The name amaryllis comes from a Greek legend. Amaryllis was a nymph who fell hopelessly in love with the handsome shepherd Alteo, but he was only interested in flowers. She visited his cottage daily, piercing her heart with an arrow so drops of blood fell to the ground. On the... Continue reading →

Gerbera Daisies are named after German botanist Traugott Gerber. These beautiful blooms originated in South Africa, where they were discovered in 1880 by Robert Jameson while operating a gold mine. Wild varieties exist in the country. They are available naturally in all colors but blue. The gerbera flower is actually... Continue reading →

Carnations are one of the longest lasting flowers, and in the proper conditions can last up to 2-3 weeks. The scientific name for the carnation flower is “Dianthus caryophyllus”. In Greek, dios means Zeus or God and anthos means flower. So the literal translation is “flower of the gods” or... Continue reading →

Despite their name, Calla Lilies are not true lilies. They belong to the family Araceae and are native to southern Africa, specifically South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. When properly cared for, Calla Lilies can last up to two weeks in a vase, making them a great choice for long-lasting floral... Continue reading →

Birds of Paradise are also called the crane flower because they have a shape of a crane. All species are native to southern Africa. The plant is a species of tropical evergreen and is related to the banana. A healthy, mature plant can produce up to 36 flowers spikes a... Continue reading →

Alstroemeria is commonly called the Peruvian Lily, Lily of the Incas or the Parrot Lily. This is mainly because Peru, Brazil and Chile were the first growers of this flower, which belongs in the Lily family. Alstroemeria flowers have no fragrance. The flower is named after the Swedish botanist Baron... Continue reading →

In the 1500s, Carolus Clusius, a botanist at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, received some tulip bulbs from the ambassador to the sultan. Clusius grew the plants in his private collection, but he would not share his bulbs or sell them. As a result, the gardens were repeatedly... Continue reading →

Hydrangeas have been found in fossils from over 45 million years ago, making them nearly as old as dinosaurs. They were first cultivated in Japan and didn’t appear in Europe until they were brought over in 1736. But they are now grown across the globe – including Australia. Most species... Continue reading →

Here are some specific tips and tricks pertaining to many of the most popular flowers. If you haven't read the previous post containing many other important tips, check it out here. Please keep the vase / floral container filled with water at all times. Keep flowers in a cool spot... Continue reading →

I want to write a couple of posts on how to care for your cut flowers. Fresh cut flowers are very different from plants. I probably won't fit it all into this blog post, but I'll add more in another post. -Sometimes, flowers are delivered still in bud form so... Continue reading →