Archive for June, 2008
Wondering where all the pretty spring flowers come from? Most of them come from the Dutch Flower Auctions and are shipped all over the world. Here’s a little bit about the Dutch Flower Auctions:
The Dutch cut flower auctions form the distribution base for flowers and plants throughout the world. Their magnitude appeals to one’s imagination. The auctions have even become a major tourist attraction in Holland.
There is an endless stream of figures and facts designed to capture the magnitude of auctions. Here are interesting factual tidbits regarding the Dutch cut flower auctions in the world:
- According to the Guinness Book of Records, the auction in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands is the largest commercial building in the world, comprising one million square meters. For that matter, the total floor space of the Flora Holland outlets equals 1,500,000 square meters or 16,145,865 square feet.
- The Dutch auction at Naaldwijk has the largest floral cooling space in the world, measuring 43,000 square meters or 462,848 square feet – larger than 10 soccer fields combined.
- Over three-quarters of flowers and plants supplied to Dutch auctions are exported.
- The auction clock was invented in Holland in 1902. The auction takes place by counting down from highest price to lowest price. The buyer stops the clock by pressing a button. If he is the first to press his button, he then purchases the flowers or plants being auctioned.
- The auction in Aalsmeer draws more than 100,000 visitors annually.
- At the auctions, the price of cut flowers is always a per stem price.
- In 2006, Dutch auctions had combined sales of 3,975,400,000 euro – of which 2,500,400,000 euro for cut flowers.
- Most Dutch cut flowers are exported to Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Belgium.
- At Dutch auctions, the most popular cut flowers sold are roses, chrysanthemums and tulips (in that order).
- The export of cut flowers to Russia is the fastest growing (up 26% in 2006) export market for Dutch grown cut flowers.
- Each year, the Dutch ornamental flower sector develops between 1,200 and 1,500 new flowers and plants.
- Not all sales take place by the auction clock. The auctions also act as intermediary brokers between flower growers and buyers, without using the clock. This service started in 1972, and now makes up around one-fourth of total sales.
- Dutch flower auctions use 12 million flower buckets and 800,000 flower boxes annually to get its flowers safely from the grower to the wholesaler.
- Some 12,300 companies are involved in making deliveries to the Dutch auctions.
So next time you order spring flowers from your local florist, you have a little more insight into what goes into getting them from the earth to you!
Heidi
Be sure and order your next floral bouquet from Eden Florist.
June 29th, 2008
Today I was surfing the net for some cool resources Tulips Talk readers might enjoy and found the Snapdragons blog with Jane Lindsey.
Jane has a wonderful flower tutorial with great instructions for putting flowers together.
Check it out here: http://snapdragongarden.co.uk/step%20by%20step_July.htm
While reading Jane’s blog I came across another blogger – Vintage Pretty.
VP wrote a great article called “Heaven Scent” (tips to keeping your house smelling fab) which you can read here: http://vintagepretty.org/2005/06/21/heaven-scent/
I also found a blog post by Anna Spiro, Interior Designer in Brisbane Australia and author of Absolutely Beautiful things that is just pretty to look at http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/ and even has some great flowers and things!
I just love surfing and sharing!
Happy reading….
Heidi
When you are finished reading the above, be sure and stop by Eden Florist and order someone special flowers.
June 28th, 2008
Cancer June 22-July 22A romantic and a homebody, the cancer person is devoted to family. Insightful and intuitive, you are cautiously optimistic. You tend to focus more on helping others and often forget to take care of yourself.Roses and Iris reflect the Cancer personality.Need to order flowers for the Cancer in your life? Visit EDEN FLORIST
June 21st, 2008
More on Edible Flowers
Nasturtium ~ This flower has a pepper scent and its colorful yellow, orange and red petals can be tossed in a salad. The whole blossoms can be stuffed with savory mousse; the petals can be shredded and added to risotto or mixed with olive oil and combined with cooked pasta; the leaves taste similar to watercress.
For more ideas on cooking with flowers, check out the following books, “Flower Cookery – The Art of Cooking with Flowers” by Mary MacNichol or “Edible Flowers from Garden to Palate” by Cathy Wilkinson
When you have time, read this great post at About.com – Edible Flowers History
In celebration of Rose Month, why not try the Rose-Glazed Brie Recipe?
June 16th, 2008
He … saw the dark tangled curls of his bush floating, floating hair of the stream around the limp father of thousands, a languid flatong flower. – James Joyce
Father’s Day is one of the many events famously celebrated with much fun and frolic throughout the world every year. Many countries across the globe has taken up a day—the Father’s Day—to celebrate fatherhood and honor the fathers or father-figures in every corner of the world.
Generally, countries with a Christian/ Catholic background celebrate Father’s Day on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19. Apart from that, different countries with their different set of beliefs, have selected different dates for a Father’s Day celebration. But interestingly, many Christian/ Catholic countries observe Father’s Day with a much secular celebration.
United States -Sunday, June 19.
United Kingdom – Sunday, June 19.
Canada – Sunday, June 19.
Belgium - Belgium has two dates for Father’s Day—one on March 19, Saturday (St. Joseph’s Day) for the Christians; and another on June 12, Sunday for the Seculars.
Netherlands - Sunday, June 19.
Taiwan - Sunday, August 8.
Australia – 1st Sunday in September.
New Zealand – 1st Sunday in September.
Scandinavia - 2nd Sunday in November.
Spain - Saturday, March 19.
Germany – Wednesday, May 5(Ascension Day).
Lithuania – Sunday, June 5.
Bulgaria - Monday, June 20.
Chile – Sunday, June 19.
France – Sunday, June 19.
Japan – Sunday, June 19.
Another tradition of Father’s Day is that of the Flowers, Red roses are worn on Father’s Day to signify that one’s father is living. White roses mean one’s father has died. (source: fathers.net and 123greetings.com)
Order Dad Flowers Today!
June 14th, 2008
In honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to share some “Dad” Stories – the first one is one I wrote last year in honor of my father.
A Tribute to Fathers by Heidi Richards
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”
Jim Valvano
Father’s Day has special meaning to me and so I am posting a tribute to all the men in my life that mean a great deal to me and truly represent what fatherhood is all about.
In 1993 my mother died and I was left an orphan (sort of). You see I had never met my birth father and was not sure I wanted to. My mother had been married four times and none of these men were exactly the epitomy of good fathers.
However, in 1999 I was on a spiritual journey and decided to look for him. I picked up the phone and contacted Lee, a local private investigator who was a member of one of the Chambers of Commerce to which I belong. The only information I had about my father was his name, date and place of birth and that he lived in NYC in the 50′s. In less than an hour Lee called me back with his address and phone number.
To read the rest of my story, visit: Heidi’s Blog
That’s What Dads Do By Dee Hanshaw
I don’t know how you get the nominees for Dad of the Month, but I would sure like to put my husband, Vesper Hanshaw, in the running! He’s gone way above the line of duty, so to speak! We raised one family, and are starting on another, not by plan, but by having no choice.
He was disabled in 1987, but continued to do all he was able – and a lot he wasn’t – to raise our two kids. He took care of them when I had to go to work. Now that our children are 24 and 25, we’re raising our grandbaby, 3, and an 18-year-old that doesn’t even belong to us at all!
To read the rest of this story visit: iParenting Stories
My Dad by Tom Krause
“In every person’s life there needs to be a caring, nurturing, encouraging friend.”
The earliest memory I have of my father is one of me as a young boy holding his hand by his two last fingers as we walked together. His hands seemed so large that his fingers were all I could actually grip. He always took me with him to ball games even at my young age. I will never forget that.
To read the rest of this story, visit Fatherhood.about.com
Somebody Special
A teenage boy lived alone with his father. The two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always “warming the bench,” his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a football game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school.
But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn’t want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there.
The son was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he’d get to play when he became a senior.
All through high school he never missed a practice but still remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on.” Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice and, at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.
To read the rest of this story, visit Men’s Stuff
Happy Father’s Day to Dads Everywhere!
June 14th, 2008
My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, then you’ve had a great life.
Lee Iacocca
A father is a guy who has snapshots in his
wallet where his money used to be.
Author Unknown
New Testament: St John ch.14 v.2
In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.
The Bible
“Fathers send their sons to college either because they went to college, or because they didn’t.”
L.L. Hendren
Our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Abraham Lincoln
What a father says to his children is not heard by the world, but it will be heard by posterity.
Jean Paul Richter
Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers- and fathering is a very important stage in their development.
David M. Gottesman.
For more quotes, visit http://www.edenflorist.com/FathersDayQuotes.asp
Download our Father’s Day Coloring Book
Order Flowers for that special man in your life!
June 14th, 2008
Father’s Day was first observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington . Sonora Smart Dodd (Mrs. John B. Dodd) of Washington State proposed the idea in 1909 after she had attended a Mother’s Day service. Mrs. Dodd wanted to honor her own father. William Smart, who had been a Civil War veteran, who raised six children after his wife died in childbirth.
President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day in 1924. It took until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson declared the 3rd Sunday of June Father’s Day officially in the United States of America , but this was only for one year. On April 24, 1972, Father’s Day was assured annual recognition by Presidential Proclamation. In Australia , Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.
Remember to order flowers for DAD!
June 12th, 2008
Rose Water Skin Tonic is one of the oldest skin-fresheners discovered by an Arabian dermatologist in the tenth century. Rose water is very easy to make on your own. Mix rose essence in water and shake thoroughly. Two tablespoons essence of roses is sufficient for 4 ½ liters purified water.
Gypsy Rose Water Skin Tonic – Gypsy Rose Water Skin Tonic –
Take 2 handfuls of dark, scented rose petals and put them into a jar or a wide topped bottle. Now put 1 liter of water and 200 gms. of sugar into the bottle or jar. Keep this mixture for 2 hours, shake again, then strain and store it in a cool place.Rose Water and Witch-Hazel Tonic –
To make simply mix 3/4 cup rosewater and cup witch-hazel. If you have a very greasy skin you can use equal proportions of rose water and witch-hazel.
TESTIMONIAL - “Thank you for the beautiful arrangement sent to me for Teacher of the Year. The rose smells so good. My students were just tickled with the delivery to our room. I will order roses from you from now on. They are lovely.” Ms. Meghan Greenwell 4th Grade Teacher Dolphin Bay Elementary
June 11th, 2008
“Bloom Dreams” ~ The Rose
Dreams are said to be full of meaning, however, many of us don’t
understand or know how to interpret them. The “Dreamers Dictionary”
by Lady Stearn Robinson and Tom Corbett, shares with readers what
dreaming of certain flowers symbolizes. This month (since it is Rose Month)
we share the meaning of Roses.
“Give a rose in your dreams and you’ll be well and truly loved. Receive
a rose and you’ll enjoy extraordinary social success. If the rose is artificial,
expect jealousy or deceit from a trusted friend.”
Since you are dreaming of roses, why not order some today!
Testimonial: Heidi, The rose is on my desk and brings daily joy. Thank you again. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Regards, Joan Wizner
June 11th, 2008
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