Flower Delivery

Of course, we’re a little biased, but we think you should send flowers for Valentine’s Day. As Daniel Taverne humorously writes in American Chronicle, sometimes the traditional gifts, like flowers, are still the best:

It’s nearing that mushy time of year again where our women expect us men to be charming, sensitive and romantic. That being said, isn’t it about time to begin the tedious task of searching for that perfect gift, a gift that communicates all three of these noble virtues, all the while preserving your manly dignity and peace of mind? Of course it is, but unfortunately all too many of us men get caught up in wanting to get away from the tried and true flowers, candy and jewelry and make an attempt at being creative.

To that end, there are countless men in the world who rethink the whole Valentines Day gift giving tradition, and convince themselves that thinking out side the box is a much better way to say I love you. Well, I’m here to tell you that when talking about Valentine’s gifts, unless you are very careful, thinking outside the box can get you into a lot of trouble. Hopefully, after reading this you’ll be able to recognize those items that could potentially come back to haunt you, and avoid unpleasantness.

When thinking of gifts to avoid giving to your woman, for instance, avoid those cool gifts that you would want someone to give to you. Scientific studies have shown that most women, for one reason or another, would prefer to not receive a half inch breaker bar, or a fishing pole with a full array of lures. In addition, my advice to you is don’t buy your significant other a set of stainless steel Allen wrenches, or a subscription to popular mechanics.

Even more important than above, avoid giving gifts that imply your better half is over weight. For example, Valentine’s Day is not a good day to present your lady with a new bathroom scale. Additionally, it’s a good idea to pass up that used copy of, “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” that you’ve had your eye on in Goodwill for the past month. Also, don’t give your better half a dress that is three sizes to small nor three sizes too large. If it’s too small, she’ll think you want her to loose weight, and if it’s too large, you’re implying she’s too fat.

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The Inside the Bay Area wrote about the truth of being in the flower business. – 

Three years ago, Dave Wright knew nothing about orchids, but he was filled with curiosity about the long rows of greenhouses he passed on his commute back home.

That sense of curiosity led him to stop at Fordyce Orchids on Isabel Avenue in Livermore and talk to the owners, who have been in the business for two generations.

These casual conversations and Wright’s own experiments led him to join a small but committed and thoroughly obsessed population that treasures orchids, a meaty flowering plant with streaks of purple, gray and red.

Fordyce has created scores of orchid fanatics over the years like Wright, who works as a food processing facility manager in the South Bay. He grows some 130 plants in his tiny Modesto apartment and spends two hours a day watering them.

Fordyce won’t be creating many new fans in the future.

After more than 26 years as part of the Orchid Ranch co-op in Livermore, Fordyce is closing, probably in February or March, making it another in the long list of mom-and-pop shops that have closed in part because of the abundance of mass produced orchids that are available cheaply at stores such as Costco.

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You gardeners out there will have some exciting new flowers to plant this year according to the Star Gazette:

Purchasing decisions often include selecting between “tried and true” and “new and improved” items. Where do gardeners get their information when it comes to plant seed varieties? Numerous universities provide suggestions based on research and trials. Seed variety developers report on their introductions. Another helpful source is All America Selections.

The organization’s members are firms engaged in seed variety improvement. AAS judges evaluate these varieties at test gardens throughout North America and AAS promotes superior selections with their “Winner” designation.

Recently added to the flower and vegetable categories are bedding flower and cool-season flower categories. For the year 2006 look for these award-winning, new bedding varieties from AAS:

# Dianthus “Supra Purple” bloomed early and exhibited exceptional garden performance in winning an AAS Bedding Plant Award. This interspecific cross results in hybrid vigor for improved heat tolerance and prolific bloom. The 1.5-inch single purple flowers are lacy, with highly fringed petal edges. In full sun, “Supra Purple” reaches 12 inches tall with an upright bouquet habit spreading 10 inches. The flowers may be cut for fresh arrangements or enjoyed in the garden during the long flowering period. From sowing seed to bloom, plan on about 10 to 12 weeks.

# Nicotiana “Perfume Deep Purple” is another bedding award winner. The name speaks to its delicate evening fragrance and color that charm the senses.

Fragrance is an often-overlooked characteristic in many breeding programs. Gardeners benefit greatly when nicotiana and Dianthus receive breeding attention for their aroma. The single, 2-inch star-shaped flowers of the variety are produced in abundance. Plants may reach 20 inches and spread 15 to 18 inches in a full sun garden location. The variety readily adapts to containers, or a semi-shade garden planting. Easy to grow and undemanding, “Perfume Deep Purple” seed and plants will be available this spring in seed racks, catalogs and at garden retailers.

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Time to start thinking about this year’s flowers! The AP has a timely article about all the seed catalogs you gardeners out there should be receiving shortly:

Many of the best home gardens are planned around the kitchen table on unhurried winter nights as families gather to page through the seed catalogs arriving now in stacks as deep as snowdrifts.

More than 24.2 million American households will spend an estimated $128 each on mail order seeds, plants, bulbs, garden tools and garden supplies in 2006, the Mailorder Gardening Association says. That translates roughly into $3.1 billion in total mail order and online gardening sales.

Vegetable growers study no-nonsense catalogs offering certified seed potatoes, onion, tomato, carrot or radish seed. Others pore over catalogs describing the virtues of rare, “old country,” organic or heirloom fruits and flowers. Some dig deep into catalogs offering wider inventories — everything from plants, trees, shrubs, tools and bird feeders to specialty fashions for the well-turned-out gardener.

The more traditional catalogs are gleaned as much for the wealth of their plant and planting lore as for the quality and reliability of their seed. Seed catalogs are mailed every month of the year, but January is prime time. Garden-related work is all but dormant except for turning over a few fresh planting ideas.

“The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the big period for getting them into the house,” said George Ball, chairman, president and chief executive officer of W. Atlee Burpee & Co., one of the nation’s pioneer seed catalog companies. “If you mail a catalog that isn’t strictly gift-oriented before Christmas in this age of junk mail, you’re going to get lost,” Ball said. “I drop it in the mail the day after Christmas.”

Catalogs must be attractive and informative if they’re to generate sales. They also must be durable.

“(Seed and garden) catalogs are dream books,” Ball said. “People use the catalogs to plan out their gardens. Catalogs sit on bedside tables. They’re placed in workrooms and carried around in briefcases. Our catalogs are battered and dog-eared long before the planting season begins.”

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Flowering trees are a great sight. Here is some great info on persimmons from the Free Press:

Persimmons are divided into two distinct groups – the native persimmon, which is Diospyros virginiana, and the Oriental persimmon, which is Diospyros kaki.

The fruit of native varieties is usually smaller, seedier and more astringent until the fruit is ripe. Many native persimmons are frequently seedling trees which result in a wide variability in the quality of the fruit. Native persimmon selections are available for purchase.

Oriental persimmons were introduced into the United States by M.C. Perry in 1856. In less than 20 years, the Department of Agriculture planted them throughout the southern states.

Considerable research and cultivar breeding has made the Oriental persimmon a great addition to the garden.

As a general rule, their fruit is superior in quality to native persimmons.

Native persimmons are more cold-hardy than Oriental varieties. The native varieties may survive temperatures of 20-25 degrees below zero, while Oriental varieties may be killed or injured when temperatures fall below about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Oriental persimmon varieties Great Wall, Korean or Sheng are the most cold-tolerant of the Oriental varieties.

Oriental persimmons are subdivided into two classes: the astringent and the non-astringent.

The astringent type should be completely soft before eating or your mouth will pucker for hours. When fully ripe, the fruit is reddish-orange and is mellow flavored and very sweet.

The non-astringent types are firmer and can be eaten prior to softening. Oriental persimmon fruit may grow to the size of a peach, while native varieties produce fruit that is closer to the size of a plum.

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