So when is the best time and how to send gifts to the Philippines?

Avoid, the rush, peak seasons like Valentines and Mothers day will mean higher prices especially the flowers. Order your gifts and flowers at least three days in advance when prices are not yet jacked up.

When choosing the right online Manila florist and gift shop, be clever. Know the difference between those that subcontract their flowers and other items to those that originally make them. From pictures alone, you can discern which is which. Those that display generic flowers that have no fillers at all more often than not, subcontract. They deliberately omit fillers or use pictures that do not have fillers to avoid any errors in the final flowers because they do not have full control of the production. And these pictures were just compiled from the internet and never theirs in the first place. Its a free game out there, even our pictures get pirated and posted in other sites.

Avoid websites that have a scroll down menu list for which country you are ordering, they are obviously not located in the Philippines. When you order gifts and flowers from these, they in turn scout our site for a similar product, flowers or gifts and order from us. What would be delivered would obviously be different from what you paid for. Better order directly from a site that is based in the Philippines like your host MAKULAY.COM.

Peak season are volume days. High profile florists and gift shops like Makulay are overwhelmed by orders. Always have your delivery date set one day before the big day so that your flowers and gifts will get delivered ahead or on the big day itself. A day ahead delivery is better than a day after.

White Blackberries. What the F......K

Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries (1914)

The white blackberry is an unusual white variety of blackberry developed by plant breeder Luther Burbank, also known as the iceberg white blackberry or snowbank berry, probably originating as a pun on the name "Burbank". Burbank tried out 65,000 unsuccessful crossbreeds[1] at his facility in Santa Rosa, California, before enjoying success in 1894.

Mr. Burbank learned that a wild blackberry of New Jersey, is lighter in color than any other blackberry, had been introduced as a garden novelty under the name "Crystal White." Although lighter than any other blackberry, it was of a muddy brown color. and the berries were small and of poor flavor. This wild berry, however, was the first step in the production of Mr. Burbank's perfected white blackberry.

A fine flavored, well fixed race of blackberries is the Lawton,  If the pollen of the wild white berry had been applied to the pistil of the Lawton berry little variation would have been expected, the latter being so prepotent. But, by applying pollen from the Lawton berry to the flower of the so-called "Crystal White," Mr. Burbank produced variations which retained the lightness of color of the wild parent and combined the size, flavor and other good qualities of the well fixed Lawton.

From among many crosses between the Lawton and the poor "Crystal White," a berry very much improved in size was secured, and the form, texture and flavor were brought up to the point, almost, of the good Lawton parent, while the color, though still far from white, was much lighter than even that of the wild "Crystal White."

Eventually, repeated selection and regeneration, a  true white blackberry is produced.The success of Mr. Burbank's production may be judged by the firm, luscious, pure white fruit as shown below. The white blackberry is now a thoroughly fixed race coming true from the seed — a fruit which, if found in the state of nature, would unhesitatingly be pronounced a distinct species. It is whiter than the whitest blackberry man ever saw before and compares in size and lusciousness with its paternal ancestor, the Lawton.

Roses colors, their meaning and association

Roses come in rainbow colors.
The symbolism of roses colors is steeped in tradition. Roes inspired people over thousands of years to develop a language of color. When you go into a flower shop and  choose a color, variety or number of roses for someone, you are personalizing your gift with deeper sentiment

RED- red roses are thought to signify Love, Beauty, Romantic Love, for Congratulations, Sincere Love, Respect, Courage & of burning Passion.
Yellow-Yellow roses say are connected with Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Delight, Promise of a new beginning. They are used say “Welcome Back, Remember Me”, and also signify  Jealousy.
Coral-Coral colored roses signify desire.
Black-black roses signify Death, and are a way to say Farewell
Light Pink- admiration, sympathy, gentleness, grace, gladness and sweetnessWhite- this is the traditional color of brides and white roses are often used in bridal bouquets.   However, sending white roses can also be the way a secret admirer can express his as-yet-unrevealed interest in the recipient of the rose.
Dark pink-appreciation, gratitude and thank you
Burgundy-Often thought of as the color or royalty and associated with passion.  Burgundy roses also signify Unconscious Beauty
Orange-These roses are associated with energetic feelings, such as enthusiasm, passion and gratitude. 

Then how about the rainbow colored roses. A mix of all these colors will simply result to one word---derange. LOL.

Foliage used in cut flower industry of the Philpines

Here are plants that are used in flower arrangements  in the Philippines.  If you are going to establish a flower shop, why not have these in your garden so as to have fresh accents all the time. These are supporting fillers to give volume and character to the bouquets. These are usually bought hand tied or bundled but can be costly. They are now farmed in Laguna, Batangas, and private gardens.

Araiostegia hymenophylloides

Asplenium musifoliumum

Davalia solida

Sellaginella plana

celosia globosa

Anthurium andraeanum

Polyscias balfouriana

Asparagus setaceus

Asparagus densiflorus

Limonium sinuatum

Zingiber spectabiile

Etingeria elatiorl

The above are traditionally used but you can add others to the list. The only requirement is that the leaves or flowers or stems  do not immediately wilt.

A Filipino Gift & Flower Shop

Endemic plants in the Philippines that has potential in the cut flower industry

Here are suggested plants that can be used in the flower industry.  The Philippines is blessed with a very rich flora and fauna. It is very important that we do all we can to conserve and sustain these natural resources. It is noteworthy that farms and gardens dedicated to the propagation and conservation of plants are opening all over the country. People now are more aware of the diversity and beauty of the endemic plants in our country. You will wonder why the following were not being utilized in the flower industry in commercial quantities.. These are beautiful and easy to cultivate. We use this as accents in our bouquets, taken from our garden. For more rare flowers you can send as gifts to the Philippines, visit sites suggested on the link below.

First in the cosmos flower, which is actually a native american plant introduced in the Philippines that acclimatized itself perfectly and flourished everywhere. These are very delicate but still cab used as accents.

The next is crinum asiaticum. The plant is known locally as bakong, poison bulb and spider lily. Indigenous to tropical Asia. Grows along sandy beaches throughout the Philippines. Occasionally planted in towns and cities for their attractive flowers. Propagated by bulb or seeds. 

The following are very tender but really beautiful, like small tulips of the Philippines. often used as border plants. The Zephyrantes rosea. Locally known as the fairy lily. Like the cosmos are very delicate.

The Haemaanthus multiflorus or blood lily is very showy. Its cousin the agapanthus is already being used in the industry. But very few are propagating the blood lily.

The gloriosa superba. Really very exotic. Almost mistaken for an orchid. Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. English language common names include flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily. 

The Pachystachys lutea. Native to Peru. Now common in gardens in Metro Manila.

There are many flowering plants yet to be introduced in the industry.  If you are buying flowers from Manila Florists, you will find that they use almost always fillers that are actually weeds in other countries. We do not use local weeds as fillers here simply because it will appear cheap but use imported weeds which are not familiar and so has value. You do not want your girlfriend to received "damo" in a bouquet.  If only someone here in the Philippines cultivate hardy local weeds and export them to countries they are not found, it would give value and a whole new  meaning to what is considered weed in Manila.

They are a lot of weeds specially coming from Australia that are sold expensively in Manila. Why not sell our weeds in turn down there?