Thursday, 26 April 2018

Patio plant - Agapanthus

Patio Plant for 2018: African Lily (Agapanthus)

Flowers on the patio all summer long
Elegant stems, long green leaves and elegant blue or white flowers made up of a host of small calyxes: Agapanthus, also known as the African lily, is a look of splendour on the patio or terrace. You can create attractive lines in your outdoor space with this plant, which features plenty of greenery at the base, smooth stems in middle, and flowers that resemble blooming fireworks as the crown. Agapanthus is easy to care for and attractive to look at, with rich flowering from the beginning of the summer until the start of autumn. One thing that's good to know: Agapanthus produces more flowers every year.

Range

The most common Agapanthus is derived from A. africanus, with blue and white flowers. Both types offer various cultivars which differ in terms of plant shape, stem length, leaf and flower shape and flowering time. There are evergreen and deciduous varieties of Agapanthus. Breeding has produced cultivars which stay nice and compact, and are therefore very suitable for use on the patio.

Agapanthus trivia
• Agapanthus symbolises love. The name is derived from the Greek word ‘agape’ (love) and ‘anthos’ (flower)
• The plant is very ancient: women in primitive African tribes wear dried roots as an amulet to ensure healthy babies.
• In the home and garden Agapanthus symbolises a happy home.

Origin
Agapanthus originates from southern Africa and is native to countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. The plant’s seeds have spread and been sown naturally around the globe, so they now also occur in the wild in Australia, Mexico and Europe.

What to look for when buying
• The larger the pot size, the older and more richly flowering the Agapanthus plant is.
• The compactness can vary considerably between plants. A healthy Agapanthus has long stems, foliage at the base and buds at the top.
• The Agapanthus must be free of pests and diseases. Particular look for yellow leaves, which is a sign of soil which is too wet.

Care tips for consumers
• Agapanthus likes a sunny and sheltered spot in a mixture of potting soil and sand.
• Place Agapanthus in a spacious pot with a drainage hole.
• Always ensure slightly damp soil, particularly during the growing season.
• A bit of plant food every month helps promote growth and flowering
• Agapanthus is not fully hardy, and is best placed in a cool shed or cellar if the temperature drops lower than a couple of degrees below freezing.

Thank you to Flower Council of Holland for the information and Joy of Plants for the images. See each web link for more information.

Love these flowers? Yes they are available as cut flowers and do last really well although only available in a small colour range but perfect for blue/purple scheme.

Add them as a splash of colour in buttonholes and bouquets.

Ask us for more options and ideas when you book a consultation with me .

Plants and cut flowers are available during their season, ask us about availability. We can also provide beautiful tubs and pots for displaying them in.

Sandra xx

Thursday, 19 April 2018

Houseplant of the Month, April - Hydrangea

Hydrangea: April 2018 Houseplant of the Month

The story of the hydrangea
Almost everyone associates the light and sweetly fragranced hydrangea with the long, light days of spring. It’s a very popular houseplant with large round umbels bursting with star-shaped flowers in fabulous colours that bloom profusely for a long time. The plant offers a decorative, cheerful and rich appearance thanks to their green leaves and is an indoor foretaste of summer, when garden hydrangeas flower. When the frosts have passed, the hydrangea can also be placed on the patio or in the garden for a second life as a garden plant.

Origin
The plant is native to South and East Asia and North and South America. Some species have developed into large trees, whilst others remain small compact shrubs. In Europe hydrangeas have traditionally often been grown near farms, where long rows grow alongside the water. The name Hydrangea refers to its most important requirement - it regularly needs water (hydra).

What to look for when buying hydrangeas

Check that the plant’s structure is compact: a somewhat bare, stretched base indicates old growth.
How ripe are the flowers? Ideally they should already be showing a bit of colour. Check this when buying or ask for a photo.
It’s important that the plant is in a sleeve and the soil is sufficiently damp at the time of purchase, so that drooping and damage during shipping or storage are prevented.
If too much moisture (condensation) remains between the leaves or under the flower for a long time, this can cause the fungus Botrytis.

Range
As a houseplant hydrangeas are available in white, green, blue, lilac, purple and various shades of pink. Notable varieties are those that change colour during flowering. A distinction is made within the hydrangea houseplant range according to the form of flowering: in globes or on the edges, the ‘lacecaps’. The plant shape can also be differentiated: standard, in hanging pots, in a pyramid shape or plants with 15 or more umbels. The smaller pot sizes are most popular indoors. Many hydrangeas are also available with about three flowers which are very suitable for small spaces in the home.

Care tips for consumers

Hydrangeas cannot cope with drought. Avoid drooping, ensure that the plant always has slightly damp soil.
The plant prefers a light spot, but not in direct sunlight or near a source of heat. A position that is too warm can have negative effect on flowering.
Because the hydrangea uses a lot of energy on growing and flowering, it’s a good idea to feed with some plant food once a fortnight.

Thank you to Flower Council of Holland for the information and Joy of plants for the images.

A few varieties available as cut flowers. Blue, pink and white are available just about through the year but some of the other colours are seasonal dependant as the flower matures.

This is a brilliant flower for your wedding, especially in summer or through autumn when the greatest colour range is available. It may be more expensive than some flowers but you get excellent coverage per bloom and in some cases it can work out more budget friendly.

From large WOW factor table centrepieces teamed with roses,

to a flower ring of blooms en mass

or a single bloom for your bridesmaid to carry, they make an excellent choice for your special day.

If you are wanting hydrangeas as plants or cut flowers talk to us about your requirements and we can source the prefect blooms for you.

Sandra xx

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Prop hire for your wedding day

Today we are looking at SOME of the items we have available to hire. Whether you are coming to us as to provide all flower designs along with our props or whether you are looking to DIY, these items are available.

If you are looking for us to provide flowers too we do a range of designs per item and will work with you to create a stunning design to suit your day.