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วันเสาร์ที่ 20 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part Language Lives On

Flower Power Language Lives On
A would-be burglar in the United Kingdom speaks with the power of the language of flowers.
A 91 year-old woman was badly shaken when a would-be burglar invaded her home in the United Kingdom. The burglar then sent his victim a bunch of flowers, with an apology. He said he was sorry he had frightened her, but he thought the house was empty at the time. He left the woman’s house without stealing anything. Police are asking him to give himself up. What will they charge him with? Sending flowers to a would-be victim, or just for scaring an elderly woman? Flower language, however, is not new. Floriography (flower language) was commonly used in the Victorian age to send coded messages. However it originated in the medieval and Renaissance culture. Saints were painted with flowers that were symbols of the saint’s virtues. Some of the most common terms used in flower language are: daisies for innocence and blue violets for faithfulness, red roses for love, pansies for thoughtfulness, carnations for admiration, white lilies for purity, pink roses for a lesser affection, white roses for eternal love, to name just a few. However, there is a modern flower power that has stamped its mark societies across the globe. Flower Power had its most powerful uprising in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in the counter-cultural movement of the Hippies. The Hippies, or Flower Children symbolized a movement of peaceful ideology, in the face of nations using war to solve international crises. In particular the Hippies stood against the hopeless and seemingly senseless war in Vietnam. The Flower Children were determined in their call for social change as they also stood against the cold war of nuclear threats between the superpowers. The twenty year-olds and teenagers gave flowers to policemen and bystanders. They placed flowers in the barrels of guns and revolvers, as a sign of peace, not war. They were pacifists and participated in non-violent political demonstrations. Concerning the political activity of hippies, it was said "They mostly prefer to be stoned, but most of them want peace and they want an end to war of any kind". A photograph taken for the Washington Post showed a clean cut looking teenager placing flowers in the end of policemen’s guns. This photo became an emblem of the time, along with the brightly coloured VW buses used by the Flower Children. They became known as the ‘love generation’ and embraced the sexual revolution of free love. They were also known for their liberal use of soft drugs, such as cannabis, in an effort to discover alternative states of consciousness. Their buses became the predecessors of the modern-day art cars. Many Hippies liked to hitch-hike around the world. This was their means of meeting new people and it was also economical. Their catch cry became ‘Give Peace A Chance'. The Flower Children practiced religious as well as cultural diversity, frequently embracing Eastern philosophies and spiritual concepts. They strongly opposed recognized institutions, both by their actions and their mode of dress. Unmarried couples of any age feel free to live or travel together without social stigma, only since the advent of the Hippie movement. Sexual frankness became more common, even to the rights of homosexuals, bisexual and transsexual. An increased interest in natural foods, herbal remedies and vitamin supplements are a legacy from the Hippy era. Mustaches, beards and long hair became more acceptable and bright coloured clothing more common. Their music festival Woodstock became a turning point in the acceptance of large music fests, even though there were some unfortunate occurrences, where people were killed. The festivals focused on peace, love and a balanced, though alternate lifestyle. Self-sufficiency and sustainable energy had its foundations laid in the communes of the Hippies. The Flower Power of the Hippies had a major effect on societies around the globe, influencing health foods, fashion, popular music, television, film, literature and art. It was the period that saw the beginnings of the Cyber Space revolution. Only through the advent of the Hippy culture are people able to have the freedom to say what they do on the Internet today.

วันเสาร์ที่ 29 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part Taking Care


Taking Care of Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are pretty flowers that can turn our garden into a visual delight! Read all about taking care of gerbera daisies.

Beautiful flowers can create a great atmosphere at any given occasions! Gerbera daisies are known for their bright, vibrant shades that can bring a smile across a face! These large daisies are amongst popular Flowers used for Flower arrangements and also make a great romantic gift idea! Their large flower heads are quite similar to sunflowers. The varied shades of bright yellows, gorgeous reds, lovely pinks and pristine whites are the most planted in many flower gardens. A strange fact about this beautiful flower is that sometimes, the petals of one particular flower can be in different shades. Growing these beautiful flowers in the garden will surely create a happy environment. However, you need to know some important points about taking care of gerbera daisies. We can take a look at the some tips and tricks related with the same. Taking Care of Gerbera Daisies: As is the case with many plants, gerbera daisies should be planted in well-drained soil. Avoid keeping the soil wet and squelchy at all times. One should water early on in the day so that the soil dries slightly during the day. A good drainage for the soil will help in proper growth of the plant. Gerbera daisies need partial to full sunlight. If in a pot, you can keep it by the sunny window side. The seeds can be planted around 10 weeks before the last frost. While planting, ensure you keep end of the seed pointed downwards. This is the time when the seeds need maximum light to germinate. You can plant them in pots and keep them indoors during the frost. Once the weather turns a little warm, the pots can be moved in the outdoors. When grown in the outdoors, gerbera daisies would need ample amount of water and regular fertilizers for the soil. This plant thrives well in cool temperatures however, if the temperature becomes too warm, you might not witness the beautiful blooms of the gerbera daisies. In case someone has gifted you a beautiful bouquet of gerbera flowers or you wish to keep some in a vase at home, ensure you choose a clean vase for it. Then, add some cool water to this. You need to trim the long stem as per the height of the vase. The stem should also be trimmed in a particular manner. Firstly, it should be cut underwater and another important point to note here is that it should be done at an angle of 45 degrees. Change the water everyday and also cut the stems again. To keep these gerbera flowers in full bloom for a longer period, add a teaspoon of sugar to the water. Also add 2 drops of liquid bleach for a gallon of water. When in a vase, the flowers should be kept in the cooler portion of the room. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight. Keep it away from areas that receive strong gusts of wind or objects that produce a lot of heat. With beautiful gerbera daisies all around, one is bound to feel fresh and happy at all times! Which is why, a pretty bouquet of gerbera daisies is an ideal gift for our loved ones!

วันเสาร์ที่ 15 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part How to Choose

How to Choose a Flower Girl Dress
When selecting a flower girl dress for your wedding, there are many things to consider - the age and height of the flower girl, wedding colors, dress length, dress style, and so forth. The first step is to know what styles of flower girl dresses are available.
First one should know the roles for “Flower Girls”. There are really three distinct roles for little flower girls in a wedding. Flower Girl – a child attendant wearing a child-like dress in either Tea or Formal length who usually carries either a basket of petals to strew on the aisle or path announcing the arrival of the Bride. Miniature / Jr. Bride – a child dressed like a bride.
This role comes from medieval times as a decoy to lure evil spirits away from the Bride to avoid a curse on the marriage. She may wear a miniaturized version of the Bride’s gown or a edding-style gown complete with train and flowing headpiece. She carries a bouquet. Jr. Brides Maid – older girls certainly prefer this designation. The young ladies are usually dressed to coordinate more with the Brides Maids rather than in a full, fluffy little girl’s dress.
Types of dress: Selecting the right flower girl dress and accessories is an exciting time. Indeed it is a special day for the bride rather than the flower girl but what she wears will help her feel just that much more special and create memories for a life time. Traditionally and in many cultures yet today, the "little bride" look is desirable for flower girl.
It is usually a full satin gown with plenty of trimming and a frothy veil on her head. However that trend has now disappeared in many modern parishes. Today we're seeing a desire for clean lines and simple styles more in tea length than formal. Many feel that this helps focus the emphasis on the child and the meaning of the day. Sleeveless is also definitely popular in many locations.Light touches of beading are still very popular but it is not as 'standard' as it once was. More modern styles will include lovely dresses with an entirely different silhouette from the standard ballgown style. Selecting the Colors: White or ivory dresses are the most popular (always coordinated with the color of the Bride’s gown). There are many alternatives; consider the following:
A white or ivory dress and add a sash in a color close to the color of the Bride’s Maids dresses. It may be possible to order extra fabric from the company where you order the Bride’s Maids’ dresses to have sashes made up. Or, you can select a similar color from a child’s dress company; matching isn’t often that important.
A white or ivory flower-petal filled dress. Select flower petals in the color of the flowers everyone will carry or the color of the Bride’s Maids’ dresses. It is not necessary to have an exact match. When to Shop It is very important to shop early so you have the widest possible selection.
Start shopping in early October. Shop for her headpiece at the same time - once they are out of stock, they won't be available again this year. This will allow you time to think things through and order any style you want - even with extra dress length if necessary/available and still have time to make alterations before the day she wears it.

วันเสาร์ที่ 8 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part Industry

The Philippine Flower Industry
The Philippines offers a vast selection of flora to the world. With the fast-paced technology, local horticulturists aid the country’s flower industry to grow even more. This article discusses the Philippines’ flower industry and how it strives to meet the local and international demands.
The Philippine flower industry has gone a long way since cut flowers were its major produce in the 1970s and growers were local hobbyists and plant enthusiasts. During the 1980s the flower industry became more commercialized as it generated huge profits and had lots of potential to earn foreign revenues. The land area of flower farms grew and growers adapted modern techniques and machinery to produce flowers both Filipinos and other people around the world can enjoy. Over the last two decades, growers and enthusiasts realized that the high return on investment, higher standards of living, rapid population growth, and an influx of tourists led to more fickle clients who only want high-standard cut flowers. For a period of nine years (1991 - 2000), fresh cut flowers and buds earned USD 371,281 annually. There was an increase in the domestic market’s demand for cut flowers and it grew to such an extent that the Philippines had no choice but to import flowers like orchids and chrysanthemums to meet the demand - particularly on Valentine’s Day, All Saint’s Day, school graduation months of March and April, and the Christmas season. All sorts of flowers from asters to roses are cultivated throughout the Philippines. Chrysanthemums, sampaguita, and gladiolas are grown in open fields or in the mountains north of Luzon. Roses and gerberas are grown in greenhouses because the structure protects them from the heavy rain and the intense summer heat. Jasmine and sampaguita carry heavy religious connotations and are strung into garlands to be offered to statues in churches. Gardens for these flowers are usually located along roadsides or near churches so the grower has an easier time selling them. Despite innovations and new technology, horticulturists in the Philippine flower industry still face a few constraints and challenges - especially small farmers. For one thing, structures like greenhouses have high costs that they cannot afford. The technology in the country still can’t handle some new varieties of flowers like calla and gerbera. While production technology can be imported, new agricultural chemicals need to be bought along with it. Combined with high import taxes, acquiring these can be very expensive. Even access to credit sources is a problem due to high interest rates on loans. Although the Philippine flower industry is already picking up, horticulturists still encounter problems meeting the local and worldwide demand for cut flowers. These issues need to be addressed so the country can cut down on import costs, and so the businesses of small growers can thrive as well as the big players in the Philippine flower industry. This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Delivery Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can Deliver Flowers to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

วันพุธที่ 5 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole

Rare Flower Found on Site is a Plant, Says Developer
When the sudden appearance of an endangered flower halted a controversial housing project in the heart of California's wine country, the developer, Scott Schellinger, suspected he was the victim of a plant. Now, after calling in experts from the state's fish and game commission, who have backed his findings, he is claiming that the "discovery" of rare and protected Sebastopol meadowfoam on the eight-hectare (20-acre) site near San Francisco was the work of opponents who transplanted the flowers from elsewhere. "It looked like a bad toupee," claimed one botanist, who observed the small, white flowers - latin name Limnanthes vinculans - growing through clods of "alien" soil. The row has escalated into a scandal known as Foamgate. The controversy has parallels with the Tom Sharpe farce Blott on the Landscape, in which opponents of a motorway project employ a variety of ruses to stop construction. But the residents of Sebastopol, a town of 7,800 environmentally conscious residents in the centre of Sonoma county's grape and apple growing region, deny wrongdoing. Bob Evans, a retired grammar school teacher and leading campaigner against the $70m (£38m) development, says he had come across the meadowfoam while walking his dog. "It's our job to protect endangered species," he said. "I didn't plant it. No one planted it. It's clearly a natural plant that grew there because that's where it belongs." But Mr Schellinger insists the reappearance of the bowl-shaped blooms is evidence that his opponents are desperate. "The people who planted it mistakenly believed that it would be the silver bullet that killed the project," he said. Sebastopol's council has ordered the parties to mediation to try to find a compromise that could include a scaled-down development. And the state has ordered that the plants be removed after deciding they were deliberately introduced. "They didn't belong there. It was appropriate to remove them," said Eric Larson, a regional manager of the California fish and game commission. But Mr Evans said an official from the California Native Plant Society and a professor of biology at Sonoma State University had visited the site and agreed the meadowfoam could not have been transplanted.

วันศุกร์ที่ 31 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part The Types

Flowerwhole Part The Types
The Types of Flower Businesses
If you love flowers and recognize its role in human relationships, you might want to start your own flower shop. This article shows you the different types of flower businesses and what skill you will require to succeed.
Flowers play a major part in our life. Their delicate beauty allows us to convey messages to loved ones for all sorts of special occasions. If you love flowers and recognize its role in human relationships, you might want to start your own flower shop. The first step is to determine the kind of service you want to provide. There are three kinds of floral services: 1. A wholesale florist supplies retailers with potted plants and fresh-cut flowers through flower markets or direct delivery to flower shops. Some wholesale florists grow their own flowers as well. This type of service will require years of knowledge, experience, and a larger capital. One should be knowledgeable in the basics of maintaining fresh inventory and the supply chain involved in flower transport. A lot of commitment is involved in this type of floral business and this is recommended for more experienced entrepreneurs. 2. A retail florist service is suitable for entrepreneurs who love flowers and love talking to clients. A florist does more than just sell flowers - they sell the art of arranging flowers. There are several ways to approach flower retailing. The key element is the skills and knowledge in floral design, arrangement, and care. One of the most flexible characteristics this business is it allows you to set up shop in almost any type of location. Flower shops can be located in hospitals, shopping malls, grocery stores, or street stalls depending on your business objectives and available capital. It is also a good complimentary business to restaurants and gift shops. Retail florists also have the option to narrow down their products and services into niche categories for weddings, funerals, or gifts. 3. A Floral products supplier sells complimentary items used by florists in making arrangements. This involves selling items such as vases, ribbons, floral foam, baskets, and other similar supplies. If you are the type of person that wants a flower related business but does not want to deal with the highly perishable nature of flowers, this may be the right business for you. This business type will require an extensive inventory management, distribution and delivery system. In any type of flower business, expect your clients to ask many questions. You may need some basic knowledge in plant nutrition, soil, light control, and the like. You would be at a greater advantage if you have formal education in floriculture. If you do not have enough education or experience, get a feel for it by working for a flower related business before starting one on your own. In addition to this, remember that the location of your shop can make or break the business. It has to be placed in an area with enough walk-by and drive-by traffic, or at a location that's convenient for your customers. Look at your budget and try to find the best location you can afford. Try to look out for spaces with parking facilities, space for future expansion, and good neighborhood quality. Just like any other business, you need understand how business works. Besides making innovative flower arrangements, you will need to know all about buying, selling, accounting, managing costs, planning profits, and marketing for your flower shop to succeed.

วันพุธที่ 29 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole Part II

Flowerwhole Part II
Flower Delivery of Lotus – A Gift to Symbolise Many Things TogetherLotus is a flower that has many symbolic meanings. They can be a wonderful gift to someone when sent through flower delivery service. Read on to find when can you send lotus and what all can you convey through this flower.
One of the most popular flowers in the world, Lotus, not only looks beautiful, but also has immense symbolic meaning. It is added to bouquets, baskets and wreaths for flower delivery and it also makes beautiful bouquets together with dark green leaves. Lotus is a favourite design in tattoos, and particularly it is a hot favourite among women. Lotus -- the flower in bouquets All across the world, lotus is sent and received in flower delivery services. The simple and serene yet beautiful flower looks wonderful both as an add on to a wreath or as the main flower of the bouquet. They look great on two- storied and three- storied baskets, especially when they peep out from behind huge green leaves. Lotus -- the religious flower Lotus also has great significance in some of the popular religions of the world. They are considered an integral part of two of the widely practised religions – Hinduism and Buddhism. It is often discussed and used as metaphor in religious discourse. Lotus is also considered wonderful for meditation, where one is asked to concentrate on the flower -- as it is considered to signify awakening of the soul and enlighten one about the spiritual powers. Lotus -- the favourite tattoo This is yet another way people celebrate the lotus. They wear it as a tattoo on their body and live with it in everyday of their life. This design is particularly chosen by those who have been in deep troubles and yet, from such troubling times, have emerged as beautiful, awakened and strong. Just like the flower which starts from mud and murky pond and outgrows it all to become a lovely and full bloomed flower. Lotus -- the favourite flower for flower delivery Lotus conveys estranged love. So often people send lotus to their beloveds and dear ones who are living far away from them. This can also be a wonderful gift for a lover who is no more there in your life. You can show them that you still care for them and think of them with the help of flower delivery of lotus. Bethani Isabell is an expert author in the domain of various types of online gifts such as champagne gifts, etc. She has an amazing charisma in her write-ups as she possess the capability of presenting the beautiful and 'emotional' aspect of gift items. This appeals to people from every section of the society.

วันอังคารที่ 21 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Flowerwhole

Flowerwhole
General Tips for Flower Photography
Flowers are one of the favorite subjects among photographers. However, there are still certain things that should be taken consideration if one would indulge on flower photography. This article gives some pointers on how to capture the beauty of flowers in a photo.
There is nothing more bedazzling than an open field of flowers reaching out from the ground to caress the sun. As any amateur or professional photographer would claim, flowers have always been a staple subject in photography classes, being delivered by the bulk to the studio or having hobbyists going out to various flower markets. If your conditions for shooting flowers are fixed by a studio, checking the fresh batch of delivery helps you segregate the worn flora from those that can be used. Damaged petals, impurities in the color and how the stems curve are a few things you can look at. The general guidelines for shooting flowers are really a reflection of the basics of photography. In sum, a photographer should first of all, identify the subject: are you shooting the entire flower arrangement, or are you just highlighting a portion of your subject. Determining your subject will depend on the context of your shoot. Usually, straight out product shots involves having to shoot the entire flower arrangement plus the vase to see the subject in its entirety. Lifestyle shots do not require having to show the entire subject from bud to stem to vase and would rather settle for a creative execution. Determining the subject also entails the use of some photography tips. The use of patterns or "abstracting" flowers is a common tip that you can never go wrong with. Rather than highlighting the flower as well, a flower it would be interesting to see the flower as a mere shape. This means highlighting the flower’s petal outline, going up close and focusing on the structure of the veins, or going wide and taking a row of flowers as they shoot towards the sky. A tip when shooting veins is to have a natural backlight behind the flower (an artificial light source like candles or house lights or best of all - natural, but not direct sunlight) to highlight the lines and patterns The end result is a play with shapes and lines that "lead" your eyes to a certain part of the photo. An example of the leading lines technique would be to highlight petal veins that lead your eyes towards the center of the flower bud, which is your main subject. Another example would be to shoot the flower from its side with the stem leading up to the flower bud.