A helpful little plant

The French Marigold flower is one of the more amazing ‘beneficial’ garden companions that will help a number of your garden plants to thrive with it’s potent pesticide-producing root system while also offering a rather strong aroma to confuse other pests.

I believe there may be some confusion out there (I know I was initially confused) about which Marigold to purchase or to grow from seed, in order to be the ‘right’ one to classify as a ‘French Marigold’ so as to be the most effective in the garden for it’s beneficial companion properties to certain plants. First don't look for the words ‘French Marigold’ to be included on the tag along with the name. Once you let that go you will be surprised to discover that there are allot of varieties that are French Marigold’s!

There are two basic types of Marigold’s, American and French, that make up most of the huge variety that is available out there. The French Marigold varieties are bushier, generally do not grow as tall and do not have really full flowered heads like the American varieties, but they do offer the most potent affect on repelling and eliminating underground nematodes while also confusing and repelling white flies and other insects with their strong odor.

Plant Marigolds everywhere in your garden. They will flower throughout the Summer and Fall, and maybe later if it doesn’t get too cold. They are particularly helpful to tomatoes, squash, broccoli, potatoes, and peppers. Apparently you should not plant Marigold’s along with beans. Unfortunately the Marigold is an annual, requiring re-seeding each year, although the affect of their root system is said to last for a few years afterward.



List of French Marigold varieties

Aurora Series

Bonanza Series

Bonita

Boy O Boy Series

Brocade Mixed

Colossus

Disco Series

Durango Series

Dwarf Bonanza Blend

French Brocade

Golden Gate Series

Golden Guardian

Ground Control

Gypsy Sunshine

Harlequin

Harmony

Hero Series

Honeycomb

Jacket Orange, Yellow

Janie Series

Jolly Jester

La Bamba

Lemon Drop

Little Hero Series

Mars

Moonlight

Mr. Majestic

Naughty Marietta

Nema-gone

Pesche’s Gold

Petite Series

Queen Sophia

Red Marietta

Safari Series

Scarlet Sophie

Solan

Spanish Brocade

Sparky Mix

Striped Marvel

Spice Series

Troubador

Yellow Boy

Happy Marigold-ing!

Be Careful for Mother's Day - a warning

When your grandmother wanted to send flowers to a friend, all it took was a brisk walk to the local flower shop or a call on the telephone. The florist would fill her order and if the delivery was in another town, he or she would call a florist there to fill the order. Both the florist and your grandmother were satisfied.

Poor Grandma. She didn’t have the advantage of ordering flowers from the 'Net' using one of the wire services such as Teleflora, 1-800 flowers, or one of the many others online that are happy to help with flower ordering. But was she really deprived?

How would you like it if every time you went to the local grocery store to shop you were met in the parking lot with a person that wanted to charge you almost 30 percent of the grocery cost to wheel a grocery cart into the store for you? I don’t think that person would have any takers. However, this happens every day when someone orders flowers from a wire service on the Internet. The service charges almost 30 percent of the customer cost to simply “wheel” the order into the flower shop. What’s the solution?

Simply use the florist’s own website to order from, or even better, call the florist directly (most shops have a 1-800 number). That way you can discuss what flowers are available, what you would like and get more value for your dollar.

But, isn’t it wonderful that the wire services have hundreds of choices on their websites?

Not really. No flower shop can afford to keep all the flowers on hand that would be required to make the diverse arrangements shown. Orders are often refused on that basis, or substitutions have to be made. Unfortunately, in the pictures shown on the wire services’ websites, all the flowers are pushed to the front to make the arrangements look larger. Did you ever wonder why every rose in an arrangement of a dozen roses can be seen from one side? Often, customers are disappointed with the arrangements seen on the Internet and as delivered, and the flower shops receive the blame. Misleading pictures and the loss of about 30 percent of the cost to the wire services are to blame. Caring flower shops often have to add extra flowers in the arrangements to make them look closer to the value the customer expects at their cost. But is there anything else to know about sending flowers?

Yes. Flowers shops can help you with sending flowers to another city. This can be a nice service if you like someone to do it for you, or don’t want the challenge of doing it yourself. However this service can cost up to a third of the order’s cost between wire service and the sending flower shop costs. If you’re 'Net' savvy, find a shop on the 'Net' and order directly from them.

If you are expecting flowers delivered (Mother’s Day is coming up) that are ordered from out of town, do your friends a favor and suggest they call a flower shop in town directly. Everyone wins and you will get a nicer arrangement for better value. Or call us at Carey's Flowers and ask us for a phone number of a local brick and mortar shop in that area that we have used and trust.

Remember! Anytime that a third party gets in between the flower shop and the customer, EVERYONE LOSES.

WWII Letters to Wilma: 16 December, 1943

WWII Letters to Wilma: 16 December, 1943: "V-MAIL 438th AAA AW BN APO 515 % Postmaster, N.Y. Dec 16, 1943 England Wilma darling – Just for variety’s sake and perhap..."

Our address is 300 Newton St. South Hadley MA 01075, but this is cute as all get out.

I got an E-mail from a lovely woman where she explained "My Dad courted my Mom during WWII while she was at Mount Holyoke College. I thought you may find interesting this page of my blog which references his ordering an orchid (of some kind) in October, for delivery on November 23, 1943, since he knew he would ship out before then. I'm guessing it was the current owner's grandfather who sold him the orchid. By the way, my Dad was born in 1912, the year your business opened. Anyway, here's the address of the reference to Carey's:"

This stuff just lights up our world!

Funerl Flowers Mean So Much

We received this letter during our Valentines rush and it just made our collective day/week!   I asked permission to post the letter as it made us so proud. I as the blogger just couldn't resist sharing how much the flowers, you the customer, send to a funeral mean to the people involved. The name of the deceased has been changed.

To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Mary Hurley and I recently had two sympathy arrangements sent on behalf of my family and a separate one on behalf of my two daughters. (decedent's name= Jane Doe) I requested some purple and white flowers/colors for the "choice option."


It was a MOST INCREDIBLE arrangement I had ever seen. What a most suitable display of design and elegance. I was also astonished that, in the midst of this family's grief, so many of Mrs. Doe's children made a comment on how appropriate and thoughtful it was. It was displayed perfectly at the end of the receiving line. Mrs. Doe's daughter is the student council advisor in which both of my daughters are in her morning class. Mrs. Doe's daughter was moved to tears when she saw the flowers. "They're so beautiful! How precious to know your girls thought of me!!"


Mission accomplished.


The plant arrangement was also gorgeous and, for lack of a better word, "Hearty!" Pleasing to the eye and everlasting.


Thank you all very much for fulfilling my intent to send our heartfelt sympathy to the Doe family. You CAN say it with flowers, and your floral designers achieved my wishes above and beyond.


I cannot thank you enough!! I am now a Carey's customer for life, the talent and dependability is unsurpassed!!!!


With sincere gratitude,


Mary Hurley

 February: Flower of the month

Iris

White Cut Flower Iris

Wild Bearded Iris

                                                            
                                                                            

It should come as no surprise that the iris's three upright petals symbolize faith, valor and wisdom. With its majestic purple hues and soaring slender stem, this dignified and graceful February birth flower dates back to Ancient Greece, when Iris, the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow (the Greek word for Iris), acted as the link between heaven and earth. She was faster than the fastest wind and able to travel from the depths of the underworld, to the sea, and to the dry places we live in. She was known for her color and her ability to be anywhere.

What better name could have been given the humble plant we call iris today in her honor. A species so varied and colorful no one garden can contain them all. They can be found native in all areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. They can be found in the wettest of places, even fully living in water, to the driest rocky crags. They have found a home in every civilization that knew them--often with high regard and care. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the major varieties of iris available to the modern gardener today.

 



Juno



Juno – These are some of the easiest and best bulbous Iris to grow. Sadly, they are also one of the rarest iris in modern gardens today. They don’t like wet spots and grow in everything from clay to lose soils. Their plants give a strong resemblance to tiny corn plants. Almost all of them bloom in mid-spring and are crested. They all love full sun.



Louisiana



Louisiana Iris



Louisiana – By far my favorite iris, these lovelies grow in both semi-dry locations and right in the water. They will not bloom when conditions are dry for long periods of time but they can take short periods of dryness. In the right, rich, wet soil these iris take off and will quickly fill out their space. They bloom in mass and are stunning when you see them reflecting off the water.

Aril Iris

Aril – These are some of the hardest iris to grow outside of their native range. They are known for their rare beauty and the strange white marking on their seeds. They need fast draining soil and little to no water all summer long. They make their home in Israel and the Middle East. There are no photos of any aril iris in plant files that I could find – challenge anyone?

Reticulata iris

Reticulata – These are dwarf iris with big bold purple or blue blooms. They are from Turkey and like it on the dry side but will grow and multiply given half a chance. They are quite noticeable for their squareish flowers.



Bearded Iris



Bearded – The most common and the most colorful of all the iris branches are the bearded. They come in all heights, shapes, and almost all colors. These iris are the backbones of many old fashion American gardens.





Spuria Iris



Spuria – This iris blooms well in most parts of the country. They come from Southern Europe all the way to the mountains of Afghanistan. They have been grown for years in areas as varied as Japan and Rumania. 



Siberian Iris



Siberian – These are iris better suited to the colder Northern areas of the world. They don’t like heat and they thrive in the coldest of winters. They are common in many gardens and are often given as pass-me-down plants.



Evansias Iris





Evansias – These iris are commonly called crested and look somewhat like orchids in bloom. Their blooms range from very small to almost a foot in size and their leaves are evergreen. They are one of those flowers that you either love or hate; you see orchids or rooster-comb-like, messy flowers.



Japanese Iris



Japanese – These are easy to grow iris if you have the right place. The greatest need is soil a little on the acid side. The soil needs to be moist, but not waterlogged at all times. They need fast drainage, but not too fast. On the whole, if you have a place they love, they will reward you with some of the most stunning flowers in the iris kingdom.

Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast – These are the pickiest iris most gardeners will ever try to grow. They are easy to grow, bloom fast from seed, and are carefree – in the moist and mild areas they call home. However, they cannot take cold, heat, dry, or wet, well at all. They are stunning and can be grown in any area given a lot of prep, protection, and daily care. These iris, like the Aril, are not worth growing for most common gardeners outside of their native zone.

Did we mention that Valentine's day is only 10 days away?

Order EARLY for Carey's Flowers 'Romance Package'

Dazzle the one you love while looking like a superstar yourself!

Order before Wed. Feb. 9th and for $110.00 plus tax and delivery you get:

1 dozen long stems ruby red roses, a golden box of assorted chocolates, a Nantucket Rose Kringle Candle 3 oz. jar and a sugar love stuffed animal.

After Wed. Feb. 9th the 'Romance Package' will still be s steal of a deal at only $150.00!

The early birds also get their choice of which sugar love stuffed animal they would like included in their 'Romance Package'

You will not find the 'Romance Package' on our website, this is offered exclusively to our Facebook and Twitter friends.

We hope you all have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Is buying in the grocery store really cheaper?

Do you ever wonder why you seem to be able to buy flowers cheaper in the grocery store?

This is because the super stores employ certain marketing tactics that a good honest florist never would.

Marketing tactic:
"Shrink Rays" is a tactic used by many retailers, grocery stores in particular, which allow them to offset the impact of inflation during a sagging economy.

For example: rather than raising the price, a manufacturer will put less chips in the same Chip bag and keep the price the same. The consumer will have no idea that there is less because the packaging remains the same.

These "Shrink Rays" are currently strong in force right now.

Keeping “Shrink Rays” in mind - when you go out to purchase let’s say a bunch of tulips. There are two types of bunches. The supermarkets will carry bunches of flowers called consumer bunches. In these bunches you will find 7 stems of flowers and you will pay ‘X’ amount of dollars for this bunch of flowers and feel as though you saved money. However if you buy your tulips from a florist you will get a florist bunch, which will always contain 10 stems of flowers. The choice as always is yours, the question that remains did you really save money?

And.....Just in case this lights your fire we are currently having a cash and carry SALE on Dutch tulips (10 stems to a bunch) 2 bunches for $12.00. That's 20 tulips for less than $15.00 in this dreadful winter weather!!!! :) Imagine how much better you would feel stuck in your home with some beautiful tulips to look at. The bunches are single color bunches but you can choose two different colors when you purchase your 2 for $12.00. These are ONLY offered as a walk in cash & carry, you walk out with your flowers in hand. You wont find this offered on our website, we don't deliver them, we share the beauty of spring with you and we hope you share the beauty of spring with someone you know that may be totally stuck inside this winter. Believe me when you deliver flowers to a shut in you can't get the image of their smiling face out of your head for the rest of the week, it's a FANTASTIC feeling.

Carey's Flowers SALE Dutch Tulips 2 Bunches for $12.00