Pardeeville, WI Florists

Pardeeville Flower Shop News

Going native: Growing movement aims to restore indigenous plants - Portage Daily Register

One of the guests of the Columbia County Master Gardeners was Olbrich Botanical Gardens horticulturalist Katey Pratt, originally of Pardeeville, who was leading a make-and-take demonstration in which gardeners were putting together bee houses to encourage bees to live in and around their gardens.On Good Friday morning Pratt was at Olbrich in Madison showing off all kinds of early-riser plants native to Wisconsin.“This meadow is great to come back to in the different parts of spring because there are so many different bulbs in here that are succession-planted so you’ll have this first big wave of scilla, which is a really early spring bulb, and you’ll have tulips and all sorts of things coming up.”A few early visitors made their way along the paths, but most of the noise in the garden came from birds dropping in on various exhibits. It isn’t a competition, Pratt explained, with Olbrich staff welcoming birds to “enjoy the fruits of their labor.” Although, on occasion, she said, a territorial red wing blackbird might swoop at someone nearing a nest.Pollinators importantExcitement peaked during the tour when two fat bumblebees were seen bobbing through a patch of little white chionodoxa flowers. It may not seem like a lot, but Pratt is abundantly aware of and concerned about the threats to pollinating insects and the risks to plants if the pollinators aren’t there to pollinate.“Look at you little bumble!” said Pratt. “There is a website called Bumblebee Watch where you can post a picture of a bee and they will help you identify it.”She starts her bee house presentation by putting a large picture of a close-up of a bee’s face on the wall and asking how many people’s first response is to be afraid. Her own enthusiasm for stinging insects was learned over time. That relationship did not start cordially, with one of her most significant introductions to bees happening when she was little and raspberry picking. Her grandmother set her down on a ground hornets’ nest and the experience left an expected impression.“For the longest time I thought that wasps and hornets were bees,” said Pratt, “when really a lot of our native bees live solitary lives and don’t swarm or hive or have anything like that.”According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation’s February 2017 newsletter, more than 17 percent of North American butterfly species and 28 percent of native bumble bee species, critical pollinators, are at risk... http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/article_de646177-bbc0-5142-91b3-a65489b6014c.html

Flowers Done Green - local flower shop keeps it unexpected - Volume One

Valley.“We don’t have to always go looking to the exotic to find something exceptionally beautiful. We’re celebrating what’s beautiful about Wisconsin.” – Sarah Lambert, Hive & Hollow“What I’m trying to do that’s different is having all of my flowers sourced as locally as possible,” Sarah said.  In the spring and summer that means using supplies from her own greenhouse and garden and supporting local flower growers.  When the winter months restrict local options to willow branches, pine cones, and evergreens, rather than ordering carnations and roses from Central American farms, she brings out the best of the seasonal options, accentuating them with plants from a Minnesota greenhouse.“We don’t have to always go looking to the exotic to find something exceptionally beautiful,” Sarah said.  “We’re celebrating what’s beautiful about Wisconsin.”Sarah is also celebrating sustainability through her choices in product.  She recalls a conversation with a fellow florist from ten years ago, when her coworker expressed concern the effect of floral industry chemicals on fertility.  Before then, she hadn’t realized the proliferation of carcinogenic chemicals in pesticides and plastics associated with flower arranging.  Sarah aims to carry as many organic, recycled, and locally grown products as possible to avoid negative environmental impact.Many of Sarah’s arrangements are presented in thrifted tins, glassware, and pots.  On a recent Friday, she placed a bridal bouqu... https://volumeone.org/articles/2018/11/28/27005_flowers_done_green

Appletons Memorial Florists to diversify by growing hemp - Appleton Post Crescent

There's literally no way you can get high off hemp," said Rob Richard, senior director of governmental relations at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in Madison. Nevertheless, hemp was outlawed as a crop in Wisconsin in 1970, squashing Wisconsin's hemp growing industry.  "Wisconsin has a long history of growing hemp and was the top producer in the country from the 30s to the 50s," said Richard.  The state Legislature passed a law in November 2017 to allow farmers to grow industrial hemp once again.  While legal to grow, Richard said farmers are keeping an eye on a federal 2018 farm bill, yet to be signed, that gives them more incentive. "It clears up any misinterpretation or legal interpretation of what hemp is. It will be a crop. It removes it from the controlled substances act," Richard said. "It makes it eligible for crop insurance, so it takes away some of the risk."  Richard sees hemp as a good option for Wisconsin farmers. "Our farmers are going through a rough time because commodity prices and milk prices are taking a beating. This is one avenue for farmers to hopefully make some profit on a crop."  Besides Front Range, a number of other companies offering seeds and "clones" or tissue cuttings for propagating plants are starting in the state. "They're looking at Wisconsin because we're No. 2 in available organic acreage. Organics are where a lot of the profitability is," he said.    Front Range leased one of Memorial's 15,400-square-foot greenhouses to grow tiny hemp plants — in much the same way greenhouses grow bedding or pack plants for home gardeners — that it will sell to Wisconsin farmers for planting in the fields. The operation will add eight full-time jobs.  Memorial Florists' traditional floral and greenhouse operations will continue in the remainder of its 40,000-square-foot facility.  That means home gardeners, decorators, brides, funerals and those looking for the business' better quality plants will ... https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2018/12/04/appletons-memorial-florists-greenhouses-signs-deal-grow-hemp/2201857002/

Manitowoc Roorbach Flowers offers full-service FTD shop | Chamber Notebook - Herald Times Reporter

The Chamber of Manitowoc County For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 6:54 AM EST Nov 8, 2018 Since 1952 when Harry and Julia Roorbach moved from Illinois to buy the former Hamilton greenhouse and establish Roorbach Flowers, the Roorbach family has been active in Manitowoc's retail scene. Jim and Claire Olson joined Claire's parents in the business in the late 1960s and took ownership in the early 1990s. This coincided with an extensive remodel that created a new retail store, greenhouses and parking on Custer Street. The store is at 961 S. 29th St. and online at roorbachflowers.com or facebook.com/roorbach. ... https://www.htrnews.com/story/money/2018/11/08/manitowoc-roorbach-flowers-offers-full-service-ftd-shop-wisconsin/1923898002/

Wingo's, English Rose Garden Heavily Damaged in O Street Fire

June 26, 2018“It was then that I knew that someone really had my back,” she wrote.Wingo’s recently acquired a second location at 2218 Wisconsin Avenue in nearby Glover Park, and it hopes to open its doors August 1, according to a Facebook post.English Rose Garden is also currently closed and sustained heavy damage. An employee who was working at the time of the fire told WUSA 9 the “shop is gone.”Have a reaction to this article? Write a letter to the editor. ... http://www.thehoya.com/wingos-english-rose-garden-heavily-damaged-o-street-fire/