Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley are back!
(AFP/Getty Images)

“Downton Abbey” returned to PBS last evening, along with its beautiful sets and costumes, Lady Mary’s frustrating love life and, thankfully, the Dowager Countess’s acerbic one-liners.

(Dame Maggie Smith was particularly wonderful when noting Lady Cora’s flower arrangements
“always look more suited to a first communion — in Southern Italy.”)

For those of us who waited for the British show’s second season to air legally across the pond, there was a lot riding on Sunday’s premiere. I, for one, was slightly panicked after reading early reviews that indicated “Abbey” fans were in for a big disappointment. The Post’s Hank Stuever wrote:

At 10 sumptuous hours in total length, “Downton Abbey” lacks surprise and is stretched precariously thin, a house full of fascinating people with not nearly enough to do, all caught in a loop of weak storylines that circle round but never fully propel.

I put aside my fears for a weak season to enjoy Sunday’s two-hour premiere, and enjoy it I did.

(Spoilers below.)

A lot happens to the Crawleys, their downstairs staff and those who weave in and out of their lives during the first episode. Matthew Crawley, on leave from the First World War, brings his new fiancee to Downton, while Lady Mary pretends she doesn’t care and considers a marriage proposal from a newspaper tycoon. Lady Edith drives a tractor, kisses a farmer and continues to be a bit of a mess. Lady Sybil becomes a nurse, Mr. Bates does something honorable and so much more!

Each character got a very satisfying re-introduction in the thoroughly enjoyable season premiere.

But I can’t help but return to Stuever’s critique that the season “lacks surprise.” It’s pretty clear where Season 2 is headed and, according to Stuever, it’s headed there pretty slowly.

Gawker’s Max Read tried to warn fans to not bother with the season at all: “The thing is, you’ll watch the first episode on Sunday and you’ll probably like it. That’s the problem: you won’t realize that season two [stinks] until you’re about halfway through: until it’s too late to bail.”

That’s a hard pill to swallow. But for the time being, I’m just going to enjoy the soap-tastic premiere.

Tell us, “Abbey” fans: What did you think of the season premiere? Sound off in the comments.

View Photo Gallery: The popular period drama has reintroduced WWI-era style to international audiences and has fueled several fashion trends seen on runways and celebrities this year.

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At a December tea, members of the Canton Garden Club celebrated the holiday season with a holiday tea and a Master floral designer demonstrating holiday floral pieces.

Thelma Shoneman, a gardener and floral arranger, created several seasonal arrangements explaining, as she designed, her ideas, techniques and design secrets.

The club also thanks the Canton community for supporting the club’s Greens and Bows Sale at the  Canton Library.

The Club looks forward to a busy 2012. Members will host a “Brunch and Fashion Show for all Generations” Sunday, May 6, and on Saturday, May 19, the club’s Plant and Perennial Sale  will take place. February, March and April meetings will feature programs on making homes greener, a tour of Holland and its tulips and a lecture on growing roses. Guests and prospective members are welcome at these meetings.

The Canton Garden Club is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and the South Shore District.   

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Donated centerpieces add ambiance to events and showcase the talent and creativity of the design team at Hoffman Design Group.

Folcroft, PA (PRWEB) January 08, 2012

Leading corporate floral arrangements specialist, Hoffman Design Group, provides floral centerpiece donations for many events around the Philadelphia region, most recently to the GPHA luncheon event held on Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Sheraton Society Hill.

The annual luncheon honored Paul Levy, President and CEO of Center City District, with the LAGOS Heart of Philadelphia Award. Also recognized were the recipients of the GPHA Michael M. Boyle Scholarship.

So what exactly needs to come together for Hoffman Design Group to make these unique floral centerpiece donations happen? Floral Design Manager Diane Badaracco states, “It all starts with a flash of inspiration when we are first faced with a request. It always works out to be a collaborative effort with our design team. Once an idea is solidified, the rest just develops naturally into something beautiful.”

For this GPHA event, Diane, along with Designer Jennifer Longo, created the 33 centerpieces using red lion amaryllis, variegated holly, and red twig dogwood. A touch of red satin ribbon was added to create a feel of holiday elegance that complimented the festivities.

Check out the photos of the different stages of the process on our website.

About Hoffman Design Group

Hoffman Design Group, Inc, is located in Folcroft, PA, and specializes in creating beautiful interiorscapes, corporate floral arrangements and living wall designs in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, Delaware, and New Jersey. Its designs have won many awards and they take pride in their elegant, environmentally friendly seasonal and holiday decorating, corporate interior plantscapes and urban exterior landscaping. For more information, visit http://www.hoffmandesigngroup.com.

# # #

Bryan Hoffman
Hoffman Design Group
888.416.8460
Email Information

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Dawn Desmond got engaged on New Year’s Eve and started to look for a venue and other details of her upcoming wedding Sunday at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel’s 18th annual Bridal Expo.

The 48-year-old bride-to-be from Wappingers Falls had her 20-year-old niece, Erin Hare, with her as she scoped out wedding venues, photographers and other details.

“We’re just going to browse and get ideas,” Desmond said.

She and what was projected to be hundreds of other local residents were able to visit 55 vendors offering wedding dresses, flower arrangements, photographs and other wedding-related things during the afternoon event, which also included a bridal gown fashion show.

The hotel, which sponsored the expo, has already booked 200 weddings in 2012, according to general manager Maureen Kangas.

Kangas said this is an increase over bookings in 2009 and 2010, when the economy was slower. In 2011, the hotel hosted about 265 weddings, she said.

Dresses styled after those worn by celebrities, including Kate Middleton and Kim Kardashian are in style this year, said Jenna Salvesen, assistant manager of David’s Bridal store in Danbury, Conn. Cathedral veils and tiaras are also trends for this year, she said.

“No matter how bad the economy is, people are still getting married,” she said.

Incorporating ostrich feathers into floral arrangements or using decorative branches are popular this year, too, said Lucille Conforti, of Lucille’s Floral of Fishkill.

“People are still buying flowers,” she said.

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Day two being a Saturday, the Covai Flower Show drew larger crowds compared to Friday. The car and two-wheeler park overflowed with vehicles and queues became longer as the evening progressed. And, the show had more to offer than just the flowers.

Students and public eagerly took part in the rangoli, vegetable carving and flower arrangement competitions held at the Botanic Garden as part of the fifth edition of the show. There were also dance performances and a healthy baby show that attracted a large crowd.

Students from schools and colleges, and women who were homemakers or otherwise employed made creative designs using colourful flowers. They were also seen making vegetable carving arrangements and flower arrangements. Since the organisers had not given any particular theme, the contestants

The healthy baby show saw babies under three years take part. Though the participants – aged between one and three years – were fortified to ‘walk the ramp’, the more than an hour delay and the interspersing of the contest with performances of students of a dance school, could not make them keep up the tempo. Though the dances were entertaining, parents had some difficulty in managing those who became increasingly uncomfortable because of the delay.

In spite of this, there were some delightful moments as some of the tiny tots lisped nursery rhymes, danced a jig to some random music and waved a bye to a cheering audience.

The Bonsai display was greatly admired by visitors. Trees, as young as seven years to as old as 51 years, were on show. Kigelia Pinnata sat majestically in her 51-year glory, while 37-year old Ficus Religiosa had a small ‘Ganesha’ nestled in its small branches. The 25-year old Mangifera Indica had a full-sized mango hanging from one of its branches.

Seven-year old Nivedha posed with as many Bonsai trees as possible. Her mother said that for children getting an opportunity to see a miniature tree was a very different experience, because it was not commonly available.

The vintage car show was also a major draw. Young and old alike took a look at the models from as early as the 1940s. There were the Austin A30, Fiat 1100, Morris Minor, and Willys jeep, to name a few.

Never to miss a chance, the homemakers in them urged many women to buy the utility items that were on sale on at the commercial stalls. The nursery sold many saplings, manure and other farm utility items for those with house gardens.

Kids enjoyed finding their way through the flower maze. A common sight that caught the eyes was cameras clicking away. Almost all visitors were busy capturing their loved ones with the beautiful flowers as a backdrop.

The show, organised jointly by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Rotary Coimbatore Uptown, will end on Sunday. The Hindu is the media partner for the event. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Keywords: Covai Flower Show

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Adds, lifestyle expert Rukshana Eisa. “A blend of the right people, lighting, ambience and food works. I also change table themes. If it’s ‘Oriental’ I use chopsticks and red and gold colours. For an ‘Indian’ dinner the flowers must go accordingly. Marigolds and diyas work for Diwali.”

Use these tips
The right cutlery: Is one of your guests using as salad fork for dessert? That’s a strict no-no. The rule is to ‘work from the outside in’. Use the outside knife and fork for the first course (entree) and then go inwards as each course comes on. While knives are to the right and forks to the left, dessert cutlery is at the top of the place setting.

Flowers
The smallest of arrangements can make the biggest impact. Guests are sure to be delighted to find cut flowers tucked into their napkins. Also, choose short vases as your guests will not be able to talk over long stemmed flower arrangements. Roses, peonies and geraniums work well. You can also hang twinkling lights among flowering plants.

Colour co-cordination
Red is a great colour for a party but may not go for a brunch or tea setting. So, try and match the colours to the day and time of the do.

Neat look
Do not clutter the table with a mix of whatever ‘looks nice’. Less is better when it comes to the food placement too. Remember, you can bring in different courses as the evening progresses or use other areas of the home like a coffee table or window shelf to lay out the smaller dishes.

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Roger Mercer

Dear Roger: A friend gave me a dried flower arrangements with what he calls money plants in them. Can I grow these plants? Where do I get them?- Deidre

Dear Deidre: Money plants won’t pay the bills. But they will give you something pleasant to think about when you’re short of real cash.

The finer things in life are seldom free. Money plants often are. The plants usually spread themselves around from seeds.

Ask your friend. He should have plenty of seeds, which come trapped inside the silvery “money” seed pods before they are opened to reveal their shimmering, translucent qualities.

Once you have money plants, they tend to reseed and come up profusely, especially in any bed that is mulched or has loose soil.

Money plant is a biennial. It grows into a mound of emerald, ribbed and seersuckered foliage the first year.

The second year of its life it blooms with light mauve to purple flowers. The flowers are followed by the silvery, round, flat seed pods that give the plant its name.

The pods are excellent for dried arrangements. But save some for your seed supply. The seeds can be seen by holding up the paper-like pods to the light. Save the ones that have the most seeds in them for planting. And use the rest to make arrangements. When you harvest the pods, they will be covered with thin, papery brown tissue. Simply rub away the brown covering to reveal the “money.”

The plant likes full sun to part shade and rich, moist soil. The leaves grow larger and more heavily textured in part-shade, so that is where I like to grow them.

The pods are fine, but my favorite part of the plant is the foliage. The heavy texture can create excitement through the play of light and shadow across the surface of the leaves. The leaves contrast well with smooth-leaved plants, such as hostas, begonias and cannas.

The seeds can be sown in September or in March and April outdoors in a prepared bed. Move the seedlings to their permanent location after they have at least four leaves.

Fertilize lightly three or four times a year at monthly intervals beginning in early March. Then apply fertilizer once more in early September to make large, strong-blooming plants the next year.

One botanical name of money plant isLunaria biennis.Luna means moon. So whoever gave the plant its Latin name must have thought the pods look like little moons rather than money.

The biennis, of course, means the plant is biennial and has a two-year life cycle. However, the plant is usually calledLunaria annua,which means it can bloom and go to seed in one year.

The fact is, plants often grow one year and bloom the next, then die. But planted early enough, they may bloom for you this year.

The plant, by the way, is in the same family as kale, collards and cabbage: the Brassicaceae.

Send your questions and comments to roger [at] mercergarden [dot] com or call Roger Mercer at 424-4756. You may write Roger Mercer, 6215 Maude St., Fayetteville, NC 28306. Be sure to include your telephone number.

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After 25 years in Oprah’s shadow, new CBS morning host is now the King of daytime TV

By MANDY STADTMILLER

Last Updated:
12:48 PM, January 6, 2012

Posted:
11:30 PM, January 5, 2012

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Gayle King is starving.

“I’m so damned hungry, I could chomp your leg off,” the newly anointed face of “CBS This Morning” declares, as she bursts into her sparsely decorated temporary blue office — save for a few pieces of art and a birthday flower arrangement in the corner (she turned 57 last week). She sits down on a cream couch to speak with The Post about her new job — and the controversy surrounding it.

But right now, she’s busy directing everyone around her, including one team member who is carrying her Hale Hearty vegetable soup. (“I’m always on a diet,” she says, noting she left her Jenny Craig meal at home.)

Yes, for the first time in her life, it is Oprah Winfrey’s best friend — not Oprah — who is calling the shots. And CBS, whose morning show is perpetually in third place behind “Today” and “Good Morning America,” is betting on her success. (King debuts Monday in the 7-to-9 a.m. time slot, when she will co-anchor with Charlie Rose and Erica Hill.)

King left Winfrey’s struggling cable network OWN to take this post, and industry critics say she finally managed to escape the domineering shadow of her famous friend. “This is obviously a moment for her to break away,” BigGovernment.com publisher Andrew Breitbart tells The Post. “I’m sure she wants her identity back, even though it’s probably been a good run. As many successes as Oprah Winfrey has had, the OWN network is clearly not working out. [King] sought sanctuary elsewhere, in higher elevation. She’s moving away from a sinking ship.”

Stunning, imposing and towering in her 4-inch snakeskin Sergio Rossi heels, purple Michael Kors dress and mounds of silver necklaces (she has loved the jewelry trend since she read about it in O Magazine, where she is editor-at-large; “I hope you’re a subscriber,” she says), King leans forward and lists the traits she says are part of her brand: authenticity, empathy and curiosity, enunciating each word with the same hypnotizing, melodic singsong for which Oprah became famous.

If CBS’s gamble pays off, it won’t just be Oprah’s mellifluous style of speech, but her pre-cable ratings success that rubbed off on King. It’s been three decades since CBS had a winner in the morning slot, and the network’s reinvention of the show is a wild move.

King has sought advice on how to deal with the pressure of her new role. “I was just talking to my favorite mayor in the whole wide world, Cory Booker, because today is my birthday. He was calling me from the beach in Israel,” she chirps about the mayor of Newark. “He’s there for the holidays, and he and I are very tight, and he’s asking me how’s rehearsal going. He said, ‘I hope you don’t think that you have to go to CBS and become something that you’re not.’ And I went, ‘Well, Cory, this isn’t my first rodeo.’ ”

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DANA POINT, CA, December 26, 2011 /Stanford Who’s Who/ — Stanford Who’s Who proudly welcomes Karen M. Guenther to the distinguished ranks of leading professionals as a result of her exceptional effort in the floral design field. As Owner of Flower Child Floral Designs, as well as throughout her brilliant professional career, Karen has consistently demonstrated the vision, dedication and diligence necessary to be successful in the business world.

Flower Child Floral Designs is a business which offers a wide variety of floral designs and arrangements for every occasion, including parties of all sizes, weddings, birthday parties, and major events such as conferences, Christmas parties and all holiday events. In addition to the vast selection of floral arrangements they offer, Flower Child Floral Designs also has wedding specialties including bridal bouquets, corsages, wrist corsages and boutonnieres.

Karen is a creative and innovative freelance floral designer who is responsible for managing all major aspects of the business as well as overseeing the daily operations. She uses only the finest and freshest flowers and greens in all of her designs. During her collegiate career, Karen studied Child Development. In the time away from her busy schedule, she greatly enjoys gardening.

To view more information on Karen M. Guenther click here

To visit the Flower Child Floral Designs website click here

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JAIPUR: Chefs from Taj and Maurya Sheraton have been picked to dish out a delicious spread for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas delegates. Bangkok flowers will be used in floral arrangements at the venues.

The plan is to give them the best of Indian, Thai and Chinese food. The January 7 lunch will be taken care of by the ITC Sheraton. The spread is said to include Mughlai, South Indian and dishes from other states of India. On January 8, the CM will play host at dinner time and traditional Rajasthani food will feature on the menu. The tourism minister, Bina Kak is looking after all the arrangements for it. On January 9, hotel Taj chefs will lay out the cuisines.

“We want that the guests get the best of Indian food. But to cater to their varied tastes, we have made arrangements for Thai and Chinese cuisines too,” Nitin Gupta, state head of CII, said.

To decorate the event venues, 20,000 flowers and 3,000 garlands will be used. The Orchids and Lilium will arrive from Bangkok while Carnations, Calcutta Genda and other flowers will be brought from Bangalore, Pune and Delhi. “We have been asked to decorate the City Palace, Birla Auditorium and Jai Mahal. Fresh flowers will be used everyday,” said Babulal Mali, who has the contract for flower decoration. “Each day decoration will have a different theme. On the first day, the theme colors will be yellow and white, on second day baby pink and white; and red and white on the last day,” he added.

The organisers have also deployed some engineering and management students as volunteers for the event. “We have sought volunteering of around 60 college students who will help us at the registration desk,” Gupta added. State government has attached RAS rank officers for the state guests which includes union ministers and chief ministers. Team of CII, an organising partner of the event, has already arrived in the city. Entire state machinery has been engaged in preparation of the event and chief secretary is reviewing the developments daily.

To facilitate the award ceremony and other events, 50 trained ushers have been deployed. Liaison officers have been deputed at all the hotels where guests will stay. A central control room has been formed at the Birla Auditorium which will work round the clock for the guests.

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