What Do Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day have in common?

Chinese New Year is celebrated on the 1st day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar and varies from January 21st to February 19th until the 15th of the moon. Preparation for Chinese New Year begins weeks in advance when the house is thoroughly cleaned, plates of oranges, tangerines with leaves intact and Pomelo’s (grapefruits) are placed in the house including the container for rice and a Lien Hop. If you haven’t heard of a Lien Hop, it is a round container with many sections. It is filled with dry goods such as preserved ginger, candies & sweets to serve to guests and relatives. The family celebrates with an elaborate nine course meal on Chinese New Year’s Eve such as a fresh cooked chicken with all parts including the head and feet, noodles, Fat Choi Soup for wealth, prosperity and long life. The flowers used in Chinese New Year celebrations are water Narcissus and plum blossoms.

On Chinese New Year, children receive good luck money in a Lai See envelope and wear new clothes and are told not eat anything that is sour or your clothes will wear out sooner.

There are twelve animal signs for the Chinese Zodiac. The animal signs for one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years. These are the signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

2010 is the year of the Tiger.

The origin of Valentine’s Day varies with some experts stating St. Valentine, a Roman who was put to death due to his beliefs. St. Valentine died on February 14th. There are many other varying opinions as to origin of Valentine's Day.

February 14th eventually became the day for giving & receiving love messages, flowers, candies and expressing your love to your special one in your life. Children in school exchange Valentine’s Day cards with candies. A higher percentage of women purchase gifts for Valentine’s Day whereas men purchase red roses for their love ones.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, the most special Valentine’s gift I ever received was a creative one based on the five senses. My husband and I were dating at the time when he presented me with a gift for each of the fives senses; touch was a stuffed animal, sight was a picture, smell was a dozen red roses, hearing was a recording of love songs and taste was a large heart-shaped candy on a stick. That is one Valentine’s Day that I will never forget.

So what do Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day have in common? Sunday, February 14, 2010.

Gung Hay Fat Choy and Happy Valentine’s Day,

Patty

The “Extra” Four Seasons

A flower arrangement consists of primary, secondary and filler flowers with extras which are optional decorations. Extras are decorations that can be incorporated into your flower arrangements due to the seasons, holidays or a themed party throughout the year. Just use your imagination and most extras can be part of your floral arrangement.

The following small or miniature items can be incorporated into your floral arrangements during the year. These items can be ceramic, plush materials, resin or even wood.

For the winter months of January through March, footballs, small party favors, hearts, bears, shamrocks, gold coins, feathers, leprechauns, purple, gold or green beads, masks, chop sticks, lai si*, bamboo, small origami decorations and stirrers.

For the spring months of April through June, eggs, rabbits, pencils, bird nests, sea shells, fish, champagne glasses, pin wheels, insects such as lady bugs, butterflies, bees, flags, diplomas, graduation cap, tassels, playing cards and chips.

For the summer months of July through September, artificial fruits (apples, pears and oranges), stars, flags. Red, white and blue balloons and miniature umbrellas.

For the fall months of October through December ghosts, pumpkins, turkeys, scarecrows, snowmen, candy canes, pinecones, holiday ornaments, red robins, angels, penguins, ice skates, skis, snowboards and berries.

There are many more items that can be used. Just let your creativity shine through your flowers.

Gung Hay Fat Choi (Happy New Year!)


Patty

* I will explain the lai si with my upcoming floral design

How to Select and Care for the Beautiful Christmas Plant, Poinsettia

I wrote about the Poinsettia on the last posting and decided to continue writing on how to select and care for your Poinsettia. The Poinsettia, a traditional Christmas plant, will last through the Christmas holidays and beyond.

The amount of time your poinsettia will last depends on the maturity of the plant, when the plants is purchased and how you treat the plant. With proper care, poinsettias should remain beautiful for weeks and some varieties will stay beautiful for months. Here are ways to purchase and to care for your poinsettia.

How to choose a Poinsettia

Select poinsettia with the following:
• Dark green foliage to the soil line.
• Bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored.
• Fullness, balanced and attractive from all sides.
• Size of plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container.
• Check for the true flowers located at the base of the colored bracts. Flowers that are green or red-tipped and fresh looking will last longer rather than yellow pollen covering the flowers.

But not the following:
• Many green around the bract edges.
• Fallen or yellowed leaves drooping or wilting.
• Plants wrapped with paper or plastic sleeves. Plants held in sleeves will not last too long.
• Plants being are displayed are crowded or too close together. Crowding can cause the bracts to drop.
• Check the plant’s soil. If it is wet and the plant is wilted, this could be an indication of root rot
How to care for your Poinsettia
• Do not exposure your plant to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.
• Place in indirect light, ideally six hours of daily.
• Keep away and from touching cold windows.
• Keep away from warm/cold drafts from radiators, air registers, open doors and windows.
• Prefers daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F.
• Too high or too cold temperature will shorten the plant’s life.
• Check the soil daily. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into a saucer and discard excess water.
• Do not fertilize when it is in bloom
• Fertilize the poinsettia if you plan to keep it past the holiday season with a houseplant fertilizer once a month.

Happy Holidays. May you find peace, love and happiness.

Poinsettias

When I was a child I always noticed this tall straggly plant that grew to the height of my parent’s garage. It had green leaves and red vibrant flowers throughout the year. I really did not know the name of the plant but my mother always told me it was a Poinsettia.

Poinsettia Christmas Arrangement

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. The plant is name after Mr. Joel Poinsett. December 12th is National Poinsettia Day in honor of Joel Poinsett who died on this day in 1851. He was the 1st United States ambassador to Mexico and introduced the bright red plant to his homeland.

In nature, poinsettias are a perennial flowering shrub that can grow to ten feet tall. Poinsettias are traditional Christmas plants that will last through the Christmas season and beyond. The colored parts of the poinsettias are not flowers both are actually colored bracts. Colored bracts are modified leaves. Poinsettias are not poisonous but produce a sap that can be irritating to the skin. Beside the traditional red, poinsettias are available from a creamy white to shades of pink, orange, marbled bracts of pink and white as well as pink flecks on red. With some tender loving care after the holiday season, your poinsettias will bloom for many years to come as the one that is still growing next to the garage at my mom’s house.

Patty

Anthurium: The Unique Heart-Shaped Flower

Anthurium Flowers

Anthuriums are long-lasting tropical flowers that will bloom year-round with proper conditions such as the temperature, potting mix, watering, light and fertilizer. They are known for the large beautiful foliage and the surface of the flower is semi-glossy. The stems may grow 15 to 20 inches long depending on the spathe. The spathe is the colored part of flower which comes in red, green, bi-color, shades of pink, peach and white with a long tail. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

They can be used in exotic tropical flower arrangements by itself or with Orchids, Proteas, Bird of Paradise and Ginger.

How to Keep Flower Arrangements Looking Fresh

Fresh flower arrangements typically look pretty… well at least until they wilt. So how do floral designers keep the flowers fresh? Read the following steps to learn how to extend the life of your fresh floral arrangement.

Select flowers when they are in bud or half open. The color of the petals should be starting to show. Do not purchase buds that are too tight. They may never bloom such as Irises, Tulips, Daffodils and Roses. The bottom three florets for Gladioli should be opened and the top ones are in bud. The kelix for a Carnation should be firm and tight. The kelix is the green part beneath that keeps the flower intact.

Your container or vase must be clean and in proportion to the amount of flowers you are using in your arrangement. The leaves under the water level in your container or vase must be removed. If not, the leaves will rot and your flower life will be shortened.

Always give your flowers a fresh angle cut with a clean heavy duty paring knife prior to arranging. This will enable the flower to absorb water properly in the stem.

Even though your flowers are fresh, add flower preservatives to your water in your container or vase. Remember to change the water and flower preservatives every two or three days or when the water is not clear.

Spray your finished arrangement over the sink or outside with clear water to provide some humidity for your arrangement.

Heat will wilt your arrangement. Excessive heat either natural from the sun light or artificial from the heater will dehydrate the flowers. A cool environment will make your flowers last longer.

Enjoy your creation. Thanks.

- Patty

Christmas 2007 Holiday Wreath

Christmas Holidays Wreath and Patty's Floral Design Certificate

This is Richard and I just wanted to extend a belated congratulations to my mom, Patty for earning her floral design certificate several weeks ago. She has overcome a lot of obstacles in the past two years and still managed to find time to chase her dream. The dream is now a reality.

Lastly, I want to wish a Happy Holidays to anyone who might read this blog.

(Updated December 24, 2007)
And now, here is what my mom wrote about this wreath.

"I created this wreath for a gift this year. I would like to write about the materials used in this wreath.

One (1) artificial pine wreath 18 - 20 inches diameter, (3) yards of # 40 ribbon (2 11/16 inch), 1 ½ to 2 ½ yards # 5 ribbon (5/8 inch), table runner, styrofoam, wires, (5) large size poinsettias, gold colored glass ornament balls, pine cones, sprays of silk flowers to give the arch from the bow or any decorative sprays. Please note glass ornaments will loose their shine if expose to the elements.

Today is Christmas Eve and every year this day will bring happy memories. I would like to say Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year." - Patty