Winter Wedding on a Budget

A winter wedding reception on a budget is easy to put together when you know where to cut down on costs and how to find better deals.

Here are tips to help you save money on your winter wedding reception with everything from flower selection to wedding decorations.

Decorations 

Inexpensive winter wedding receptions do not have to look cheap, and with a lot of creativity when decorating it can look expensive on a budget. Instead of allowing the hall to decorate or hiring a designer to plan, buy and decorate yourself. No matter what your wedding theme is, the best thing you can do is keep everything simple and elegant.

To create subtle and romantic lighting, purchase several plain glass bowls, fill them with water and add a floating candle. Dollar store glass bowls and candles look just as good as designer choices. You can also purchase bags of colored marble or stones, match your wedding colors and drop them into the bottom of the bowls.

Flowers 

Flowers can truly transform a winter wedding reception. There are several ways to reduce the costs and keep your wedding reception on a budget if you shop smart for your flowers. Daffodils, tulips, jasmine and amaryllis are all flowers that are pretty and in season. Also consider adding evergreen, holly and other seasonal plants to your wedding flowers.

Another great idea to save money is to buy all the flowers and arrange them yourselves. There are flower shops that sell flowers in bundles at a discounted price just for this purpose. 

Look at our website hibiscusflowershop.com to get ideas for flowers by the bundle. It is very easy to create simple arrangements and bouquets and can save you a huge percentage of your flower budget. We also offer classes in floral arrangement that can help.

Reception Hall 

The biggest cost for a winter wedding reception is usually the rental of a hall, and most of the time it determines the rest of your budget so it pays to be very smart and conservative. Lately, the trend in winter weddings has been to move things home, either to your parents home or the home of a family friend. If you have a friend that is willing to open their doors to host your wedding reception, that is a great gift. If not, here are some other options to look into.

Look for home rentals in the area, vacation rentals or similar listings to see if you can find a cozy cabin or home to host a reception in. Many times a home rental for a week or even just a weekend is a lot less than renting out a reception hall for a couple hours. Using this option makes your winter wedding reception cozy and memorable because you are able to really turn the wedding into a family affair with all the comforts of home.

Thanksgiving Centerpiece ideas

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! If you are looking for ideas to dress your table or not show up empty handed for dinner; here are some. 

Visit hibiscusflowershop.com or call us 718.207.1625 

Autumn Mix

Color Palette

Modern

Simply Daisy

Beautiful

Hibiscus Holiday Tea Recipes

hibiscus cold tea

The holidays are here and with that comes entertaining. Friends, family, lovers.......We are always looking for some yummy drink recipes. Here are some hibiscus recipes that will tempt the palette and have everyone coming back for more.

Before we get started, here is some history and benefits of hibiscus.
Hibiscus is a fragrant flower that can be made into tea. It is served hot and cold, and is popular in various parts of the world including Latin America, Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. Hibiscus tea has a tart berry flavor and contains vitamin C. Internal Medicine News has reported that hibiscus tea provides many other benefits, including lowering high blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels.


Hibiscus Tea with Vodka & Citrus

  1  4 cup(s) water

      2 cup(s) (2 ounces) dried hibiscus flowers, dried rose petals and Red Zinger tea bags

   3  1/3 cup(s) sugar, or to taste

   4  2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice

·   5  1 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice

  6  1 cup(s) vodka

  7 1 cup(s) ice 

sorrel (hibiscus)

Sorrel (hibiscus) Caribbean style
Ingredients

. dried sorrel leaves (8-16oz bag, larger if making a large pot)--sold in a supermarket or fruit stand (popular in Brooklyn) that sells Caribbean products

. bay leaves

. cinnamon sticks

. brown sugar

. ginger

. strainer

. pot

  1  take a medium-large pan and fill it up with water, bring to a boil

   2 turn the stove off, add the sorrel-10-12 oz if using medium pan, bay leaves-10, cinnamon sticks-6

  3  allow it to simmer covered all day or overnight

  4  look into the pot, the water should look dark red--taking the color from the dried sorrel, strain the pots contents into another bowl or larger pot, squeeze the sorrel with your hands to make sure that you get all of its juice out, take out the bay leaves, the cinnamon sticks should look puffed up (that's good because it means that the flavor is now in the pot) 

  5  once the sorrel is in the other pot or bowl, add ginger--you can either use the juice from the ginger or chop the ginger and strain it to get the juice out, stir, than add sugar (dissolves better if warm)--taste it to make sure that you do not over sweeten it

 6  for a holiday zing, add rum

   7 sorrel can be served warm or cold

      

   Enjoy!! Have any holiday drink recipes? Post them. We would love to try them.

Pre-Black Friday Sale

Bows by designer Bweela Steptoe

Pre-Black Friday Sale with Artists and Designers

Featuring designer Bweela Steptoe

Come support your local businesses!!

Sunday, 

November 18, 2012

12-7

Commons Brooklyn

388 Atlantic Avenue

(bet. hoyt and bond)

Holiday Craft Sale

I know, I know!! It was just summer and now the holiday's and the new year are here. It was bound to happen. So.... in celebration, we are having a holiday craft sale. Featuring homemade goods by Brooklyn Artisans, designers, crafters and of course Hibiscus will be there. We will have bunches of sweet smelling eucalyptus, hand-tied holiday swags, plants and more......

Come and check it out. 

When: Saturday & Sunday December 15 & 16th from 12-6pm. 

Where: Fountain Studios--604 Grand Avenue (bet. St. Marks & Bergen)

For more info or to be a vendor -- contact fountainstudiosny.com

Life Cycle of the Marijuana Plant

Marijuana aka Cannabis Sativa

There has been a lot of talk on whether marijuana should be made legal. Some say, why not? Wasn't alcohol once illegal? Alcohol has been said to be just as harmful to your body-both physically and mentally as marijuana.  Should the Federal government go ahead and make marijuana legal and avoid the headache of people sneaking around selling it and smoking it? We also need to take into consideration the medical uses. 

That being said. Drug or just a plant?

We say it's a plant that grows just like any other. So, here we go....

The 6 Life Cycles of the Cannabis Plant

Germination:
This is the initial stage of growth and occurs when your seed’s embryo cracks open and the seedling produces a root. This root fixes itself into the soil and pushes the newborn seeding up and over the soil surface. Following surface contact two embryonic leaves open outwards to receive sunlight, pushing the empty seed shell away from the seedling. It takes anywhere between 12 hours to 3 weeks for seeds to germinate. Once the plant has reached this stage it goes into the seedling stage.

Seedling Stage:
After the first pair of embryonic leaves are receiving light, the plant will begin to produce another small set of new leaves. These leaves are different from the last and may have some Marijuana characteristics such as the three rounded finger shaped points. As the seedling grows more of these leaves are formed and bush upwards along with a stem. Some stems are very weak at this stage and need the support of a small thin wooden stake tied to the seedling with some fine thread. The seedling stage can last between 1 and 3 weeks. At the end of the seedling stage your plant will have maybe 4 - 8 new leaves. Some of the old bottom leaves may drop off.

Vegetative Growth:
The plant now begins to grow at the rate which its leaves can produce energy. At this stage the plant needs all the light and food it can get. It will continue to grow upwards producing new leaves as it moves along. It will also produce a thicker stem with thicker branches and with more fingers on the leaves. It will eventually start to show its sex. When it does this it is time for the plant’s pre-flowering stage. It can take anywhere between 1 and 5 months for the plant to hit this next stage.

Pre-flowering:
At this stage the plant slows down in developing its height and starts to produce more branches and nodes. The plant fills out in the pre-flowering stage. During this phase of the plant cycle your plant will start to show a calyx which appears where the branches meet the stem (nodes). Pre-flowering can take anywhere between 1 day to 2 weeks.

Flowering:
During this stage the plant continues to fill out. The plant will show its sex clearly. The male plant produces little balls that are clustered together like grapes. The female plant produces little white/cream pistils that look like hairs in a pod. Each of the plants will continue to fill out more and their flowers will continue to grow. It can take anywhere between 4 to 16 weeks for the plant to fully develop its flowers. During this time the male’s pollen sacks would have burst spreading pollen to the female flowers.

Seed:
The female plant will produce seeds at this point if she has received viable pollen from a male plant. The seeds grow within the female bud and can take anywhere between 2 weeks to 16 weeks, to grow to full maturity. The female pistils may change color before finally bursting the seedpods, sending them to the soil below.

These are the six stages of the life cycle of a cannabis plant. It is important to know that if the males are separated from the females and killed off then the females will not become pollinated.

Questions, comments? Let us know.

Happy Gardening!

Recipe for Winter Mix of Potpourri

Fun Winter Mix

Evergreen Cone

4 cups of mixed small evergreen cones, acorn tops and cedar chips 

1 cup broken bay leaves 

1 cup boxwood branches snipped into 1" lengths (or use bayberry leaves if available) 

1/2 cup bayberry bark, 1 cup oakmoss, 1/2 cup broken star anise 

If you have some dried red roses add 1/2 to 1 cup for more color 

Place 3 tablespoons of chopped orris root or chopped calamus root in a glass container with 3 tbs. of frankincense tears. Add 7 drops bayberry oil, 10 drops cedar oil, and 10 drops balsam or spruce oil. Stir till blended and oils are distributed evenly. Add to the remaining ingredients, then stir and place in a closed container for 3-4 weeks. 

**A note about powdered fixatives:  In potpourri that will be displayed, the powder can be seen and will look less attractive and will not hold the scent as well as chopped fixatives.

Potpourri in 4 Easy Steps

Make Your Own Potpourri
In 4 easy steps

STEP 1

Collect flowers such as mint blossoms, hydrangeas, roses, rudebeckia, Queen's Anne's Lace, and other available blossoms. Be adventurous! Try drying any leaf or bloom that you think might make a good potpourri ingredient. Place blooms on a screen, or a tray covered with paper towels. Keep them in a warm airy place. If drying on a tray, turn the blooms every day. Flowers may also be hung upside down in small bunches. When they are thoroughly dry, store in closed containers away from light. If you don't like the way it dries, just pitch it out and try something else. Remember, looks are more important than smell for your flowers; later you can add whatever fragrance you like using essential oils.

Helpful hints:
Flowers and leaves are dry when they feel slightly brittle. Check frequently. If over dried, they will lose all their oil and crumble easily.

Store each type of dried flower in separate containers. Glass jars with tight lids are a good choice. Check the jars after two or three days. If any moisture is visible, remove the lid and dry more.

Continue drying flowers all fall; by spring/summer; you will have enough to make potpourri for yourself and all your friends.

When it is time to make the potpourri, you will need to decide on a fixative as well as which oils you will use to make a great smelling potpourri. Some good fixatives are orris root, calamus root, oakmoss and tonka bean. Whole or crushed spices like allspice, cinnamon sticks and cloves may also be added.

STEP 2

The material you have gathered may not have enough fragrance on it's own, or you may want a different scent. By blending different oils with the plant material you can have just about any fragrance you desire. Always use top quality oils and other ingredients. Your potpourri will not only smell better, but will hold its scent much longer. Some good scent choices are floral, citrus, herbal or spicy. If some of your flowers are very fragrant, then you will probably want to use their fragrance for your basic scent. If your ingredients are showy but with little odor, you can choose almost any scent. Just be sure that the look and smell of the potpourri go together. If you haven't had much experience blending oils, it would be wise to only use three. Choose your dominant scent, and pick one or two other oils for accents. Test to see if you like the mixture. Take a cotton ball and place it in a small glass jar which has a tight fitting lid. Put 4 drops of your dominant oil, and add two drops of the first accent oil, and one drop of the second accent oil. For instance: Four drops rose geranium oil, 2 drops lemon, 1 drop patchouli oil. Close jar for 24 hours. Then open the jar, let it breathe, then sniff. Don't stick your nose into the jar-hold it about 6 inches away. If you don't like the mix, either add more oil or start over with another blend.

STEP 3

When you are happy with your fragrance you are ready to make the potpourri. Always measure and write down the amounts of plant material and oils you use. Keep a notebook to remind yourself of your successes (and failures) for future reference. For each quart of leaves and petals you will need at least 2 tablespoons of chopped (not powdered) orris root, calamus root, or other fixative. **A note about powdered fixatives:  In potpourri that will be displayed, the powder can be seen and will look less attractive and will not hold the scent as well as chopped fixatives. Place the chopped root into a large glass container that has a tight fitting lid. Choose the oil(s) you want to use For a floral scent some good choices are rose, lavender, violet, lilac, honeysuckle, bergamot or ylang ylang. For a spicier fragrance, try carnation. Put at least 12 drops of your dominant oil over the chopped root, 6 drops of the second accent oil and 3 drops of the third accent oil, then stir. Stir again and close the top. Let the mixture sit in a cool, dark place for several days. Open the jar: if you like the fragrance, add your leaves and petals, stirring carefully and thoroughly mix well. Replace top, and set in cool dark place for several weeks. Every few days, shake the container gently. After 4-6 weeks the potpourri should be ready to use.

STEP 4

Now you're ready to reap the benefits of your endeavor. Put the potpourri into containers to give as gifts or keep for your own enjoyment. If you are not happy with the fragrance, crushed spices or more oil can be added. Oils which help blend scents are coconut fragrance, vanilla, tonka, sandalwood and lemon. Other ingredients which blend well with floral scents are dried peel of orange, tangerine, lemon or grapefruit, crushed seeds of fennel, or anise, crushed cloves, allspice, broken cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Fixatives besides orris or calamus include clary sage leaves, oak moss, tonka beans and deertongue. Vetiver root is a good fixative for heavily-fragranced potpourri. Over the last few years, other fixatives have come into use such as ground corn cobs (called ground cellulose), or natural or dyed wood chips. Use as you would chopped orris. To get the most enjoyment from your potpourri, remember to stir it occasionally when you pass to release more fragrance into the air. When your potpourri begins to lose its fragrance you can add a few more drops of the original oil, or a new scent can be made by using a fresh fixative and different oils (your fragrance will last for many months if you used good quality oils in the proper amounts).

If you are using only one flower such as lavender or roses, you may still wish to add a few drops of the essential oil for a stronger, longer lasting scent. Dried leaves of lemon verbena will add a decorative touch and they smell great. 

Have a favorite recipe? Share it with us info@hibiscusflowershop.com

Each submission will receive a $5 OFF coupon. Remember to include your email address!!

World's Oldest Flower

Did you Know.....

Archaefructus Sinensis

Scientists discovered the world’s oldest flower in 2002, in northeast China. The flower, named Archaefructus Sinensis bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembles a water lily.


How much does the Water Lily below look like it? Comment below.

Water Lily

The November Flower

The Chrysanthemum 

Means love & Cheerfulness. This pretty fall bloomer can add color to your garden. When choosing a mum; look for "hardy" this means that it will come back year after year. But if you like a temporary color fix, choosing an annual is okay. Available in yellow, purple, orange, browns and pinks. Plant in pots or directly into the ground, mulch to keep warm if planted in the ground. Email info@hibiscusflowershop.com for questions or info. 

Happy Fall!!

Scotland's National Flower

Did you know.....


Hundreds of years ago, when Vikings invaded Scotland, they were slowed by patches of wild thistle, allowing the Scots time to escape. Because of this, the wild thistle was named Scotland’s national flower.

Thistle

$5 OFF COUPON

Min. purchase of $30 online or phone orders.  Code 5OFF
Expires 12/24/12. Does not include tax, delivery.

Happy Election Day!

Let's Vote!!!

Happy Election Day!!

Grapes, Wine & Rainbows

DID YOU KNOW....

Ancient Egyptians collecting grapes for wine

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that grapes were grown to make wine about 8,000 years ago in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq), although the ancient Egyptians were the first to record the process of making wine about 5,000 years ago.

Iris means "rainbow" in Greek, and Iris was goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology.