Cyprus Flower Blog

Flowers Can Ease the Pain

blogger — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:22:59 +0000

I think I’m at the lowest I’ve been in a long time and yet I should be at my happiest. Last Sunday I finally achieved my dream of moving to Cyprus to live and work. I’m sat writing this post overlooking Paphos and Coral Bay, it’s a balmy 82 degrees at seven o’clock in the evening and there is a peace and stillness all around. So why am I feeling so low? Well it’s because I’ve had to leave my darling wife behind in the UK and I really miss her. It’s a bit stupid really as she’s coming out to visit in two week’s time but already that time seems like an eternity away. It’s not like we haven’t got lots of things to keep us busy but there’s still that time, usually the quiet time as I turn off the light at night when I so desperately need her to be there. She’s suffering too and that makes me feel worse as it was my dream I’m following. She was very brave when we parted saying that she’d be able to get lots done without me under her feet and that she wanted to learn to cook for herself and be a lot more independent but I think that was just bravado. She’s due to come out permanently in January and life will be perfect then but for now, it’s a dark time of my life and hers too. I had an email from her today saying she felt tearful and lonely and it’s times like this when you can’t be there to ease the pain that flowers come into their own. So, as small and pathetic a gesture as it was I sent flowers telling her how much I miss her and love her and how much I’m looking forward to the 16th when she flies in. Maybe you’re at a difficult time in your life, hopefully you’ve got someone who cares enough to send you flowers to tell you they care and if you know someone who is going through a tough time, maybe a partner, loved one or friend think about how a small gesture such as a delivered bouquet from Cosmea Gardens will tell them just how much you care.

Florists, A Wonderful Place to be!

blogger — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:09:54 +0000

I’ve just been on a short break to London and, whilst doing the usual sightseeing/shopping thing I popped into Liberty, the very posh, slightly twee, department store off Regent Street. They’ve got a lovely idea there, for as you walk through the entrance you expect to be greeted with a stark vestibule like other department stores, but instead you walk into a very old fashioned looking florists with dark oak walls and benches and enamelled buckets of flowers all around you. There are tiny windows letting in only a little light but in that cosy area hangs the most gorgeous smell. It’s hard to describe, but you get it in most florists, a mixture of all the scents of the flowers they stock, together with wet oasis and damp vegetation with a hint of leaf shine. In this one I could also detect the richness of damp oak from the walls and benches. It was so intoxicating I had to walk out and back in again just to experience it once more. So, next time you want to buy flowers, if you can spare the time, visit the florist’s shop and experience the scent first hand. Then as well as knowing you’ve given the wonderful gift of flowers from Cosmea Gardens you’ll also have had the pleasure of seeing the flowers being put together skilfully to make a beautiful bouquet and breathed in their delicious perfume.

Arranging Gerberas

blogger — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:21:19 +0000

This week I’ve bought some of yet another of my favourite flowers – Gerberas. They are so bright and bold. If a flower is red, then Gerberas are scarlet, if a flower is yellow the Gerberas are sunshine! The problem is that Gerberas don’t last long in arrangements and many florists wire them to keep them in shape. I came across an idea the other day for arranging them and included it in the video that accompanies this blog. I haven’t bored you with it all but have included a photograph of the finished arrangement.

Gladioli

blogger — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:35:26 +0000

I was driving past a ‘Pick Your Own’ farm the other day and my eye was caught by row upon row of metre high flower stems in a dazzling array of colours. I pulled over to the side of the road to take a closer look and found that the field was full of Gladioli flowers growing ready to be picked for florists.

I walked up and down the rows several times marvelling at the range of colours, not only between blooms but also in the same bloom. They are very architectural in shape and need to be used in large striking arrangements. On their own they can be arranged simply in a vase with the flowers facing out in a curve. As part of a large stand arrangement they need to be mixed with other flowers two thirds their height so as to soften the length yet not hide them. Similarly shaded antirrhinum blooms go well, as their flowers are of a similar design. Alternately go for a plain colour gladioli. White are rare but very striking and backed with deep green glossy foliage or mixed with blood red or purple gladioli they make wonderful arrangements that are sure to be commented on. Currently Gladioli are at their best in the florists and so it’s worth picking up some stems from a quality florists who will have a range of colours, like Cosmea Gardens.

Cleaning Vases and Petty People

blogger — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:03:09 +0000

First of all a handy tip. I left my flower arrangement in a crystal vase just a little too long (truth be known, the flowers were almost fossilised!!) and I had the dried on green algae tide mark which would normally be no problem but this time it was a narrow necked vase. The dishwasher isn’t a good idea for crystal and I get annoyed shaking ball bearings around in a vase, so I grabbed what was to hand and started. This turned out to be the washing up brush and a scouring pad. The pad attached itself onto the ends of the bristles and I was able to whoosh it round inside the vase with perfect results. I was so impressed I even looked for more vases to clean (how sad is that!).

I don’t normally gripe about people but our neighbours, who we try to be friendly towards and invite them for drinks etc, approached me today to ask if I’d mind turning our fence around. Now I thought this was a peculiar request and so waited for the rest of the explanation. It turns out that they aren’t happy seeing the reverse, ugly side of the closeboarded panels with their horizontal rails which we had paid for and had erected, and said it was inconsiderate of me to have the sleek side facing into our garden! My mum had words for this calling it a ‘brass cheek’ and I hope that, whilst not showing my utter disbelief at what they’d asked, they’ll realise how ridiculous their request is.

Last time they made a neighbourly faux pas we were placated with wine. This time I hope it’s a bunch of flowers to replace the ones that so nearly ruined my vase!

Abuse of Chrysanthemums!!

blogger — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:49 +0000

It’s time for a rant now! I’m fed up seeing Chrysanthemums being abused by flower arrangers. They are used as fillers in bouquets and then arrangements or they are horrifically misused, tightly packed together in ‘pictures’ or to spell out words.

I was reminded of this misuse today when walking past queued traffic and specifically a hearse which had a tribute spelling out ‘DAD’ in chrysanthemums. As a tribute, they might as well have painted the words on a piece of card for all you could tell they were flowers and backing up the disaster was a 3D rabbit-like creature made out of pink and white chrysanthemums tightly packed together around a frame.

Chrysanthemums can be such beautiful flowers and make stunning displays without resorting to dyeing them and packing them into such arrangements. My father used to grow specimen chrysanthemums in a range of colours picking them in early winter or at Christmas and the arrangements my mother did with the feathery ball shape flowers were stunning.

So, look at these pictures now of specimen chrysanthemums and show their true beauty and usefulness to the world! In season, these beautiful flowers are available from Cosmea Gardens.

How Much Do You Spend On Flowers?

blogger — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:20:50 +0000

Thought I was in trouble today! My wife was in hospital for a small operation and I dropped her off at the hospital but then couldn’t stay as I had agreed to fit a new kitchen in my parents’ home and I’d left them with no water and no cooking facilities. So I asked Cathy’s mum to wait for her and bring her home. The warning signs came from her mum when she asked me if I was going to collect her. Suddenly I got the message and dropped what I was doing to go and collect Cathy. On the way I thought about how I could repair any damage and of course the best way is flowers. Now here comes the million euro question….. How much do you spend? You could spend the same large amount each time but I think that you should match the cost to the occasion. If you spend the same amount each time then there’s no specialness in each occasion. So when it’s just a weekly ‘I love you’ then go for small but vary the bouquet each week. When it’s birthdays or other occasions then spend a bit more and avoid the everyday bouquets. When you’re in trouble weigh up the cost with how much damage there is to limit.

I learn long ago that women pick up the messages that flowers give, not just the type of flower but how much it costs.

Have you ever been in the situation where a woman in a shop comments on the flowers you’ve bought by saying ‘What have you done wrong?’ This is a key indicator that women realise the value and reasons behind the gifts of flowers. Choose wisely and spend wisely! And if you can’t decide what to get or how much to spend ask the people in the know at Cosmea Gardens.

Agapanthus or African Lily

blogger — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:39:08 +0000

From my youth I can remember my mother loving the deep blue Agapanthus lilies that used to grow in the hotel grounds where my uncle and grandfather worked. When the hotel closed down the site was due to be levelled and a leisure centre built there. My uncle asked the builder if he could take a clump of the lilies for my mother to grow and they soon flourished in our garden.

They are also known as the Lily of the Nile although they are not known to grow that far north in Africa.

The colours range from bright blue to purple to white and can be sturdy or delicate. The plants are easy to grow in Cyprus and the UK and can be propagated from bulbs and from seed. My recommendation for using them in an arrangement is to pair them with deep red alliums and use a mix of white and blue or white and purple set off with bear grass or phormium leaves. Stunning, yet simple. Agapanthus and Allium can be obtained from florists or nurseries such as Cosmea Gardens. Next time you’re there, check the flowers out for yourself!

Gone Away, Back Soon!

blogger — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:21:17 +0000

I hope you all missed me! I went on a trip last week with some children from school and it meant that all week I didn’t have access to a computer.

What I did have access to was the most wonderful plant experience I’ve ever encountered. We took the children to the Eden Project in Cornwall UK and explored everything to do with plants.

We saw the world’s largest flower, the world’s most repulsively perfumed flower and some really unusual flowers that caught the eye with the way they didn’t seem to follow the way flowers normally look. All in all a great experience.

Anyway, now I’m back and I wanted to tell you that if you’re ever in Cornwall then the Eden Project is a must see. We all do flower arranging and think we know lots about them but what struck me most was when I could see them growing in a replication of their natural surroundings. From time to time I like to tell you a little about flowers you might use in arrangements and hopefully it will help you to understand the flowers a little more. The first one I’ll tell you about in my next post is Agapanthus.

Not Long ’til Cyprus Now – Living the Dream

blogger — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:01:24 +0000

It’s only eight weeks until I make the move I’ve wanted for the last twenty years or more. I’m moving to Cyprus!! I can remember being on holiday with my parents at 18 years old and enquiring at a bank in Ayia Napa if I could borrow to buy an apartment. It’s taken this long but I’ve got there.

Over the years I’ve gained and kept many friends on the island and I’m really looking forward to spending more time with them. I’d like them to become like an old cardigan, well used but loved, rather than the clothes I find in the bottom of the drawer and had forgotten about. My wife is having to stay in the UK to begin with to finish her work contract so I’m expecting to have to spend out a lot on flowers to tell her just how much she means to me. I’n not looking forward to the day of departure because I will miss her so much. I think my first job on getting to Cyprus will be to order flowers for her as it’ll be her birthday six days after I leave. I really need a quality florist with trustworthy partners in the UK so I’ll be choosing Cosmea Gardens to tell her how much she means to me. If you’re going to be parted from a loved one soon, I do sympathise but make them feel better with a delivered arrangement. It may not replace time you spend together but at least it shows they’re in your thoughts.