British Bouquets Blog

Free Delivery

2011-10-04T04:35:00.001-07:00

British Bouquets is offering free delivery on all there flowers throughout October.

Dutch tulips impounded by Romania

2011-09-20T13:55:00.001-07:00

A Dutch MEP has accused Romania of blackmailing the Netherlands after more than a dozen truckloads of tulips were seized at the Romanian border.

Esther de Lange said Bucharest was practising some "old-school blackmail".

The seizure was the second since the weekend. Officials in Bucharest said the tulips could be contaminated with "dangerous bacteria".

But it follows a threat by the Netherlands to block Romania's entry into Europe's visa-free Schengen zone.

The Netherlands said that Romania - along with Bulgaria - had not done enough to fight corruption.

'No link'
On Monday, the Romanian authorities seized 15 trucks of Dutch bulbs and sent three of them back to the suppliers in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is the main supplier of flowers to the Romanian market, exporting nine million bulbs last year.

The dispute is being called "the war of the flowers" in the Netherlands.

A spokesman for the Dutch economic affairs ministry said his government had asked for an explanation as to why the shipments were halted, and was waiting for a response.

However, the government has been careful not to criticise Romania. The spokesman said the Netherlands had no reason to suspect a link between the bulbs and the Schengen decision.

Flower Power Lifts Poverty Stricken Tripura Village

2011-09-20T13:45:00.001-07:00

A poverty-stricken Tripura village has blossomed into an exporter of flowers after the villagers adopted floriculture with the assistance from Horticulture Department and Technology Mission.

Three years ago, Laxmibil village, in west Tripura district was like any other, wallowing in poverty and absence of gainful work till the the Horticulture Department and Technology Mission stepped in and motivated people to start floriculture.

As it stands, the village now not only supplies flowers to the home market, but also exports them abroad.

The story began when an unemployed youth Swapan Paul cultivated flower plants in his field on the suggestion of the Horticulture Department officials.

He was unemployed but now earns Rs 35,000 a month by selling flowers.

Soon other unemployed youth were inspired by Paul took up floriculture as a profession. Now their ranks have swelled to more than 250.

The favourable agro-climatic condition of the village has also helped script the success story.

Villagers are now cultivating different kinds of flowers and also experimenting with exotic varieties like Anthodium and orchids to earn good money.

Govt help

“In the beginning various government organisations came forward with technical assistance. Now the villagers are doing it with their own efforts,” an official of the Horticulture Department said.

Mr Paul said he had started with a financial assistance of Rs 3.5 lakh from the Technology Mission and constructed three high-tech greenhouses.

“I started with cultivation of Anthodium, Gerbera and Carnation flowers and also took up orchid cultivation on a 2.5 bigha land and started getting return within one and a half years. Now I also cultivate Chandramallika, Rose, Gladiolus, Rajanigandha and Lilia,” he said.

His flowers are sold in Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.

“A Delhi-based company is now marketing a part of our production in return for 10 per cent commission which fetches a good amount,” Mr Paul said.

He took part in the international floral exhibition in Delhi and Gangtok in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Mr Rabi Das, another cultivator of the village said, “There is no person in our village who cannot earn a decent living now.”

Cosmopolitan

2011-09-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

Drop in at www.britishbouquets.co.uk today and order yourself the Cosmoploitan, our most popular bouquet in store.

Flower Power on show

2011-09-05T02:43:00.001-07:00

NEVER underestimate flower power.

From fresh flowers to floral arrangements, there were some beautiful displays at the 53rd annual St Charles Anglican Church Flower and Craft Festival on Saturday.

Festival committee member Daphne McGinn said it had been an absolutely wonderful afternoon.

"It was a wonderful success,"; she said.

"We had some good numbers, even though we were down in the number of flower arrangements this year.";

Mrs McGinn said a lot of preparation had gone into the event, especially from those who had baked cakes and biscuits.

Thinking Of You Flower Bouquet

2011-08-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

This wonderful bouquet is this months star buy after being reduced from £25.99 to £22.99. At british bouquets were not satisfied with just offering you great discounts, we also offer great discount codes and free delivery to all our customers. To purchase this beautiful bouquet of flowers head on over to www.britishbouquets.co.uk and use our exclusive 10% off "FLOWER" discount code to make even more saving's.
Happy Shopping.
Melanie

A fresh batch of flowers to brighten your day.

2011-08-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

At British Bouquets we pride ourselves on providing a bit of sunshine to the UK. With all the riots happening around the country we understand the need for a beautiful bunch of flowers to brighten up someones day may be the last thing on some peoples minds. Despite the troubles happening around the UK life still goes on and with Birthdays, Anniversaries, New Babies and all other occasions refusing to take a break we have decided to offer free delivery and 10% off all of our flowers for the remainder of August to all customers. The 10% discount can be redeemed at the checkout by entering the code FLOWER with an unlimited use to customers. We are constantly striving to offer the best deals for our loyal customers that have helped make www.BritishBouquets.co.uk one of the biggest and best florist's online.
Happy Shopping.
Stuart.

The Queens Rarest Flower

2011-08-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Mussaenda 'Queen Sirikit' is a hybrid which is difficult to find, but with the right growing techniques this and other mussaenda variants make fine additions to any garden.

New Deal Of The Day

2011-08-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

The Stargazer and Gerbera flower bouquet is our new special offer today. The bouquet normally retails at £29.99 but is available with 13% off at £25 for a limited time only. Pop in to the website today to get more deals like this with even more savings inc. 10% off all flowers and free delivery.

Methods to Create An Amazing Backyard

2011-08-03T04:31:00.000-07:00

A flower garden can be a peaceable and exquisite refuge from the rest of the world. Sitting in the midst of aromatic flowers whereas reading an e-book or strolling along paths lined with flowers in cheerful colours can assist you to wind down after a busy, traumatic day. With some planning and work, a beautiful flower backyard may be yours to enjoy.

Planning Flower Garden Designs

Creating stunning flower garden designs takes much planning and consideration. You have to to consider the forms of flowers and combinations of colours you need for the garden. Additionally, you will need to consider the position of borders and shrubs as well as seating and ornaments. It’s a good idea to decide on an overall type for the garden and stick with it. While you begin your flower garden designs undertaking, you must make a scale drawing of the design to assist visualize your concepts.

Shapes in Flower Backyard Designs

Determine upon the form and pattern for your flower backyard designs. Rectangular flower backyard designs are a conventional shape and at all times popular. Circular formed gardens add interest to the usual rectangular lawn. Flower gardens planted on a diagonal to the home can make a garden appear larger than it truly is.

Types of Flower Garden Designs

There are a number of styles of gardens you could plant, and plenty of of them aren’t too tough to achieve. Some favorite flower garden designs are listed here.

Rose Flower Garden Designs

Rose Gardens are easy to plant and exquisite to see. In addition to fashionable roses, embrace fragrant, old-fashioned types of roses whose scent will delight. Plant bulbs in the beds and border them with seasonal flowers to keep the backyard stuffed with colour through the blooming seasons.

Cottage Flower Garden Designs

Casual cottage gardens have an old style, rustic look about them. These flower backyard designs incorporate the use of flowers, crops and vegetables.

Shade Flower Garden Designs

Shade gardens are good flower garden designs for spaces with many trees blocking the sunlight. There are various flowers that do properly in shady areas, including impatiens, begonia, azalea, hosta and viola. The lack of leaves on the timber in spring permits spring bulbs to grow, filling the area with color.

Wildflower Flower Backyard Designs

Wildflower gardens are flower garden designs that characteristic plants indigenous to the area the place the backyard is located. These gardens are inclined to require less pampering than a few of the other sorts listed here, often not requiring a lot weeding or amendments to the soil.

Butterfly Flower Garden Designs

Butterfly gardens are delightful flower backyard designs, planted with flowers recognised to draw butterflies. Vegetation reminiscent of marigold, lilac, coreopsis, lavender, black-eyed susan and goldenrod are all good selections for butterfly gardens.

Hummingbird Flower Garden Designs

Likewise, hummingbird gardens are a good choice for many who enjoy spotting these small birds. Hummingbirds like richly coloured flowers with candy nectar and a tubular shape. Pink and fuschia flowers specifically have a tendency to attract hummingbirds. Some hummingbird garden favorites are morning glory, petunias, azalea, rose of sharon, delphinium and honeysuckle.

Engineering blue-hued flowers

2011-07-19T03:52:00.001-07:00

Flower color in plants is determined by pigments such as aurones, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. Research has found that the ultimate color displayed is dependent not only on the pigment present, but also on other factors, including cell shape, presence of metal ions, and pH, among others. Information about the role of pH in creating color has allowed plant geneticists to engineer new hues, adding to the beauty and diversity of ornamental plants. New experiments using Anthurium andraeanum, a tropical ornamental species with a limited range of spathe colors varying from orange to red, were designed to identify the most likely candidates for generating blues in the species. The study investigated the relationship between epidermal vacuolar pH and a number of factors including cultivar, spathe color, developmental stage of the spathe, location of anthocyanin within the spathe, differences between the abaxial and adaxial surfaces, and postharvest changes. The researchers noted that their long-term objective was to develop a methodology for engineering blue-colored spathes in anthurium.

"Most studies on pH have been carried out in floral tissues and limited information currently exists for leaf tissues with the exception of bracts of Poinsettia. This is the first study of pH in anthurium spathe, a modified leaf", said Pathmanathan Umaharan, corresponding author of the study. Umaharan and colleagues Omaira Avila-Rostant and Adrian M. Lennon from the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies conducted six experiments involving 23 cultivars of anthurium. The study was published in HortScience.

Spathe color was associated with vacuolar pH with the whites and greens having the highest pH followed by corals, pinks, reds, and oranges. In general, there was a correlation between the lightness of the pigmentation and the pH values, with the lighter colors having showing pH values. The values were within the pH range suitable for producing blue hues, as previously identified in three unique plant species.

The results also showed significant differences among cultivars within color categories, varying between1% to 8%, depending on the color group. "This data indicates the importance of screening a large number of cultivars within each color group to identify those with high pH for use in bioengineering of blue flowers", explained Umaharan.

The researchers said the study suggests that corals, which have the highest pH among the color groups, may be best suited as targets for transformation because they contain lower levels of pH-reducing anthocyanins.

Worlds First Black Flower

2011-07-11T03:20:00.001-07:00

Scientists have created the world's first all-black petunia plant, called Black Velvet. But, despite all the hype, it's not really black - as Science Correspondent Tom Clarke discovers.
Petunias crossing to the dark side. Horticulturists today announced they have created the world's first black petunia and it goes on sale in the UK in the spring.

The flower took plant breeders in the US four years to create. Now, after a year of field trials in the UK to ensure it can tolerate our climate, its creators are launching it here.

Stuart Lowen, marketing manager with the Banbury horticulture firm which developed the flower, Ball Colegrave, said: "It's really quite an achievement to create a black flower, but for the customer it's the intrigue, it's sexy, it's something different."

In nature, flowers come in pretty much any colour you like – as long as it's not black. The pigments that flowers employ to colour their petals don't produce black.

But as any fashionista will tell you, anything goes well with black – a fact not lost on nursery men. So in the constant pursuit of new and therefore saleable varieties, breeders have long strived to produce blackest-looking varieties of flowers.

One of the earliest developed was the black tulip. There are now varieties of black rose, viola and hyacinth. The creators of the new petunia - dubbed "Black Velvet" - claim theirs is the blackest bloom yet produced.

"Novelty is always sought after in horticulture. It's what entices people to buy plants," said Janet Cubey of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Dark arts

However, getting a flower to look black isn't easy.

"It takes a lot of breeding and selection to increase the levels of anthocyanins in the plant's foliage," said Cubey.

That chemical is part of the plant world's limited palate for making colours. Anthocyanins can produce red and blue. By selecting flowers with the highest levels of these pigments and breeding them together, it's possible to create very dark purple petals and leaves.

For that reason, the new petunia is in fact, like all "black" flowers, a very dark purple. Ball Colegrave claim that because petunias have a velvety texture to their petal, the bloom appears blacker than most.

Mr Lowen added: "It's completely unique. It's the first black petunia anywhere in the world. It was created by experimenting with existing colours already on the market and breeding them using traditional methods...

"They say black goes with anything, and it really looks exceptionally striking in the garden - it goes very well with whites, yellows and pinks. It's rare to get a flower as black as this - very seldom do you get anything this dark.

Hampton Court Flower Show: Hampshire fungus wins gold

2011-07-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Thousands of organic mushrooms were specially grown for the subterranean garden

Avon Gorge introduces goats in bid to save wild flowers

2011-06-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

A herd of goats has been introduced on to the Avon Gorge as part of a plan to save rare wild flowers.

The six animals have a fenced area covering four hectares (9.8 acres) in an area called the Gully.

It will be the goats' job to control the scrubby regrowth on the Avon Gorge, helping to restore grasses and flowers.

The goat grazing is planned for an initial period of five years, after which it will be reviewed.

Important site
According to Bristol City Council, the move marks the start of a "sustainable solution" to save and protect one of the UK's most important botanical sites.

Liberal Democrat councillor Glenise Morgan, a member of the Downs Committee, said: "It is almost 100 years since the gorge was grazed by sheep.

"It is great to see grazing animals back on the gorge as part of this important conservation project, which should help to save its very special wildflower grassland for future generations."

When sheep grazing on the Bristol side ceased at the beginning of the last century, the area became overgrown and woodland quickly established.

"The goats will be well cared for and will become a natural addition to the Avon Gorge's unique environment," said Robert Westlake, the Downs ranger.

"Their fenced area will ensure they have enough space to explore and plenty of vegetation to eat."
The goats will be cared for by two members of the city council's Downs ranger's team and Bristol Zoo.

"Over the last century the grassland and rare plants have suffered a significant decline," said Chris Westcott of Natural England.

"By introducing goats to help manage scrub regrowth we are enabling these rare plants to re-establish, grow and spread."

The introduction of the goats is being carried out by the city council and Natural England as part of the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project, which aims to protect the area's wildlife.

Initial discussions about the scheme two years ago prompted members of the Bristol Downs Watch to criticise the plans.

There were concerns that the area, which contains most of the world's population of two rare trees, would be ruined by the goats.

However Bristol City Council said public consultation showed "overwhelming public support" for the goats.

Coventry art teacher wins World Flower Show title

2011-06-28T04:19:00.000-07:00

A FORMER Coventry art teacher really did come up smelling of roses after being named one of the best flower arrangers in the world at the World Flower Show in America.

Jayne Edmonds’ hand-woven globe with copper roses, lilies and orchids bursting forth beat 200 other entries to win the ‘best use of colour’ award.

Her creation also came third in one of the 30 sub-classes of the competition held at the Seaport World Trade Centre in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jayne, 60, of Monks Field Close, who used to teach art at Lyng Hall School, in Wyken, said: “Every day I have my hands on flowers, it’s an absolute joy.”

Jayne entered the ‘minerals’ section and had six hours to create her masterpiece under the watchful eyes of the judges.

She said: “You could choose anything you wanted that would tell the story of minerals so I made a sphere of the Earth with copper colours coming from within.

“My idea was that minerals are brown, rough and rustic on the outside, but underneath their colour and beauty comes out.”

She added: “I’m really honoured with the colour award because only one person gets that.”

Jayne is a member of the Centrix floral group in Wolston and gives talks and lectures all over the UK.

Funny Picture

2011-06-27T14:38:00.001-07:00

Types of flowers

2011-06-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

Nothing says spring like a walk through the neighborhood and being able to smell the first blooming trees and flowers. It is great to live in a place where there are changing seasons. Each fall it seems like that is the best, then comes the winter holidays with their exciting traditions, but when its time for spring again, really there is nothing like it. all the types of flowers that pop out at different times, and the snow is melting from the trails, windows open and its nice inside and out.

Easter is a holiday that kicks off the spring season, traditionally with the like named Easter Lillies. Other types of flowers at Easter time are tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. A Christian holiday that comes from the resurrection of Jesus continues to be celebrated by non-Christians by the symbolism of new life and beginnings; nature is mirroring this in its natural cycle.

When the reluctant finally can't deny the good weather and jogging shoes, its springtime again while this exercise routine also gets a new beginning. By the third week, stomach cramps are less, endurance is stronger and finally there's less huffing and puffing to enjoy the bright greens and all spring types of flowers.

Jogging for a little while past Easter, is another holiday that is built all around sharing flowers and other greenery. May Day began in the pre-Christian era, in European and Celtic civilizations as a rite of spring. There are legends tracing it to honor the Roman goddess of flowers, Flora. Otherwise it is credited to pagan rituals. In the years around the fifteenth century, it was the main point of the holiday to welcome spring. May Day is the marker of the end of the winter months. Many accounts describe the typical May Day with community members, especially the ladies, out among the hills picking all types of flowers and branches and collecting them in a basket. These flowers would decorate the local homes and other places. There was dancing around the Maypole, which was also decorated with ribbons and types of flowers. Throughout the years, this took on specific traditions with types of flowers in different countries and areas of the world.

In Hawai'i, the Lei is honored, French give Lilly of the Valley, and wreaths in Greece. Some countries continue to celebrate it as Labor Day, however not in the United States. More contemporary thoughts of May Day are sharing flowers with neighbors and friends, if it is remembered at all.

Whatever the preference of holidays, a nice spring day is enough to celebrate. The movement from one holiday to the next, and preparing for warm and relaxing summer months, hopefully there is enough material to be distracted from the moving feet and the muscle aches. Jogging shoes can still be good friends and take us to the places where we can gather a handful of stems or a basketful of our own blossoms. The types of flowers that show up through the changing seasons into summer can keep on making it the best season yet.

Interesting Flower Facts

2011-06-27T14:29:00.001-07:00

- White flowers tend to be more strongly scented than their colored kin.

- Prince Charles is paid one daffodil a year as rent for his lands on the Island of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall.

- Pinks are so called not because of their color but because of the ragged edges, or pinks, on each petal. The color pink is actually named after the flower.

- Sunflower stems were used to fill lifejackets before the advent of modern materials.

- The largest single flower is the Rafflesia or “corpse flower”. It is a type of malodorous lily that can weigh up to 15 lb and be close to 40 inches wide. It apparently smells like rotting flesh. Eww.

- A notch in a tree will remain the same distance from the ground as the tree grows.

- Onions contain a mild antibiotic that fights infections, soothes burns, tames bee stings and relieves the itch of athletes foot.

- The Daisy got its name because the yellow center resembled the sun. It was commonly known as the “day’s eye” and over time, was eventually called daisy.

- The city of Mt. Vernon, Washington … grows more tulips than the entire country of Holland.

- Every plant in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is edible.

- Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep cool. He changed it every two innings.

- A bouquet of a dozen Wolffia blooms would comfortably fit on the head of a pin. A type of duckweed, Wolffia grows on the surface of ponds and slow moving streams. This very minute flowering plant is native to Australia and Malaysia. The plant body is 0.6-0.9 mm long and only 0.2-0.5 mm wide.

Stinky Flower Starts To Bloom

2011-06-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

The giant, stinky flower that officials say smells like rotting meat, will be the most pungent Thursday evening, UC Davis officials said.

The flower will be fully open on Friday and the conservatory will stay open until 9 p.m.

Flower Care

2011-06-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

Caring For Your Floral Arrangements
• Keep the vase filled (or floral foam soaked) with water containing a flower food provided by your florist. Flower foods make flowers last longer but it is important to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet. Most packets are to be mixed with either a pint or a quart of water. Flower foods should not be diluted with more water than is specified on the packet.

• If the flower food solution becomes cloudy, replace it entirely with properly mixed flower food solution. If possible, re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Be sure to use a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems. Immediately place the stems into solution.

• Keep flowers in a cool spot (65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit), away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators. (Appliances like televisions give off heat, which causes flowers to dehydrate.) Most flowers will last longer under cool conditions.

For Loose Bunches or Boxed Flowers
• Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them in a flower food solution. Don't forget how important it is to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet.

• Fill a clean (washed with a detergent or antibacterial cleaning solution), deep vase with water and add a flower food from your florist.

• Remove leaves that will be below the waterline. Leaves in water will promote bacterial microbial growth that may limit water uptake by the flower.

• Re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Place the flowers in the vase solution you've prepared.
Selecting Your Flowers
• When selecting flowers, look for flowers with upright, firm petals and buds beginning to open. Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are signs of age.

• When using woody stems and branches (such as quince, forsythia or lilac), cut the stem with sharp pruning shears. Place them in warm water containing fresh flower food to promote flower opening.