WIND TOYS

WIND TOYS



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!!!! SUNFLOWER SPECIAL !!!!

Stop in for a bouquet of our long island

grown sunflowers.

5 Large Sunflowers to a

Bouquet for $9.95

a $20.00 Value -cash and carry only

SUNFLOWERS

THE SUNFLOWER

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the Asteraceae family with a large flowering head. The stem can grow as high as 9 3/4 ft, and the flower head can reach 30 cm 11.8 inches in diameter with the large seeds. The term "sunflower" is also used to refer to all plants of the genus Helianthus, many of which are perennial plants.

The part we usually call the flower is actually the head made up of numerous florets (small flowers) crowded together. The outer florets are the sterile ray florets and can be yellow, orange,maroon or other colors. The florets inside the circular head mature into what are traditionally called "sunflower seeds," but are actually the fruit of the plant. The shell husk is the wall of the fruit and the true seed lies inside the kernel.

The florets within the sunflower's cluster are arranged in a spiraling pattern. Typically each floret is oriented toward the next producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals left and right spirals. Typically, there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other; on a very large sunflower there could be 89 in one direction and 144 in the other.
JEZREEL VALLEY


Sunflowers in the bud stage exhibit heliotropism ( is when the apparent daily motion of stars around the Earth, or more precisely around the two celestial poles and it is caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis, so every star apparently moves on a circle, that is called the diurnal circle.). At sunrise, the heads of most sunflowers are turned towards the east. Over the course of the day, they follow the sun from east to west, while at night they return to an eastward position. This motion is performed by motor cells in the pulvinus, a flexible segment of the stem just below the bud. As the bud stage ends, the stem get stiff and the blooming stage is is done.
Sunflowers in the blooming stage are not heliotropic anymore. The stem has frozen, usually in an eastward position. The stem and leaves lose their green color. The wild sunflower typically does not turn toward the sun and may face many directions when mature. However, the leaves will sometimes exhibit some heliotropism.(SEE VIDEO ON BOTTOM OF BLOG)

To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of mulch. Commercial planting, seeds are planted 1.5 ft apart and 1 in deep.
Sunflower seeds are sold as a snacks either raw or roasted, with or without salt . Sunflowers can be processed into Sunbutter as an alternative to peanut butter, mostly in China, Russia, the United States, the Middle East and Europe. In Germany, it is mixed together with rye flour to make Sonnenblumenkernbrot (literally: sunflower whole seed bread), which is quite popular in Europe. It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads.
Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce margarine, as it is cheaper than olive oil.
Sunflowers also produce latex and are the subject of experiments to improve their suitability as an alternative crop for producing hypoallergenic rubber.

Traditionally, several Native American groups planted sunflowers on the north edges of their gardens as a "fourth sister" to the better known three sisters combination of corn, beans, and squash. However, for commercial farmers growing commodity crops, the sunflower, like any other unwanted plant, is often considered a weed. Especially in the midwestern USA, wild (perennial) species are often found in corn and soybean fields and can have a negative impact on yields.

Sunflowers may also be used to extract toxic ingredients from soil, such as lead, arsenic and uranium. They were used to remove uranium, cesium-137, and strontium-90 from soil after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident where It resulted in a severe release of radioactivity into the environment following a massive power excursion which destroyed the reactor. Two people died in the initial steam explosion, but most deaths from the accident were attributed to radiation.

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of styles and designs!

MEDFORD DESIGNS FLORIST

WHERE TREND MEETS TRADITION!

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Choosing Perennials:

Perennials are great flowers to plant because they live many years and offer an endless variety of plant heights, shapes and flower colors. However most perennials stay in bloom only three to six weeks. To keep color and life in your garden longer, it is best to mix annuals along with perennials in a flowerbed for ongoing seasonal color.

Definition of Perennials:
Perennials are plants that normally live for several growing seasons. Perennials are normally hardy plants, most of which die down to the ground each year and survive the winter on food stored in underground stems and return the next year.

The Basics of Planting Perennials:
To ensure your perennials flourish for many years, plant them properly in well-drained, well-prepared soil. The following tips will help ensure your success.

Drainage:
Most perennials demand good drainage. Avoid spots that are overly wet, especially in the winter. To help your soil breathe and drain properly, add organic soil amendments (i.e. compost, peat moss, planting mix) throughout the entire bed at planting. For best results, work a two to three-inch layer of amendments into the top eight inches of soil.

Plant Depth:
Planting your perennials too deep will cause the plant to rot, so it is important to plant at the proper depth. As a general rule, you should avoid burying the crown (the point at the base of the plant where the stems arise). To set potted plants at a proper depth, dig a hole deep enough so that the top of your transplant's root ball is level with, or just above the surface of the ground.
For species started from dormant crowns, bulbs or tubers, follow directions on the package.

Watering:
To encourage deep rooting, it is best to water thoroughly in the first few weeks of planting. After a few weeks of regular watering, perennials should be well established and only require watering during periods of dry weather. But remember, watering needs vary depending on your soil.

Plants in poor, sandy soils should be watered once a day in hot, dry weather while plants are still rooting.

Plants in clay soil should be watered every second or third day.

As a general rule, it is best to apply one inch of water each time you water.

Protecting Perennials Against Insects:
You can protect perennials against recurring pests such as Japanese beetles by applying Bayer Advanced™ products just before the beetles usually appear. Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules continues to protect the plants from 2 to 6 weeks after applying. Use this preventative strategy to help prevent damage from beetles, aphids, leafhoppers, and other pests that often disfigure perennial plants and flowers.

Mulch:
To reduce weeds and conserve moisture around your perennials in the summer, use one to two inches of bark or pine needles as organic mulch. But be careful not to pile mulch on the crowns. This can cause rot, especially in clay soil. It is best to renew your mulch in the fall to protect your plants from the alternate freezing and thawing of the ground.

We at Medford Designs Florist, want you to feel confident that your purchase of tulips from your local florists will last longer.

Now that Spring is here, There are many types of flowers that become available in the floral industry and tulips are defiantly one of the most well know flowers that are in their peak. Here are some tips for prolonging the life of your tulip arrangements.

Place your tulip arrangements in a cool area in your home or office and keep them away from any types of heat sources.

The tulip stems will also continue to grow once placed in water. They will often begin to curve and grow towards any light source.

Fresh tulips should arrive in your flower arrangement standing straight up however there are times that they will bend down. This is a normal reaction perhaps from being in the florist cooler and reacting to the sudden change in temperature. All they need is a little light and other times they will stand straight up on there own.

Keeping your tulips in fresh clean water and making sure the water line is covering the end of the stems. This should be done on a daily basis since tulip like to drink.

Even though they are available all year round in the spring time you can enjoy the many colors and varieties that are available. Just give your local florist a call and let them introduce you to a taste of what spring has to offer.

THE DAFFODIL

DAFFODILLS

The Daffodill the flowers of spring it meaning- "Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings"

All through the year we purchase flowers for all diffrent events and holidays,but we never think of a little something for ourselves to enjoy. Around the spring there are a lot of beautiful flowers in season that we just do not take advantage of and Daffodills are just that flower. Daffodills can be purchased for just about $5.00 a bunch and last for quite a while. They are beautiful, bright and hearty and come in straight yellow, yellow & white & orange & yellow.

Daffodills I think are one of the most under appreciated flowers because so many people know what they are they just dsimiss them, but if you take the time to look the are quite unique. The lovely cup detail and the soft plate like bottom is so stunning. Sometimes I wonder how God came up with so many diffrent and wonderful varieties of flowers.

If Daffodills are not you thing some other great flowers for the sping that are also rather in expensive are Tulips, Alstomarium Lillies(2-3 stems) and cut Hyacinth Or Lilacs (these smell fantastic too) . So let a little spring in this year.

TULIPS COME IN A VARIETY OF COLORS TOO MANY TO LIST AND IN STYLES LIKE THE PARROT TULIP.

LILACS AVAILABLE IN PINK,WHITE, PURPLE & MORE

ASSORTED COLOR HYACINTH

ALSTROMERIA LILY IS AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF COLORS . THE LIST GOES ON AND ON !!!

HELPFUL HINTS # 3 A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

#3 Everything in its place

If you just put everything were it belonged you would not believe the extra time you would have . Practice this, and you can skip the time you end up putting on the side for a "big cleaning" day. Seriously more free time!!
So how do you do it? It’s simple. For everything that you have, designate a place for it. Maybe you can even label some of those places just to make it easier for you and the family to remember in the beginning . Find something that doesn’t have a place and designate a place for it. Then simply start putting things back where they belong when you’re done using them. It sounds simple, but it actually takes time to create this as a permanent habit.

Eventually you'll be doing it like it's nothing at all and you won't have to worry about a surprise visitor finding a messy house.

Flower Facts about Hypericum

HYPERICUM

Being a Florist we have access to many beautiful flowers and see all the different varieties available .The Hypericum berry has stormed on to the scene as one of the newest flowers/accents to just about everything ,but the wedding flowers is where we have been seeing it alot as either a elegant accent or the main bouquet. You will be surprised how much more there is to know about the flower.

While the hypericum berry is available in many colors from a rich rusty red ,pale pink,soft peach, light green to a pale yellow they also bloom a flower.

Hypericum is also Called 'St.-John's-Wort' And The 'Coffee Bean Berry.'The Latin Form Of Their Name Is "Hypericum" From A Greek Word Meaning "Resembling Heather."During The Crusades, The Knights Of St. John Used The Plant To Heal The Wounds Of The Crusaders. In Modern Day, This Plant Is Used In Many Medicines That Help Treat Depression.

The anual or perennial herbaceious herb is 5-10 cm tall for shrubs and small trees up to 12 m tall. The leaves are a simple oval and either fall off or evergreen. The flowers vary from pale to dark yellow and are 0.5-6 cm in diameter, with approximatly five petals. The fruit is usually a dry capsule which splits to release the numerous small seeds and in some species it is berry-like.

YELLOW HYPERICUM

PEACH HYPERICUM
RUSTY RED HYPERICUM
GREEN HYPERICUM

PINK HYPERICUM

HYPERICUM FLOWER

Helpful Hints # 2 -Update Your Pantry

Update Your Pantry
Take a look at what you have. Go through the cabinets and get rid of old soups,broth etc. Check the expirarton date and get rid of what’s no longer good and what you do not use bring to a food pantry at a local church or at your childrens school. Pick up an inexpensive risers to organize the rest of your items.) Consider putting a dry-erase board on the inside door and write on it what you have & what you’re low on.

***** GETTING READY FOR SPRING *****

As our clocks are moved forward to welcome spring back we are all burdened with the horrible thought of spring cleaning. Every year we begin our tasks of cleaning the windows,organizing the closets, fertilizing the grass, what rooms need to be repainted, painting or staining the fence and maybe even preparing to have one replaced to avoid the job. Maybe just cleaning our the clothes that do not fit because we splurged for the holidays ( you know the extra piece or pieces of cake. Well we are on a mission and we have decided to post different ways to help you get organized and give a few tricks along the way. We will post new ideas regularly and maybe with a little help we can all get on track. You never know you might just get to enjoy the SUMMER!

HELPFUL HINT # 1. Organizing your linen closet-

A-Fold your set of sheet

B-Put the whole set in one of the matching pillowcases

C-Place them in your closet folded side in.

D-Continue with all of your sheets

E-Now when you open your closets there is a beautiful presentation

***Plus when you go to get a set of sheets they will not be falling all over and you will not have to dig for the matching pieces because they will all be inside the pillowcase. Make this a new habit and we are on our way to less mess.****

LET US KNOW IF THIS WAS HELPFUL .PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE ON OUR BLOG!!!

MAY THE FLORIST BE WITH YOU !!!!!

On Valentine's Day we had guest visitors welcoming customers to Medford Designs Florist. Darth Vader made a special trip with a jet winged fighter and R2D2 to show he has a soft side and is a bit of a romantic. Outside of holding up the owner he took the time to sell a young lady some beautiful roses. If you drove by you may have caught a glimpse of him with his notorious sign" MAY THE FLORIST BE WITH YOU" Something I am sure all men need around February 14. Our jet winged fighter also sported a way cool sign" DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE ROSE" . If there is one thing I learned through our Silly event it is that in the times of a recession adding a little fun makes things a touch easier and more enjoyable. Special thanks to all who helped especially the Star Wars helpers who fit us in their busy schedules." MAY THE FLORIST BE WITH YOU"ALWAYS!!!
Enjoy some fun pic's