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Todays Flower – Parrot Tulip

Parrot tulips are flamboyant with their curly, twisted, and fringed petals that resemble the colorful feathers of the tropical bird of the same name. However, their beak-shape buds are what earned them their moniker. Nearly all varieties of parrot tulip are vibrantly colored, and many are two-toned.

Parrot tulips bloom mid- to late season on stems ranging from 12 to 28 inches tall. Their huge blooms do not stand up well in windstorms or rain, so plant them in a sheltered location.  They are spectacular in arrangements!

Simply Gorgeous   Call us today so we can make an arrangement for you!   515-276-4600

white parrot tulip | they are huge, almost not natural | I therefore call them…:   parrot tulip…..I just must run down some parrot tulips for next year. I can’t find them here.: ~Tulipa 'Black Parrot' is a sport of 'Queen of Night' with heavy ruffling and a verdiflora brushing of green. Probably too dark a contrast with pure cold white but happy with ivory whites, apricot, and soft pinks.:

these are beautiful! I had some last year and go SO many comments on how pretty they were :) Texas Flame Tulips:    Roscoco Parrot Tulip - Feathery fire-red petals, bold green markings. Uniquely shaped and exotically striped, the Parrot  Tulips are endlessly fascinating. Their vibrant  colors and strong growth make these bulbs  covetable from coast to coast.:   Tulipa parrot 'Flaming Parrot' Tulip: TULIP GREEN WAVE  A terrific cut flower, this sport of Greenland is pastel mauve-pink with green flames and an exterior white base. ...:

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5 Ways To Keep Flowers Fresh

Once you’ve got your cut flowers and vase at the ready, here are five ways to make your flowers last as long as possible – you’ll be surprised how long the arrangement stays fresh!

1. Vodka

Vodka inhibits bacteria growth so a few drops would help keep the water clean for fresh flowers, advises plant expert Jane Earthy.

2. Lemonade

The sugar in the lemonade nourishes the plants and will make the blossoms last longer, says horticultural expert Peter Burks.

If you have a clear vase and want the water to remain clear, use a clear lemonade like Sprite or 7Up. A teaspoon of sugar works just as well, advises Jane Earthy.


3. Pennies

The copper in pennies works as an acidifier and inhibits bacteria, explains Jane Earthy.

Putting a copper coin in the bottom of a vase can help your tulips stand strong, rather than drooping around the vase, confirms plant expert Katie Gilbert.

4. Boiling hot water

Yes, really! You can help roses and hydrangeas last longer by cutting the stem at an angle and then pouring boiling water over the fresh cut ends, before putting into the vase, says horticulturalist Nikki Hollier.

5. Aspirin

Put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers to keep them looking fresh and perky.

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Homemade Cookies for Our Military

My husband LOVES cookies. And he especially loves getting them in a care package. There’s nothing quite like homemade cookies to make my pilot’s eyes light up and his smile grow big, even on a boring day during deployment.

One common problem in sending care packages is getting them there in one piece. In other words, not as a bag full of crumbs but actually still in the whole cookie shape.

The solution? It’s all in the packaging. Your loved one can receive and enjoy fresh-tasting, whole cookies and while we are a flower shop we also do many custom gift baskets, one of them being homemade cookies.  Recently we had troops return to Iowa and thought about what they might have missed.  Homemade cookies came to mind.  We sell gift baskets of cookies and have looked into sending them.  The Wild Orchid is pleased to offer shipping homemade cookies to your special someone of our troops out of state.

Picture the disappointment. Your Marine’s, misfortune when a box of “Sent with Love” chocolate cookies arrives melted onto the children’s photos. Your sailor’s sadness when moldy brownies mailed from Grandma have to be discarded. Your soldier’s irritation when faced with a pile of cookie crumbs that can’t be salvaged.  The Wild Orchid will guarantee the arrival of cookies in tact and edible.

I am sure most service members would love home-baked cookies any time of the year.

At Christmas times we have learned of the following schedule

  • Nov. 8 Standard Post®
  • Nov. 26 Space Available Mail
  • Dec. 3 Parcel Air Lift
  • Dec. 10 First-Class Mail®, Priority Mail®
  • Dec. 17 Priority Mail Express Military® Service

Contact Us at 515-276-4600 to get started on your order of gooey yummy homemade cookies.

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International Women’s Day

This year we wear red….

 

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since in the early 1900’s – a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. Thus International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for well over a century – and continue’s to grow from strength to strength.

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Life Is Like

A Box of Chocolates

 

You might think you never know what you are going to get but here is a handy decoder

Box-of-Chocolates-Cupcakes

Life has its share of mysteries, but the contents of a box of drugstore chocolates (think Russells and Godiva) doesn’t have to be one of them. Most follow the same plan, largely for practical reasons. Square and rectangular treats typically have crunchy or chewy centers: “Fillings like caramel and toffee cool on large slabs, then are cut at right angles and dipped in chocolate,” says Tom Ward, the president and CEO of Russells. Circular and oval treats almost always contain soft fillings, such as ganache or cream. Nut candies have easy-to-read bumpy surfaces. And a shiny foil wrapper signals an ooey-gooey liquid center, like the cherry cordial spilling forth here. (The foil protects against leaks.) See, you do know what you’re going to get.

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Des Moines Valentine’s Day Delivery

des-moines-valentines-day-flowers

Des Moines Valentine’s Day Flowers + Des Moines Valentine’s Day Delivery

Sending Des Moines Valentine’s Day Flowers

Valentine’s Day flower delivery florists in Des Moines, you have come to best Valentine’s Day florist in Des Moines for next day romantic Valentine roses in Des Moines, long stem roses for your wife or girlfriend, Des Moines Valentine orchids, Des Moines Valentine’s cupcakes, and Valentine’s balloons. We also have pink roses, yellow roses, stargazer lilies, orchid plants, and some fun romantic and cheap valentine’s day gifts for our Des Moines Valentine’s Day Delivery packages.

We deliver Valentine’s Day roses and flowers to Des Moines restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and more throughout the entire Valentine’s Day in Des Moines. Call us today to schedule your florist delivery in Des Moines.

Steal her love and heart this Valentine’s Day in Des Moines, and give her the Best Valentine Flowers in Des Moines

  • ALL DAY VALENTINES DAY FLOWER DELIVERIES (incl 2nd and 3rd shift hours)
  • GOT VALENTINE DINNER RESERVATIONS? WE WILL DELIVER AFTER 5pm for you.
Classic Dozen Red Roses $74.95
Classic Dozen Red Roses $74.95
Upgrade with Orchids
Upgrade with Orchids
Upgrade with Orchids
Upgrade with Orchids
3 Dozen Red Roses $225.00
3 Dozen Red Roses $225.00
2 Dozen Red Roses $139.95
2 Dozen Red Roses $139.95
3 or 4 dozen Roses with Orchids
3 or 4 dozen Roses with Orchids
Premium Upgrade $175.00
Premium Upgrade $175.00
Be My Love $125.00
Be My Love $125.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is always a special and romantic holiday of saying “I love you” that is to send Valentine flowers in Des Moines, Iowa to your girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, husband, or fiance. The amazing thing about our Valentine’s Day florist in Des Moines, IA is that we have some great Des Moines Valentines Day arrangement ideas as well as other romantic Valentine flowers like one dozen red roses or pink roses with orchids to make your holiday spirit look and feel loving.

Call About Availability Of Red Intuition Roses

515-276-4600

If you ask us we will always tell you to get at least one Valentine’s flower arrangement delivered in Des Moines to your special someone because those romantic loving flower arrangements or dozen red roses really do make someone feel special in Des Moines.

Broadway $195.00
Broadway $195.00
Roses and Lilies $110.00
Roses and Lilies $110.00
Dendrobium Orchids $120.00
Dendrobium Orchids $120.00
Empirical $150.00
Empirical $150.00
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Cupcakes $3.50 each
Cupcakes $3.50 each
Valentines Day Balloons
Valentines Day Balloons
Champagne and Roses $165.00
Champagne and Roses $165.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Wild Orchid, we offer a romantic selection of Valentine’s Day flowers for delivery in Des Moines so that no matter if she likes red rose or orchids, we’re sure to have a gorgeous Valentine’s Day flower arrangement she’ll love in Des Moines.

Cupids Creation $125.00
Cupids Creation $125.00
Spa Baskets starting at $75.00
Spa Baskets starting at $75.00
Yellow Roses $65.00 and up
Yellow Roses $65.00 and up
Purple Roses $74.95
Purple Roses $74.95
Sunrise $65.00 and up
Sunrise $65.00 and up
Lucky in Love $75.00
Lucky in Love $75.00
Trio of Roses $49.95
Trio of Roses $49.95
Sweet Thoughts $59.95
Sweet Thoughts $59.95
Rose and Calla $110.00
Rose and Calla $110.00
It Had To Be You $90.00
It Had To Be You $90.00
Valentines Day Heart $75.00
Valentines Day Heart $75.00
Raspberry Crumble $95.00
Raspberry Crumble $95.00
Heart Vase $65.00
Heart Vase $65.00
Red Ginger Lei $100.00
Red Ginger Lei $100.00

 

 

 

 

While Valentine red roses are the popular flower for Valentine’s Day in Des Moines, many other types of flowers or pink roses or purple roses or yellow roses also are given during this loving holiday! Other popular Des Moines Valentine’s Day flowers include but are not limited to tulips, orchids, daisies, carnations, violets, daffodils, and peruvian lilies. If you’re not sure of her favorite flower, you may want to consider trying a mixed Valentine bouquet featuring a variety of beautiful mixed flowers! With same day Valentine gift and flower delivery, it’s never too late to put a smile on her beautiful face.

Additional Des Moines Valentine’s Day GIfts

Besides the pretty red roses and orchids for the special day, you can include a card or many other Valentine gifts that we provide during our Des Moines flower delivery service. Have you thought about a Valentine’s Day balloon so you two can fly away together away from Des Moines, or include some chocolate covered strawberries to feed to one another later in the bedroom when you get home from dinner in Des Moines, or maybe surprise her at work with some tasty Valentine Red Velvet Cupcakes. Here at Wild Orchid in Des Moines we also have a champagne and rose basket or a Valentine Spa Basket that we can deliver to her work in Des Moines.

We are the best Des Moines Valentine’s Day flower delivery!

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Rose Color Meanings

What the flowers convey:

Red:”I love you”
Nothing says “I love you” like red roses. Red symbolizes love, beauty, courage, respect, romantic love, and even congratulations.

White: “I am the one for you”
While many send red roses on Valentine’s Day, surprise your Valentine this year with white roses that symbolize true love, purity, innocence, reverence, humility, youthfulness, and charm.

Pink: “Thank you”
Perfect for a friend that you want to honor on Valentine’s Day, pink roses show appreciation, grace, perfect happiness, admiration, gratefulness, and gentleness.

Yellow: “We’re friends and I care about you”
Another way to honor your friendship, yellow stands for joy, gladness, friendship, delight, new beginnings, welcome back, and remembrance.

Yellow with Red Tip: “I’m falling in love with you”
The beautiful sunset roses let that new person in your life know that you want more than friendship—they symbolize falling in love.

Orange/Coral: “I want you in my life”
Orange lets the receiver know that you are passionate about them. The color means desire, enthusiasm, and fascination.

Red and White Together: “We are a great match”
Send a mixed bouquet of red and white roses to your Valentine to signify unity.

Peach: “Let’s make this a memorable Valentine’s Day”
If you are ready to say, “Let’s get together,” peach roses are the ones to choose as the rose color symbolizes intimacy.

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Propagating Succulents

Propagating Succulents

How to propagate succulents from cuttings and leaves.

Propagating succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

If you’re anything like me, you probably love to have succulents in the house. I try to keep them in bright windows that get plenty of light, but sometimes they can still get leggy. This happens when a plant isn’t getting enough light and it starts to stretch out causing the stem to grow long and the leaves to become widely spaced.

Notice the long stem and widely space leaves.

If you have a plant that is starting to become leggy like this one, have no fear!  This is the perfect time to propagate!

Gorgeous Succulent Plant: Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Although this plant still looks gorgeous from the top, the lower leaves will begin to wither and fall off and soon we’ll be left with a rosette high above the soil on a long bare stem.  So before the leaves start to die, let’s pull them off and propagate them to make more plants.  Succulent propagation is easy, fun, and free!

Removing succulent leaves: Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

We’ll start by removing the lower leaves first. Be really careful when you remove the leaves from the stem.  I hold the leaf firmly and wiggle it from side to side until I feel a little snap.  You want to be sure you get the entire leaf.  If you rip the leaf, leaving the base still attached to the stem, it will not be able to grow roots or a new plant.

Succulent Leaves: Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

This is what the leaves will look like if they are properly pulled from the stem remaining fully intact.

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

After you have successfully removed the lower leaves you will be left with a small rosette on a long bare stem.  I like to call the next step decapitation propagation. Not sure if that’s the technical term, but it rhymes and we’re going to cut its head off so…

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

I use a pair of craft scissors, but a sharp knife would work great as well.

 

We now have a bunch of leaves, a stump and a cute little plant with a short stem.

Succulent and Leaves: Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Now we wait. Before we can place our leaves on soil to begin growing new plants we must let the ends dry out and callous over.  This step is vital! If you don’t let the ends dry out and place them directly on soil they will absorb too much moisture and they will rot and die.  In addition to letting the leaves callous over, we must also let the end of the stem on the rosette dry out as well.  This could take anywhere from a few days to a week or so.

Once you feel like the ends are dry enough, you can place them on top of some well-draining cactus or succulent soil. (Some people dip the ends in a rooting hormone, but I’ve never tried this and have had great success without it.) I’ve had the best results when keeping my leaves indoors in a window with lots of indirect sunlight.

After a few weeks you will see little pink roots sprouting from the ends of the leaves and then teeny tiny baby plants will begin to grow. I water the leaves very rarely until I start to see roots or babies appearing.

At this point I will give the roots or baby plants a good soak about once a week or whenever I notice the soil is totally dry.  Just like with a fully developed succulent, too much water is not good. If you want to be certain not to over water, I recommend spraying the ends of your leaves with a spray bottle once a day instead of completely soaking the soil.

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. How to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Propagating Succulents: Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

I let my baby plants grow in rows like this until I start to notice the “mother leaf” starting to wither.  At that point I will carefully remove the leaf in the same fashion I removed it from the original stem, and then place the baby plant in its own pot. This can be tricky as you don’t want to accidentally remove the roots with the leaf, so you may want to play it safe and let the leaf fall off on its own.

Keep in mind, not every leaf will grow a new plant.  I’ve found that some leaves just wither away, some will take root while never growing a new plant, and some might even grow a plant, but never root. Although there will typically be a small amount of losses, most leaves will grow roots followed by a new plant.  The three leaves below were all started on the same day and all three had different outcomes.

how-to-propagate-succulents-from-leaves-and-cuttings-needlesandleaves_net.jpg

Baby Succulents: Propagating Succulent via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

I ran out of individual little pots with this batch so I just removed the leaves as they withered and left the plants to grow together like a little succulent forest.

Okay, back to that stump. Don’t worry no part of this plant is going to go to waste!

Succulent Stem: Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Simply put this pot aside and eventually it will begin to sprout new plants from each place we removed a leaf!

Now back to our original plant, the reason we did all this!  Once the stem has dried out and calloused over, simply place your plant back in a pot with well-draining cactus or succulent soil and it will grow roots again and continue to flourish! Isn’t succulent propagation amazing?

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

Propagating Succulents via Needles + Leaves. Learn how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings.

 

All of my information comes from personal experience.  I’m sure all succulents propagate differently and plants in different climates and environments require different care. This is what has worked for me and I hope it works for you!

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Cornucopia

Much like the turkey, cornucopias are a staple at the Thanksgiving table. But, where did these horned vessels overflowing with goodies come from?

Cornucopias have a surprisingly rich history, going all the way back to 5th century BC. The mouthful of a name derives from two Latin words: “cornu,” meaning horn and “copia,” meaning plenty. That’s why cornucopia and horn of plenty are often used interchangeably; we prefer cornucopia because it’s just plain fun to say.

Originally, the cornucopia was made of a real goat’s horn and filled with fruits and grains and placed in the center of the table. So, what’s with the goat’s horn? Well, the Greek legend states that Zeus, the Father of Gods and men, had to be banished to a cave so his cannibal father didn’t eat him. While hiding out in the cave, a goat named Amalthea watched over Zeus and as she was nursing him, he accidentally pulled off her horn. Zeus promised that the horn would always bring her what she wanted and from then on, it represented endless bounty.

These days, we’ve moved away from the goat’s horn and the modern day cornucopia is typically made out of woven wicker. Often florists place fall colored flowers inside, but our favorite stuffing is, you guessed it, food with the flowers. Our Thanksgiving table wouldn’t be complete without a bountiful cornucopia bursting with fresh fruit, crunchy nuts and of course, a little chocolate.

Will a cornucopia be on your Thanksgiving table this year?

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Art of Pave

My Favorite Style

Pave Floral Arrngements

Like so many of you lovely readers, I think of flowers as gorgeous little gems. I often identify my favorite style of floral design as “pavé”-style construction. In this week’s post, I wanted to share some prime examples of this compact and abundant, “flower-on-flower” look and describe some of its most valuable attributes.
Tips for Creating This Style of Arrangement
  • Try using one type of flower in varying shades.
  • Carefully clean stems so they are free of greens and foliage, leaving only the blossoms and stems.
  • Flowers should be cut so that the blooms fall just above the neck of the vase.
  • Work from the outside in — start by setting flowers in a ring around the edge of the vase and work row-by-row toward the middle. You will be begin to create concentric circles and the stems will form a “grid” in the vase.
  • With each successive layer of flowers, you will have more structure with the stems and you can use this structure to support the next layer.
  • Keep a “dome shape” in your mind’s eye and work to make the inner layers of flowers stand slightly taller than the outer layers.
  • Don’t be afraid of the flowers jutting out at an angle; with each new layer, they will stand a bit straighter and taller.
  • By the time you reach the middle, you should have a firm network of stems to support the taller flowers and they will stand straight up!
Image above: Garden roses in sweet peach and cream, including my peach garden rose obsession, “Juliet.” You might notice that this arrangement of garden roses doesn’t include greens or filler flowers. There is a purity to this design, yet the variety of colors within the soft spectrum and the range of rose types and shapes creates texture and movement. In this style, the technique is very accessible — simply clean the flowers of all greenery and cut them short so that the “head” of the blooms sit just above the “neck” of the vase.
Image above: An array of pavé-style arrangements viewed from above. These fresh green, purple and white arrangements are primarily single-flower, monochromatic arrangements made modern and sophisticated with a pavé design. Flowers above include roses, hydrangea, viburnum, ranunculus, hyacinth and sweat peas.

 

Image above: A “creamsicle” spectrum of carnations in pavé style. YES, EVEN CARNATIONS. I am a champion of the simple, fragrant and affordable carnation. In my view, the pavé style is never more effective than when used to turn an oft-overlooked “wallflower” into a sensation.
Image above: Icy chartreuse greens and whites arranged in a snug, clean design. Flowers include hydrangea, dahlias, roses, parrot tulips, snowberry and brassica cabbage. So modern! The pavé style allows you to use traditional flowers like hydrangeas and dahlias and still craft arrangements that could exist in the future 🙂
Image above: A riot of hot colors create a fabulous landscape. This arrangement includes ranunculus, parrot tulips, celosia, cabbage roses, hyacinth and a whimsical touch of jasmine. Don’t you want to take a bite out of these flowers? The pavé style allows you to truly appreciate and investigate the incredible blooms on the flowers in this arrangement. Let flowers like this speak (or scream!) for themselves by cutting them short and arranging them in this chic fashion.