Our planet has supported its inhabitants in every way possible for millions of years; without its resources we would not be here at this very moment.  From the water to the trees to the soil and the bees …..there is no other entity that is more important to our existence; it is our friend, our enjoyment, our protector, and our life giver. So many scoff and so many more ignore; but it is an indisputable fact; we cannot survive without it, and if it is injured and sickened so will we be.  Just as you would protect and care for your loved ones, so should you the planet.

What seemed to me... a cathedral in Utah

I so often wonder how humans can be so selfishly blind as to take so much from something so giving and treat it with such disrespect and unconcern.  It is used and used and given back nothing; not even a considerate thought.  I urge you to sit for a moment wherever you are and take in any scene-your home, your business, your backyard, or your bedroom.    Any object you see has been enabled because of the planet.  Whether furniture, computer, your lunch, your clothes, your pool, or the scene out the window.  None of those things are possible without the help of the planet and its resources.  Think about that, I implore you to really think about it.

Imagine the impact if on this one day we all planted a tree, or we all did not cut a tree.  Imagine if we all unplugged our cell chargers from the outlet for just one day, or if we did not let the water run as we all brushed our teeth tonight.  Imagine if the cruise ships did not dump their waste in the ocean on just that day.

 Earth Day is just a single day of your life, once a year, to stop and thank this planet for everything it has done and struggles to still give us.   Are we not taught to thank when given a gift? And aren’t we ever so grateful for help with no strings?

There are a multitude of large and small things we can do in thanks, look around you and it will become clear…crystal.

            Five Easy Earth Day Thank You’s 

Turn off your car at a drive-thru

Creatively reuse something-at least once

Lower your thermostat 5 degrees

Buy one local (or at least US) grown product at the grocery

Flip your paper in the printer

Recycle your Sunday paper

 Look out the window, promise to do better and, say “thank you”.

 A simple quote from one of histories most famous environmentalists and my favorite mentor.

“When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe.”  John Muir 1869

Seeing what John Muir saw

Willow and I had a big weekend last, attending the Northeast Floral Expo in Massachusetts.  A conference/show of, and for florists in the Northeastern states and beyond. complete with a buyers fair of all sort of goods and flowers.   I believe it has become the largest show in the country for florists, and we so look forward to the 3 day weekend every year.  I am forever keen to find any new earth wise products  that maybe could be converted as so; and I get double excited to meet the many other designers to compare notes on the newest trends; trade ideas, and of course professing our passion of the art to each other.  However, as the eco florist…..the only eco florist mind you; I look at things differently and likewise, I am usually treated differently.

A Green Greyhound Celebrity

From the time we arrived, Willow had the red carpet as the main celebrity of the entire floral industry in attendance.  I was really surprised and happily, shocked at how well known she is and how followed her blog Willow Says  is; and boy, she took it and ran with it!  Pets and pats were everywhere, paws were given nonstop, and the ‘thump thump’ of her tail was incessant.  She was photographed and talked about, flirted with and fawned over.  She for sure is my heartsong and I was so proud of her ‘princess’ behavior as the ‘real’ owner of the store.  J

An Erin Brokovich Green Florist

On the other hand, I was also taken aback at my own notoriety.   Inwardly, I always feel and fear, that I am the lone warrior in an unconquerable frontier; and at times I wonder if all my effort and passion of the past 10 years and still ongoing will ever matter to the 30,000 florists across the country, or are they just tolerating the ideas in a passing conversation.  And more so, do I really have a chance against the big corporations of my industry.

 Well, let me tell you, I can’t believe the people whom I’ve never met inquiring on my endeavor.  “Oh, you are the one”, “I heard about you”, “it’s wonderful what you are doing”.   What really made me happy though, were those who really and truly wanted to learn how to be a green florist!   A genuine interest with 20 questions; can you find enough US growers, what do you do about preservatives, how do you handle weddings, and on and on and on.  I can’t tell you how good it felt that I was an influence.    The interest was not only doing for the environment, but for our industry, and small businesses everywhere.  My rants are heard of, and my efforts are evidently known.  Who knew?

A Green & Recycled Centerpiece?

At the Saturday night gala, kindred designer Keith White and I (he is a FTD design coordinator-such a talented designer and cool guy) sat looking at the galaxy themed centerpieces; inside a 3 ft. cylinder vase was a silver, dryer vent, hose all curvy and wild.  We agreed “wow that is creative recycling”; until we concluded that the only place they would have found enough hoses to create all the centerpieces so quickly, would have been at Home Depot.  We concurred that it is a start, and next time maybe they would instead be from the dumpster.

Green Floral Products

On Sunday, I eventually came upon as I always do, to the dreaded….’floral foam booth”.  Always positive and hopeful for new corporate ethics and some environmentally minded changes; I enter smiling and gracious.  Unfortunately, as is also the norm, the reps demeanor quickly alters at my inquiries of “are there any new developments toward a non toxic foam; has the company started a reclamation or recycling effort yet, etc.,” and was met with a stern invitation to just leave the booth and be on my way.  I tried, and will keep on trying.

It is not the easiest doing what I am doing, to see differently and not be a lemming following the crowd.  But after a time like anything, once you do it a while- it becomes a way of life. Because it is such a change from the norm; there are many who just look at me incredulously and move on. (I label them brown) And then there are those who are sincere and agreeing, yet knowing they are mired so deep, it seems just too daunting. (I label them light green)  One such interested gentleman from a wholesale flower and hard goods company said he understood.  He believed in America, didn’t quite think much about the environment in relationship to his products, but would like if he could, to be a more sustainable business.   But I could see he just did not have the energy and drive enough to tackle it.  It’s the easier road being brown; not green.

Norman Rockwell‘s Green Picture

As Willow and I were packing up at the end, I looked across at the trucks being loaded from the show.    An Isuzu box truck had the tag line of “floral importers and distributors”;   and in the back window hung an American flag.  I stopped for a minute and thought, “isn’t that something-what’s wrong with this picture”.   An American flag in a Japanese truck filled with South American flowers and Chinese vases, idling diesel fumes.

 I thought about that parking lot picture all the way home as I drove ironically, through Normal Rockwell country, and it convinced me that I can never give up.  It is a difficult and ongoing task I took on for sure, but I am tenacious.   I just need to fight a little harder and rant a lot louder in the hope that someday everyone will see the real picture, like we saw in the parking lot.

Think as green as you can, no matter the shade.

Our new Tussie Mussie..green for St. Pat's and green for the environment

Lynn

Montezuma is said to have adored them and surrounded himself with glorious poinsettia gardens; revering but never touching them. He thought them to be divine gifts from the Gods, as metaphors of beautiful feelings.  How profound; as we are just learning the power of fresh flowers in our daily lives; amazing the ancient ones are so far behind us,yet also so far ahead of us.

 They also carry the Mexican legend of a miraculous bouquet of weeds blossoming into a poinsettia at the hand of a poor child approaching the altar of Jesus at Christmas;  they were since known as “Flower of the Holy Night” la flor de la noche buena.   With the history, the legend, the color, and the National date; it is no wonder they became the gift of our modern day.

Poinsettias Coming To America

In 1851 Congress officially established  December 12 as National Poinsettia Day to honor the passing of Mr. Joel  Poinsett;  yes there really was a Mr. Poinsett born in Charleston, SC in 1779. Oddly, December 12^th is also the day of the celebrated plant in Mexico.   Among his many accomplishments were congressman, the 15^th Secretary of War, and US Minister to Mexico; but it seemed gardening was his passion and now surprisingly, that which he is known for today .  While in Mexico, visiting a local church on an 1825 Christmas Day, Mr. Poinsett visited a local church nativity scene adorned with them.  Enamored, he brought back a few seedlings for his hothouses on his SC plantation and so it began.

Beautiful Poinsettias

The Gift and Care

As a holiday symbol, it is the perfect gift to anyone or business.  A good plant will last well into February, and continue on for another season with a little, proper care.   A tall, show plant is perfect as a business gift or home décor piece.  While a bowl or basket of miniature plants suits a table or counter perfectly.  While in bloom, they do not require direct sun, and only ask for a weekly watering.  They are of a tropical mind so a misting is most welcome to their leaves; not required to live; but will be happier

 The Fears According to Willow

Check Willows blog post where she separates the myths & danger rumors to the facts.  Poinsettia fears are just not true and she assures you with her all knowing wisdom and research as only she can.  Smile

Happy Happy and Merry Merry

Lynn

How perfect this owl and not impressed with the beautiful berries

Everyone loves what has been named bittersweet for autumn decorating.  Surprisingly, it is not the original bittersweet botanically; but yet a Solanum genus of Nightshade was first designated as such; which is not a cousin, relative, or even lookalike.    Through the centuries names get coined or interpreted and now to us what we know as bittersweet is just bittersweet, botanically incorrect or not.

 Next to pumpkins and maple trees, there is no match for the display it puts on a front door, or beautiful country table.  It rambles, it diverts, and it goes around and out west.  It is a free spirited thing that has no rhyme or reason, which is what I adore about it the best.  I work with what shape it gives me with no two designs the same-love it.  As Willow and I walked this morning, the woods seemed ablaze from the vibrant yellow and orange berries….everywhere we looked.   Alongside us, around us, hanging from the trees, and shooting out to grab our feet.  As we stood looking, I wondered if we stayed too long if we too would be wound up in this voracious vine.  For ever so long, it seemed a difficult quest every year to locate nice bittersweet for the store; and now here we stood with it about to attach itself to us.

Why All The Bittersweet

 So today, there are 2 vines we commonly refer to as bittersweet, and to a wanderer’s eye, barely different.  Our American bittersweet indigenous to North America is Celastrus Scandens and then we have the Oriental bittersweet invader of Celastrus Orbiculata, introduced from the Orient in the mid 1800’s as an ornamental and for erosion control. Hmm, as usual when you upset an ecosystem it never seems to come to a good end; I think we should have left it where it was. It is a foreign strangler, incredibly invasive and a real menace taking over in 25 states as far west as Montana.

Our Bittersweet

 We have nearly picked & decorated ourselves out of ours to where the NY State DEC named it a protected plant.  They have listed it as “”exploited and vulnerable”;  including it on their list to be officially, designated as rare.  Every plant has a specific purpose on the planet, none are useless and just weeds as many say.  Long ago before decoration; Native Americans knew to use it medicinally, for color pigment, and its vines for rope and weaving baskets.   So, if you are so lucky as to have our bittersweet; please try to encourage it to grow and protect it because we are losing it to a rival import.  If you would like to have your own American bittersweet seeds and plants; they can be purchased at various nurseries and seed houses across the country.

Is it American or Not

Like us humans the plants are basically the same yet different.  Ours has a larger berry of course; isn’t everything bigger, better, and louder in America?  :)   However, unless you have a branch of each side by side it is difficult to go by berry alone.  The best things to look for are just 2 characteristics.  Ours has an elliptical leaf with berry clusters at the tips of the branches.  While our invaders have a bit rounder leaf with berry clusters all over the vine; wherever the leaves are attached.  Yes, what you mostly see everywhere and probably on your door right now is the invader; this bittersweet gang is trying to take over our turf and a woods war is on.  The oriental is tougher than ours; it smothers trees and crowds our low growth plants; and displacing our own through competition and hybridization.   You can always tell a gratefully freed, tree that spent its life encased with it by the scars the vines left.

Let’s Level the Field

The plant world is not much different from ours, as we are part of the same kingdom.  So being we all love bittersweet for decorating, lets level the playing field some.  One positive; many bird species eat the berries, as do other pollinators.   Whether you gather or purchase your bittersweet, first try to discern if it is American or Oriental.   If Oriental , which most is; decorate and craft carefully as any berries or cut stems can and will winter over and root in the Spring.  For this reason, and especially when the decorations are taken down; don’t add them to a compost pile or roadside where the seeds can germinate or the vines can root.  Spent vines and wreaths should be cut up and placed in a box or bag to dry –along with their dried berries.  In the spring they can then be disposed of with your normal trash.

 Plants are far from mindless, they are opportunists and survivalists. So decorate away because Autumn without bittersweet is like Winter without holly; just keeping in mind that every action has a reaction, even with the wily bittersweet.

 Click to watch 

Thanks Bob,

Lynn

The Concern For Butterflies

Like much of our wildlife; it’s becoming difficult for monarchs too.  Between development, farming, and chemical use; they are losing their areas and their all important, milkweed plants.  Milkweed is to them as eucalyptus is to the koala bear, only more.   More than ¾ of all flowering plants and over 1/3 of our food crops depend on butterflies, bees, and many other pollinators for fertilization.

The Flower Display & Show

Surrounding a secret fountain, I combined asclepsia (butterfly flower) along with larkspur, snapdragons, cattails, and a hoard of grasses and fuzzy millets & herbs.   Accented with a life-size, sign with assorted directions for the 50 butterflies I added.

A look inside the butterfly display

The big picture

A sign for the monarchs

Thursday evening in the live, design show; I decided to carry through the theme by creating human size butterfly bouquets for giveaway.  Everyone loves wildflower bouquets and butterflies!   I was awarded the blue ribbon for my display with kudos for the message it brought, but what really made it special was the amount of butterfly info flyers taken.   Meaning the signs were read and someone, somewhere is going to have a butterfly waystation and maybe plant some milkweed.  Or at least, won’t cut it down next year.  Now that is the real award and reward for me.

Butterfly Info

Watch for the monarchs in our area this autumn when they start their massive migration.  Our lattitude is 41 degrees so the migration should start this coming weekend if the weather turns cooler.

A rest area stop on goldenrod

I have dedicated one of the store windows to monarchs with all things butterfly that you will just love; click here to send one of our signature butterfly arrangements.

Visit MonarchWatch.org for everything you ever wanted to know about monarchs and how to create your own little, waystation.

One of my secret, favorite, places locally is the Rainbows End Butterfly Farm in Pawling, NY; a wonderful compound where you can walk among the butterflies yourself.    Walking with butterflies; is one of the better things in life that actually doesn’t cost or require a wing and a prayer.    A great deal

Be uplifted,  Lynn

Flowers Are For SniffingWillow always accompanies me to the flower market and we have a grand time. A wonderful little extra I love is watching her sniff and nuzzle from bucket to bucket- with no fear from me towithhold her. Last week as I sniffed and nuzzled the lavender, she settled on some millet foliage and snacked away. This of course would be out of the question with imported flowers because of the chemical use, and I thought how children love to do the same thing and how fearful I would be to see a little face nuzzling in a Colombian daisy. Flowers were made to be nuzzled and sniffed up close on impulse, not from afar or washed first.Wheat...Grasses...Queen Anne's Lace

A Favorite Flower?

While Willow seems impressed with the giant, millet & sorghum (aka bunny tails-hmm an obvious maybe for a greyhound?); I think this year I am most impressed with the coxcomb.  That odd, out of this world shaped flower that does not really look like a flower at all, but yet a wild, rippled, ladies fan.  The soft velvety heads seem to tease you to pet them like a puppy’s ear-they are irresistible. The colors further entice another of our senses in the strongest burgundy, the hottest pink, and the coolest greens.   Nature in its glory, but oddly with no two ever similar in size or form.   Ranging in size from 3” to 7” they each have their own personality and dry perfectly; making them a good choice for dried flower designs-especially wreaths.

Velvet Flower...the Coxcomb

Flower Lore

The generic name is derived from the Greek ‘kelos’ meaning burned, they are commonly called woolflower & velvet flower.  The English definition of coxcomb is a ‘conceited dandy who is overly impressed by his own accomplishments.’  How odd, because they do dominate the cooler for attention, bowing I think only to the giant sunflowers.   They do redeem themselves by being very medicinal for multiple ailments and their leaves a food akin to spinach.

Sunflowers-Chocolate for Honey Bees

Enjoy the Season

Our local crops usually run into late October or later depending on the weather.  And then, they are gone for another year.  I can’t stress or encourage you enough to enjoy them while they are here.  They are magnificent, last incredibly long, support our local farms & economy, and of course -feed the butterflies.

Echinacea-For the Love of Butterflies

For the love of them all,

Enjoy…   Lynn

A festive 1960 Schwinn in our window display

“Nothing good is ever easy”, and if it is… then it usually is not worth anything.

I  Wondered

When I began this ‘eco-green American thing” with my business, as is offhanded remarked to me; I had no idea how I would do it,  I just knew I had to do something or change careers.  As a serious environmentalist and avid user of everything natural; I one day began to wonder about my flower business. I am an inquisitive person and I asked to myself; when did those fragrant, American Beauty roses stop being available and what about those big, fluffy CA carnations?  I thought about all the wedding cakes I had decorated with flowers- was that a good thing to do?  And what exactly is floral foam anyway?  I really could not answer myself and I am a florist!

 So I researched; which led me deep into EPA reports, US trade agreements, product manufacturers, and organic chemistry.  You know, sometimes you just overlook that which is everyday in front of you.  We all do it. I was not really prepared for the answers and astonished at what I found out, for many reasons, but two mainly.  The massive, toxic, chemical use; and that almost zero of all the everyday florist products were made in America any longer.  Even worse, there was no import duty on fresh flowers.   I had a lapful with more than one issue to deal with; operating a green business, offering eco friendly products, and patronizing my own country.  It was a major epiphany for me.

Celebrate Imports

This weekend we celebrate with all sort of fanfare, the independence of our America.  We celebrate our freedom from controlling people and countries; we celebrate our beautiful land with its magnificent National Parks.  Our Native Americans knew, and still know.  They fought to protect it long before anyone else, and today I believe are more astute than we are.  I wonder this weekend if we deserve to celebrate and how proud those who fought years ago would be of us; or instead would they be just a little ashamed for what we have allowed to happen-for ease and money.    In my industry, nearly 80% of the flowers sold anywhere in the US are imported; along with chemicals and everything from petroleum based plastics and card holders to foams, are filling our beautiful American lands- landfills that is.  What a travesty for a Nature thought of business and I was a contributor.

American Flowers

So, I chose not to participate as such any longer and did what I had the American freedom and power to do with my business-change it.  I was a little idealistic at the difficulty and the extra labor it would entail, but I have a passion and I just knew I could do it.  Now 10 years later, I have an eco- florist and I have fought and won my own independence from the imported flowers and all the rest.  I searched out American farms from NY to CA and my coolers are filled with over 30 varieties every week.  From May to November it escalates upwards to 60+ with our Eastern season in full swing.  The US has much stricter chemical regulations, and the life of these true, freshly cut flowers is triple; and….the money stays here supporting our country.

Worth the Cost?

Many think a higher cost; and yes they are a little more expensive.   However, the quality is like night and day to the imports.  I would bet on one of my CA Eufloria roses against a Columbian rose any day of the week for beauty, scent, and longevity. So, is 50 cents more for a rose really that hard to swallow?  Not according to anyone through my doors; the quality is obvious and I am so happy to hear it.  There has not been one informed person in 10 years that has not praised the flowers and gladly paid their worth.

Along the way, I have and still do learn a lot; nothing good is ever easy.   American flowers are alive and well for this 4th of July; and the next time you want a bouquet I hope you will declare your own independence and ask for eco friendly, American grown flowers.
Then celebrate your freedom of choice, because you can.

Curious Fun     American Bouquet map                               Happy 4th!  Lynn

Eastern Wild Horse- Assateague Nat'l Seashore Maryland

In 1971, Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, granting federal protection to America’s wild horses and burros as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West”.  America’s wild horse population has dwindled to fewer than 33,000 when in the 1800’s it was over 2 million. There are now more wild horses in government holding pens than remain in the wild, with many of the remaining herds managed at population levels that do not guarantee their long-term survival. And still, the round-ups continue. *    They are penned under the control of the Bureau of Land Management until sold and sent to slaughter.

We are taking one of our last, few, national treasures to sell the meat to foreign countries, and all for money.  I fear history repeating what happened to our magnificent buffalo.  I don’t understand this obsession to control Nature.  To me, capitalism is at its worse when it involves unsuspecting animals as they cannot speak up and have a say for themselves.   What are they thinking?  What would they say to us?

On  May 30 the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment that prevents horse slaughter in the U.S.  It prohibits funding inspections for horse slaughter plants in the U.S.; and without them the meat cannot be sold.  However, the bill comes to the full House for vote this week-most likely this Wednesday June 15; and there are many in and out of government trying to repeal this; those who see only money.

I do what I can, and so can you.  It doesn’t have to be about money unless you want it to be.  The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign has a quick and easy, composed, letter that you can add your name to.  They will also give you the name of your local representative and telephone number with a quick script to call in.  Donations are of course always welcome but it is your voice that is really needed.

If  you have a horse lover graduating or with a birthday or for no reason at all; I have also put up a flower arrangement in my Flowers For A Cause to benefit the AWHPC.  If we all were to do whatever we can no matter how small; collectively a difference can be made in the world with those voices heard; and maybe things just might be righted.

Your thoughts? I welcome your comments and ideas and will forward them to the proper ears.

Click here to visit AWHPC  

Click here to our benefit arrangement

*courtesy of the The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign –AWHPC.  Dedicated to preserving the American wild horse in viable free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. Its grassroots efforts are supported by a coalition of over forty organizations.

It really isn’t easy being green sometimes  because all these wonder innovations were created to save us time; and time is now more important than anything I believe.   I began to wonder how eggs were dyed before the magic box came to be.  Turns out all you need are fruits and vegetables and….of course the time.   So below I list what you need to have a wonderful, egg dying evening with no thought to all the must dos and hurry-ups.   Only just how blue your egg is turning.   Send me pictures of your ‘onion’ egg creations and I will post them for all the box people to envy!

Blue….red cabbage & blueberries

Green….spinach

Orange…carrots, paprika, yellow  onion skins

Red…red onion skins, cherries, beets

Violet….red wine,hibiscus tea, red onion skins