Tired of your Valentine’s Day roses losing their luster by Feb. 15? Forget pennies in the water or the powder in those chemical preservative packets. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Prostock-Studio)

10 acres of flowers for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is next Friday, and if you didn’t know that, this may be the most important “Garden Plot” you’ll ever read.

Now, instead of giving flowers that eventually fade away, how about an event whose memories will last forever, such as a trip to the famed Philadelphia Flower Show next month?

Philly is the largest indoor flower show in the world, with 10 acres of major exhibits and breathtakingly perfect individual plants 情人節花束. It’s also the oldest American flower show—the poinsettia was first seen in the United States at the premier show in 1829.

This year’s theme, “Riviera Holiday,” promises a bit of Mediterranean warmth in the middle of winter. Buy your tickets early and get a break on the price (check out the “Friends and Family” deal) at www.phsonline.org/flowers.

The flower that says, ‘I love you’

So, are you ready to send the correct message next Friday, on Valentine’s Day?

Red roses do symbolize “love” in general in “The Floral Code,” the “language of flowers” that was immensely popular in the Victorian Era, for a time when manners and station often prevented direct talk of romance and symbolism was the only socially acceptable way to express your feelings.

But red tulips specifically mean “I love you.” And red tulips are reliable re-bloomers, so if you buy them as live plants growing in a pot and give the green leaves lots of sun, after the flowers fade, you can plant the bulbs in the ground this fall and aim for everlasting love.

Don’t give the wrong roses

You may want to avoid roses in colors other than the basic red.

White roses symbolize chastity, which is, perhaps, not your intended point on Feb. 14.

Peach roses mean sympathy, which might be what you’ll need, but don’t ask for it up front.

Yellow roses might be the worst — that color translates to “let’s just be friends.” Oy!

Oh, and don’t worry, if your red roses have a few thorns — the more thorns, the more passionate your love.

The proven cut flower preserver

Tired of your Valentine’s Day roses losing their luster by Feb. 15? Forget pennies in the water or the powder in those chemical preservative packets. Researchers whose work has been published in peer-reviewed journal articles recommend a different strategy:

• First, thoroughly wash the vase the flowers will go into.
• Then, mix one can of Sprite, 7-Up or other nondiet lemon-lime soda with three cans of water.
• Add a few drops of vinegar.
• Then, warm this mixture to around 100 degrees.
• Remove any leaves that would fall below the water line.
• Recut the stems at an angle, then place them in the still-warm water.
• Display the vase in the coolest spot in your home.

Get it all right and those flowers can look fabulous for two weeks!

…and maybe toss in a shot for good luck

An article published in The International Journal of Biotechnology Research contains some important Valentine’s Day information: namely that—as with many humans—sugar and alcohol may be key to success!

The researchers found that keeping cut flowers looking good the longest requires some sugar for food, clean water with a low pH, an anti-microbial agent to keep the water clean and … a little vodka.

Originally thought to kill microbes in the water, researchers found that the vodka actually prevented the release of ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent that would otherwise “push” the flowers into fully opening and dropping their petals prematurely.

Drink up!

Meet Mike in Chantilly later this month

I’ll appear on Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23 at the long-running Capital Remodel & Garden Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Saturday talks will be at 1 p.m. and 4 pm; Sunday’s are noon and 2 p.m.

I’ll talk about tomatoes, organic lawn care, compost and, of course, answer your toughest garden questions! More info here.

Mike McGrath was editor-in-chief of ORGANIC GARDENING magazine from 1990 through 1997. He has been the host of the nationally syndicated public radio show “You Bet Your Garden” since 1998 and WTOP Garden Editor since 1999. Send him your garden or pest control questions at MikeMcG@PTD.net.

 Madeline did not go back to school. For some months she remained at home with the De Bernys; White, in his indolent way, postponing the question of where she was to go next.He was a good deal occupied at this time with the adaptation of a new play which was being acted with great success at the Porte St. Martin, and, as it was necessary to see the play represented by the French actors, he spent some weeks in Paris. He discovered that by carefully lopping the leading idea, making the chief female virtuous instead of vicious, altering the scenes, and turning the moral upside down, he could make the great drama pure enough for the sight of the British playgoer. His English manager approved, sent him a small cheque on account, and begged him ‘to do the trick’ as quickly as possible.

At this period, therefore, Madeline was thrown more and more into the society of Mademoiselle Mathilde. That vision of loveliness found the child useful, sent her on endless errands, made of her a sort of companion in miniature, and extempore lady’s maid. Madeline was only too delighted to serve and worship, and great was her joy when any of the cast-off splendour fell to her share. One evening Madame de Berny took her to the theatre, on the occasion of her daughter’s ‘benefit.’ There was a serio-comedy in which Mathilde played the leading part, and a burlesque to follow, in which (for that occasion only, for she generally despised burlesque) she enacted a fairy prince. Madeline was entranced; the spell of the footlights came upon her once and for ever.

That night, after they had returned home, and the Vision had supped well on oysters and bottled stout, Madeline proffered a request which had lately become one with her‘Oh, Mamzelle, let me brush your hair!’Mathilde took a sleepy sensuous pleasure in that part of her toilette, and would sit by the hour together under the soothing manipulation of the brush. So she let down her golden locks, and placed herself, with her eyes half closed, before the mirror, while Madeline began her task, prattling between whiles of the theatre, of all the wonders she had seen, and of the longing that would possess her until she saw them again.

‘I used to feel like you once,’ yawned Mathilde, ‘when I was a dear little thing, with my hair growing down to my waist, and little satin shoes on my feet, and Pa used to take me to the pantomimes. Ah, dear, that’s over and done. I hate the theatre.You hate it, Mamzelle?’‘Yes, and sometimes I hate Pa for ever letting me go nigh to it. I suppose it all comes of Ma marrying a Frenchman; for Pa used to teach me to say those long speeches in rhyme out of the French plays, and then I got a taste for recitation. But I hate French now, and I hate the theatre. It’s nothing but worry and vexation. There was only five pounds ten in the stalls to-night besides the tickets Pa and Ma sold, and the dress circle was not half full. Did you notice a dark fat man in a private box, who threw a bouquet to Miss Harlington?’

Until he reached the age of twelve, Georgie's education was a domestic process; tutors came to the house; and those citizens who yearned for his taking down often said: "Just wait till he has to go to public school; then he'll get it!" But at twelve Georgie was sent to a private school in the town, and there came from this small and dependent institution no report, or even rumour, of Georgie's getting anything that he was thought to deserve; therefore the yearning still persisted, though growing gaunt with feeding upon itself. For, although Georgie's pomposities and impudence in the little school were often almost unbearable, the teachers were fascinated by him. They did not like him—he was too arrogant for that—but he kept them in such a state of emotion that they thought more about him than they did about all of the other ten pupils. The emotion he kept them in was usually one resulting from injured self-respect, but sometimes it was dazzled admiration. So far as their conscientious observation went, he "studied" his lessons sparingly; but sometimes, in class, he flashed an admirable answer, with a comprehension not often shown by the pupils they taught; and he passed his examinations easily. In all, without discernible effort, he acquired at this school some rudiments of a liberal education and learned nothing whatever about himself.

1. Forget about Hogging Attention

People love it when they feel cared for and important. That’s why so many of us are programmed to ‘want’ attention.

The irony is that the more you try to hog attention for You Find ZMOT yourself, the more off-putting you become.

Conversely, you become more likable as you give people the time, space and attention to share who they are and what’s important to them.

Think back to a time when you’ve had some of the best conversations with some of the most remarkable and charming people in your life – weren’t they the ones who gave you the space and time to speak your mind, talk about your day and how you felt? Weren’t they also the ones who picked up on what you said and related back to it? I’m guessing that you were probably the one who did most of the talking, and they did most of the listening.

Being likable doesn’t really require lots of work, really. Sometimes, it’s as easy as reversing the role of the speaker and listener.

2. Forget about Pleasing Everybody

“I’ve learned that it’s not our job to You Find ZMOT make other people happy” – Steve Harvey, American Comedian and

Truly likable people are comfortable with who they are. They are relaxed and comfortable in their own skin, their strengths and weaknesses.

They recognize that no matter how hard they try, they will never be perfect, and they’re comfortable being vulnerable and being real.

Brene Brown, a psychologist and researcher who studied and wrote extensively on the topic of being vulnerable and authenticity, shares that learning about and being able to accept our vulnerabilities actually helps strengthen our personal identities, but also the way we relate and connect with people.

Whilst being “real” may not help you win everybody over, it will certainly help you win over the people who matter – and I, and I believe like many others, have learned through experience that being authentic and sincere is a big draw when it comes to likability as a person.

3. Forget about Where You ‘Should’ Be At and Focus on Where You Are At

The Dalai Lama once shared that people have a tendency to think about work, when they are at pleasure, and think about pleasure when they are at work.

The result is that the person finds neither satisfaction You Find ZMOT nor happiness when they are at work or at play.

Our inability to be present affects our internal balance, without which we are unable to experience peace of mind and joy.

Being constantly distracted also affects our ability to pay due attention to the people we are with, and prevents you from fully and freely expressing who you are.

Being present – being in the moment – provides you with an immense advantage when it comes to connecting and relating to people, and we will do well not to squander that opportunity.

4. Forget about How Much Money You’ve Got

The worth and dignity of a person transcends beyond the the amount of money they have in their wallet.

Yet, there are people in the world who appear to measure the worth of a person by the amount of money they have.

If you’ve seen this social experiment, you’d probably agree on who the dirt bags are – and there’s a fair chance they’re not very likeable with the average person either.

The irony of the matter is that to those who judge others based on how much money they have, they too will be judged by others (and themselves even) when they come across a richer person like them.

Truly likable people do not measure the worth of a person based on money – they relate to the common man or woman and see money as a tool to get things done.

1. When you’re busy, you aren’t present.

Life is made up of hundreds of thousands of moments. Some that move us, others travel trade news that change us, and some that provoke us to action. Being busy takes us away from those moments.

Millennial expert Jullien Gordon has a remedy for this: know the difference between being a workaholic vs. a high performer. The former wants to look more important, but the latter seeks out important work. Knowing the difference can help you do more in each moment of your day.

2. When you’re busy, you opt out of opportunities.

Opportunities are everywhere. They come up in coffee shops, via social media outlets like Twitter, and through mutual connections. When you’re busy, you often miss opportunities because you only see them as distractions, not spaces for you to grow and advance.

3. When you’re busy, you confuse motion for progress.

We all want to do more with what we have. Unfortunately, we think being busy means we are making strides. The Pareto Principle presents another hypothesis which deserves some attention. It states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your time. If you are able to figure out what that 20% looks like (and the actions you take to get there), you can create immeasurable leverage. That means you’ll spend more time doing the things that really drive you toward your goals, and not just “things” to fill space.

4. When you’re busy, you don’t prioritize effectively.

Priorities are how we separate the things that we need to do, versus ones that we should. They keep us in line and on track. But when we are too busy, everything seems like it needs to be done. It doesn’t. When you identify what matters versus what can wait, you become efficient with your time, allowing you to do the things you really want to do and with more regularity.

5. When you’re busy, you make excuses for actual problems.

When we have so much to do, sometimes we can’t focus on problems. That can be productive, but unhealthy. Issues in our lives can only be ignored until they seep into other places where they shouldn’t be. You shouldn’t wait until you’re on the verge of a breakdown to address something that’s hurting you. But when you’re too busy, sometimes that’s the only way to get your own attention. Don’t wait for it to get there.

6. When you’re busy, you’re more prone to multitask (which your brain hates).

How many tabs do you have open right now? I average between six and nine on a good day. That alone damages my brain by 40%. That productivity we so desperately crave is undermined when we do a lot of things at once. That workflow has to stop. It feels great, but it’s terrible for you.

Instead, try a new workflow. Single-tasking is exactly what it sounds like: doing one task, with no distractions. It may take some time to adopt this new type of workflow, but it will do wonders for you in the long term.