Amaryllis!

We recently received a gift in the form of a ceramic flower pot containing a thick layer of moss. Hidden within was a bulb that sprouted a large stem at an almost alarming rate. It grew so fast that you could almost follow its progress just by staring at it for a few minutes. It wasn’t exactly beautiful, but it was certainly interesting and it seemed determined to reach the lamp that was hanging high above it. Then, practically from one day to the next, it exploded with these spectacular blooms.

Since the first flowers appeared, it has continuously been covered with these huge clusters of pink and white. From now on, we’ll be less skeptical as these bizarre plants grow their stems, knowing that there’s quite a show ahead when they bloom. By the way, we read on Wikipedia that other names that Amaryllis go by are “Belladonna Lily” or “Naked Ladies”.

Etsy Artist of the Day:

Is food art? It certainly is at Las Vegas-based Yummy Affair! Take a look at the goodies above and tell us that your mouth isn't watering! Fortunately, with Yummy Affair, what happens in Vegas doesn't have to stay in Vegas! You can order these delicious treats and have them shipped anywhere in the U.S.A.! Here's a link to Yummy Affair's Etsy Shop.

As always, thanks for supporting independent artists and buying hand-made!

FTD Stinks!

Yvonne recently received a bonsai plant as a gift. It had been intended to be something for inside the house, but the plant that had been purchased turned out to be an outdoor bonsai. This clearly wasn't what the person sending the gift had intended, nor was it what Yvonne wanted.

We consulted some local bonsai experts, who all said the plant would surely die if left inside. The FTD brochure that came with the plant provided a customer service number, stating that FTD hopes "you are very satisfied with this gift". We called and explained the situation and, after the rep unsuccessfully tried to convince us that the plant would be fine indoors, he finally said that we could exchange it for an indoor plant. It was late in the evening, so we said we'd call back during regular business hours.

When we called back today to perform the exchange, we were told that it wasn't possible, as FTD does not allow exchanges. In other words, they really don't care if you are "very satisfied" with your gift after all. Apparently, when ordering something through FTD, you'd better not make a mistake or have any misunderstanding, because you are stuck with your purchase whether it's what you wanted or not.

In conclusion, FTD really sucks! We will never again buy flowers or anything else through this unflexible, heartless, and greedy company. If you want to buy a gift for someone, we encourage you to use one of FTD's competitors, where you are more likely to receive good service and fair treatment.

Fine Art Prints