Colorado Springs Flowers

Mmmm…mint

I found a great little mint growing guide online that walks you through every step of growing, transplanting, splitting, and harvesting.

Our niece recently moved in with us (again), yay! She’s been a bit under the weather with the different climate and adjusting to the altitude and all so she’s wanted tea, mint tea to be exact. Every time we go to the store she checks out the little potted flowers and plants thinking about grabbing a mint flower. I have a plethora of flavored teas but she’s stuck on the mint.

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Begonias and Carnations

Tasty recipes from these edible flowers

So last week’s blog made me think about some other flowers that may be edible. According to whatscookingamerica.net the use of flowers in cooking has made a comeback in recent years. Allegedly you can find petals garnishing plates at many of the top restaurants as well as being used in the dishes. So I did a bit of searching and came up with a few recipes I’d like to share with you that feature Begonias and Carnations.

Rose Hips – Edible?

Are rose hips edible? This was the question that sent my husband back to start on a recent game of Battle of the Sexes. The answer? Yes, actually they are. This innocent little question spurred this weeks blog since I know nothing about rose hips and thought this would be a great time to find out more about them.

According to research, Rose hips are the seed pods of roses that only show up after the blooms have faded. They look like little berries and are left on the tips of the stems. The hips as well as the petals themselves are actually edible and I found a number of recipes that included one or the other; everything from a simple tea to flavorings in soups to eating them plain. Read more about Rose Hips – Edible?

A Fond Farewell & New Beginnings

In honor of the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 I thought I would do a little research into the meaning of flowers. We’ve often heard that roses have different meanings depending upon their color so it follows that other flowers would have meanings attached also. If you do a search for New Years flowers, you will most likely come across a ton of arrangements featuring combinations of silver and white; this I’ve come to discover is mostly for aesthetic purposes rather than symbolic ones. What if we put a little more thought into the meaning behind the flowers we choose?

The quintessential Christmas plant

For as long as I can remember the site of a poinsettia plant has stirred thoughts of Christmas. I don’t really know much about it so I thought this would be a perfect time to do a little digging (haha) and expand my knowledge. Did you know that the poinsettia is a native of Mexico? Or that in nature this plant can actually grow to be as big as 10 feet tall?

One oft spoken myth regarding this plant is that it is poisonous. In a study done by Ohio State University it was found that a 50 pound child could eat 500 bracts (leaves) and still end up with only a slight tummy ache. Apparently this myth began in 1919 when the cause of death for a small child was incorrectly attributed to the plant. Since then, it has become one of those urban legends that spread like wildfire causing parents distress and ensuring that they keep the plants up high.

Score!

So what do craigslist and plants have in common? I’m fond of them both, particularly after I scored a number of free houseplants last week. There is just something so incredibly fun about scoring something you’ve been wanting for free.

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Security Florist

A treasure hidden in Security

When you first walk through the doors of Security Florist you are likely to be greeted by Lexi, an adorable German shepherd and one of 4 animals that enjoy their days at the shop. As you browse the extensive array of gifts, flowers, and plants available you may also meet Ambrosius (a shih tzu), Happy Gilmore (dove), or Precious (cat). The animals are all friendly and add an air of comfort and home to this family owned shop.

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Looking for a color combination

Halloween is passed and now it’s time to gear up for Thanksgiving. Since we are planning on having people over for Thanksgiving dinner I’ve been thinking about how we should decorate the table. I love the vibrant colors of fall flowers but feel as though they too often just blend together without giving a significant “pop.” So I’ve been looking around for ideas and wondering what kind of color combinations will offer what I’m looking for.

Needing a little green

I have a confession to make: I’m not a natural gardener. In fact, I’ve been known to actually kill a bamboo plant. Who does that? This girl…that’s who. The fact that I’ve sent a poor little bamboo plant to the hereafter does nothing to diminish my enthusiasm though. I want to be a gardener; I want to plant and grow beautiful flower beds and vegetable gardens. I would like to be able to work the soil and see new life emerging from the hard work that I’ve done. Those are my lofty gardening dreams.

Winterizing your flower beds

As the days get cooler and the nights get downright chilly, it is time to think about winterizing your garden. Some bulbs need to be planted, some should be dug up and stored, pruning needs to be done, and mulch needs to be laid, among other chores. Let’s walk through some of the steps needed to complete this task so that your flowerbeds will be ready to burst with blooms come springtime.