Namaqualand: The Floral Kingdom of Africa

Foreigners and locals return time and again to this wonderland of colour. The miracle of a parched landscape slowly evolving through the seasons into a huge carpet of wild flowers is breathtaking. The best time to view this unique floral display is from mid-August to October.

To do Namaqualand properly, one would take a leisurely drive through the fields of flowers, stopping off at the nature reserves and charming towns along the way. Bear in mind that accommodation in the region is often booked out a year in advance as more foreigners hear of these wildflowers, which are unparalleled anywhere.

To view all the different species of flowers in the region, get The Botanical Society of South Africa guides to Nieuwoudtville SA Wild Flower Guide and Namaqualand SA Wild Flower Guide 1. There's also Freeman Patterson's Garden of the Gods and Fynbos by Richard Cowling.

Towns Along The Way

Kamieskroon
The locals in this area are as impressive as their colourful surroundings. They are helpful and offer advice on where the best flowers are. The reasonably priced Kamieskroon Hotel, the town B&B's and the neighbouring farms all offer splendid accommodation. Contact the Namaqualand Tourism Centre for your pick of places to stay. Roads leading out from Kamieskroon go up into the hills to the town of Leliefontein where you will find an enchanting old mission. It's worth travelling further afield to the rugged west coast of stormy seas and rocky outcrops at Hondeklip Bay and Groenriviermond.

The 50 000 hectare Namaqua National Park is a botanical and ecological conservancy whose friendly conservationists will gladly answer questions on the flora and fauna of the area. The reserve stretches roughly from the town of Garies northwards to the towns of Springbok and Steinkopf. The areas most visited are round the towns of Springbok and Nababeep. The Spektakel (spectacle) ridge is a must see with its profusion of flowers. The further north you travel from Kamieskroon to Springbok, the more spectacular the display of species in a good season.

Nieuwoudtville
The town of Nieuwoudtville is a geological treasure situated on the Bokkeveld escarpment. Within the surrounds of just 20 kilometres the plant life changes from fynbos, to Renosterveld, to Karoo. It has the richest bulb (geophyte) variety in the world. Species include the famous spring daisies, the forget-me-not family, Pelargonium (with its bizarre shapes), Heliophila (Sun lover), Vygies (little figs), and the Iris and Rose family.

The town has its own wild flower reserve; there is also nearby Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve, a giant plain of wilderness rock formation and rock art. You can view a 90-metre high waterfall in an ancient Gondwanaland geological fault. Visiting the nearby 'secret' forest with its kokerbome - strangely shaped trees with weird arms coming out of their trunk - makes you feel like you're inside 'Lord of the Rings' territory. The private farms in the area are open to the public and often have the most spectacular array of flowers. There are a couple of farms that manage to combine commercial farming with the cultivation of floral wealth.

Tips on planning your Flower Escapade
Flowers are best viewed from 11:00 to 15:00 on a sunny day

A cool box is essential for informal, off-road picnics

Don't forget comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and insect repellent

Most of the flowers are so tiny that you won't be able to see and appreciate them from a moving vehicle. It's perfectly safe to get out the car and view close-up

Take your flower guides, so you are up-to-date with the names of flowers you are viewing

Self-drive holidays are so popular because driving in South Africa is easy, safe and exposes you to some of the greatest attractions that you would never see on a package tour. iDrive, Southern Africa car hire, has developed a range of self-drive, travel products from our many years of travel experience in South Africa and its neighbouring countries

Floral Arrangements

Floral arrangements can be an impulsive bunch of field flowers or an elaborate, multi-textured presentation soaring up to the ceiling. Pit all of Nature's fresh flowers against mankind's ingenuity and nimble fingers. Arrive at arrangement ideas that challenge and delight the imagination.

A flexible and endearing art, floral arrangements adapt to a very personal approach or a chic, florist exercise. On the broadest of terms, floral artwork is for outdoor, indoor or personal human adornment. Perhaps the most readily accessible of decorative matter, flowers can adorn a crib, a crypt, banquet or boardroom with perfect ease and appropriateness. Flower styles can be European, Asian, country-style, tropical exotica or individual picks and flicks.

Open-air arrangements are many. The natural flower garden, landscaped to individual tastes, climate and land contours. To green house cultivations, flower bowers, poolside arrangements and rock gardens that need constant supervision. In clusters or all by themselves flowers can festoon arches, porches, pillars and other outdoor venues as well.

Indoor floral displays offer more opportunities for creativity and variation. From the front door to the staircase, hall or basement, bedroom or bathroom, wall, window, floor or ceiling, flowers decorations can be placed anywhere, to appeal everywhere. Used furniture and cutlery, old teapots, family trophies, baskets, cans, stands, trays and fishbowls take on charming new tones when adorned with flowers. And when combined with greenery, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, pinecones, ribbons, paper, taffeta, faux flowers or silk flowers, flowers exude extra life and room appeal.

Simple arrangements require basic flower sense. Organize flowers by appearance into the brightest, biggest, most exotic blooms, to the lean, straight-looking ones, rounded ones, forms other than round, and finally, feathery, filler flowers. But florists can be your ideal mentors. Drop by at the store to get a feel of the flowers, style alternatives, arrangements and price options available. Browse flower design books for more ideas. Discuss with the florist, the occasion, your recipient's age, personality, home d?cor and your relationship, before picking on the right flowers. Decide on the budget and then ribbon-tie, cello wrap or customize the selection.

Taking flowers out from their natural ambience into other areas of human proximity calls for skill and expertise. Fragile shelf life imposes precise timing and clarity of purpose in the use of cut flowers. Heat, weight, moisture, packaging and deft handling can all dictate flower longevity.

Dabble with flowers, and spend a lifetime learning new things. Topiaries, spool wire, puff, acrylic paint, pothos, floral frogs, foam, adhesive, sheet moss, Spanish moss, moss wheat grass, beet, cattails, decoupage, greening pins, wilt-proof spray, watering spikes, pour spouts?and you thought flower arrangements just happened.

Flowers provides detailed information on flowers, flower gifts, flower delivery, floral arrangements and more. Flowers is affliated with Discount Flower Delivery

Discover Why Our Floral Arrangements Are Among The best Online

Our warehouse stocks a huge variety of the best floral arrangements in the country. Each one is made with exquisite perfection and is made to resemble the natural plant and flower. Our flower arrangements will suit your taste. We house a wide variety of arrangements from the timeless traditions of red and cream roses, accompanied by eucalyptus and birch, to the modern traditions of lovely red Christmas wreaths.

Dip into our timeless traditions of flower arrangements that have inspired people for decades. We have over 40 varieties that will bring elegance and grace to your interiors.

Discover our royal and wild roses and eucalyptus plants on a beautiful provencial cream bowl. This bouquet will create a pleasing and inviting atmosphere in your room. Our lovely 5 foot areca palm tree will create a tropical atmosphere in your surroundings.

We also house silk flower and plant arrangements that include intricately glazed fruit, with natural birch, grasses and feathers in beautifully embossed metal planters.

Brighten your room with our brightly-colored dahlias, roses, with glazed spiced fruit and eucalyptus flower bouquet. Notice its simple elegant beauty, and imagine the life it would bring to your room.

Imagine it sitting right on your dining room table where it enhances your appetite and brings a smile with every glance. Place real fruits around it in your kitchen and look in admiration at the splendor it brings to your kitchen.

Visit our seasonal arrangements section and you'll love our collection of the best flower arrangements for the different seasons. Spice up your room with a clean spring feeling with our graceful parrot tulips and butterfly orchids in a porcelain crackle decorative bowl.

Visit us online http://www.artificialplantsandtrees.com

Florist - a Career in Floristry

Being a florist can be a very exciting and challenging career. Many people of all ages, from other working backgrounds are being retrained and entering the floristry industry.

If you are considering a career in floristry, you should enjoy working with flowers and be willing to learn all aspects of the floristry profession. You will need to be able to arrange flowers in an attractive manner and be a reasonably quick worker.

In our Floristry Diploma Course we teach you how to create floral designs for all types of occasions.

As a florist is dealing closely with the public, you should have a genuine liking for people, and have a pleasant and helpful manner.

Flowers touch the emotions of other peoples' lives. Customers ordering funeral tributes are often relatives or close friends of the deceased and may be emotionally upset. As a florist, you will need to be sympathetic and understanding.

A florist has the pleasure of helping a bride-to-be select just the right flowers and type of bridal bouquet for the most important day of her life - her wedding day.

The florist shares the joy and excitment when a proud new father comes in to order flowers for his wife in hospital.

Floristry is not all glamour. There is a lot of hard work and long hours involved. The duties in a florist shop will include:-

Unpacking stock as it comes into the florist shop

Conditioning flowers and watering plants

Pricing merchandise and displaying it attractively

Attending to customers

Answering the telephone

Completing orders and making up designs for the shop

Making sure the florist shop is clean and tidy

Keeping book work up to date

Changing the shop window display

Working in a Florist Shop

You will need to be able to work efficiently. A typical day in a florist shop could include ten wreaths for an early morning funeral, several arrangements and posies. Often a posy or a sheaf of flowers will need to be made up while the customer waits.

A good employee has common sense, a positive attitude, is honest and a willing worker who sees what needs doing and does it in a cheerful and efficient manner.

An employer will appreciate a capable trustworthy employee who has the employer's interest at heart and will co-operate and help with any duties involved in the running of the floristry business.

Applying for a Position in a Florist Shop.

You should present yourself favourably, be well groomed, polite and have an enthusiastic manner. If you have any references from previous positions, report cards or personal references, take these with you. You may like to take samples or photographs of your floral designs with you. Naturally, any photographs or samples should be of a high standard with the flowers arranged attractively and colours blended tastefully. Any wiring and taping should be neatly done.

The florist may ask you to make up an arrangement, posy or a sheaf. You will be expected to choose suitable flowers and foliage in colours which blend well together and make up a professional looking design in a reasonable amount of time (approximately 15-20 minutes for a standard arrangement). Do not worry if you are a bit nervous. Florists are usually understanding people and will make allowances for this. It is far better to be a little nervous rather than have an over confident and "know it all" manner.

A few years ago a position was advertised for a junior in a very busy florist shop in a leading shopping centre in Melbourne. There were over forty applicants, but one of our students was successful because she could show the florist she was capable of creating attractive floral designs.

After the interview is over thank the employer for seeing you, and if the position offered appeals to you, you could say "I am very impressed with your shop" or "I would really like the opportunity of working for you". An employer would much rather employ a person who really wants the position in preference to someone who is indifferent.

OWNING YOUR OWN FLORIST SHOP.

Many people find the idea of going into business for themselves very tempting. You may want to open your own florist shop, but you should be fully aware of all the facts before you make a decision to start up or buy into a business.

HOW TO DECIDE IF YOU ARE THE RIGHT TYPE OF PERSON TO GO INTO A FLORIST BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF.

Advantages

You will have a feeling of fulfilment of being involved in such a creative industry such as floristry.

If you run a successful florist business it can be far more rewarding financially than working for wages.

There is a feeling of security in owning your own successful florist business.

You will find running your own florist shop is never dull. You will never know what each day will bring. Working for yourself is far more exciting than going to work in an often dull routine job.

You will meet some very interesting people through dealing directly with the public. This can often develop into lasting friendships. You will be providing a real service to your customers. The skilled florist is always appreciated and will have a secure life-long career.

Disadvantages (You will find it helpful if you do this questionnaire)

As Floristry is a lot of hard work and often long hours are involved, do you have the necessary health and energy to run a business? Yes / No

Do you have enough money to start a florist business? Do you have another source of borrowing money if necessary? Sometimes you will need to inject extra funds into the business Yes / No

Are you self motivated and have enough discipline to be able to organise yourself to see what the most important tasks are and to see each one is carried out? Yes / No

Are you a reasonably quick worker? Yes / No

When a problem arises, are you the type of person who can come up with a solution? Yes / No

If you have a family, do you have someone you can rely on to help with the children? Yes / No

To stand a good chance in a floristry business you should honestly be able to answer "Yes" to all the above questions.

How successful you are in Floristry, as in anything in life, will depend on how much time and effort YOU are prepared to put into it.

Floristry Diploma Course
Our floristry diploma course covers opening your own florist shop, how to find a job in a florist shop and working from home. For full information on our floristry diploma courses please click onto http://www.floral-art-school.au/