Amazing Flowers Show

Flower is the easiest way to show your feelings and emotions. When we see beautiful flower, we feel happy. Here are world's most beautiful flowers. by Caroline plouff

This Cockroach May Pollinate Flowers Extremely Rare Find

In the scrub lands of central Chile, wild roaches are feeding on pollen and may even be helping plants to propagate.

They may be reviled as a scourge of urban living, but most of the world's cockroaches don't scurry anywhere near a city.

A whopping 99 percent of the 4,500 known cockroach species thrive in wild places, playing vital roles in ecosystems ranging from the rain forests of Brazil to the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

Now, a new study reveals that the cockroach Moluchia brevipennis, native to central Chile's scrublands, feeds on flower pollen—and may even pollinate plants.

"People think of them as being in the streets or in the trash, but there are these wild cockroaches hanging out at the tops of tall flowers," says study co-author Cristian Villagra, an entomologist at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación in Santiago, Chile.

Pollinating cockroaches are exceedingly rare: Only two species are known, one in French Guiana, the other on Malaysian Borneo. Then again, studies of wild cockroaches are also scarce, the researchers note in their paper, published recently in the journal Revista Brasileira de Entomologia.

Only 178 scientific papers have focused on this understudied group between 2000 and 2016, compared with tens of thousands of papers about more well-known insects such as ants and bees, according to the study authors.

For their research, Villagra and colleagues conducted the first-ever survey of M. brevipennis in various sites of Chile’s semi-arid Matorral region.

"Kids are not scared of cockroaches, but as they grow older and become adults, then they get freaked out by them," says Villagra, who is also a National Geographic Explorer. "We want to give people an opportunity to learn about these insects."

Roach Raids

For their research, Villagra and colleagues conducted the first-ever survey of M. brevipennis in various sites of the semi-arid Matorral region.

They team found that these cockroaches emerge at dusk to eat pollen from many native plant species, including evening primrose, and lay their eggs, or ootecae, only on a genus of bromeliad plants called Puya.

The entomologists suspect the cockroaches evolved to depend on native plants for shelter and food because it's a safer bet than non-natives: Endemic flora can best endure the dry, harsh climate, he says.

Insects eat pollen—essentially, plant sperm—because it’s a “really energy-packed, nice tasty treat,” says University of Arizona entomologist Katy Prudic.

For More Information: Christine Dell'Amore

Top End cut flower grower is calling on next gen to get involved in the industry

Jan Hintze has been involved in agriculture for nearly 40 years in the Top End, with the last 20 years dedicated to growing flowers.

Now in her 70s, Ms Hintze said the youngest person she knew in the industry was in their 50s.

"I put mostly this down to it is so much hard physical work that children of farmers look at what their parents are doing and think 'no, I'm not doing that'," she said.

"That's not always the case though, sometimes the children decide 'yes that is the way I want to live' but a lot of the time that doesn't happen."

But Ms Hintze said it is not only the cut flower industry that is struggling to attract young people, it is agriculture as a whole.

She said in order to change, the industry needed to highlight the benefits of being a farmer.
"We need to make sure the children that are coming along understand more about what is actually involved in farming," she said. 

"You don't need to spend fortunes at the gym because you have already walked 10 kilometers a day. It is a really great life."

When it comes to selling a life in the cut flower industry to the next generation, Ms Hintze said the focus should be on the beauty.

"There is a whole stack of upsides to it, it is a very good cash crop for starters, you have got an income coming from it every week," she said.

"You walk out and you see the flowers growing and they are so beautiful and you know that you are going to sell them to people who appreciate them.

"It makes a difference in their lives, whether it is for commemorative occasions or just a bunch of flowers to go on the dining room table, it lifts peoples spirits and it is fairly good to be in an industry that does that."

With just a handful of growers [six or seven] left in the industry in the Territory, Ms Hintze said the reality was if young people did not get involved in growing cut flowers, Australia would have to rely on imported flowers.

"We have introduced so many diseases and pests bringing flowers in from overseas that it has devastated various sectors of not only the flower industry but other horticulture areas as well," she said.

"We need to be able to look after Australian people with product that is grown to our standards.

"A lot of the flowers that come in from overseas have been sprayed, dipped and or treated … in systems of cultivation that don't meet our standards of chemical control which we would never be allowed to do if we were growing them and shifting them around Australia."

For More Information: Lydia Burton

Flowers for Vegetable Gardens

I have always been more of a practical gardener than an idealist. Although it is nice to have an array of pretty bedding flowers I am not inclined to invest the time or space for such luxuries: for me each plant has to earn its place in the garden and be productive in some way. This doesn’t mean that my vegetable plot is devoid of flowers however. Flowers play an important role in any organic garden but the criteria for selecting them are different to ornamental gardens – it’s not the size or color of the flowers that count but their attractiveness to the right kind of insects.

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Google's new visual recognition app can identify flowers you don't know

Google (GOOGL, GOOG) CEO Sundar Pichai announced a visual recognition product called the Google Lens on Wednesday at its Google I/O developer conference.

The Lens feature, which will be used on phones, sees what the viewer sees through the camera and provides information about the object. In a demonstration, Pichai showed the app correctly identifying a flower, inputting a Wi-Fi router’s password and SSID from the sticker, and giving a restaurant’s Google rating and reviews all when the phone camera was pointed at each object. Google wants to pre-empt your googling.

Google Lens follows other visual recognition products put out recently by other tech companies. Amazon, for instance, has had a product recognition tool built into its shopping app to allow users to see how much the company will undercut brick-and-mortar competitors for the same item. Samsung’s Bixby app can scan a photo of a business card and save the information as a contact, something more aligned with Google’s new capabilities.

Owering all this is new hardware from Google, Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, which are behind Google’s AI training system. Users will never see these “deep learning” systems, however, because Google is all about the cloud doing the heavy lifting it takes for a computer to identify real-life stuff through its camera.

As the HBO show “Silicon Valley” illustrated on a recent episode with its “food Shazam” app, getting a camera to identify real-life stuff from a variety of angles, lighting situations, and with different phone cameras is quite the computational challenge. This time, however, Google isn’t buying these processors from Nvidia (NVDA), but is making its own, optimized to its software. (Nvidia was Yahoo Finance’s company of the year in 2016.)

For More Information: Ethan Wolff-Mann

Perennial flowers that bloom all summer

Long-blossoming perennials make life simple for nursery workers who

hunger for shading all late spring. Undoubtedly, through cautious choice

and arranging, consistent succession of blossom can be accomplished

utilizing a large number of plants that bloom for however a concise

time. Yet, having enduring blossoms that sprout all late spring gives us

more space for mistake. Simply plant these workhorses in a place where

they will be glad and let them take the necessary steps for you.

Plants for Europe launches new ranunculus at National Cut Flower Centre - Caroline PLouff

Plants for Europe's Graham Spencer says there has been supermarket interest after he used the National Cut Flower Centre to promote breeder John Fielding's new robust Rococo Ranunculus.

Rococo Ranunculus has been bred in England by Fielding and launched last week at an event at the National Cut Flower Center organized by Plants for Europe.

Spencer said: "The Rancorous event was very successful. We had visitors from cut flower growers, cut flower wholesalers and a major supermarket. We also had visitors from growers producing plants for gardens centers, a major mail order house as well as some garden writers/journalists. We are delighted with the outcome and will now move the project to the next stage, with further production trials and building stock up for a launch anticipated for 2019.

"Visitors were particularly impressed by the robust flower stems that support the flowers, the resistance of the flowers to damage, and the large number of flowers per stem. All four colors displayed received a positive response, with the pink candidate (seedling 2009-21) receiving the most favorable comments. Vase life trials are ongoing, with initial indications suggesting that a vase life around 14 days is typical.

"The trial at the Cut Flower Center has been an excellent opportunity to show these new varieties to interested parties – it has been very helpful for the independent breeder, John Fielding, who does not have extensive facilities of his own. We are very grateful to the Cut Flower Center for their support."

For More Information :  Matthew Apple

Caroline Plouff - Fresh Flowers Online

I created this video simply because I love nature. I always found the flower's time lapses fabulous, but most of the time they are made with a black background. Then I told myself to make a beautiful flower's time lapse with colored and vintage backgrounds. To me, the 60's / 70's is the most representative period for the flowers. This is a way to pay tribute to them. By Caroline Plouff

Caroline Plouff | CEOs of Flowers, Enterprise hospitals switch places

Two Wiregrass hospitals have new CEOs after a change that involved a job swap.

Suzanne Woods, CEO at Flowers Hospital since 2011, has taken over as CEO at Medical Center Enterprise, while Heath Phillips leaves that position in Enterprise to take on the CEO role at Flowers. No reason for the job changes was given.
Woods worked her way up to CEO after 22 years with Flowers, where she worked as an administrative resident, medical staff coordinator, vice president of professional services and chief operating officer before becoming CEO.
According to information released by the hospital, Flowers grew during Woods’ time as CEO, with expansion of surgical services and the establishment of a multi specialty practice with more than 30 physicians.

Woods is a Dothan native and graduated Northview High School in 1989. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in health administration and a certificate in gerontology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Phillips had previously worked as chief operating officer at Flowers Hospital in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Phillips was promoted to CEO at Medical Center Enterprise. As the new CEO at Flowers, Phillips will continue to oversee the work to expand the neurology and neurosurgery services at the hospital.

Flowers Hospital is a 235-bed facility that employees around 1,300 people.

The news comes days after the hospital announced job cuts. Flowers Hospital typically rates high in customer satisfaction as well as health benchmarks used to grade hospitals. The hospital is in the midst of a class action lawsuit resulting from the theft of patient records.

For More Information:- Staff Reports

Easy annuals for the cut-flower garden

While enjoying the early display of color from our early spring bulbs, many of us are dreaming of the bursts of color that our flowering plants will bring us this summer. While perennials provide color and flowers year after year, annuals can also provide flowers for our indoor bouquets all summer long.

 Some annuals such as petunias are better for landscape purposes. Good cut flower types are those that will hold well in a vase for several days. Here are several that you should be able to grow with relative ease.

Zinnia

The workhorse of any annual cut flower garden is zinnia. The industry standard cultivar is “Benary Giant” which can be many vibrant colors. There are several other cultivars such as “Oklahoma,” “Queen” and “Envy,” as well as landscape types that are low growing with somewhat smaller flowers.

Zinnia seeds can be started inside and transplanted, or direct-seeded. The seedlings are sensitive to cold temperatures so if planted early, ensure protection if cold weather occurs. Zinnia will flower all summer long if the plant is regularly harvested, but the plants eventually do fall prey to powdery mildew toward the end of the season, so two or three plantings throughout the summer can ensure bright, healthy blooms into the fall.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a summer staple that those of us who grow flowers cannot do without. It is important to know a few things about sunflowers when choosing which cultivar to grow. Some cultivars like “Joker” are branching, which will produce many flowers, while others are single-stems such as any of the “Procut” series.

“Mammoth Grey Stripe” is a very tall cultivar that will form large heads, and “Teddy Bear” is a miniature that is great for growing with kids.

While sunflowers can be transplanted, they will grow better if they are direct seeded (½-inch deep). They can be planted after the danger of frost has passed and will not germinate in cold soil.

Statice

Statice is one of the most popular flowers in dried arrangements, but it is also used in fresh arrangements (particularly dark purple types). Statice can come in many colors.

“QIS Series” is a popular cultivar mix. The plant will grow in a low rosette and the stems will arise from the rosette. It will flower from spring to summer and will produce more than one cutting, although the first cutting will have the most vigorous stems. Statice is easily started from seed and transplanted in the garden.

Gomphrena

Gomphrena, also known as globe amaranth, is a small flower that adds a little pop of color to the garden. It is low growing and will produce flower heads that resemble clover and are 1 to 2 inches in size. “QIS Series,” “Strawberry Fields” and “Bicolor Rose” are a few of the cultivars that are on the market.

Like statice, gomphrena is better grown from seed and then transplanted after the danger of frost has passed. Harvesting the stems regularly will trigger the plant to form more. The flowers are easily dried by harvesting the stems and hanging them upside down in a dark, dry place with air movement (such as from garage rafters).

Celosia

While not a traditional flower with petals, celosia plants form a head at the end of the stem that can take many forms and/or colors. For example, Celosia argentea var. agentea cultivars, (also known as crested cockscomb) will form feathery plumed seed heads, whereas Celosia agentea var. cristata cultivars form a seed head that resembles a brain.

It is important to know what species you are growing because some species will benefit from being pinched, while pinching other cultivars will result in the loss of the seed head.

Celosia grows very easily from seed and can be grown from transplants or direct-seeded in the garden. Many varieties are hybrids, meaning that if you save seeds it is possible that you will not get the same plant back.

Dahlia

Of all garden cut flowers, dahlias are my favorite. Ranging in size, color and form from petite miniatures to showy dinner-plate size, dahlias are sure to add pizazz to any garden.

There are actually 10 different types of dahlias. Tropical in origin, dahlias are treated as annuals in our region. The plant grows from tubers (similar to potatoes) which should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep toward the end of May. Some gardeners are comfortable planting earlier but be aware that the tubers will rot if the soil is cold and wet.

When the plant is about 6 inches tall, pinch back to the first or second set of leaves to encourage the plant to “bush out.” Dahlias are usually large plants and the weight of the plant and flowers can cause them to topple so it is important that they are staked. Cut back the flowers to encourage continual blooming.

Dahlias will flower from July to frost. Once a hard frost has occurred, wait about a week to cut the plant back. Carefully dig the tuber clump and clean it.

The clump can be separated at this time, but you need to ensure that when separating that you leave a part of the stem on the tuber that has an eye (it resembles a small, raised bump on the stem). The plant will not grow next year without one. Store the tubers in a cool, dark area in a bag with some vermiculite or sawdust over the winter.

For More Information:- Jacqueline Kowalski

Here's how to save on flowers this Mother's Day

 

No one deserves a beautiful bouquet more than mom. Known as the Uber of flowers, Bloom That delivers flowers under 90 minutes in New York, LA and San Francisco and delivers the next day nationwide. Whether you always find yourself sending last-minute gifts or are looking for most convenient way to send flowers on a budget, Bloom That is worth checking out.

AOL.com has the scoop on an exclusive offer so you can save 20% on your first order! Enter the code MDAY20 at checkout through May 13th and make sure to select the delivery dates between May 8th to May 15th. With an endless assortment of handcrafted arrangements, mix things up this Mother's Day and do NOT miss this limited-time deal.

For More Information: - Laura Galvan

Pruning and Trimming of Beautiful Flowers in Orchid

Shelton's Stone Gardens Cut Flowers Expects A Blooming Spring

The 3-year-old Shelton flower farm, which works alongside the family-run Stone Gardens Farm , offers Connecticut home grown vegetables, meat, and poultry along with a flower CSA which runs from mid-July to mid-September.

You can purchase a weekly or biweekly bouquets or a DIY bucket share for either pickup at the farm or local delivery to a few select locations in Fairfield County. The farm also offers design services for events, flower crowns, and DIY buckets.

Mostly, however, they are known for their huge variety of locally grown flowers and their custom farmers market bouquets. Expect to find everything from sweet scented English Sweet Peas in the spring, dinner plate Cafe au Lait dahlias that are the size of your head in the summer, and heirloom Chrysanthemums in the fall.

These are flowers you don't typically find in your local supermarket, explained Katelyn Kazukynas. That's because conventional flowers have been bred and processed to survive traveling thousands of miles, bathed in preservatives and fungicides, before they reach your hands.

The durability comes at a major expense, she said, with flowers losing scent, variety, color, and freshness.

"The American Grown flower movement strives to provide responsibly grown, seasonal flowers. Buying local can also stimulate the rural economy, preserving both farmland and the natural integrity of flowers," she explained.

This spring Stone Gardens will have many new varieties of Sweet Peas, Anemones, Ranunculus, and specialty daffodils.

You can find their custom bouquets at the Shelton Farmers Market at 10 Canal St. from May to November 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from June to Oct. from 3 to 6:30 p.m. 

for More Information:- Jeanne Muchnick

Growing a cut flower garden

My late aunt was known for her love of gardening. I have written about her backyard before in this column because it was overflowing with flowers of every shape and size.  Flower arrangements were her specialty.

Every Saturday until the age of 102 she would put vases together for Sunday morning church from her own yard full of daisies and roses.

After her journey here had ended, I brought home her favorite vase, broken and mended again and again over many years. It now holds a special place in my china cabinet to remind me of the joy she received when she was able to share her bounty of cut flowers with her friends and family every week.

Even if you have the smallest yard, it is easy to cultivate your own cut flower garden to share with others, or to bring a little bit of the outdoors into your own home.

A cut flower garden can be thought of as that part of your yard or even a container dedicated to growing the specific types of flowers that can be cut and displayed indoors. There are just a few simple guidelines to follow.

Make sure when choosing plants that they can stand up to living in a vase. They should bloom on long, sturdy stems and not wilt easily when cut.

If you have enough room, try and include blooms for each season as well as different evergreens and grasses too for added texture and interest in your arrangements.

When harvesting your flowers, make sure you cut further down the stem than the length you think you need. You can always trim, but it’s harder (but not impossible) to add back on!

Collect your flowers and foliage in the morning so they are plump with moisture and will last the longest after cutting. Get them into water as soon as possible to prevent wilting and keep in a cool place until ready to arrange.

Watch your pets if you have a curious one like mine. My kitty loves to taste fresh flowers so I have to keep them far out of his reach for the protection of both the cat and my arrangements.

As long as the blooms will last cut in water, your imagination is the only limit to what you can use in cut flower arrangements.  Here are a few of my own ideas.

I love daisies, and they make beautiful cut flower presentations. Purple cone flower was one of my aunt’s favorites because of their vibrant color and sturdiness in a vase. Shasta and ox-eyes, black-eyed Susans, and Gerber are some other good choices.

Yarrow, bluebonnets, yuccas (both yucca and hesperaloe species), inland sea oats and mealy blue sage are easy to grow natives that make nice cut flowers and foliage options.

You can also trim some trees to use in arrangements, such as mountain laurel (flowers and foliage), red bud (blooms in early spring), possum haw and other hollies, junipers, and wax and Greek myrtles.

Roses are the traditional cut flower used for many years in arrangements for almost any occasion. While the floral high center roses struggle here in our heat and soil, we still have some good options to include in our arrangements.

Some of my favorites are Belinda’s Dream, Souvenir de la Malmaison and other Bourbon roses, Lafter and other Teas, and using the smaller bendable canes of Red Cascade. 

For More Information:- It's About Thyme

Amundson expands to fresh cut flowers

Barefoot Gardens greenhouse owner Melanie Amundson is pleased to announce the expansion of her business to include fresh flower arrangements and cut flower gardening. With spring and Easter approaching, Melanie reminds folks she is taking orders for Easter blooming potted plants and lilies.

Melanie will have a variety of fresh flowers for special occasions, holidays and funerals. “We will have corsages for school proms, homecoming and winter formals,” she said, “I would get flowers for weddings but I’m not ready to do the arranging because of time constraints.”

Melanie admits that confidence has been her biggest hurdle going into business, which, by the way, she is now in her seventh year. At her flower arrangement training, she received a nice compliment. “What are you worried about?” asked the trainer. “You are in an advanced class and doing just as well as any experienced florist.”

“That was quite encouraging,” Melanie said with a smile.

Corsage creations were just one of Melanie’s new experiences. “Prom corsages are going more toward the body jewelry,” explained Melanie. “My last class was on bending wire.”

The cut flower portion of the business is something that Melanie also enjoys and she shared that there is a need within the community. “I’m actually going to start growing the flowers,” she noted, “not necessarily wild flowers but flowers for bouquets.”

“I want to be out in the greenhouse and in the garden year round,” expressed Melanie.

Some of those cut flowers will include zinnia, plumed celosia, bupleurum, yarrow, statice, gomphrena, larkspur, snapdragon, Sweet William, sunflower, cosmos, coneflower, bachelor button, marigold, asters, phlox, delphiniums, lilies, peony, liatris, glads and various ornamental grasses.

Local purchasing is important to Melanie and cut flowers make good sense. It is important to note that 70-80 percent of fresh flowers sold in the U.S. are grown in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, the Netherlands and Israel and shipped in, creating a large carbon footprint with high transportation, refrigeration and storage costs. “Flowers purchased at a farmer’s market or a roadside stand are fresher, so they will last longer and have more scent,” said Melanie.

In the future, Melanie hopes to have her cut flowers on display at a local business and hopefully at Horseshoe Lake Inn Farmer’s Market.

For More Information:- Voyageur Press

Caroline Plouff - Cut Flower Selling Tips - Video Dailymotion

Caroline Plouff - Cut Flower Selling Tips - Video Dailymotion: Wherever you sell your cut flower bouquets, display them as a family! Show a good, better best choice to reach consumers of all means. Learn this and more selling and display tips with Caroline Plouff.

Plan now for a beautiful flower cutting garden

Spring has sprung, and gardeners are getting ready to garden. As I plan my 2017 garden like many of you, I comb through seed catalogs for the tasty new vegetable varieties to add to the staples of my garden. Although I love fresh vegetables from the garden, what I find more exciting is planning for any space I can find in my current planting beds to grow flowers for cutting.

I love planting a few new varieties of flowers for cutting along with the tried-and-true varieties I have depended on for years. I personally love cut flowers in my house all year round—it is one of my indulgences. I enjoy them more when I can go into my garden and fill my home with colorful, vibrant, long-lasting blooms. Starting with peonies and iris in the spring and hydrangeas in the summer, right through to fall with the last show of vibrant zinnias.

It is great to have a few flowering shrubs and perennials to use for cutting that are the backbone of your flower garden, but nothing shouts “look at me” more than bright, bold annuals. With the use of the internet, cut flower gardening books and seed company recommendations, planning your annual cutting garden has never been easier. Good sources include university sites from land-grant universities, agriculture or horticulture departments, online information or printed catalogs from your favorite seed company and garden-related periodicals. Also, with the hundreds of ideas from Pinterest, you will be growing bouquets to fill your home and share with friends all summer long.

What is nice about growing flowers and even vegetables from seed is you have a much greater variety of plants to pick from. Seeds are reasonably priced and you can start them early or direct sow many into the garden. Another advantage to planting seeds is you can plant succession plantings so your crops can be timed to produce or flower when needed.

According to Horticulture Magazine’s article, “Designing and Growing the Cutting Garden,” designing a cutting garden is less complicated than a traditional flower garden. When planning a traditional flower garden, there is much more consideration to the details, bloom time, plant size and coordinating complimentary colors. In a cutting garden, you only need to focus on flowers that will provide you with a good supply of flowers throughout the season. The biggest consideration is having your garden planned for easy care and harvest.

When selecting flowers for cutting, there are a few things to take into consideration:

•     Planting zone. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Michigan has three zones: 4, 5    and 6.
•     The types of flowers you enjoy, including texture, size and color.
•     Foliage of the flowers or other plants grown specifically for their foliage.
•     Varieties that are good for cut flowers.

Here are a couple of articles to get you started as you begin adding to your cut flower garden or starting a new one from scratch:

•     Grow a Colorful Cutting Garden by Hobby Farms
•     The Best Flowers for Your Cutting Garden by Fine Gardening

In the next several Michigan State University Extension articles, I will share some fun information on traditional flowers for your cutting garden, extending the vase life and some hints on designing with garden flowers.

For More Information- Dixie Sandborn

Global Fresh Cut Flowers Market in North America, Europe and Asia

Market.Biz:-  The Global Fresh Cut Flowers Market Research Report 2017 offers a comprehensive study on Fresh Cut Flowers Industry including the current Fresh Cut Flowers market trends and market status. The Fresh Cut Flowers Report focuses on the market in major continents, Like North America Fresh Cut Flowers Market, Fresh Cut Flowers market in Europe and Asia Fresh Cut Flowers market etc along with main countries like United States, Germany, Japan and China etc. on Fresh Cut Flowers market scenario.

1) Major key Manufacturers working in Fresh Cut Flowers industry is also mentioned.
2) 2017 Worldwide Fresh Cut Flowers market estimated at USD XXXX in 2016.
3) 2017 Global Fresh Cut Flowers industry projected to reach USD XXXX million at forecast period.
4) Worldwide Fresh Cut Flowers market projected to grow at CAGR XXXX % During forecast period.
5) Fresh Cut Flowers Market (in North America, Europe and Asia) expected to grow at CAGR of XXXX % over the forecast period.

At an initial stage, the Fresh Cut Flowers market report covers the Fresh Cut Flowers basic information including Fresh Cut Flowers definitions, Fresh Cut Flowers market classifications, a wide range of applications and Fresh Cut Flowers industry chain framework. The Fresh Cut Flowers Report also covers industry development plans and policies, Fresh Cut Flowers product specification, Fresh Cut Flowers manufacturing process and price structures. Then the report focuses on a deep study of global factors influencing the Fresh Cut Flowers market like market revenue, product cost, Fresh Cut Flowers market volume, utilization ratio along with Fresh Cut Flowers market demand and supply analysis.

At a later stage, the report presents, Fresh Cut Flowers market SWOT Analysis, feasibility study related to Fresh Cut Flowers market future investment plans and Fresh Cut Flowers market investment return analysis are employed to study the Fresh Cut Flowers industry on a global scale.

In short, Fresh Cut Flowers report is overall research study on Fresh Cut Flowers industry. Special Thanks to the help and support from Fresh Cut Flowers industry technical experts and marketing experts for their valuable contribution in Research Team Survey and Interviews 

For More Information:- Hayes Jordan

How to cultivate beautiful cut flowers in the smallest city gardens

They serve her well, because she is a bespoke florist as well as a planting designer. Her sage-green potting shed is where she creates bespoke bouquets and hand-tied bunches picked from her garden, supplementing them out of season with dawn raids on the New Covent Garden Flower Market.

“I’m on a mission to get everyone growing their own cut flowers,” says Duster, who presses the point in her book, Urban Flowers: Creating Abundance In A Small City Garden.

“It’s so easy. Just buy a few seed packets and get sowing. Through trial and error, you’ll find what works best. You don’t need a big garden. Most flowers I grow are fine in pots, crates and window boxes

RANDOM GARDENING
Duster belongs to the random school of gardening, because she covered most of her back garden with gravel, so that everything would self-seed and pop up everywhere, which it does, especially the foxgloves.

Aside from half-hardy annuals, which she starts about now in sheltered trays, she sows hardy annuals by pushing aside a bit of gravel, scattering the seed and pushing back the gravel.

“Germination is quick because the gravel keeps the ground warmer. I fit a lot in because I space the seeds more closely than recommended.”

Her stalwarts include Black Beauty opium poppies, which she grows for their showy seedheads, clary sage, cornflowers and ice-green nicotiana. Cosmos is renowned for pumping out flowers all summer, and Punsters choice is bright pink Antiquity.

For impact, she grows the huge allium Globe master and displays them solo. Roses she grows in deep pots. “My favourite is Blush Noisette, which has small, fragrant, pale pink pompom heads. It’s important to use compact varieties in small spaces, so follow the breeders’ advice.”

FRAGRANT FOLIAGE

Foliage is more important than flowers. “You always need much more foliage than you think you’ll need. A lot of green in a bouquet makes the composition look natural.”

Her leaf list is acid-green Euphorbia oblongata, which needs stems seared in boiling water to stop the sap irritating skin, evergreen ferns, Alchemilla mollis and florists’ favourite, Bupleurum rotundifolium, which even has a little green flower.

For More Information:- Pattie Barron

Edwards proclaims today Agriculture Day in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) – Governor John Bel Edwards signed an official proclamation on Monday declaring March 21, 2017 Agriculture Day in Louisiana.

National Ag Day is also being celebrated in communities and schools across the country today.

The day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America and Governor Edwards says a great debt is owed to the hardworking men and women who raise the quality produce and livestock that all Louisiana families depend on daily.

“Given the two historic floods in March and August, 2016 was a difficult year for many farms, both large and small. I hope that proclaiming Louisiana Ag Day demonstrates our appreciation for the important work being done by this industry to keep our families healthy and productive, especially when that work is most challenging.” said Governor Edwards.

Louisianians depend on a consistently strong $13 billion annual agriculture industry, with about 60% of Louisiana’s agriculture income generated by crops and 40% by livestock and livestock products.

In terms of income generated, the top five agricultural products in the state are sugar cane, rice, cattle, soybeans and cotton.

For More Information:- Dusty Crochet

The Secret To Growing Amazing Cut Flowers

8 tricks to make your cut flowers last longer

Fed up of binning your bouquet after only a couple of days? Here’s how to keep your flowers blooming beautifully for longer. 

Besides emptying the little sachet of food that comes with the bunch into your vase, there is a surprising array of tips that can help your roses, daffodils or lilies look their best for longer.

We sniffed out some of the strongest – and strangest – tricks to keep the wilting at bay…

Give it a drink

Head florist at Apple yard London Lauren Probe rt, said: ""There is an old trick to keep your flowers looking gorgeous and fresh and you won't quite believe it.

"As an alternative to flower food put a drop of vodka into your vase of flowers and add water,  it's a surefire way to make your flowers last longer as it keeps the bacteria at bay."
 

1. Cut the stems

Tesco Head Florist Michelle Buck explains: "Cut your flower stems at a 45degree angle. This creates a larger surface area for the flowers to drink"

2. Hairspray
It sounds bonkers, but hairspray works on flowers the same way it does on your hairstyle to keep them looking fresh for longer. According to Serena ta Flowers, you need to take the flowers out of the vase first, then spray the undersides of the petals and hang them upside to dry, before returning them to the vase.

 3. TV ban

While you might be keen to catch up with Alan Titch marsh on the box, keep your blooms away – putting your flowers too close to the TV will harm them, as the heat given off from these and other electrical appliances will dehydrate them. Ideally, pop them in a cool place where they get plenty of light, but not direct sunlight, which will wilt them.
 

4. Feed them Sprite

It’s a bit of an urban myth, but clear fizzy drinks like Sprite and 7-Up can prolong the life of your flowers, according to US scientists. Susan Han, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s plant, soil and insect science department, recommends a three-to-one ratio of water to soda, but with a couple of drops of bleach to stop bacteria from growing.

 5. Clean the vase

Bacteria is the biggest baddie when it comes to bouquets, so make sure you thoroughly clean out your vase before placing a new bunch in it.
 

6. Keep fruit away
Michelle says: "Keep fresh flowers away from ripening fruit, it gives off a gas called ethylene and will cause your flowers to lose their longevity."
 

7. Pop a penny in

You’re bound to find one down the back of the sofa – so next time you get given a bunch of flowers, drop a penny in the vase – the copper is thought to stop bacteria from growing.
 

8. Bleach them

Sounds crazy, but Michelle explains: "Did you know that Gerber's are quite susceptible to bacteria. If you do not have suitable flower food you can use a tiny amount of household bleach in the water."

For more Information:- Kate Whiting

UK cut flower produce behind 10% of UK sales, research finds

Market research published by Royal Flora Holland has found that UK home production of cut flowers is at 10% of overall sales.

Some 62% of flowers sold in the UK are from Holland, 7% from Africa, 11% from South America and 10% from other countries.

By comparison Germany is 48% self-sufficient in cut flowers, France is 29% self-sufficient and the Netherlands 58% self sufficient.

Researcher Tine Niezink said: "As Germany produces a lot of flowers and plants within its borders, it's fairly easy for the Germans to respond to trends like 'local products for local people' and sustainability."

For More Information :- Matthew Appleby

Caroline Plouff | why flower subscription services are blooming

Online florists cater for those who want fresh flowers delivered all year round, not just on Valentine’s Day

On February 14 doorsteps across the land will brace themselves against a nausea of red roses and the villainous grins of the teddy bears roped to them. Once a year, like unhinged maharajas, we summon garlands from around the globe — Belgium, Kenya, Ecuador — then plonk them next to the radiator to wilt. Valentine’s Day roses dunked in anti-fungal pesticides somewhere outside Bogotá are not love; they are subtext for “it’s remarkable how long we’ve tolerated each other”. They are for the mistresses, the desperate and the lazy. True love flowers all year round.

In recent years there has been a rash of online subscription services itching for customers to commit to a lifetime of muddy vegetables and organic coffee. We can subscribe to regular crates of free-range bacon (artisan heart attacks in a box) or weekly cases of wine (bottled dipsomania). Ordering repeat deliveries of fresh-cut flowers may once have felt as decadent as Cleopatra demanding her bed of rose petals be refreshed incessantly by slaves; it is now an increasingly widespread proposition.

All week Alice Strange slips through the rooms and corridors of her clients, imparting a drift of flowers in her wake. Blossoms and magnolia; delphiniums and peonies in soft colors and romantic accents. “I go to bed at eight,” she says “wake up at four, leave at 4.15 and am at the New Convent Garden market by 4.30 to buy flowers for that day.”

After working at designer Martin Brudnizki’s studio in London and the florist Wild at Heart, Strange conceived a bespoke service that married interior design with florist, and struck out on her own. “I could never understand why you would pay for an off-the-shelf arrangement when you could pay the same amount for something tailor-made,” she says. “Someone might love pink flowers that look amazing on their own but in a home look really average.”

Unlike the blossoming of letterbox subscription services, which leave the customer to configure a bewilderment of stems, Strange selects, trims and arranges the flowers, pairing them with the interior design of each house. “Flowers should never be viewed in isolation, they’re part of a surrounding — whether that’s a garden or an interior,” she says. “Styling interiors with flowers is like building layers on a canvas; flowers are the final accent of color needed to finish the picture.”

The high-note screams of bright color blooms are notably absent from Strangers arrangements. Her style is singularly her own, informed by the muted tones and impressionistic paintings of St Ives artist Winifred Nicholson: a pot of primulas and the promise of an open window, a grace of pensions on a marble mantelpiece. “Nature has an amazing way of arranging itself,” says Strange, who is inspired by the hedgerows of Lincolnshire where she grew up. “You only have to look at the countryside to know what textures and colors work.”

For More Information: - Jenny Lee

Flowers In A Garden

The Best Sweet Peas For Cutting

Lured in by their perfume as a child, Roger Parsons has been growing sweet peas for more than 30 years. He now holds a National Collection of 1,300 varieties of Lathery odorous and every year he grows 200 or 300 different varieties. He is always on the lookout for standout characteristics – an ­unusual color, a very long stem, a higher than average number of flowers, or a noticeably longer flowering season.

Drawing on the National Collection’s gene pool, Parsons has bred for these ­attributes, hybridizing again and again, and has produced many sweet pea varieties ­including some that are now famous. One of his favorites, which he has sold for years, is ‘Aphrodite’, a ­beautiful pure white, perfect for wedding bouquets. He also bred ‘Frances Kate’, named after his daughter, a blue striped form which we’ve grown and loved in my garden at Perch Hill for the past three years. This is Parsons’s favorite striped variety.

Last summer, in the walled garden at Parham House in West Sussex, Parsons trialed 50 sweet peas. He had sat down with Tom Brown, the head gardener, and together they made a selection with the aim of finding out which would make the best cut flowers to be picked and ­arranged to decorate Parham House. 

Parsons and Brown selected from the Spencer varieties first. These were traditionally bred for cutting, with long, straight stems and lots of large ­flowers. Parsons also wanted to show off the ever-­increasing range of ­different characteristics you now get with sweetmeats, so he also chose a few of the more recently bred multi flora types, some of which are patterned with stripes, some flakes, some bi-coursers and some hot-off-the-­breeding-bench acacia-leaved types.

The multifloras were quite something. Most sweetpeas in my garden have three or four flower heads to a stem, but these had five or more, and Parsons says he’s counted a few with up to 12. This not only means big ­impact, but also that each stem gives you a longer show – both in the garden and as a cut flower. The lowest bloom might be fading after a few days, but the upper ones will just be starting to open, so these multifloras have almost double the average vase life.

Anything with Bouquet in its name (I loved ­‘Bouquet Crimson’) hails from this group, so they’re worth looking out for, but Parsons’s top recommendation is ‘Malory’, with flowers in a ­coral, orange-pink, usually six blooms to a stem. For the new and exciting, acacia-leaved form, Parsons chose ‘Jacko’. This sub-group has no tendrils. Flower arrangers love to hate the sweet pea tendril because they latch on to the stems above and bend them down, creating those irritating “knees” we all know too well because they make the flowers ­impossible to arrange. 

If you’re growing for cut flowers or the show bench, tendrils must be removed to prevent stems being discarded, which is a huge job. Without tendrils you have to tie sweet peas to their supports, but the stems won’t become distorted.  

The Parham trial was planted in a 150ft south-facing bed on the edge of the walled garden. Every individual ­variety was grown on its own silver birch 7ft dome, with wood harvested in February and March from the estate. En mass, they looked magnificent for months and went down very well with the visitors.

Sweetpeas have never fallen out of favor with gardeners, but with breeding programmers such as ­Parsons’s they are taking on a whole new lease of life and are once again one of our most popular flowers. The multi flora sweet peas may not give you quite the room-filling scent of the older forms, but you can pick a jug of cut ­flowers that will last a week and take pride of place on your kitchen table. 

For More Information:- Sarah Raven

Positive Outlook For Agricultural Sector

Parliament – Agriculture output is expected to increase as South Africa recovers from a crippling drought, which National Treasury is hoping will boost job creation in the sector.

According to the 2017 budget review tabled by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday, two successive seasons of drought had led output falling for seven consecutive quarters.

The outlook had, however, changed, as rains returned to parts of the country.

According to a table in the review illustrating the relationship between demand, output and employment, "for every R1 million of extra output in agriculture, the economy creates 3.9 unskilled jobs and one skilled job, and overall output in the economy increases by R1.7 million".

Although the outlook on agriculture was mostly positive, treasury explained the importance of the containment of the current spread of fall army worms, which if overlooked, could threaten cereal crop production.

Over the next three years, government would spend more than R5.5 billion on comprehensive agricultural support programmer conditional grants to provide around 435,000 subsistence and smallholder farmers with equipment, fencing, fertilizers, seedlings, improved extension services and repairs to flood-damaged infrastructure.

Gordhan said: "Expenditure is expected to grow to R29.8 billion by the 2019/20 financial year, at an average annual rate of 4.7 percent, accounting for 1.9 percent of total government spending over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period." 

For More Information:- Andrea Chothia

Most Beautiful Flowers in The World