One of my personal favorites!  I think it’s time to challenge the bias against gladiolus! Seems most people associate them as “cheap”, used only in funeral work, immediately dismissing this gorgeous garden flower as one to be used in memorial displays. Oh yeah, time to change that perspective! Let’s take a good look at these long lasting beauties, full of blossoms from the base to tip of the stem! Botanically...

  “Just living is not enough.  One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”  -Hans Christian Andersen As of July 24th, Heliotrope for Hospice is one year old! That is the day, in 2011, I made the first floral delivery to San Diego Hospice! It was before we were even approved as a 501(c)(3) “official” non-profit. It was the day I decided to make Heliotrope a reality, no matter how long the paperwork...

The first week of July brought a bounty of summertime goodness to Heliotrope for Hospice! a big lesson for me in trust, that eventually people come together, whether they know it or not, and the puzzle pieces fit– just when you least expect it… when the timing is right. First, I got a confirmation from Julia, a wonderful person that I met at the Orchestra Nova event in May (you know, the one with the orchid and succulent...

Last week, one of the largest floral wholesalers in the country had their regional San Diego County Design Competition! It is one of their ways to introduce the newest flower varieties to the public, as well as nurturing the excellence and innovation in local floral designers. Cindy Huntzinger, from Mayesh Wholesale Flowers in Carlsbad, CA, emailed me last January to ask if Heliotrope for Hospice would be interested in the flowers after the...

Last weekend was really exciting for Heliotrope for Hospice! I was asked by Megan, Event Coordinator, of Orchestra Nova (formerly, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra) to participate in Nova Goes Green, The Lobby Experience, for their last concert series of this season. For this interactive event, I built a bamboo and wire fencing screen to hang succulents ‘echeveria’ and  orchids ‘cymbidium’ on long, sheer and irridescent...

                                                                                                                                                                     Update! This week I picked up donations from Trader Joe’s on three days! That’s a tremendous amount of...