Always a sensory delight!  Save the dates for Bouquets to Art 2011 March 15 thru 19, bouquetstoart.org.  And the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show March 23 thru 27th 2011, sfgardenshow.com.

Member Birch in San Francisco, www.birchsf.com, displays a sweet arrangement of all yellow garden roses in slate-colored ribbon wrapped cylinder.  As seen in the November issue of California Style magazine.

Every year, the fourteenth day of the month of February has millions across the world presenting their loved ones with candy, flowers, chocolates and other lovely gifts. The reason behind all of this is a kindly cleric named Valentine who died more than a thousand years ago.

The modern St. Valentine’s Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday has originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to be observed annually on February 15. But in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine’s Day honors.

Most scholars believe that this St. Valentine was a priest who lived around 270 AD in Rome and attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II who ruled during this time.

The story of St. Valentine has two different versions – the Protestant and the Catholic one. Both versions agree upon Saint Valentine being a bishop who held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers in opposition to Claudius II who had prohibited marriage for young men and was executed by the latter.

During the lifetime of Valentine, the golden era of Roman Empire had almost come to an end.  The empire had grown too large to be shielded from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. He believed that marriage made the men weak. So he issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers.

The kindly bishop Valentine realized the injustice of the decree. He saw the trauma of young lovers who gave up all hopes of being united in marriage. He planned to counter the monarch’s orders in secrecy. Whenever lovers thought of marrying, they went to Valentine who met them afterwards in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. And thus he secretly performed many marriages for young lovers. But such things cannot remain hidden for long. It was only a matter of time before Claudius came to know of this “friend of lovers,” and had Valentine arrested.

When Claudius II met Valentine, he was said to have been impressed by the dignity and conviction of the latter. However, Valentine refused to agree with the emperor regarding the ban on marriage. It is also said that the emperor tried to convert Valentine to the Roman gods but was unsuccessful in his efforts. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. This angered Claudius II who gave the order of execution of Valentine.

Meanwhile, a deep friendship had been formed between Valentine and his jailor Asterius’ daughter. It caused great grief to the young girl to hear of her friend’s imminent death. It is said that just before his execution, Valentine asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that lived ever after. The most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not centered on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion. Valentine is believed to have been executed on February 14, 270 AD.

Thus 14th February became a day for all lovers and Valentine became its Patron Saint. It began to be annually observed by young Romans who offered handwritten greetings of affection, known as Valentines, on this day to the women they admired. With the coming of Christianity, the day came to be known as St. Valentine’s Day.

Valentines Day is just around the corner – Monday, February 14th.

Perfect opportunity to celebrate the little things about your partner that drive you crazy — with love!

An all star cast,  a variety of romance scenarios to fit  almost everyone’s tastes,  a storyline revolving around a flower shop. My favorite thing, Shirley MacClaine’s character shares my given name!   This light comedy offers everything including a subtle reminder early in the film…

Valentine’s Day is MONDAY, February 14^th this year!

Get In Gear and Get Those Flowers Ordered!

This little green gem has been popping up more and more in floral arrangements over the last year.  It’s a unique puffy green ball reminiscent of trachelium to some—completely alien in nature to others.  You either love it or hate it.   Let us know what you think !

It has a distinctive texture, trendy coloring and has a sizable head which can plump up your floral arrangement for a fuller look.  Some florists have found that grouping several stems together can create the same look as a lush stem of green hydrangea and can be utilized in the same way.

Member  Fieldwork in Portland, OR www.dearfieldwork.com has incorporated the Barbatus Green Ball Dianthus beautifully into this bridal bouquet of Trumpet and Green Goddess Callas, roses, berries,  geranium foliage and lily grass.

In short, we have found that “ a carnation by any other name is ” …a  Dianthus!

With care, this living 12” wreath of mixed echeveria can last for a very long time.  Soak in an inch of water whenever the leaves start to pucker.  It can hang ornamentally for months or be taken apart for the plants to be replanted into pots.  To find this lovely creation see, vivaterra.com.  As seen in December 2010 issue of Real Simple magazine.

Our own Barbera Brooks is interviewed by Petal Pusher in the Winter 2011 issue of Flower Magazine.  Barbera shares how B. Brooks Fine Flowers works to ensure that arrangements sent through our network meet her rigorous standards of integrity, trust, and uncommon beauty.

Also featured in the article are works of floral art created by Avant Garden of Dallas www.avantgarden.com, and Helen Olivia Flowers of VA www.helenolivia.com.

We discovered this  nifty innovator in  the  Sept/Oct Australian Vogue Living issue.  Joost Bakker of Urban Crop  provides Melburnians  with living, breathing flowers and herbs planted in a  nutrient-rich soil that is mostly organic waste.  His bagged-in-soil beauties come with their root systems intact – they still have their life source with them – providing the recipients with clean air and nutrient- packed leaves.  Bakker’s underlying message is to make cities worldwide work as crop sources.  Currently, his product can be found in  Melbourne’s bars, cafes, book and bike shops.  His ultimate goal – deliver the message to the world!

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.