tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729385321179512892024-03-05T21:03:16.375-08:00Colombian Tropical FlowersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1672938532117951289.post-86509187244464954422016-05-16T13:14:00.002-07:002016-05-16T13:18:32.874-07:00Gingers in tropical arrangements medicinal spices<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Colorful, Exotic Gingers Bring Tropics to Every Arrangement: Medicine, Spices, and Beauty in the Zingiberaceae Family</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl11qn_Gc8OjpyckyjWHyVMnIf_GO35OX0e36TGQMNYJ3Q323rEFnzzYKTdDlKpi6_2rRG_KBXnTneQX5UgwIvnKUu8DXtlSf-41vt01McgCRotPqi_E_G2Cm1YSK7_XJNc1CoJ5MnW0/s1600/Indonesian+Wax+Ginger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl11qn_Gc8OjpyckyjWHyVMnIf_GO35OX0e36TGQMNYJ3Q323rEFnzzYKTdDlKpi6_2rRG_KBXnTneQX5UgwIvnKUu8DXtlSf-41vt01McgCRotPqi_E_G2Cm1YSK7_XJNc1CoJ5MnW0/s200/Indonesian+Wax+Ginger.png" style="cursor: move;" width="178" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Fiery flowers blossom on thick stems. These exotic flowers look like torches,
maracas, bee hives, tropical snow, lemon lights … other-worldly whose names
match their beauty. Their spicy scent perfumes the room. The Zingiberacaea
Family are exquisite tropical flowers used in ornamental decorations, gardens, for
medicinal purposes, and commonly as spices in Asian foods (turmeric, ginger and
cardamom). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Zingiberaceae are the healers of the
plant world – bringing health through the spices we extract from them. Ginger
is well-known for its anti-nausea effects. More studies have shown it can help
with arthritis and joint pain, as it works as an anti-inflammatory. More recent
studies have shown ginger to have anti-cancer benefits, in particular the
battle of prostate cancer. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426621/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426621/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni61-_fETKkHb6IdPbuQEQTUKOEPcMA3sxj-sbVVBpD16SgOK4sOJOvA0qTjtQau_a9iQyFCiBVkUETgkpJcPr7MrmeteVyB_FZYX9xKWHDlgySoUTduJkLzVm_4g0npd7u3st1GS6jM/s1600/Jungle+King.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni61-_fETKkHb6IdPbuQEQTUKOEPcMA3sxj-sbVVBpD16SgOK4sOJOvA0qTjtQau_a9iQyFCiBVkUETgkpJcPr7MrmeteVyB_FZYX9xKWHDlgySoUTduJkLzVm_4g0npd7u3st1GS6jM/s200/Jungle+King.png" width="138" /></a><span lang="EN-US">One of our favorite plants is a member of
the ginger family – the curcuma. (Many don’t realize that domestic curcuma is
used to make turmeric and orange dye!)Turmeric is the symbol of protection and
purity and its properties are used to treat everything from arthritis (it’s an
anti-inflammatory) to rheumatism and coughs. Cardamom is used to improve
digestion, gas, and stomach cramps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">White, violet, red, orange, or blush, the
Zingiberaceae family comes in every color, shape and size. Zingiberaceae can
grow big, but not as big as their cousins, the heliconia. And because of the vast variety of this
flower species (over 1300 species and 52 genera), their popularity has started
to grow, not only in spices and to extract medicinal properties, but also in gardens
and tropical flower arrangements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Tropicals add fire, color, and a touch of
the exotic to any arrangement. And because of how spectacular they are, they’re
appropriate for any occasion. Dainty orchids are perfect to congratulate a new
mom. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxTwD80jGvNTk_XiO5Icoh25mfo4ng02Fdz0NBF00c0avBLMLQXmGUCIKDJwmYgkFWK-2_HPsb5cX1mH2QdwWlbTBpg1S0VaGuPsU_un8k-EsyMGL3bpbaFpMb64FzwdeWtogoYqSJsk/s1600/Shampoo+Ginger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxTwD80jGvNTk_XiO5Icoh25mfo4ng02Fdz0NBF00c0avBLMLQXmGUCIKDJwmYgkFWK-2_HPsb5cX1mH2QdwWlbTBpg1S0VaGuPsU_un8k-EsyMGL3bpbaFpMb64FzwdeWtogoYqSJsk/s200/Shampoo+Ginger.png" width="153" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">Torches of gingers with colorful flowers are a perfect thank you. Bring
Maui to your mom with a Mother’s Day arrangement. Exotic flower arrangements
are unexpected and welcomed. Add the fact that an exotic flower arrangement
doesn’t get lost in the room, blend in with the surroundings. In fact, a
tropical arrangement becomes the center piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Many hotels and restaurants are opting for
tropicals because of how memorable they are. They work in branding, so that
guests and diners remember the feeling of the Caribbean, an island paradise, or
the shock of colorful shapes and spires that welcome them when they walk into
the lobby. A tropical arrangement, then, becomes an escape into something
that’s not part of the mundane. It transports, inspires, and surprises.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">The Zingiberaceae Family is an integral
part of this new trend in tropical arrangements. Add the spicy scent of the
flowers – the strongest of our senses – and these flowers have the capability
of bringing the tropics wherever we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714273424953177102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1672938532117951289.post-40408371919383843122016-04-04T07:21:00.004-07:002016-04-04T07:21:53.093-07:00The Magical Realism of Colombian Orchids: Give the Gift of the Tropics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjfcCPvasCB0gCIfd_YdOuiClWb84jMcyRNLs_ciWPZLDTmjbojsrofpLsZHA_7-vrEw-FC456-Lx9p-lcXyZC5l-KffLoqlkJIdjjOYABUSgQww5PZubqVRc74P9nUvzW60FNO-t2s8/s1600/CattleyaEva+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjfcCPvasCB0gCIfd_YdOuiClWb84jMcyRNLs_ciWPZLDTmjbojsrofpLsZHA_7-vrEw-FC456-Lx9p-lcXyZC5l-KffLoqlkJIdjjOYABUSgQww5PZubqVRc74P9nUvzW60FNO-t2s8/s320/CattleyaEva+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia’s magical realism begins with its
phenomenal flora. The national flower, the cattleya trianae (the Christmas
Orchid), with its vibrant purple colors and sensual form is a superb
representation a country that hums with life, music, and color. With over 1500 <i>known </i>orchid species in Colombia alone – a new orchid was
discovered just in 2014 in the Valle de Cauca – Colombia leads the world in
orchids and orchid exportation. Orchids
are the real jewels of Colombia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orchids have been around since, literally,
the beginning of time, as there’s evidence they’ve existed approximately 100
million years. But this is no accident,
as there’s a highly specialized relationship between orchids and their
pollinators to insure their survival. They are masters of disguise, looking like
butterflies, owls, birds and bees to insure they get pollinated. This means if
an insect goes extinct, so, too, will the orchid. The symbiosis of nature and
all its elements is phenomenal, adding to the magic of what orchids are and
their special meaning to the world and our existence here as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ClkbxrQBvLI4aLKPkCRHzWWtk_Bp1RH_0-mC229zvch-hnAv-hZcynOoS8nzpAKsKaZjts9u2BAt7fWdfOGQrpvlTCf8Tr4asaGg9ycVmDIw3XSuPYI9o5G4y5lNepmCllJnDxmhRWg/s1600/BrilloTenue.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ClkbxrQBvLI4aLKPkCRHzWWtk_Bp1RH_0-mC229zvch-hnAv-hZcynOoS8nzpAKsKaZjts9u2BAt7fWdfOGQrpvlTCf8Tr4asaGg9ycVmDIw3XSuPYI9o5G4y5lNepmCllJnDxmhRWg/s320/BrilloTenue.png" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orchids get their rather sensual name from
the Greek, <i>orchis</i>, meaning testicle.
And Greeks believed orchids were a symbol of fertility and virility. In
Victorian England, orchids were a sign of wealth and elegance, most likely due
to their exotic nature. In ancient China, orchids symbolized innocence and the
forthcoming of many children (which is a bit contradictory however we’ll take
it.) The Azteks believed orchids gave them strength and power. And in the
Japanese Samurai culture, a Samurai who brought back the gift of the orchid to
the royal court was considered brave and fortunate. Today, though, no one
doubts the rare, delicate, sensual beauty of the orchid and what this gift
imparts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who love orchids and collect them
will pay nearly any price for them. The Rothschild’s Orchid costs approximately
$5000.00 per plant and Shenzhen Nongke orchid a whopping $202,000.00 per plant.
But don’t shy away from delving into the world of orchids, as surreal and
beautiful as they are, they are affordable and pretty easy to care for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past year, Colombia showed record
exports for Valentine’s Day, as over half a billion flowers were shipped from
Colombia to the United States this past February. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.floraldaily.com/article/3974/Colombia-Record-Valentines-Day-flower-exports">http://www.floraldaily.com/article/3974/Colombia-Record-Valentines-Day-flower-exports</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5AP7RTQc3rLFicBBZGXrBirZcAy9e49oTeju93Pflx2Vyis8kEWg5LjPDrPK4fcnmn_Eo5Q7G0jPeudEUGVvRqpHP3ISkFAc-upgxs3Uh8DlFj9K7YW3vB8Bmv9dmFgc2No17cKuf3k/s1600/MiltoniopsisFlorencia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5AP7RTQc3rLFicBBZGXrBirZcAy9e49oTeju93Pflx2Vyis8kEWg5LjPDrPK4fcnmn_Eo5Q7G0jPeudEUGVvRqpHP3ISkFAc-upgxs3Uh8DlFj9K7YW3vB8Bmv9dmFgc2No17cKuf3k/s320/MiltoniopsisFlorencia.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A significant chunk of that is the
blossoming orchid market. These exotic, colorful stems are growing in
popularity around the world, and it’s no wonder. These perennials are not so
difficult to care for, and with just a few steps, your orchids will bloom, and
re-bloom, giving your home, office, or classroom the luxurious smells and looks
of the tropics. Each orchid will have specific care instructions, so make sure
you ask about your particular orchid. Nevertheless, here are some basic indoor
orchid care instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orchids
need very moist, well-draining conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t
over-water your orchids, or you’ll kill the roots. Most orchids need
watering every 8 – 12 days, depending on the conditions. But they need to
dry out between watering. Check for moisture by touching the medium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Humidity
is key! A great place for an orchid is a sunny bathroom (because of the
shower!). Or, place it in a dish with water and pebbles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t
water the leaves or petals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use
specific orchid fertilizers on your plant. Follow the directions carefully
and fertilize approximately once/month (after the orchid is in bloom). You
might require more fertilizing while the plant is growing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orchids
need strong, indirect light. Many orchids don’t bloom for lack of light.
(But make sure it doesn’t get sun burned!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Change
the pot every year or two. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orchids are an exquisite, classy gift for
any occasion. There’s something phenomenal about giving life … exuberant,
colorful, fragrant life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714273424953177102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1672938532117951289.post-64720781632930220162016-01-28T11:04:00.001-08:002016-01-28T11:04:27.169-08:00The History of the Musaceae Family: From Bananas to Ornamental Plants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1v1ot20M64pV3pYsz9cUstIYJjqQjlOkKcYRkWXKjIwSg-uG-kdIvArLvltH7tJrVF4hQ8A5tvkeXhyDUkrGp5YerAFv7HAUgkrZFVXSvif7GU80FWlY7Yo6_u6uzaRGZwbjyKTBOQ4/s1600/MusaOrnataBurgundiP109.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1v1ot20M64pV3pYsz9cUstIYJjqQjlOkKcYRkWXKjIwSg-uG-kdIvArLvltH7tJrVF4hQ8A5tvkeXhyDUkrGp5YerAFv7HAUgkrZFVXSvif7GU80FWlY7Yo6_u6uzaRGZwbjyKTBOQ4/s320/MusaOrnataBurgundiP109.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Musa genus (the “banana plant”) has two genera (musa and ensete)
and about 50 species (depending on who you ask!), most known and celebrated for
its delicious fruits – the banana and plantain. A cousin of well-known tropical
flowers like the Bird of Paradise, Heliconia, Canna Lily and Ginger, flowers in
the Musaceae family have made their way into the ornamental plant market,
adorning tropical bouquets with their exotic fiery colors, leathery textures,
and curious forms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recognized as being native to Asia and Africa, evidence suggests
that there were banana trees in North America 40 million years ago. Though it’s
been cultivated for food for as far back as 10,000 years in tropical areas,
Europeans didn’t get a taste of this delicacy until the 1500s. And edible
bananas weren’t brought to The United States until 1876 during the Philadelphia
World Exposition. Soon after, the world was hooked on their flavor and health
properties. Now grown in 132 countries, the banana is the 4<sup>th</sup> most
important fruit crop in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqs1DOsflCnjH9OhPPpofm8zjq2Z1KHxcWiFSL9vk6G1Jm4Zte5mpRxRp52usb9RrFPVAxSdRcMvG9-zx0LXkFME1dcpWkLX8GSOvr2eKZ1cmXuN296eW_YKDbHZXw2ZZGX9P6Zoh9lg/s1600/Mussa-Coccinea.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqs1DOsflCnjH9OhPPpofm8zjq2Z1KHxcWiFSL9vk6G1Jm4Zte5mpRxRp52usb9RrFPVAxSdRcMvG9-zx0LXkFME1dcpWkLX8GSOvr2eKZ1cmXuN296eW_YKDbHZXw2ZZGX9P6Zoh9lg/s320/Mussa-Coccinea.png" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Studies have shown that flowers in the hotel industry are a way
for the customer to connect with the hotel and its brand. In fact, new trends
have bouquets as an intrinsic part of a hotel branding strategy so that, based
on bouquets alone, customers know which hotels they’re in. With so much focus
being placed on the importance of the <i>experience</i>,
hotels are finding ways to create experiences with their arrangements, taking customers
on a journey through their walls with the main <i>wow </i>moment in the entrance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With over 50 species, and not all of them edible, tropical
flower farmers saw an opportunity to cultivate the <i>musa ornate </i>and <i>musa coccinea
</i>among others. Resistant, rustic and exotic, growing Musaceae was a natural
choice. With a growing tropical bouquet market, introducing new, exotic flowers
into the market helps diversify as well as celebrate the jewels of the earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Musaceae family brings an exotic, unforgettable experience
to any arrangement, providing us all with that <i>wow </i>moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life0904/306_12310life0904_2046_2053.pdf">http://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life0904/306_12310life0904_2046_2053.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714273424953177102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1672938532117951289.post-89224512257799027672015-12-10T16:03:00.000-08:002015-12-21T16:58:34.825-08:00Six Tips to Care For Your Heliconia Flower Arrangement: Bring the Tropics Home<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bracts cascade in fountains of color – from shimmery red with midnight tips to blush pink and candy corn orange. Shaped like lobster claws, parrots beaks, and torches with a waxy sheen or fuzzy exterior, heliconias are some of nature’s most fantastic creations</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we fall in love with the flower, we’re not actually in love with the flower of the heliconia, instead its bracts. These bracts steal the show from the tiny flowers that are tucked within them. But they serve their purpose, as they protect the flower and its nectar from most animals, reserving the sweet honey for the heliconia’s greatest pollinator – the hummingbird. And, like bromeliads, the bracts in heliconias house many beetles, mosquito larvae, and other tropical insects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Heliconiacaea family, cousin of the banana, has over 200 registered species that look like they’ve come straight from a science fiction movie. Once considered weeds because they are so common in the tropical region, these exotic flowers have made their way into the mainstream flower market, as their beauty has captured the hearts and imaginations of florists around the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the heliconia ranges in size from 1.5 to 15 feet with Jurassic Park leaves that grow as big as ten feet, the possibilities for tropical flower arrangements are endless. Popular for events, weddings, and hotel decorations, heliconias add splashes of color and an exotic feel to every arrangement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some tips on how to care for and arrange your beautiful tropical flower arrangement of heliconias:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Get a heavy vase. These flowers aren’t dainty – usually. So make sure you have a sturdy vase that won’t tip over with their weight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. If using floral foam, soak it with warm water in the vase until it sinks to the bottom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. When vase water comes to room temperature, add the preservative packet that came with your flowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Wipe off dusty bracts with a warm washcloth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Cut the stems diagonally approximately one inch from the bottom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Arrange!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Replace water every few days until your flowers start to lose their sheen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Dried heliconia flowers are gorgeous. So consider hanging them until they’ve dried to keep them year ‘round.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heliconias and the flower arrangements made with them can be anything from delicate, using the heliconia family’s smallest species, to bold and audacious. Regardless of how you use them, they’ll captivate the attention of anyone who comes in the door. So, bring a taste of the tropics home today.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1672938532117951289.post-78156801647928622692015-11-24T19:33:00.000-08:002015-12-21T16:57:46.818-08:00Colombian Tropical Flowers: A Brief History of How Weeds Became Jewels<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia’s magical realism is not only a reflection of its people. It also comes from its unique, lush landscape. The weird animals. The mystical woods, jungles, and spongy alpine tundras. Weather is extreme – from deluges of rain to unbearable dry heat on the plains. Tropical forests drip with humidity and the oddest beings grow there. The colors, shapes, forms, and smells of Colombia’s tropical flowers are where science fiction comes from. They are magical realism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What started out as a thesis from a horticulture grad student at the University of Colorado became a revolution and changed the economic course of Colombia. Initially flower cultivations were centered in Bogota – because of its location (just three hours from Miami) and unique geographic, climatic and soil conditions. Sun all day long in a temperate climate with cheap labor – these factors added up to an economic boom. Now the second biggest exporter of flowers in the world shipping, annually, more than a billion dollars in flowers, Colombia has flower power.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutqGKaWbPlerucpFFEjj5uq6_mnVrptSnxeWZSpFOh_-1FjTpczJMK-l_Vkkj2mbGCSqr9cPyNn8OWX6sUEaV3vy4TPT0bZcJAMRXlWOqCYS0oZP2M4Qb48CJZu2fahPUP0zbe5fPaO4/s1600/DSCF6362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutqGKaWbPlerucpFFEjj5uq6_mnVrptSnxeWZSpFOh_-1FjTpczJMK-l_Vkkj2mbGCSqr9cPyNn8OWX6sUEaV3vy4TPT0bZcJAMRXlWOqCYS0oZP2M4Qb48CJZu2fahPUP0zbe5fPaO4/s320/DSCF6362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roses, carnations, gerbera daisies and alstroemeria lilies were bunched and shipped to, predominantly, the United States. The biggest supplier of flowers in the US were small US farms, complemented by Colombian bunches. The Colombian flower market really got a boost when, in 1991, all duties on Colombian flower imports were lifted to stimulate the flower industry. The US went from importing 100 million blooms each year to two billion each year over the following 12 years.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojbuoh_bIkDj3i5u0DZs066jJ-g-lbeOYmi3uJ2CUu11aidkYwVSnM27aa7O1S6EzSZ866LL_H2-sE3QoOxaEP1SYouMmrLIZCs7238D4lJjY4yvp1I_nyJ1yYtd6288oAJjtKnvvKNw/s1600/IMG_4425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojbuoh_bIkDj3i5u0DZs066jJ-g-lbeOYmi3uJ2CUu11aidkYwVSnM27aa7O1S6EzSZ866LL_H2-sE3QoOxaEP1SYouMmrLIZCs7238D4lJjY4yvp1I_nyJ1yYtd6288oAJjtKnvvKNw/s320/IMG_4425.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically, a country that boasts the most tropical varieties of plants and flowers never looked, for years, beyond the traditional blooms for exportation. The hundreds of varieties of Heliconias were considered weeds. In the 1990s, though, that began to change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farmers throughout the country started to see possibilities in the tropical flower industry – initially focusing on big bouquets for hotels and decorations. Many uprooted coffee, fruit and other traditional cultivations and started to grow tropical flowers. These farmers formed a network and began to trade species and tips. Flowers need leaves. So foliage cultivations started as well. Add national incentives, consultations, agricultural experts, and a legacy of successful flower exportation, the tropical Colombian flower market is on the rise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropical cut flowers won’t ever compete in numbers with the traditional stems. Though tropical flowers are only 4% of all cut flowers in the world (an estimated 1% in the USA), with a billion blooms per year from Colombia alone, that’s potential for 40 million cut tropical flowers in a year. The US, Japan, Germany and Italy are the biggest importers of tropical flowers. Colombia shares this market space with The Netherlands and Hawaii, but because of its perfect climatic conditions – remember, heliconias were considered weeds – and less expensive labor, Colombian flower farmers are finding a niche market with their tropical jewels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharing the exotic world of Colombian tropical flowers, the colors and fragrances, exuberance and textures, is giving a piece of Colombia to the world, a window to Colombia’s beauty. A bouquet of magical realism.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1