Albert's Florist Blog

Summer and Watermelon Flowers

Tzolig — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:20:06 +0000

Summer is a delightful time to share flower bouquets and watermelon! What a creative way to host any party with a decorative watermelon and summer bouquets from Albert’s Florist! Here is a sampling of all!

Fundamentals of Growing Dahlias

Tzolig — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 22:40:23 +0000

(Click on dahlia picture above to see one of our “hot” floral sellers – “Summer Heat”! Fantastic floral display for your favorite someone!)

By The American Dahlia Society

Dahlias are easy plants to grow and yield beautiful blooms from mid-summer through fall. In many respects, “dahlia culture” is similar to “tomato culture.” If you can grow tomatoes in your garden, you can successfully grow dahlias. The following notes will help you to add spectacular blooms and brilliant color to your garden!

Choosing your plants
There is a huge range of colors and forms of dahlias. You will find many examples on this website. You can make your choice from the pictures you see here or from the pictures on the bags or from a dahlia friend’s recommendations.

Just pick a couple and get started! You will enjoy spectacular color, variety and abundance of blooms from mid-July through the end of the growing season.

Getting your plants
There are several ways to get your first plants. Most major garden centers now sell dahlia tubers; that can be a very convenient way to get started. Virtually every dahlia society has tuber and plant sales; they also welcome guests to those events.

There are a number of advantages to this approach if there is a club near to you. Perhaps of greatest benefit of that source of tubers or plants is the availability of expert advice on your choices!

The tubers at a society auction will also likely be locally grown and of good quality. Of course, there are also small businesses that specialize in selling dahlias and dahlia materials by mail order or internet. These suppliers are real experts on dahlias and their products are reliable and of good quality.

When to plant
Your tubers can go directly into the ground in the spring when the ground has warmed and there is little chance of frost. One good guideline is to plant in the same time frame as you would a tomato.

If you want blooms as early as possible, you can start the tubers indoors in good light about a month before planting time. You will then have a small plant ready at planting time. Dahlias can be planted as late as mid-June in most parts of the country.

Where to plant
Dahlias require a site with good drainage and partial to full sun. Pots are also increasingly popular way to grow dahlias. See other articles on this site for more information on growing dahlias in pots.

How to plant
Most dahlias need to be staked and you may want to plant a sturdy stake before you plant the dahlia. If you put the stake into the ground after the plant is growing, take care to avoid damaging the tuber or the root system. Tomato cages can also be a simple approach to staking.

Put the tuber in a hole several inches deep with the “eye” on the tuber facing up. The eye is the point on the shoulder, or crown, of the tuber from which the plant grows. If you are planting a number of dahlias in the same location, they should be separated by about 2 feet to give each plant room to grow.

Protecting your plants from pests
Small dahlia plants are susceptible to slug damage. It is a good idea to manually remove slugs early each morning or to protect them with a commercial slug killer.

Japanese beetles seem to enjoy eating dahlia blooms just when they are ready for a bouquet. One of the best methods of control is to manually remove the beetles into a bucket of soapy water.

Other insects can become a problem if you would like your blooms to be “perfect!” If that is the case, you might want to consider using an insecticidal soap or a commercial pesticide. Follow label directions carefully if you choose to do that.

Organic Approach
Dahlias take well to an organic approach to gardening. They are strong, robust growers with lots of blooms, including very large blooms. They do well in soil with lots of organic content even in the absence of chemical fertilizers. Pest control is not essential and can be reasonably well accomplished without resorting to chemical pesticides.

Deer resistance
Our suburban shrubbery and gardens are increasingly susceptible to damage by deer. The good news for dahlias is that they are low on the deer’s list of favorite foods. While dahlias are not “deer proof,” they are considered to be so in some parts of the country – probably those areas where deer find enough other plants they prefer to eat!

Watering and fertilizing
Young dahlia plants do not need a lot of water; in fact, excessive water can lead to rotting of the plant. For larger plants, a good rule of thumb is to water if the rainfall is less than one inch in seven days. Pots require more regular watering.

The best strategy for fertilizing is to begin with a soil test to determine pH and the specific soil needs. Lacking that information, the plants will generally benefit from regular treatments with a water soluble or granular fertilizer.

Traditional wisdom for dahlias is to treat with a high nitrogen fertilizer through the middle of the season but minimize nitrogen at the end of the season.

Maintaining your plants
There is a substantial regimen that can be used for maintaining plants for show blooms. For the simple enjoyment of spectacular dahlias in your garden, there are two relatively simple actions that will enhance the appearance of the plant.

First is tying the plant to the stake several times as it grows. The first tie should secure the lower portion of the plant’s stalk to the stake. Subsequent ties should secure the branches. A simple alternative to tying is to use a tomato cage to support the plant. Then, no tying may be required.

Second is disbudding. Remove the outer two buds from the three that develop at the end of each branch. While that reduces the total number of flowers, many flowers remain and those show up well on the plant. If all three buds are left on the stem, the blooms will tend to be covered up and can be lost in the plant. You can also remove some of the shoots that form along the branch to have stems that can be used in tall vases for elegant bouquets.

End of the season
Your dahlias will continue to bloom prolifically right up until frost. A heavy frost will kill the plant and leave you with a decision on your next step. You can do nothing with the plant. You will then need to plan on a visit to the local auction in the spring for the following year’s plants. Or, you can dig and discover that the plant has produced a half a dozen or more tubers like the one with which you started. If you wish, those tubers can be stored and grown by you and a couple friends next spring!

Sunny Sunflowers

Talar — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:37:52 +0000

Sunflowers were first recorded in the area that is now South America in 1000 B.C. They were first cultivated for their nutritional and therapeutic values. The seeds were a great food source and the root was used to treat snakebites. Then its image turned to a religious symbol. Aztecs and Incans believed that the sunflower was a representation of the sun and worshipped it. With European exploration, the sunflower and its popularity spread around the world in the 16^th century. Today sunflowers are used for their seeds and oils as well as their beauty in floral designs. Sunflower seeds are a popular roasted treat. Certain sunflower oils can be used in food preparations and salads. Other oils have been known to help treat skin conditions.

The sunflower was so named because of its resemblance to the sun as well as its behavior to grow towards the sun due to its great need for sunlight. This behavior is called heliotropism. The sunflower’s leaves will face east in the morning and as the day progresses, it will move until it faces west with the sun setting. Each night the sunflower will reset to its east-facing position. This usually stops once the flower has bloomed. Most people believe that the major bloom is just one big flower, but the head is the host for hundreds of tiny flowers called florets. Sunflowers are related to chrysanthemums, gerberas, calendulas, and dahlias. They can grow up to 15 feet and the bloom can be as big as 15 inches wide.

See more sunny arrangements here!

The Grace and Beauty of the Hydrangea

Talar — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:22:38 +0000

Hydrangeas are originally from Japan, China, Indonesia, as well as certain parts of North and South America. Their name comes from the Greek word for “water vessel” and fitting with their name, they need a lot of water. Hydrangeas were brought to England in 1788 where the popularity skyrocketed. The most common species is the Hydrangea macrophylla, which is the big-leaf hydrangea native to Japan. These beautiful flowers come in many colors, in particular white, pink, blue, and purple. Hydrangeas are unique in that their color can change color depending on the acidity of the soil in which they grow.

Hydrangeas are not only used for their aesthetic qualities. Certain serrata forms make sweet herbal teas. Native Americans used the roots as a diuretic and detoxifier and the bark as a healing method to cure muscle sprains and burns. Some still use hydrangeas today to treat bladder problems and kidney stones. In ancient folklore if a witch cursed an unlucky person, the hydrangea could be used to break the spell.

There are approximately 70 species of hydrangeas. They most commonly grow in early spring and blossom until late fall. Some believe that hydrangeas are a representation of vanity and boastfulness, but most feel that they convey anything that is heartfelt, especially gratefulness towards the recipient.

Click here to purchase our pink hydrangea basket!

What flower is perfect for your mom?

Talar — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:29:33 +0000

Mother’s Day is a celebration for that person in your life that made you who you are; the person that gave you life in one way or another. Mother’s day is a day to thank one of the most important people in your life. A perfect, simple, and beautiful way to show your thanks is through flowers. They represent the beauty you see inside your mother. Every mom is different. Out of hundreds of flowers, how do you choose which arrangement is perfect for your mother? Below is an easy guide to picking the flower that matches your mom’s personality the best.

ROSES

Roses are for the classic and clean mom. She probably enjoys the finer things in life and is very intelligent as well as fair. View our rose-themed arrangements here.

LILIES

If your mom is joyful and inspirational, she will love lilies. She’s full of energy and knows that family is the most important thing. This mom also sees the big picture and always looks to the future. Click here to see our stargazer lily arrangement.

ORCHIDS

Orchids are perfect for the challenging, clever, and imaginative mom. Like orchids, she is probably trendy and sassy, in a good way. See orchid arrangements here.

ALSTROEMERIA

The ultimate lady-like mother will love alstroemeria. They are perfect for the graceful, refined, and polite woman. Look at one of our alstroemeria arrangements here.

STOCKS

Stocks are the flowers that represent warmth, strength, and devotion. They are just right for any loving mom. View our white stock arrangement here.

CHRYSANTHEMUM

Is your mom practical, dependable, hardworking, and a problem solver? Chrysanthemums are the flower for her! As your mom is cheerful and brightens your day, these flowers will do the same for her. Look at one of our chrysanthemum arrangements here.

See our Mother’s Day arrangements here!

New Arrangements at Albert’s!

Talar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:46:19 +0000

See more arrangements here!

Administrative Professionals Week is April 22-28

Talar — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:38:50 +0000

Formerly known as Professional Secretaries Week, this week is a time to recognize and thank staff and employees for their contributions to the business. Professional Secretaries Week started as way to acknowledge secretaries for their work and to attract other people to join the profession. Beginning in 1952, this week has become one of the largest workplace events. This observance is celebrated worldwide from luncheons to seminars to personal gifts of appreciation. An eighth-month study done by researchers at Texas A&M University shows that a single gift expressing appreciation will naturally lift an employee’s mood which will likely increase productivity. The research continues to suggest that flowers and plants enhance people’s ability to generate ideas and solve problems. Lead Texas A&M researcher, Roger Ulrich, Ph.D. said, People’s productivity, innovation and creative problem solving, improved – which in certain circumstances could mean the difference between mild and great business success.”

Here are just a few of our great arrangements:

Natural Wonders Bouquet

Basket Garden

Rainbow of Colors

View more arrangements here!

Stunning Stock

Talar — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:13:05 +0000

The stock flower, also known as Mattholia incana in scientific circles, is a graceful and sophisticated bloom. They were named after the 16^th century Italian naturalist and physician, Pietro Andrea Matthioli who discovered the stock flower and imported it immediately into England. Although native to the Mediterranean and Southern Africa, these pretty blossoms can be found nearly anywhere with cliffs or dry lands including Australia, China, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Florists love this beautiful flower because of its spicy scent and long lasting blooms. Stock can range in size anywhere between 30 cm to 60 cm tall. They have compact features of grey-green spike shaped leaves with clusters of spicy scented flowers. You can find them in pink, red, yellow, lilac, purple, and white which is the most common. If you hear people call them sea stock, wallflowers, or gillyflowers, don’t worry; they go by those names too! When you buy a bouquet with stock make sure you replace the water frequently and remove any foliage below the water line. Hurry and buy a bouquet at Albert’s Florist today!

Click here to see our white stock bouquet!

The Redonkulous Ranunculus

Talar — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:41:07 +0000

The Ranunculus, native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe, is a flower celebrated for its medicinal properties as well as its bright beauty. Although Ranunculus, Latin for “little frog,” is its scientific name, it is also known as the Buttercup. This name stems from the fact that many species of Ranunculus can be found near water, like frogs. All species are poisonous when eaten fresh by cattle, horses, and other livestock. However, they have an acrid taste and cause blistering in the mouth, which usually deters animals from eating it. In some cases, Ranunculus has also been known to cause dermatitis when handled by humans.

Several major legends are associated with this striking flower. In the Pacific Northwest United States, they are called “Coyote’s Eyes.” The legend states that a coyote would toss his eyes up in the air for fun. One day he tossed his eyes to high and an eagle snatched them up. Unable to see, the coyote grabbed two Buttercups and made eyes out of them.

Another myth that surrounds the ranunculus involves an Asian prince. He was well loved and enjoyed taking walks in the open country where he would sing to the nymphs. He fell in love with one nymph, but sadly was unable to express his feelings. He withered and died from disappointment. Upon his death, his body began to transform into the shape of a small, delicately pedaled flower.

Giving a bouquet of Buttercups suggest that the recipient dazzles the giver. They are especially given on romantic holidays and have become very popular with spring brides. Colors can range from white to pink, red to yellow, as well as orange.

Buy an arrangement with our ranunculus here!

Art Come to Life!

Talar — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:58:32 +0000

This past Saturday, March 24^th, our very own Madelyn Ropner displayed several flower arrangements that she had designed for the San Luis Obispo Art Museum’s annual gala fundraiser. Madelyn’s beautiful pieces complemented the photography of Michael Childers. Michael Childers’ exhibit contained twenty-five black and white photographs of the famous artist, Andy Warhol. To coordinate with the theme, Madelyn sculpted unique flower arrangements that contained some of Andy Warhol’s most iconic symbols. To continue with the theme, Madelyn only used six bright colors: magenta, fuchsia, orange, blue, lime-green, and yellow. The arrangements are exquisite and what is even more amazing is that she designed and produced these pieces of art in less than a week. The arrangement can now be viewed at the Steynberg Gallery on Monterey St.

Visit our website for exclusive Albert’s florist designs!