New President of AIFD

Tina Stoecker AIFD

Named President

of

American Institute of Floral Designers

Tina Stoecker AIFD of Designs of the Times Florist, Inc. in Melbourne, Fla. was installed as president of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) during the organization's 2009 National Symposium held in Kansas City (July 11-16).


She succeeds Walter Fedyshyn AIFD, PFCI of Anthony Gowder Designs, Inc. in Chicago, Ill. as the volunteer leader of the floral industry's leading organization in design education.


Installed as president-elect of AIFD was Sharon McGukin AIFD, a freelance instructional designer and floral commentator from Carrollton, Ga.


Tom Bowling AIFD of Fairfield, Ohio was elected and installed as AIFD's new vice president.


Ann Jordan AIFD of Studio Flora in Naples, Maine will remain the Institute's secretary.


Richard Salvaggio AIFD, AAF of Teleflora in Los Angeles, Calif. will continue to serve as treasurer of the Institute.


Elected to serve a three year term on the board of directors is


Jim Rauch AIFD, OCF of Unique Designs Florist Studio in Dayton, Ohio and BJ Dyer AIFD, AAF, CPF of Bouquets in Denver, Colo.


Bill McKinley Jr. AIFD of Kishwaukee College in Malta, Ill. and Suzie Kostick AIFD, PFCI, MCF of Cenflo, Inc. / FLORA Magazine in Rio Rancho, N.M. were elected to serve three year terms as directors-at-large.


Vonda LaFever AIFD of Flowers, Etc. in Dixon, Ill. was installed as the membership chair.


Thomas C. Shaner, CAE, continues as AIFD's executive director. AIFD is headquartered in Baltimore, Md.

Local Cornish Lilies

Attention Attention Attention.



Local Cornish Lilies now in.

We have both beautiful scented Oriental and non-scented Asiatic lilies.

Stop by a pick up some today or send some to someone special.
Give a call on 01736 757006
flowertime@btconnect.com
http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/
http://www.flowertimeflorist.co.uk/

New Range of Greeting Cards Now In!

Just to let everyone know we have a new range of Greeting cards from Friendly Bods.

Great cards for every occasion.

Plant of the Month

Brighamia insignis – Hawaiian vulcan palm
Brighamia insignis belongs to the campanulaceae family and is endemic to Hawaii. This means it’s the only place where it is found. It has a succulent stem with leaves forming a dense rosette at the top. It’s an endangered species, commonly known as Hawaiian Vulcan palm, älula, olulu or sometimes cabbage on a stick.
care
Brighamia insignis does best if located from bright with some morning and/or evening sun to light shaded, should be protected from afternoon sun.
The Hawaiian vulcan palm needs a well-drained soil, using a mix of loam free garden soil, coarse sand and pumice (2:1:1). but it also grows in a regular cactus mix.
It can be deep watered, what’s flowing out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. Wet legs can cause rotten roots. Before adding water next let the soil moderately dry.
A half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks during fall and winter. Recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.
Brighamia insignis has to be cultivated at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.A high humidity is welcome and it likes to be sprayed over with water every day.

300,000 flowers will blossom in Delhi during Commonwealth Games

300,000 flowers will blossom in Delhi during Commonwealth Games
Colourful and fragrant flowers will make Delhi bloom during the Commonwealth Games next year.
Scientists at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun are busy developing new species of over 300,000 flowering plants for the games.-->Colourful and fragrant flowers will make Delhi bloom during the Commonwealth Games next year.
.The FRI has been entrusted with the job by the Delhi government to make the city look beautiful during the games. India has already declared it will host the first ever green Commonwealth Games (CWG) in 2010. 'We are in the process of developing special species of flowers for the games. We have been given the task of providing over 300,000 potted flowering plants.
The work of developing new species of flowers has already started,' S.S. Negi, director of FRI, told IANS over phone. The institute has selected the species of flowering plants keeping in mind the climatic conditions in the national capital in the month of October, when the games next year are scheduled. 'Our prime focus is to develop species that can flower in a month's time and stay fresh for long. The work is on at our central nursery in the FRI and we will test the samples in Delhi this year,' Negi said. The FRI is also developing a bamboo park called 'bamboo-setum' near the games village. 'The bamboo park will have more than 75 varieties of bamboo found across the globe. The plantation work has already started in 60 hectares of land just behind the Rajghat in Delhi,' said Negi.
The FRI has also been assigned the task of giving clearance to the green games village being developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). 'The Ministry of Environment and Forests has entrusted the FRI with the job to check the DDA's green games village project. We have received a detailed layout from the DDA and have suggested some modifications like plantation in open spaces, lawn area and in some more areas,' explained Negi. The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has a strategic understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to fulfil the Green Games mandate. The committee has already started work on various aspects for making the sports extravaganza carbon free. 'Each one of us has a role to play to ensure that India hosts the first green Commonwealth Games. There have been green Olympics but this has not been the case with the Commonwealth Games. We have begun with the Thyagaraj stadium and Games Village and will make sure that every stadium in the country is environment friendly,' Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said. Some of the measures being instituted include energy conservation through energy efficiency means, bio-diverse afforestation, an anti-litter campaign, waste management and spreading general awareness about environmental issues.

source flowerweb

Northeast Chapter of AIFD

The North East Region ROCKS!

What a year it has been! I am grateful for the board and all they have done for a very successful year, I am so proud to have been President during our very busy and productive year. Ken Beebe and the Long Island Florist Association hosted a Steps program in the fall. It was the first time our new banner was raised. The event was well attended and the LIFA shared the profit with our region.The Philadelphia Florist Association was OVER THE TOP! Ron Mulray’s vision of the Milan Fashion District came to life. Under his directions The Philadelphia Flower Show was an enormous success the AIFD presentation of Bella Italia won:

Best in Show
4-People's Choice Awards
Special Achievement Award-Garden Club Federation of PA
PHS Achievement Award
Maintenance Award
These are the members and 2009 inductees who participatedMichael O’Neill, Dan Vaughn ,Deryk De Matas, Robert P DeBellis,Teresa Collucci, Brad & Kelly Harnisch, Michael A. Hasco, Laurie Duell Lemek, Adriene Presti, Claire Won Y. Kang,Sue Weissera, Chris Ondrak , Anthony Palmieri, Catherine Elizabeth Epright, Colleen Ann Kelly, Janet Copeland Black, Ann Jordan ,Michael Boskey, Polly Berginc, Sue Krabill, Lori Himes, James Dempsey, Kenneth E. Norman, Diane Spalding.An In Step with AIFD Program was held in Connecticut Feb, 28 in conjunction with the North East Floral Expo. Vonda LaFever presentation was well attended and hopefully we will see some of the faces again as candidates for membership.Joyce Mason-Monheim presented another In Step with AIFD program in Camden, Maine for Maine State Florist Association. Our need for so many program in the north east region is due to Symposium coming to Boston in 2010. We hope to generate lots of interest in AIFD for membership testing.Our North East pins are ready for purchase. Ken Norman worked on getting the art work done, his hard work paid as they are handsome and look very nice on our members. Karyn Brooks helped us with the cost making them a great fund raiser for the region. Contact Peter Couture to purchase your pin.The "Spectacular Spring" Design Show & Hands on workshop held at Hillcrest Gardens Paramus, NJ was another enormous success! Ken Norman hosted the event with many members pitching in their time an talent. Ron Mulray, Adreiene Presti, James Dempsey and Teresa Collucci designed while Ken and I commentated, the tried and true panel design show prove again to be a great show. The audience was thrilled with the presentation. Chris Ondrack an Colleen Kelley organized a silent auction to add dollars to the till and Hillcrest split the auction and gate fees. Lisa Greene, Ken and I taught the design workshop to a sell out group of eager students.Membership offered another Steps Program at Longwood Gardens followed by a Connections workshop. Steve Parker made this very important connection with Longwood Gardens one that we hope to continue each year.We give a full scholarship to Brad Harrington, we look forward to meeting him in Kansas City. We also gave a grant to our SAIFD School to go toward sending students to Symposium.Ken Norman, Colleen Kelley and I have finalized the regions policies and procedures this arduous task produced a living document to guide our region. All the board members will receive a fresh off the press copy in KC this July.Elections were held and our new board members are Polly Berginc, Teresa Collucci. Steve Parker will have a second term, Colleen Kelly is our President Elect, Suzanne Sampson will be our Vice President, Lisa Greene- Secretary and Ken Beebe Treasurer. Congratulations to you all!Lisa Greene kept us all informed through our updated newsletter. Lisa published one per month for 3 years! I thank her for her time and commitment. I know that I look forward to reading it and keeping in touch with our region.Our region will host its 25 Silver Anniversary this year at the 2009 National Symposium "The Sky is the Limit", Kansas City, MO. Ken Norman will be our host. Colleen Kelley is working on our regions History and Memorial Album for the celebration.As you can see we had a busy year and added needed funds to our treasury while offering educational opportunities to our members, isn’t that what it is all about?Many thanks to our NERC Board.Respectfully,Ann Jordan AIFDPresident, Northeast Regional Chapter
Northeast Regional Chapter News

Intoxication by Lilies

Over recent years lily poisoning have become one of the most common poisoning of cats in the UK.

Over the year it used to be permethrin flea products that cause most poisoning of Cats.
Acute renal failure has been known to arise in cats after eating or ingesting various members of the lilium genus since 1989 ( Brady & Janovitz,2000). In 2004 three Lilium species were documented to have produced toxicosis in cats.

The three species were:- Lilium longiflorum(Longi Lily), Lilium tigrium(Tiger Lily) and the Asiatic hybrids, however other lilies are listed by the National Animal Poison Control Centre in the USA.
These include:
Lilium longiflorum(Longi Lily)
Lilium tigrium(Tiger Lily)
Lilium speciosum rubrum( Rubrum Lily)
Lilium umbellatum
Lilium orientalis ( Oriential Lily)
Hemerocallis (Day Lilies)


Cats are very fussy eaters but they do have a tendency to ingest parts of the lily from leaves, flowers and most of all the pollen.
The kidney is the principle organ that is targeted by the toxin with the cat dying of acute renal failure 3-6 days after the exposure.
Clinical signs include depression, dehydration,increased urine, thirst, vomiting and anorexia.

Mortality from exposure is between 50 and 100% if treatment is not commenced before the onset of the clinical signs. Emergency treatment should be sought urgently, a vet should induce vomiting to empty the stomach and stop futher toxin being absorped, along with the adminstration of actived charcoal to bind the toxins in the gut. Major intravenous fluid therapy will futher help remove the toxins.

Cats coming into contact with the pollen should be shaved to remove the pollen from the coat hairs before they can groom themselves.

Advice for cat owners:-
Lilies are potenially leathal to cats if ingested.
All parts of lilies are thought to be toxic to cats.
The pollen bearing stamen should be removed from the flower, to stop cats contaminating their coats with the polllen and then ingesting during grooming.
Lilies should be placed where cats are NOT able to come into contact with them.
If cats have come into contact or eaten material from a lily emergency veterinary treatment should be sought immediately, if no treatment is sort 50-100% of cases prove fatal.
When transporting to the vets the cat should be prevented from grooming or the fur shaved to stop any further ingestion of the pollen.

source:- society of floristry, Glen Cousquer BSc(hons) BVM&S Cert Zoo Med MRCVS

As director of Flowertime Florist and http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/ in my spare time I like to arrange fund raising events for the Round Table. Well soon I will be able to announce a brilliant event that will help Baby Marshall (Handstand Appeal) a little boy who lost both his hands and both legs through meningitis. The event will be something that everyone can get involded in. So watch this space!!!!!!!

Marshall story is below.

Marshall celebrated his first birthday on 22 December. On Boxing Day, Marshall was rushed into hospital following an attack of Meningococcal Meningitis. Meningitis is a brutal and unforgiving disease. While Marshall has escaped brain damage he has had to have both his hands and both his legs amputated. Marshall now faces a lifetime of rehabilitation while adapting to the use of prosthetic limbs. Because he is so young Marshall will continually require new prosthetic limbs as he grows. To put this in perspective, Marshall will require at least one pair of hands, at least once a year, every year until he is 16. A pair of hands costs £22K. A firm cost for his legs has yet to be established but it will be to a similar order of magnitude.

Marshall celebrated his first birthday on 22 December. He and his family enjoyed a lovely Christmas Day. “Marshall wore a little Santa Suit”, said his Mum, Stephanie, “He looked so sweet.” When Marshall woke up on Boxing Day morning, Stephanie noticed a tiny rash on his forehead. Worried that it was something serious, Stephanie and Moss, Marshall’s Dad, immediately bundled him into the car and drove to Treliske Hospital in Truro. At Hospital Marshall became more listless and was developing a rash all over his body. The medical staff immediately rushed him into intensive care. Doctors confirmed Stephanie and Moss’s worst fear - he had indeed suffered an attack of Meningitis. Doctors fought for over four hours to save Marshall’s life. His vital organs failed on two occasions. Said Dr Thys De Beer, Head of Intensive Care at Treliske Hospital, “Marshall is the sickest child I have ever seen. His survival is almost miraculous.” Marshall was transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital which has one of the UK’s leading specialist units in treating Meningitis in very young children. Marshall’s vital organs failed again and, once more, medical staff battled for hours to save him. Over the next few weeks tests confirmed that Marshall had escaped brain damage and that his sight and hearing had not been impaired, however, Doctors had to tell Stephanie and Moss that Marshall would have to lose his hands and legs, due to the terrible damage caused by the septicaemia which often accompanies Meningitis. Marshall’s hands and legs were amputated on 27 January. Said Stephanie, “We knew it had to be done, otherwise Marshall would not survive, but on the day of the operation Moss and I were just inconsolable. It seemed so unfair.” Marshall was allowed home in time for Easter. His Mum and Dad had maintained a vigil by his bedside throughout his ordeal. “We were so glad to be allowed to go home at last”, said Moss, “while the medical staff have been marvellous, being in hospital for three months had taken its toll.”

I along with the Round Tables of St Ives and Camborne will need all the help of the community to raise as much as we can for this little boy.

At the monment donations can be sent to

Flowertime Florist Ltd

17 Penpol Terrace

HAYLE

Cornwall

TR274Bq

please make cheques payable to St Ives Round Table 531

Director Of We Send Flowers becomes Chairman.

Mark Nicholas NDSF FSF AIFD director of we send flowers as just become Chairman of St Ives Round Table again for the second time. Mark was voted into the chair on Monday evening at the AGM of St Ives Round Table.

Fellow tablers are convinced that Mark can help restore the round table back to it's former glory after a few year of decline. Mark is very passionate about Round Table and the charity work he does in the community.

Find you want to find out more about Round Table in St Ives or nationally email Mark on flowertime@btconnect.com or round-table531@hotmail.co.uk

Chelsea Flower Show Thinner this Year.

Chelsea looking thinner as credit crunch bites

Chelsea Flower show will have several less gardens this year and fewer exhibitors in the Grand Marquee as companies pull in the horns in the face of the recession. Notable names like Notcutts and Squires have already pulled out while the NFU is still seeking a sponsor for its award winning display which has won an amazing 12 Gold Medals.

However while the show will be smaller the organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society are still convinced it will be a marvellous showcase of all things floral, including this year, another display of floristry organised by the British Florist Association.
source fandwb

Cornwall Garden Society - Spring Show 4th & 5th April.

SPRING FLOWER SHOW at BOCONNOC nr Lostwithiel.
The weather was very kind to the show organisers and the crowds turned out in their hundreds to enjoy a fantastic two day show of everything plant and flower orientated.

Nearly everyone leaving the show were carrying bags and bags of plants and flowers.

They held a Ready Steady Floral Art competition, Brass band played on the lawn and everyone enjoyed themselves to the full.

Photos give an over view of the great time that everyone was having.

Well done to the Cornwall Garden Society.

International Teachers of Floristry at IPM Essen -1stPublic Appearance

International Teachers of Floristry
In Hall 1 at the IPM ESSEN 2009:

New Affiliation of the “International Teachers of Floristry”
has its First Public Appearance at the IPM ESSEN 2009


As a publisher for floristic inspirations in education and training, FLORALDESIGN EDITION offers a new movement a platform for a trend-setting dialogue with the visitors to the IPM ESSEN 2009. The group of “European Teachers of Floristry” from France, England, Poland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Germany is to meet up with florists from Japan and South America.
The group is also to receive support from various national organisations such as the Society of Floristry, Federfiori, Floriform, NFD, Polska Skola Florsticznie and the Escuela Iberoamericano de Arte Floral. The initiative, made up of internationally recognised floral designers, is headed by the Frenchman Jaques Pastor from Castries in the Languedoc area of France.
The group’s first central objective is to formulate a mutual methodical approach to floral design. In this way, little by little, an international vocabulary is to emerge which will harmonise the definition of design techniques and methods: a levelling of fundamental knowledge for all those involved in designing with plants and who, through their work, place this within the context of the different cultures.
The IPM ESSSEN 2009 forms the right international framework for the first public appearance of the “International Teachers of Floristry” at the stand of FLORALDESIGN EDITION, at the BGI Trade Centre in Hall 1.
Source : floraldesign-edition & IPM Essen

AIFD_ NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM is coming to Kanas City

Hollywood has the Oscars. Sports has the Olympics. And the Floral Design Industry has the AIFD National Symposium; the one place where floral designers from all over the world gather to share the latest trends in floral design.
AIFD National Symposia feature programs by the floral industry's best and brightest. Meet colleagues who share your interests. Learn about the latest trends in floral design. Acquire new skills, ideas, and innovations that you can carry home to colleagues and students alike.
AIFD's 2009 National Symposium, "The Sky's the Limit" will be held in Kansas City, Mo. July 11-16.
Symposium AttireYou’ll be enjoying summer in the city, so comfortable business casual clothing is appropriate for wear throughout AIFD’s National Symposium. There are several times, however, when other dress is more appropriate. These include the Monday, July 13, Awards & Induction Dinner where business dinner attire is more appropriate, and the Wednesday, July 15, Final Night Dinner/Dance where we dress to the nines in black-ties and elegant dresses.

Odyssey Moon Partners with Paragon Space Development Corporation to Grow first Plant on the Moon.

Google Lunar X PRIZE Contender Odyssey Moon Partners with Paragon Space Development Corporation to Grow first Plant on the Moon.

PRESS CONFERENCE: FRIDAY MARCH 27th START TIME: 1:30PM PDT (3:30PM EDT / 1:30PM Mountain Standard Time)
WHERE: PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 3481 E MICHIGAN ST, TUCSON, ARIZONA 85714

VISUALS AT EVENT: PROTOTYPE BIOLOGICAL LUNAR GREENHOUSE, DISCUSSION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MISSION, PRESENTATION OF PROTOTYPE TO CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (chairwoman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee), WORKING PROTOTYPE of the PARAGON DIVE SYSTEM™, and MEDIA TOUR OF PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S ORION AND RESEARCH FACILITIES. IMAGERY OF THE LUNAR LANDER PROTOTYPE IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
TUCSON, Arizona, March 26 –
The first Moon flower will become a reality when private lunar expedition partners Odyssey Moon and Paragon Space Development Corporation deliver a biological greenhouse to the lunar surface.
Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon Ltd. will announce its partnership with Paragon at a media conference held on March 27, 2009 at the Tucson-based firm, a manufacturer of key components for NASA’s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle that will replace the Space Shuttle and take Astronauts to the Moon and eventually Mars. The lunar plant will be another space biology first for Paragon, having bred the first animals through complete life cycles in space, and grown the first aquatic plant in space.
“People of all ages will get excited about the idea of growing a plant on the Moon,” said Jane Poynter, President and founder of Paragon and an expert on environmental sustainability. “Imagine a bright flower on a plant in a crystal clear growth chamber on the surface of the Moon, with the full Earth rising above the Moonscape behind it; these are the ideas that got me interested in space.”
Jane Poynter and husband Taber MacCallum, Paragon CEO, are well known experts in the closed biological systems communities, and were themselves experimental subjects within a sealed ecosystem as resident scientists in the famous Biosphere 2 project of the early 90’s. Spending two years living with six others in a 3.2 acre greenhouse type structure in Oracle, Arizona, the largest closed system ever built, they emerged as a couple with a newly created company.
Growing the first plant on another world has enormous symbolic importance as well as important scientific research value for creating self contained lunar outposts and eventual settlements. “Plants have been grown in essentially zero gravity and of course in Earth gravity, but never in fractions of gravity,” said Dr. Volker Kern, Paragon’s Director of NASA Human Spaceflight Programs who conducted plant growth experiments in space on the US Space Shuttle. “Scientifically it will be very interesting to understand the effects of the Moon and one sixth gravity on plant growth.”
NASA Ames planetary scientist Dr. Chris McKay will also be supporting the Lunar Oasis science team. "The first plant to grow from seed and complete its life cycle on another world will be a significant step in the expansion of life beyond the Earth. The sooner we do it the better," he said.
In addition to leading the design of biological payloads, Paragon’s responsibilities on the Odyssey Moon team include robotic lunar lander design support and the lander’s thermal control system. Paragon CEO Taber MacCallum will also be joining the Odyssey Moon Board of Advisors.
“We are thrilled to have Paragon join the team with their expertise in thermal and biological systems,” said Odyssey Moon founder and CEO Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards. “I am incredibly inspired by our hope to grow the first plant on another world.”
U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, will participate in the press event and tour Paragon’s Orion and research facilities.
About Odyssey Moon Odyssey Moon Ventures LLC is a U.S. company with offices in Washington, DC and Cocoa Beach, Florida. The company intends to develop and commercialize innovative technologies to offer frequent, low cost and reliable access to the lunar surface for private and government customers. In addition to working with NASA on lander development, Odyssey Moon Ventures will be responsible for the U.S. launch operations and ground processing of spacecraft that will be used in future commercial spaceflights to the Moon. Odyssey Moon Limited is a multi-national commercial lunar enterprise based in the Isle of Man that was first unveiled in December 2007 as the first official contender in the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE competition. The company is an innovative partnership of aerospace, financial, science, education, legal and policy interests that have come together to offer unique commercial lunar business services and products for humanity’s permanent return to the Moon. Odyssey Moon’s prime contractor is MDA, an experienced company with substantial space heritage in providing robotics on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and more recently for satellite servicing and planetary exploration. Odyssey Moon is dedicated to the long-term responsible development of the Moon for the benefit of all humanity.

ABOUT PARAGON: Paragon Space Development Corporation joins the engineering disciplines of environmental control, life support, and thermal control to provide premier products and services for our world’s most challenging life support needs, such as human spaceflight and first responder personal protection. Founded in 1993, Paragon is a woman-owned small business headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, with additional offices in Houston, Denver and Washington, DC. For more information, see: http://www.paragonsdc.com/

LETS HERE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS EXCITING ADVENTURE POST YOUR REPLY AT http://www.theflowerclubforum.co.uk/

Flowertime Florist Website...

Flowertime Florist Ltd website is now back up and running just in time for Spring http://www.flowertimeflorist.co.uk/ .

You can use either http://www.flowertimeflorist.co.uk/ or http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/ and you will logged on to our updated web site.

If you are getting married in West Cornwall you can fill in and send to us a wedding consulation form, before you make an appointment to discuss your wedding.

You can send Flowers and Floral Items to over 145 Countries around the World from our website.

We also send Trenance Chocolates ( made in Cornwall) from our Site.

If you are a flower club and want your details, meetings and anything of interest that you might be doing please log on to http://www.theflowerclubforum.co.uk/

Look forward to hearing from you all, or give us a call on 01736 757006, or a message at flowertime@btconnect.com

Mark and the Team at Flowertime and http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/

Local School Children's competition winners: Well Done Nina and Marley.

We at http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/ and Flowertime Florist Ltd www.flowertimeflorist.co.uk a competition for local school children from Penpol, Bodriggy and Connor Downs CP schools to create a poster for Mother's Day. The response was brilliant and we had over 150 entries from the schools, the winners were judged by local photographer David Chapman. David was looking for artistic flare, along with getting the message across for Mother's Day. The winner chosen in the 4-7 years was Nina from Penpol School and in the 8-11 year Marley from Connor Downs School.
Both of the winners received a bouquet of flowers for their Mum's and a gift for themselves.
Pictured below are the two winner's along with their mum's.


Marley and his Mum

Nina and her Mum.



Everyone at http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/ and Flowertime Florist Ltd would like to thank all the children who took part and to the teachers an school for their support.

Mark

CORNWALL GARDEN SOCIETY Spring Show

SPRING FLOWER SHOW
to be held at
BOCONNOC
nr Lostwithiel.
Turn of A390 at Middle Taphouse and follow signs
on the Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April

PRESS RELEASE 2009



Plans are well advanced for the 2009 Cornwall Spring Flower Show, to be staged by The Cornwall Garden Society in the lovely setting of the Boconnoc Estate near Lostwithiel, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April.



Show Director Debbie Evans reports an encouragingly high level of interest already, and the number of booked Trade Exhibitors, who contribute so much to the interest and content of the show, shows no indication of being affected by the current economic climate.



In addition to the magnificent displays that can be guaranteed from the competitive classes, which comprise the heart of what is one of the West Country’s oldest and largest horticultural shows, there will be much else for visitors to enjoy.



‘We are giving extra space and opportunities for children to participate this year’, explains Debbie. ‘As well as the perennially popular scarecrow competition, we hope local schools will be attracted to the new classes - for A Garden in a Wheelbarrow, and A Decorated Plant Pot.’



‘The Floral and Botanical Art exhibitions have proved highly popular and I am confident that entries to those and the Photographic competition will be up to the usual high standard. We shall be staging the usual Gardeners’ Question Time in Boconnoc Church, and Boconnoc House will be open to view by guided tours over the weekend’.



‘It needs no fewer than 100 volunteers from the Garden Society’s membership to organise and run the event; we all look forward to welcoming everyone with an interest in gardening to what is a special day in the calendar’.

My Plant of the Month February

Azalea

Rhododendron simsii

Two sorts of Azalea's are widely used in the indoor house plant market these are Rhododendron simsii (Azalea indica) & Rhododendron obtusum ( Japanese Azalea).

Pronounced a-ZAY-lee-a, its genus name is Rhododendron simsii. The name orginates from the Greek azaleas meaning dry, but it is not a suitable name, as azaleas today are not related to the original Lapland variety which grow in dry places, but comes from China and Thailand in very wet conditions.

Colours Red, pink, white, purples, two tone colours.

Related to garden rhododendrons; but azaleas are not as hardy and should be indoors in the winter except in very mild areas such as cornwall.

Care remember to water regularly - with rainwater if you live in a hard water area or soften water for a few days with added peat. - Azalea hate drying out.

Dry brown leaves usually indicates underwatering whereas firm yellow leaves means it has been watered with hard water.

Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

WADEBRIDGE 4th 5th & 6th June 2009
FLOWER SHOW

FLORAL ART CLASSES

ENTRIES CLOSE 7th APRIL 2009

Registered Charity No. 250312

FLOWER PAVILION TIMES OF OPENING

Thursday 9.00am - 6.30pm
Friday 8.30am - 6.30pm
Saturday 8.30am - 4.45pm
Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association
COMPETITIVE AND FLORAL ART SECTION
Wadebridge 5th, 6th & 7th June 2008

Exhibits in Competitive and Floral Art Classes entry form FROM Mrs J Walters, 51 Church View Road, Camborne TR14 8RQ or
Mrs J Hoskin, Bronwhella, 17 Glynn Road, Liskeard PL14 4HJ

CUT TREES AND SHRUBS

SECTION A

PRIZE MONEY
Classes 1 - 2 1st £10, 2nd £8, 3rd £5

Vases will be provided by the Association

Class 1 One vase of any Flowering Tree or Shrub ONE variety in 91cm (36in) space and 91cm (36 in) from rim of vase.

Class 2 One vase of Cut Foliage ONE variety in 91cm (36in) space and 91cm (36 in) from rim of vase.

The Treseder Challenge Cup will be awarded to the winner with the most points in Classes 1 & 2.

Class 3 Any One Specimen Flower/Bloom.
The winners in this class will be awarded rosettes.

The Cut Flower cup will be awarded to the winner with the most points in class 3

CONTAINER GARDENING

SECTION B

PRIZE MONEY
Classes 4 – 8 1st £10, 2nd £8, 3rd £5
Rosettes and Prize Cards for this section

Exhibitors please note:- No artificial plant material.
See regulation 8.

Class 4 Hanging Basket
The basket frame should have a maximum diameter of 41cm (16in). Hanging supports will be provided.

First Prize: The Cornish Nurseryman's Association Perpetual Challenge Cup

Class 5 Window Box
The window box should have a maximum external width of 23cm (9in) and a maximum external length of 76cm (30in). Suitable staging will be provided.

First Prize: The Miracle Gro Perpetual Challenge Trophy

Class 6 A Patio Container
This could be a tub or garden ornament. The container will be staged on a floor level space 91cm (36in) long by 69cm (27in) deep.

First Prize: The Jewson Ltd (Wadebridge Branch) Challenge Cup

Class 7 Herb Gardening, a minimum of 5 specimens, the plants to be shown in a container of any shape, staging of decking boards will be provided 1metre square, height unlimited
Class 8 Hanging Pouch With Most Colour
Pouches kindly supplied by Trelawney Garden Leisure. Any competitor wishing to enter this class please send a stamped addressed A5 sized envelope to Mrs J Hoskin, Bronwhella, 17 Glynn Road, Liskeard PL14 4HJ

Any exhibitor making three or more entries in sections B & C will be entitled to one day free entry to showground. This pass will be available from a committee member on staging day.

FLORAL ART CLASSES

Judging under NAFAS COMPETITION MANUAL 1st EDITION 2001

Floral Art Theme: EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY
(Inspired by the ‘Year of Food and Farming’)

www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk

Class 9 Patio Party
An exhibit to be staged on 4 paving slabs each measuring 60cm and arranged in a square (120 x 120cm) approximately 15cm above ground level. Height unlimited. To be viewed and judged all round. Up to two people may take part in this class for which a £30 grant plus 2 day passes will be allowed.

Class 10 Hot and Spicy
A pedestal exhibit (competitor to provide own pedestal) Wood stained base provided approximately 122cm wide, 122cm deep. Height unlimited against cream background.

Class 11 Farmers Market
An exhibit to be staged on a circular table 90cm in diameter and approximately 75cm from ground level’ height unlimited. Exhibitors to provide own covering. To be viewed and judged all round.

Class 12 Days of Wine & Roses
An exhibit. Space 91cm wide, 69cm deep. Background height 122cm.

Class 13 Contemporary Herbs
An exhibit. Space 91cm wide, 69cm deep, background height 122cm.

Class 14 Diversification
An exhibit. Space 91cm wide, 69cm deep, background height 122cm.

Class 15 Gourmet Gardener
An exhibit to include fruit and/or vegetables. Space 91cm wide, 69cm deep, height unlimited. Open staging – to be viewed and judged all round.

Class 16 Sweet & Simple A petite exhibit not exceeding 25cm in width, depth and height.

(In all classes flowers/fruit/vegetables need not be grown by competitor)

Any exhibitor making three or more entries in sections B & C will be entitled to one day free entry to showground. This pass will be available on staging day from a committee member.


Winners may collect their trophies from the flower pavilion office on Saturday between 4.30pm and 5.00pm.

My Flower of the Month February

Well February is here and my flower for the Month is Tulips.

"Tulips" I here you say Not Roses.

Yes that right Red Tulips are my True flower of St Valentine's Day.

Tulips got their name from the Turkish for turban, after its rounded flower head form.

Botanical name: Tulipa.

Colours: Everything except blue and true black. Companies say they have bred ture blue and black but when you look at them they are not really true.

Availability: November to May is the main season but now available all year in limited colours and supplies.

Origin: Middle East, grown in extensively in Holland and the UK. (tulips from Amsterdam.)

Care Tips: Tulips continue to grow in water and will curve towards the light. Make allowances for this when putting them in a vase or wrap the stems tightly in newspaper and stand them in water directly beneath a light for a few hours. Tulips have a vase life of just over a week, and buy flowers in bud but with colour showing.

Tulips are the third-biggest selling flower in Holland and are also very popular in the UK where many are also grown.

In the Victorian language of flowers red tulips are a declaration of love, making them ideal gifts for Valentine's Day.

History fact from the Flower and Plant association: In the middle ages tulipmania saw bulbs change hands for the equivalent of £4million pounds a bulb!

Just think how much this field would have cost.

My Flower of the Month

Name. Paphiopedilum Orchid , the Slipper Orchid.

Commonly called Lady's Slipper

Origin: Originally from Thailand, Burma and Vietnam, many varieties are now bred mainly in USA and UK. These orchids are terrestrial plants (growing on the floor).
Colour: White, yellow, green, brown,maroon and tan and often spotted or striped.
One or two flowers per stem (sometimes 3 to 4), shaped like slippers with the laces trailing to the sides, available all year round.

Pronounced PAFF-ee-oh PED-e-lum 'Paphos slipper'. Paphos in Cyprus has a temple to Aphrodite, the epitome of woman, and a goddess worshipped by the Greeks. Slipper refers to the shape of the lower petal of the flower.

Over 19,000 hybrid forms of Paphiopedilum have been registered.

Cut Flower Care Tips: They will last for well over a month, but because tthey have hairy stems they should not be placed in deep water.
They like cool air and regular misting, and are sensitive to ethylene gas so keep them away from fruit, vegetables and dying flowers.

The New Shop Front

The New Shop front,sign writing and customer ramp access now in place.

The ramp access has been brilliant to allow our physically challenged clients easy entry into the shop.

The Shop signage is all new with the window graphics adding to the colourful display. The sign writing was expertly installed by designer Matt at Premier Signs, Redruth.

The next update that's happening is going to electronic opening and closing doors, this will give our clients an even more enjoyable shopping at Flowertime and http://www.wesendflowers.co.uk/.
Photo credit Sarah Chapman

My Plant of the Month

Phalaenopsis - The Moth Orchid.

Name - Comes from Greek phalaina meaning a moth and opsis meaning resemblance. It is pronounced fal-a-nop-sis.
Description - Arching flower stalks bear lovely, flat, multiple flower heads which resemble moths or butterflies.
Country of Orgin - South East Asia
Family - Orchid family, with 50+ species belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis
Care Tips - Enjoy a light spot, but do not place in bright direct sunlight. Regular, moderate watering ideally using boiled and cooled water. Provide high humidity, mist often but not on the flower heads. Feed with Orchid fertiliser every other watering. Cut back stems after flowers fade to just below node which produced the first flower. Given the right conditions phalaenopsis can flower for months on end.
Intresting fact about the plant - Brilliant plant for the office a home Phalaenopsis are very effective in removing xylene (chemical emissions from adhesives, computer VDU screens, paints, stains etc) from the atmosphere.

Giving it a Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies from the Tangent Club in West Cornwall have fun, and try out the art of making Corsages.
Mark went along and gave a talk and demonstration on how to make a corsage for a wedding or dinner dance.

The ladies had a selection of flowers and foliages to use, including cymbidium orchids, china grass, wax flowers and more...........

All the ladies present thought making a corsage was easy but once Mark started to wire all the floral bits up and tape the stems they then changed their minds.

The photos shows the ladies having ago, the wine was flowing to help calm their frustations.

Comments included: " wow never knew that amount of work went into something so small." " how do you do that again!!!!!!!" " Thanks Mark for being a very understanding wish I had your patience"

WeSendFlowers-Local National & International

WeSendFlowers-Local National & International

Click the above link to visit the new website.

Dutch keep seized orchids

Orchids on route for last year’s Chelsea Flower Show 2008 that were confiscated by Dutch customs are now being housed permanently in a Dutch botanical garden.
Dutch judges have ruled that the super rare flowers, which were seized in May 08 because the proper importation paperwork had not been filed, be kept at a botanical garden.

Henk Vonk from the National Service for Implementation of Regulations of Confiscated Goods in Holland said his department had received a decision from the Public Prosecutor of Justice to donate the eight seized orchids to a botanical garden.“They are in good condition and one is flowering,” he said.

The Ghost Orchids and Wild Banana Orchids were seized by Dutch customs officials in mid–May because of tight European regulations restricting the trade and movement of rare and endangered species of plants.
While an export licence from the Cayman authorities had been secured, the plants did not have an import licence – a requirement that had been introduced just weeks beforehand.

The news that the flowers were surviving, and even flourishing, was met with joy by Kirkland Nixon, president of Cayman’s Orchid Society.“At least they’re in safe hands. I don’t think they will exploit them or try to commercialise them,” he said.

The eight orchids are estimated to be worth a total of $80,000.

He was also pleased to hear that one of the plants was flowering, and wished the Dutch luck in trying to propagate the seeds of the Ghost Orchids, something the Orchid Society here has been unable to do.
“We’ve been trying to propagate these endangered orchids from seeds for years… We’ve gotten them to bloom and to pollinate, but for some reason, this plant is sterile.
I don’t know why.“Maybe the Dutch will have more luck than we did,” Mr. Nixon said.

The orchids were collected in February 2006 from land off Newport Avenue, which was cleared for low–cost housing, and had been growing at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park for a few years before beginning their interrupted journey to the Chelsea Flower Show in England last year.

It would have been the first time the British public would have had a chance to view the Ghost Orchids on English soil.
The Botanic Park had not intended to bring the orchids back to Cayman following the flower show. It had planned to donate the orchids to Kew Gardens, and auction them to raise money for the Blue Iguana Recovery Fund to a winner who could visit the flowers there.
Instead, when the flowers got stuck in Holland, the sponsorship of two orchids growing in the park in Cayman were auctioned, with the winner receiving a holiday to the Cayman Islands to visit the Botanic Park and see their sponsored orchids.

There is little likelihood of a repeat of last year’s debacle with the plants, according to the Botanic Park’s general manager, Andrew Guthrie, as no plants are being sent from Cayman to the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show.
“This year the exhibit is completely different. We’re not shipping plants or anything else from Cayman. Everything is being sourced in England or Europe.

“Shipping plants from Cayman to Europe or from Miami to Europe is a monumental nightmare and we don’t want to do that again,” Mr. Guthrie said.

As well as losing the rare orchids to Dutch Customs, the Cayman exhibit last year ran into further trouble when British Airways lost a catboat it had shipped from Cayman three times. The boat was eventually located just in time for the show.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is home to 10 of the 26 orchid species recorded in the Cayman Islands, and three of these are found nowhere else on earth.

Source: caycompass.com

Quick Flower Tip of the Month.

Floral Foam

Do you Know how to prepare it correctly?

If not this is how..................

1.You should first fill a bucket with clean fresh water and added cut flowers food (keeps bacteria at bay and help the flowers complete their life cycle.

2. Place your piece of floral foam onto the surface of the water, and allow the foam to take up water at its own pace. The foam will get darker once its soaked.

DO NOT AT ANY TIME PUSH THE FOAM UNDER THE WATER SURFACE.This will only cause an air lock inside the piece of foam and thus result in flowers not living out their full life.

(Top Tip: for arranging flowers in floral foam,use a knife it will be easier and better for the flowers when placing them into the floral foam)

3. Once you have made your arrangement please remember to keep it topped up with water daily.

4. Never reuse a piece of floral foam it will contain lots of holes, dry areas, will not soak up water fully again, and will by then be a breeding ground for bacteria and this will affect the life of your new flowers.

Hope this helps you make better floral arrangements.

Happy flower arranging

Mark