Aitkin, MN Florists

Aitkin Flower Shop News

Valentine flowers – wonderful! - Aitkin Independent Age

No matter which flowers you choose for Valentine’s Day, it is good to know how to prolong their beauty.Happy Valentine’s Day!Janice Hasselius, originally from Aitkin, has been a University of Minnesota Master Gardener since 2000. She regularly volunteers for writing, teaching classes, and demonstrations on gardening subjects through the University of Minnesota Extension Service. http://www.messagemedia.co/aitkin/outdoors/home_garden/valentine-flowers-wonderful/article_d6f2f2d8-e272-11e6-adc9-df3f6178b074.html

St. Paul paper artist crafts incredibly realistic flowers that last - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Gaseitsiwe, who formerly investigated money laundering, developed and honed her floral-crafting technique after taking time off from that career to spend more time with her children and moving to Minnesota. Now she creates custom arrangements for permanent home decor and special events — even wedding bouquets. Paper flowers serve as an everlasting memento of the occasion, she notes. “You can dry real flowers but they don’t look the same. These look real, and you can keep them looking fresh.” Her toughest challenge so far? Creating a lady slipper, Minnesota’s state flower, for her mother for Mother’s Day. “The shape made it hard — it’s such a smooth seamless cup shape,” she says. She charges not by the flower but by the hour — however many it takes to create whatever a client wishes. “You’re buying my time,” she says. That typically ranges from about $150 for a bouquet of simple poppies to $200 for a bouquet of more complex flowers. And if you want to learn how to make your own paper flowers, she also hosts periodic workshops. http://www.startribune.com/st-paul-paper-artist-crafts-incredibly-realistic-flowers-that-last/495207271/

Love fresh-cut blooms? Keep 'em coming with a flower CSA - Minneapolis Star Tribune

CSA stands for community-supported agriculture, a business model in which consumers invest in local farms in exchange for a share of what they grow. Minnesotans have been consuming CSA veggies for years. Now a handful of local growers are offering shares of their blooms and ornamental plants. “People sign up in winter and early spring,” says Molly Gaeckle, owner of Northerly Flora, who grows flowers on two lots in the Longfellow and Seward neighborhoods of Minneapolis. “It helps me buy seeds, compost and irrigation.” In return for their $190-plus tax investment, her customers receive 10 weekly bouquets of the 75 different flowers, foliage and grasses she grows throughout summer and fall. “Some are bright and fun colors, some are more autumnal,” she says. Some growers focus on particular flowers. “We specialize in different vari... http://www.startribune.com/love-fresh-cut-blooms-keep-em-coming-with-a-flower-csa/507837752/

This pretty flower is a weed; Get rid of it fast! - INFORUM

Moorhead. A: Your unsuccessful experience with Endless Summer is similar to the majority of those who have tried it in North Dakota and large parts of Minnesota. The basic problem is that the Endless Summer group of hydrangeas, including Bloomstruck, are members of the Hydrangea macrophylla species, which is the species of the non-adapted florist hydrangeas. The two hydrangea species that are best-adapted for our outdoor landscapes are Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens and their cultivars. Checking the fine print on hydrangea labels for the species saves much heartache. Because Bloomstruck is a Hydrangea macrophylla variety, it has a disadvantage in our region from the onset because of its genetics. Bloomstruck is fairly new, so time will tell, but it would be surprising if it performs better than its genetics allow. Q: Is it okay to prune the top of our arborvitae so that it doesn't grow too tall? Its width is fine, but the top is at about 8 feet and we'd like it to stay at that height. - Nancy Suttle, West Fargo. A: Yes, the tops of pyramidal arborvitae can be trimmed so they don't become too tall. If an arborvitae is allowed to grow out of bounds, it's difficult to radically reduce its height back down to desired size. Your idea of maintaining it at 8 feet from the start is much better than someday trying to cut a tall arborvitae back down to that level. Keeping a shrub or tree at its present size through pruning is often called "mold and hold" pruning. Several times during the growing season, prune off the current season's new growth so the arborvitae remains at the desired height. Some pyramidal arborvitae varieties' natural heights are 30 feet, so diligence may be needed to maintain at 8 feet. To hold an arborvitae at its present size, it's probably necessary to trim once in June or July and again in August. A quick trim across the top a couple times each summer should do it. If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler at ForumGrowingTogether@... https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/4486210-pretty-flower-weed-get-rid-it-fast

Gustaf's Greenery flower shop closing after 42 years - Sioux Falls Argus Leader

On Thursday afternoon, Gustaf sat at a table in the flower shop on 1020 S. Minnesota Ave., its sales floor busy with shoppers eyeing the 75 percent off retirement deals. Gustaf has been fighting renal cell carcinoma for more than two years, and has faced down multiple times he's been told to make his peace with the end. He's fought on, and looked for a time at selling the business. But over the last couple of months he's come to the decision it's time to close up shop, he said. "No regrets. Truly no regrets at all," he said. "I think we've made our mark on the world." Gustaf's Greenery started in the Western Mall before moving to its current location on Minnesota Avenue in 1986. "42 years slips by real fast," Gustaf said. Gustaf said his store has made its name for its work on holidays, but also weddings, funerals and other events that require flowers. Gustaf's Greenery isn't just one man, he repeated several times, but a team of talented and highly educated florists. "What incredible luck we've had to do what we do and touch people's hearts," he said. Most of his staff is moving to the Young & R... https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2018/12/20/gustafs-greenery-flower-shop-closing-after-42-years/2381620002/