Episode #407- Glad Tidings
Episode #407 - Glad Tidings
Today I bring you glad tidings - literally. Gladiolus are in the spotlight - I’ll have tips on planting, care and handling, and create both simple and impressive arrangements.
“I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.”
― Edna St. Vincent Millay
Today we’re focusing on Gladiolus - a spectacular flower by any standard. They are a popular flower in gardens providing a backdrop for other flowers with heights up to four feet tall. Glads also became very popular in memorial arrangements, so much so that many people regard them only as funeral flowers. The size and scale of Glads can be intimidating, but their tidings can be enjoyed in many ways beyond formal services. Before we look at some arrangements, let’s learn a bit about how Glads are grown…
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/gladiolus-rethinking-a-funeral-flower/
Featured Flower: Gladiolus
The Gladiolus in today's episode of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" were provided by Glad-A-Way Gardens- one of the Premium Gladiolus Growers in the World! To learn more about Glad-A-Way Gardens and their amazing Glads- visit this link:
Want to learn more about Glads- here's a few more links- to expand your flower knowledge! You'll be Glad you did!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiolus
http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-gladiolus/
- Gladiolus is a genus of perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family
- It is sometimes called the 'sword lily’
- Its name came from the Latin word “gladius” which means sword and given the name due to the fact that its leaves and petals are tall, pointed, and long, like a sword.
- Gladioli grow from round, symmetrical corms that are enveloped in several layers of brownish, fibrous tunics
- The flowers of unmodified wild species vary from very small to large, and inflorescences bearing anything from one to several flowers.
- The spectacular giant flower spikes in commerce are the results of centuries of hybridisation and selection.
- The flowering spike, which springs from the corm, reaches 2–3 feet in height with numerous funnel-shaped flowers all clustered on one side of the stem. There are six petallike floral parts and sparse, swordlike leaves.
- Gladiolus are available in a broad range of colors
- The gladiolus flower symbolizes honor and remembrance, among other meanings
- Gladiolus are the flowers associated with a fortieth wedding anniversary.
- Gladiolus is the flower of August.
- “Gladiolus Rag” is the name of a rag composed in 1907 by Scott Joplin.
- “Gladiolus” was the word Frank Neuhauser correctly spelled to win the 1st National Spelling Bee in 1925.
Gladiolus Arranged Three Ways with GUEST Kim Carson
J is joined by his flower friend- Kim Carson- and they create three Gladiolus based arrangements: The Glad Topiary, A Short Gladiolus Centerpiece, and a Vintage Gladiolus Vase
J demonstrated- the Vintage Glad vase (It's a small yellow one that J found at an antique show), then J shares his favorite tips for the short centerpiece and passes it onto Kim to complete, while J creates the Gladiolus Topiary!
COMING SOON- Behind the Bloom with Kim Carson and Glads 3 Ways- Stay Tuned!
Tipping Glads
J shares the Professional secret of tipping the Gladiolus technique. This simple tip will allow the Glads to open all the way to the end- and allow you to enjoy these amazing flowers from Bottom to Top!
Glamelia Composite Flower
J learned the time honored and professional techniques for created a hand wired Glamelia! A Glamelia- is a composite flower- that is created from many Glad Blossoms- fabricating them into a ONE large stellar bloom. This process was used to create flowers for wedding bouquets, bridesmaids and even Mother's of the Bride- back in the day- and J shares is favorite memories of watching his Grandpa Carnation Joe Green create them in his families flower shop- at a very young age!
Watch the original show- where J created this Hand Wired Glamelia Step by Step on uBloom.com - here's the LINK!
https://ubloom.com/blog/2015/05/03/arrange-flowers-hand-wired-glamelia/
Easy Gladiolus Arrangement (Green) + Flower Cocktail
Kim Carson joins J in the Flower Studio- for a glass of wine- and J shares a fun way to arrange Long Stemmed Green Glads (One of J's Favorite Flowers) into a horizontal vase- using some Green Rocks as an added attraction. It's so fun to pour a glass of wine- and hang out with your friends and arrange flowers... it's rewarding and good food for the soul!
J makes pours wine and talks about Flower Cocktail Hour and its purpose, while Kim arranges Glads!
Gladiolus with Manzanita
Gladiolus are Tall Stately Flowers- and that allows for some creative inspiration when ti comes to arranging them. J attaches a Manzanita Branch- to a vase with bind wire- and then allows the branch to act as a support for these Lovely Red Glads!
Watch J create a similar arrangement using this same mechanics in Episode #305- Lilies in Bloom Here's the Link:https://ubloom.com/blog/2021/04/28/episode-305-lilies-bloom/
I‘ve always loved gladiolus, so it’s been a treat (and makes me GLAD) for me to show off these beautiful blooms in new ways to be arranged and enjoyed. For Life In Bloom, I’m J Schwanke.