If people would learn the message behind the flower or plant would be an even more beautiful thing, to be able to fully identify with the message in a flower or plant – its quality, its vibration – would be powerful.

Think for a minute about Adam and Eve (was the fig leaf the first bikini?); what about Noah and the Dove (olive leaf in dove mouth as proof of dry land?). Flowers and plants possess a psychic power and anyone who has passed a lavender or spent time in a greenhouse, flower shop or walking through a meadow – got-cha! – will attest to the power and should support their local florist.

Declaring your love through flowers has been made simple enough. It’s no coincidence that baby’s breath and ferns are included with your roses. While the roses say love, the baby’s breath means everlasting love and the ferns add sincerity. But you can always make your floral love note a bit more personal. Red tulips are an outright message of love. If you want to be more subtle, small sunflowers signal adoration, and violets let the receiver know they occupy your thoughts, strands of ivy signifies fidelity and friendship, gardenias conveys a secret love, forsythia anticipation. Leopold, in the movie Kate and Leopold, knew better than to send a woman orange lilies.

If you want to learn more or even plan a garden based on meanings, then contact me at Creative Blossoms, this can be a lot of fun – I did the same for Diana Earl, oh yeah, you know her as Diana Ross!

I have a few tricks that I have learned from the pros in the film industry that use fresh cut flowers around heat (lighting) all the time. The most interesting one that I tell often is one that has people running to the hair supply store in large numbers during hoildays - and here it is for this Forum readers .

To hold blossoms longer, spray your cut flowers with hair spray after they have been cut for a day or so and you will be impressed.

Perennially,

Agave: Blue Agave needs all the light you can give it. Place the plant in direct sunshine. Water about once every 2 to 3 weeks applying enough water so that water runs from the containers drain holes.

Croton: Place the plant in direct sunshine. Water with tepid water as the soil dries about three or four inches from the surface on larger plants. Allow the soils surface to dry down about one inch on 6" and 8" plants. Let the soil dry to the touch on very small plants.

Sago Palm: This slow growing plant is quite easy to keep. Place them in a very bright area. Water and feed sparingly. Once... maybe twice a year you will be rewarded with a surge of new growth that emerges very rapidly. This beautiful low and slow growing plant is the perfect choice for a high light area where a compact plant is required.

Sun -

Water

Peonies are available from March through August. The peak season is April-June. Most white varieties bloom early in the season causing prices to jump dramatically during July and August.

Thank you!

Tulips are very sensitive to heat. Keep the vase away from direct sunlight, radiators, lamps, etc.

Tulips "drink" lots of water. Check the water level often and add water daily. Also, changing the water every couple of days extends the vase life. A clean vase and cool water keeps them fresh longer. 

To answer your question... yes, kitchen heat is too much for cut flowers. The three most popular reasons for wilted flowers are:

1. Stems have been left out of water too long forming a 'scab' on the ends, which prevents water from entering and traveling up the stems to hydrate the flower.

2. The water in the vase has gotten cloudy and bacteria has clogged the stems, preventing proper flower hydration.

3. Flowers are placed in direct sunlight or in extreme heat or cold.

In the future, to revive flowers cut the stems on an angle preferably with shears or a sharp blade and immediately place them in a vase of warm water and put in a cool place.

Good luck!

I have a quick question. I brought my mother some flowers on Easter last weekend. I put them in a vase on the kitchen table. We then cooked for nearly two hours. Lots of heat. When I looked at the flower's again, then had passed out! They we're literally hanging over the vase.

I had to leave before she figured out what to do about the flowers.

My questions, before I make the same mistake for Mother's Day

1. Generally speaking is kitchen heat too much for flowers

2. What can be done to revive flowers that have passed out from heat

Thanks

• Keep the vase filled with water and flower food.
• If the water becomes cloudy, replace it entirely with more water and plant food.
• If possible, re-cut the flower stems on a slant by removing one to two inches with scissors or pruning shears.
• Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline. They tend to promote bacterial growth, causing the flowers to wilt quickly.
• Use warm water when adding water to the vase or refilling it.
• Keep fresh flowers in a cool spot (65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit), away from direct sunlight.
• Avoid placing your flowers near heating or cooling vents, areas directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators.
• Appliances such as televisions and radiators give off heat, causing the fresh cut flowers to quickly dehydrate.
  

Tips for caring for fresh flowers boxed or in loose wrapped bunches:

• If you can’t get your fresh cut flowers into a water and flower food solution right away, keep them in a cool place.
• Fill a clean, deep vase with water and add the flower food, following the directions on the package.
• Re-cut flower stems with a sharp knife. Do this underwater, in warm water. This allows the stems to draw in water instead of air.
• Then place the fresh flowers in the vase solution you’ve prepared.
• When using woody stems and branches (such as forsythia, quince or lilac), cut the flower stem with sharp pruning shears.