A Crystal Rose Bouquet Lasts Longer

With roses covered in treasured metals like gold & silver are becoming more & more popular, just envision a rose immortalized in hand cut crystal that matches the other loved crystal pieces you have in your household. A crystal rose or 2 or three, would be a beautiful addition to any collection. Or, if you aren't lucky enough to own crystal, a rose in crystal could be the beginning of something that can blossom into the future.  Crystal is a timeless memento that can be treasured for years to come. 

Glass has existed since the third millennium BC, although nobody is quite certain exactly when or where glass was first made. Crystal glass doesn't come until much later, when an Englishman named George Ravenscroft discovered crystal in 1676. He found that by adding lead oxide to the glass, made a more brilliant sparkle. 

Crystal glass originated in Europe, with factories in Germany, France, Italy & the Czech Republic. This is done by mixing the sand & lead oxide and, depending on the quality of each factory polishing techniques are the clarity of the sparkling crystal varies. The iron found in sand, glass with a greenish colour often the result after mixing. It's for this reason that the sand of the highest purity (such as white sand) is applied. 

Benefits of using lead, when making crystal will result in the glass, which is heavier, shinier, more transparent & clearer & brighter, but the lead content also means that the crystal is soft & fragile. To lead crystal (as discovered by Mr. Ravenscroft), gives the glass sparkling effect that's highly valued worldwide. 

For the environment today, lead in crystal is replaced with a lead-free material called optical crystals. Besides being better for the environment, this glass is very flexible & easier to shape. 

Knowing that you can buy a hand-crafted crystal rose that makes them even more attractive to have. The craftsmanship designed with each crystal rose is amazing and you can be sure that no two will look the same. This only adds to the beauty of each piece & each is one of a kind. Roses have always symbolized eternal love, but to have a crystal rose need not mean anything special other than to admire the beautiful art immortalized in one of the most popular flowers. The next time you're thinking of buying a bouquet of roses that'll last only a short time, why not consider a crystal rose bouquet instead? 

 

Sophia Grace is a collector of unique rose items including crystal roses. You can view a huge selection of unique roses and other plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

 

 

Silver Roses And Interesting Rose Facts

Silver roses are never made with sterling silver, despite popular belief. They're silver plated since sterling [silver] can only be used in making jewelry and household items because of its 925 millesimal fineness (a system in which the purity of silver is measured). For example, an alloy or compound which contains 75 percent gold would be denoted as “750.”

In many places around the world, famous rose gardens can be found. From Australia to the United States, Canada and Europe, the beauty of the rose can be seen in all its glory in some of these stunning gardens.

In the Araluen Botanic Park, found in Victoria, Western Australia, an informal rose park was established there in 1929. In it, can be found many Tea, Chinas, and Alister Clark roses. In addition, there are also a number of rare roses such as Lorraine Lee and the climbing Contesse de labarthe.

The rose garden found at Castle Hex in Belgium was the recipient of the World Federation of Roses Garden Award in 1997. Surrounding the castle is a French-style garden which contains species of roses that have been collected from around the world. Some of these include old European roses from collections in Germany and France such as Adèl Courtoisé, De Schelfhout and Merveille des Rouges.

Bermuda boasts the Rose Society Repository Garden, which can be found by an 18th century house, first established in 1988. In it are about 85 different types of rose plants. The founder of the Heritage Rose Foundation, Dr. Charles Walker, was the one who suggested the garden be established and 2000, it was re-designed as part of the Society's Millennium project.

The largest green space in Copenhagen, Denmark, has in it a rose garden which can be found on the edge of Valby Park. It has in it an extraordinary collection of roses that are in many forms – hybrids, trees, and wild roses. Dog-walking is very popular in Valby Park as is playing in the children's playground. An annual rose show is held in the garden in August.

In France, in the Boise De Boulogne, Paris, can be found Odile Masquelier's Rose Garden, called La Bonne Maison. It is located at her home which which is found on a hill overlooking Lyon and the Saône River. With 830 types of roses, in 1988, this impressive private collection was turned into an Association for the protection and preservation of heritage and species roses. It has long been a mecca for rose experts but for the most part, is not very well know to the ordinary traveller in France. This garden is featured in Secret Gardens of France, by Mirable Osler and in the book Visions of Roses by Peter Beales.

You won't have to go very far to find silver roses; with just a few searches on the Internet, you will discover a whole host of sites catering to these hand-crafted creations. Silver roses are popular gifts throughout the year and for the discerning rose collector, they are a must have.

Sophia Grace is a collector of silver roses. If you are looking for sterling silver roses you can view a huge selection of roses at Plated Gold Roses.

Gold Roses Are Real Roses In Gold

If you are a dipped rose 'connoisseur,' then you know that the white gold rose is one of the most lovely as compared to silver, and platinum roses. There are lots of yellow gold roses on the Internet from which to choose. All these roses, of course, are natural flowers that were picked when they were at their most beautiful, preserved, and then crafted and dipped in gold, silver, or platinum.

While there is no denying the beauty and smell of the rose, it's not without its problems; depending on the climate and the season, diseases are all too common with this flower. There are some varieties of roses which are more prone to disease than others but if the soil is kept in good condition (including having enough organic material and fertilizer), and the garden has good drainage and irrigation, it can go a long way to keeping roses free from disease.

One of the most common diseases found on roses is Black Spot. These round black spots along with fringed edges, will appear on the plant from July onward. First the spots can be seen in older, lower leaves and then they spread upwards. As the leaves continue to grow, they may turn yellow in color and then fall off the plant altogether. The best way to combat Black Spot is to spray the plants with a fungicide and get rid of all the affected leaves.

Rose Rust is another rose disease and is caused by a fungus which is spread by the wind. When a rose becomes infected, the fungus shows up as yellow patches on the leaves surface. Under the leaves will be orange pustules of spores which will go on to turn black in color. Any affected leaves will fall of before healthy ones do and ultimately, entire plants can become defoliated altogether when the infection is serious.

When roses have rolled leaves, they are infected with Leaf-rolling sawfly. In the leaf margins, where adult females lay their eggs, they also inject a toxin that causes the leaf to roll up so it can protect the tiny grubs inside when they hatch. Inside the rolled leaves, either an egg or a pale green caterpillar-like sawfly will feed inside the leaflets, usually from late April to early June. The only thing that is effective in getting rid of these pests, is to spray the roses in late April as a preventive measure.

Powdery Mildew or Odium, is another rose disease. It forms a coating on the leaves, flower stems, and buds which is white and powdery looking and it spreads very fast. When young leaves and buds are attacked, it causes deformity in the plant and prevents if from growing any further. Buds that are affected simply won't open at all. This rose disease will usually take place when the weather is hot and humid with fungal spores remaining on the stems and fallen leaves over the winter. Like with most fungal rose diseases, the plant needs to be sprayed.

With a gold rose, you will never have to worry about a fungal infection attacking the plant. The only thing that will plague this hand-crafted piece of art is some house dust every now and again. And, also unlike the real thing, a gold rose can be enjoyed indoors all year long.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold roses. You can view a huge selection of gold rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Rose Pink Gold Flowers

The pink gold found in rose pink gold flowers, isn't something that's found in nature; it's actually pure 'yellow gold' and copper alloy. Pink gold is often used in specialized jewelry and is very popular because of the reddish color tint it produces And, like jewelry, rose pink gold flowers are equally as popular.

The discovery of gold first took place when it was in its natural state – all over the world, lying in streams. Every human culture has gold in it thanks to its beauty and shine. It's also very easy to shape or form and is resists tarnish.

As far as the human race is concerned, gold was the first metal that became widely known to us. While the development of iron and copper have always been essential to our technical progress historically, gold still came first.

Of all the metals, gold is the easiest to work with. While gold is pure and already in a state where it can be easily manipulated, other metals, which are found in ore-bodies, are not as simple to melt.

In ancient times, gold was made into idols and shrines, cups, plates, vases, and jewelry. In Turkey, the “Gold of Troy” which was found in an archeological dig, dates back to 2450-2600 B.C. With its discovery, we were given a better idea of the type of gold-work that was done with everything from a gravy boat that weighed a full pound, to delicate jewelry. Gold was highly valued at this time but had not yet become money. The well-connected and powerful were the ones that owned gold, or, it was made into objects used for worship and to decorate locations which were of sacred importance.

Before gold ever became money, it was always valuable to humans. The prospecting of gold dates back thousands of years, which goes to show the efforts made in trying to find it. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Indians, Hittites, along with others, all sought out gold and as a result, they sent prisoners of war, criminals, and slaves to work the mines to find it. This, all during a time, when gold had no value as 'money' whatsoever; it was just something that was desired.

Eventually, gold was accepted as 'value' all over the world. It was responsible for giving rise to the very concept of currency whether it was private, portable, or permanent. Barter arrangements were eventually replaced with standardized gold (and silver) coins, thus making it much easier to trade during the Classic period. Like in ancient times, today, the appeal of gold is still very much a universal thing.

With that universal appeal, it's no surprise that gold dipped or covered flowers would find themselves made into rose pink gold. Whether you're a collector of these exquisite works of art, or are just interested in giving them as gifts, you can't go wrong with rose pink gold flowers.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold roses. You can view a huge selection of gold rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Silver Roses Made From Real Roses

Silver roses are real roses that have been dipped in silver so as to preserve the flower forever. They are hand-picked when at the peak of their beauty and then go through a 40 step process at the end of which, they come out 'encased' in a silver coating, ready to be given as a gift to someone special.

Sine the historic period that preceded the Middle Ages in Europe (called Antiquity), roses have been associated with feelings. When it comes to the language of flowers, each and every rose type, rose part, and rose color have a different meaning. For example, the cosmic rose of Ancient India – the Tripurasundari – is a symbol of wisdom, beauty, and strength of the divine Mother. In both Hinduism and Buddhism, the rose form brings to mind the cup of life or the center of Mandala which are works of sacred art in Tibetan Buddhism. They are generally recognized by various geometric shapes, in particular the circle. All this to say, the rose symbolizes a path of meditation to Nirvana.

The red rose is most often chosen as the flower to say “I love you.” And, since that's the case, they shouldn't be given on a first date or to someone in which only a casual relationship is taking place. Pink roses, however, are expressions of friendship and platonic love (in addition to elegance, grace, and sophistication). They should be given when beginning love is on the horizon and/or for admiration.

Yellow roses are all about infidelity and jealousy. They can also symbolize a finishing love. There is a legend surrounding yellow roses which involves the Prophet Mohammed; while away at war fighting, he could think of nothing else but his wife Aisha, whom he believed was being unfaithful. Mohammed went to the archangel Gabriel for help and he suggested that upon returning home, Mohammed should ask his wife to drop whatever she is carrying into water as a test of her love and commitment. If she was in fact faithful, the object would remain the same color and thereby prove her unconditional love. When Mohammed finally returned from war, his wife came running to greet him carrying a large bouquet of red roses. As Gabriel advised, he demanded that Aisha drop the roses into the the river; when she did, they turned saffron yellow in color. While Mohammed went on to forgive his wife, yellow roses have remained a symbol of infidelity ever since despite the fact that in more modern times, they have been associated with friendship. It's likely this new meaning was simply invented by rose producers so as to help in promoting the color.

Silver roses have no 'hidden' meaning in them  like the real thing does. Silver roses can be given to anyone at anytime during the year whether it's to express love or just simply because the recipient is deserving of them for one reason or another.

Sophia Grace is a collector of silver roses. If you are looking for sterling silver roses you can view a huge selection of roses at Plated Gold Roses.

Crystal Roses And Rose Facts

With the perfectly clear faceted crystal found in a crystal rose, it easily picks up the light and reflects stunning prisms around any room its in. And, a single crystal rose gift couldn't be more perfect as a lasting symbol of love.

There are a number of different types of wild roses which can be found growing throughout the Northern Hemisphere; anywhere from swampy landscapes all the way to the desert. There are two groups of roses, however, both of which grew in different places in the world, which have had the greatest impact on rose history: the Asian species and their hybrids and the European/Mediterranean species and their hybrids. 

European roses are made up of Albas, Gallicas, Damasks, Damask Perpetuals, Mosses, and Centifolias while the Asian rose groups are the Chinas and the Teas. The roses of European origin bloom only once in a season per year (with the exception of one species) while the Asian rose species repeat their blooms on a continual basis. Since very early in history, the European/Mediterranean roses have been both loved and grown; in Egyptian tombs, wreaths of Damask-like roses have been uncovered while the same type of rose had also been grown in eastern Africa in holy places. Festivals that were held in both Green and Roman times included roses in them. The Romans actually developed a technology for a hot-house in which they were able to 'force' roses to bloom more often and, they also imported roses   from Egypt.

The Damask, Gallica, and Alba roses, were all used for religious purposes during the Middle Ages; not only as decorations in holy festivals but also as part of medicinal gardens. When the Middle ages ended and the merchant class began to rise, trade in horticultural material began to take off. Thanks to their many trading ships, and the area in which they were located, the Netherlands were once (and continue to be) a major center of business for the horticultural industry. They traded in Carnations, Tulips, and Hyacinths, to name a few, and with rose trade they also developed something new: growing roses from seeds (prior to this, roses had generally been grown from cuttings). With this, the possibility of variation in roses became a reality. While not very much information is available as to how the Dutch went about the process of achieving different types of roses, it is a fact that at one time there were just 10 rose cultivars in the period up to about 1810. And, after that, one to two hundred became available with an entirely new group of roses – Centifolias – being created thanks to arbitrary breeding.

With a a crystal rose you don't have the option of choosing a specific species of rose as you would when planting the real thing. You do, however, get to choose the color and shape (open or closed blooms) of the crystal rose – all things to be considered when giving it as a gift.

Sophia Grace is a collector of unique rose items including crystal roses. You can view a huge selection of unique roses and other plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

ARose That Can Last Forever

While many of us wish a rose would last for long time, unfortunately that's not the case. Once cut and brought into the house, roses don't live very long at all; at best, they will withstand a few days, but not much longer than that. There are other alternatives to the real thing, which make a rose that lasts forever a reality – by dipping it in gold, silver, platinum.

Given fresh cut flowers get expensive, a rose that lasts forever is easily purchased in a precious metal such as gold or silver, or you can opt for wooden or crystal ones instead; whichever you choose, your forever rose 'wish' will become an instant reality with no watering or placement of any concern.

However, if you have made the decision to have fresh cut roses, having your own roses can help on cost. The first step before planting your rose garden is to plan and design the actual garden itself so, if nothing else, it will ensure the overall health of the plants. Therefore, choose a design that is both practical as well as guided by aesthetics.

For ideas on rose garden design, visiting a local rose garden or two will generate ideas and give you inspiration so the end result is one of combined harmony and presentation. Focus your choice of design so that it doesn't become too complex. And, keep in mind that special care will have to be taken when deciding on grouping different rose species and varieties together.

Consulting a rose guide would be in your best interest before planting so you can check up on how available the plant is, how large it will get, how different climates will affect it, and what diseases your choices are susceptible to. To grow healthy roses, full sunshine – six hours of direct sun per day - and air circulation is needed; anywhere the roses will be blocked by screens, fences, walls, hedges, or even other plants, means planting shouldn't take place there. The garden should also be in a place where the roses will have sun on them in the morning, when it's not as hot; afternoon sun can not only affect the color of the blooms but can also burn the leaves. Since roses are allergic to too dry a climate as well as water dripping on their leaves, avoid planting them under trees or shrubs or even other plants as it can  lead to rain drip. 

If you already have an existing garden, you may choose to group your roses in one place so a separate rose garden is formed. If kept apart from other plants, you can design the area in which they're in based on their cultural needs which means that their own watering system can be reserved specifically for that part of the garden. Roses should never be watered from the top as it can lead to leaf fungus and insects. A simple garden hose can be used for watering and it can be put in the plant bed with water running slowly.

While it seems rather complex to begin a rose garden, once planted and blooming, it's worth the effort. But, once winter sets in, your roses won't be seen again until the following season. If you want to keep fresh flowers in the house during the winter months so you can be reminded of the spring and summer to come, having a  rose that lasts forever would be ideal. 

Sophia Grace has a rose forever collection. You can purchase a rose forever gift at Plated Gold Roses.

Rose Dipped In Gold

Have you ever seen a rose dipped gold flower? It's a real rose that has been hand-picked, preserved, and then dipped in 24K gold. It's then enclosed in lacquer so that both the beauty and color of the rose can be enhanced. 24K gold trim is even applied along the edges to finish it off. A rose dipped gold flower is a must have for anyone fond of these incredibly diverse plants.

One of the many reasons roses are grown all over the world is so we can benefit from having fresh cut flowers. And with the right care, many species of roses will last longer than just a few days after they have been brought into the house. 

Preserving fresh cut roses as long as possible all begins at the moment of that first cut. The best time to do that is in the morning hours as the flowers have not yet completely opened. Clean and sharp tools should always be used so as to enure both a longer lasting flower and to prevent disease from transferring to the spot where the stem was cut. If possible, make the cut above a leaf joint, a bud, or lateral stem so as to encourage growth on the plant and to discourage disease from setting in.

Once the stem has been cut from the plant, cut it again at an angle so that the flowers will last that much longer. From the bottom of the stem remove the leaves along with the thorns and ensure not to leave fresh cut roses without water for very long.

Fresh cut roses should have their water changed every 2-3 days. And, leaves and petals shouldn't be left on the water as they will contribute to making the fresh water go stale. There are products on the market which can be used to feed cut flowers and by putting them into the water, it too will help the flowers last longer. If simple and cheap is preferred, a bit of sugar or salt can be added to the water instead.

Fresh flowers shouldn't be kept near fruit; if fruit is in its decomposition stage, it will aid in helping the flowers to die faster. Whether it's a rose or another type of flower, they will all last a lot longer when living in clean, healthy environments. Opening a window daily for fresh air can be a big help for fresh cut blooms.

With rose dipped gold flowers, there's no 'fuss' like there is with the real thing. A single rose dipped gold flower can be purchased or even a dozen; either way, all they will need in terms of care is some light dusting now and again. They can be placed anywhere in the home without 'fear' of dying and fresh air is not a daily consideration for them. At the end of the day, unlike with fresh cut roses, a dipped rose will last a lifetime.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold dipped roses. If you are looking for rose gold dipped gifts you can view a huge selection at Plated Gold Roses.

Handmade Wooden Roses

A handmade wooden rose is made from birch wood shavings. It's hand-crafted and carved and then painted a variety of colors to look just like the real thing. In fact, when all bunched together in a bouquet, it's tough to tell a wooden rose from the real thing.

If you have roses growing in your garden and you live in a place where winter and fall are part of the landscape, you will need to get your plants ready for the cold and snow. One of the best ways to ensure that roses make it through a long winter is to do everything possible in the summer so that a healthy, strong plant grows.

Right around the beginning of or close to mid-August – four to six weeks before heavy frost is expected – the fertilization of the roses should stop. If you continue to fertilize late into the summer, it will only encourage the plant to keep growing which means new soft stems will sprout and they will be damaged easily when winter eventually sets in. Since growth of the rose is slower as the summer draws to a close, it won't need as much water. As is the case, watering should be cut back and the rose should be given the chance to dry out slightly. The leaves will turn yellow, but that's as it should be; as the plant takes food into its roots, the leaves change color. This change means the rose is ready to sleep when winter sets in.

Mulching your rose plants in the winter with such materials as compost or pine needles will help to regulate the temperature of the soil. In addition, it will assist with the freezing and thawing that will take place on the rose graft – the swollen knob near the base of the plant - as well as the lower 8-12 inches of stems.

Roses that are exposed, such as those growing on vines, can be mound mulched as well as sprayed with an anti-desiccant which creates a waxy coating on the leaves and needles that seals in moisture. Climbing roses should also be wrapped in burlap so they are protected from wind burn. If the winter conditions where you live are extreme, the entire stems of the roses can be laid on the ground instead and mulched over when the summer season is over.

With a wooden rose, preparing them for winter is never a concern. These are flowers that are hearty year round, that never have to be watered or fertilized, and will go on 'living' forever. More affordable than real flowers, a wooden rose bouquet makes a fantastic alternative at a wedding (or any special occasion) that will never deteriorate over time.

Sophia Grace is a collector of wood roses. You can view a huge selection of quality wood roses and other plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Silver Plated Rose

Why choose a silver plated rose over one in gold? Well, why not? Dipped in silver so as to preserved it for a lifetime, a silver plated rose is as rich and breathtaking as a rose in gold. It makes a wonderful anniversary gift or even a gift for a birthday or special 'holiday' like Mother's Day.

Sterling silver is actually an alloy of silver which contains 92.5 percent [of silver] with the rest being made up of copper. Pure silver (99 percent) or fine silver is usually too soft  to be able to produce anything functional, thus the metal is alloyed with copper so as to make it stronger.

It is generally agreed that the alloy of sterling originated in continental Europe, where, as early as the 12th century in what is now northern Germany, it was being used for commerce. When it came time to set what was referred to as a “proper table,” from about 1840 to around 1940 in both Europe and the United States, flatware made of sterling silver was the thing to use. During that period, silver companies increased exponentially. 

For a 50 year period, from 8170 to 1920, there was a silver “craze;” in lines of flatware found during this  period, there were often up to 100 different types of pieces. At the same time, the 'usual' three dinner course meal went to ten and more courses; it included: a soup course, a salad course, a fruit course, a cheese course, an antipasto course, a fish course, a main course, and finally, dessert. The different utensils used included forks (place fork, dinner, fork, salad fork, shrimp or cocktail fork, pastry fork), knives (place knife, dinner knife, fruit knife, butter spreader, cheese knife), and spoons (coffees spoon, teaspoons, bouillon spoon, demitasse spoon, teaspoon, iced tea spoon, gumbo soup spoon). During the Victorian period, etiquette required that one's fingers should never be used to touch the food, therefore all of this pieces of cutlery would have been used.

Sterling silver flatware sets often also came along with other [sterling silver] sets such as tea services  hot water pots, goblets, trays, cups and saucers, egg cups, plates, napkin rings, coasters, center pieces, candelabra's, to name a few. The sterling craze also carried over into business with sterling page clips, letter openers, and mechanical pencils, to the bedchamber with mirrors, manicure sets, hair brushes, powder bottles, and perfume bottles, and with children (rattles, cups, and christening sets).

Around the time of World War II, sterling silver became increasingly unpopular thanks to labor costs (pieces made form sterling silver were mostly hand made). In addition, it was only the very rich who could even afford the amount of servants required when serving ten course meals, not to mention that people began to want dinnerware that was much easier to clean.

With a hand-picked real rose and a 40 step hand-crafted process, a silver plated rose can go on to to be preserved for eternity all the while leaving the delicate details of the petals and leaves visible and intact.

Sophia Grace is a collector of silver plated rose gifts. If you are looking for silver plated rose gifts you can view a huge selection  at Plated Gold Roses.