I would like to dedicate this post today to a little girl called Ariel Sofia. She was born just a week ago on June 23rd. She is the daughter of one of Beyond Blossoms’ owners. On a quest to find the right words I came across this poem, which says it all in a suitably bloomy way:)

A flower…

New born

Baby…

With a

Touch…

And kiss…

With touch…

Wonder of

New…

hand’s

Legs…

Lips…

body…

A new flower…!

Heart also hunted

The flower…

IT is flower or baby..? !

- Otteri Selvakumar

Here’s an interesting arts and crafts project to create a monogram of flowers. It’s written by Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza from the DIY Network:

With summer here, take a lead from all the blooming flowers and rich colors around you and create an easy floral monogram for your front door, a baby’s nursery or a teenager’s room. The possibilities are endless!

You can customize this project to fit your own personal style and decor by choosing different types of flowers and ribbons. The pastel colors in the hydrangea petals are a fresh look for spring and summer, but, with richer colors and velvet ribbon, you can create the same monogram for fall and winter.

Cathie first made this project as a gift her mother-in-law’s birthday. She loved it and it adorns her front door. For another gift, she created a monogram for her niece, but instead of just using one initial, made all the letters in her first name.

Up next is one made in the form of the letter “G” for Grandmother Graham, who is 98 and lives in a senior apartment. It will be the perfect touch for her front door _ and it will give all the ladies something to talk about.

Here’s how to create your own:

Supplies:

_ 6-inch wood letter of choice

_ white craft paint & paintbrush

_ floral print scrapbook paper

_ glue stick

_ hot glue

_ tacky glue

_1 large silk hydrangea

1/4-inch decorative ribbon (enough to go around your letter, plus 10 inches)

small rhinestones or ultra fine glitter

Plaque Steps:

1. Paint the back, front and sides of the letter with the white craft paint and allow to dry.

2. Lightly trace the letter onto the scrapbook paper. Cut out the tracing and use a glue stick to attach the paper to the front of the letter. Use your fingers to press out any air bubbles.

3. Cut 10 inches off your decorative ribbon. (This will be your hanger) Turn the letter over and attach the ribbon hanger by forming a “U” shape with the ribbon and hot gluing the ends of the ribbon to the back of the letter about 2 inches from the top.

4. Using your hot glue gun, attach the remaining ribbon around the outer edge of the letter.

5. Break apart the silk flower so you have lots of little petals. Use hot glue to attach the petals to the front of the letter. (You can glue them in a random pattern or a design of your choice) Use a drop of glue and add a few sprinkles of ultra fine glitter to the center of the petals or add rhinestones for decorative effect.

(Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza co-host Creative Juice on DIY Network. For more information log on to www.diynetwork.com or by visiting www.cathieandsteve.com.)

There are many flower shows around the country continually draw thousand of visitors. The one in Cincinnati appears to be growing in popularity as seen in this article from the Times Recorder:

Spring fever is in full swing and gardeners are looking for the latest landscape ideas and trendy flowers.

Ideas abound at the 17th annual Cincinnati Flower Show held on the shores of Lake Como at historic Coney Island. This year’s theme is a Garden Party.

“A 5-foot long ivy moose, adorable baby elephants, a giraffe, a stately heron planted with coleus will be among the topiaries in the Loveland Green House garden Everpresent Everywhere,” said Marie Huenefeld, flower show publicity chairman volunteer. “The garden will also feature fruit trees as well as other plant material.”
The flower show is so popular that this year it has been expanded to nine days, April 22- 30. Special events are scheduled each day and speakers from world famous gardens will present programs.

“The Grand Marquee will have more than 25 fabulous gardens and single genus exhibits,” Huenefeld said. “The spotlight garden has an environmental theme. Green Power is being designed by the Cincinnati Park Board and will have a car made of corn, a water feature and is sure to delight visitors. The garden will highlight the power of plants to produce energy.”

More than 60,000 visitors will stroll through 15 acres with more than 200 exhibits of flowers, gardens, fruits, vegetables, container gardens, window box gardens, Amateur Flower Show exhibit, the Plant Market and the Gardner’s Market will delight visitors at the show. This is the only flower show in America endorsed by the Royal Horticulture Society in England.

“Delhi Landscape Design Flower and Garden Center’s Secret Garden will surely be enchanting,” Huenefeld said. “Delhi has won the RHS medal at the Cincinnati show five times. And we are the only show in the United States endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society and the only show allowed to give this award.”

Five-pound onions, three pound leeks, 3-foot beetroots and huge tomatoes will be found in the vegetable garden installed by Medwyn Williams from Wales, a 10-time gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show, Huenefeld said.

Some favorite displays include the dramatic table settings and Confections in Bloom.

“One of our most popular exhibits, Dramatic Table Settings, will feature tables with theatrical themes from Dinner and a Movie, to A Night at the Opera and Razzle Dazzle; these categories are sure to inspire both the professional and the first time exhibitor,” Huenefeld said.

“Confections in Bloom is a horticultural experience through the use of sugar and icing,” Huenefeld explained. “The cakes will return by popular demand. These works of art are nothing short of amazing.”

Afternoon Teas on the balcony of Moonlite Gardens, Ask the Experts, Candid Cooks, speakers and many other programs will entice visitors to spend more than one day at the show. Some programs have an additional fee such as the guest speakers and teas.

Guest speakers include Michael Weishan from the Victory Garden, Carl Gercens from Longwood Gardens, Dean Norton from Mount Vernon and Jennifer Bartley will present Designing the New Kitchen Garden.

Shoppers will find a paradise of gardening and garden related items in more than 100 vendors’ booths. Everything from garden gloves, hand-painted clothes and accessories, garden tools, outdoor furniture and floral inspired jewelry will be available. An international dealer, Gladstone & Elwyn from Wales, will have botanical and natural history prints both antique and reproductions.

“Don’t forget the plant market where one can find a huge selection of plants to take home,” Huenefeld said. “The Plant Valets will even deliver to your car.”

Gardeners can question experts about problems in their own gardens or find out what plants are best suited to their location, how to care for plants, how to prune fruit trees and any other garden related topic.

“‘Ask the Experts features landscape designers, authors of garden related books, culinary experts giving lectures, demonstrations and panel discussions,” Huenefeld said.

“Ask the Experts’ sessions are scheduled several times a day and are complimentary with admission to the show,” Huenefeld said.