Episode #510- Petal Pushers
Episode #510 Petal Pushers
J’s “pushing petals” – literally and figuratively on Life in Bloom. You’ll learn the importance of petal counts for roses, and the importance of retaining the “Gard petal”. Together we’ll craft with petals, and create a “Duchess Rose”. J assembles an artistic creation that can become an invitation or post card, creates a petal perfect mocktail, and even include petals in an hors d’ouerve spread!
Today on Life In Bloom we’re counting on petals for entertainment. You’ll learn the importance of petal counts, we’ll craft with petals, assemble some artistic creations, and even include petals in an hors d’ouerve spread.
“Petals don't ask | Where to land | They just fall | With grace.” – Sheniz Janmohamed
Petals are the focus of today’s episode. How many of us have asked the iconic Daisy bloom who loves us? The familiar act of plucking petals one by one, questioning as we go, is a satisfying exercise isn’t it?
On the other end of the petal count is a rose or peony, with luxurious amounts of petals, almost too numerous to count. However my favorite reference to petals is from Constance Spry - a London florist known as the mother of modern flower design, and known for abandoning the restrictive rules of Victorian-era flower arranging. It is said that one of her favorite moments was when the first petals began to drop from an arrangement – it is a reminder of the fleeting aspects of flowers and life. It reminds us to appreciate every moment.
A Lesson in Petal Count and Breeding
Petal Count is an important part of Rose Hybridization - a rose with more petals is fuller and considered more beautiful. Garden Roses are a good example- and the original rose- the Noisette Rose- only has a single row of petals- it's a favorite of my friend P Allen Smith. For many years Kelly and I traveled with the growers at Eufloria Flowers to Amsterdam to visit the Rose Breeders- that introduce new varieties- and one of the important features of NEW Rose Varieties are the number of petals they have- most often referred to as "Petal Count" - in this segment- we look at petal count- and I disassemble a few roses to show the difference - petal count- can make in a Rose's Appearance!I also share information about other flowers- their petals and inflorescence - and how flowers differ in their petal structure!
Flowers: Garden Roses- Garden Rose Direct - Romantic Antike
Hybrid Tea Roses & Hydrangea- Galleria Farms
Carnations
Dianthus- Fresh Origins
Romantic Flower Petal Candles 3 Ways
J creates 3 projects using Rose petals - We can film these on the deck… and then for B Roll place onto the dining room table with shades pulled for a more romantic look… Of course Roses are romantic - and thus Rose petals carry on that romantic feel…
Using petals is a wonderful way to maximize the flower effect- with only a few flowers needed - Each Rose can provide a veritable mountain of rose petals…
Here’s 3 Romantic ways to combine rose petals and candles that add a little romance to any setting…
1. Decoupage Rose Petals to a glass container-
using pressed petals- and craft glue-
Simply place a thin coating of glue on the outside of any glass container that can hold a candle
Votive Candles or Mason Jars work very well…
Place the dried rose petals (or any flower) on to the glue- and coat again with a thin coat of craft glue and allow to dry…
Place a candle inside the container- and voila- a Romantic rose petalled candle holder…
2. Cylinder Vase with submerged Rose Petals
Fill a clear cylinder with Rose petals- then fill with water- place a floating candle on top of the rose petals to hold them in place- and light the candle…
Use several different sizes of cylinders to create a centerpiece…
3. Floating Rose Petals
Fill a clear glass pedestal bowl with water… add rose petals…
Place floating candles in between the rose petals… to create a floating centerpiece
that casts wonderful light onto the table…
Featured Flower: Shasta Daisy
Facts/Trivia
- Leucanthemum superbum, also known as the Shasta daisy,
- The shasta Daisy is a well liked perennial because it is easy to grow!
- The shasta daisy is a commonly grown flowering herbaceous perennial plant with the classic daisy appearance of white petals – also known as ray florets that surround a yellow disc.
- The word “daisy” originally meant “day’s eye” and was used to refer to the sun-like appearance of the flower.
- The term “daisy” is often used in reference to a wide variety of flowers of the Asteraceae family, which includes asters, sunflowers and hundreds of other flowers.
- The Shasta Daisy originated as a hybrid produced in 1890 by the American horticulturist Luther Burbank from a number of different daisy cultivars.
- The Shasta Daisy was named after Mount Shasta, because its petals were the color of the snow.
Shasta are also well-liked because they bloom all summer and attract bees, birds, and butterflies to your garden.
- Shasta Daisies bloom in the summer and require full sun. The foliage is sturdy and can reach a height of 1 to 3 feet.
- Shasta Daisies are drought tolerant- and many cultivars are suitable for cut flowers.
- Several Shasta Daisy cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Ginger Rose Fizz Mocktail - #flowercocktailhour
J Makes a Ginger Rose Fizz- a 0 Proof mocktail in the garden - We could FREEZE Rose Petals into Ice Cubes… to enhance the petal tie in…
This 0 Proof Libation is featured in Season 5 of J Schwanke's Life in Bloom- Episode 510 Petal Pushers!
Source Inspiration: https://my.whisk.com/recipes/1019885f4691b54fe941e2f29a4a6ac3ecf423d76b1
The set up for this 0 Proof Ginger Rose Fizz Libation- give it all the grace and wonderful of a Fancy Cocktail... to prepare the glass dip the edge of the highball glass into Organic Honey- I like to use Local Honey- this is from our Friends at Creswick Farms- and it's local - thus providing additional health and wellness benefits-Next- I grow Organic Fragrant Roses in my home garden- to be sure there are no pesticides used... and thus the flower petals are edible...I dry them - by placing a layer of petals in a cardboard box lined with wax paper- this allows the moisture (and flavor) to stay with the petals ratherthank leaching into the cardboard... I have several different colors- and you'll be amazed how much fragrance (and flavor) these home grown Garden RosePetals retain...I use the honey edge- to act as organic and edible GLUE- to affix the petals to the edge... you can also grind the petals with a mortar and pestle to have a finer and more refined edge... Then it time to mix up the ingredients for this Fun Mocktail!
Ingredients
2 oz ROSE Elixir ( I use Rose Elixir from my Friends at Drinkyourflowers.com )
1 oz fresh Squeezed Organic Lemon Juice
Pour into Highball Glass- over ice- and mix…
Top off with Ginger Beer… I prefer Fever Tree Ginger Beer- it's a favorite of mine!
To make a Cocktail version add Vodka, Gin or Rose Cello…
Bloom 365 Idea/Tip/Trick - Gard Petal
Here’s my Bloom 365 Tip - helping you to enjoy flowers every day of the year…
J shows the Gard petal, explains it’s discovery and purpose and recommends it not be removed when healthy.
From Bloom 365 (#109) You can get your own copy of J's Award Winning book- Bloom 365- filled with Hundreds of Flower Tips... at this link...
Leave the outermost petals (known as Gard petals) on your Roses. This type of petal is actually half leaf and half flower. It supports the blossom as it opens. It also aids in photosynthesis to bring water up the stem all the way to the bloom, helping it open and thrive longer.
Flowers: Garden Roses Direct - Romantic Antike, Tsumungi, Miyabi
Petal Art - Create a Postcard
Flowers: Elite Bouquet
Intro by J
Abstract approach
Create art with petals a la floral forager. Take pictures to use for printing cards to share - create several ahead to show off, then create one on set.
Using Water colour Paper- as the base- and then arranging petals to create a scene or figure…
Use tweezers or other tools to adjust the petals (and other plant materials ) to create the desired effect… capture a photo- with your smart phone- and then print out a card- to send to a friend…
#Recipe in Bloom - Herbed Butter with Petals
Edible Flower Petals are provided by www.GourmetSweetBotanicals.com
Adding flowers to an herbed butter creates a beautiful, but simple spread for hors d’ ouevres … - it's easy it's fun to create this Edible Flower Petal Snack!
https://simplebites.net/herbed-butter-with-edible-flowers/
Serve these on SALTINES… This is a wonderful twist on one of my favorite childhood snacks- Butter on Saltines... only now we add Edible Flowers!
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter organic, room temperature... I personally PREFER President Butter from France- it's delightful and delicious...
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 small lemon
1/2 cup edible flower petals assorted, petals only
1/4 cup fresh herbs assorted, leaves only, mild
Arrange Saltine Crackers- with a knife for speading...
Instructions
- Using the back of a wooden spoon, smear the butter in a half-moon on a wooden cutting board, marble cheese board or platter. Really, anything works for presentation.
- Season the butter generously with the flaky salt and the fresh cracked pepper. Zest the lemon overtop the butter.
- Sprinkle on the flower petals and the fresh herb leaves, using as many or few as you like.
- Serve the butter with a Saltines (or a french bread or interesting crackers... I love the Saltines... hehehe!)
Duchess Rose (2 methods)
Flowers: True Love Eufloria
J introduces and makes a Duchess Rose –
Today I’m going to show another way to make a composite flower - known as the Duchess Rose. This method differs from other projects we have shown in previous episodes of Life in Bloom- I created an Orchid Composite Flower- on a round piece of cardboard- that looked like this… You can make a duchess rose that way- too…
I also showed the time honored method- of creating a glamelia- like my Grandpa Carnation Joe- did back in the day- using floral tape and florist wire… it’s truly a lost art- and takes lots of patience- and again- you can create a duchess rose- that way as well…
Here’s another way – to create a composite flower- from Roses- or as I like to call it the Duchess Rose- this is a classic florist term- and references a Rose- that is oversized- and typically created from several flowers- to give it a more opulent- full – vivacious appearance…
And I’ll create It using a floral adhesive- that’s a professional flower glue- you can get on line- or you can also use rubber cement… Let me show how it’s done!
Create Duchess Rose by gluing the petals of several roses- onto another rose…
Side note that might be fun- With the Introduction and Popularity of Garden Roses- there isn’t as much of a need – to create “Duchess Roses”… but it’s a fun technique- and I thought it would be fun for you see this classic technique- for yourself!
Viewer Feedback
Today I have 3 arrangements to share with you from an accomplished fan - by the last name of Maher who arranges flowers for their church…” – these are beautiful- and I so enjoy seeing how our viewers are perfecting their flower arranging skills- and sharing their passion for flowers… that’s what a Life in Bloom is all about!
“I LOVE to see pictures of your flower arrangements - Send them to j@ubloom.com - the letter j at the letter u- bloom.com and watch for more "Schwankes" on upcoming shows”
Viewer: Maher
I hope you “loved” this episode, focused on petals, as opposed to – “loved it not” - and that we’ve inspired you to enjoy an arrangement or two around your home as well. For Life In Bloom, I’m J Schwanke.