Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are originally native to an area known as Taxco del Alarcon in Southern Mexico. The plant was cultivated by the Aztec Indians who referred to it in their language as Cuitlaxochitl (from cuitlatl=residue, and xochitl=flower) meaning “flower that grows in residues or soil. The colourful bracts were used by the Aztecs to make a reddish purple dye and a a fever medicine was derived from the poinsettia’s milky sap (known today as “latex”).

The plant’s association with Christmas appears to have began in 16th century Mexico, where a legend tells of a girl who was too poor to offer a gift for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. The story relates that the girl was inspired by an angel to gather weeds and place them in front of the church altar. Bright crimson “blossoms” sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. After the Spanish conquest and the introduction of Christianity, poinsettias began to be used in Christian rituals. During the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico used the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red colour represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.

Poinsettias were first introduced into the United States by Joel Robert Poinsett (1799-1851) who served in the South Carolina and U.S. Houses of Representatives and was appointed as the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett although having attended medical school had a deep passion for the science of botany. Poinsett had plants sent to his home in South Carolina where he maintained hothouses and he began propagating the poinsettia plants. Later he distributed plants to horticultural friends and botanical gardens. Mr. Poinsett is also known for founding the institution which we know today as the Smithsonian.

The poinsettia has a history with the American public. In the 1830′s, the future Christmas plant’s popularity spread throughout America. The poinsettia’s original scientific name euphorbia pulcherrima, or “very beautiful, ” did not suit the adoring public. “Painted leaf” and “Mexican fire plant” sufficed until the plant was named poinsetta pulcherrima, or “poinsettia”, in honor of Ambassador Poinsett. Congress even deemed December 12 National Poinsettia Day to commemorate the date of Poinsett’s death.

In the 20th century the Ecke family of California has been instrumental in the development of today’s poinsettia which bears an entirely different appearance than those cultivated by the Aztecs or Mr Poinsett. Poinsettias in nature will develop and grow with a somewhat weedy open appearance, the Eckes’ developed a grafting technique to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant.

Initially poinsettias lasted only a few days in the home. All had red bracts. Today’s varieties are more compact, durable, and long-lasting. Red, pink, white, gold, marbled, and variegated varieties are now available. When sending flowers for Christmas, poinsettias can delivered earlier in the festive season than a Christmas flower arrangement and with a little care will last for months.

When you need your Christmas Flowers call the team at Velda’s for your Calgary Christmas Flowers.

Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served our country in this way, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace. So this Thursday, please do not forget the ones that have fought and who are still serving today.

Sincerely,
Velda Paynter
Grower Direct Store #11

Memorial crosses honour fallen soldiers.

The number of crosses erected alongside Calgary’s Memorial Drive over the weekend more than doubles last year’s display.  In 2009, the first year of the project, the Calgary Poppy Fund put up about 670 crosses, each inscribed with the name, rank and date of death of service person. But at a flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning, Calgary’s war dead were commemorated in a field of nearly 1,500 wooden crosses.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/11/01/calgary-memorial-drive-crosses-remembrance-day.html#ixzz14nwwMsSS

Come by Velda’s Grower Direct this Calgary Father’s Day for some wonderful ways to say “Thanks Dad”.  It doesn’t matter if your Dad is here in Calgary or somewhere else in Canada, Velda’s can take care of you and your needs during this Father’s Day weekend.  Come by our location on 17th Ave SW (International Ave) or give a shout on the phone 403.569.2023.  My staff and I would be honour to help you say thanks to your Father this weekend.

Mention you read about these gift ideas online on our Calgary florist blog and save 10% off all of your purchases this Father’s Day.  Expires June 20, 2010.

Father’s Day Golf Gift Bag

This wonderful Father’s Day gift bag includes: a golfer’s cooler bag, a utility belt bag (holds pop can, cell phone, etc.), a Max golf tool, 3 new state-of-the-art golf balls, a non-slip thermal tumbler, a pocket knife with a compass & light, a Flexi-Lite with laser pointer and a sunglass clip.

Ideal for the Calgary Father who likes to believe he is one of the best golfers in our city.  An excellent gift for your golfing Dad this Father’s Day.

Price: $59.99

The FTD® Florist Designed Gourmet Gift Basket

Still can’t decide which gourmet gift to send? Let your Calgary florist design something special using their best gourmet gift ideas. This item will be arranged in a basket, and reflect the amount you have spent.

Price: $41.99 & up

In North America, the first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia.  A school teacher named Anna Jarvis felt she had done enough for her mother while she was alive.  Two years after her mother died, Jarvis asked the Andrews Methodist Sunday School, where her mother taught for 20 years, to hold a special service on the anniversary of her death.  The service was to be in honour of all mothers.  At the end of the service, Jarvis handed a carnation to each of the children in attendance – a white carnation if the child’s mother had passed away, or red if she was still living.

Mother’s Day for Calgary mothers is May 9.  Have you picked out your Mother’s Day Flowers yet?   Now is the perfect time to get your on order from your local Calgary Flower Shop.  Velda’s offers Calgary Flower delivery with all orders.  Book now, call Velda’sGrower Direct at 403.569.2023.

Velda’s Calgary Grower Direct has a special you can’t say no to.  Order your Mother’s Day flowers from us and we will give you a beautiful Pearl Bracelet with every flower order over $35.00.

Say “I Love You Mom” and get something for yourself at the same time.

Just call us at 403.569.2023 in Calgary and order your Mother’s Day Flowers right away.  Tell them you read about this special on Velda’s blog.

Valentine’s Day is almost here, are you ready?

OK everyone, it is the day before Valentine’s Day, are you ready?  Or have you decided that you going to risk the trip to the dog house?  We wouldn’t want that to happen.  Lucky for you our team at Velda’s Grower Direct is here to help you stay out of the dog house this Valentine’s Day.

If you are like most people in Calgary, you are waiting until the last-minute to pick up your Valentine’s Day flowers from your local Calgary flower store.  The last minute is now here.

Is this you?

If it is, you know who you are…run down to our Calgary flower shop on 17th Ave SE and pick up that special gift for your sweetheart.  Remember, it is a decision between having a happy wife or girlfriend or spending the night with Rover. Which one sounds better?

Don’t miss this opportunity.  Give us a call at 403-569-2023.  Call ahead and we can get everything ready for you.

2010 Valentine’s Day is now here and it is getting close to crunch time. Are you ready?

No matter if you are now married, engaged, or simply just dating someone.  You must send something special to the one you love and  no time would be better than Valentine’s Day for you to tell the one you loved how much you love him or her.  Yes, that’s right.  Valentine’s Day is an activity for the guys and the girls out there.

But truly, it is really an uphill task for some of you to decide what to choose for your loved ones. Fortunately, a world-renowned magazine recently conducted a survey on 5,000 people about what kind of gifts they want to receive for Valentine’s Day and found that the following five gifts are the most wanted ones.

Flowers

Flowers and especially flowers from your local Calgary Florist, is a sure shot to provoke delight and win the heart of the one you love on Valentine’s Day since flowers makes the day full of romance and happiness. Although both roses and lily are sound choice, you have to choose the right flowers for your loved one.  This is where our team at Velda’s Grower Direct can help you make the right decision for the one you love.

Chocolate

Valentine’s Day is the best time for you to say “I love you” to your beloved one. And a box of chocolate combined with flowers is the best approach.  Chocolates bring your sweetness and appreciation to the one you love. So don’t hesitate, get a box of chocolate along with flowers.

Jewelry

Jewelry has become an indispensable ornament for both men and women. So if you do really have no idea what to send as Valentine’s Day gift, jewelry would be a good choice. Just make sure that the jewelry you choose is distinctive and attractive.

Perfume

Perfume is a great gift if you know exactly what your sweetheart’s taste is.  Perfume when combined with flowers will show your extraordinary care and consideration for the one you love. What’s more, when you can’t make yourself around the one you love all the time, the wonderful perfume you send will impress him or her that you are always there. Absolutely, it is a good gift idea.

Hope all of you can find the perfect Valentines gift for the one you love and don’t forget to say “I love you”, you will enjoy a great Valentine’s Day in 2010.

Perhaps no single holiday are flowers as recognized as they are on Valentine’s day. The only day of the year dedicated to showing the one you love how much you care about them, Valentine’s day is perfectly represented by the soft petals, the gentle scent, and the beauty of life that is found with every flower. When Valentine’s Day comes around, you want to show your spouse, girlfriend, family friend or whomever just how much you care, and the best way to do so is with flowers from your local Calgary Flower store.

Velda’s Grower Direct flowers allow you to do either one of two things:

• Find more flowers that your partner will love.
• Provide your partner with a greater arrangement than you can find at other places.

By choosing to go the Grower Direct route, you will be able to make sure that your partner receives the flower gift that best expresses your love. When Valentine’s Day comes around and it is time to find top-notch Calgary flowers to give to your partner, here are some of the best Valentine’s Day flowers available.

Best Flowers for Valentine’s Day

1. Roses – Perhaps one of the most romantic flower types in the world, the rose comes in a variety of colors, from beautiful blood-red to soft and elegant white, to pink, blue – even black. You can easily find the perfect roses at a great wholesale flowers place and give the bouquet that truly represents the love you have for your partner.
2. Lilies - The lily, considered a true sign of beauty. These flowers, popular all around the world for their natural aesthetic properties, with shapes and colors that are perfect for Valentine’s day or any romantic occasion.
3. Tulips - Like roses, are an effective way of conveying your love for your partner. Some people use tulips to proclaim their love to their partners for the first time, while others give them as a constant reminder of what their love means.
4. Orchids – Orchids are perhaps the most elegant of flowers. Complete with long stems and both tropical and soft colors, these flowers represent both refinement and a gentle care – a combination that makes them one of the most prized flowers available.
5. Daisies – Unlike the other Valentine’s Day flowers, the daisy is an innocent, clean and gentle flower that has become a symbol of both purity and devotion. The daisy does not imply a motive, as the flower is simply a way to show someone you care.

Any one of these flowers would make a great choice for Valentine’s Day. Your partner will see how much you care for them with your expression of love, and would be perfect flowers for your special someone.

Do you need to know where to find the best quality Valentine’s Day flowers? Velda’s Grower Direct can help you all your needs during this special holiday season.  Call us at 403-569-2023 .

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  Have you thought about your sweetheart yet?

The team at Velda’s is standing by ready to help you “stay out of the dog house” this Valentine’s Day.  Please feel free to drop by our store, call us to place your order or visit us at our Calgary Flower Store website.

Flowers will add the perfect touch this Valentine’s Day.  It is a very simple but thoughtful gesture when letting your someone special know that you love them.   Do you want to know something?  You can have flowers delivered in Calgary without breaking the bank or blowing your budget.  Yes it is true, Velda’s Grower Direct has a range of many different types of flowers for you to say “I love you” on Sunday and even keep a few extra dollars in your pockets for a very romantic dinner with your sweetheart.

Yes, Valentine’s Day is Sunday.  Are you ready?

Visit Velda’s Grower Direct today to place your order.

Flowers are defiantly one of the most popular presents for a man to give to a woman on Valentine’s Day. In reality the flowers are so popular that in most cases men give flowers together with some other gift as an addition instead of giving flowers as a gift. But the problem lies not with giving the flowers but in choosing the flowers, allot of man quite often make the mistake of thinking that red roses are the only choice of flowers to give to their loved one on Valentine’s Day and this is absolutely not true. Not only there are other flowers which are totally appropriate for Valentine’s Day but there are also a few different ways on how give flowers and flower related gifts. Here I will show a few different ways on how to give pick and give flowers on Valentine’s Day.

For the guys. Roses and flowers in general are usually a great gift for that special someone on Valentine’s Day.   Think about your partner and what she likes if you know her then you probably know her favorite flower so go and buy them just think how surprised she will be when she would be expecting to get roses as everyone else and suddenly she gets her favorite flowers. This will show your partner that you care and you listen to her and also will save you some money and effort.

Our team at Velda’s Grower Direct can help you get the right flowers for Valentine’s Day, especially if you don’t know what to purchase.

Besides flowers…what other options are available?

Another option you may want to consider is giving potted plants as a flower gift for Valentine’s Day. The reason behind it, is that these flowers last much longer then fresh flowers and can be as beautiful as fresh once, so you partner can enjoy the beauty of the gift for much longer. Another advantage of such gift is that you have quite a wide chose of plans and also they do not costs as much as some fresh flowers. One thing you should keep in mind when buying potted plant you should select a plat which is easy to care for so your loved one will not have hard time caring for the plant.

Another option you may want to consider is artificial flowers. It may not seem like a romantic gift but some artificial flowers are made so well that they look really lifelike and some ladies actually will prefer artificial flowers instead of real once. The reasons for it are that artificial flowers require no maintenance to keep their appearance they also last for much longer then the real once and they do not result in any rubbish like fallen petals or leaves.

Another idea you may want to consider as a way of a flower gift on Valentine’s Day is to give your partner flower seeds (maybe tough to do in our Alberta climate) which they can plant in a pot or in their backyard. The reason why this idea may work quite well is because it can be quite fun activity for you and your partner to do together. This generally will work with people who have some sort of interests in gardening. This sort of thing will also make the gift a bit more special and also will allow you and your partner to spend some quality time together.

As the final thought make sure you always think about your partner when choosing a gift for them. Put some thought into it, do some research, notice what your partner like and dislikes and doing this will help you to pick the right gift and make your partner feel special.

Where to start

Speak with Velda at Velda’s Grower Direct for all your flower needs in Calgary.  We deliver Valentine’s Day flowers throughout the city and we are here to serve your needs.  You can reach us at 403-569-2023.  We are your Calgary flower store and here to serve you.