This Feature: Caring For Your Cut Flowers In The Hot Weather
Floristry Expert Contributor: Kelly

Flowers such as Roses, Spray Roses, Lisianthus, Gerberas and Dahlias just to name a few, don't like the heat and strive to survive when it's awfully humid. To make sure you get the maximum life span expectancy out of your cut flowers, you need to make sure you follow a few simple steps and devote extra special attention to your cut flowers when it's hot.

• Try and keep your flowers in a cooler place and out of humid places and direct sunlight for a long period of time
• Change and replace vase with fresh water regularly and recut stems
• Use a preservative
• Remove any wilted foliage or dead petals
• Make sure there is no foliage below water level as this can cause bacteria over time and affect the life span of your flowers

These simple tips will help you get the maximum life span out of your cut flowers.

On the other hand, flowers that manage to survive in the hot weather are tropical flowers and native flowers such as, Anthuriums, Singapore Orchids, Bird of Paradise, Heliconias, Banksia, Kangaroo Paw and Protea.

This Feature: Flower Seasons
Floristry Expert Contributor: Klaartje

Ever wondered what flowers are in season when? Here's a quick guide ... remembering the weather affects flowers quite a bit.

Spring: Arum Lily, Bird of Paradise, Boronia, Bouvardia, Calendula, Daffodil, Delphinium, Gardinia, Iris, Poppy, Stock, Sweet Pea, Tulip, Violet

Summer: Alluim, Amaryllis, Bouvardia, Dahlia, Delphinium, Gardenia

Autumn: Bird of Paradise, Bouvardia, Calendula, Daffodil, Delphinium, Freesia, Gardenia, Hyacinths, Iris, Poppy, Stock, Tulip

Winter: Arum Lily, Calendula, Daffodil, Freesia, Hyacinths, Iris, Poppy, Stock, Tulip, Violet

All Year Round: Alstromeria, Antheriums, Chrysanthemum, Cornflower, Gerbera, Heliconia, Protea, Rose, Carnation, Singapore Orchid, Snapdragon

This Feature: How to look after indoor plants
Floristry Expert Contributor: Klaartje

Make sure your plant has light for their growth. Indoor plants will not grow well in the dark.

Indoor plants need to be put outside for fresh air once a fortnight, but not in direct sunlight.

If the soil is damp, the plant does not need water. If the plant is dry, sufficient water should be applied so that the water drains out from the holes down the base of the pot.

Plants cannot grow forever in the same pot as the roots and the plant will fill up the pot. You will need to up-size the pot with drainage holes.

Pruning should only be done in its growing stage. Generally plants are not in their growing stage in winter. Pruning helps the plant to grow.

This Feature: Modern ideas for traditional red roses
Floristry Expert Contributor: Larissa

For many years a bouquet of red roses has been the traditional gift of love. Long gone are the days of Gyp/Baby's breath and in 2009 there are many other options when it comes to presenting your red roses.

There are many names and varieties in red roses. Some such names are… Samourai, First Red, Red Monarch, Passion, Ruby Red, Adrenalin, Shiraz, and New Fashion. And in miniature spray roses such names as… Rubicon and Sante Rose.

These are the names for the different varieties or tones of red available and will also differ depending on the rose grower.

When selecting your red roses you are best to choose a rose such as Red Monarch or Passion as these are regarded as "premium" roses. They can be identified by the large full bloom and strong stem.

Once you have selected your rose your florist will strip the thorns and foliage from the bottom section of the stems to avoid contaminating the water and for the safety of the handler. (Those thorns can really hurt!)

• You may decide to give your roses without other flowers or foliage and just have them beautifully gift wrapped.
  
  
• Tall roses may be complimented with a bunch of spear grass to add to the height and break up the bouquet a little.
  
  
• To bulk up the roses and make them appear more formally arranged you can also add a base of foliage such as Magnolia or Oak. This will make a simple bunch of roses into a beautiful but simple bouquet. The roses will still speak for themselves.
  
  
• To compliment your roses further and add a little colour to the background you can also add a bunch of "filler flowers" a.k.a. flowers used to fill a bouquet but not detract from the focal flower (the red roses). Flowers used to compliment could be Alstroemeria, Geralton wax, rice flowers or Berries.
  
  
• You may decide to add another focal flower that will compliment your roses. My suggestion would be foliage, Oriental lilies and red roses in a bouquet with spear grass.

This Feature: European Wasp Eater
Floristry Expert Contributor: Karen

Want to give something a bit different? You could try giving a European Wasp Eater...

This plant actually attracts, catches and eats nasty pests. This carnivorous pitcher plant has a prey-trapping mechanism which features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap.

It has been widely assumed that the various sorts of pitfall trap evolved from rolled leaves, with selection pressure favouring more deeply cupped leaves over evolutionary time.

Care of your pitcher plant

It is imperative not to let your pitcher plant dry out. Keep it either in a sunny position on a window sill or in the garden. Always stand in a saucer of water. Do not fertilise. It is also suitable to be planted outside in a bog or water garden.

This Feature: Florist's Favourite Flowers
Floristry Expert Contributor: Karen

The Calla Lily is a beautiful flower that makes an arrangement special. I love the tangerine and eggplant coloured blooms. It is hard to pin down my favourite flower as there are so many exquisite flowers and different varieties to choose from. One of my favourites would have to be the Calla Lily. I love it for its simplicity and its elegant shape. It's a very sensual looking flower. It is fantastic used in many kinds of arrangements such as a gorgeous bouquet with roses and freesias, and it is also spectacular on its own in a vase or used on its own in a wedding bouquet.

For those in their fifth year of marriage, take note, as Calla Lilies are associated with the 6^th Wedding Anniversary. Also if you are interested in the meaning of the flowers, the Calla Lily is a symbol of magnificent beauty.