Fourth of July Fun

Do you have any plans for the Fourth of July?  If you don’t, it’s not too late to make plans.  Here are a few ideas for fun activities to do on Independence Day.

•    Have a cook out.
•    Buy a volleyball net and invite friends over for a game.
•    If it’s too hot to be outdoors, have a movie marathon (watch “Independence Day”).
•    Go out to one of the different Fourth of July firework displays.
•    Attend a concert.  Many large venues hold Fourth of July concerts.
•    Have a picnic for dinner.  You can sit outdoors after you eat and watch fireworks go off
•    If there’s a lake nearby, take a day trip to swim, fish, and enjoy playing around in the water.
•    If you’re getting together with friends to watch or shoot off your own fireworks, you might want to spend the morning baking treats.  You can get your kids involved and make it a fun family event.
•    Organize a Fourth of July block party.  Have your neighbors over for burgers and hot dogs.  The kids can get involved and have their own Fourth parade using their bikes and wagons.
•    Visit a war memorial or museum and think about those who have lost their lives guaranteeing our freedoms.

Don’t forget to decorate indoors with some great Fourth of July flowers in Springfield, OH.

Mother’s Rule Book

With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s time to thank mom for everything she did for us!  One of the ways she taught us was by giving us a lot of rules to live by.  Here are a few rules that might have seemed crazy to us at the time, but they were her way of teaching us how to live.

•    You have to eat all of your vegetables before dessert.  Mom knew that we had to eat right to grow and stay healthy, so she made sure we ate all of our healthy food before we had anything that wasn’t as great.

•    Keep your room clean.  This was mom’s way of teaching us to clean house, even if we didn’t like it.

•    Brush your teeth before you go to bed.  This rule was mom teaching us good dental habits.

•    Go to bed at a certain time.  Mom wanted to make sure we were used to a schedule.  She also knew that kids and teens really do need more sleep than adults, so she made certain we got it.

What was in your mother’s rule book?  Did you really hate some of her rules?  Have you adapted any of her rules for your own children? 

Don’t forget to thank mom for everything she did by sending her some beautiful Mother’s Day flowers in Springfield, OH.

April Flowers

There are a lot of flowers that start blooming in April.  As the first full month of spring, that’s to be expected.  Of course, you do have to look out for those late March freezes—they can definitely put a damper on April flowers.  Even with a free, though, you’ll find plenty of seasonal flowers in bloom in April!

Some of the first April flowers to bloom are the snowdrops and crocuses.  You’ll start seeing them in early April, followed by the daffodil and some tulips.  Then there are the azaleas, especially in the southern part of the U.S.  These flowers usually appear pretty early in April. 

If you live in warmer temperatures, especially in the southwest U.S., it’s possible the spring flowers are already here.  In some areas, summer flowers are already waking up in April, although the lack of rain might mean things aren’t as bright and vivid as you’d like.  There are a lot of wildflowers around, such as marigolds and Indian paint brush.

Naturally, you’ll also see many flowers associated with Easter.  Since the holiday is often in April (although it wasn’t this year), you’ll see Easter lilies, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth blooming.  In some colder areas, these might be the only April flowers you see. 

Want some beautiful April flowers in your home?  We have some great spring flowers in Springfield, OH.

Popular Winter Flowers

Now that we’re in the middle of winter, it’s time to take a look at some of the more popular winter flowers.  Yes, there are a number of beautiful flowers that only bloom during the colder months.  These winter flowers add a daring dash of color to what might otherwise be a cold, bland landscape.  How many of these beautiful winter flowers have you seen in your area?

•    Gladiolus – it’s a great looking winter flower with a great scent.

•    Winter daphne – This shrub blooms with tiny little clusters of flowers.

•    Helleborus or Christmas rose – The Lenten rose family comes in many colors, including green, burgundy, and pink.  It blooms between mid-November and April.

•    Cyclamen – this bright flower blooms in the late fall in pink and white.

•    Kaffir lilies – this  bright red or pink flower looks great in your winter arrangements

•    Witch hazel – it’s used for medicinal purposes, but this plant also features orange or yellow flowers during the mid-winter.

•    Snowdrops - these small, white flowers bloom on stems that often force their way up through the snow.
   
•    Poinsettia – yes, it’s a great Christmas flower, but you can also decorate with it all winter long.

These are just a few of the beautiful winter flowers out there.  Check out some of the winter flower arrangements available in Springfield, OH. 

Caring For Your Tree

How to Care for Your Farm-Grown Christmas Tree

When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your tree. Below are a number of tips on caring for your tree:

1. Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.


2. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.


3. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.


4. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.


5. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.


6. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.


7. Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.


8. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.


9. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.


10. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does NOT improve water uptake.


11. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.


12. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.


13. Do not overload electrical circuits.


14. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.


15. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.


16. Visit the Tree Recycling page to find a recycling program near you.


17. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

Original Publication can be found at : http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/AllAboutTrees/CareTips.aspx

Visit Schneider's Florist for your Holiday Gift Giving Needs:
www.springfieldohioflorist.com

Holiday Organizing Tips

 Need a little help getting your holiday under control?  It can be hard to stay organized, especially when it seems like you’ve got something going on every day and major events on every weekend.  Then there’s the decorating, baking, and shopping to take care of, too.  If you’re going a little crazy, here are a few tips that might help get your holiday organized.

Make a list of everything that you need to do.  Everything.  Even those small, little tasks may need to be put on your to-do list so you don’t forget about them in all your hustle and bustle.

Put down all the important events on your calendar.  Make sure all of your family members know what’s going on each day, what they need to do for that event, and when it is. 

Create a shopping list for everyone you need to buy a gift for.  Write down a few ideas for each person, too, so you have some idea of where to look.  You might also want to put down an estimated budget for each person so you don’t spend too much.

Write out a menu for your meals and make a shopping list for it.  Go through your pantry first and take stock of what you have.  Even if you think you’ve got enough flour, double check.  You don’t want to run out in the middle of baking.

Make sure you have all of your gifts in one location and that you know who each gift is for (you might want to put a sticky note on each one).  This way, you won’t forget any, nor will you get gifts mixed up.  Another way to organize gifts is to get a large gift bag for each person (even if you don’t use that gift bag) or a box.

That’s all it takes to organize your holiday!  Once you’ve got everything sorted out, why not treat yourself to some great Christmas flowers in Springfield, OH?

Poinsettia Care Tips

Poinsettias are one of the longest-lasting blooming plants available to consumers. To choose the perfect poinsettia: Pick a plant with small, tightly clustered buds in the center. Look for crisp, bright, undamaged foliage. Avoid plants displayed in drafty or crowded areas. To keep the poinsettia blooming: When surface soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly. Discard excess water in the saucer. To prolong color, keep a temperature range of 60 degrees for night and 72 degrees for day. High humidity is preferable. Place plant away from hot or cold drafts, and protect from cold winds. To rebloom for the next season: During winter, continue to follow holiday upkeep tips. March 17 (St. Patrick's Day): When bracts fade, cut stems back to eight inches above soil line. Continue to water regularly. Lightly fertilize with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer every three to four weeks. When temperatures are warm, place plant outdoors; first in indirect, then direct sunlight. Avoid temperatures below 50 degrees throughout the summer. July 4 (Independence Day): Cut back new growth stems. Repot if needed. Early September (Labor Day): Move plant inside. Provide six or more hours of direct light. October 1 through mid-December: Confine plant to complete darkness for 14 hours, giving it 10 hours of natural light daily. This will set the buds and cause bracts to color. Schneider's Florist has beautiful poinsettia plants in stock for this holiday season. Pick one up or have it delivered. wwww.Springfieldohioflorist.com Original Article can be found at: http://www.aboutflowers.com/flower-holidays-occasions-a-parties/christmas/poinsettia-care-tips.html