I thought it would be nice to support a Canadian wine. Blue Mountain is one of my favorite wineries out of BC. Blue Mountain is always available thru JWebb, Metro Vino and the Kensington Wine Market. Here’s a featured cocktail to consider for your wedding reception.

Sweet Hibiscus Flower Rosé Brut

To serve:

Blue Mountain – Rosé Brut – Sparkling Wine – Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada. One bottle of sparkling wine provides six proper pours in a classic flute.

Drop one sweet hibiscus flower into each glass and watch the colors blend together. It is a perfect blend of sweet berry and crispness.

The Rosé Brut has a fine mousse, with fresh strawberry notes on the nose and across the palate, with a crisp fruit finish. The wine is made in the Method Traditionnelle style. Finished dry, this wine is aged sur-lie for thirty-six months prior to being disgorged. They then receive an additional 6 to 9 months of aging preceding release.

Cheers!

If you are looking for a way to express your love for your Valentine this year, there is a flower that most likely matches how you feel.  You can use the language of flowers whether you decide on a single, splendid blossom or write a love letter in blooms.  They will say how you feel. Allow flowers to provide both beauty and a message of love meant especially for you and your Valentine.  Make sure to tell your significant other the meaning of the flower(s) being presented.  It could lead to a whole other conversation!

Arbutus Thee Only Do I Love

Aster Talisman of love and patience

Camellia (Pink)                     Longing For You

Camellia (Red)                      You’re a Flame in My Heart

Camellia (White) You’re Adorable

Carnation (Red) My Heart Aches For You, Admiration

Carnation (White) Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman’s Good Luck Gift

Chrysanthemum (Red)       I Love You

Daffodil Regard, Unequalled Love, You’re the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining When I’m with You

Delphinium Open Heart and Passionate Attachment.

Fern (Maidenhair) Secret Bond of Love

Forget-Me-Not True Love, Memories

Gardenia You’re Lovely, Secret Love

Gloxinia Love at First Sight

Iris Faith, Valor, and Wisdom

Ivy Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection

Jonquil Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned

Lily (Calla) Beauty

Myrtle Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage

Orange Blossom Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness

Orchid Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children

Primrose I Can’t Live without You

Rose (Damask) Persian Ambassador of Love

Rose (Hibiscus) Delicate Beauty

Rose (Leaf) You May Hope

Rose (Pink) Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me

Rose (Red) Love, I Love You

Rose (Tea) I’ll Remember Always

Rose (Thornless) Love at First Sight

Rose (White) Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You’re Heavenly

Rosebud (Red) Pure and Lovely

Rosebud (Moss) Confessions of Love

Roses (Single Full Bloom) I Love You, I Still Love You

Tulip (General) Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland

Tulip (Red) Believe Me, Declaration of Love

Tulip (Yellow) There’s Sunshine in Your Smile

Violet (Blue) Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I’ll Always Be There

Valentine’s Day Flowers

Undeniably, a gift of flowers makes us all feel special and loved.  For thousands of years flowers have symbolized love, marriage and romance.  This Valentine’s Day, if you’re thinking of giving your sweetheart flowers, give them a message meant just for them.  Most of us know that red roses mean “I love you” and although that’s a good place to start, by using the language of flowers, you could have an entire discussion about that love using only flowers.

The language of flowers, floriography, was most popular during the Victorian period, but the symbolic use of flowers dates back to antiquity.  Early Christians used white roses, myrtle, and lilies as symbols of virtues.  In medieval and Renaissance culture, flowers were often given moral meanings.  The Victorians however, raised the language to flowers to new heights by their use of flowers as a means of communication.  Various flowers and floral arrangements were enlisted to send coded messages, thus allowing individuals to express feelings, which otherwise could not be spoken.  The Victorians also used flowers to describe moral, spiritual, or emotional truths.

Picking out the Perfect Bouquet

Take time to compose your language of love bouquet. You don’t have to have an entire floral conversation, a single thought or emotion could be all that you need convey. Research on line, but if possible choose flowers at a florist. You can then check the quality of the flowers, the fragrance, and compose the bouquet yourself.  The benefit of having a florist’s help in composition will be evident with the final product. If you’re in Calgary, La Fleur is a great place for fabulous flowers.

Size doesn’t matter with flowers.  A bigger bouquet won’t necessarily get a bigger smile or more kisses. Something, smaller with more meaning or sophistication, makes just as big a statement as a larger bouquet.

Take at look at the  Language of Flowers Glossary for we’ve put together for Valentine’s Day.  You’ll have a head start composing your floral message or conversation. Participation makes a gift of flowers that much more romantic.

Are you an enviromantic?

You want to know how to reduce the environmental impact of your Valentine’s bouquet – and still get something romantically spectacular.  Going green is harder than you think.  Most cut flowers are imported and arrive by plane – so much for your carbon foot print!  In Canada, because flowers are not identified as an edible crop, they are exempt from regulations on pesticide residues and are not inspected for these residues.  But take heart; there are florists and producers that can provide you with locally grown blooms and/or fair trade options.  Fair Trade Certified flowers in Canada carry labels from third-party certifiers.  Canadian company, Sierra Eco, supplies florists with organic and fair trade flowers.

Choosing flowers to tell your love story on Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be the same old thing.  Flowers are the ultimate language of love. Send a floral love message and reap hugs and kisses as your reward!

Red roses and white pine cones

The ring is bought, the words rehearsed — you’re prepared. But you want to add a little special something to your proposal…think engagement flowers. You are brilliant! There are not too many women who will tell you they don’t love receiving a beautiful bouquet.

A picture paints a thousand words, but in the world of romance, a carefully chosen bouquet of flowers can be the most eloquent statement of your love — other than the fabulous ring you just bought for her, of course.

If you decide to give your love engagement flowers, here are a few tips on making them winter wonderful for your holiday proposal.

Go for elegance with a silver and white look or celebrate the season with reds and greens. Create a sparkling winter land of evergreens, white, silver, and crystal.

For a magical winter bouquet, use Austrian crystals or use a few strategically placed sparkling crystal flowers within the bouquet of blooms you choose.

Red and white aren’t just the colours of Christmas, they’re also the colour of love. The combination of red and white roses symbolizes union.

Bouquet Ideas

These arrangements can also be used to create floral centerpieces or given as beautiful hostess gifts too.

• White poinsettias mixed with red roses or tulips
• Red roses mixed with white lilies and holly
• Red and white roses accented with fragrant evergreens and eucalyptus.
• Calla lilies with clusters of purple/blue berries
• Gardenias, holly berries and ivy
• Hydrangeas and pomegranate with trailing ribbons
• Blue hydrangeas, baby’s breath and silvery eucalyptus
• Gardenias, red berries, white rose buds with green ivy
• White roses, white hydrangeas, white sweet peas, white ribbon and tulle
• Red rose buds, pinecones with pine leaves and red ribbon
• Red poinsettias mixed with white tulips or roses