fleurish issue 08 august 2019 birthday flowers for august …€¦ · sion dresses for rent. her...
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Mary Berman 409 Windcrest Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78239
210-930-7836 www.fleurdelightflorals.net
Artistic Design—Pamela Stephens
FLEURISH Volume 08, August 2019
Inside this issue:
Color for 2020 1
The Orchid Dress— Indira Lee
2
DLa Fogata 3
August Birthdays 4
WE ARE ON THE WEB!
WWW.FLEURDELIGHTF
LORALS.NET
The Gladiolus and the poppy vie with August sweets for
birthday attention.
Slim and elongated like a saber, the gladiolus reaches toward
the sky and ends in a point. Perceived as a good omen, the glad-
iolus has impressed itself upon the psyche as a harbinger of ro-
bust moral strength.
Like many flowers, the gladiolus moves through different cultures with a host of meanings. For
example, in Chinese lore, the gladiolus assists the newly deceased find eternity while Victoria-
na enthusiasts thought the peaked gladiolus could spark infatuation.
Tracing its origins to Africa or Asia, the gladiolus proliferated throughout Northern Africa and
the Middle East before Dutch and English merchants transported the flower to Europe where
gardeners encouraged more blossoms.
As a medicine, the gladiolus root has been pulverized to yield an antibiotic ointment, and in
the Congo the root provides carbohydrates as a dietary equalizer.
The other August birthday flower, the poppy, has come to symbolize remembrance of soldiers
who gave heir lives in defense of their countries. Although the poppy grows extensively in Asia,
it may have actually come from Mediterranean areas. Red poppies imbue the poem “In Flan-
ders Field” whereas the black poppy paid tribute to the war effort of
blacks, Africans and Caribbean. Counterpoint to the red or black poppies
the purple variation memorializes animals victimized by strife. The pop-
py, as a memorial flower usually is worn from October 31 to November 11
when it is laid on a graveside in tribute.
Acknowledgements:
https://wwwproflowers.com/blog/gladiolus-meaning
https://www.legion.org/poppydayhistory
https://www.theweek.co.uk/.../what-are-the-different-color-poppies-and-what-do-they-mean
Birthday Flowers for August
H a p p y b i r t h d a y t o t h e L e o ( July 23 - August 22) and the V i r g o
( A u g u s t 23— S e p t e m b e r 2 2 ) w h o a l o n g w i t h t h e p e r i d o t , r e c e i v e
b e a u t i f u l G l a d i o l u s a n d t h e P o p p y .
Fleurish Issue 08 August 2019
Color for 2020
Color is nothing to brush aside so PPG is predicting a blue bub-
ble for 2020. Its researchers have sampled chips and contacted
contractors to track the trend—a color found in Chinese porce-
lains. Its choice impacts fabrics, carpeting, rugs and housewares.
This hue encourages somnombulance and helps the public un-
hook from Silicon Valley gadgetry to get restorative rest.
Perhaps the Chinese Porcelain Blue could have been anticipated
from PPG’s 2019 hue “Night Watch,” an evergreen shot with
blue. But just for the record, 2019 also is embracing Pantone’s
Living Coral, Sherwin-Williams terra cotta tones, Benjamin
Moore’s dove gray Metropolitan; and Behr’s Blueprint teal.
All these companies know first hand that paint seals the deal in
making the tired look truly trendy once more.
Acknowledgements: The
San Antonio Express-
News, “Serenity of blue
keeps it in spotlight; Chi-
nese Porcelain the hue for
2020,” Section D, P.1,
June 17, 2019.
San Antonio Flower Company has moved! Its new address is
8930 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78217. Phone: (210) 804-1422
The Orchid Dress
– Indira Lee
Twenty-something entrepreneur Indira
Lee cut her career path out of whole cloth
in 2017 when she opened her boutique
The Orchid Dress offering special occa-
sion dresses for rent. Her inventory
gowns prom goers, Quinceanera partici-
pants, mothers of the bride and brides-
maids who have come as far away as
Houston to choose gowns in which to
sparkle for their red-letter day. “Women
want a unique look,” Indira remarked.
Sleek satins, paillette-studded fabrics,
and feathery floating accents infuse per-
sonality for the dresses available in sizes
00 to 28.
As a child, Indira
and her sisters
would raid their
mother’s closet
and hang her
dresses artistically
throughout the
house to create a salon. These efforts al-
most could have predicted Indira’s col-
lege major – fashion merchandising – at
the University of the Incarnate Word.
Born in Mission, Texas, but reared in Ca-
margo Tamaulipas, Mexico, Indira re-
turned to the U.S. at 18 for college, which
spurred her to take advantage of UIW
studies abroad in China and France
where she participated in Fashion Sum-
mer in Paris.
At age 26, she launched The Orchid Dress in-
spired by an “ah ha” moment at her cousin’s
wedding. She asked herself, “Why can men rent
their tuxedos and women can’t find a similar av-
enue? Women spend hundreds of dollars – or
maybe thousands – for a dress and once the
camera clicks, it is no longer worn.” Participat-
ing in many pageants, she noted that girls vying
in these events would wear a dress for 20-30
minutes before the expensive gown would be
discarded. She added, “In Mexico, in the big cit-
ies, like Mexico City, renting dresses is becoming
trendy.”
In San Antonio, Indira saw a niche market and
“jumped in.” Her dresses go out three times be-
fore being retired and given to charity. For each
client, Indira performs the alterations, and the
selection, priced between $30 and $150, must be
returned within a couple of days. For her offer-
ings, publicized on Instagram and Facebook, she
shops the expos in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Indira directs operations at her shop located at
6643 San Pedro Ave. along with a sister busi-
ness, Lady Orchid, in which she tutors girls for
pageants. Of course, in this environment, both
orchid hues and orchid plants abound with pret-
ty chandeliers lighting the way.
Page 3 Volume 08, August 2019
This cadre of loyalists has created a welcoming
appeal that patrons love, Mr. Dominguez said.
Customers also have come to rely on Mariachi
Zucatecano, five men who play each evening
from 6 p.m. to close. Even one of the waiters –
Ernie Perez—sometimes jumps in and sings to
the applause of the audience.
To show appreciation to the clients who frequent
the establishment, La Fogata stages a party every
year usually on the Tuesday before Fiesta begins
with complimentary food, drinks and entertain-
ment.
The restaurant has kept current with the times,
and approximately a year ago added a sister site
with the same name at Dominion Reach. New
“River Walk lights” now add bling and accentu-
ate the Vance Jackson location that also offers a
convenient shuttle service to conventioneers and
other parties who avail themselves of on the
house transportation to this oasis where they can
relax and rejuvenate and pretend they are on a
mini vacation in Mexico.
(Original restaurant at 2427 Vance Jackson, (210) 340-1337; sister restaurant at 22211 IH 10 West, Building 2, (210) 698-9700)
La Fogata “ The lullaby of burbling fountains advances
the charm of a landscape laden with split-leaf
philodendrons neighboring with lush ferns
and palms that contrast with formally clipped
red photinia hedges. The coolness proffered
by mature trees border hospitable patio ta-
bles, and the charm of Mexican tile roofs
overlook courtyards dotted with gem-hued
plants spilling from classic pottery vessels.
Such a sanctuary is tucked away mid-city at
La Fogata Restaurant, its name synonymous
with “open flame.”
Yet not all the flowers
there appear in pots.
Others fringe some of
the exotic drinks pur-
veyed by this acclaimed
restaurant that has
marked more than 41
years in business. For
example, dendrobium
orchids adorn all the
margaritas. Flowers al-
so add a tropical vibe to some Pina Coladas,
and even quesadillas are not exempt: they get
a lift from the infusion of pumpkin blossoms.
For years these touches have added ambiance
to the restaurant. “The menu has been solid
for a long time,” said manager David
Dominguez, who began his career at La Foga-
ta as a 16-year-old from Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Originally concentrating on Northern Mexico
cuisine, La Fogata added other selections
from different areas of the country in the in-
terest of inclusion.
However, the extensive menu is just part of
the character of this standout restaurant.
Much of its success stems from its devoted
employees who have served the restaurant for
years.