81°F
weather icon Cloudy

Organic-grown rose a win-win

Rose lovers take heed. For around $50 a dozen you can unwrap and enjoy that fragrant beauty you recall so vividly from your grandmother’s garden and help save the planet at the same time.

In an effort to revive that glorious scent that is so strongly associated with roses, but which, unfortunately, has been lost to high-scale commercial production, www.OrganicBouquet.com and Nevado Roses Ecuador are proud to present the Vitality rose — a bright-white variety that unfurls like a natural garden rose with the fragrance to match.

Vitality rose is the world’s first certified-organic fragrant rose intended for commercial distribution.

To the layman, that means that the organically farmed Vitality meets the USDA-accredited system that builds rich, fertile soil and utilizes natural defense mechanisms to combat pests and plant diseases.

Just think, while you’re enjoying the look and scent of your fresh-cut roses at home, you’ll be working to save vital natural resources.

“From its spectacular opening to its seductive perfume, Vitality offers a potent and sensually arousing fragrance that will leave the recipient reeling with delight,” said Gerald Prolman, chief executive officer of www.OrganicBouquet.com.

Established in 2001, Organic Bouquet is the world’s first online organic florist and works to ensure the well-being of farm workers, the protection of ecosystems and the preservation of the earth, while providing consumers with the highest quality products available.

As for practicality, Vitality is a designer’s dream come true.

“In the 25 years that I’ve been in the floral business, we’ve seen a gradual trade off — roses last longer but they’ve lost their fragrance,” said master florist Cherrie Silverman, staff floral designer for the Tournament of Roses Parade. These roses smell like heaven.”

Capable of growing up to 2 feet long, Vitality offers floral designers a classic rose that works flawlessly in any number of arrangements.

Vitality has a vase life of three to five days, admittedly a bit shorter than most commercially grown roses, but the fragrance component is worth its weight in gold to those who appreciate roses.

“They’re the most wonderfully scented roses I’ve smelled in years. Absolutely exquisite.” said Hollywood florist Abe Gonzalez, whose clients include 21st Century Fox, Paramount, and Shaquille O’Neal. “They bring back memories of my grandmother’s garden, perfect for a classical arrangement.”

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Some petunia varieties can stand up to our summer heat

There are lots of different kinds of petunias. For instance, the Madness Summer Series can take the heat, but petunias typically are not known for that.

Watch out for hornworms lurking in your garden

Anyone who has been gardening for a while has a horror story or two about hornworms, which infest many vegetables in the tomato family.

What can be done about high boron levels in soil?

Boron is one of the salts commonly found in desert soils. It can be present naturally or it can accumulate over the years in such places as horse corrals.