Flower Basics

Having flowers delivered to a friend or loved one is a warm gesture. Few gifts can lift the spirit, inspire a smile and brighten a room like a bouquet of beautiful blooms. But there is a way to...

If you're creating flower arrangements as decorations for your home or for a special event such as a wedding, you may not be a professional florist but you can act like one. By learning florist...

Magnolia blossoms are beautiful flowers that usually grow on tree branches. Having access to magnolia blossoms gives you the opportunity to pick a few and place them in your home as an addition to...

Cut flowers add color, fragrance and life to any environment. They lift spirits, commemorate important events and make an appropriate gift for a variety of occasions. The process of buying...

Buttercups are herbaceus annuals and perennials which can sometimes be found growing in shallow water depending on the species. Usually, buttercups have 5 petals, but this number can vary by...

It's indeed a shame that the breathtakingly beautiful blooming rose will soon fade and wither away. It seems that the beauty and heavenly fragrance of rose petals should rightfully be everlasting....

All flowers, including roses, belong to a type of plant called an angiosperm, which is the most prolific plant form on land. Flowers are the main reproductive strategy of angiosperms, there to...

Flowers and plants that are native to the Pacific have been admired and valued for centuries. From California to Washington state, all the way up to Alaska, you can find bold, leafy plants and...

There are numerous orange flowers to choose from when designing a garden or bouquet. Using orange adds a splash of color and vibrancy to any arrangement.

There are at least 100 species of roses, and each one has a blossom whose appearance and fragrance varies slightly or radically from all other roses. In general, identify roses by their delicate...

Making essential oil from flower petals is a process one can accomplish at home with some basic materials. While the process known as enfleurage does not produce highly concentrated essential...

Flowers are an easy way to spruce up a bland-looking home or workplace. While they only last a few days when fresh, there are many ways to preserve their beauty. Drying flowers with fine sand is...

Gerbera daisies, like roses, tulips and other flowers with large petals, make an excellent choice for preserving by microwave oven drying. This process preserves the flower shape and color better...

Received a corsage or bouquet of flowers and trying to keep them alive? Not to burst your bubble, but its not going to happen. Petals will fall off and it will shrivel up. So, as soon as you get...

The rose is a well-known flower found in the wild and in homes and gardens all over the world. While in bloom, roses are commonly given as gifts or used for decoration. There are a number of uses...

With so many varieties of flowers in the world, the differences between them are at once immediately visible and surprisingly hidden. Flowers are classified based on many different factors, which...

When one thinks of cacti, desert, arid and green come to mind. Most people do not realize that a cactus can have a plethora of multihued blooms. Flowers on a cactus are not exceptional in...

Flowers contain the reproductive organs of plants. The basic parts of flowers are the petals, pistil, sepal, stigma and stamen. Mankind has valued flowers for their beauty, pleasant fragrance and...

One of the most beautiful gifts you can give is a fresh bouquet of flowers. Unfortunately, the bright, rich color of the petals is temporary. After about a week on display, the flowers begin to...

Washington state is home to numerous and distinctive flowers that thrive throughout the diverse landscapes of the coast, mountainside and desert. As with all flora, these plants range in size,...

Whether one or dozens, white or flaming fuchsia, flower petals show off for pollinators. Flower petals modify petal shape, color, scent, sensitivity and patterns to attract pollinators. Both...

Begonias are monoecious, meaning they have separate male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers both occurring on the same plant. This plant strategy is to ensure a diverse genetic mix by...

Parrot tulips, which resemble the namesake tropical birds, are a variation of the classic tulip. These flamboyant flowers, with their notable curled, twisted and wavy petals, stand out in any garden.

Hailing from Central and South America, dahlias are a bushlike and colorful plant that has many faces. There are more than 36 species of dahlias, making a choice of the right flower for your...

Although you likely already know what a flower looks like, if you want to draw a realistic flower looking at a picture or a live example will help you get the most realistic and detailed results....

Besides being one of the oldest flower varieties in the world, the carnation is among the hardiest types and easiest to grow. Because of its beauty and durability, the carnation is used for many...

Believed to be present from the dawn of time, magnolia trees bear blooms that transport the beholder back in time to days of ancient beauty and tough flora that was made to survive. Through years...

Most of the time, we only notice the colorful, showy parts of flowers--and that is just what nature intended. Flowers are used to attract bird and insect pollinators so that the plant can...

Flowers with only three petals are a rare but special treat in nature. Close study of flowers reveals that both petals and sepals, which are petal-shaped and protect buds, surround the tender...

The flower of the passion vine, or passiflora, is an exotic-looking bloom that is easily recognized by the ring of spiky petals that surround its stamens. According to the Sunset Western Garden...

The flower is the eye-catching, endearing part of any plant. For the plant, the flower creates an irresistible lure for prospective pollinators to come provide a life-ensuring service. In order to...

When you think of a flower you generally think of it as a whole item, or perhaps in its most general parts---petals, leaves and stems. However, the gumamela flower, or hibiscus, is made up of...

Plants make flowers so they can make seeds that produce new plants. Flowers come in many sizes and varieties. Some are large and bright to attract insects, birds and animals for pollination, while...

Flowers are more than just a pretty and colorful addition to your garden. They are living, functioning plants with complex anatomical systems. If you are looking for a real life science project,...

Fresh cut flowers from your garden can be used as a bright centerpiece or can be arranged in a simple vase. Because flowers come in various shapes, colors and sizes, have fun mixing and matching...

When flowers bloom in all their glory, people are astounded by their colors, structure and features. From the backyard to the kitchen table and dining room, pretty flowers are always a welcome...

Roses have been used for centuries as ornamental plants. Rose petals and hips (berries) are used as ingredients in perfumes and health tonics. The rose emblem has been used as decoration, and even...

The bird of paradise comes from South Africa and is in the same family as the banana plant. It gets its name because the flower has its petals arranged in such a way that it looks like a delicate...

Roses come in different varieties and there are quite a number of them. In fact, more than 100 species of roses exist, not to mention there are also several types of garden roses that have sprung...

Dried flowers provide color and scent in fall and winter when the cost of fresh flowers can be prohibitive. Dried flowers also give you the chance to make a bouquet containing flowers that...

You can grow flowers to make the garden colorful, flowers to cut and bring indoors for flower arrangements, and flowers you can actually eat. Some edible flowers are perfect to create décor...

Seed collecting is a simple, enduring hobby that has been part of our culture for thousands of years. It was the development of this skill that allowed the hunter-gatherers of ancient...

Carnations have been cultivated for centuries. Their scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus, which translates to "flower of love." The delicate ruffled appearance, durability and longevity of...

When it comes to flowers, daisies are among the most popular. There have been declining sales of many U.S. grown flowers in recent years. But gerbera daisies and others are among the few flowers...

Start by making lists of edible and non-edible flowers for easy reference. Research how to grow flowers organically so that they are free of chemicals, pesticides and floral preservatives, and...

The name "mum" was originally a nickname for chrysanthemums, but since then, mums have moved from the chrysanthemum genus to the dendranthema grandiflora scientific name. But to most florists, the...

Although there is only one daisy, the flower family Asteraceae is usually called the daisy family. What most people consider daisies are members of the Asteraceae family and are not real daisies,...

Often roses are part of a special event or occasion we want to remember, and preserving the petals gives us a special way to do that. Rose petals are also very aromatic, and saving the petals...

A carnation is one of the oldest types of flower in the world. Its history goes back to ancient Rome and Greece, and today it is one of the most popular flowers. Carnations are beautiful and...

A simple and fast method in which to dry and preserve your spring flowers is to Microwave dry them. This method is best on bright, colorful, not too bulky, spring blooms that are fresh, dry and...