FLORA, FROM THE FIELDS

BUPLEURUM	LEATHER-LEAF FERN	VARIEGATED PIITISPORUM	TIPI PALM or EMERALD

DAFFODILS (or Narcissus) are indigenous to Asia and Europe. The heralds of spring, they are now found naturalized  throughout North America. Although generally yellow and about two inches across, hybridization has developed a number of shades of white, orange, pink, and green, many of which have one colored cup and another colored perianth.  Daffodils may be single, or Peony-like “doubles,” with size ranges from ˝ inch to five inches.

IRIS come in many forms, colors and sizes. Although the large “bearded” German iris and small double-blooming Japanese iris are common garden flowers, it is only the Dutch and Siberian iris that are of florist quality. Colors range from shades of blue and purple to white, yellow and even tones of orange and bronze.

ALLIUM

Actually a member of the onion and chive family, a faint spice scent accompanies this globe-shaped flower. Ranging from 1 to 6 inches, the larger varieties may be covered with more than 1,000 florets of blue or violet.

LILIES of “florist-quality” traditionally come from two lines; Asiatic and Oriental. The smaller Asiatic tend to have more blooms per stem and a wider array of colors including yellow, red and orange. The larger Oriental varieties tend to be more fragrant, such as the “rubrum” or “stargazer.” According to Anglo-Saxon folklore, if lilies and roses were offered to an expectant mother her choice would foretell her delivery; roses predicting a girl, lilies a baby boy.

PEONIES are some of the most beautiful flowers you will ever see, and lend themselves nicely to what is often deemed a “Victorian” or “Edwardian” bouquet. Even in the garden they are considered a trophy plant not only for their beauty or size, but because the perennial root will last up to half a century undisturbed. With about 800 cultivars, the Chinese peony is the most common cut variety

DICENTRA

More commonly known as the “Bleeding Heart” is exacting in its descriptive. This perennial actually looks like a swooping stem laden with small hearts dripping blood.

BELLS OF IRELAND is unique in that it is one of the few “florist-quality” flowers that is actually green in its maturity. The terminal stem is a nice accent to floral basket arrangements, or as a structural element to vase arrangements. Named for its color rather than origin, Bells-of-Ireland is generally harvested from California flower farms.

KNIFOPHIA, TRITOMA, or RED HOT POKER can only be described as bizarre to a New England eye. Appearing more as a desert-type or Australian  flower, this perennial actually grows quite well in colder regions. All of our “Red Hot Poker” is locally grown.

PENSTEMON (or beardtongue) comes in several varieties, however that which we use is the locally-grown  “Husker Red” which has a pinkish-white blossom and unique reddish foliage.

SOLIDAGO is a brilliant, airy, yellow wildflower. Although its appearance is sometimes confused with the indigenous weed goldenrod, this is truly a florist-quality flower that does not cause the hay fever (such as its cousin). Locally grown in season, SOLIDAGO is available to us year-round from California growers.