? Not only do flowers and plants make us feel good, did you know there are measurable health benefits associated with their presence? Here are some facts based on research in horticultural therapy:
Looking at trees and flowers reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and relieves muscle tension.
In one study, women 50 and older who gardened at least once a week had higher bone density than those who jogged, walked, swam or did aerobics.
Physicians in ancient Egypt prescribed taking walks in gardens for the mentally disturbed.
People working at computers in an office with plants were 12% more productive and less stressed than people doing the same job in an office where no plants were present.
Working In a garden can produce endorphin highs similar to those experienced when jogging and cycling.
Working gardens and natural scenes were used to maintain morale aboard the Soviet space station Mir.
A study of British Columbia residences for Alzheimer’s patients showed that, at the residences with gardens, the rate of violent incidents declined by 19% over two years. At the non-garden residences, the violent incidents increased by 68%.
For elderly patients in particular, gardening can stimulate all the senses, by providing interesting sights, tactile experiences, fragrances, sounds, and delicious flavors.
According to another study “Those involved in gardening find life more satisfying and feel they have more positive things happening in their lives.”
Resource: The Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association
March 12th, 2008
Thirteen Rules of Edible Flowers
The use of flowers in food dates back thousands of years to the Chinese, Greek and Romans. And with the resurgence of the world’s desire to save the planet, the interest in edible flowers has become more desirable. In keeping with the current “trends” people may want to experiment with flowers and plants more as a food sourse. However there are some rules or guidelines you must keep in mind when experimenting. First ofl all, remember that even if the flower isn’t poisonious does not mean it’s edible.
Before partaking of flowers , review these 13 simple rules:
- Before consuming any flowers, consult a good reference book on edible flowers to be certain they can be used in your recipes and eaten.
- Not all flowers used as “garnish” or decorations on plates are edible. When in doubt, ask the server or chef or simply “throw it out.”
- When growing your edible flowers only use pesticides when necessary and only those products labeled for use on edible crops.
- Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers.It is common for these flowers have been treated with pesticides that are not considered safe for edible crops.
- Never eat flowers picked from the side of the road.
- Eat only the flower petals and prepare according to recipes. Remvoe the pistils and stamens from flowers when preparing your dishes.
- Different flavors occur in plants when grown in different locations because of soil types, fertilization, and culture. Environmental conditions play a big role as well. What has excellent flavor at one time may taste different at the end of the season or the next year.
- To avoid digestive problems, it is a good idea to introduce flowers into your diet in small quantities one species at a time. Too
- Because some flowers may aggravate allergies, it is best to start small when introducing edible flowers into your mealplans.
- Collect flowers at the optimum time. Pick fully open flowers in the cool of the day. Avoid flowers that are starting to wilt.
- Sample the flower for taste. If it’s bitter and you expected it to be sweet, you may not want to use it just yet.
- Flowers mature at different rates (just like people) and depending on the soil, time of year and weather conditions, this year’s crop may have a totally different taste than those used in previous harvests.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment! Edible flowers can add zest to your recipes, they add a whole new variety of flavors and colors that you may never have experiences.
Have fun experimenting and experiencing the new dimension they can bring to your cooking.
Source: Horticulture News http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1995/7-21-1995/eatflow.html
March 9th, 2008
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