Angelina Jolie Receives Sunflowers From A Rock Star

Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF

What do rock stars buy for their mega-movie star friends after the birth of a child? Well, rocker Gwen Stefani recently answered that question when she and her husband, Gavin Rossdale, brought an enormous bouquet of sunflowers to actress Angelina Jolie after the birth of her daughter with her boyfriend, actor Brad Pitt.

Sunflowers are aptly named since their enormous golden blooms closely resemble the sun. They also, quite literally, follow the sun; their blossoms turn to follow the sun as the day goes on.

Sunflowers come in several varieties, such as:

Autumn Mix: These are the giant plants that grow over six feet tall. They come in yellow and rust colors with blooms five or six inches wide.

Teddy Bear: This variety is a smaller type that has a full, fuzzy bloom. It grows to around 18 inches tall.

Italian White: These sunflowers aren't the typical sunny, golden color; they're a creamy whitish color. The plants grow to a height of approximately four feet and produce small blooms.

Large Varieties: These varieties include the huge 20-inch blooms of the Russian Giants and the ten to fifteen foot tall plants of the Kong Sunflower.

Sunflowers are an ancient flower, used by Native Americans as a medicinal flower and food source since as early as 2300 B.C. They provided early Americans with medicines to treat warts, snakebites, and sunstroke. They also provided oils used on the hair and were ground up to create face paints. Foods made from sunflowers included seeds roasted and ground to meal for baking, seed balls much like today's peanut butter, and roasted hulls steeped in water to produce a hot beverage.

Today sunflowers are a very popular garden flower loved for their big, beautiful blooms as well as the ease with which they're grown. They should be planted in full sun after the threat of frost has subsided for your area. If you're starting them from seeds, plant the seeds about one inch deep and six inches apart. If you're planting seedlings, plant them about eighteen inches apart (twelve inches for the smaller varieties). Give them a good dose of water after they're planted and keep seeds damp until the plants pop through the ground. You may need to stake the plants as they grow to provide support and keep them from bending or breaking in the wind.

Even if you choose not to grow your own sunflowers, you can still enjoy them or given them to friends to enjoy just by visiting your local florist who is sure to have these gorgeous flowers on hand. So, go ahead, send some flowers to the movie star in your life-or just to your best friend or mom-she'll appreciate them as much as Angelina Jolie did hers.


About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. His shops provide flower delivery worldwide through Flower Delivery Express. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com

Flowers And Disney's Cars: Both A Run Away Hit With Kids

Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF

One of the biggest summer movies of 2006 is Disney's Cars, the story of a speedy red racecar voiced by actor Owen Wilson. Disney and kids go together like....well, believe it or not, flowers and kids!

Although we don't often think first of flowers as a gift for a child, the truth is that children enjoy receiving flowers just like adults do. In fact, children sometimes enjoy them even more because when a delivery person comes to the door with something for them, they feel so very grown up. On top of that grown up feeling, flowers are beautiful, personal, and they make people smile.

But, what kind of flowers do you send to a child? The answer to that question really depends on the child as well as the occasion. For example, a young girl who is in the hospital recovering from an illness would very likely enjoy an arrangement containing delicate, pastel flowers and a cuddly teddy bear. That is, of course, unless she's more the rough-and-tumble tomboy type! Then she just might want brightly colored blooms or a more natural arrangement of sunflowers or daisies with packs of baseball cards tied to around the stems or vase.

Choosing the perfect flowers to send to a child might seem a bit of a daunting task, but with a little help from your florist, it can really be very easy. Your florist is a skilled designer trained to help you pick exactly the right gift for anyone, including children. When you call or visit your florist, be prepared to answer a few easy questions about the child you're sending flowers to. Those questions might include:

What are his/her favorite colors?

What kind of personality does the child have? Sporty? Academic? Outdoorsy?

What are his/her interests?

How old is the child?

Do you want to send flowers alone, or would you like to include a gift item?

Using the answers to those questions, you florist will help you pick the perfect floral gift to match the child receiving them as well as your budget. You should also be sure to have the address the flowers are to be delivered to on hand as well as your payment method and a phone number where you can be reached.

With just a little help from your florist, you can send a fun, exciting, and beautiful gift that will be as big a hit with the child in your life as the Disney movie Cars has been with kids all over the country.


About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He also works with funeral-homes.net to provide useful information about funeral homes across the nation. He has been recognized by florists nationwide as a leader in the flower business. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com

Flowers Have A Health Benefit To Rival Pilates

Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF

Pilates is one of the most popular exercise programs on the fitness scene today. It's a program followed by many of today's biggest names in Hollywood who tout its health benefits, which include flexibility and strength. But, if you're not the exercising type-or even if you are-there's another way to enjoy a terrific health boost; all you need to do is call your florist!

You're probably aware that your emotional health has a huge impact on your physical health. There are scores of true accounts that attest to how much a positive attitude can do for someone suffering from a serious illness. Flowers are an excellent way to help someone maintain that all-important positive attitude. And, a recent study proves that fact.

A recent 10 month study conducted by Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, provided scientific proof that flowers have a very real, positive impact on our emotional health. The study showed that:

Flowers have an immediate effect on happiness.

The positive impact of flowers is long lasting.

Flowers help people to connect.

According to Dr. Jeannette M. Haviland-Jones, who directed the Rutgers University study, "Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room. They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere."

Still another study proved that flowers might have the most positive affect on senior citizens. This particular study, also conducted by Rutgers University, showed that senior citizens who receive flowers reap such positive rewards as a reduction in depression, improved memory, and an improved desire to connect with other people.

Although we all love to receive flowers from someone who cares about us, there's absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing flowers for yourself. Use flowers to brighten up the spaces in your house where you spend the most time, like your kitchen, home office, or family room. Or, if you spend a great deal of time at work, consider placing a vase of flowers on your desk to enjoy throughout the day.

Your florist can help you choose flowers to fit your personal style and the spaces in your home or workplace. Placing flowers in spaces where you live, work, and play allows you to enjoy a boost in your health, and you can get it while you're doing things you enjoy...like Pilates!


About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He is also the developer of Localnewsdelivery.com a website that delivers local news to over 40,000 communities across the country. Recently he also launched a website providing information about various places of worship throughout the United States. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.

Aishwarya Rai And The Lotus Flower: Symbols Of India

Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF

Aishwarya Rai is one of the latest beauties to come out of India. She burst into the spotlight twelve years ago when she competed in the 1994 Miss World pageant as a representative of India. After winning the pageant, she went on to become a very successful model and actress who has been dubbed "The Queen of Bollywood." But, Rai isn't the only beauty to come out of India; the gorgeous and exotic lotus flower is an ancient flower so revered in India that it was named their national flower.

The lotus flower has been given a sacred place in Indian culture. It plays a huge role in the art and mythology there and has done so for centuries. In Indian society, the lotus represents divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge, and enlightenment. Perhaps the reverence of the flower stems from the fact that is an unquestionable beauty despite the fact that it grows out of murky waters and mud. Because of its ability to grow in the water, the lotus is often referred to as the water lily.

Though they have an exotic look, lotuses are actually fairly simple to grow. However, first time lotus gardeners should be aware that the lotus is a very invasive plant that can take over your entire water garden if not tended to carefully. Also, you'll notice that lotus plants may not bloom during their first year-don't be discouraged, the plants will almost surely blossom in the second year. As you watch your lotus plants grow and blossom, watch for yellowing foliage and faded blooms; you'll want to remove them to allow other leaves and blossoms to grow healthy and strong.

Lotuses come in a variety of types that include small plants with one-inch blossoms and larger ones with blossoms as big as your face. Lotus colors include red, yellow, white, peach, violet, and cream.

The lotus plant loves the heat-the hotter the better! In fact, the hotter it is at night, the bigger the flowers will be. During the winter you'll need to make certain the lotus tuber doesn't freeze or it will die. If you're growing them in your garden pond, the pond will need to be at least three feet deep so that it doesn't freeze solid, which will jeopardize the tubers. If you're growing them in pots, bring the pots inside for the winter.

With proper care, your lotus flowers will grow to exotic and fragrant flowers worthy of their status in India. They're exquisite beauty will rival that of fellow Indian Aishwarya Rai.


About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a major sponsor of local-library.com and Localschoolfinder.com, Wesley Berry has worked hard on behalf of improving literacy. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.