Hot Plants for Hot Summer Days

The normal cycle of plant availability has been one of great plants in the spring and then slim pickings through the summer until mums arrive. This is mainly due to the fact that growers produce huge quantities of plants for the spring and push them out of the greenhouses by the end of May. This allows the growers to recover from their busiest season, do maintenance and repair work on their facilities, and not have the plants suffer in the extreme heat that greenhouses produce in July and August.

As in all parts of our culture, consumer wants have changed. People are spending more time at home during the summer. Some who vacation early in the summer come home and want to replace the spring plants that have suffered while they were away. Others have seen the plants that graced their patios, porches, walkways, and decks lose their vibrancy.

Kremps has added a new line of summer flowering plants and changed its production schedule to offer lush, beautiful, hanging baskets and patio pots to its customers in the Philadelphia region. The new line, grown by Steve Kremp at his Churchville facility is being well received by Kremp customers at their store on Davisville Rd. in Willow Grove and on its website, www.kremp.com. To be able to provide high quality plants that will not only survive the area’s summer heat, but thrive because of it, Steve Kremp selected certain varieties of the heat lover’s collection from Syngenta, including-
Verbena
Flowering Vinca
Lantanna
Lobelia
Diplademia
Goodenia
Centradenia
Angelonia
And many more

The plants are all ones that can take the heat and thrive in hot humid summer conditions. They should be placed in full sun or partial shade. Most spring plants like 75 degrees. These like high temperatures, which is rare. They will fill in the time from spring until the mums take their place in the fall. In addition to a full color range, there are many different textures and shapes to create beautiful combinations.

Grown in larger pots, which hold more soil, than normally used for spring plants, they should only need watering once a day, even if placed on concrete or asphalt. Fertilize every watering with a weak solution or as directions suggest with regular fertilizer.

An extra benefit is that since no heat is required during their production period, these hanging baskets and patio pots sell for less. There are hundreds on display at Kremp Florist 220 Davisville Rd. Willow Grove. In addition to homeowner’s purchases for home décor, these plants are great summer gifts that will be well received by all.

Kremp hosts possible future designers!

On Tuesday, April 14th, the Jenkintown Mom's Club visited Kremp Florist and were given a shop tour and design class by Drew Kremp. Their children, aged 2 1/2 to 3 1/2, were the focus today and tested their skills in making floral arrangements which they got to take home. Miniature design tables were made and we set up a temporary design room in our greenhouse. Each child had their own workspace and were given the necessary flowers, greens and filler to make their very own masterpiece! Their favorite part was squeezing the water out of the Oasis floral foam!




Balloons were handed out and the kids met the fish, turtles and parrots that are always on display in our showroom. The kids had a blast!

Kremp Florist always welcomes groups of all ages to visit the shop for tours. We also provide design classes! Give us a call or email us at contactus@kremp.com to inquire.

March Madness!

The NCAA Men's Basketball tournament has tipped off and the Madness of March has begun! In honor of this exciting time, Kremp Florist is offering 2 very special gifts that are perfect for any basketball fan.
First, we have the Basketball Bouquet which makes a unique centerpiece complete with a real basketball in the middle!

Our second popular item is the Basketball is Sweet gift. This ceramic basketball is filled with tasty treats and sweets to satisfy any fan's craving during the big game. Both are available for delivery and can be ordered online at www.kremp.com

Kremp Florist prepares for the Philadelphia Flower Show

Each year, the first week in March means one thing for Kremp Florist, the Philadelphia Flower Show! As Philadelphia's premier florist, Kremp Florist operates two marketplace booths where thousands and thousands of roses are sold to the public.
The roses are imported from Ecuador and Columbia and are available in every color of the rainbow! Kremp will also be offering cut flowers and discounted prices. Popular varieties include carnations, lilies, bird of paradise, daffodils, daisies, orchids, eucalytpus and assorted willows.
The show is open from March 1st through the 8th and showcases acres of gardens, plants and floral designs. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

New Unique Items for Valentine's Day

We are 2 weeks away from Valentine's Day and Kremp Florist has once again created some exciting new products for the holiday. Of course roses will dominate the field in a wide range of colors and stem lengths.


But this year, Kremp will be offering products such as the Valentine Martini which is an oversized martini glass packed full with delicious gourmet chocolate covered items such as pretzels, oreos, graham crackers, toffee and more. Truly unique!







Kremp Florist will also be featuring some inexpensive gift items. The Teddy Bear with chocolate rose is sure to be hit!

A Flowerless Inauguration???

Dozens of floral designers primed to head to Washington, D.C. to decorate the events surrounding the Inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama will not be as close to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20 as they had hoped.

The Society of American Florists, which has coordinated the floral décor for 5 of the last 6 inaugurations, will not be coordinating floral support for the upcoming Presidential Inaugural events.

SAF CEO Peter Moran says he's not entirely surprised with the decision, given the challenges the country faces. "I believe the current mindset of PIC (the Presidential Inaugural Committee) is that they do not want to produce an event that looks too lavish, given the current state of the economy and that the country is involved in two wars," Moran says.

Lavish aptly describes the floral décor SAF has provided for past events. Under the leadership of Charles Kremp 3rd, AAF, who has coordinated SAF's décor effort for the last 4 inaugurations, past inaugural balls and dinners have been adorned with seemingly endless swathes of lush garland, elaborate centerpieces and 12-foot-high urns featuring the finest fresh product. The bulk of the cost of making that happen is not in the product — the majority of which is donated by the industry — but in warehouse space and housing the 200 floral industry volunteers it takes to pull it off.

Moran says PIC had indicated early in December that it would not be able to cover the cost of hotel rooms, and later that month a major inaugural vendor indicated that there would be a reduced amount of flowers used at events.

"In the past, plans for floral decorations have required a much larger base of coordinators, designers and delivery drivers, and our association is the logical organization to bring those volunteers together," Moran says. "The floral needs did not require this type of effort this time around so the project is in the capable hands of local floral professionals. We are happy to know that flowers will still play a part in this historic occasion."

SAF's involvement in the Inauguration is never guaranteed — in fact, SAF CEO Peter Moran says that in past years, it's often not confirmed until a month before, or sometimes less. "In 2001 (when a 'recount' was required), we didn't get the go-ahead on our involvement until early in January," Moran recalls.

Kremp says he'll stay hopeful that circumstances will be different for the next Inauguration. "We'll be ready to go after it in 2013," he says, "and show the organizers the benefit that our product brings to very special celebrations."

--Kate F. Penn

Philadelphia Eagles Bouquet is here!

Who would have thought the Philadelphia Eagles would have been in the 2nd round of the playoffs! At Kremp Florist, we are cheering them on in our own way... with the Philadelphia Eagles bouquet. This exclusive arrangement is made up of all green and white flowers with a special Eagle stuffed animal and banner that reads "Fly Eagles Fly!" This arrangement is perfect as a centerpiece for the big game or as a gift for any Eagles fan. Visit us online at www.kremp.com or give us a call at 1-800-34KREMP. Let's go Eagles!!!