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Online Safety Basics

islandrose — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:37:26 +0000

Before you jump into that big blue ocean of the World Wide Web there are a few signs you should take notice of to steer away from sharks and other creatures that co-inhabit the Internet. This is not a scare tactic, you simply have to accept the practical truth these “sharks” do lurk out there and that anybody can be a victim.

These lurkers are actually very intelligent people. They can gather insurmountable amounts of personal data, which are strewn all over the web and then compile and refocus it to be a marketing campaign tool = junk mail or much worse. Face it, there is more than a 90% chance that if you are a surfing online denizen, that you have already posted your name, address, perhaps even phone number on a social networking site. With the help of a good designer, programmer and copywriter, these sharks can lure a good number of people just like you; and with great aplomb “bait” you to give up even more personal matters that can lead to social or financial disaster.

A good example would be flower delivery services. This covers almost the entire world and remains as one of the most popular Internet services available today, next to emailing and social networks. It seems like a low risk deal but whom can you really trust with your personal ID’s, messages and credit/bank ID? Online transactions nary need a physical signature anymore, so what businesses need to operate on are safeguards on top of other safeguards. Websites can be hosted from anywhere in the world but there are four main signs/marks/seals or logos to look for which have propelled the commercial side of the web forward by placing its anointment of trust to only the worthy websites.

First look for a Privacy Policy. Any website that collects any form of information should have one. May be a seal or logo or a link to a company statement on how it promises – “beyond a shadow of a doubt” how it will handle your personal information and any transaction done through the website. This to my knowledge was one of the earliest implemented standards that reputable commercial websites inculcated that placed a blanket and binding trust agreement between itself and its clients. Beyond customer satisfaction, this covers that all your information will strictly be used for official business only.

Secondly, look out for a Business Verification seal. This is a country dependent verification service that has proven that the web entity is a genuine, registered business entity with full accountability. This means that if your roses don’t arrive or arrive in poor state then there are real people you can run after and complain to.

Thirdly, look for an SSL Certificate. One of the most known “Secure Sockets Layer” Certificate authority in the world is Network Solutions. This is like a combination of the Privacy policy and the Business Verification plus much more. This is the certificate that encrypts and protects all information from the “buy” button on that website all the way to the endpoint or the server of the credit/debit card company and back again, all in a snap. This not only protects the customer and the seller but the banks as well.

Lastly, look for a Vulnerability Scan Mark. McAfee is lonely at the top of this field. Being elders in the anti-virus field, it has risen above the rest and now tests and guarantees websites for being hacker safe. As I mentioned before these sharks and lurkers are very intelligent people and will only stop when they get frustrated. Now with the tens of millions of websites out there only a handful can successfully get this Vulnerability Scan Mark, because these elders will not stop until you fix all the issues your website has. It doesn’t stop there, since hackers also continue to improve their skills over time, the McAfee service counters this by redoing the scan 365 days a year. Yup, all year round and throughout all occasions.

We are creatures of habit. So before you commit to an online service provider, which more than likely you will be using again and again (because it’s just so easy), look for these four things. Barring any Acts of God, these four “promises” will virtually guarantee that each time you do engage in online commerce everything will come up smelling like roses.

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Online purchasing gives you hassle-free transactions. However, better make sure you are dealing with a non-fly-by-night e-commerce sites. Island Rose is one of the pioneers in online flower delivery service in the Philippines.

The Roots of Valentine’s Day

islandrose — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:03:13 +0000

The roots of Valentine’s Day can be traced back down to ancient Roman mythology for festivals honoring Gods and Goddesses for Women, Marriage and Fertility. On the top tier, we have Juno, said to be the Queen and mother of all Gods and Goddesses on Mt. Olympus. Her day was held on February 14. In continuity of the celebration for women, marriage and fertility, a festival called Lupercalia was held on the next day.

But this festival was held in the honor of two other related Gods, who were Lupercus who lorded over the pastures and forests and Faunus for agriculture. They were described as very similar to the Greek version that is the half-man half-goat God called Pan. This festival began with sacrifice of a dog (for purification) and a goat (for fertility) and their skins when worn and also cut into strips or thongs and dipped into blood to be slapped on the hands of women who wish for purification and fertility in the coming year.

These strips were called Februa and this many believe is the real origin of name February.

This sacrifice was made near the cave Lupercal, which was the place that the rescued infants and future founders of Rome, the twin brothers Romulus and Remus were cared for by a she-wolf or “lupa”. So actually, Lupercalia means “festival of the wolf” and actually makes the twins as co-celebrators along with the other Gods.

To play up the essence of this seasonal festival and induce matches, the names of girls were placed into a jar and drawn out by chance by a lucky partner. This partnership may have lasted for a month, but some scholars say that they would be paired together until the next year.

This pagan practice went on until the reign of Claudius II, also known as Claudius the Cruel who had trouble manning his army since most men would not leave their wives or lovers. So he had it outlawed, as he believed that single men made better soldiers.

By this time Christianity had spread in Rome and there were at least three Christian Romans named Valentine or Valentinus who were all martyred one way or another. Amongst them was a priest who actually help many escape being drafted into the army by marrying couples in secret. Claudius soon caught up to them and had Valentine accosted in jail and afterwards executed on February 14, 269 A.D. It is now believed that he was able to befriend the Jailer’s daughter who believed in his cause and at the last day of his incarceration was able to leave a note for her prior to his execution. On this note was written the classic line “Love, from your Valentine”.

Christianity continued to spread and by the late 5th Century (496 AD), Pope Gelasius declared a holy day for honoring St. Valentine. As the centuries rolled on into the Renaissance, the pagan traditions of matchmaking were soon replaced with romantic art, poetry and music for a feast in the pursuit of love. Because of its surging popularity from the 15th to the 18th century, the English and the French took to this romantic tradition along with the act of using handwritten letters, sweets, flowers and other small tokens for passionate declarations of love.

By the 1700’s the American’s got into the giving of handmade letters during Valentine’s but by 1840, Esther Howland was credited for creating the commercialized printed version of these cards. Nowadays more than a billion of these cards are bought on Valentines Day, and also spurred into strength the iconic tokens of chocolate, candy and flowers.

As an endnote, the use of Cupid came into significance also because of Roman myth. He was a boy-God of love, who was sired by Venus, the Goddess of love and beauty. He was reputed to have a quiver full of arrows of desire to strike all that he sees but on special occasions would use this to created mischief at his mother’s behest.

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Celebrate love with your loved ones. Send a bunch of fresh flowers delivered right to their doorsteps. Visit Island Rose – Philippine Flowers and Gifts for a wide array of roses. Log on to www.islandrose.net.

Valentines Will Always Be About Roses

Philippine Flowers Blog — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:09:33 +0000

Roses and Valentines are two things that have long been associated with love, affection, passion, red, hearts, dinners, and of course money. Seriously speaking, have you (like me) ever wondered why every the “red letter day” of the year cue roses in? Sure, there are thousands of other more original, stunning, and beautiful gifts in the market but roses just seem to win over this battle year after year.

Roses are big talkers and have long symbolized love and passion. Valentines day seem to put pressure on couples with undefined relationships. With a hazy status quo, how do you approach gift giving? Roses of different colors, count, and combinations should give you a good grasp on how to define subtly your relationship this sticky time of the year. Below is a list of that you can take in reference to this coming Valentines day:

By color:

Red Roses – defines love, passion, and respect

Pink Roses – communicates happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, and sympathy

Dark Pink Roses – say “thank you”

Light Pink Roses – displays grace, joy, gentility and admiration

White Roses – signify purity, innocence, humility, charm, and silence

Peach Roses – connotes modesty

Coral Roses – implies desire

Yellow Roses – defines caring, gladness, freedom, joy, and friendship

Orange Roses – shows the feeling of fascination, desire, and enthusiasm

Lavender Rose – symbolizes enchantment and love at first sight

By count:

One rose says “I still love you” while a dozen says “thank you very much.” Your partner will not only blush but be also floored upon receipt of fifty roses as this translates to unconditional love.

By combination:

A mix of red and white roses symbolizes unity. A generous yellow and orange rose mix sends passionate thoughts. I find saying “congratulations” rather weird on Valentines Day therefore please skip having a red and yellow rose mix arranged.

While Valentines Day has always been about roses, this should not restrict you from giving just these alone. Chocolates have always complemented roses nicely but recent trends show that jewelry such as rings, pendants, and brooches have been catching up. Fictional novels are always lovely to curl up to at night and so is an MP3 player that has all of your woman’s favorite love songs. Whatever your relationship is or whatever stage you are already on, just do make sure that you will not let this red-letter day pass without presenting roses.

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The Poinsettia, a Christmas Star

Flowers Philippines — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:30:59 +0000

As the city nights unfold from warm evenings to the holiday breeze, the world slowly prepares for Christmas as early as November. The manifestations of Christmas begin with the insertion of random Christmas carols in commercial establishments or a delivery of Christmas trees that decorates the front entrance of malls. Other than the carols and trees, it is the lights from the many houses that slowly populate the cityscape and captivate the evening.

It is tradition that families come and decorate their homes with trimmings and flowers. But these are no ordinary flora – it is a special Christmas flower, the Poinsettia (Euphorbia Pulcherrima), as it is best known around the world, that echoes to the household that Christmas is just around the corner. Though stereotyped as another tradition, the Poinsettia has its roots in Mexican legend. Based on its roots, it was brought over to the West by a Mexican Ambassador Joel Roberts Poinsetta. But from tradition, the Poinsettia was said to be a bloom most beautiful coming directly from the heavenly skies.

The traditional tale is passed down in history with a poor farm girl wanting to offer the very best gift to the Savior during Christmas day. Her plea was heard by the angels above and they instructed her to gather weeds and align the Church walkway with these. According to legend, after the little girl delivered this task the angels miraculously converted the weeds into a crimson red bloom. And thus was born the Poinsettia, a Christmas flower.

Regardless of what it is called around the world, the Poinsettia – known also as the Noche Buena, the Winter Rose, the Christmas Star, the Flame Leaf, the Stelle di Natalle finds itself inside the homes of families around the world as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s love for believers in the Christian Faith. The Christmas Flower is usually hung outside homes on the front doors to greet passersby or made to hang on the Christmas tree indoors to bring it to full bloom.

Regardless of its many symbolisms, the Poinsettia points to the nativity of Jesus Christ, symbolic of the brightest star that led the wise men and shepherds to that little manger in Bethlehem. The Poinsettia is beautiful. It is a most wonderful centerpiece that decorates the dinner table when family and friends gather to celebrate the season of love. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

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Top Five Wedding Flowers

islandrose — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:20:07 +0000

During the Roman era brides would carry bouquets of flowers, herbs and some spices in with their outfits to ward off evil spirits and bring luck to the union. The softness and fragility of a flower has always been compared with the beauty of a woman thus possibility popularizing its propriety in the wedding rites.

Other ancient peoples such as the Greeks favored the use of Ivy in the belief that it was a sign of everlasting and unbreakable love and in the middle ages, the Arabs known as called Saracens used Orange Blossoms as it meant happiness and fulfillment for them. In the 1840’s the stylish Royal Queen Victoria chose the use of Marigolds for her rites for it symbolized creativity and passion. It was also referred to as “Herb of the Sun”.

Flowers have now gone beyond the traditional value as harbingers of emotions and appreciation because of their aesthetic value, now even their fragrance has come into play. This has replaced the used of ancient herbs but now flowers are arranged with many kinds of fillers or sometimes even matched with other flowers, ribbons, lace and many other items. Flowers also are mostly seasonal so availability also will affect the cost of purchase and wisdom of the ages will suggest consulting your local florist for more information.

In considering the top 5 wedding flowers for this writing, I gathered and balance the information about the most written about and the most offered packages by flower producers and suppliers on the internet.

Roses.
Absolutely the traditional favorite for the classic white wedding and its wide range of color varieties offer designers and decorators with much flexibility. It is available all year round and is the push product for most in the industry. Its can be used in alone in bouquets or even mixed with fillers and others complimentary flowers in table settings, bridesmaids bouquets, wrist corsages, flower girl pomanders, boutonnieres and wreath type arrangements for venues. Even the use of just its petals is still seen as the standard for most nuptials.

Using the red ones is a sign of “passionate love”, combined with white means “unity” and when white is used alone means “purity”.

Orchids.
Known worldwide for its wide genus range, which not only vary greatly in color, shape, form and scent orchids also vary greatly in price. It can be exotically combined in arrangements for the traditional mode to cutting edge and works well as a bouquet. It actually symbolizes wealth and social status and may look very delicate, but the truth of the matter is that most varieties available around the world are very sturdy, can survive without water as a cut flower and can take rough handling. The most popular variety in weddings seems to be the Cymbidium and the Dendrobiumand which makes a fantastic showpiece at the dinner tables.

Calla Lilies.
It has come to age, its fiery hues and jewel tones and its good range in size and colors make it a fashionable pick. It’s actually not a lily but its miniature calla type has become a rave at weddings. The Calla means “Regal” and its image is also often elegantly used in wedding cards, cakes, invitations. It looks like an angels little trumpet and can used alone or mixed with fillers such as the baby’s breath. It was first available mostly in white by its hybrids now offer a very wide range of colors to choose from.

Hydrangeas.
Using this symbolizes “perseverance” or “preservation” and is most designed for use in large and lush forms. It is also available all throughout the year but is sometimes quite sensitive for handling due to its delicate nature. But it still holds out as great choice second to roses specially if your wedding is held near or around the valentine month. Its large size gives off great visual volume and its range of colors is a favorite to mix with other types of wedding flowers.

Lilies.
Historians say that lilies were are part of Greek myth as far back as 1580 B.C. It meaning is rooted from the word “leiron” and was believed to have sprouted from the milk of Hera herself. The ancient Chinese also revered this flower and came to mean “forever in love” to them. For the Christians, white is the most used color at weddings and lilies which suggests “purity” and is associated with virgins which relates to the “Madonna Lily”

There were a lot of runner-ups to consider, but the five mentioned above seems to be the most documented and most popular to use particularly for weddings. Take to mind not only color, hue and shape when choosing your wedding flowers, fragrance and symbolism can serve up an unforgettable ambiance and mood to the best day of your life.

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Top 5 Wedding Flowers

Advantages of Online Flower Delivery

islandrose — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:50:35 +0000

The Age of the Internet has been changing many facets of daily life. Now we get access to information, keep in touch with friends and even go shopping on the web. This article discusses the first person point of view of key advantages of one of the most purchased retail items on the web, flowers!

I bought my first bunch of flowers at the neighborhood florist way back when I was a whiff of a teenager. While I feel that it was just a blink ago, it admittedly was a big block of time before the Internet became public domain. On the rare occasion that I did, I have to admit that I actually liked the feeling of entering a flower shop.

Looking around, sniffing the arrangements, twiddling with the cards, mentally debating what to write or what color to get and finally how many to get. There were always a few varieties of flowers available but on impulse the first choice of purchase would be roses. Usually the displayed item would be red although a small sign would say that other colors were available. The romance already seemed to start with all these efforts. But alas, this dance was to be repeated again and again since the response of the recipient would always be too favorable.

Men being men might be genetically predisposed to endure such ritual torment, fortunately for us and the rest of mankind, the passage of time also brings us with the endowment of technological options.

At first the Internet gave us lazy letters called emails. I could now send typed messages without the need of postage. Websites then bloomed and us an eyeful of what more the world had to offer. It was all about information but now it has turned into a highway of commerce.

Low and behold, soon enough flowers were for sale. As this trend caught on at our shores it gets one to think. Does the allusion of romance shrink with times? Does it now become impersonal?

I think not. I think the online flower delivery industry even increases the potential of men (and women) to purchase a bouquet or two with very good reason.

First of all, you can now see the entire catalogue of products and packages and compare them across the board. You can see all colors, types, fillers, and packaging options. Most even have guides and suggestions to help the user make a choice plus it already comes with a greeting card.

Secondly, it’s keeps you on the clock. Apparently, if you become a member or a frequent customer, you become entitled to be conscientiously reminded by alien technology to send another bunch during occasions or special dates. Mind you, since this is now a worldwide phenomenon, it gives you the ability to send it anywhere on the globe. Now we become an omnipotent source of care and affection.
Lastly, it’s the cost control. With the online gift economy world getting smaller and stronger, suppliers and distributors had to bind together and find more efficient means of delivering quality goods. Online stores also forego the overriding cost of brick and mortar businesses, therefore less real estate and less people power while operating virtually 24 hours. All these factors contributed to competitive pricing while raising the quality bar thus turning happy customers into frequent shoppers.

The Internet doesn’t solve all the world’s problems, but at least in this case it pretty much gives a better solution. It’s common for people to live busier lives nowadays with the recession and the cutthroat competition so everyone is looking out for better ways to achieve personal as well as professional goals, lucky for the romantics the online flower delivery service has become quite a boon.

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References:

www.allbusiness.com, www.happynews.com

Why Quality is Top Priority When it comes to Flowers

islandrose — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:36:16 +0000

Fresh Flower production and supply has risen to the challenge of a growing global marketplace in the last two decades. In this article you will find out why quality is key to this growing business.

Nothing looks sadder than drooping flowers. The only situation that would make it worse is if you actually receive a box of these from someone. I would not wish this fate upon anyone, neither the receiver but most of all, the sender.

www.qualitydigest.com defines quality is not only the absence of defects nor just the state of being superior. It is actually a fundamental and relational process of assessing, fulfilling and anticipating implied needs.

There are quite a number of factors, which define the quality of a flower. The first, being the vase-life of the flower. Different kinds of flowers last different lengths of time. There are established vase-lives in the market for each cut flower type and variety, which on the average should last so many days. When you want quality you look for the supplier or the florist, which can guarantee you that number.

A brief in project study posted at www.hpc.wur.nl also points out the importance of the post harvest quality of cut flower vase life for the consumer. This behavior is determined by water and carbohydrate balance as well when the bud opens and actually survives. Its actual history of cultivation and genetic predisposition is also reflective of the vase life, which makes it a nice to know for every buyer where the actual supply of the florists comes from. Finding out where it comes from will give a better idea on how it was actually grown.

Simply stated, a larger trust should be placed upon florists who are determined to market their wares with highly implied consistency in quality. Well established florists and delivery companies that have an eye for quality look at other factors such as the shade, intensity, uniformity and sharpness of the flower color; Leaf color and size; Stem thickness, straightness and length; weight and absence of spray residue and handling damage.

It is also a fact that this kind of consistency comes only from growers who actually purchase planting materials and pay its royalties from licensed breeders and propagators. Breeders are the ones who scientifically come up with these new varieties but for mass production of these new plants, it becomes a job for the propagator. For example, the main breeder for roses might be from Holland but if there is a large market for these in say in Germany, then they will have to seek out a propagator in that country to get a license to produce these planting materials and supply the area.

Yes, that’s how far the origins of the best flower suppliers may go. The red roses, ten years ago are different from shade of red that you purchase today. Years ago in fact, roses always had thorns to accompany each stem; but nowadays you can find thorn-less varieties with brighter hues and a lovelier fragrance. You can also be assured that new breeds of flowers are constantly improved to have even better characteristics and be able to resist more pests therefore needing need less pesticides, fungicides and ultimately less fertilizer. Growing plants and flowers as a business keeps on getting greener.

What to watch out for would be for the unscrupulous flower retailers which offer bunches and bunches at a dime a dozen. In most cases these would come from an open field using ancient technologies, which don’t have quality measures in place that might give you great visual beauty today but will certainly prove droopy the next. If you have to send it, then make sure it’s got farm freshness and an industrial lifespan to spread the cheer.

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When sending a bunch, make sure that your loved ones get only the freshest. Order from Island Rose – Philippine Flowers and Gifts for high-quality roses.

Don’t Forget the Flowers!

Flowers Philippines — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:28:42 +0000

Next to her gown and cake, a bride tends to spend a lot of time picking out the right flowers for her dream wedding. Why would she not when without flowers, no wedding would be complete. For hundreds of years, flowers have been an integral part of wedding ceremonies and receptions. The ancient Greeks hold the first actual recorded use of flowers in weddings where the bridesmaids are tasked to create décor that includes the bride’s bouquet, boutonnière, garlands, and poesies for guests. May you have grand or intimate, indoor or outdoor wedding, flowers is sure to be part of your celebration.

Like most celebrations, the first thing you need to put into consideration in planning weddings is the amount you are willing to spend. For those on a tight budget in the Philippines, you might want to check if your church of choice has already “packaged” flowers in the overhead cost. You can also take a quick trip to The Flower Market (the Philippines’ most popular resource for flowers purchased in bulk) to have a good grasp of how much the raw cost is. If you need to choose where to spend on flowers between the church and the reception, go for the later. It will be celebrated longer (the wedding itself lasts for only two hours max while the reception’s two hours minimum) and can create a wonderful atmosphere paired with good food and an engaging program.

After deciding on how much to spend (and no alterations please!), look for your flower supplier at least a year and a half in advance. Do your homework by conducting background checks and interview your choices (best done in person). Once you have decided on whom to get, work on your color scheme and arrangement. The location, season (thank heavens we only have two here in the Philippines), wedding theme, and bridal gown should all be taken into consideration. Three major displays should be appropriate for ceremonies held in medium sized churches. These flowers are set-up by the entrance and by the altar. Do make sure that the seats by the aisles are encrusted with minor displays as well. Skipping such will make the venue too bare.

Whatever your decision is, make sure that you and your supplier understand and take note all of your ideas and specifics. Do request for sketches or simple models before you sign a contract. If your supplier can provide you a model, have someone take your photo next to or holding (whichever is appropriate) it. That should give you an idea if your supplier can actually dispense your agreed design.

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Flower Giving: Getting Your Message Across

Philippine Flowers Blog — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:39:41 +0000

My earliest recollection of receiving flowers would date back some twenty years ago when my uncle gave me a walking doll (I later on called her Tricia) and a lei for completing my first school year as the class valedictorian. I hung on to my lei for a couple of days before it wilt away. In between admiration and bragging to gal pals, I wondered what the beautiful lei were for. When it finally gave up and browned on me, I thought, “Why did Tito gave me something that will just die?”

Egyptian inscriptions, Chinese writings, and the symbolic use of flowers in both the Greek and Roman mythology show that the act of giving flowers has been around since the prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, courtship is severely prohibited such that lovers have managed to communicate only through the language of flowers (otherwise known as Floriography). The type, color, and manner of giving flowers defined the messages sent. For instance, if a question’s been asked and a flower’s been given using the right hand, the answer to the question is “yes”. Handing a flower via the left hand means “no”. Presented upright, the flowers bring a positive message. A negative message usually denotes a flower presented upside down. Surprisingly, even a piece of clothing bearing a scent of a flower can be a message sender where it carries the same message its flower would have.

The surge of theatre, operas, and ballets during the Renaissance also gave room to flowers to become symbols of superstitions. Having real flowers on stage and receiving them before a performance connote bad luck. Prohibiting the use of real flowers on stage does make sense since the lights will only cause it to wilt. Handing a performer after his stint is said to bring in good luck.

Flower giving is still very rampant today and undoubtedly will stay for the years and years to come. After all these years of development and hybridization, the selection and messages behind flowers is just infinite. Understanding that each flower has a distinct meaning from each other should remind us to do our homework before we run to the flower shop the next time we intend to hand them out. Not only will this relish and put value on the flower language but will also help us get our message across right the first time we say it.

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Whatever message you want to relay, say it with Island Rose. Log on to www.islandrose.net and choose from a their wide variety of roses especially for your loved one.

The Popular Rose Varieties

Flowers Philippines — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:32:57 +0000

The rose, being the most popular garden and cut plant, has over 20,000 cultivars in the Northern Hemisphere alone. This number originates from a conservative figure of only 150-200 species of wild roses. Fossil specimens found in both Colorado and Oregon show that roses have been growing for more than 30 million years to date. More fossil specimens were found in North Africa and are said to be at least 4,000 years old. Variant wise, only five of the massive figures above cut as the most popular: the Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Grandiflora, Climber, and Miniature roses.

Hybrid Tea roses were first cultivated in 1867 by a French nurseryman named Jean-Baptiste Guillot. He achieved the first Hybrid Tea by budding an old Chinese garden tea rose and a European rose. While it is not as fragrant as the other variants, it is safe to say that this rose is the most popular of all because of its wide selection of colors and its long stem that makes it ideal as a cut blossom.

The Floribundas can easily be distinguished from Hybrid Teas because of their dense clusters and big, simultaneous blossoms sitting on its truss. It was first cultivated in 1909, crossing a Polyantha and a Hybrid Tea. This variant is generally easier to maintain than its parents, making it ideal for parks and similar spaces.

The Grandiflora was first cultivated in the mid 1900s, crossing a Hybrid Tea and a Floribunda. Its stem is slightly shorter than a hybrid tea’s and its blossom’s size is midway its parents’. The Queen Elizabeth, the first Grandiflora, is still considered as one of the best variants of this rose class.

All Old and Modern roses have their “climbing” counterparts. The canes of the Climbers’ shrubs are naturally more flexible and much longer than its bush form. Its form on Old Garden roses can generally be attributed to the natural growth habit while in Modern Garden roses, it’s actually an end result of mutating continuously. Most Climbing roses grow anywhere between 8-20 feet in height and needs to be “trained” to grow upwards by tying to structures. Miniature roses, similar to Climbers, are simply smaller versions of Old Garden Roses. This class of roses are usually twiggy in form with repeat-ing shrubs that grow anywhere between 6 to 36 inches in height. Its color range is similar to the Hybrid Tea’s and is usually marketed as houseplants.

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