The original colour associated with St. Patrick was blue, but over the years the colour green became more widely associated with the holiday.

Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day as early as the 17th century.

St. Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-level plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish so the wearing and displaying of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs became a ubiquitous feature of the day.  In the 1798 rebellion, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms to make a political statement.

The phrase “the wearing of the green”, meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing, is derived from a song of the same name.

St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday celebrated throughout the world on March 17.  It is named after St. Patrick who in one of the most commonly recognized patron saints of Ireland.  It became an official feast day in the early 17th century.

St. Patrick’s feast day was being celebrated by the Irish in their homeland in the 9th and 10th centuries.  St. Patrick’s feast day was acknowledged in the early 1600s and became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903.

In the mid 1990s the Irish government began a campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day to showcase Ireland and its culture.

Looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Calgary?  Visit any Irish Pub and you will find a party happening.  Don’t forget to get flowers first for your Calgary florist.

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Ramono-British family where his father and grandfather were deacons in the Church.  At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland to serve as a slave.  It is believed he was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, possibly Mayo, but the exact location is unknown.

According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity and go to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain.  Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest.  It is said that in 432 AD, when he was a bishop, he was called back to Ireland by God to Christianize the Irish.

After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 and according to tradition, was buried in Downpatrick.

Your Calgary Flower Shop has taken the utmost care to ensure the flowers we deliver to our customers homes and workplaces are as fresh and beautiful as possible. We begin the process by acquiring our flowers from the industries finest flower growers and partnering with only the best FTD retail florists. By doing so we can be confident that only the finest fresh flowers are being delivered to our customers. However, to achieve maximum enjoyment and longevity from their flowers, our customers need to provide a little “TLC” when the flowers arrive.

Fortunately, what is required is very simple. Here are a few easy steps to follow that will ensure that your flowers look their best. Follow them and your flowers will look great and last for as long as possible.

1) Start with a clean vase & good quality water!

One of the largest deterrents to fresh cut flower life is bacterial. Bacteria and fungi are everywhere and are ready to enter the cut surface of the stem and multiply. Prior to actual decay symptoms, cells of the water-transporting tissues can become blocked with microorganisms, inhibiting water uptake.

A plant’s root system serves as a filter to limit dirt, micro-organisms and chemicals from entering and blocking the plant’s ability to absorb water. When the flower is cut off from its life-sustaining root system, it loses this vital filter. It is important, therefore, to always start with clean water in order to protect and preserve the flower.

Always use warm (100 – 110 degree) clean water as most flowers take in warm water more efficiently than cold.

The actual quality of water used in a vase plays a major role in a flowers life cycle as examples;

Sodium -  Present in high concentrations in soft water, particularly if softened using salt, is toxic to roses and
carnations.

Fluoride – Added to drinking water in many communities for dental health. While Fluoride may prevent cavities
in the kids it is harmful to gerbera, gladiolus, and freesia.

Minerals – In many areas drinking water is considered “hard” and contains high levels of minerals.  Dissolved
minerals can and may block the flower stems ability to hydrate properly.

2) Use the Flower Food provided.

While a flower is attached to the plant, it receives nourishment allowing it to grow and develop. When cut from the plant, it loses its source of nourishment and water. Fresh Flower Food has been developed to simulate the flower’s original environment, and allow the flower to fully develop (open).

While it is easy to find all sorts of home recipes and folklore about common household products that can be used to extend the life of your flowers, like many things this is best left to the professionals. Commercial Fresh Flower Food will increase the life of cut flowers and should always be used, these formula’s are scientifically developed, carefully balanced mixtures generally containing,

- Sucrose (sugar); Sucrose serves as a source of energy (food) to make up for the loss of the functioning leaves and insures continued development and longevity of the flower. Like all other living things flowers require food energy, however too much sucrose can be a bad thing as it can “force” the life cycle of the flower to proceed faster than normal.

- Acidifier ; Most water supplies are alkaline and can reduce the life of cut flowers, an acidifier will help bring the waters pH closer to the acid pH of the cell sap. Slightly acidic water is taken up more readily through the stems than water that is neutral or alkaline. The acidifier also aids in stabilizing the pigment and the colour of the flowers.

- Inhibitor of microorganisms (bacteria); Designed to retard the growth of bacteria in the water. While flowers require and “enjoy dining” on sucrose, so does bacteria. Cells of the water-transporting tissues in flowers can become blocked with microorganisms, inhibiting the flowers ability to hydrate and severely reducing longevity.

- Agents To draw out certain salts, dirt, and debris which will settle rather then being drawn up the flower stem.

Follow the directions on the package and always use the recommended amount. Don’t take short cuts or “play it on the safe side” by using too much flower food, either way can be just as harmful.

3) Cut Stems & Remove Foliage

Re-cut the stems at an angle removing at least on inch of the stem. Always use a sharp knife or clippers rather than scissors as this will avoid crushing the stem and therefore the vascular system. The slanted cutopens more stem area for hydration and prevents the end of the stem from resting directly on the bottom of the vase impeding water flow.

Leaves that will be below the water line in the container must be removed. Leaves sitting in water will deteriorate and rot. Decaying leaves make a good medium for bacteria and fungi, which will plug the vascular system preventing hydration and eventually causing death. DO NOT remove all leaves along the stem length, the flowers require the leaves as part of their hydration process. Always be “gentle” during the removal of leaves, gashes or breaks in the stem surface are “open wounds” where bacteria may enter. Try using a soft, but impenetrable glove for the removal of rose thorns and foliage.

4) Last but not least

Check the water level daily and replenish as needed. If the water becomes cloudy, it should be completely exchanged for fresh. As the water level gets low, you must re-fill vases with fresh solution made with correct proportions of Fresh Flower Food and water.

NOTE For roses, this process can be performed on Day 1 (when you first purchase product), on Day 3, and again on Day 5, doing so will help you obtain maximum vase life.

Now, enjoy your flowers!

On the occasion of Valentines Day when we think about flowers for a loved one, roses come to mind immediately!

The very word rose evokes images of love, romance, affection and a variety of feelings. Flowers, especially roses, can easily communicate the feeling of love when words are inadequate to express our innermost emotions. They are the perfect flower for Valentines Day!

Most women love roses! No matter the color, whether it’s a dozen, a single rose or even if they are mixed with other complimentary flowers. You just can’t go wrong when you choose roses for Valentines Day!

Here at Grower Direct we understand roses like no one else! Browse through some of our links:

Rose Gallery – Some beautiful roses waiting to be admired!

Rose Bouquets – Some of the bouquets you can purchase from Grower Direct

Rose Information – Find out what you need to know!

Have a look through our wonderful collection of flowers for this romantic occasion. We know you will find the perfect flowers for your sweetheart this Valentines Day!

Visit your Calgary flower shop today and get your Valentine’s Day flowers from Velda’s Grower Direct.

On the occasion of Valentines Day when we think about flowers for a loved one, roses come to mind immediately!

The very word rose evokes images of love, romance, affection and a variety of feelings. Flowers, especially roses, can easily communicate the feeling of love when words are inadequate to express our innermost emotions. They are the perfect flower for Valentines Day!

Most women love roses! No matter the color, whether it’s a dozen, a single rose or even if they are mixed with other complimentary flowers. You just can’t go wrong when you choose roses for Valentines Day!

Here at Velda’s Grower Direct, your Calgary Florist we understand roses like no one else!  Call today 403.569.2023.

The holidays are here!  Do you have your Christmas flowers yet?

Did you know that your local Calgary Flower Shop offers a range of Christmas Flowers. Come to Velda’s Grower Direct and get your Calgary Christmas Flowers today.

We also do custom floral designs with orchids, birds of paradise, antheriums, ginger, etc. Decorate your front entrance with a fresh wreath and outdoor planter.

Give your Calgary Florist a call today 403.569.2023.

Whether you need to deliver your gift of flowers for Christmas right here in Calgary or across Canada. Maybe you have friends and family throughout the United States or anywhere across the world, your Calgary Florists at Velda’s Grower Direct can can get your flowers delivered.

We deal with only the finest florists worldwide to make sure your Christmas flower delivery is not only beautiful but also gets to its destination on time.

Poinsettia’s are the worlds favourite Christmas Plant, in fact poinsettia’s account for 1/3rd of all potted plant sales & most are sold in a 6 week period!

For information on other Christmas flowers such as Holly or Mistletoe visit our page on Traditional Christmas Flowers.

Have a look through our extensive collection of Calgary Christmas Flowers for sale today.

We are just a few days until Christmas, do you have your Calgary Christmas Flowers yet?  Velda’s Grower Direct is your local Calgary Florist and we thought we would share some information on selecting the right poinsettia for your home or Calgary business.

1. Select plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way to the soil line. An abundance of rich green foliage is a sign of a good healthy plant. Avoid waterlogged soil, particularly if the plant appears wilted. Such a condition could be a sign of root rot.
2. Choose plants with fully coloured and expanded bracts. Although many mistakenly think that these bracts are the flower petals, the actual flowers are the tiny yellow clusters found at the centre of the bracts (Bracts are simply leaves masquerading as petals). Avoid plants with too much green around the bract edges, as this is a sign of a plant having been shipped before being allowed to sufficiently mature.
3. Avoid plants displayed in paper, plastic or mesh sleeves, or plants that are tightly crowded in a sales display. Poinsettias need space, and the longer a plant remains sleeved, the more the plant quality will suffer. Crowding plants can cut air flow and cause premature bract loss or other problems.
4. Generally a plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container it is potted in. This proportion of plant height and shape relative to container size is the key to an aesthetically pleasing poinsettia.

Our staff at Velda’s wishes you a very Merry Christmas…and don’t forget your flowers.

Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Happening this Saturday, December 11 & Sunday, December 12, 2010. Velda’s Grower Direct has a cooler FULL of bouquets, vases & baskets! Offer only valid on product taken on Saturday & Sunday.

Velda’s Calgary Flower Shop is located at 4606 17 AVE SE CALGARY, AB. Give them a call at 403 569 2023 if you have any questions.

Don’t forget, flowers make a wonderful table centrepiece. Let Velda’s design an amazing piece for your special holiday gatherings. Velda’s Grower Direct is a member of FTD. So, sending flowers to your family across the world is not a problem for them. Call for more information.