roses-and-rainbows.com » Grand http://roses-and-rainbows.com The site about plants Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:31:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Going Back to Your Roots: Celebrating Grand Parents’ Day http://roses-and-rainbows.com/going-back-to-your-roots-celebrating-grand-parents-day/ http://roses-and-rainbows.com/going-back-to-your-roots-celebrating-grand-parents-day/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:08:46 +0000 Earlan http://roses-and-rainbows.com/going-back-to-your-roots-celebrating-grand-parents-day/ In a country where the elder is paid much respect, the Grandparents (and Senior Citizens) Day has been a yearly tradition every first Sunday of September in the Philippines since 1987. This practice was adopted from the Americans who first started the tradition in 1973 through a proclamation by Governor Arch Moor of West Virginia. In 1975, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation submitted by the US Congress stating that the first Sunday after Labor Day be the National Grandparents Day. This holiday aims to honor the elder, give them an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance only the elders can give.

While a structured program is usually put up by schools, churches, and senior organizations in the United States, residents of the Philippines celebrate it in a rather simpler, conservative, and cost efficient manner. It is always a delight to see toddlers and grade school students create colorful art pieces (the use of elbow macaroni mosaic and origami seems very popular). I remember my then 4 year old brother being scolded by my mother prior to a visit to our ancestral house because he picked on all our neighbor’s flowers in his attempt to make a flower basket (I believe he got the idea when I played flower girl in an aunt’s wedding). Coming from a family of twenty grandchildren, my parents and their siblings would host a simple brunch reunion that would naturally task us grandchildren to prepare a song or dance number for the “talent portion. ” Digging up old family albums is also interesting but be careful in flipping the pages as the paper’s too old and might crumble off!

Gift giving wise, Thai silk shawls and flowers in exquisite French crystal vases are very much appreciated by grandmoms. Collared shirts and sets of hand tools will surely put a smile on granddad’s face. If your time and budget permits, amp up your gifts and get them something they’ve been dying to have for the longest time. I’ve put a DSLR for my photographer lolo and a 50s style ceramic earrings embellished with my fashionista lola’s favorite flowers (which coincidentally is the Philippines’ national flower: the sampaguita) in my “saving for” shopping list. Hopefully, come September, I can hand them these tokens.

Celebrating this special Sunday of the year need not be expensive but it has to be sincere and grand in virtue. This is also a perfect venue to discover your roots, appreciate your family’s uniqueness, and enhance the communication lines between your generation and your grandparents’.

]]> http://roses-and-rainbows.com/going-back-to-your-roots-celebrating-grand-parents-day/feed/ 0 Find 2010 Jeep Deals. The Grand Cherokee, Worth The Price? http://roses-and-rainbows.com/find-2010-jeep-deals-the-grand-cherokee-worth-the-price/ http://roses-and-rainbows.com/find-2010-jeep-deals-the-grand-cherokee-worth-the-price/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:08:03 +0000 Earlan http://roses-and-rainbows.com/find-2010-jeep-deals-the-grand-cherokee-worth-the-price/ This years Jeep Grand Cherokee will be a far greater car versus the Grand Cherokee that rose to popularity in the ’90s, yet it’s kept its traditional design. The Grand Cherokee last saw a redesign in 2005, when its ride and handling had been quite significantly improved; overall, the 2010 Jeep Cherokee’s light-weight unibody and trail-rated suspension provide performance and refinement that compare favorably within the category of five-passenger SUVs. For this year, Jeep slashes the number of powertrains on the Grand Cherokee. Base designs continue to carry a 210-horsepower, 3. 7-liter V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission, but the 4. 7-liter V-8 engine that people loved best of the gasoline engines has been scrapped. Jeep has additionally gotten rid of the 3. -liter diesel V-6 engine which was available in 2009 models. This leaves buyers of the Grand Cherokee that are not opting for the SRT8 model to select between the base V-6 engine and also the HEMI V-8 engine that thumps out 357 hp in addition to 389 pound-feet of torque. The HEMI V-8 also posesses Multi-Displacement System (MDS) to boost fuel economy. Nearly all purchasers will find the base V-6 adequate, while performance with the V-8 is impressive, with respectable handling to match. Individuals that need more capabilities will be satisfied to see the come back of the range-topping Grand Cherokee SRT8-a rip-roaring on-pavement-only edition which includes a enormous 6. 1-liter HEMI engine rated at 420 hp. This year’s Jeep Grand Cherokee does include substantial off-road power, especially if you specify a four-wheel-drive unit (all include high- and low-range transfer cases). Jeep gives you a lot of deals and unique options beyond the four-wheel-drive system to improve the Grand Cherokee’s already formidable off-road functionality, including locking differentials and skid plates. The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks 14 out of 23 Affordable Midsize SUVs. This rank is based on our analysis of 60 published reviews and test drives of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and our own investigation of trustworthiness as well as safety information. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a superb off-road vehicle which has a lavish interior — a rare mix in the realm of reasonably priced SUVs. Nonetheless, it still won’t be able to match the rear-seat convenience or cargo capacity of others in its class, meaning it might not be a good family hauler. “Rear-seat area and comfort may dissatisfy, and gas mileage. . . is poor on models we tested,” says Consumer Guide. “Yet Grand Cherokee is reliable, rides pleasantly, has good ergonomics, and is particularly tenacious off-road. ” With a base price tag just more than $30,000, the Grand Cherokee is on the pricey side for its category and it is perhaps one of the more expensive off-road SUVs. While its 16/21 mpg fuel economy is low when compared with most SUVs, it is actually not bad when compared to only other off-road vehicles. Nonetheless, few primary rivals can match the Grand Cherokee’s interior refinement. If you’d like off-road chops and creature comforts but don’t want to upgrade to a luxury SUV, it is the only game in town. Nevertheless, if you possibly could do without a luxe interior, you can find less expensive off-road choices. Other Off-Road SUVs to ConsiderThe Nissan Pathfinder costs several thousand less than the Jeep, along with the Ford Explorer. However, they both have worse gas mileage. If you would like a good off-road vehicle with greater fuel economy, think about the Jeep Patriot. It’s the lowest priced off-roader in the marketplace and offers a 23/28 best-in-class fuel economy rating (in comparison only to other off-road SUVs). The Suzuki Grand Vitara also costs less than the Grand Cherokee whilst providing a 19/26 mpg rating. So whether you choose to choose style or efficiency, this years Jeep Grand Cherokee might be just the thing you are looking for. Make sure to take a peek around because these days if you are diligent in your research a lot of money saving deals can be found.

]]> http://roses-and-rainbows.com/find-2010-jeep-deals-the-grand-cherokee-worth-the-price/feed/ 0 Grand Gala – the Queen of Roses http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses-2/ http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses-2/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:03:34 +0000 Earlan http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses-2/ Did you know that fossil evidence found in Egyptian tombs suggests that roses have been around for about 35 million years? Cultivating roses was a practice that only began five thousand years ago in China, though it did not take long for the genus Rosa to spread to the West and develop new uses besides aesthetic ones.

Ancient Romans were rather obsessed with roses – they used the red flower petals as confetti during parades and celebrations, as a source of perfume, and as ingredients for medicine. In fact, the red rose became so useful to the ancient Romans that they found ways to make these flowers bloom beyond their natural peripheries. So that their experiments would not go to waste, Roman nobles established sprawling public flower gardens at the south of the city for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. Perhaps the beauty of Roman flowers was so captivating because around this time, people began the practice of exchanging red roses to communicate romantic love.

If you think all red roses are the same, think again. Today, there are about 150 species of red roses, most of them developed by flower breeders, and every single species has its own unique origin, shape, and shade of red. Just like flower gardening and cultivation techniques, the meaning of red roses was something that developed in time. Be careful when choosing flowers to send out because each aspect, like the shade of red or the state of its bloom, conveys different messages.

The Grand Gala variety was quite popular in the late 90′s. However, the proliferation of more productive varieties has forced many European and American farms to stop producing this flower. In some countries in Asia with relatively cheaper land prices, the Grand Gala Rose continues to be popular. In the Philippines for example, the Grand Gala outsells any other flower variety in the market. Island Rose, the largest florist in the Philippines, delivers more of this variety than any other flower in their inventory.

Red roses in full bloom symbolize a strong, mature love that has withstood the test of time and the trappings of love. For anniversaries or Valentine’s Day, send your mate a dozen Grand Gala roses. The Grand Gala rose is hybrid tea rose created in France in 1994, and its size makes this rose perfect for the task of communicating love in full blossom. This flower is one of the largest roses commercially available – the diameter of a blooming Grand Gala measures no less than five inches!

Besides the size of its blooms, there are other reasons to send your love a Grand Gala rose bouquet. The deeper the red tone, the more the man is supposed to love a woman. The Grand Gala’s bright, clear red color and its abundant cluster of petals makes most other red roses look pale and small in comparison. If you lean closer to inhale its scent, you’ll discover that the Grand Gala has a strong, pleasing fresh fragrance that any woman will love. Florists also love this variety because of its long thorn less stem. This makes the flower easy to handle when making complicated flower arrangements. Whether it’s for a special occasion or no real occasion at all, no other flower can communicate an intense, enduring love the way Grand Gala roses can.

]]> http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses-2/feed/ 15 Grand Gala: the Queen of Roses http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses/ http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:10:29 +0000 Earlan http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses/ Did you know that fossil evidence found in Egyptian tombs suggests that roses have been around for about 35 million years? Cultivating roses was a practice that only began five thousand years ago in China, though it didn?t take long for the genus Rosa to spread to the West and develop new uses besides aesthetic ones.? Ancient Romans were rather obsessed with roses ? they used the red flower petals as confetti during parades and celebrations, as a source of perfume, and as ingredients for medicine. In fact, the red rose became so useful to the ancient Romans that they found ways to make these flowers bloom beyond their natural peripheries.? So that their experiments would not go to waste, Roman nobles established sprawling public flower gardens at the south of the city for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. Perhaps the beauty of Roman flowers was so captivating because around this time, people began the practice of exchanging red roses to communicate romantic love.? If you think all red roses are the same, think again. Today, there are about 150 species of red roses, most of them developed by flower breeders, and every single species has its own unique origin, shape, and shade of red. Just like flower gardening and cultivation techniques, the meaning of red roses was something that developed in time. Be careful when choosing flowers to send out because each aspect, like the shade of red or the state of its bloom, conveys different messages.?? The Grand Gala variety was quite popular in the late 90?s. However, the proliferation of more productive varieties has forced many European and American farms to stop producing this flower. In some countries in Asia with relatively cheaper land prices, the Grand Gala Rose continues to be popular. In the Philippines for example, the Grand Gala outsells any other flower variety in the market. Island Rose, the largest florist in the Philippines, delivers more of this variety than any other flower in their inventory.Red roses in full bloom symbolize a strong, mature love that has withstood the test of time and the trappings of love. For anniversaries or Valentine?s Day, send your mate a dozen Grand Gala roses. The Grand Gala rose is hybrid tea rose created in France in 1994, and its size makes this rose perfect for the task of communicating love in full blossom. This flower is one of the largest roses commercially available – the diameter of a blooming Grand Gala measures no less than five inches!? Besides the size of its blooms, there are other reasons to send your love a Grand Gala rose bouquet. The deeper the red tone, the more the man is supposed to love a woman. The Grand Gala?s bright, clear red color and its abundant cluster of petals makes most other red roses look pale and small in comparison.?? If you lean closer to inhale its scent, you?ll discover that the Grand Gala has a strong, pleasing fresh fragrance that any woman will love. Florists also love this variety because of its long thorn less stem. This makes the flower easy to handle when making complicated flower arrangements. Whether it?s for a special occasion or no real occasion at all, no other flower can communicate an intense, enduring love the way Grand Gala roses can.

]]> http://roses-and-rainbows.com/grand-gala-the-queen-of-roses/feed/ 14