Paintings by Botticelli, Durer, Raphael and da Vinci are featured in Celia Fisher’s coffee table book, Flowers of the Renaissance.

Taking a closer look at the Renaissance garden as a whole, author Fisher examines roses, lilies, daffodils, daisies and tulips in order to observe varieties common in the Renaissance and their symbolism in paintings of the period.

As seen in Flower Magazine, Spring Issue.

Orchid expert Kate Santos offers her best tips for keeping moth orchids (Phalaenopsis sp. and its hybrids) happy and blooming.

Orchids are often planted in bark or sphagnum moss. When the bark or moss is dry to the touch, water your orchid until water comes through the drainage hole in the bottom of your pot.  Never leave orchid roots in standing water.

Orchids like bright, indirect light.  North-facing windows generally won’t provide enough light.  An east-facing window is best; western or southern light is fine as long as it’s indirect.  Normal home temperatures are good – about 70 to 80 degrees in the daytime and above 60 degrees at night.

Ask your local  nursery for an orchid fertilizer, and apply it according to package instructions.

Once the orchid has stopped flowering, you can cut off the bloom spike at the base of the plant.  Keep fertilizing.  Leave the pot in bright, indirect light.  Your orchid should rebloom within a year.

You may want to repot your orchid every few years.  Do this when it’s not blooming, because repotting can stress an orchid and cause it to drop its blooms

Featured above is Montclair King “Splash”.  At right, Tying Shin Cupid “Montclair”.  As seen in January 2012 issue of Southern Living.

From the well-known lifestyle photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo and Nicolette Owen of Brooklyn’s Little Flower School, Bringing Nature Home presents a portfolio of unique and original floral arrangements directly inspired by the seasons and the local environment.

Unlike most flower-arrangement books,  this book presents an alternative that is in line with the “back to nature” movement.

A how-to section offers advice on the selection, trimming, and care of the arrangements, making this book practical as well as inspiring.

Frances Palmer has been making ceramics since 1987.  She was trained as an art historian, yet has always made work with her hands.  Her handmade ceramics are functional art – dishware or vases that can be used on a daily basis.  Each piece, no matter how large or small, is considered and individual.  Featured here a sweet and whimsical terracotta pots ideal for a few blossoms each.

Olivier Guigni’s recently released,  inspiring book, Living Art (Scribners) is refreshing….  He shows how flowers can and should just fit in our every day lives and not just reserved for extravagant occasions.  One of my all time favorites (see below) has been the way Olivier uses huge tropical (and pliable) philodendron leaves to wrap flowers.  Makes me imagine this is what a ‘flower-burrito’ would look like.

It is fitting that the forward is by Cathernine Deneuve because like her, Olivier’s soul and artistry exude a relevant,  quiet elegance.  Congratulations Olivier!  Your tasteful and talent-filled book will surely find its rightful place, nestled in the shelves right next to other floral innovators –   icons like Madderlake, Ronaldo Maia, Tage Anderson and  Daniel Ost.

This story caught my eye in Floral Management magazine, March 2010.

Two shops separated by over 2800 miles share the same idea of giving back to the community during these tough times.  Rose Garden Florist in Barnegat, NJ and Twigs in Yerington, NV  each give credit for their unique idea to a Flower Chat forum discussion last year, but, each shop has customized their approach of instigating a “travelling kindness bouquet”.

Every month or so, each shop  sends out an estimated 5 bouquets ranging in price from $40 to $50.  The original destination is randomly chosen and will vary, whether it be a nursing home, or  police station, or a bank,  or a hospital.  Attached is a card which reads, “ This is a Travelling Kindness Bouquet.  Please enjoy these flowers for the next hour, then pass then on  them to someone who could use a little joy along with this note.”

These floral gifts  have paid off for both shops – both in community-building returns and financially.   The monthly cost is  substantially less than any print advertising available to either shop and is delivered directly to potential future customer

According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, nature provides us with a simple way to improve emotional health – flowers. The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.

A team of researchers explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction in a 10-month study of participants’ behavioral and emotional responses to receiving flowers. The results show that flowers are a natural and healthful moderator of moods.

1. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.

2. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.

3. Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

“Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room,” said Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. “They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.”

The full report and article can be found online at Society of American Florists.

Here’s a great story of a group of six women who have bonded through gardening.  One day a week, they set aside their own jobs to garden as a team at one of their homes, rotating every week so that each woman’s property gets the full benefit of their collective burst of labor and artistic vision. Each woman brings her individual skills to bear and the group is delighted to learn of other gardening co-ops, inspired by theirs, which have sprung up in their area – the idea taking hold like a felicitous invasive species.

The entire story written by by Susan Dominus can be found at www.realsimple.com.

Member Florist Geranium Lake of Portland, Oregon, www.geraniumlake.com, stepped up and made a commitment!  They donated 10% of all Valentines proceeds to Mercy Corps and their mission to help Haiti.

Blooming flowers are a universal symbol of renewal, friendship, and love.  What better way to double your impact on those around you AND those who seem so far away!

Thank you Geranium Lake, for showing us that a little thought can go a long way.

San Anselmo’s “green” florist Local Flora, www.marinflora.com, will provide beautiful California grown arrangements in a new small flower section at local Good Earth Natural Foods in Farifax, CA beginning Feb 10, 2010.

Why not take home a lovely artisanal arrangement to accompany your wonderful organic dinner items!