Flowers

Barbara Diamond Business blooms on Valentine's Day at Laguna's florists and bucket shops. "Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the year for me," said Dwight Goldblatt, floral designer and owner of Flowers Too at 1427 South Coast Highway. "Multiply an average workday by 10." Retired designer Gary Bowman will lend a hand to Goldblatt and designer Richard Barinsen to handle the rush. "Roses are the number one order," Goldblatt said. "Men don't know a lot about flowers, but they do know roses.

THE GARDEN FANATIC "Listen, little Eli ... and I'll tell you a story." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald "I would suggest that barbarism be considered as a permanent and universal human characteristic ..." -- Simone Weil During a trip to Latitude 33, Catharine spotted "100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names" and brought it home for my perusal. Garden writer, Diana Wells, has selected a number of our favorite flowers and explains how we came to know and love them.

"Everything is blooming most recklessly …" -- Ranier Maria Rilke "You know it's an election year when the placards outnumber the flowers." -- Catharine Cooper October is coming to a close. The turning of leaves and cool overnight temperatures hint we are in the midst of autumn. Summer-like days have ensured that many flowering perennials are at the peak of their floral displays. Bringing flowers indoors is a simple pleasure for many, particularly my wife Catharine when she is home.

?...Everything has its price, (the issue is) not flowers...but dollars.? ? Henry David Thoreau ?No one should drive a hard bargain with a florist.? ? with apologies to Ludwig van Beethoven ? It has been asserted that the beauty of flowers out-values all the utilities of the world. I don?t know... but it appears that the rising price of gasoline and the worry of making mortgage payments have taken away the enjoyment of flowers for many. I have a solution.

"The most overcast winter I ever spent was a summer in Laguna." ? with apologies to Mark Twain "If only I could have a puppy..." ? Harry Nilsson The "dog days of summer," are upon us, although the expected warm and clear days have been rather scarce. There is, however, plenty to do for avid gardeners, as well as those of us not quite so committed. Our gardening list includes watering our trees and shrubs as deeply and infrequently as possible and fastening all plants that require staking in preparation of the Santa Ana Winds.

Steve Kawaratani "The cloning of humans is on most of the lists of things to worry about -- along with the unrestrained growth of plastic flowers." -- Lewis Thomas "I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some." -- Herbert Rappaport The recent decision to review the Design Review process has proven to be newsworthy in several newspapers and newsletters. Doesn't everyone have something better to do?

“The roses you lifted to your lips ... lucky roses!” — Charlie Chaplin The quest for perfect roses in your garden begins with the major rose pruning events during the summer: flower cutting, deadheading, grooming and disbudding. Cutting flowers is probably the most enjoyable summer pruning job. After all, many of us grow roses so they may be appreciated indoors. Those flowers that don’t make it indoors should be deadheaded. Remove flowers as soon as they have faded and the petals are about to fall.

THE GARDEN FANATIC "Hot time, summer in the city ... " -- John Sebastian "Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer." -- Nat King Cole The calendar indicates that we are entering the "dog days of summer" ... although the anticipated warm and clear days have been inconsistent. There is, however, plenty to do for avid gardeners, as well as those of us not quite so committed. Our gardening list includes watering our trees and shrubs as deeply and infrequently as possible and fastening all plants that require staking in preparation of the Santa Ana winds.

Steve Kawaratani "These are flowers of middle summer ... " -- William Shakespeare "The other man's grass is always greener." -- Petula Clark It's a little too warm for my taste, although Catharine's tomatoes have taken a liking to the sun and heat, producing dozens of fruit weekly. These days belong to the "dog days of summer." There is plenty to do for avid gardeners as well as those of us not quite so committed. Our gardening list includes watering our trees and shrubs as deeply and infrequently as possible and fastening all plants that require staking in anticipation of windy conditions.

Grace A. West died March 30, 2011, in Laguna Hills, CA.  She was 91 years old and had a wonderful life!  Grace was born February 6, 1920, in Kingsburg, CA to Rachel May Williams and John Richard Williams.  She was a graduate of Inglewood High School, and received a B. A. in Liberal Arts from Santa Barbara State College.  There she met and married John B. (Jim) Kilroy.  The had five children: Susan J. Hahn, Anne E. Kilroy, John B. Kilroy, Patrice M. Kilroy, and Dana E. Pantuso.  Grace was a volunteer in P.T.A., the Childrens' Home Society, and the Spastic League, as well as other charities.  She was a very generous person and loved to entertain and travel.

Frank T. Keneley, age 94, died Sunday March 20th of natural causes. Mr. Keneley is survived by his wife, Hilde; two daughters, Suzi and Robbi. He also leaves behind one granddaughter, Shannon. Frank is a United States Air Force Veteran of World War II. Services will be held this Friday at 7:00 p.m. at O'Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked to send donations to Susi Q Laguna Beach Seniors or The Ark of San Juan Animal Rescue. O'Connor Mortuary, (949)

"Wanna go to a movie?" My youngest daughter's call rouses me from the Sunday crossword puzzle. I hesitate for a brief moment, not even lifting my head. "Nope. The day is just too beautiful to be inside. Sorry. " And the day is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous! A far-off view of Catalina across miles is marred only by a line of dingy gray at the surface just below the island. The sky is a beautiful cerulean blue with not a single cloud. The sun shines warm on my skin.

“Follow with May’s fairest flowers.” — Percy Bysshe Shelley In the aftermath of those surprising April showers, expect little or no rain during the next five months. It is imperative to water your garden thoroughly during May, on an as-needed basis. Mulch plants to reduce the need for water, and don’t forget to be on the lookout for insect pests and diseases. Your May questions to the Plant Man included: Q. Is the city giving away mulch again?

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley Buster’s calendar indicates that gardeners still have 28 days to wait until the official start of spring. Although rain is predicted over the weekend, subtle signs of the change in the seasons are appearing throughout Laguna. Deciduous trees, like the sycamore and crape myrtle, are beginning to leaf out under splendid blue skies, and Catharine’s Mutabilis rose has already begun to display its bountiful blooms.

Angel’s trumpets are New World and East Asian plants that possess beautiful, variously colored, trumpet-shaped flowers. The plant is ornamental, and although the leaves and seeds of certain species contain alkaloids with medical and narcotic properties, all should be considered poisonous. It is reputed that Indian thugs once used angel’s trumpet to poison their victims, and it was officially used to execute criminals in India. The Swedish botanist Linnaeus did not wish to use the “barbaric” Indian name of dhat for the plant, so he modified it to the Latin root of dare (to give)

“The roses you lifted to your lips ... lucky roses!” — Charlie Chaplin The quest for perfect roses in your garden begins with the major rose pruning events during the summer: flower cutting, deadheading, grooming and disbudding. Cutting flowers is probably the most enjoyable summer pruning job. After all, many of us grow roses so they may be appreciated indoors. Those flowers that don’t make it indoors should be deadheaded. Remove flowers as soon as they have faded and the petals are about to fall.

“You won’t go to heaven, if you don’t clean up the bougainvillea flowers first,” my grandmother must have lectured me at least a thousand times while I was growing up in Laguna. However, I wasn’t old enough to realize that it wasn’t her gentle Buddhist belief of heaven she was quoting. Oba-chan was merely repeating the edicts of the fundamentalist minister who was our neighbor. No plant is more characteristic of Laguna than the ubiquitous bougainvillea.