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Begining with 'P' |
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Paphiopedilum Orchid
Name: Pronounced PAFF-ee-oh PED-e-lum and means 'Paphos slipper'. Paphos in Cyprus has a temple to Aphrodite, the epitome of woman, and a goddess worshipped by the Greeks. Slipper refers to the shape of the lower petal of the flower. Commonly called Lady's Slipper orchid.
Description: One or two flowers per stem, shaped like helmets with moustaches below, (or indeed slippers).
Origin: Originally from Thailand, Burma and Vietnam, many varieties are now bred in USA, UK and Australia.
Colour: White, yellow, green, brown, maroon and tan and often spotted or striped.
Availability: Available all year round.
Family: Over 20,000 hybrid forms of Paphiopedilum have been registered.
Care Tips: They last for well over a month, but because of their hairy stems should not be placed in too deep water. They like cool air and regular misting, and are sensitive to ethylene gas so keep them away from fruit, vegetables and dying flowers. Snip off old flower heads. |
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Peony
Name: The Chinese name for peony is "sho yu" which means "most beautiful"
Colour: Colours range from pure white through baby pinks and palest peaches to clear deep pink and darkest rich maroon. There is also a pale yellow but it is rare.
Availabilty: Peonies are only available between late May and early July, so get them while you can!
Care Tips: Peonies are very thirsty flowers, so make sure you top up the vase or bowl.
Trivia:
Medicinal: The Greeks believed they could cure over 20 ailments, and every monastery garden boasted a peony bush.
History: Peonies have been cultivated for over 2,000 years, more for their medicinal qualities than for ornament. The Japanese protect the earliest peony blooms from the snow by protecting them with individual small thatched shelters. Some geishas used to wear special peony colours.
The Chinese also idolised this flower. Peony motifs, particularly bright red ones, can be found on Chinese silks and in their exuberant wood carvings. The common thread is that the flower always denotes luxury and indulgence. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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Phalaenopsis Orchid
Name: Pronounced phal-A-nop-sis, the name means "resembling a moth" and it is also known as the Moth orchid.
Description: Sprays of up to 15 large waxy flat oval-shaped flowers on long stems.
Origin: Indonesia and Java.
Colour: White, pink, purple and yellow.
Availability: All year round.
Family: Many modern cultivars are American or German in origin.
Care Tips: They can last several weeks. They like cool air and regular misting, and are sensitive to ethylene gas so keep them away from fruit, vegetables and dying flowers. Snip off old flower heads. They cope with central heating better than other orchids
Trivia:
Facts: The Javan natives eat the leaves of P. amabilis as vegetables - but we do not recommend snacking on your houseplants.
History: Large sums were paid in the UK in 1848 for the plants. |
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Phlox
Name: Latin via Greek meaning "flame".
Origin: Grown all over the world but mostly from USA
Colour: Monotone phloxes are available in white, pink, purple and mauve hues. Two tone phloxes are also available.
Availability: All year round.
Varieties: P.paniculata "Bright Eyes" (pink with a dark centre), "Rembrandt" and "Icecap" (white), and "Van Gogh (deep purple) are all popular.
Care Tips: Phlox are very thirsty flowers so keep the water topped up. Removing most of the foliage will help them last longer. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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Pinks (Dianthus)
Name: Also called clove pink (after their spicy scent)
Description: Four rounded petals with a distinctive eye, on a greygreen stem. Double pinks are also available which have full frilled flowers like a tiny carnation. The leaves are narrow and firm. Pinks have a spicy sweet scent.
Colours: Pink obviously! also white, cream, deep red, peach. Petals are often a different colour around the edges, or spotted in the centre.
Availability: May-August
Care Tips: Pinks are very sensitive to ethylene gas, so keep them away from fruit, vegetables and dying flowers. Cooler conditions will help increase vase life too.
Trivia:
Facts: The colour pink is actually named after this flower. The flower pink is named for the ragged edges on each petal; dressmakers will be familiar with pinking shears, scissors which produce a zigzag cut similar to the petal edges.
Pinks have a very old history and can often be seen in the background of medieval tapestries and renaissance paintings. |
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Protea
Name: Pronounced PRO-tee-a. The name Protea comes from the mythical sea god Proteus who could assume many different shapes.
Description: The flower is surrounded by colourful bracts which slowly open up to give a flower head as big as 25cm across.
Origin: Australia, Southern Africa and South America.
Colour: Pinks, creams, oranges, charcoal.
Availability: All year.
Care Tips: Leaves will often blacken so the flowers may be sold with them already removed. The flowerheads are suitable for drying.
Trivia:
Zodiac: Associated with the star sign Aquarius. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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