Nook Flowers: 2015

Friday

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2015

Monday

June's Flower of the Month: Lily

Come June, Come Lily!

Lily symbolism

The lily is full of symbolism, with its main connotations being:

Femininity. In Greek and Roman times brides were given a crown of lilies, in the hope for a pure and fertile life.
Love. In Victorian times people knew when they received a sweet smelling lily that: ‘this is my lover’.
Purity. White lilies were often used at weddings as a sign of virginity and purity.
Transience. The serene and pure appearance of the lily expresses emotion in times of loss and grieving.

Origin

The lily originates from various places. In the wild they can be found in Korea, Japan and parts of Siberia but also closer to the equator in India. In Europe the lily is native to the Caucasus, the Balkans, Greece, Poland, the Alps and the Pyrenees. They can also be found in the wild in most American states with the exception of the south west quarter.

Photos © Flower Council of Holland.

Article courtesy of the International Florist Organisation

Sunday

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2015

Public Service Announcement: If you're headed out to Royal Floria Putrajaya, here are some points to note: It's outdoors and blazing hot (temps soared to 34C yesterday but felt waaaay hotter). Sensible clothing footwear, umbrella, hats, sunscreen are must haves.

Set Waze point to: Floria Putrajaya Car Park

It seemed like parking was a free for all, although there are designated areas; just be mindful of which zone you're parked at.

The ticket booth is by the mainroad outside the primary entrance. Tickets are rm5 for mykad holders and rm10 for non-mykad holders. But once inside the grounds you'd still need to buy a separate ticket to enter the Spring & Winter Dome. It costs rm3 and the booth for this is located next to the Dome.

It seemed hard to get a guide map for the exhibit zones. If it helps, here's a photo of the site map, do save it to your phone.

For refreshments, there are food trucks, stalls and beverage vending machines in most zones. But carry some water anyway.

The plant display is the first zone you'll pass through and there are lots of good buys. Our advice is, make your purchase on your way OUT so that you don't have to lug these bags throughout the exhibit.

Inside the covered display areas, the domes are air conditioned and a nice respite from the heat. But there aren't any benches to sit. So you'll find people sitting on the edge of the larger artistic displays - most probably the ones you'll want to photograph. But if you politely tell them that you'd like to take a photo, folks do step aside with a sheepish smile :)

Be patient, especially if you're a photography enthusiast cause the exhibits are beautiful and worth the few seconds to wait for, as folks will be whipping out their mobile phones, and inadvertently stick it right infront of your face.

Take your time and enjoy the profusion and abundance of flowers and plants on display and appreciate the hard work that went into it. Remember no picking of the flowers :)

Thursday

Green That Balcony

As the neighbourhood flower shop, we keep getting requests from plant loving citizens of Bangsar South for balcony suited plants that can take the brunt of the sun.

Here's a selection of sun-loving, balcony dwellers that work in big ways for small spaces. Naturally, these cute poppets would double up as green gifts as well - the kind that keeps on growing and giving.

Wednesday

Mother's Day is Sunday, 10 May 2015

Show Mom some bloomin' love!

Mother's Day is Sunday, 10 May 2015 and pre-orders are now open. Please note our delivery service is from Monday- Friday, orders for Saturday and Sunday are limited to pick-up from Nook Flowers.

Due to the popularity of the event, please do book early.

Tuesday

Cultural New Year Celebrations

So many happy celebrations across our region today. Happy Tamil New Year, Vaisakhi, Vishu, Pohela Boishakh, and Songkran to all who celebrate. Love, light, happiness and blessings.

Photo credit: Dinesh Aravindhakshan from his sublime 'Heaven Must Be Like This' collection.

Time for Tea

It's raining, it's pouring! Time for tea and these seriously delicate rose shortbreads. Decadent & delicious. Would you like to step into our parlour?

Monday

Happy 88th Birthday!

Commissioned by a daughter (who lives abroad) for her beloved Mom who's celebrating her 88th birthday, a handsome hand-weaved basket filled to the brim with lilies, lisianthus, roses, spray carnations, and the piece de resistance a suspended clear glass vial with orchids. Locally sourced and made with love.

Happy Days!

Top of the morning and here's wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!

Tumbling mass of Maria roses alongside two-toned purple eustomas, and pink eustomas with song of India leaves.

Sunday

Happy Easter

Easter wishes and blessings to all who celebrate. We love this gorgeous ceramic egg with its surprise succulents filling. A twist on the traditional chocolate treat.

Tuesday

Spring Basket

A basket of blooms overflowing with lisianthus and Sweet Williams, with a delicate calla lily handle

Wednesday

Grow Your Own Grub - A Little Farm On The Hill

Would you like to GROW YOUR OWN GRUB?

If so you might enjoy the one day practical introduction to home gardening at an organic farm, only 40 minutes drive from KL. Friends who attended this course recently say it was one of the best learning experiences they had!

The workshop will be run by gardening and compost buff, Harbir Gill. It's designed for anyone who's interested to get started in growing fresh vegetables in their garden or apartment balcony, or anyone who's already been bitten by the gardening bug but wants to see better results. The course is hands-on and will introduce you to the basic principles of natural gardening and all the benefits that come with it. The course starts at 9.30am and finishes at 4pm. Refreshments, lunch, course equipment and notes are included.

ONLY 5 SPOTS LEFT!

All you need to bring are a sturdy pair of shoes, an open mind and willing hands.

Saturday 28 March 2015 9.30am to 4pm at a little farm on the hill Tanarimba Janda Baik, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. RM250 per guest (includes lunch, refreshments, starter kit book!) Limited to 15 guests only - only 5 spots left now - so book soon!
To book please email alittlefarmonthehill@gmail.com

Programme:
09.30 Welcome, COFFEE and BUNS
10.00 How to get started?
Do I need a garden?
What do plants need to grow?
How to source equipment?
11.00 Soil improvement and composting
12.00 LUNCH
13.00 No dig gardening concepts
Creating potting mix
Planting in containers
Intro to seeds, cuttings, planting
14.30 Basics in natural pest controls
15.00 TEA and CAKE and tour of farm

(link to page: Grow Your Own Grub)

Thursday

Friday's Flirty Fleurs

Back by popular demand. Coming up this Friday!

First come first served and while stocks last only.

Pick and go options only. Choice of flowers will change as it's based on what's in-store. No two posies are identical.

White Day is Coming Up!

The unique celebration known as White Day is on Saturday,14 March 2014, so don't forget to use your 20% discount voucher to get something special!

For the uninitiated, here's some information on White Day from the Japan Travel Info Blog.

Sunday

Happy International Women's Day

If you ask us, women should be celebrated EVERY DAY! #makeithappen

Monday

Happy Monday

Hope everyone had a brilliant long break! We're getting back into the groove of things too with this batch of handmade message cards. Couple of more finishing touches and it'll be ready.

Wednesday

Happy Chinese New Year 2015

Have a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration and may it be filled with happy memories. Be safe on the roads everyone. Your Floristas will be taking a break as well and we resume operations on Monday, 23 February 2015.

*Please note all deliveries for Monday will only be sent out after 1.00pm as we need to restock in the morning.

Tuesday

Lunar in Bloom

Hua kai fu gui' translates to when flowers bloom, prosperity comes. Here's a selection of some of our designs which take into account cultural significance and symbolism. Where possible, we have used locally sourced flowers and foliage in these creations.

Dual-toned pandanus leaves playfully weaved around striking red crab claws and yellow mokara orchids, presented in a faux rock vase.

Corporate styling based on a contemporary CNY theme for an airport check in facillity.
The arrangements feature a mix of yellow ping pongs, carnations sprays, gerberas and gold branches.

Festive pops of colours in this design which features pussy willows, birds of paradise, mokara orchids and song of Jamaica. The little red dangling lantern adds an old fashioned touch.

Crab claws stand proud amidst red carnations, gold mokara orchids and sprays of orchids. The long and low arrangements feature a mix of yellow gerberas, red carnations and hypericum berries.

Curly bamboo adored with lucky knot stands tall among gerberas and red pussy willows.
[Note: Although white is not a favoured choice for traditionalist, this arrangement was custom made as it reflected the client's corporate colours.]

This 360 degree view composition is perfect for a side board or free standing table.

Lunar New Year themed lobby centerpiece for K Hotel. Composition features red pussy willows, mokara orchids in yellow, mango and orange shades, yello caspia and multi textured foliage.

A melange of crab claws, yellow ping ponds and orchids for the lobby and reception counters.

Red crab claw sentinels stand watch over a flourish of gold ramsey orchids and red anthuriums 'bows' on a bed of jadeite greens.

Red crab claws takes centerstage and is paired with anthuriums, carnations and berries.

The Birds of Paradise in these composition adds a handsome spalsh of blue amidst the greens and yellows.

Complemeting arrangements for lower and higher tables with a vibrant mix of crab claws, orchids, carnations and chrysanthemums.

Monday

The Valentine's That Was

It was an exceptional Valentine's Day and we hope all your Love Blooms were well received. Thank you for trusting us with your expressions of love!

Shout out also to all friends-of-Nook, who dropped in bearing coffee, desserts and packed lunches - all of you are bright, shining stars and it was lovely to be surrounded by so much affection.