When Laura and her three fashionable daughters get together, we know it's going to be great. Longtime Flowers on Chestnut designer, Laura Holden, traveled to San Francisco for her daughter's wedding. As the Mother of the Bride, she had many duties including preparing the flowers. She knocked it out of the park and Christina Diane Weddings captured every moment beautifully. Click to take a peek of the photo album.

This wedding was also featured in Glamour Weddings. Take a look and be sure to click your way over to Snippet and Ink for more photos and really fun ideas.

While on a jaunt to England, I had the pleasure of visiting my friend, Marjorie Susman, the wife of Louis B. Susman, U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. She indulged me with a tour of the fabulous Winfield House and I received this lovely book as a gift. Click the book for a short sampling and discover it's grand beauty.

Understanding Orchids, by William Cullina, is a comprehensive guide to growing orchids. It is clear, directional and extremely thorough. Obviously passionate about horticulture, Cullina says of his first experience with an orchid plant,
"My first orchid was a rootless Dendrobium Phalaenopsis hybrid that was on the brink of dying in a crowded greenhouse of a small local nursery. I bought it because I thought I could save it. But try as I might, I could not...Had I known what I know now, I might have been able to save the plant, but even so, starting out with a cheap weakened plant, I was hooked." (Page 2 of Understanding Orchids)
Sharing his vast acquired knowledge, this book could certainly be helpful to an amateur orchidist, but it would be a more appropriate purchase or gift for an experienced gardener.

Understanding Orchids is now available at Flowers on Chestnut.


ORCHID TIPS
 
PLANTING
Many orchids naturally grow off of trees, therefore they should never be planted in soil. They prefer a bark mixture specifically formulated for orchids. Choose a container with good drainage and replant with new orchid bark biannually.

WATERING
Water orchid plants generally just once a week, or twice if the orchids are in a dry heated or air conditioned
 environment. Use   a stream from the faucet, just until the bark has soaked through. Let the plants sit in the basin of the sink and thoroughly drain. Orchids thrive on humidity, misting them or allowing them to absorb the steam of a shower is advised.

LIGHT EXPOSURE
South or southeast sun exposure is ideal for optimal orchid health. They also make a nice addition to outdoor gardens during the summer months. Place your orchids outside in a partly shady area and allow the rainfall to water for you.

OVERALL HEALTH
A healthy orchid plant is not always flowering, but it does have dark green, plump leaves with silver-colored roots. Regularly remove any brown or shriveled stems and leaves that develop.
 

The tender new growth is the most aromatic and appetizing part of the herb plant. Keeping your plants pruned will not only give you the best yield, it will also improve the overall health of the plant. Regular pruning of 2-3" off of the end of the stem promotes branching, which will create a lush and bushy plant. To achieve the richest flavor, prune annuals, such as Basil, before they flower. Close growing herbs should be pruned to allow for prime air circulation. Don't over stress the plant by pruning more than 1/3 of the plant at a time and always harvest in the morning or evening.

Container planting is a great way to keep fresh herbs on hand all summer long. After purchasing, transfer small herb plants into large pots to allow for full maturity. When planting a collection, keep in mind the various soil conditions and light requirements for each herb. (See chart below for potted herb conditions.) Try using packaging peanuts instead of broken pots or stones in the soil for a lighter weight solution to drainage issues. Group assorted sized pots together in the same hue to give your herbs a chic look.

Fresh herbs make recipes irresistible. Try Mrs. Roman's recipe and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you. Printable version below in the Download File.

Lush green moss is a lovely liner for wire baskets. Try it as a centerpiece for your next garden party.
Tips: If the planter is for indoors, use liners under each pot inside the basket and take plants out to water individually. Occasionally moisten the moss with a spray bottle filled with water.

Do it yourself with two vases and plenty of jelly beans. Just place the smaller vase inside the larger one and pour candy between the two. Seal the top with tape to prevent water from entering the candy and fill the center vase with water and flowers. It's easy to do and lots of fun.

Happy Easter!
From, Everyone at Flowers on Chestnut