Bristol Farms

The four leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three leaved clover.  According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally.  Legend says that each leaf represents something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.  Clovers can have more than four leaves; the most ever recorded is 56 – discovered by Shigeo Obara of Hanamaki, Iwate, Japan May 10, 2009.

Care and Handling of your shamrock:

Common Name: Shamrock Plant

Scientific Name: Oxalis species

Lighting: Low to Moderate

Watering: Moderate

Shamrock plants come in a wide variety of species.   Varieties include those with deep burgundy foliage with white or pink flowers to green foliage as well.  Shamrock plants form a mound like appearance by continually sprouting new shoots.  One thing to be aware of, is that generally within 2 months of receiving your shamrock plant, the plant will appear to be dying and actually seem dead.  Don’t throw it out! It is a bulb and goes into a temporary dormant state.

Shamrock plants prefer low light levels in most cases.   Some varieties like higher levels, so be sure to follow the instruction on the tag for your specific variety.  If your plant is stretching or becomes lanky in appearance, it is probably not receiving enough light.  Shamrock plants prefer to have their soil somewhat moist at all times.  However; you do no want the soil to be soggy.  Generally, if the soil does dry out, this houseplant will spring back from a wilted state.

Come to Bristol Farms and buy your very own shamrock and maybe you too can get lucky!

It’s not just for the Valentine’s Day Holiday; you can always take advantage of our Bristol Gardens’ forever special where you buy one 3” Orchid for $19.99 and get one 3” Orchid free!

I believe that orchids are one of the most fascinating and graceful flowers that we can bring into our homes. They have the power to bring elegance to any space and have the power to bring peace to any room. There are over 35,000 species available in an array of colors, shapes, and textures. One of my favorites is the Phalaenopsis commonly known as the Moth Orchid. I love to stare in the center of the flower and get lost in the intricate, frail, rigid edges. If you look closely, you can see the soft veins within the petal. Moth orchids look so delicate but are actually very hardy and can last up to three to four months in your home. This makes them a great value and with our promotion, everyone can afford to enjoy them.

Over the centuries, orchids have become identified with wealth, elegance and worldliness. If cared for properly, the orchid can be handed down from generation to generation and can live forever. When selecting your orchids, you want to ensure that the leaves are nice and green. If you see the roots crawling out of the pot, that is okay. Look at the blooms closely and make sure that it is not all bloomed to the end of the stem. You want to have a couple of puffy blooms in order to enjoy your orchid longer.

It is best to water your orchid in the morning so that the plant can be dry before nightfall. Don’t let your orchid sit in water; they do not like to be soaking wet. I suggest you water your orchid every other week during the summer and once a month during the winter. Always check the water content by poking your finger through the moss or bark. If it is moist, do not water until it is dry. Keep your orchid away from heat drafts or cold drafts.

Enjoy!

Tillandsia xerographica is a beautiful species native to Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. This rare cultivar is considered the King of the Tillandsia world. It is very slow growing but easy to care for an indoor/outdoor show plant. They can live in a wide temperature range, from 34°F to 110°F. The silvery gray leaves are wide at the base and taper to a point making an attractive, sculptural rosette. The leaf bracts are rosy red, the floral bracts are chartreuse, and the petals of the tubular flowers are red to purple and are very long lasting (months). This slow-growing species loves sunshine and is drought tolerant. Xerographica grows epiphytically on trees and on rocks in dry areas and at elevations of 600 to 1,800 feet where it hangs on the highest branches to receive intense lighting. If you are starting a collection or simply want to add another masterpiece to your current collection, this plant is a must! The name means dry painting. Mount at an angle to prevent water from collecting in the crown and to fully enjoy its beautiful shape. If you give it more water the leaves will stay straighter, less water and they will curl up and look gnarly, giving it character.

Now, I know I said Peony was my all time favorite, but I think I was wrong. This California Grown Calla Lily has got to be my second favorite flower. What I love about them is that they are so amazingly sturdy and have a vase life of about two weeks.  The colors are so cheerful; there is no brighter yellow flower that comes to mind and will easily brighten up any room. The picture here does not do these flowers justice but it is nice to see our crop as we place our orders. The flowers are in buckets waiting to be sleeved and shipped directly to each Bristol Farms store.

The calla lily will come to us in an array of designer colors starting July 1st. The mango calla is so bright orange it is simply beautiful, just dropping them in a vase with nothing else is very elegant. Come and see for yourself!

This image is the actual crop that landed in our stores last week and sold out within a couple of days. These lucky customers will have them in their homes for another week. If you are one of these customers that purchased some, I would love to hear about your calla experience!