Past Newsletters - August 2009
The Vibrant Flamingo Lily: Anthurium
We think of the tropics in the heat of the summer – and it is hot this summer; all across the central US, the emphasis is on the word "heat". That being said, it made sense to us here at the Flower of the Month Club to send you a bouquet that comes from the tropical landscapes where flowers and plants can tolerate these higher temperatures. Your featured floral arrangement this month can thrive in these hotter days, but our choice to bring this bouquet to you is really rooted in an effort to deliver a different perspective. Bright, big, bold, and exotic heart-shaped flowers stand tall in their vessel, unlike many of our arrangements that are broad, soft-petaled flowers and wide backing greens. Many of our bouquets fill out the vase and remain quite wide, visually, above the host vessel. This month, the bold statement of the flowers taking center stage is in their vibrant colors and simplistic yet exotic form. Our featured arrangement this month represents an example of contrast in floral shapes. The bouquet consists of eight stems of various-colored Anthuriums from Hawaii. The most striking component of the arrangement is the contrast between the exceptionally thin stems supporting the large, glossy, brilliantly colored Anthuriums. This arrangement repeatedly draws the eye from the thin supporting structures of the stems out to the large floral constellation created by vibrant Anthurium bracts, and gives one the impression that they're viewing a snapshot of holiday fireworks ablaze in the nighttime sky.
With combinations of these flowers and greens, the arranger (that's you!) is given many options with regard to designing their favorite layout of floral forms. We're especially fond of using the tri-colored hala leaves as punctuation in the arrangements, using small twists (like knots) toward the top of the arrangement to draw the eye out and above the bright bracts of the Anthuriums (you can view a picture on our website for an idea of what we're talking about: www.flowermonthclub.com. Just navigate to the arrangement listed under August). The stems of the Anthuriums can be cut at various lengths to evoke the firework-finale-like positioning we mentioned above, or you may opt to have all these lovely tropical beauties dance at the same level. The choices are limitless, and entirely up to you! Enjoy this bit of the tropics and arrange as you like. The fact that these hearty flowers may last up to three weeks or more gives you the opportunity to sculpt different designs over time. Just remember, you have the freedom to be as creative as you like. Have fun with it!
The Heart of Hawaii, The Love Flower: Anthurium
Anthuriums are members of the Arum family. Their cousins include jack-in-the-pulpit, calla lilies, split-leafed philodendron and taro. More than 700 species exist in the world. The name for the plant comes from the Latin word, “anthos,” meaning flower and “oura,” meaning “tail,” a reference to the numerous tiny true flowers on the tail-like spadix that arises from the middle of a heart-shaped bract called the spathe. Common names are: Flamingo Flower, Boy Flower, Flamingo Lily and Tailflower.
The brilliantly colored bract is thick, waxen, feels like shiny oilcloth, and looks artificial. The bracts range in color from pure white, shell pink, pink-red, deep red, bright red, orange, green, and even mauve. The true flowers on the yellow or greenish colored spadix are hardly noticeable. Called the “love flower,” the anthurium is now synonymous with Hawaii and with Valentine’s Day. The waxen, brilliantly colored flowers will last as long as two to three weeks, making them one of the longest lasting tropical flowers in arrangements, and a florist’s favorite!
The variety name “andreanum,” which was one of the first anthuriums to make it to Hawaii, was named for Edouard F. Andre (1840 to 1911), who was a botanist and horticultural editor in Europe. This plant was discovered in the wilds of Colombia by Jose J. Triana who sent specimens to Andre in 1876. Spanish-speaking people know the anthurium as “capotillo colorado” (the little red cape).
Even though the genus is not native to the Hawaiian Islands, in the minds of many people, Anthurium andreanum is the Hawaiian flower. Often referred to as "the heart of Hawaii," this species is actually native to the wet forests on the western slopes of the Andes in southern Colombia and northern Ecuador, where it grows as an epiphyte. (An epiphyte is a non-parasitic plant that grows in the wild, not rooted in soil, but on the body of another plant or on rocks. These plants cling to their support with aerial roots and gain nourishment from the atmosphere or from the moisture-capturing crevices in which it lodges.)
A native of tropical America and the Caribbean islands, the anthurium has been a most popular exotic flower since its introduction by Samuel M. Damon, in 1889. Damon visited Queen Victoria at her Diamond Jubilee and saw the plants in England during his visit. While at the Jubilee he asked the Edinburgh University botany department to help choose an anthurium and a gardener, Donald MacIntyre, to help him grow his flowers at Moanalua, his estate on Oahu. The plants were grown on Damon's estate, where they were vegetatively propagated and ultimately distributed to other growers.
Hawaiian Hala and Black Tea Leaves—An Arranger's Best Friends!
The importance of the tri-colored Hala leaves (Pandanus tectorius) from the sun-drenched state of Hawaii cannot be underestimated in their supporting role in your bouquet. Provided for additional texture and the contrasting form in their broad leaves, the Hala leaves also bring in yet another tropical element to this bouquet. The Hala leaves give the arranger an opportunity to add unique twists and turns in the composition of the ensemble. They may be woven together or turned and knotted upon themselves to create an additional focal point to the observer. This technique momentarily draws the observer's eye out of the body of the bouquet and off the Anthuria, to which attention soon returns. In this way, you can help to animate your arrangement. After all, there's much more to a beautiful bouquet than the vibrancy of its colors. Form and focus are tremendously important to consider.
Originating in ancient times, this plant is known not only for the stripes of color and pattern it lends to flower arrangements; it has also been employed for centuries in Hawaii as a fiber and dye used in traditional crafts and customs. Blankets, or "kapas," were woven out of the Hala leaves and were decorated with the dye from the fruit of the tree. Leis were also fashioned from the leaves, although one of the meanings of “hala” is "death," so the leis were used only to adorn oneself and not given to others.
The Hala tree is small- to medium-sized with a distinctive growth form due to its dichotomous branching pattern. Dichotomous branching involves forking at the tip so that two branches always result. Most of this tree's trunk is bare. The large leaves cluster at the stem tips. The stems produce many "Prop Roots," which support the stems as they grow upwards. Without them, these brittle stems would break. The fruit of the Hala tree very closely resembles the pineapple and was commonly enjoyed by the ancient Hawaiians.
Caring For Your Tropical Bouquet
Your flowers were harvested in the cool of morning, put into water, and moved to shade ASAP. The lower leaves were then removed from the sturdy stems and placed in a clean bucket with floral preservative. In order to replenish them from the ordeal of being harvested, these thirsty flowers are then whisked to the cooler (40-42°F with a humidity of 90 to 95 percent), where they are allowed to drink the acid-based water and soak up the humidity before being shipped.
Now that you have custody of these island beauties, give them some TLC to be sure your Hawaiian tropicals have a long vase life. Re-cut the stems one inch. It is a lot easier to use a sharp knife rather than scissors. You'll get a cleaner cut that will not crush the water pathways. Also, it is recommended that you cut the stems under water so there won't be any air blockages that could considerably shorten the life of your flowers.
Place your flowers loosely in a clean bucket in about four inches of water containing the appropriate amount of flower food that is packaged with them. Be sure to measure it out—too much food isn't good for many flowers. Later, you may add this nutritious water to your vase. Remember to keep all the leaves above the water line—you don't want to drown them.
Keep your flowers in a well-lit area for one to two hours, allowing them to recover from the shock of being harvested and the ordeal of traveling. Once they've had time to relax and acclimate, you can make an awe-inspiring arrangement or two. Use the fresh flower food as directed. Although these flowers like light 24 hours a day, remember to keep them out of the direct sunlight, and they will maintain their fresh look much longer.
If the water gets slightly cloudy at any time, this means bacteria are destroying your flowers! Immediately discard and replace the water. Wash off the bacteria from the stems under running water and repeat the stem-cutting process. Again, these tropicals should last quite a while, so make sure you add water as needed, bearing in mind that a complete changing of water will be in order every 4 to 5 days.
