Love Lilies

The genus Lilium are herbaceous flowering plants normally growing from bulbs. They comprise a genus of about 110 species and are important as large showy flowering garden plants.  Lilies are also Ontario’s 7th most important cut flower and the potted Easter lily is Ontario’s only indoor potted lily. Despite a sales window of a couple of weeks each year, Easter Lilies are the fourth largest potted plant crop in North America, ranking just below poinsettias, mums, and azaleas as a favorite blooming plant.

In 1919, Louis Houghton, a World War I soldier, brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon and gave them to family and friends to plant.  The climate there was ideal for growing this lily, a native of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and by 1945, over one thousand growers were producing bulbs for the commercial market.

Two of the greatest charms of the Easter Lily are form and fragrance, so pickOntario grown Easter Lilies that are aesthetically pleasing from all angles with flowers in various stages of bloom.

In the home, the lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight, but avoid glaring, direct sunlight.  Easter lilies prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil. Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch, but avoid over-watering and letting the plant sit in standing water.   As the flowers mature, remove the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This extends the flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers or tablecloths.

It is very difficult to force Easter lilies into bloom a second time indoors but if planted in the garden after risk of frost, the bulb plant may bloom again in the summer or fall.  However, the bulbs are not hardy and won’t survive an Ontario winter in the ground.  Pick a site with bright light but some shelter from extreme heat and wind.  As the original plant dies back, cut the stems down to the soil surface. New growth will soon emerge. The Easter lilies, which were forced to bloom under controlled greenhouse conditions in March, may rise again naturally in the summer!

pickOntario along with the Ontario Flower Growers Auction are proud to help sponsor The Lung Association Ontario’s “Tulip Day”. Tulips are being sold in communities all across Ontario with proceeds going towards lung disease research as well as other important programs that are in place. “Help Line” answers calls from people looking for advice on different lung health issues. The lung association also has a program in place that provides continuing education for doctors on the current trends and advancements in lung disease.

Tulips are a very appropriate flower choice for promotion of lung disease research. They are a low fragrance flowers as individuals with respiratory problems often prefer lighter scents. The enjoyment of having fresh, locally grown tulips in your house is not the only benefit of supporting this program. When you buy these tulips, you are helping to save a life.

These lovely tulips can be purchased at any of the following locations
http://www.on.lung.ca/Events-and-Fundraisers/Tulip-Day/locations.php

Not only does March mean the beginning of the Spring, but also St. Patrick’s Day. Many people go all out in green to celebrate but pickOntario takes going green to a whole new level. The greenhouse industry is held to some of the highest “green” standards in the world. Greenhouse growers are under strict regulations by several agencies, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Environment Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and many more.  This means that Ontario flowers and plants are some of the safest products in the world.

How does pickOntario support the reduction of energy use and water? We encourage consumers to buy locally grown flowers and potted plants.  Buying local produces fewer emissions from shipping, transporting and production to be released into the air we breathe, which is a great goal to strive towards. pickOntario centers on promoting local growers to ensure that customers realize Ontario grown products help accomplish this goal.

Ontario greenhouses are also working to preserve and enhance both the natural environment and renewable resources. Most Ontario greenhouses are state of the art and have implemented water recirculation programs. This results in increased water conservation and reduced costs to greenhouse growers. Through regulations enforced by PMRA and CFIA and best practices production techniques, greenhouse growers do not use toxic substances that cause serious long term effects on our environment. Instead, the growing process is controlled allowing for toxin free fertilizers and pesticides. Many producers are switching to integrated pest management which virtually eliminates all pesticide sprays.

Look for pickOntario labels in your local store.  By purchasing locally grown products ensures you are reducing your carbon footprint which puts you on the right track of “going green”.

The genus Lilium are herbaceous flowering plants normally growing from bulbs. They comprise a genus of about 110 species and are important as large showy flowering garden plants.  Lilies are also Ontario’s 7th most important cut flower and the potted Easter lily is Ontario’s only indoor potted lily. Despite a sales window of a couple of weeks each year, Easter Lilies are the fourth largest potted plant crop in North America, ranking just below poinsettias, mums, and azaleas as a favorite blooming plant.

In 1919, Louis Houghton, a World War I soldier, brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon and gave them to family and friends to plant.  The climate there was ideal for growing this lily, a native of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and by 1945, over one thousand growers were producing bulbs for the commercial market.

Two of the greatest charms of the Easter Lily are form and fragrance, so pickOntario grown Easter Lilies that are aesthetically pleasing from all angles with flowers in various stages of bloom. 

In the home, the lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight, but avoid glaring, direct sunlight.  Easter lilies prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil. Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch, but avoid over-watering and letting the plant sit in standing water.   As the flowers mature, remove the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This extends the flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers or tablecloths. 

It is very difficult to force Easter lilies into bloom a second time indoors but if planted in the garden after risk of frost, the bulb plant may bloom again in the summer or fall.  However, the bulbs are not hardy and won’t survive an Ontario winter in the ground.  Pick a site with bright light but some shelter from extreme heat and wind.  As the original plant dies back, cut the stems down to the soil surface. New growth will soon emerge. The Easter lilies, which were forced to bloom under controlled greenhouse conditions in March, may rise again naturally in the summer!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and everyone is out looking for that perfect gift to tell those closest to them how special they really are. Research shows that flowers are perceived to be a personal and intimate gift believed to have taken a degree of consideration in their selection.

Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period around February 14th. However, for Valentine’s Day, roses are not your only option.

 If  “friends first” is your strategy, try an arrangement of giant ‘designer daisy’ gerberas in a variety of reds – from dark maroon to orange-red – your tribute a tonal palette of appreciation. By contrast, red tulips suggest intimacy with all the ‘two lip’ possibilities.

Why not give what many people crave as the ultimate love token – a posy of seasonal, scented flowers in a glorious rainbow of colours.  According to research carried out by the Flowers & Plants Association, scent is very important in conveying sentiment.  Spring favourites like sweet pea, freesia, hyacinths, lilies, and narcissi all have wonderful fragrances and are widely available as locally grown cut flowers at this time of year.

Studies show that 15% of women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day. So, if you don’t think you’re going to get flowers from that special someone this year, why not buy a nice bouquet for yourself! Always a great way to spruce up your home.

Flowers are a vocabulary in and of themselves.  Finding out your sweetheart’s favourite flower or indoor plant would be a good first move for any would-be Valentine.

However you choose to express your floral sentiments on Valentine’s Day, remember that Ontario grown cut flowers and potted plants have longevity and freshness on their side.

PickOntario is inviting Ontario florists to show them how locally-grown flowers can provide great variety and result in high quality, fresh designs. We are holding a floral design contest open to florists across the province. Florists will create a floral arrangement that best showcases the beauty of Ontario grown flowers and the winning entries will be voted for online at www.pickOntario.ca.

The grand prize awarded to the top florist and one guest is to embark on a limo tour of greenhouses in Ontario and this includes an overnight stay at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont and an elegant dinner. The first place winner will also be included in the March edition of the pickOntario newsletter. The top three florists will get the chance to show off their designs in pickOntario’s booth at Canada Blooms in Toronto and will be featured in Canadian Florist Magazine as well as on the pickOntario website.

As a consumer, you can vote for your favourite design starting in February. Visit pickOntario for more information.

We frequently tend to deck our halls with glitz and glam, oftentimes to the point of over doing it on the holidays. This year, why not try something more natural but equally as beautiful – accenting with flowers.

One thing that almost every home includes, to brighten up the dull and dreary winter season, is a poinsettia. These plants come in various shades of vibrant reds, and pinks, as well as white. Many florists can add colours to the white poinsettias by adding dyes to their water. This technique gives the flowers endless possibilities to fit in with any holiday décor you may have in your home.

Floral centerpieces are also a great way to add both colour and fragrance to your holiday gatherings. There are many options to accentuate your own personal style. For example, if you prefer more classic decorations, your centerpiece can be made using red gerbera daisies, white hydrangeas, and dark red berries in a vintage vase.  For a more whimsical look, you can use red roses, hypericum berries and Christmas greenery, wrapped in wide satin ribbon, and placed in a clear glass vase. If you prefer a country look, simply arranging greenery and evergreen sprigs, along with some moss at the base, and a few pinecones throughout, in a rustic basket will do the trick. Finally, if you are looking for simple but elegant additions to your home add a potted Christmas cactus, or some ivy. While these are great ideas, they are also rather generic, and do not incorporate your own personal flair. Whether you know exactly what you are looking for, or are a little indecisive, your local florist can work with you to find the right flowers and colours to best fit your home this season.

If you enjoy home projects, you can purchase berries, flowers and foliage from a florist, then add twigs, sprigs and mini-boughs from the backyard, to create your own bouquets. Using a muted mix of one colour as well as greenery creates an easy elegance.

Trimming your tree this year can be both fun and floral. If you prefer a more natural look, you can highlight the beauty of your green tree by incorporating fresh, vibrant flowers within the branches. This will also make your tree look fuller, as the empty spaces will be bright and colourful. Be sure to get large faced flowers such as poinsettias from your local florist, who can also provide water tubes to go with each stem to keep the flowers in bloom while they are in the tree. For those who simply cannot part with their traditional decorations, that is okay! Adding flowers to the center of your tree will still make it look fuller, and leave lots of room for ornaments on the outer part of the branches. The combination will “wow” your guests this season, while adding a lovely floral aroma to the room.

Incorporating flowers into your decorations is both fun and easy! Florists have a vast amount of knowledge to help you find what will best suit your needs, as well as some great holiday deals, so head over and pay them a visit to brighten up both your season and theirs!

The Toronto Convention Center was filled with enthusiasm on October 23-25 as women of all ages filed in for the 2009 National Women’s Show. The show was a fantastic outing, offering tips on fashion, beauty, wellness, food and fitness, as well as travel, leisure and business advice.

Floral designer Albert Graves’ daily presentations got women out of their seats! Women were so eager for the chance to win one of his floral masterpieces that they found themselves screaming, cheering and even dancing on their chairs. Albert, a strong supporter of the pickOntario campaign, used all locally grown flowers in his arrangements.

For the second year in a row, pickOntario participated in this exciting show.  This year, pickOntario handed out over 1,000 flowers to lucky women while showcasing the many different varieties of flowers grown locally in Ontario.

PickOntario found that over 30% of the women polled had already heard of pickOntario.   An outstanding 93% of women said they prefer to buy local over imported flowers.  Remember to pickOntario flowers for the ultimate in freshness, quality and variety!

National Women’s Show VIDEO