The Tulip

The vibrant tulip flowers are one of the most popular spring flowers of all time. The tulip is a plant of the large genus Tulipa which belongs to family Liliaceae. Tulip plant has been cultivated for as much as 500 years. Tulips are the third most popular flowers world-wide after that only to the Rose and Chrysanthemum. These vibrant flowers are available in an unbelievable variety of colors, heights, and flower shapes. Some Tulips are even odorous

Tulips are a part of the lily family.The tulip is native to central Asia and eventually made its way to Turkey. But it was when the flower was first cultivated in the Netherlands that it really came to prominence.

The Dutch obsession with tulips began with Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius. When he was made director of Leiden University's new Hortus Botanicus (botanical garden) in 1593 he planted some of his own tulip bulbs. As a result, 1594 is considered the official date of tulips first blooming in Holland.

Carolus Clusius was also the first person to identify "broken tulips" which is a viral infection that caused beautiful streaks in the petals. Clusius would go on to create many new color variations of tulips.
Tulips st
arted to become highly prized in Holland in the 1600s as some of Clusius unique tulip variations at Leiden became much sought after. This led to a period from 1634 to 1637 known as "Tulip mania" when enthusiasm for the new flower started an economic frenzy and one of the world's first 'speculative bubbles'. The value of tulips shot up nearly overnight, they became the most expensive flower in the world, so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency.

Types of Tulips:

Based on the time of bloom, Tulips can be divided into early, mid, and late season flowering Tulips.

• Early Flowering Tulips:-These Tulips flower head in March and early April. Early Flowering Tulips are Species Tulips, Kaufmanniana (eg., Waterlily), Fosteriana (eg., Red Emperor), Single Early (eg., Apricot Beauty ), Double Early, Greigii Tulips, etc.
• Midseason Flowering Tulips:- These Tulips flower head in April and early may. Eg., Triumph, Swan Wings Tulip, Darwin Hybrids, Parrot Tulips.
• Late Flowering Tulips:- These Tulips flower head in May. Eg., Single Late, Double Late, Viridiflora Tulips, Lily-Flowered, Fringed Tulips, Rembrandt Tulips, Multi Flowering Tulips

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Exploring the important role of flowers in cinema

Top 10 Flowers on Film Moments

To celebrate the launch of our first Modern Cultural Curators documentary, which considers Kally Ellis of McQueens Florist, we've put together a list of our top ten flowers on film moments. From the enchanted poppy fields in the Wizard of Oz to a mobster florist in The Town, and the blood-red roses in American Beauty to the delicate cherry blossom in Memoirs of a Geisha, we explore the important role of flowers in cinema in terms of their symbolism, timeless beauty and visual impact.

Plucking the Daisy sees Brigitte Bardot in one of her earliest leading roles as the provincial Agnès Dumont, whose ambition to become a novelist takes her to Paris. There, a series of unforeseen circumstances and misunderstandings lead to her partaking in a striptease contest complete with mask, pseudonym and a tantalizing barrette made from faux daisies

Broken Flowers centres on Bill Murray as Don Johnston, a man in search of an anonymous letter-writer who claims to have fathered a son by him. There are 5 ex-girlfriends in the running, and Don finds himself increasingly in despair as he ticks them, one by one, off his list. Here, prior to the fifth and final meeting, he enters a flower shop and takes solace in the kindness of the pretty young florist who dresses his wound (inflicted by "ex number 4") and creates a beautiful bunch of pink carnations and lilies. The same flowers and pink colour scheme occur throughout the film – in floral centre pieces and the clothing of the women he visits.

Ewan McGregor plays hopeless romantic Edward Bloom in Big Fish, the tale of a man who "tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories." In one of the film's most mesmerising scenes, Bloom makes grand and surreal attempt to secure the girl of his dreams by planting an endless sea of bright yellow daffodils (her favourite flowers) outside her window.

In Tim Burton's take on the tale of Alice in Wonderland, a now 19-year-old Alice returns to Wonderland once again to fulfil her destiny as the slayer of the Jabberwocky, a dragon-like creature controlled by the vicious Red Queen. Alice remains unconvinced of her ability to do this until she meets Absolem the Caterpillar, who reminds her of her visit to Underland (which she mistakenly called Wonderland) as a child, where she painted the demanding queen's white roses red. This is one of the original story's most memorable moments, and is brilliantly recreated in Burton's reprise.


Now a much-loved classic, The Wizard of Oz stunned cinema-goers in 1939 with its pioneering use of Technicolor and special effects. Its filmmakers took great delight in creating an Oz that brimmed with bold and beautiful colours, with few scenes more striking than the one in which Dorothy falls asleep amid a vast field of deadly, scarlet poppies.

The vivid red American Beauty rose is not only the namesake of Sam Mendes' 1999 Oscar-winning drama but is also one of its most defining motifs. It plays a key role in Lester Burnham's fantasies about his teenage daughter's best friend Angela, who basks naked on a bed of crimson petals in one of the film's most iconic scenes.

Marlon Brando's monologue to Rosa, his character's dead wife, in Last Tango in Paris is considered by many to be the actor's magnum opus, and the scene is complemented perfectly by the arresting sight of Rosa in an open casket, caked in make-up and surrounded by a lavish bed of pinky-purple flowers. "I wish you could see yourself; you'd really laugh," he tells her mockingly. "You're your mother's masterpiece." As Brando's speech draws to an emotional close, he grabs petals from the flowers and desperately tries to wipe away the cosmetic mask from Rosa's face to great dramatic effect.

Flowers are also a recurring motif in Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo – the story of John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart), a newly retired detective employed by an acquaintance to follow his wife Madeleine (Kim Novak), whom he believes to be possessed. At the beginning of the movie, Madeleine enters a magnificent florist and buys a beautiful and delicate bunch of flowers. These are perhaps representative of the character herself – later, in a highly fragile moment, Madeliene tears the flowers to shreds. The bunch also appears in Scottie's iconic and foreboding dream sequence, directed by graphic design master Saul Bass.

Pete Postlethwait plays Boston crime lord Fergie in Ben Affleck's 2004 movie The Town. The character – who upholds a legitimate front as a Boston florist – was loosely based on Irish American mobster Dean O'Banion (1892-1924), himself a successful Chicago florist and excellent floral designer. A number of scenes depict Fergie in the flower shop arranging exuberant bouquets, in potent contrast to his otherwise violent nature.

This famous scene from the film adaptation of Arthur Golden's acclaimed novel Memoirs of a Geisha pays perfect homage to the cherry blossom, a stunning tree of great cultural significance and symbolism in Japan. Here, protagonist Sayuri goes for a walk with the enigmatic Chairman – the one man she loves but cannot be with – and stands beneath a cherry blossom tree which sprinkles its delicate pale pink petals upon them like snow.

Tulips

Tulips and Me: Shall We Dance?

The introduction of the tulip to Europe is usually attributed to Ogier de Busbecq, the ambassador of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor to the Sultan of Turkey, who sent the first tulip bulbs and seeds to Vienna in 1554 from the Ottoman Empire. Tulip bulbs were soon distributed from Vienna to Augsburg, Antwerp and Amsterdam.Its popularity and cultivation in the United Provinces (now the Netherlands) is generally thought to have started in earnest around 1593 after the Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius had taken up a post at the University of Leiden and established the hortus academicus. He planted his collection of tulip bulbs and found they were able to tolerate the harsher conditions of the Low Countries;^[shortly thereafter the tulip began to grow in popularity

I love tulips. There is something about them that is so endearing. The way they “dance” is so fun and flirty. Never staying still, they constantly move around searching for light. Their blooms open wide in the day and close up at night. Not even content with their cut length, they continue to stretch and grow. Elongating stems extend further and further as their days in the vase move forward. Sometimes a frustration for floral designers, these animated blooms definitely “do their own thing.”

Many are bothered by the “stretching” nature of the tulip. They grow out of their bouquets and often their vases as well. It can be frustrating to arrange your flowers and then come back the next day to tulips that grow away from the other flowers, or if alone in the vase have extended past and even drooping over the container that holds them. It’s like containing a wild animal; they just don’t listen and want to be free.

Try cutting the tulips a little shorter than you normally would, tuck them further down in the bouquet when you arrange them or if the arrangement will be all tulips, try a little taller than normal vase to allow for the “stretch.”

Tulips are very alive even after they are cut. Let them do their thing and you will enjoy them so much more than trying to keep them controlled. Irregular and unusual shaped vases are great vessels for tulips as they create a “playground” for our energetic tulips. This can add a fun and funky flair to a party. What a great conversation piece!

Photo Courtesy: Carol Caggiano, AIFD, PFCI

Roses and Their color

While every flower has a wonderful story to tell, the rose stands alone in its abundant history and color meaning. So much so that we couldn’t resist giving it a little preferential treatment and dedicating a separate space to its rich symbolism.


Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words, roses have long been a symbol of confidentiality - the Latin expression sub rosa (literally "under the rose") means something told in secret.
Regardless of color, their unique beauty and subtle fragrance convey a message guaranteed to elicit delight from the recipient and envy from others. If you’re looking for a way to add a little extra sentiment to your silent message of affection, we’ve put together a list of the meanings associated with the different colors of roses.

red

Red roses are the traditional way to say “I love you,” and are, therefore, the most popular flower sent on Valentine’s Day. However, think beyond red this year. Valentine’s Day is when we celebrate love, of course, but in the people we love, there is often much more to celebrate

 

There’s nothing secret about the red rose’s symbolism of love. Valentine’s Day would hardly exist without this bold and dramatic bloom. The ultimate symbol of romantic love and enduring passion, the red rose also conveys respect and the creative spirit of love. Representing true love stronger than thorns, the red rose is known universally as the lover’s rose.         
               

white

Representing, humility, purity and innocence, the white rose - often referred to as the bridal rose - is associated with young love. In Scotland, when the white rose bloomed in autumn, it was seen as a token of early marriage. Also symbolizing truth and reverence, it sends a message of loyalty and says "I am worthy of you.         
                 

yellow

While in Victorian times, the yellow rose symbolized jealousy, today it represents friendship, joy and caring. A bouquet of these sun-filled blossoms conveys warmth, gladness and affection.         
       

pink

Symbolizing gentility, femininity, elegance and refinement, the pink rose also carries additional meanings depending on its hue. A deep pink conveys gratitude and appreciation, while pale shades connote grace and gentleness, admiration and happiness.   
       

orange

With their warm, vibrant tones, orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and desire. If you’re looking for a way to express admiration and attraction - with an underlying message of passion and excitement - then send a bouquet filled with these fiery blooms.           

lilac & purple

Thought to be almost mystical in nature, with symbolism tied to enchantment, desire and even proceeding cautiously, it’s not surprising that lilac and purple roses send a message of love at first sight, A great Valentine flower.  
To learn more access below:

http://www.proflowers.com/blog/valentines-day-roses-saying-more-than-you-think?ref=organicyahunkwn&prid=pfseoyahunkwn

 

 

Smelling Celebrities

Flowers and Names


You may have walked past and even gotten close enough to smell a Barbara Bush, Chevy Chase or Prince Charles without being aware of it. You may think this is impossible, but if you've ever been to a rose garden, the possibility of walking past a celebrity -- a celebrity-named rose that is -- is endless. Breeders have named hundreds of roses after famous people, real and fictional, from movie stars to entertainers and even royalty

Fictional Characters

The 'Sir Lancelot' floribunda rose features amber, peach and pink swirls. Both the tea rose and floribunda named after Snow White are, of course, pure white, while the miniature blooms on 'Cinderella' miniature are white with light pink markings. The 'Robin Hood' shrub blooms with small bright red roses while 'Othello' roses blend red with bright pink. A climbing vine honors ladies' man Don Juan and features romantic deep red, ruffled roses with an intense damask scent. 'Frankly Scarlet' honors the beloved "Gone with the Wind" heroine, and is, naturally, deep scarlet.

Artists, Composers and Authors

The 'William Shakespeare' rose blazes with burgundy red petals, while Chaucer's rose boasts a yellow center surrounded by light pink. 'Mozart' is bright pink with a white center on a modern shrub rose. Breeders recognized Michelangelo's contributions with two roses--an orange floribunda and a yellow hybrid tea. 'Agatha Christie' scrambles up pillars and posts in a climbing vine suffused with pale pink blooms.

Crooners and Rockers

Barbra Streisand's hybrid tea rose blends lavender and mauve, while Bing Crosby's tall shrub hybrid tea bears handsome dark orange blooms with a mild spice fragrance. Dolly Parton's spirit is embodied with a big-bloomed red-orange blossom suffused with a rose-clove fragrance, and fellow country singers Reba McEntire and LeeAnn Rimes are honored with an orange-red grandiflora and pink-yellow hybrid tea, respectively.

Royalty

Several roses have honored England's Queen Elizabeth and the various anniversaries of her crowning. The award-winning 'Queen Elizabeth' grandiflora offers striking pink blossoms which seem to let sunlight shine through the petals. 'Princesse de Monaco' celebrates the former Grace Kelly with a large-flowered hybrid tea in white with pink edging and a fruity fragrance. Princess Diana's legacy lives on with a blended-pink hybrid tea rose.

Movie Stars


The 'Ingrid Bergman' hybrid tea rose boasts masses of deep red blooms, while breeders celebrate Bergman's frequent costar Cary Grant with another hybrid tea, this one bright orange with gold streaks. Dramatic pink petals adorn the 'Elizabeth Taylor' hybrid tea. And while she usually graces the small, rather than silver, screen, Rosie O'Donnell gets the "a rose for a rosie" with a multicolored hybrid tea rose sporting red petals with bright yellow undersides. Marilyn Monroe lives on with a luscious apricot hybrid tea and Audrey Hepburn is remembered with a light pink hybrid tea. Vivacious Judy Garland gets an equally vivid rose named for her--a scarlet, orange and yellow floribunda.

Icons

Florence Nightingale's floribunda fits nicely in a container, and bears ruffled, cream-colored blooms. Julia Child personally selected her legacy rose, a frilled floribunda colored in the warm tone of butter--of course--with a strong anise candy scent. The 'Amelia Earhart' hybrid tea sports pointed cream petals on the outer petals, intensifying to a buttery yellow in the center.


For more info:

http://www.allaboutrosegardening.com/Roses-named-after-famous-people.html

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/names/rose.htm

208 E. Iron Avenue
Salina, KS 67401
Local: (785) 827-0351
Toll Free: (800) 499-NOOK (6665)http://flowernooksalina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheFlowerNookSalina

Plant Doctor

Plants are powerful healers

There is general agreement amongst scientists that plants improve the indoor environment and are useful in fighting the modern phenomenon of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

No specific cause of SBS has been identified but poor air quality, excessive background noise and inadequate control of light and humidity are all thought to be important factors.
Because plants have large surface areas and exchange gases and water with their surroundings, plants can help tackle some of these issues.

Particular benefits of interior plants include:

1.    Reducing carbon dioxide levels

2.    Increasing humidity

3.    Reducing levels of certain pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide

4.    Reducing airborne dust levels

5.    Keeping air temperatures down

House Plants do more than just brighten up a room with color and living energy. Along with being pleasing to the eye, they bring real health benefits to your body. Not only do complaints about headaches, stress, heart/circulation-symptoms and colds decrease when indoor plants are present.

The good news is that a classic NASA study found that common house plants could improve air quality. In fact, they reported that houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours. The recommendation? Use 15 to 18 "good-sized" house plants in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house.

Here are a few plants and one recipe that showcase their healing ability.

Aloe vera

Aloe is a cactus-like succulent plant with thick, fleshy leaves. The aloe family probably originated in Africa, but it has been cultivated all over the world for centuries.

The gel from Aloe Vera leaves has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, skin infections, burns and other skin conditions. It may also be the most important plant discovered for digestive health. More than 60 million North Americans suffer from frequent heartburn and drinking homegrown aloe juice will reduce the acid in your stomach immediately.

Directions for use:

· Using a sharp knife, peel away the rind from aloe leaves to extract six ounces of gel.

· Discard the rind.

· Peel away the top yellow layer (the aloe latex) and discard.

· Transfer the aloe gel to a blender and add the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon and 1/2 cup of water.

· Blend on high speed until smooth (but not frothy). Drink immediately.

Haskap

These berries are touted to be the super berries of the coming years. It's known by the Japanese as the 'fruit of the longevity'. The Haskap fruit is similar to blueberries in colour, but it is elongated and slightly cylindrical - more like a mini plum. The Haskap berry is known to have five times the amount of anti-oxidant found in a blueberry, making it an antioxidant superfood. It helps prevent heart disease, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis. It's also well suited to the North American climate.

Directions for use:

· 1 cup haskap berries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup raspberries
2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp chia seeds
8 ice cubes

· In a blender, combine all the ingredients above (sweeten with honey to taste) and blend on high speed until smooth.

Comfrey

This plant is nature's answer to a band-aid. Comfrey's ability to help heal wounds comes from a compound called allantoin, which is believed to reduce inflammation and promote new cell growth.

Modern science seems to back up traditional beliefs. In one study, for example, a 35% comfrey cream applied topically to ankle sprains was very effective at treating tenderness, swelling, and pain even when compared with anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical creams.

Directions for use:

· In a blender, puree the comfrey leaves with enough water to make a thick paste.

· In a small heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water (acting as a double boiler), melt the coconut oil and beeswax, stirring occasionally.

· Add the pureed comfrey and mix thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Once the cream has cooled and solidified, apply it liberally to the affected area. The cream will keep in a cool, dry place for a year.

Capsicum

This hot pepper has the ability to block “substance P”, capsicum is also helpful for metabolism and weight loss.

If you already “like it hot,” you may have an advantage when it comes to keeping off the pounds. Research shows capsicum can help you lose weight in three ways: by increasing your metabolism (you can burn an extra 50 or more calories per day), improving your energy expenditure, and reducing your appetite.

Directions for use:

· Consume 10 grams of cayenne pepper with food daily to eat less

· Alternative to having in your food, you can make your own easy-to-swallow capsules at home.

· 1,000 milligrams empty gelatin capsules (purchase at your local health food store)

· Sun dry 30 peppers and place in a blender, cover with the lid, and pulverize to a fine powder.

· Take 5 capsules twice daily with food to enjoy a significantly reduced appetite and an increased metabolism

208 E. Iron Avenue
Salina, KS 67401
Local: (785) 827-0351
Toll Free: (800) 499-NOOK (6665)http://flowernooksalina.com/
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Turn up the heat

Hot sauce, also known as chili sauce or pepper sauce refers to any spicy sauce condiment made from chili peppers and other ingredients. Humans have used chili peppers and other hot spices for thousands of years. Inhabitants of Mexico, Central America and South America had chili peppers more than 6,000 years ago

At the wimpy end of the chart, the bell peppers in your garden rate a nice fat zero. Anaheim, Cherry, and Pepperoncini earn between 100 and 500. Kick it up to between 1,000 and 1,500 and you have your Poblano. Now we can start to feel the heat.

Jalapeños are hotter but still rate at the lower end of the scale between 2,500 and 5,000. Dry and smoke a Jalapeño, and you have a Chipotle and up to 10,000 Scovilles. Serrano, at 10,000 - 23,000, and Cayenne, at 30,000-50,000, pave the way to the big leagues.

We get serious with the Japanese Santake and the Thai, 50,000 to 100,000. The real bruisers, though, are the Jamaican Hot (up to 200,000), Scotch Bonnet (up to 250,000), and the Habanero at up to 350,000.

Of course, someone always has to break the mold (we should know). The Red Savina variety of Habanero is the current confirmed record-holder at 577,000.

Don't touch your eyes after chopping one of these babies. Better yet, don't touch anything!

Good for you!


This hot sauce is a good remedy for a stuffy nose. It may not seem real hot at first, but it will sneak up on you. If you don’t enjoy heat, this isn’t for you. There are hotter sauces out there I’m sure, but this isn’t for sissies. I eat it on many things, from meat to vegetables.

1 (28 ounces) can whole canned tomatoes, peeled
4 jalapeno peppers
3 habanero peppers
2 cubanelle peppers (can use any mild & flavorful pepper) (optional)
2-4 cloves garlic
salt (I use kosher)

1. Boil peppers in water for about 10 minutes, or until jalapenos turn from deep emerald-like green to an olive green (They should be soft, but not mushy).
2. Remove peppers from water and cut off stem caps, but do not remove seeds.
3. Place peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and a teaspoon of salt into a food processor.
4. Blend in the food processor for 20-30 seconds, depending upon desired consistency.
5. Taste the sauce, and if necessary, add more salt (pulse-mix a few times to stir in any added salt).
6. Pour into a re-sealable container or jar and enjoy with chips or use as a condiment.
7. When sinuses begin to”clear up,” and they will, use kleenex.
8. NOTE: After using the food processor, it is sometimes best to open in a well ventilated area.
9. The fumes from processing boiling hot peppers can take your breath away.

by Mark Hendricks

Read more: Sinus-Aid Hot Sauce | Hot Sauce Blog - Hot Sauce Reviews & More!Hot Sauce Blog http://www.hotsauceblog.com/hotsaucearchives/sinus-aid-hot-sauce/#ixzz3xLVthBwb

208 E. Iron Avenue
Salina, KS 67401
Local: (785) 827-0351
Toll Free: (800) 499-NOOK (6665)
http://flowernooksalina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheFlowerNookSalina

 

More about love: A lovely place to live!

More about love:            A lovely place to live

A few of these romantic or Valentine's Day towns no longer exist, while others have dwindled to just a few buildings. But they're all actual places, whose names have come to be linked with Valentine's Day or romance.

 Place names associated with Valentine's Day or romance

Valentine, Shelby County, Alabama, U,S.A.
Valentine, Mohave County, Arizona, U.S.A.
Valentine, Pulaski County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
Valentine, LaGrange County, Indiana, U.S.A.
Valentine, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Valentine, Aitkin County, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Valentine, Fergus County, Montana, U.S.A.
Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska (named for Edward Kimball Valentine, a judge and three-term Republican Congressman who represented Cherry County from 1879-1885)
Valentine, Middlesex County, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Valentine, Shelby County, Ohio, U.S.A. (historical)
Valentine, Hampton County, South Carolina, U.S.A.
Valentine, Jeff Davis County, Texas, U.S.A.
Valentines, Brunswick County, Virginia, U.S.A.
Valentines Beach, Onondaga County, New York, U.S.A.
Valentine Creek, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, U.S.A.
Romance, White County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
Romance, Ozark County, Missouri, U.S.A.
Romance, Noble County, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Romance, Jackson County, West Virginia, U.S.A.
Romance, Vernon County, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Cupid, Winneshiek County, Iowa, U.S.A. (historical)
Arrow, Nez Perce County, Idaho, U.S.A.
Cupid, Harper County, Oklahoma, U.S.A. (historical)
Arrow, Pike County, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Cupid, Frontier County, Nebraska, U.S.A. (historical)
Arrow, Maury County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Romeo, Conejos County, Colorado, U.S.A.
Romeo, Marion County, Florida, U.S.A.
Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan, U.S.A.
Romeo, Greene County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Mount Juliet, Wilson County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Love, La Paz County, Arizona, U.S.A.
Love, Bureau County, Illinois, U.S.A.
Love, Butler County, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Love, DeSoto County, Mississippi, U.S.A.
Love, Cass County, Texas, U.S.A.
Love, Augusta County, Virginia (after all, as their motto says, "Virginia Is For Lovers!")
Lovers Leap, El Dorado County, California, U.S.A.
Love Canal, Niagara County, New York, U.S.A.
Love Hill, Houston County, Alabama, U.S.A.
Love Lady, Pickett County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Love Lake, Macon County, Missouri, U.S.A.
Love Point, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, U.S.A.
Loveville, St. Mary's County, Maryland, U.S.A.
Loveville, Davidson County, Tennessee, U.S.A. (historical)
Lover, Washington County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Loving, Fannin County, Georgia, U.S.A.
Loving, Warren County, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Loving, Le Flore County, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Loving, Young County, Texas, U.S.A.
Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado, U.S.A.
Loveland, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, U.S.A.
Loveland, Tillman County, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Loveland, Pierce County, Washington, U.S.A.
Loveland Park, Ohio, U.S.A.
Loveladies, Ocean County, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Heart, Fulton County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
Heart Butte, Pondera County, Montana, U.S.A.
Heart Lake, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

PUNCTUATION NOTE: The U.S. government does not use possessive apostrophes in U.S. place names. Even when proper punctuation would call for the use of a possessive apostrophe in a city or town name, they are not used. When the name of local businesses, or street names incorporate the town's name, that specific usage may utilize an apostrophe.

The Flower NOOK
 208 E. Iron Avenue
Salina, KS 67401
Local: (785) 827-0351
Toll Free: (800) 499-NOOK (6665)http://flowernooksalina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheFlowerNookSalina

 

Just for you Santa!

 

 

England

In England, children leave out a sweet treat for Santa Clause. Instead of cookies and milk, the tradition in England is to leave out some mince pies and milk.

Chile

In Chile, children prepare a pan de Pascua for Viejo Pascuero, or Old Man Christmas, as he is lovingly called. Pan de Pascua translates to Easter Bread, but it is a traditional Christmas treat, made of sponge cake flavored with candied fruit, ginger, and honey. It is typically part of the night’s meal, too. After a dessert of the sweet treat, family members exchange gifts, so the kids leave some for Santa in the hopes he will leave something for them, too.

Denmark

In Denmark, Father Christmas and his sneaky little elves, or nisser, who take up shop in the attic of homes to keep an eye on things, expect to find a bowl of Christmas rice pudding waiting for them on Christmas Eve. The pudding, called risengrød, is made with sugar, cinnamon, and milk, and is also part of Christmas Eve dinner. Forget to leave it out and Santa and the nisser are said to play some cheeky little tricks. 

Kids in the Netherlands spoil Sinterklaas’ steed, not Sinter himself. Carrots, hay, and water are left out for Sinter to feed his horse for the long night’s journey. In return, he leaves marzipan, chocolate coins, hot cocoa, and mandarin oranges.

Philippines

The Feast of the Three Kings marks the end of the Christmas celebrations in the Philippines. On Three Kings Day, January 6, kids leave out shiny shoes and squeaky-clean socks just begging to be filled with gifts. Oh, sorry, were you Three Kings hungry? Well, drop the presents and get yourself to a diner, ‘cause there’s nothing to see, or eat, here — ironically, no food is left out during the so-called feast

France

One might expect cheese and Champagne to be the go-to midnight snack in France, but that’s not the case when it comes to Santa, or Père Noël as he is known in France.  Children in France leave out some carrots and some biscuits for Père Noël by the fireplace. Sometimes, they put the carrots and biscuits in their shoes, which they leave out for the night to find some them stuffed with some trinkets, treats, and toys when they wake. 

In America:

 

When it comes to Christmas, cookies and milk are tradition — at least at holiday time here in the States. The ritual of leaving out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa — and sometimes carrots for Santa’s reindeer — has become routine in the U.S.



Greens for the Holidays

Types of Greenery
Many different kinds of greenery can be used for holiday decorations. Pines, firs and cedars are good to use for indoor decoration since they dry out slowly and hold their needles best at warm interior temperatures. They may last for several weeks if properly treated and cared for. Hemlock, spruces and most broadleaf evergreens will last longer if used outdoors.

Below are some suggested varieties to use in holiday decorating.

White Pine: This soft, bluish-green, long-needled pine has excellent needle retention but wilts visibly if dry. It is readily available as premade garland and wreaths.

Virginia Pine: This native pine has shorter, coarser needles, and is long-lasting, with excellent needle retention. Virginia pine is readily available.

Junipers: Fragrant, short, green or silver-blue foliage that may be adorned with small blue berries. The needles are often sticky. Red cedar is a native juniper and is readily available.

True Cedars: Deodar cedar, blue atlas cedar, and cedar-of-Lebanon all have a wonderful fragrance. If small male cones are present, spray them with lacquer or acrylic to prevent the messy release of pollen at room temperature.

Firs: All firs have wonderful scent and good tolerance of hot, dry indoor conditions. The needles are short and flat with excellent color and needle retention. Fraser fir wreaths and swags are commonly available from commercial sources.

Spruce: Wreaths are the main use for spruce greens. The branches are stiff with short, sharp needles. Blue spruce is especially attractive because of its color, and it holds its needles better than other spruce. Needle retention is poorer on spruce than on other conifer greens.

Ivy: This vigorous vine is readily available in many yards. It makes an excellent green for holiday arrangements. The cut ends must be kept in water, or the ivy will quickly wilt.

Holly: This most traditional holiday green comes in several forms, both green and variegated. Female plants display bright red berries. Make sure that holly does not freeze after cutting, or the leaves and berries may blacken.

Mountain Laurel: This is a traditional evergreen in the South for wreaths and garlands. As with other broad-leaved evergreens, however, laurel holds up best when used outdoors.

Boxwood: This small-leafed shrub is a longtime favorite for fine-textured wreaths and garland. It has an aroma that is either loved or hated. Be sure of your reaction before using it indoors.

Magnolia: The large leaves are a glossy, dark green that contrast well with the velvety, brown undersides. Magnolia leaves make stunning wreaths and bases for large decorations. The leaves hold up very well even without water.

     

 

For more info: Martha says
    http://www.marthastewart.com/274907/holiday-greenery-101/@center/1009039/christmas-trees-ornaments#221135