August Memories – Manotick Florists Gladiolus

August is a month that keeps me on my toes. There are so many different celebrations and activities to attend in Ottawa that only happen in August. I remember as a kid August was camp month – a holiday away from home with my summer friends that you only saw once a year with great excitement - swimming, canoeing and campfires!

I remember writing letters to home – no computers or text messages back then and sometimes you returned home before the letters got there. I would always write a special letter to my Grandma Ballard as it was her birthday August 15^th. Several years later I discovered that she saved all my letters I sent her along with a hand drawn picture or a special pressed flower or leaf that I found.

Whenever I see a Gladiola flower memories of my Grandma come into mind. Gladiola is the flower of August. Her parents named her after this wonderful flower – Gladys. The meaning of the Gladiola flower is “strength of character”.

The Gladiola “little sword” is a tall stalk flower with multiple blooms that come in every colour but blue. They grow hardy in your garden from bulbs and can fill your garden with a rainbow of colour. Their peak blooming time in our Ottawa gardens is August. They are abundant and less expensive here in our shop cooler. Gladiolus are available to us here at the flower shop all year round as we have suppliers who grow them in southern Ontario greenhouses or import them from central and southern countries in the winter months.

Another big August memory for me is August of 2003 – my honeymoon - four wonderful weeks traveling with our backpacks to Guatemala in Central America. There they have the perfect growing climate for their lush plants and flowers. One of the very abundant flowers that donned many home and restaurant entrances was the Gladiola. The flowers in the markets were amazing with their colours and were so inexpensive, you could easily come home with an armful!

Sometimes customers come in asking us to make a summer arrangement or bouquet but request us not to use any gladiolus as it reminds them of a funeral. How sad. Yes, they are used in funeral arrangements but just as often as many other flowers. Their beautiful colours and tall strong stocks and leaves give such strength and height to a beautiful tribute arrangement to a loved one.

The Gladiola can also be a contemporary flower when arranged in a sleek glass vase. It can be a traditional country garden flower when arranged in a basket along with a collection of daisies and roses. Such a versatile flower.

Have you ever heard of a Glamilia? This is what I call a man-made flower but oh so pretty! Very carefully you place one Glad bloom into another and continue to stack them to one big beautiful bloom. It’s tricky to do and takes time and patience.

So, if you want to bring home a bold and beautiful bouquet of August’s Gladious come in to see us at Manotick Florists in the Mews of Manotick, 1160 Beaverwood Ave. or call us at 613-692-2541

Want to give a love one or friend a beautiful gift but can’t be there yourself? Well, we have our own delivery van that deliver a custom designed floral gift and card to that someone special for you.

International delivery service can be done through our FTD and Teleflora florists associates that are just a phone call away.

View our selection of gifts & services on our websites www.manotickflorists.com & www.manotickflowers.com

While you are visiting our website don’t forget to register as one of our VIP members to be eligible for Free Flowers and special savings!