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