Caring for your Valentine Roses

As I'm sure you know, thousands of roses are sold every year on Valentines Day. Here are a few tips on taking care of them.

If your roses arrived in plastic water tubes, remove them before arranging. Remove any leaves that will be under water, taking care not to cut through or scrape the green bark. Recut stems by removing 1-2 inches with a sharp knife. Immediately after cutting, place roses in a clean, deep vase of water containing a flower food provided by your florist. Check the flower food solution daily and make sure to keep it full, clean, and fresh. If the solution becomes cloudy, replace it entirely. Keep your roses in a cool place, out of direct sun and drafts.

An easy free way to remember

Life is full of important days that I seemingly always forget. Being a florist it is easy for me to come home with an arrangement when I remember it is my wifes birthday or my anniversary. Not everyone has that luxury at their convenience, so to help, Kirkwood Florist is now offering a unique reminder service. Simply log on to www.MySpecialDates.com and enter code 63122-1 to create your free account. Just enter the dates of your special occasions and we'll send you timely reminders - by text, email, or voice mail. In addition to the free reminder we will send you great gift ideas. It's easy, convenient and best of all it is free. A free reminder service, now that is a good idea.

Myths about Poinsettia's

The Poinsettia is the most widely tested consumer plant on the market today, proving the myth about the popular holiday plant to be false: Scientific research from The Ohio State University has proved the poinsettia to be non-toxic to both humans and pets. All parts of the plant were tested, including the leaves and sap. According to the national information center for poison control centers, a child would have to ingest 500 - 600 leaves in order to exceed the experimental doses that found no toxicity .

- A study by Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University found that out of 22,793 reported Poinsettia exposures there was essentially no toxicity significance of any kind. The study used national data collected by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

-The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that keeping this plant out of the reach of pets to avoid stomach upset is a good idea, however pet owners need not fear the poinsettia and banish it from their homes for fear of a fatal exposure.

-As with any non-food product, however, the poinsettia is not meant to be eaten and can cause varying degrees of discomfort; therefore, the plant should be kept out of the reach of young children and curious pets.

For information on caring for a poinsettia please call one of our friendly consultants at 314-965-8440. To make a purchase you can either call the same number our visit our website at www.kirkwoodflorist.com. Wishing you all a fantastic holiday.

Missouri's Finest

It sure is hot in St. Louis- close to 100 degrees outside and the humidity is unbearable. Yet this is one of my favorite times of the year, because locally grown flowers are available. I see hundreds of flowers a day, and some of the nicest ones come from right here in Missouri. These flowers are up there with the mass produced South American flowers or the earthy flowers of California. Sunflowers, Black Eyed Susans, Zinnias, Dianthis, Mint, Gladiolas, and my personal favorite-- Coxcomb. All of these flowers are so much fun to work with, and most of them are unique to this time of year. But the best thing about using these flowers is supporting local flower farms. Kirkwood Florist would love to design you a beautiful custom bouquet made of purely Missouri grown flowers. Please give us a call today.