Flowers

Flowers are the most popular present for Mother's Day, which falls on May 8 this year. If you can't choose your own bouquet, you can shop online for arrangements that are bursting with color. Consumer Reports ordered from three national websites, ProFlowers, 1-800-Flowers, and FTD, to see whether the arrangements they deliver look like the arrangements pictured online. Testers checked two dozen deliveries of roses, tulips, mixed flowers, and orchids. The flowers cost $57 to $87, including delivery.

"The economy doesn't matter when it comes to love. " That's something we were told by a gentleman buying flowers for his wife Tuesday. Valentines Day means big business for area flower shops and candy stores. The folks at Stems flower shop say last year was the biggest valentines day they've ever had, and Tuesday was looking very good. Ceros Candies has made some product changes because of the economy. Co-owner Pam Bishop told us "We've also tried to do some smaller boxes in the past we only had one pound boxes of turtles, this year we made some half pound turtles boxes so they had more flexibility and they could spend within their budget" The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend eight and a half percent more on Valentines Day celebrations this year, compared to last.

With weeks of warm weather and almost three inches of rain over the past few days, many people are wondering if it's time to plant spring flowers and vegetables. Click here to see photos There is no right answer according to Daniel Wright from Johnson's Garden Center in Wichita, but it depends on what you are planting and what the temperatures will be like for the next few weeks. “Now is a good time to be planning your cool crops,” says Wright. “Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, spinach and lettuce will be ok if we have light frost.” But he cautions that people planting tomatoes right now are taking a risk.

With birds singing in the background, Kathy Carr just bought some plants at Kaw Valley Greenhouse's outdoor store at 21st and Woodlawn.  Now she's headed home to plant them in her backyard way earlier than normal. "I'm happy it's spring," Carr says. There are geraniums, pansies, strawberry plants, tomato plants--just about about everything a gardener would want is on sale and ready to go into the ground, and it's still March.  Normally, that would be unthinkable. "It's been very unusual," Kaw Valley retail manager Dan Parcel says.  "I have never seen these spring-like conditions start so early and be so warm.

By Dave Roberts (WICHITA, Kan.) Did you forget to order flowers for your Valentine? No need to panic, because floral shops say they're prepared for a rush of customers this weekend. "Of course, this is probably always the busiest time of the year," says Joel Gentry, a delivery driver for Stems Floral of Wichita. Florists say people tend to forget that Valentine's Day is on the 14th, so they come in at the last minute to make their orders. Cheryl Dixon, the owner of Stems sees it every year.

Many residents of Ellsworth will have to watch their lawns brown and flowers wilt while the drought carries on. That's because the city is instituted water restritions, prohibiting them from watering their lawns and flowers. City officials say this effort is to help preserve water and prevent a rationing program. One of the reasons for the water restrictions , the smokey hill river is extremely low, and the town is running out of water. Ellsworth requiring residents to reduce water use

Bouquets of flowers are pretty to look at, but have you ever wondered what goes into making one?  I did, so this week I tried to make one with the help of J.R. Koontz.

If your lawn looks more like a jungle right now, you're not alone. Lawn and garden services tell us they are really behind because of the warm spring and rain we've had. While their busy season usually starts in April, many have been on the job since mid-March. They still can't stay ahead of the weather. That causes problems with scheduling, and more. Scott Manners of Lawn Appeal tells us, "We're also concerned with starting to do more landscape jobs. We get some hard freezes and we're going to run into problems putting new nice flowers in for our clients....we'll get a freeze in there and that's not going to help the flowers whatsoever.

Flowers now lay in the spot where Justin Slocum tried to save an 11-year-old boy. "It felt like I could've done more to save him," he says. "It just hurts me to even think about it. " Outside of his home, a van crashed Friday evening. Police say that the 15-year-old driver somehow lost control, hit a curb causing it to turn onto its side. The 11-year-old passanger was pinned underneath it. Police say there were two other 15 year olds in the car as well. Shortly after the crash, Slocum ran outside to help.

Even though this week saw plenty of rain, the warm temperatures from the last few weeks fooled a lot of plants into thinking it's Springtime.  Some seasonal plants are starting to bloom earlier than usual. Photos of Flowers in Bloom for Spring Johnson's Garden Center stocked up with plants like pansies and other garden plants that bloom in early spring.  Other nurseries around town, including ones at Lowe's and Home Depot, say they're between half and three quarters full.

Many residents of Ellsworth will have to watch their lawns brown and flowers wilt while the drought carries on. That's because the city is instituted water restritions, prohibiting them from watering their lawns and flowers. City officials say this effort is to help preserve water and prevent a rationing program. One of the reasons for the water restrictions , the smokey hill river is extremely low, and the town is running out of water. Ellsworth requiring residents to reduce water use

Back in March it could barely fit into a garage. Three months later, it towers over the building it used to call home in Chase. Now this so-called "century plant" could bloom any day now. It's taken some a lifetime to stop and get a glimpse of the plant. "We have driven by here all of my life practically". Such is the case for Hollyrood native Lou Ella Strong but that all changed Tuesday. Strong stopped because of the report Eyewitness News did back in March on the century plant.

If your lawn looks more like a jungle right now, you're not alone. Lawn and garden services tell us they are really behind because of the warm spring and rain we've had. While their busy season usually starts in April, many have been on the job since mid-March. They still can't stay ahead of the weather. That causes problems with scheduling, and more. Scott Manners of Lawn Appeal tells us, "We're also concerned with starting to do more landscape jobs. We get some hard freezes and we're going to run into problems putting new nice flowers in for our clients....we'll get a freeze in there and that's not going to help the flowers whatsoever.

With birds singing in the background, Kathy Carr just bought some plants at Kaw Valley Greenhouse's outdoor store at 21st and Woodlawn.  Now she's headed home to plant them in her backyard way earlier than normal. "I'm happy it's spring," Carr says. There are geraniums, pansies, strawberry plants, tomato plants--just about about everything a gardener would want is on sale and ready to go into the ground, and it's still March.  Normally, that would be unthinkable. "It's been very unusual," Kaw Valley retail manager Dan Parcel says.  "I have never seen these spring-like conditions start so early and be so warm.

Even though this week saw plenty of rain, the warm temperatures from the last few weeks fooled a lot of plants into thinking it's Springtime.  Some seasonal plants are starting to bloom earlier than usual. Photos of Flowers in Bloom for Spring Johnson's Garden Center stocked up with plants like pansies and other garden plants that bloom in early spring.  Other nurseries around town, including ones at Lowe's and Home Depot, say they're between half and three quarters full.

With weeks of warm weather and almost three inches of rain over the past few days, many people are wondering if it's time to plant spring flowers and vegetables. Click here to see photos There is no right answer according to Daniel Wright from Johnson's Garden Center in Wichita, but it depends on what you are planting and what the temperatures will be like for the next few weeks. “Now is a good time to be planning your cool crops,” says Wright. “Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, spinach and lettuce will be ok if we have light frost.” But he cautions that people planting tomatoes right now are taking a risk.

"The economy doesn't matter when it comes to love. " That's something we were told by a gentleman buying flowers for his wife Tuesday. Valentines Day means big business for area flower shops and candy stores. The folks at Stems flower shop say last year was the biggest valentines day they've ever had, and Tuesday was looking very good. Ceros Candies has made some product changes because of the economy. Co-owner Pam Bishop told us "We've also tried to do some smaller boxes in the past we only had one pound boxes of turtles, this year we made some half pound turtles boxes so they had more flexibility and they could spend within their budget" The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend eight and a half percent more on Valentines Day celebrations this year, compared to last.

Local flower shops say they'll be working late tonight. The owner of Tillie's flowers says he's prepared for the 1,200 deliveries his store will make tomorrow, although it could be more. Ken Denton says the economy is still holding things down but that his sales are up over last year. He says that's probably because Valentine's Day fell on a Monday. Denton says the hardest thing about Valentine's Day is keeping up so he brings extra help. “We've added about 40 extra drivers and about 10 extra people in sales and other areas,” says Denton.

Flowers are the most popular present for Mother's Day, which falls on May 8 this year. If you can't choose your own bouquet, you can shop online for arrangements that are bursting with color. Consumer Reports ordered from three national websites, ProFlowers, 1-800-Flowers, and FTD, to see whether the arrangements they deliver look like the arrangements pictured online. Testers checked two dozen deliveries of roses, tulips, mixed flowers, and orchids. The flowers cost $57 to $87, including delivery.

Flowers now lay in the spot where Justin Slocum tried to save an 11-year-old boy. "It felt like I could've done more to save him," he says. "It just hurts me to even think about it. " Outside of his home, a van crashed Friday evening. Police say that the 15-year-old driver somehow lost control, hit a curb causing it to turn onto its side. The 11-year-old passanger was pinned underneath it. Police say there were two other 15 year olds in the car as well. Shortly after the crash, Slocum ran outside to help.