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What are Irises?

Iris are perennial herbaceous plants that grow from fleshy root bulbs or creeping rhizomes. They produce intricate, multiple flower segments that gently scent. Flowers are naturally blue-violet, but can also found in colors such as white, pink and yellow. With long, basal leaves and erect flower stems, they can mistake for lily plants when not in bloom.

Types of Iris

Irises grow wild in certain areas and have also been bred for ornamental use, with a range of physical characteristics present. The larger and more showy garden irises are popular choices for filling public and home garden spaces. Different types of irises include:

Bearded Iris: This iris has little hairs that adorn the petals near its reproductive organs. Flowers are large and perfect for house gardens.

Yellow Iris: Naturally yellow in color, this iris is ideal to mix with white daisies for a pop of color in your outdoor spaces.

Siberian Iris: This type of iris produces flowers with petals that are thinner and more delicate than those of the bearded iris. They also have thinner leaves that appear more grass-like.

How to grow Irises?

Irises are fairly easy to grow. They enjoy the sun and do best in temperate climates with direct or indirect bright sunlight. It is important not to over-water irises, as their bulbous roots are sensitive and likely to rot if overwatered. If you want to bring irises indoors, ensure your flower pot has a drainage whole and consider using a moisture meter to ensure soil isn’t over-wet. In addition, not many iris plants are needed in order to fill your garden space,

Because irises can spread vegetatively with their creeping rhizomes. A gardener's favorite flower, irises naturally assist with filling in empty garden space over time with its beautiful and intricate flowers.

By Olivia Turner

Plants and Flowers That Make Great Gifts. There are so many general benefits to plants, both psychological and physical. These include increases in work productivity and office morale, mood improvement, and even speeding up the process of healing and boosting pain tolerance. But some plants and flowers add several more specific strengths of their own that can be tailored to the people you’re giving them to. Here are just a couple:

A Restful Night’s Sleep

The smell of gardenias can make you tired - in one study it was even as effective as valium on GABA, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps to regulate behavior, cognition, and the body's response to stress, and the scent of jasmine helps to soothe anxiety and your central nervous system. Lavender takes these effects and adds a decrease in the amount of time it takes to wake up in the morning.

Improve Air Quality

Sleep can tie pretty heavily into air quality. Aloe vera, bromeliads, and snake plants emit large amounts of oxygen during the night, which combats insomnia and can help clear ‘stuffiness’ in a room. Areca palms, bamboo palms, and peace lilies are natural humidifiers -

The moisture from a peace lily’s leaves can improve humidity up to 5%, which can help those who suffer from allergies and cold symptoms. but Other plants and flowers that filter toxins from the air are English ivy, anthuriums, Gerber daisies, and chrysanthemums. You can pair these different qualities with messages for the receiver as well. Gerber daises can symbolize loyal love;

lavender is devotion; peace lilies send sympathy; jasmine in the United States is a sign of romance. There are so many layers of meaning that can come with giving flowers or plants as a gift,

far beyond just brightening a room and looking pretty (though those are, of course, benefits in their own right!) If you’re stuck on ideas, So you can never go wrong with offering these or any of their fellows!

Great Gifts

Here are a few starters for you:

https://nbuflowers.com/products/12-pack-assorted-tillandsia-ionantha-air-plants-30-day-guarantee-wholesale-bulk-fast-shipping-house-plants-succulents-free-air-plant-care-ebook-by-jody-james

https://nbuflowers.com/products/1-gal-bloomerang-dark-purple-reblooming-lilac-syringa-live-shrub-purple-flowers

Gifts in Isolation- The last couple of years have been very unique, and very uniquely difficult. Every single person I know has been in isolation multiple times, and it’s definitely taking its toll, even among us introverts; there’s something different about being forced to isolate versus choosing to isolate, at least for me. And in my experience, one way to make such a situation a little bit more bearable is to give a gift. 

More

Actively choosing to think about others, especially during times of suffering, is not the easiest, but believe it or not, it’s actually one of the most beneficial things you could do. Research shows that social connection and meaningful relationships, including the act of giving to others,

improve our mental and even physical health and activate the reward/pleasure systems in our brains,

which makes us feel good. Beyond just helping us to cope with stress, giving and tending to others can promote your satisfaction with life and give you a sense of purpose, and it can help foster a better perspective on your own situation. Clearly, during rough periods of life, escaping a self-focused outlook and preoccupation with ourselves and our problems to turn our attention outward can make all the difference.

Flowers are a wonderful gift to give (and to receive!) There’s a reason the giving of flowers and the prevalence of them among some of the most important events in our lives - weddings, and funerals are such an important traditions. Flowers connect us with emotion, with other people. They’re appropriate for every occasion and every age. Science has proven that flowers boost mood and improve spirits, and some can even promote a restful night’s sleep. What better way to reduce your stress than by helping someone else reduce theirs? The flowers have become so easy to purchase and send, you don’t have to do any of it in person,

which makes them the perfect isolated present.

Giving Gifts in Isolation

Here are a few products to help you get start!

https://nbuflowers.com/products/10-off-fresh-flowers-gift-3-monthly-deliveries-of-seasonal-mixed-bouquets-delivery-included-limited-time-offer-3-bouquets-of-charming-fresh-cut-flowers

https://nbuflowers.com/products/soho-floral-arts-real-roses-that-last-a-year-and-more-fresh-flowers-eternal-roses-in-a-box-red-7-x-large-roses?pr_prod_strat=collection_fallback&pr_rec_pid=7075128213667&pr_ref_pid=7075108454563&pr_seq=uniform

Best Gardening Gifts

One of the silver linings that social isolation and mandatory quarantine brought was more time outside in the garden.

Hundreds of individuals started, or revamped, their home gardens during isolation. Never before had there been such an ideal time to figure out what garden zone you live in, learn about raised garden beds, read helpful garden magazines, or try out those vertical gardening ideas.

And when you start gardening it is hard to stop,

because the pleasures of gardening cannot find any other passion or hobby.  However, you cannot reap these benefits without dedicated time, growing techniques, and the proper gardening tools.

For those who have used this challenging time to connect with their surroundings through gardening, the best way is to support them in this endeavor with the best gardening gifts:

Tool Set

A proper gardener lost without a set of essential tools. Gardening tool sets are nonnegotiable because they offer a complete set of tools to use for a range of utilities. Fortunately, NBU Flowers has your favorite gardener covered by offering the 14-piece, stainless steel. 

Gardening Gloves

All good gardens know that if you don’t have a pair of reliable gardening gloves, you’ll end up going through pair after pair in no time. so Give a devoted gardener a pair of gardening gloves for waterproof durability and the bonus of attachable finger claws for hand digging.

Garden Decorations

No garden is complete without a gnome topped mushroom or a charming fairy house. Browse NBU Flowers’ product page to find the best miniature garden accessories to put a smile on the face of your family’s top gardener.

Focus on the silver lining of this new social isolation with the best gardening gifts,

perfect for all the new and experienced gardeners in your life.

By Olivia Turner

Best Flower Delivery Gifts- I don’t need to explain why these past two years have been hard on everyone. We already know. We’ve all already experienced the quarantine hours, isolation, changes to workflow, and new social norms.  And you may still be feeling just as stressed and overwhelmed as in the beginning!  Or maybe you know a health care worker, teacher, friend,

or loved one who needs a bit of praise, gratitude, and personal celebration.

What better way to honor them, in a socially safe yet personal manner, than with a delivery gift of live, fragrant, and fresh flowers?

Best Flower Delivery Gifts

Fortunately, at NBU Flowers, we’ve got you covered when it comes to the best flower delivery gifts. First, you can directly browse our site for beautiful and fresh bouquets ready for next-day delivery, such as these beautiful pink roses for a wonderful teacher or new mother,

this Rainforest Alliance Certified bouquet for birthdays, and these yellow roses for a dear friend.

Secondly, you can find your best local florists, with their own personalized flower delivery gifts, using our Find Your Florist store locator tool. This allows you to not only bring joy to the gift recipient,

but also support local businesses who may be struggling in this new time.

Finally, NBU Flowers has the wonderful quality of offering ideal gifts other than delivery flower bouquets. In fact, if your special someone has really devoted time to their home garden during this isolation period, it may be perfect to give them a garden tool set, seeds, or potting supplies. All of which you can find without hassle from NBU Flowers.

Whatever or whoever you want to celebrate or thank during this distancing time, NBU Flowers can be your one-stop source for the best flower delivery gifts and garden gifts. So go ahead and share smiles and gratitude with the best flower gifts!

By Olivia Turner

You wouldn’t ever expect to find a place like this inside the city limits of a place like Boise, but it’s definitely a welcome surprise! Dream Farm Flowers went from unkempt horse pasture to an incredible urban cutting garden - a flower farm. This family-run business grows all their own flowers, and they use those flowers to create beautiful bouquets to deliver locally, to design florals for events, put on floral workshops, and to help consumers create their own cutting gardens. They’ve recognized both locally and state-wide, and even honored by the 2016 Idaho Botanical Gardens’ Private Garden Tour, and they give back to the community by donating to local non-profits.

Dream Farm Flowers

Dream Farm Flowers is very dedicated to the environment and sustainable practices. They support the #nofloralfoam movement, which aims to reduce usage of floral foam, or Oasis, in floral design -

Oasis is a plastic product that is not truly biodegradable (yes, not even the brands that claim to be so) nor reusable, and #nofloralfoam works to promote alternative techniques and products that are less damaging. Another example of their commitment to sustainability is their position with the Slow Flowers Movement, which aims to grow healthy, seasonal flowers in their native regions and reduce the environmental impact of the floral industry. Dream Farm Flowers puts their money where their mouth is by using methods such as crop rotation,

biological pest control, and the use of organic fertilizers and soils. Their work is gorgeous (just take a look at the photos on their website!)

and their mission is admirable - So I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen a single complaint about them. I highly recommend visiting if you happen to be in the Boise area.

Order fresh flowers and bouquet for your loved one-
24 Light Pink Roses Fresh Cut Flowers
White Dendrobium
Fresh Cut Flowers Bouquet

Adams Garden and Nursery is a fantastic local resource for nursery and garden resources. Not only their customers rate them well, they’ve also accredited members of both the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) and Idaho Preferred. Idaho Preferred is an organization that helps to promote agricultural and food products grown locally in Idaho, and is Administered by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture; the INLA is an organization of Idaho professionals in related ‘green’ fields who are dedicated to advancing the industry. so Pretty good qualifications!

The selection at Adams varies widely,

from decorative rock and bark for landscaping to vegetables to trees to flowers and shrubs. In Christmas, they remain open and continue to serve the community by converting into a Christmas tree lot, with additional ‘plant-related’ decorations such as wreaths available as well. Their services include delivery and even the giving of advice in regard to plant health and success!

so The lot is a good size for a family business and is organize well and easy to navigate,

with a fair scope of different species and several good seasonal sales throughout the ye.

The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. the most common complaint I’ve been able to gather about the company, and one I haven’t personally experienced, is that some people were not reimbursed for plants when they thought they should have been. this is hardly unique to Adams. Plants can be very difficult to guarantee, and nurseries will often have specific rules about what they will and will not cover! Make sure you understand what a business’s policy is!

For Adams, it’s pretty typical:

they do not offer credit for plants lost to under/over-watering, extreme temperature fluctuations, and insects or disease, or those installed by third-party contractors or those that are unsuite to their climate to begin with. so It’s very clear and straightforward, and they promise to always do

what is fair and reasonable in the sad occasion that plants fail. As for my part, when I visited last season, I left impressed and several trees happier! I definitely recommend Adams Garden and Nursery for consumers local to Idaho in the Nampa area!

You may like and order these stuffs for your garden-
Easy Grow Complete Fairy Garden kit
Self-Watering Urban Garden Planter
Garden Tools Set

Living Color Garden Center:

Talk about local, homegrown, and homey! This is one plant center that you don’t want to miss in South Florida!

What makes Living Color Garden Center a place to visit?

The right question here is what would make you not want to visit. This place is a hidden gem in South Florida!  Having been a part of the South Florida community since the late 1900s they offer endless options to aid you in creating your dream garden.

What makes them different from other plant shops?

While a lot of plant shops offer a large variety of plants to choose from, this shop goes one step further in realizing that not everyone’s wallet can afford luxurious plants especially if it’s just for a special event.  So how do they help you out? They offer plant rental! Yes, you absolutely read that correctly, they let you RENT plants.  If the plant is picked back up in the same standard that they were rented at, it will come up as half the price of the plant’s original cost.

What if I don’t know what I want to put in my yard?

Well, that is nothing to fear here.  In addition to the basic plants, rocks, and soil, they also have a wide array of pottery, decorative water fountains, garden supplies, statues, and even garden furniture!  So, if you don’t know where to start, take a stroll through the garden center, and before you know it, you’ll have an entire plan for your backyard and the furniture to match.

Where do they get their plants from?

These guys take no chances when it comes to their beloved plants, so much so that they have around 80% of their plants are grown at their sister company, Black Olive East Nursery.

What if I don’t know where to start with plant care?

Not to worry, with a team full of experts there’s always someone available to help you start your plant parenting journey.  And if you’re ever at home and wondering how to manage a specific plant,

they even set up a newsletter that can be of much help, all you have to do is subscribe!

So the next time you feel the need to add a new house plant to the growing collection of plant kids or want to give your backyard a total makeover,  head over to Living Color Garden Center for any of your plant needs!

Some indoor or gardening plants-

Mini Terrarium Plants
Live Snake Plant
2 Large Citronella Plants

By Krystal Ramsaran

Florida Nursery Mart- When you think of a one-stop shop for everything from maintaining plants to new landscaping ideas,

this is the place to visit!

Why should you visit  Florida Nursery Mart?

Living in a place like South Florida is as close as you can get to the Caribbean without leaving the United States. From beautiful blue springs to that permanent summer feeling nearly year around, what could be better? But in weather such as this, sometimes water isn’t enough to keep well hydrated and cooled down.  With an area so close to the tropics, having fresh fruit around is an absolute must!  But with that summer heat comes that dreaded feeling of leaving your house to drive and the scramble to get

AC going in your car as quickly as possible. So instead of burning your legs to get fresh mango or coconut water, imagine how much simpler life would be,

if you could pick it from your own garden and have it fresh and ready to eat in an instant?  With over 50 different types of fruit trees to pick from you’re sure to find fruit to your liking that will be easy to grow and ready to pick in no time at all!

What if I’m not the best at taking care of plants yet?

That’s absolutely fine! At Florida Nursery Mart there are over 70 types of drought-tolerant plants that make them easy to manage and easy to start becoming one with your plants.

What if I want to redo my landscaping?

Then this is the place for you.  From sod and mulch to sand and stones to grass and shrubs, this place has it all. so They even have a feature where you can test any new additions to the plant family or changes you wish to make on their Online Virtual Landscape Design.

How far can Florida Nursery Mart deliver?

They can deliver to Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties.

What types of flowers do they have?

From wanting to make an archway out of beautifully colored peach bougainvillea to planting different types of milkweed or fire-bush to attract more butterflies to your home garden this place has it all.  You can pick from a large selection of blooms that are sure to put a smile on your face every time you walk into your house or see local bees or butterflies flying around.

By Krystal Ramsaran

You don’t have to be an agricultural or greenhouse wizard to grow lettuce successfully. Rather, you can have great success growing fresh and crisp lettuce in your own home garden or in a well tended indoor planter.

Here are four key DIY steps for successfully growing lettuce in a nutshell:

1. Choose Your Seeds

Using heirloom seeds while growing fruits and vegetables for consumption ensures robust plant lineage and increases the chances of successful growth and multiple harvests. Good seeds lead to great yummy food!

2. Choose Your Space

Outdoors

Lettuce plant leaves are delicate and prefer a shady location without direct sunlight. In fact, you can make use of the bare spaces beneath your other veggie plants or raised beds to grow crispy lettuce.

Indoors

Be sure to provide a well draining growing environment for lettuce plants, such as vegetable growing bags or a stacked planter.

3. Planting

Plant seeds according to the individual package spacing and depth instructions. Each type of lettuce is unique in its best-germination requirements. In general, you can plant more seeds than you think is necessary as you can thin out your lettuce patch over time. 

4. Harvesting

In a location that is out of direct sunlight, your lettuce plants will flourish as long as you provide them with a good watering once a week. Thin out crowded plants and begin to harvest whole heads when they’re full or select leaves when they’re large.

One last thing: How can you make sure that your DIY, home grown salad

1. will contain the most delicious and diverse mix of greens? By growing at least three different types, some of the most popular being: Romaine Lettuce, Butterhead Lettuce, and Looseleaf Lettuce.

Alright now, go ahead and grow that delicious lettuce!

By Olivia Turner

Settled just an hour outside downtown Philly lies the RedBud Native Plant Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania.

This local nursery is dedicated to helping customers build resilient garden ecosystems that aid native fauna. As such, they grow their plants seasonally and offer ideal native woodland, wetland, riparian, meadow, garden, and pond species to select from.

In this article, we will explore their services and highlight some of the superlative programs that RedBud Native Plant Nursery offers for all those living in the Mid-Atlantic region.

To begin, RedBud staff can help you select the best native plants for your soil and site conditions,

as well as assisting the most passionate native gardeners with locating that hard to find native plant.

RedBud also offers knowledgeable native landscape design assistance. This doesn’t just mean listening to your ideas at the nursery and sending you home with suggested solutions, rather, RedBud takes pride in assisting you with finding a local contractor, providing project oversight during installation, and even helping you build a long-term maintenance plan for your native garden installations.

In addition, RedBud offers one-time in-garden consultations or ongoing Garden Support for those in need of support in garden ecology and health. In fact,

RedBud offers these collaborative services until you feel that you are a capable steward of your native home habitat. Ideal for beginner gardeners.

Finally, RedBud Native Plant Nursery hosts monthly Yard Talks for those living in the Mid-Atlantic region at their 904 N. Providence Road Media, PA 19063 location. They also have a website, Facebook, newsletter for devoted gardeners, and an Instagram. RedBud Native Plant Nursery is reachable at 610.892.2833.

Need help finding your own local florist or nursery? Search on NBU Flowers Find Your Florist application for premium florists and nurseries near you.

By Olivia Turner

Buying Flowers- Some things in life are easier than others. Dribbling a basketball is easy; dunking is not. Tying your shoes is easy; unhinging a bra while kissing is not.

You have to do a lot of things that are difficult: Get up and go to work, sit patiently in traffic, say you’re sorry when you don’t feel sorry. It may feel daunting to think of adding “buy flowers” to that already long list of difficult missions. But the truth is, buying flowers is one of the most practical things you can do. Consider the following:

You Don’t Have to Pick Them Yourself

Sure, you could if you wanted to. Drive to an open field, dance like The Sound of Music. Or snatch them out of a bed outside of your local Hardee’s.

But buying flowers means they’ve already been planted, fed, picked, and arranged. All you need is your wallet. Speaking of which...

They’re Universal, Yet Unique

Some women hate jewelry, others hate candy. Some don’t care for a fancy dinner, others won’t be impressed by a beach vacation. But nary a woman doesn’t love at least one kind of flower. There’s a reliability to flowers, which are familiar, yet individualized. Flowers are a universal language, and yet at the same time, each bouquet is its own gesture. No two are the same.

Flowers are Economical

Some gifts are too extravagant, like a pearl necklace. Some are too cheap, like a shot glass in a bikini. Flowers are affordable, but classy if done right. While they all eventually whither, the look on a woman’s face upon presentation is priceless. Combine the first impression, the look, and the smell of roses on a table, and you’re looking at money well spent.

Perfect For When You’re in a Bind

When you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea, you may not have time to take the children to sculpt and glaze their own pottery creations for their dear sweet mother. You also don’t have time to run to Pier One and try to hunt for a matching whatchamacallit to go with that whose-what’s-it she has in the living room.

But what you know is that the flower shop is right where you left it. And since the last bouquet you bought died, you know she’d love another one. You know you would do the same thing if it were a puppy.

It’s the Thought That Counts

Even when she can tell you forgot that special day, even when she never asked for flowers, even when you can’t figure out what she wants, even when you screwed up and flowers alone won’t fix it—know that you have to start somewhere. In those times when you hit rock bottom in the general area of getting her something to show you care, flowers will still be there, because flowers show that you care.

You thought of her. And sometimes that’s practically all you need to show.
Buy beautiful and assorted flowers for your loved one-

• 24 White Roses Fresh Cut Flowers
• Fresh Purple Dendrobium Orchids
• Pink Baby - Fresh Cut Flower Bouquet
  
  
  By Caleb Guard