Past Newsletters

Vol 2 No 1

Black Magic Lily LONG LASTING FLOWERS!

Robust, enduring, and so elegant in its simple lines... when Mies van de Rohe described his architectural paradigm, Less Is More, he could just as well have been referring to this magnificent product of evolution!
Black Magic is a wonderful cut flower. You can make sophisticated arrangements with very few flowers, and if you recut the stems often so they don't curl up, it will last a long time. This variety of Calla Lily was introduced early in the 20th Century, and is one of the most sought after flowers imported from New Zealand. Its golden exotic flowers emerge from rolled and flaring 4 to 6 inch specialized leaves called spathes. Rising from the base of each spathe is a pencil-shaped spike, or spadix, bearing the plant's male flower. Their usual height is 24".
Calla lilies, native to South Africa, are easy to grow bulb or rhizome plants. Their thick leaves, up to 8 inches long and 5 inches wide, are shaped like arrowheads. This particular variety has white markings on its leaves, and its yellow flowers are 6 inches long. Other varieties come in shades of white, pink and black. The whites are usually larger and the pinks are smaller and more difficult to grow. The black calla, found in Palestine and Syria, has exquisite black-purple flowers.

New Zealand's Second Largest Exported Flower

Calla Lilies make great houseplants if a sunny window is available, although they may need a little protection from the midday sun. They do best in night temperatures of 50° to 65° and day temperatures of 68° or higher. Plant the tubers in early fall, setting them 3 inches deep in the potting mixture. Keep the earth barely damp until the first shoot appears, then keep moist and feed monthly with a standard house-plant fertilizer.

Outdoors, Calla Lilies look majestic in mass plantings or in clumps, like some ancient foliage you would expect to find in Queen Cleopatra's gardens. In fact they look lush even without their flowers, so you don't have to feel guilty when you cut and arrange them!
Callas due well in areas that are too wet for other bulbs, as long as the soil is well-drained. Their flowers open widest in full sun but will tolerate some shade. They will bloom year round (peak times around spring and summer), providing you with dramatic, graceful and chic arrangements.
Plant the bulbs in the fall 4" to 12" apart, pointed end up. Loosen the soil and add fertilizer. Cover bulbs with soil, water well and fertilize monthly with 5-10-5 fertilizer. Add mulch in cold climates. This species of Calla Lily, Black Magic, is hardy outdoors in mild climates and will begin flowering in early spring. To encourage flowering, allow the foliage to wither and turn yellow naturally as the bulbs go dormant. Leave the bulbs undisturbed through the summer.

Vyron Daisy Mums Are Stealing the Show!

To complete your striking symphony, we have added Lemon Leaf, White Palm Daisies, and Vyron Chrysanthemums. The Vyron is a small yellow "daisy mum" about 2 inches across, with a dark brown heart. This flower is distinctive and quite unique for many reasons. First of all, it's the only dark centered Chrysanthemum that has ever been developed. Your friends will want to touch these flowers to see if they are real... even next week! Vyrons continue to thrive and add empirical beauty an exceptionally long time after they have been harvested.

Vyrons don't feel like a normal flower

You can crush them with your fingers and they remain steadfast and determined to resume their inherent shape. They're powerfully built taking their strength in part from a wax like texture... even their leaves feel as though they have been polished and buffed.

Pull out a couple of petals and you will see that much of that brawny vitality is a product of geometry. Each petal curls inward forming a cone at the base, but what is really interesting is the corrugation in the center of the petal! Mother Nature, you did it again... another work of art!

These daisy mums can be a great bouquet all by themselves or you can mix them with just about any other flower. And their colors area perfect "pick me up" for this time of year...

A summer, sunflower feeling, when
a big part of our country is freezing,
snowing, and raining... and could use something bright and cheerful!

Give Valentine's Gifts They Won't Return! In Pursuit of Chocolate

The Connoisseur's Chocolate of the Month Club... Give a dazzling assortment of whimsical shapes and jewel-like chocolates. Take in that sensational aroma... your eyes widen, and your mouth waters! Belgian chocolate, French butter, American cream... extraordinary chocolate!

Discover handmade confections from around the world, reminiscent of age-old traditions and presented with
savoir faire! Celebrate the gifted artistry of acknowledged Chocolatiers, and learn first hand how they craft their signature creations when you read our newsletter!

In Pursuit of Cheese International Cheese of the Month Club

Sample exceptional Cheeses from all over the world, and discover an enormous range of tastes, aromas, textures, and ways to serve and use each cheese. Selected for prominence, creative interpretation, and quality, each cheese is hand cut from wheels that have been carefully tended and aged. And because you asked for it, our experts are matching monthly cheese selections with our American microbrews and International wines!

Peruse our newsletter and learn about the fascinating art of crafting cheese, and the myriad of cultural interpretations. Some cheeses were first created and enjoyed thousands of years ago!

International Wine of the Month Club

Take a virtual tour of exceptional boutique wineries from the comfort of your home, and taste the distinguishing flavors of celebrated appellations around the world.

You will receive two bottles from different vineyards each month, and you may choose reds, whites, or one of each. Your epicurean experience will be further enhanced when you read our Newsletter, Wine Cellars, which profiles the vintners and the fruits of their labors, and also includes Tasting Notes and suggested food accompaniments.