Thursday, October 9, 2014

October's Flower of the Month




                     COSMOS
              The other October Flower

 Usually when we talk about October, the flower that comes to mind is the calendula ( marigold). But this time we are going to focus in the other flower of the month the cosmos.
This beautifully fragrant flower is a genus of about 26 flowering plants in the asteracea family.  It blooms twice a season during the spring and fall. Indigenous to Mexico, where they are extinct in the wild, they  bloom in single or double flowers, in pinks, reds, white, yellow, orange, or purple.
The word cosmos comes from the Greek meaning " a universe balanced in order and regularity" which fits the plant that follows its order and regularity in blooming seasonally. Plants are easy to grow and can be as large as 6 feet tall, blooming heavily during the season.

                                             Fun Facts
  • Cosmos is a biennial/perennial herbaceous plant, meaning their leaves and stems die at soil level after the growing season.
  • Cosmos flowers , two to five inches in diameter, have a capitulum a dense cluster of tiny florets in the center surrounded by wider floret petals.
  • Cosmos leaves are multifaceted and feather like.
  • Cosmos seeds resemble pine needles.
  • Highly coveted in Japan and India.
  • In Japan their color carries special meaning. Red, a maiden with pure heart, white, an innocent and pure maiden, red and white, a sincere maiden.
  • Used as cure for Malaria in Brazil.


The Flower Husbands: October's Flower of the Month

The Flower Husbands: October's Flower of the Month:                       COSMOS               The other October Flower  Usually when we talk about October, the flower that comes to...

Friday, September 5, 2014

September's Flower of the Month


   
                                                                Asters

Legend has it that Astrea the Goddess of Innocence, left earth to live in the sky as the constellation Virgo. After Zeus and the other gods decided to exterminate humanity with a flood leaving only two humans. She felt horribly sad for them and created starlight to guide them and in her sorrow her tears fell to earth and the flower Aster bloomed.

 This fall blooming daisy like flower has around  250 species and 600 varieties. The common aster is one of the favorites of Chinese florist and  gardens. Asters are closely related to chrysanthemums and also considered a classic fall  flower. This hardy flower blooms in many regions  from the mountains to the wetlands and is frost  resistant .

                Fun Facts


      • Aster is the latin word for star.
      • In ancient times aster leaves were burned to drive away evil snakes. 
      • The flower symbolizes love, faith, wisdom, patience and daintiness.
      • Wild aster is very rich in calcium.
      • Also known as Starworts or Michaelmas.
      • Aster are complicated formed by tiny bisexual tubular blooms
      • Most of them are perennials although some varieties are annuals or biennials.
      • Aster is the 20th anniversary flower.
      • Receiving asters has the hidden meaning "take care of yourself for me"                       



                     

Friday, August 22, 2014

The Flower Husbands: Shattered HopeR. William Maggs DesignsFeaturing...

The Flower Husbands:


Shattered HopeR. William Maggs DesignsFeaturing...
: Shattered Hope R. William Maggs Designs Featuring the Work of Félix Gardón Polaroid Manipulation Art Aprons My Inf...



Shattered Hope

R. William Maggs Designs

Featuring the Work of Félix Gardón

Polaroid Manipulation


Art Aprons

My Inferno

Sex On My Mind
















Do not miss the chance to see one of the Flower Husbands great work this month.





 Félix E. Gardón is a native Puerto Rican Artist/Actor. As a member of the Penn State (PSU) Thespians during the 80’s he participated in numerous musicals (L’il Abner, Carousel, Guy and Dolls, Bells are Ringing) and improvisational theater.  In the 1990’s he performed and was the artistic director of Los 4 Gatos Theater Company in Philadelphia-a bilingual troupe, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, performed original work as well as plays addressing the Puerto Rican Diaspora in the USA.- for 5 years before moving to NY, where he has worked with the  Medicine Theater Show, Teatro Prisma, The Living Theater and various independent film companies. He’s currently working in Shaw’s Don Juan in Hell with the acclaimed Irish company Write2perfom, to be presented this coming October.

Félix is an abstract artist working in the medium of acrylic and Polaroid manipulation. His work has been shown in the Painted Bride as part of the Living Legends Show, and in the Petite Show at the Penrose Gallery, both in Philadelphia, Bube’s Gallery in Lancaster, and the Union City Art Festival, His work can be currently seen at R. William Maggs Designs in Hoboken NJ. He studied at Fleischer Art Memorial and with the acclaimed modern master art painter Omiros Hriso.




















Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Flower Husbands: Home Design by R. William Maggs

The Flower Husbands: Home Design by R. William Maggs: R. William Maggs Designs Have you visited our new space yet?  Now featuring the modern art of Félix E. Gardón.  Amazing photographi...

Sunday, August 10, 2014


Late summer/ early fall is the best time to re-pot those overgrown, root bound plants.  Warm weather and summer sunshine really give your plants a much needed growth spurt; but to take full advantage of all that summer growth, your plants need "new digs"!!  We have great containers as well as a selection of hand made red stone pots & vintage terra cotta from Italy.  Bring in your plants and let us do it for you.   We will put your "babies" in a new home,  shine the leaves,  fertilize them , and in some cases give them  a new lease on life.  (You "brown thumbs" know who you are)
Come by the shop at 6th & Bloomfield and let the flower husbands take care of all your "green needs."

Monday, August 4, 2014

Caring for your cut flowers. 1.

Here is a cut flower preservative we use and you can make at home:
1 teaspoon sugar
1 Teaspoon bleach
2 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
1 qt. lukewarm water


And don't forget:
1. Cut the flowers at a 45 degree angle
2.  Use lukewarm water ( unless it a bulb flower than cold water should be used)
3. Have water with your preservative ready so flowers can be placed in water quickly after fresh cut
4. Strip all foliage below the water level