Hydrangea: More than just a pretty face

Hydrangea: More than just a pretty face

Around the flower farm Bridal bouquets CA Grown Flower arrangements Hydrangea Wedding flowers

Hydrangea season is upon us at Sun Valley.

Exciting news for most, as these pom-pom-like blooms are equally stunning in wedding bouquets, in large, upscale arrangements, and as single stems in a vase for the home. Even though its aesthetic appeal goes without saying, you should know that Hydrangea isn't just a pretty face. Here are some of Hydrangea's other qualities that make it special:

The All-American Flower

While Hydrangeas can be found all over the world today, some varieties are actually native to North America. A fun fact for our approaching Independence Day!

A Blooming Sensation
One stem of macrophylla (or "mophead") Hydrangea, a common variety we grow at Sun Valley, has dozens of four-petaled compact blooms that together form a cylindrical head, giving the flower the appearance of a very lovely mop.

The Chameleon

Many gardeners may be aware that soil alkalinity and the presence of aluminum contribute to the coloring of Hydrangea. But did you know some varieties also naturally change colors as they mature? For these varieties, the same Hydrangea bush produces much different colors from May to June and from June to August, when they become "antiqued" (appearing marbled with many layers of color). The great thing about the mild, misty summers at our Arcata farm is they provide Antique Hydrangeas with plenty of moisture, meaning they stay nice and hydrated even later in life.  



The two Hydrangeas pictured above are the same variety
with different soil alkalinity. Remarkable difference, eh?
(Variety: Kuhnert, Blue & Light Pink)



This Hydrangea is antiqued. Notice the layers of color.
(Variety: Antique Hamburg Blue)

Healing Powers

Native Americans used parts of the Hydrangea plant as a diuretic, a detoxifier, a burn remedy, and today's equivalent of Icy Hot. Today, it is sometimes used as a tonic herb in alternative medicine, but I'm going to have to say "Don't try this at home," unless you are an alternative medicine specialist!



Magical mystery flower

Okay, this one may be a stretch, but according to folklore, Hydrangea can be used to break a witch's curse. I'm not sure this is really applicable to anyone these days, but it's great to know if you ever do have the misfortune of crossing paths with the Blair Witch.

Some like it hot...

When you bring them home, Hydrangeas need a variety of water temperatures for a variety of reasons. The stems should be run under hot water for 5-30 seconds after cutting a 1/2 to 1 inch off the stem. This softens the sap-like substance at the base of the stem and allows them to drink water. They should then be placed in fresh, tepid water covering the length of the stem and placed in a cool location. If your Hydrangea is looking deflated, the whole flower (bloom and all) can be brought back to life with an hour-long bath of cold water.

With all of its unique qualities, you could say Hydrangea is quite well-rounded. (Okay, okay. Bad joke.) Just remember the next time you're enjoying its breathtaking outer beauty, there's so much more to Hydrangea than meets the eye.

For more information on Hydrangeas, please visit our Flower Resource page at: http://www.thesunvalleygroup.com/thesunvalleygroup/pdf/SV_RP_Hydrangea.pdf

Here are a couple of other very helpful Hydrangea websites:

Hydrangeas! Hydrangeas! (For gardening and cut Hydrangea tips) http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

American Hydrangea Society (Love the flower? Become a member!) http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/

Lily's Boots: Flowers, boots and the Miami heat

Lily's Boots: Flowers, boots and the Miami heat

Boots Bridal bouquets CA Grown Floral industry Flower arrangements Iris Lilies Miami heat Rain Boots Tulips Wedding flowers

I'm here in the midst of the third and final day of the International Floriculture Expo - Miami edition. I have been preparing for this event for what feels like a very long time, and while I think i was well-prepared for the goings-on in our booth, I was in no way prepared for the floral extravaganza that is the IFE: the Disneyland for floral enthusiasts, the Mecca of all things new and remarkable in the floral industry, the land where working is downright fun.

Of course it was great for the reasons I had anticipated: yesterday’s ceremony in which Lane named a lily for Stan Pohmer; featuring our fantastic flowers using materials from the farm (auction cart shelves, conveyor belt floor, greenhouse pipe chandelier); formally introducing All-In-One Vases and Upscale Vase Arrangements, and raffling off the much-coveted iPad2’s.

But here are some of the things that one simply can’t plan for or anticipate that made this show truly fantastic:

First of all, our team reconnected with old industry friends, and I got to make a lot of new ones. Maybe there’s something to this whole “flowers make you happy” thing because people within the floral industry are genuinely friendly and pleasant to be around – easy to befriend.

Second, I get to spend time with our flowers from the time they are babies until they are ready to make their way into the world on a daily basis, but here I get to see them in the world! Buckets upon buckets fully loaded with flowers are simply a stunning sight. It’s hard to say whether the two cartloads of Telstar Iris, the rainbow of soil-grown tulips, or the whole corner devoted to Lilies of all varieties (Royals, Lilytopias, Rose Lilies, oh my!) were more magnificent to take in. “Power in numbers” hit home with this display.

One last-minute inspired idea came to Lane last night when we found ourselves with a few extra tulips at the end of the day. He and another team member ended up handing out several bunches of tulips to unsuspecting people strolling around South Beach. Aside from a few “what’s the catch?” looks from suspicious passers-by, a lot of people walked away with bonus flowers and bonus smiles.

This morning’s highlight was getting a sneak peak of Rene van Rems’ new book Rene’s Bouquets for Brides, which is filled with creative and captivating wedding bouquets – some classic, some contemporary, and all made from flowers grown within the U.S. The photography perfectly captures the wide range of bouquets and “brides,” which a) make me want to get married one day so I can carry one of those masterpieces down the isle, and b) remind me that floral design of the caliber is a scientific art that is better left to the experts! For more information on Rene and his book, please click here. 

Finally, the icing on the IFE cake for me was the fact that our booth tied for Best Booth Design for the show. I think that the tulips-in-boots chandelier was a big hit, and the farm-like feel of the booth really resonated with people. The stunning flowers just might have had a little something to do with it as well. ;) (And yes, I wore my boots during the entire show along with my fellow team members!)

 Overall, this has been an amazing experience and one that I hope to repeat again and again. I couldn't possibly write about everything that I've experienced during this show (because you would eventually become overwhelmed or lose interest in my rambling), but let me say I'm humbled by the amount work that has gone into making this thriving floriculture industry into what it is today, and I'm happy to have met some of the folks who've contributed to it. Until next time, it's been a pleasure!