SPRING FLOWER SHOW

Surprizing (and disappointing) as it may be the BOSTON FLOWER SHOW (a/k/a the NEW ENGLAND FLOWER SHOW) has been cancelled! Funding appears to be the main issue and if you would like to help the Mass Horticultural Society out for 2010, you can visit their site at http://www.masshort.org/New-England-Spring-Flower-Show.

The good news to all this is that The 16th Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show will take place THIS WEEKEND, February 19-22, 2009 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. For all information follow this link. http://www.flowershow.com/. These shows are always welcomed by winter-weary New Englanders and are well worth your support.

JORDANS FURNITURE

A big 'Thank You' is in order for Jordans Furniture, for their inclusion of some of our floral work in their 2008 catalog. As always, this company stands above the pack in their support of community (and of course, exemplary taste!). Again, thank you folks!

WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE & CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS?

Carthamus tinctorius - or safflower - is one the oldest cultivated plants of record. Seeds have been found in pharaohs' tombs dating back at least to 2000 B.C. and safflower has been cultivated by the ancient Chinese as an oil crop and for medicinal use. In more recent centuries the flowers have been used for yellow, orange and red dyes as well as 'saffron-like' food additives. In the U.S. in the first half of the last century saffron oil was used as a high-quality paint medium. Today the oil is a readily-available cosmetic & food additive, including its use as a cooking and salad oil.

But it was not until the recent 1970's that the cut-flower industry began developing safflower as a marketable product. Through the 80', 90's and early 2000's demand has steadily increased for this hardly known, peculiar little flower. Be sure to ask for availability the next time you're looking for something a little different.