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Pink Orchid Mantis

Posted by Suzie Canale on Wed, Jun 06, 2018

pink orchid mantis

photo via - www.houzz.com

I am an orchid lover by nature.  I adore James Story, Phalaenopsis, Vanda,  Cypripedium and just about any other flower that resembles this delicate family of blooms-even if it happens to be a MANTIS.  Yes, Mother Nature is awfully clever when creating her creatures, especially when it comes to the species, “Pink Orchid Mantis” that lives in the warm climates of SouthEast Asia, Malaysia.  Some scientists call this predator of the wild a miracle specimen due to its unusual coloring that looks exactly like a real blooming orchid. What do you think?

 

Although quite beautiful to behold, don’t get the wrong idea about this little guy who is seen as a threat to many other organisms living inside the same habitat.  This Mantis (like so many others) is capable of attacking and killing insects as well as frogs, birds and lizards. Don’t judge him by his size because Mr. Mantis can take out enemies possessing small vertebrates just by using his legs and teeth.  Mrs. Mantis is said to be even more dangerous to her prey since she can double in size from her male counterpart. If you happen to be traveling to this side of the world and catch a glimpse of this critter, don’t be afraid you’ll be his next meal because the venom of most Mantis is harmless to humans although you might feel quite a pinch.  The bottom line is- this species means BUSINESS when it comes to their appetite and can also be quite domineering of their territory. There are even recorded instances of a mantis’ consuming family relatives who get too close for comfort when threatening their dinner.

 

But you have to admit… the Orchid Mantis is quite a beauty!  Often shaded in pink to blend in with the environment, this mantis is also known to change to tints of brown and green when nature calls for further blending into landscapes.  The flower look-alike can play one of the best games of “Hide-and-Seek” with both predators and prey that mistake the legs for petals and face for the center of the blossom. Don’t make the mistake that unknowing species might make because the bloom really are teeth that are waiting clenched for an attack!

 

Praying Mantis have long been a mysterious creature that lurk in woods, rain forests and even outdoor gardens which make perfect homes because of their rare physical appearance and hunting skills.  Many children dream of owning a mantis as a pet but truth be told-their survival rate in this condition is only about a year. Its best to leave this wondrous animal out in the wild where it can continue to stun, amaze and leave all those in awe of its tremendous presence.  

Tags: Orchid League, Orchids, Orchid Plants

Spring Training at Exotic Flowers in Boston

Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Mar 18, 2014

Boston Florist Rick CanaleMost Bostonians believe spring training takes place in Fort Myers Florida or in places known as the grapefruit league and the cactus league. At Exotic Flowers, spring training takes place in our Boston store; what we call, the orchid league.

March in Boston is historically cold, average temperature this week in low 30's. As New Englanders, we can handle these last minute bursts of cold as the crocuses are already blooming in our yards. Because the staff at your local Boston florist are rabid baseball fans, we practice our own method of spring training in the 'orchid league'.

After our Valentine's Day wrap up, the floral designers at Exotic Flowers are reintroduced to the importance of creating floral Boston floral designarrangements in sets. We often create our floral arrangements in sets to minimize waste and increase our efficiency. During spring training in the orchid league, our Boston floral designers are reintroduced to simple basics and given new design skills as well. Much like the pitcher who has covered first a hundred times, a designer is reintroduced to the importance to working with a sharpened knife.

Floral design training in Boston

At Exotic Flowers, we attend design shows, read trade publications, join in webinars and continually hone our skills. Our March spring training is the most intense time of year for our training as we ready ourselves for Easter (4/20/14), Mother's Day (5/11/14), and Administrative Professional's Day (4/23/14). These three holidays are three of our busiest flower holidays of the year. Our goal is to remain Boston's Premier Florist. We cannot achieve this goal without continually training and innovating.

During spring training in the orchid league, our sales staff practices all types of role playing so that our staff is well spoken, alert, informed and courteous. We encourage the staff to facebook, blog and tweet to promote the importance of fresh flowers.

Leaving nothing to chance, our goal is to be the best. You can see the Red Sox inspire us quite a bit. We can even have our drivers address the vehicles' condition. A broken down vehicle could delay a timely delivery. Our maintenance staff may experience the most demanding training period. They must ensure all of our equipment. The maintenance team keeps our properties clean, well lit and safe.Exotic Flowers in Boston

Tags: Spring Training, Orchid League, Floral Training

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