One of the most elegant flowering plants you can grow indoors, Medinilla Magnifica is every bit as magnificent as its name.

However, it’s not easy to please, unless you can provide the high humidity this tropical native craves. Use every means to increase the moisture in the air around it.

Pairs of thick, glossy green leaves cover the upright stems. The leaves get big — up to 1 ft (30 cm) long — and are deeply veined with wavy edges.

In spring, given enough light and humidity, you can expect long, pendulous flower stalks to grow from the tips of the branches. The flower heads are spectacular. Clusters of small, pink flowers are carried beneath 2 or 3 tiers of pink bracts.

There are approximately 400 species of Medinilla, of which until now only the magnifica is supplied as a houseplant. The family name of the Medinilla is Melastomataceae. Medinilla magnifica finds its origin in the mountains of the Philippines. It is an epiphyte, which is a plant that grows on other trees but does not withdraw its food from those trees as parasites do. This type magnifica is the only Medinilla with splendid pink flyleaves and such a large flower. Late king Boudewijn of Belgium was a big devotee of Medinilla. He grew them in the royal conservatories and they flaunted on the bank note of 10,000 Belgian francs. The growing of Medinilla’s in greenhouses was such a great success that now everyone can enjoy the beauty of Medinilla!

These little guys from Eco-Goats are cleaning up the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC!  Awesome cute!

Pamela Crawford’s Living Wall Planter holds nine front plants, six side plants and three top edging plants.  14″ tall x 14″ wide x 5″ deep Square.

Includes side planting replaceable coco-fiber liner and J-Hooks for hanging. J-Hooks hold single planters away from the wall, allowing for air circulation. Tuck a plastic bottle cap or cork under bottom corners to hold them out.

Mosaïcultures Internationales Montréal 2013 is the largest event ever to have received green certification from the City of Montreal.  The event will run from June 22 thru September 29th

The 2013 edition aims to amaze visitors while raising their awareness of the importance of preserving the richness of life on Earth. The theme of the exposition, Land of Hope, reflects the mission of the organization and represents the very essence of the event. The organizers have integrated sustainable development practices at every level.

The 2013 edition presents more than 50 creations from some 20 countries. The event will test the participants’ ingenuity as they compete to win the Grand Honorary Award given by the international jury as well as the Qatar Airways People’s Choice Award. The hundreds of thousands of visitors expected throughout the summer will also be able to take advantage of a special programme which includes the creation of a collective work of art, interactive conferences and vignettes illustrating the importance of the biodiversity that surrounds us.

Los Angeles-based fine artist Greg Kalamar paints colorful scenes of wedding celebrations in the likeness of a classic Degas or Monet.

Kalamar only takes on around 25 weddings  annually.  At each, he sets up an easel and finishes an acrylic on canvas in three to four hours.  Couples can discuss size, color scheme and request with Kalamar beforehand.  Or, as a gift unbeknownst to newlyweds, it’s a most cherished surprise.

As seen in California Style magazine, Fall Weddings 2013 issue.

As seen in the April 2013 issue of Sunset magazine, Johanna Silver  outlines her “unexpected romance” with Dahlias.

Nicholas Gitts of Swan Island Dahlias.

Flower Magazine Summer 2013 issue has a lovely feature on Martha Stewart‘s gardens at her various estates.

“I’ve been gardening since I’ve been walking. Dad put me in the garden when I was three years old and taught me what was a weed and what was not a weed.  Of six kids I was the one with the green thumb.  I would do it for hours and hours.

I absolutely loved it. I have always been an avid gardener.” explains Stewart of her horticultural origins.

Welcome to bbrooks member, Ariella New York, as featured on www.flirtyfleurs.com.

“Ariella has developed a new vocabulary of floral design, one based almost entirely on the natural gesture of a plant and the way it grows in the garden. She’s inspired me (and a whole school of floral design) to avoid rigid perfection, and to rely more on cultivating an artist’s intimate eye on the world of flowers.” – Stephen Orr, Garden Editor, Martha Stewart Living

We found this helpful pricing guide online at Flirty Fleurs and Snippet & Ink!

“When it comes to wedding expenses, sometimes it’s hard to understand just why a particular element costs what it does, or why there’s such a range in rates. Well today we thought we’d take a look at bridal bouquets to see if we could better understand some of the factors that might result in a certain price tag…”

At left $350 bouquet

Reasons this bouquet might run you $350: quite a large bouquet, almost no “filler” flowers except to add some texture, uses more of the expensive flowers (such as lilac, peonies, garden roses) with the addition of even more expensive clematis, tied with antique French velvet ribbon, more elaborate overall design and color scheme.

At right $150 bouquet

Some of the reasons this might be a $150 bouquet: medium size, use of a few expensive garden roses, use of less expensive sweet peas and crab apple to fill things out, simple color scheme and design.

Below $250 bouquet

Why this bouquet might cost $250: slightly larger size, uses more large flowers than the previous bouquet (such as peonies, lilac, and ranunculus), uses fewer “filler” flowers like sweet pea and crab apple, accented with four unique ribbons.

Florals by Twig & Twine, Los Angeles.

Long-time bbrooks member Avant Garden, in Dallas, TX surely knows how to dress their plants with style and flair!

Shown at left are multiple spikes of White Phalaenopsis orchids arranged naturally in clear glass with river stones.