Time for another round of “Name that Flower”
Another skill I have achieved as a flower lady involves what I refer to as Name that Flower. On countless occasions, a client will announce they know what flower they are seeking but they don’t know what it is called. I respond by inviting them to describe the color, leaf shape, fragrance, etc.
Many people have been very impressed with my ability in this area, including myself. I have been amazed at the inaccuracy of the adjectives used yet still being able to nail it down. Most of the time this little game occurs over the phone so using photos as a visual aid isn’t possible. Even when I have a customer in front of me, I prefer to do the twenty questions method and try to guess without resorting to the internet or photos.
I get all kinds of crazy things thrown at me… You know, it has a tall green thingy and little white flowers all the way up? Well, that could be stock, snapdragons, campanula… Nope! Tuberose! It’s really a lot of fun most of the time. Another example is… It has flowers shaped like the letter V and they come in yellow, pink, white…all colors They make big ones and small ones. “Make” like they come off an assembly line. This one was actually pretty easy. Calla Lilies. These are just a couple examples of this flower brain teaser. As I encounter more episodes, I will post additional updates. It’s usually good for a chuckle or two. I believe possessing this ability has helped create a strong rapport with my clients. They seem to enjoy it almost as much as I do and I think some of them would like to try to stump me.
I would like to profile one of my favorite little blossoms today. Stephanotis. 
One of my favorite selections for bridal bouquets and groom boutonierres. Although it looks super delicate, if handled with care and treated properly are rather durable. They are appropriate on many levels as they represent marital happiness, are pure white and deliver a soft fragrance. I’m all about huggable flowers. I always try to steer my bride’s away from things that are simply not going to go the distance on their wedding day. The bridal magazines that profile things like sweet pea make me crazy. The poor bride that has her heart set on these types of flowers experience a let down when I give her the low down. The people designing these bouquets are clearly not thinking about longevity. Stephanotis is a winner and once the pearl headed pin is inserted they look so perfect with the majority of wedding gown styles. A black pin inserted for the boutonierre adds a masculine touch and photographs very well. Monkey grass or ivy leaves are great accent greens.
Flowers plus…
Once I landed my first job in the wonderful world of flowers, my life would never be the same. I quickly realized that my new coworkers were quite the eccentric lot. Consequently, I learned that my chosen profession was filled with idiosyncratic characters. This has it’s pro’s and con’s. I grew a thicker skin over night.
Wendy hired me on the spot. Little did I know what I was in for at the time. Within the first week I was reduced to tears for something inane.
Also, within that time frame, one of my assignments was bailing another coworker out of the local jail. Richard was a rip roaring alcoholic and had been arrested for DUI the previous evening. None of us were surprised as he walked around constantly with a Snapple bottle that was 90% vodka, 8% Snapple and 2% back wash. He was extremely talented. His dedication to the job surpassed that of his addiction because he showed up every day for work bright and early to water the outdoor plants. He provided comic relief to me on more than one occasion when he sensed I was near yet another emotional outbreak.
My fondest memory of Richard is of his arrival at my annual Halloween party dressed fittingly enough as “Miss Hydrangea.” Sadly, the drink did claim his life rather prematurely.
Each one of these individuals taught and enlightened me about all things floral. I quickly memorized all the names of the flowers and soaked up all the information I could get my hands on. I have often said that I learned the right way, from the bottom up. The basics are critical in flower care. I cleaned buckets like I was training for the Olympics. To this day, I don’t trust anyone’s flower bucket cleaning ability but my own.
I consider myself lucky to have worked in an upscale shop with nary a carnation in sight. It created in me a certain level of flower snobbery. Nowadays, there are some gorgeous carnations that I adore. Moonshade carns are one of my go-to flowers when there is a need for lavender and purple. They last for so long you get tired of looking at them before they eventually die.
The first year of my career was like a hazing ritual. I was pretty damn happy to come out on the other side with a tougher psyche. I am truly thankful for that as my mom would frequently tell people that as a child, I was so sensitive that if someone looked at me cross eyed I would burst into tears. I’m relieved that I have the ability to stave off the waterworks as life would have crushed me like a tidal wave had I not.
My flower of choice for today is the Bella Donna Amaryllis. Also known as Naked Lady Amaryllis. 
The fragrance is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. In bloom from July through September, it is highly recommended for it’s long vase life and it’s beauty either alone or mixed with roses, hydrangea and green hypericum.
there’s Magic in the Delivery.
The seeds of my career in flowers were sown when I was about five years old. I went out to play in a long forgotten hidden garden enclosed within a privet hedge. It was mid-summer and I started picking a bouquet of wildflowers to present to my Mom. I filled my arms with Queen Anne’s Lace, Cosmos, Bridal-Veil and Solidaster, otherwise known as “Ragweed.” Of course, at the time I had no idea that these blossoms actually had names. I arrived home that afternoon with all kinds of enthusiasm and all kinds of pollen. Mom’s face lit up when she saw this overgrown nosegay heading her way… She accepted the bouquet and placed them in a vase in our kitchen. She never let on that my gift was causing her all kinds of allergic discomfort. I was oblivious to the fact that her weekly visits to her doctor were to receive injections to help alleviate her issues… “Ragweed” being number one on that list. Flash forward about 20 years as I embarked on my professional life, I realized that one of the greatest joys of flowers is hand delivering them to an unsuspecting recipient. Most designers look down their nose at the mere notion of jumping in the delivery van to present their creation. Big mistake. It is a gift unto itself and should be experienced first hand so you are reminded what it is that you do and the impact it will have. To this day, I take a delivery whenever time permits and take pleasure in the look of surprise and happiness when that door opens. I just avoid including “Ragweed.”
