Month: June 2013

Ease of Sending Flowers Online

Send Your Love to Your Loved Ones From the Comfort of Your Sofa

We love to send gifts to our loved ones on special occasions and their big days. Our loved ones wait for these gifts. They reckon these gifts as signs of our love for them. So we need to send them what they like as in this way we can express our love to them. It has been observed that whenever we send something to someone, one has to accept it no matter whether they like it or not. It’s considered against the etiquette to reject a gift on the basis of your liking or disliking. But all the responsibility of following the etiquette doesn’t lie only on the receivers of the gifts and the sender must also be careful when sending gifts to someone.

Keep in mind that different humans have different nature and it’s possible that the thing we like, others would also like it. For this reason, it is not easy to choose a right gift for your near and dear ones. However, there are some gifts which can be called as universal gifts. Flowers are always at the top among such gifts. There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t like flowers. We all love to give flowers and we all have an inner desire to receive flowers from those that we love. Flowers can take our sentiments and love to those that we love and want to be with them on their happy occasions no matter where we are. They realize our loved ones that we are physically away from us, but mentally we are with them.

Nowadays flowers are widely sent and received on occasions like valentine, anniversary, parents’ day, birthdays, other events and functions. However, it’s not an easy and simple task to send flowers in best conditions to our loved ones especially when we are miles away from them. My friends from school and college have always been looking for reliable Mumbai florists to send flowers to Mumbai that is their hometown in India. No doubt, they have had a good experience whenever they have hired our services. If you want to send flowers to Mumbai or any other part of India, you can definitely make the most of our services. We will deliver flowers to your loved ones not only on time, but also in the best possible combinations and designs.

Whether you are looking for a Mumbai florist to send flower in Mumbai or New Delhi or any part of India, you need not look any further for a reliable florist for this purpose. Just with a few clicks you can place your order and your loved ones in your hometown can get your sentiments at their doorstep thru May Flower. We at May Flower can deliver flowers and gifts for you right from you sofa but just entering a few steps on our website. Keeping a track of occasions and reminders, address book, discounts, sales etc are all part of a free experience that is awarded to anyone and everyone who registers as a Member on our site. Once you register and send flowers thru our site we will make sure you will never forget any occasion, have to type out any address again, and will always be informed of your order status with live tracking.

We at May Flower strive hard to achieve excellence in any order that we prepare. Bouquets for specific occasions are chosen with utmost care so as to match the occasion with the relevant flowers. Right from choosing the flowers, colors, foliage, packing etc to the card that is written is all in sync with the purpose and occasion.

Browse thru our collection here at May Flower and order flowers online with the utmost ease..

Sikkim International Flower Show 2013

Flora and Fauna

Sikkim is situated in an ecological hotspot of the lower Himalayas, one of only three among the ecoregions of India. The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range of fauna and flora. Owing to its altitudinal gradation, the state has a wide variety of plants, from tropical species to temperate, alpine and tundra ones, and is perhaps one of the few regions to exhibit such a diversity within such a small area. Nearly 81% of the area of Sikkim comes under the administration of its forest department.

Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak varieties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer species, 362 types of ferns and ferns allies, 8 tree ferns, and over 424 medicinal plants. A variant of the Poinsettia, locally known as “Christmas Flower”, can be found in abundance in the mountainous state. The orchid Dendrobium nobile is the official flower of Sikkim, while the rhododendron is the state tree.

Orchids, figs, laurel, bananas, sal trees and bamboo grow in the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests of the lower altitudes of Sikkim. In the temperate elevations above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) there are Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, where oaks, chestnuts, maples, birches, alders, and magnolias grow in large numbers, as well as Himalayan subtropical pine forests, dominated by Chir pine. Alpine-type vegetation is typically found between an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,500 to 16,000 ft). In lower elevations are found juniper, pine, firs, cypresses and rhododendrons from the Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. Higher up are Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows, home to a broad variety of rhododendrons and wildflowers.

The red panda is the state animal of Sikkim.The fauna of Sikkim include the snow leopard, the musk deer, the Himalayan Tahr, the red panda, the Himalayan marmot, the serow, the goral, the barking deer, the common langur, the Himalayan Black Bear, the clouded leopard, the Marbled Cat, the leopard cat, the wild dog, the Tibetan wolf, the hog badger, the binturong, the jungle cat and the civet cat. Among the animals more commonly found in the alpine zone are yaks, mainly reared for their milk, meat, and as a beast of burden.

The avifauna of Sikkim include of the Impeyan pheasant, the crimson horned pheasant, the snow partridge, the snow cock, the lammergeyer and griffon vultures, as well as golden eagles, quail, plovers, woodcock, sandpipers, pigeons, Old World flycatchers, babblers and robins. Sikkim has more than 550 species of birds, some of which have been declared endangered.

Sikkim also has a rich diversity of arthropods, many of which remain unstudied; the most studied Sikkimese arthropods are butterflies. Of the approximately 1,438 butterfly species found in the Indian subcontinent, 695 have been recorded in Sikkim. These include the endangered Kaiser-i-hind, the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory.

The Government of Sikkim has decided to organize the 2nd International Flower show from 23-27 February 2013. The Horticulture & Cash Crops Development Department will be the Nodal Department for organizing the event.

The main objectives of organizing Sikkim International Flower Show 2013 are:-

To showcase the floral potential of Sikkim.
To promote Floriculture Industry in Sikkim.
To provide Flower growers of Sikkim an International Exposition for understanding the Global trend of Floriculture Development and Flori-business.
To keep pace with the advancement of World Floriculture.
To highlight Sikkim as a Floriculture State / destination.
To promote Tourism in Sikkim.

FLOWERS

Different species of flowers such as Cymbidium Orchids, Roses, Zentedeschia, Lilium, Gerbera, Seasonal Flowers viz. Ceneraria, Petunia, Flux, Primula, Calendula etc. will be displayed on benches and in gardens as potted plants or live plants.

VEGETABLES

Different vegetables potted plants as well as harvested crop will be displayed.

SPICES

Spices crops like Large Cardamom (Cardamomum Subulatum) which is the native crop of Sikkim will be displayed as live plants and harvested capsules. Ginger and turmeric, which are also important cash crops of the states, will be displayed as harvested fresh rhizomes.

ROOT AND TUBER

Crops like yam, cassava, potato, sweet potatoes are being grown by the small and marginal farmers of the state for their consumption as sometimes as staple food and also as snacks. The root and tuber of these crops will be displayed during the event.

TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, & ORGANIC INPUTS

The firms and companies dealing with important tools and equipment used in Agricultural purposes will be invited for displayed in the stall provided to them. Similarly, organic manure and bio-pesticides available in the country and as well as in the international market will also be displayed.

BAMBOOS & MUSHROOMS

It is proposed to display a set of live species of bamboos during the event. Fruiting mushroom blocks of different species will also be kept for display.
In order to benefit the farmers and visitors, the organizing committee has decided to distribute package of practices of different crops as leaflets and pamphlets during the entire show.

The 1st International FloriShow 2008 saw more than 1 Lakh visitors attending to see the floriculture potential of the state. The event was participated by 22 International Companies, 65 National private companies and 15 State Government Agencies. International FloriShow 2008 was considered as a herculean step in the showcase of Floriculture development in the country. In this retrospect, the 2nd International Flower Show 2013 has an enormous probability of attracting approximately 2 Lakhs visitors from all over the state, neighboring states and other countries as well. The targeted audience include guest officers of the State and Central Government, farmers from within and outside the state, students from school and colleges, local gentries, and tourists.

Source: Sikkim International Flower Show

More such articles and flowers mentioned in this blog are available on May Flower.

 

 

 






Healing Power of Flowers

Healing Power Of Flowers

As the old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” As much as we may appreciate the beauty of different flowers emerging from sleepy ground, many floral friends are much more than just a pretty face. Some flowers possess the power to heal, earning them a place in your medicine cabinet as well as your favourite vase.
It’s no secret that flowers can boost morale and improve mood. A bunch of sunny-faced blooms brighten a room and the spirits of anyone catching a drift of their scent. Flowers also affect us on a biological level. As botanicals, they possess phytochemicals that produce pharmacological effects on the body ranging from anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to cardiovascular benefits.

Lavender

The Lavendula genus contains 39 species of flowering members of the mint family with a range extending from Africa, India, the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. L. angustifolia, or English lavender, is the species commonly used for medical purposes, which yields an essential oil widely used in aromatherapy. In addition to producing anxiolytic properties to promote relaxation and induce sleep when inhaled, the oil also exerts anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects when applied topically to the skin. In fact, lavender oil, once used to disinfect hospital surfaces during World War II, is an effective treatment for burns, wounds, insect bites and acne.

St. John’s Wort

In Germany, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is widely used to treat depression in adults and adolescents. For several years, the effect of this herb on major depression was a matter of great debate. Certain agencies acting under the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), still maintain that St. John’s wort is ineffective against major depression. However, this assertion is largely based on a single trial conducted by NCCAM that has since been criticized for poor study design. In fact, the same study found that sertraline (Zoloft) was also no more effective than placebo in 340 volunteers. In contrast, a 2008 Cochrane review of 29 trials involving more than 5,000 people concluded that the efficacy of St. John’s wort in treating major depression was comparable to conventional antidepressants, but with far less risk of side effects.

The oil and tincture of St. John’s wort, made from both leaf and flower, are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory when used topically. Preparations made from this herb are also being studied for other applications, including the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, attention span deficit disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome and alcoholism.

Chamomile

Peter Rabbit’s mother knew what to do when her disobedient offspring suffered a stomachache from indulging in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Aside from scolding him for losing his coat and shoes – and nearly his life – she sent him to bed with a dose of chamomile tea. Although Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter’s tale, didn’t specify which form of the plant Mother Rabbit used, most herbalists prefer to use Matricaria recutita, also known as German chamomile. The bright yellow flower heads contain numerous glycoside flavonoids and other compounds that have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Externally, chamomile extract and essential oil counter various skin conditions, largely due to the presence of a natural histamine blocker and free radical scavenger called chamazulene. Tea made from chamomile flowers helps to ease indigestion, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints.

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea also known as purple coneflower, is a North American native with a long history of use in medicine. Various Native American tribes noticed that elk purposely look for this plant when sick or injured, earning the herb the nickname “elk root.” The Lakota (Teton Sioux) used the plant to treat inflammation and pain, while the Kiowa and Cheyenne used it to ease cough and sore throat. The healing properties of echinacea are due to fat-soluble compounds called alkylamides, which regulate cytokines and other agents involved in producing inflammation. Preparations made from the flowers, as well as the root, help to thwart viral invasions when taken internally at the first sign of cold or flu symptoms. Externally, echincea is used to treat wounds and skin irritations.

Hawthorn

This member of the rose family is represented by various species of the Crataegus genus that contain chemicals with health-promoting properties similar to those found in red wine and grapes. Hawthorn also contains potent antioxidants, namely quercetin, rutin and hyperoside. For more than 200 years, this herb has been used to improve circulation, lower blood pressure and to improve cardiovascular function. Recent research has found that hawthorn helps to improve exercise tolerance in people with heart disease.

Calendula

Calendula Officinallis is a member of the daisy family more commonly known as pot marigold. Traditionally, preparations made from the flowers are used to treat minor wounds, acne and other skin conditions. Modern science tells us that these effects are due to the presence of different kinds of glycosides, which have shown to be anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-carcinogenic. These compounds are also associated with antispasmodic effects and a tea or extract made from the flowers is taken internally to ease cramps.
These are some of the flowers that help in healing day to day and some long term illnesses and have been tried and tested in various parts of the world. Though most of these flowers have to be sourced from the parent root, their effects can vary as per the purity of the bulb that is harvested. Having knowledge of these natural cure remedies help those who are in the interiors of some country or those who do not have access to advanced medicines.
This article has been collectively formed with information from web articles, magazines, floral books etc. For more such articles and to order flowers online visit May Flower

Source: Herbco with some inputs by the author of this blog.

Fathers Day and its Origin

Fathers Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, but it is also celebrated widely on other days. Father’s Day was created to complement Mother’s Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood.

Father’s Day was inaugurated in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother’s Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting.After the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother’s Day in the US, some wanted to create similar holidays for other family members, and Father’s Day was the choice most likely to succeed. There were other persons in the US who independently thought of “Father’s Day”,but the credit for the modern holiday is often given to Sonora Dodd, who was the driving force behind its establishment.

How did Fathers Day get started?

Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

It did not have much success initially. In the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago, and it faded into relative obscurity, even in Spokane. In the 1930s Dodd returned to Spokane and started promoting the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She had the help of those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers. Since 1938 she had the help of the Father’s Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men’s Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Americans resisted the holiday during a few decades, perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother’s Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. But the trade groups did not give up: they kept promoting it and even incorporated the jokes into their adverts, and they eventually succeeded.By the mid 1980s the Father’s Council wrote that “Father’s Day has become a ‘Second Christmas’ for all the men’s gift-oriented industries.”

How Fathers Day celebrated in India?

Fathers Day is honored today in India on the 2nd Sunday of June every year. Whilst most are aware of the occasion, a large number of girls celebrate and honor the day far more than boys. Most of the children who are studying or working abroad send flowers and gifts to their fathers who are living in India. Popular gifts for Fathers day range from Liquor Bottles, Perfumes, Tools, Electronics, Flowers, Chocolates, Cakes etc. At May Flower we customize the gifting by incorporating certain gifts into the floral bouquet adding value and design to the overall look and feel of the flowers sent. Do visit May Flower for more such ideas and giftings.

This article has been collectively formed with information from web articles, magazines, floral books etc.

For more such articles and to order flowers online visit May Flower

Flower of the Month – June

There are specific flowers which are traditionally given according to the month that a person is born. The June Birth Flower is the Rose.

The History and traditions surrounding the June Birth Flower, the Rose is fascinating. There are many myths and legends about the origins of this tradition. It is believed that birthday celebrations originated in the Roman Empire and the origins of birth month flowers, such as the Rose, could be said to date back to these times. During Roman birthday celebrations family and friends offered congratulations and brought gifts. The gifts included gemstone jewelry, such as the Pearl, and also flowers – the first traditions and origins of the June Birth Flower.

The Language of Flowers

The language of flowers developed during the highly conservative period of the Victorian era. The Victorians were strongly restricted by the rules of etiquette when it was considered totally inappropriate to express feelings of love or affection. The “Language of Flowers” therefore evolved when a message was assigned to specific flower such as the Rose. A lover could then send flowers which conveyed a hidden romantic meaning.

The general meaning of the June Birth Flower, the Rose are symbols of love and beauty.The hidden message of the Birth Flower, the Rose, so favored during the Victorian era varied according to color:

Color Red – I Love You
Color White – I am worthy of you
Color Orange – You are my secret love
Color White – You are Heavenly
Color Yellow – I am not worthy of your love
Color White & Red – We are inseparable
Color Pink – Please Believe Me

Birth Month Flowers – Gifts for Special Occasions

All over the World people give Birth Month Flowers as gifts to celebrate special occasions or events. Flowers, such as the Rose, are always given to celebrate the birth of a new baby and included in wedding flowers or a wedding bouquet. Many people also like to give June Birth Flower, including the Rose, to celebrate special events at different times and months of the year and especially during holiday periods. Knowing the flowers which are associated with the June Birth Flower and their meaning adds to the significance of the flowers. The special events where it would be appropriate to give the June Birth Flower, the Rose are as follows:
Month of June Flowers, the Rose, to commemorate D Day on June 6 and Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June

Definition of the Rose: A flower and shrub of any species of the genus {Rosa}, of which there are many species, mostly found in the Northern hemisphere

The scientific name of a flower species is formed by the combination of two terms: the genus name and the species descriptor. In the case of the Rose there are many different species including Rosa canina – Dog Rose, Briar Bush, Rosa gallica – Gallic Rose, French Rose and Rosa virginiana – Virginia Rose

Roses are indigenous to Syria. The famed rose of Damascus is white, but there are also red and yellow roses..
There are more than a hundred species of wild roses. The name “Rose” is derived from the Latin rosa, an Etruscan form of Greek Rhodia meaning “Rhodian, originating from Rhodes.”

This article has been collectively formed with information from web articles, magazines, floral books etc.
For more such articles and to order flowers online visit May Flower