VALENTINES DAY!!!

In researching ideas for the joyous upcoming holiday known as Valentines Day, I came across some interesting facts about the holiday and couldn't resist sharing....Enjoy...

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.


Follow this link to read the history of the Holiday of Love
http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

...And I LOVED these facts!

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent forChristmas.)

***Seriously men???? You guys need to step it up a notch and order some flowers ;)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap."

Paperwhites!!!

Tis the season for not only decking the halls, turning up the carols and hustling and bustling, but for the enjoyment of the ever so simple Paperwhite Narcissus Bulb. As a child I remember complaining to my mom about the "Stinky Flowers" which would make their presence throughout our home only once a year. I used to be not so fond of these flowers until later in life when I had my own home, Christmas time was near and I quickly realized I was missing only one final detail, the "Stinky Flowers. It was then that I grew quite fond of the Paperwhite Narcissuus Bulb, as for the smell....I can't get enough of it and wonder why I ever called it the stinky flower.  

One of the many beauties of the Paperwhite is that all you have to do is keep a little water in the container and they do all the work for the next 4 - 6 weeks. I like to think of it as buying me a little more time during the crazy holiday season while keeping my table centerpiece looking very well put together. I have listed below some quick instructions on making your simple stunning holiday centerpiece. Don't want to mess with putting it together on your own? Call me and I will put together and deliver a custom size, color, style paperwhite centerpiece.  

How to start your bulbs off right:

You will need a container without drain holes. Either glass, ceramic, terra cotta or any container you have laying around. I prefer something clear so that you can see the process of the roots growing, this also allows you to play around with your creativity with what you plant the bulbs in. In the bottom of the container fill with rocks or gravel (clean and free of dirt) about 2"-3"" high depending on the container and how may bulbs you plan to plant. Simply place the bulb root side down on top of the gravel filler press it down lightly so that it is secure. If you are doing more than one bulb, you can put them close enough to where they are almost touching one another. Add enough water to where it reaches the bottom of the bulb and in 4-6 weeks you will be enjoying the simple white bloom of the Paperwhite Narcissus Bulb. Replenish water as it falls below a quarter of an inch of the bottom of the bulb.

Creative Tips: 

Colored rocks in clear containers, LOVE! Add red, gold, silver or any color of branch or pic by placing in the gravel, this adds a fun element and dimension to the centerpiece. After  the blooms are almost spent, they will fall and wilt, you can get more use out of them by wrapping your favorite holiday ribbon around the green to secure them upright. You can even cut the tops of them  blunt after the bloom is spent, I love this look. Be sure to save to gravel/rock filler for your next batch, you can plant and watch bloom all the 

way through January.

Ladies and Gents, Start Your Paperwhites!  

I will be starting my bulbs tomorrow and will post photos....stay tuned for what I have thought up for this years batch of Paperwhites.... 

     

HELLO BLOGSPOT!