Past Newsletters

Vol 2 No 11

In an effort to assemble an especially magical arrangement for the holidays, we chose elegant imported New Zealand Peonies as our centerpiece and surrounded them with complementary deep pinkish-red Alstroemeria. You’re sure to enjoy the fragrant aroma of our seasonal greens as you can’t beat the fresh scent of seeded Eucalyptus and Douglas Fir Pine. In addition to simply being a stunning bouquet, it seems that nearly each component of your arrangement has numerous medicinal healing qualities as well! So after you’re done enjoying it for it’s aesthetic qualities, you can make some tea out of your chrysanthemums to ease the pain of any holiday headaches that may have arisen.

New Zealand Peonies

Appreciation of the Peony began not over its dramatic shape and color, but for its purported healing powers. Early medicine believed the flower to possess elements that could cure no less than twenty different maladies. Other folklore claimed the Peony granted its recipient the power to keep secrets! And we all know someone we’d like to send a bouquet to if that were in fact true! The flower was also said to have among its many petals the homes of fairies and nymphs. The Chinese chose it as the principle flower in the Imperial Palace Gardens, calling it ‘Sho Yo,’ meaning "most beautiful." In the eighth century, its charm captivated the Japanese, who developed more than 300 cultivars.

By the early 19th century, European gardens began to feature the peony. Today, gardeners throughout Europe, Asia and North America regard the peony as one of the easiest, most rewarding plants to grow. With its long-lasting, colorful blooms, the peony is also popular as a cut flower, used in wedding bouquets and large floral arrangements.

Originally discovered on the steppes of Siberia and Mongolia, it is believed that the Peony might have been brought to the British Isles by the Roman legions, where it became a popular flower in monastery gardens. Peonies can live for a hundred years or more if undisturbed. Their season as a garden flower is rather short, three to six weeks, which only adds to their allure. When they make their appearance in late May, they are practically irresistible. That, of course, is assuming that you’re talking about this side of the globe! To make our holiday arrangement truly special, we’ve imported the Peonies featured in this month’s bouquet from the lush rolling hills of New Zealand’s South Island.

Types of Peonies

As with most flower varieties, there are several types of Peonies. Single Peonies have five or more broad petals in one or two rows surrounding a center of golden, pollen-bearing stamens. Japanese peonies have five or more petals and a center of feathery structures called staminodes. Anemone peonies have five or more petals in several rows with broad central petals. Semi double peonies have five or more outer petals and a center of broad petals with pollen-bearing stamens intermixed. Bomb peonies have a row of outer guard petals surrounding a pompon tuft of dense petals. Double peonies have five or more outer petals with the central stamens.

Alstroemeria

Shaped like a horn of plenty, the Alstroemeria (pronounced alstro-MARY-ah) is a graceful flower that originates in South America. The flower, sometimes called Ulster Mary, or Peruvian lily, is named after Claus Alstroemer, a pupil of the great botanical classifier Linnaeus who went to South America for extensive study of this species. Grown natively in Chile and Brazil, this flower is a beautiful component of our bouquet with its specks of brown and warm, spicy shades of Indian red and golden yellow. A medium-sized bloom with delicate anthers, it opens up showing off its multicolored velvet petals reminiscent of a spotted leopard. The main stems of these cut flowers are 2 to 3 feet long and branch into four to six short pedicels; each holding two to four flower buds giving it a clustered look and making it a perfect complement to larger flowers. This breed of flower is rather new and was considered quite unusual four or five years ago, however, international interest in this bloom grows every year because of its easy cultivation, unique beauty and lasting vase life.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus leaves are leathery in texture, hang obliquely or vertically, and are studded with glands containing a fragrant volatile oil. The flowers in bud are covered with a cup-like membrane which is thrown off as a lid when the flower expands.

Eucalyptus trees are quick growers and many species reach a great height. Eucalyptus amygdalin (Labille) is the tallest known tree, specimens attaining as much as 480 feet, exceeding in height even the Californian Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea). Many species yield valuable timber, others oils, kino, etc.

There are a great number of species of Eucalyptus trees yielding essential oils, the foliage of some being more odorous than that of others, and the oils from the various species differing widely in character. The oils may be roughly divided into three classes of commercial importance: (1) the medicinal oils, which contain substantial amounts of eucalyptol (also known as cineol); (2) the industrial oils, containing terpenes, which are used for flotation purposes in mining operations; (3) the aromatic oils, such as E. citriodora, which are characterized by their aroma. The medicinal Eucalyptus Oil is probably the most powerful antiseptic of its class, especially when it is old, as ozone is formed in it on exposure to the air. It has decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life. It’s known to stimulate circulation and is often used in aromatherapy to clear sinus passages. In general, it’s largely beneficial for respiratory infections, colds, flu, fevers, congestion and other respiratory problems.

Internally, it has the typical actions of a volatile oil in a marked degree. Eucalyptus Oil is used as a stimulant and antiseptic gargle. Locally applied, it impairs sensibility. It increases cardiac action. An emulsion made by shaking up equal parts of the oil and powdered gum-arabic with water has been used as a urethral injection, and has also been given internally in drachm doses in pulmonary tuberculosis and other microbic diseases of the lungs and bronchitis.

And you thought it was just a Tree!

Rutgers Behavioral Study Links Flowers and Life Satisfaction

Just about everyone I talk to these days is leading a fast paced life, and all you have to do is look at the magazine covers to see that we are all concerned about the consequences of our complex life styles. Can you remember when we used to think that computers were going to simplify things!

To relieve stress, we are advised to exercise, meditate, listen to music, take vitamin B, and so on. Well, C&H Clubs has another remedy for you to add to that list! According to recent behavioral research at Rutgers [The State University of NJ], the acts of looking at, and smelling flowers generate feelings of life satisfaction, a myriad of happy emotions, and that glorious feeling of connectivity. In fact, the Rutgers scientists found that flowers affect our behavior far beyond what was normally believed.

Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers was the lead scientist on this project. She is an internationally recognized authority in the role of emotional development in human behavior and nonverbal emotional signals and response. The results of her 10-month study show that flowers are a natural and healthful moderator of moods. And let’s face it, our moods affect everything we do!

Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All participants, no matter what age group, expressed genuine and animated smiles upon receiving flowers, and demonstrated extraordinary delight and gratitude.

Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Participants said they felt less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and also experienced a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.

Flowers make personal connections. Receiving flowers leads to increased contact with family, friends and clients.

"Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being." said Dr. Haviland-Jones. The participants chose to place their flowers in foyers, living rooms and dining rooms… suggesting that flowers are a symbol for sharing and feeling connected. "Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere."

Now I could have guessed that, but I never realized how much of a difference flowers can make until I started to keep a vase of fresh flowers on my desk. I have also noticed that when I look at them I feel a relaxing sensation all over my body, and a natural peaceful smile.