Pink Oriental Lilies

They're big, beautiful, fragrant and have a vibrant color.  Pink Oriental Lilies are some of the most popular flowers in the world and there are many reasons why.

Here at Skyline, it takes us typically about 100 days to grow our pink oriental lilies and we have all kinds.  Some are light pink, some are hot pink and others are pink and white.  

It seems the most well known pink lily is the Stargazer.  Some say it can express every feeling you can think of - from joy to appreciation and sympathy.   Known for its striking blooms and heavenly scent, the stargazer is a fantastic choice for a number of occasions. Delicate, bold, and fragrant all at once, stargazers can say Congratulations, I'm Sorry, and everything in between.

Santa Monica Farmers Market - Day before Thanksgiving

Crazy busy is the best way to describe the Santa Monica farmers market the day before Thanksgiving!  This year, the crowds came out once again in full force and we were ready.  At Skyline, employees were up even before the sun came out preparing for the market which is swamped on this day every year and we love so many things about it.  We had more than a dozen employees there to help folks and we brought in four truck loads of all kinds of flowers.

One thing that may surprise you, more men were there buying flowers than woman.  Over and over again, we were told it's probably because the women were at home preparing for the Thanksgiving feast.  It seems the men were doing the right thing and making sure their loved ones felt special by giving them flowers!  Sharing seemed to be the theme at the market.  People watching is always interesting to me.  One elderly woman wanted more flowers than she could afford.  So, a good samaritan offered to buy them for her.  It was great to see people in the holiday spirit and wanting to give back in any way possible.

Our Skyline team was just that, a great team.  I saw lots of smiles and everyone was willing to help each other.  Skyline's Vice President Tom Goldberg and even Skyline's Founder LeRoy Goldberg were there to pitch in as well.  Even mother nature did her part, Santa Monica had gorgeous weather.  The sun was shining, as if it were shining on the market and all the joy around.  Whatever the case, I find time and time again it's easy to smile when you're around flowers especially Skyline flowers!  

Calla Liles - Elegant Flowers

Calla lilies are very elegant flowers that are used for celebrating a special bond as well as celebrating someone's life.  On one hand, it's used in weddings as a sign of purity and on the other hand, it resembles resurrection and often planted in the graves.  Some say they are a symbol of magnificent beauty and innocense.

The name of the calla lily is somehow inaccurate as the flower is neither a calla, nor a lily.  The calla lily is scientifically called zantedschia.  The flower originates in south Africa.

To make your calla lilies last, keep them in a cool place and away from direct sunlight or any kind of heat. Change their water every two days and if you see that they are drying out, cut their stems from the bottom under running water. 

Also, remember that the calla lilies are poisonous flowers, so keep them away from children or pets.

Tulips

When you think of tulips, what comes to your mind?  A lot of people think Holland and tulips go hand in hand.  It's a common association and for good reason, you can find some beautiful tulip farms there.  In fact, our CEO/President Joe Goldberg and Head Grower Nahum Sphak took a trip to Holland to check out some possibilities for new tulips as well as other flowers earlier this year (2012).

Our head grower says it typically takes us here at Skyline about two months to grow tulips.  Some say the meaning of tulips is generally "perfect love."

Like many flowers, different colors of tulips also often carry their own significance. Red tulips are most strongly associated with true love, while purple symbolizes royalty. The meaning of yellow tulips has evolved somewhat, from once representing hopeless love to now being a common expression for cheerful thoughts and sunshine. White tulips are used to claim worthiness or to send a message of forgiveness. Variegated tulips, once among the most popular varieties due to their striking color patterns, represent beautiful eyes.

It seems to be one of the most recognized flowers in the world.  What some don't realize is that there are different types of tulips.  We grow standard tulips, parrot tulips, french tulips and peony tulips (also referred to as double tulips).  Each of them has a different and unique petal shape.  

Wheat - Perfect for the Fall!

It's a great green for the fall season and would look perfect on your Thanksgiving table!  Some say a wheat-harvest is an advancing state of "love and charity."

Skyline's Vice President, Tom Golberg, gave us some insight into wheat.  He says it grows from seeding to harvest in about 65 to 80 days depending on the weather and that wheat when it grows is green.  

If you dry the wheat in a dark area it will dry green.  However, if the wheat is dried in the sun it will dry golden brown. After the wheat is dried, it can be dip dyed (submerged in dye).  When the wheat is fresh (green) it can be dyed orange, red and blue. The wheat is put in the buckets with the dye and the dye is then absorbed through the stems. 

Either way, wheat is a wonderful green to have this time of year.  Whether you display it alone or with other flowers, it's sure to  lively up your home or office.

Sunflowers

Did you know there's a flower that literally follows the sun?  Yes, there is and it's the gorgeous sunflower.

Some say sunflowers are gifts of radiant warmth and are the happiest of flowers!  Their meanings include loyalty and longevity.  

There are some people who don't realize there are all sorts of sunflowers.  For example, we grow one with a unique coloring called "Ring of Fire."  The most well known looking sunflower we grow is called "Sun Bright."  Depending on the weather, it can take between 45 to 90 days to grow.  If it's really warm they grow faster.


If you plan on keeping sunflowers around, plan to give those flowers lots of water.  It seems they never get enough and require you to fill up that vase on a regular basis.