There are somewhere between 80 – 100 different varieties of lilies, most of which are hybrid. Any respectable flower shop should have in stock, at any given time, somewhere between 6 -10 different varieties of lilies.

Lilies  have a rich history. Entire poems where dedicated to them and who doesn’t remember Katharine Hepburn famous scene as she enters the room holding several calla lilies and uttering the famous line “…The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again…”

According to the Greek mythology, Hera Zeus’ wife believed that the lily flower was responsible for producing the milk in her breast.

And according the Roman mythology the goddess of beauty, Venus, was so jealous of the white color of the lily that she changed its shape by causing a spike to grow from its center.

And here is what the Bible has to say about Lilies”
 

“Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these”

Below is a selection of Lilies from Heather Floral Company, a NYC  florist.

Name: Calla Lilies
Native to: South Africa
 Availability – Year Round.
Longevity – 7 – 14 days
Dries well – No!
Varieties – The spotted calla, the yellow calla and the scented calla are three varieties.
Handling and Care - Remove 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle. This allows for ample water to reach the stem. Water daily and keep the vase clear of cloudy water. Remember
Fun Facts - To the Romans, these lilies symbolized the winter solstice. The lilies were forced to bloom indoors during the darkest time of year to celebrate the preservation of the light and bringing the light indoors. Calla lilies are now often associated with funerals and weddings.

Name: Casablanca
Native to: Asia and south of the Philippeans
Availability – Year Round
Longevity – 7 – 14 days
Dries well – No!
Varieties – Lilies Silk Stargazer and Rubrum Lily are two popular varieties.
Handling and Care - Remove 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle. Water daily and keep the vase clear of cloudy water. Do not keep this plant in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Fun Facts -  Lilies have been cultivated for over 3,000 years in areas reaching as far as the Philippeans. Feng Shui believers believe the lily symbolizes summer and abundance. The Chinese believe a lily means “Forever in love.”

Name: Asiatic
Native to: Subtropical areas
Availability – Year Round
Longevity – 7 – 14 days
Dries well – No!
Varieties – Martagon or Turk’s cap lily are the two most popular varieties.
Handling and Care - Remove 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle. This allows for ample water to reach the stem. Water daily and keep the vase clear of cloudy water.
Fun Facts - Since ancient times, lilies have been a symbol of purity and chastity. However, in medieval times they were the popular symbol of female sexuality.

Name:Tiger
Native to: Mexico and Chile
 Availability – Year Round
Longevity – 7 – 8 days
Dries well – No!
Varieties – The Columbia Lily and Tiger Lily are the two most popular varieties.
Handling and Care - Remove at 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle. This allows for ample water to reach the stem. Water daily but do not over water.
Fun Facts - According to folk tales, the Mexican Tiger flower was said to promote fertility.
Additionally, it is said parts of the flower can be given to a woman, placed in a “love potion” and bring the women to more upbeat moods and attitudes.

Now that you know some interesting facts about lilies, it is time to visit your NYC florist and begin to enjoy this huge family.

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Surprisingly enough there many people who still shy away from this wonderful flower. I, on my part, try to introduce people to flowers they might have seen, but never purchased. Peonies is one of those flowers that once I encourage a client to deviate from his usual “bouquet of roses for girlfriend,” and instead take a bouquet of peonies, he always come back for more.

NYC city florists are lucky because most imported flowers from Holland first land in one of New York’s airports. This fact alone allows florist to pay less for imported flowers and thus pass the saving on to their clients.

If you happen to live in NYC, it will be a good idea to know what flowers are in season at any particular time of the year.

Just because your New York florist has a huge selection of flowers at any given time, that does not mean that all those flowers you see are in season. In fact – many of them are there because your florist paid higher prices for them just so he or she can have a larger selection in the store.

Flowers that are there, but not are in their natural season cost way much more than flowers that are in season and, therefore, abundant.

This holds true to all flowers, but especially to the peony; while a stem of a good quality Peony can cost $2 – $4 in season, that price can triple when out of season.

If you have not done so before, try to purchase peonies in the season (April to June). You will love to watch how this tight ball opens into a huge flower that resembles a jumbo rose, but with petals that are silky and way much more delicate.

Image via Wikipedia

Here are some interesting facts about Peonies.

Name: Peonies
Native to: Asian, Southern Europe and Western North America
Availability – April through June
Longevity – Seasonal (may last from April till June).
Dries well – Yes!
Varieties – The Bartzella, Blaze and Border Charm make up the over 230 varieties of peonies.

Handling and Care - Peonies should be fed a half a cup of low nitrogen fertilizer when growth researches 2 or 3 inches high. For gardeners and planet owners, peonies need little care and survive in warmer climates with direct sun. Water frequently (at least once per day) during the springtime or allow for it to sit outside and collect rainwater. Additionally, cut the stems as close to the root of the plant as possible to avoid disease left by rotting plants.
Fun Facts – Peonies were originally cultivated in China over 2,000 years ago, living through harsh winters. The Chinese used the roots for food and medicine purposes. In fact, the Chinese do not consider a peony just a peony; rather, they call it the Flower Fairy after being named the national flower of China during the Qing Dynasty in 1903

Peony is a delicate flower and requires special conditions for optimal self life. Purchasing peonies from a street vendor, especially when you do not know what to look for, is not a good idea. Therefore, your better option is to walk into your favorite florist in NYC for you peonies between April and June.

Related articles

• Roses and Peonies and Ranunculus, Oh My! (weddingbee.com)

Technorati Tags: Florist in NYC, Flowers, heather floral, NYC city florists, peonies in NYC, Qing Dynasty

When you first give or receive a phalaenopsis, it will usually have several open buds and several that are not. Depending on the size, some plants have several stems, each with a bunch of flowers/buds.

Although the plant is originally native to Southeast Asia, In recent years many growers started growing them in different parts of the world, hence the year round availability as well as the wide popularity.

I love to check from time to time what other florists in NYC have in their windows. I must admit many of my colleagues have come a long way, while others have remained frozen it time. And although at Heather Floral Company we proud ourselves for having one of the largest, if not the largest, selection of orchid plants – some of my colleagues and competition have caught up nicely.

There is nothing as beautiful as a multi-stemmed Phalaenopsis orchid plant that is potted in a nice, rustic  container, covered with moss and have a few twigs of curly willow pointing North. That last item lands a bit more movement and grace to your plant.

Did you know that for the price of a dozen, high quality,  long stemmed roses in any of the better Florist in NYC you can get a good looking Phalaenopsis orchid plant? Moreover, while roses usually last for several days, this lovely orchid can potentially lasts for years to come.

Here are some interesting facts about Phalaenopsis

Name: Phalaenopsis
Native to: Southeast Asia
Availability – Year Round.
Longevity – Up to 3 months per blooming cycle.
Varieties – Popular varieties include the Clown Alley, the Phalaenopsis Mambo, the orange lip and the red lip.
Handling and Care - Fertilizing is important. To prevent wilting of your plant, fertilize your plant every season. This particular plant grows better when left in indirect sunlight. It’s optimum temperature is between 70 to 80 degrees F. Water your plant early in the morning but do not water daily. Water every 4 to 7 days. After it has flowered the first time, cut the stem just above the node where the first flower bloomed.

Fun Facts - Phalaenopsis is Greek for Phalluna meaning the word “moth” and “opsis” meaning resembling.  Thus the name Moth Orchid came out of the Greek derivation.

Next time, when you walk into any Florist in NYC to buy a floral gift for a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion – think Phalaenopsis Orchid.

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