My mother and niece visited the new Santana Row earlier in the month to do whatever it is that ladies do in malls. I don’t quite understand all that girly stuff. Although I have absolutely no interest in what goes on in such decadently indulgent retail establishments, I was pleased to be informed that another floral shop has opened for business there.

I have been acquainted with this particular floral shop for many years. Over the years, I have brought many pieris blooms and a few other blooms from the nursery. It has been gratifying to see these otherwise wasted by-products utilized.

I normally do not associate with florists because they are. . . florists. (ew!) However, this floral shop is actually a retail outlet for the associated floral production establishment in a nearby town. The proprietors are therefore farmers like many of my other colleagues and me; so they must be okay.

Retail floral establishments acquire their produce as ‘fresh from the grower’ as possible. This floral shop is the only such establishment that actually is the grower. It just doesn’t get any fresher than that.

This may be an awkward season for cut flowers in the garden. Warm season annuals have finished blooming, but cool season annuals may become established slowly. The few cool season annuals that are suitable for cutting are typically not as prolific as warm season annuals.

Iceland poppy, and stock both bloom on stems substantial enough for cutting. Snapdragon is also good for cutting if it can be grown successfully. I still have not figured out how to grow it. Calendula, pansy and viola are also cool season annuals, but do not bloom on substantial stems. Of course, that does not stop many garden enthusiasts from cutting some to bring inside.

The various primroses are cool season perennials that are typically grown as annuals and removed as weather warms during late spring. They are among the more appealing cool season annuals, but may cause severe allergic reactions similar to those caused by poison oak. Unfortunately, some garden enthusiasts who experience such reactions continue to use primrose because the allergy is somewhat rare and is not commonly identified with primrose.

California poppy, lupine, linaria and godetia may be seeded now for early spring bloom. These annuals are useful in less refined areas of a garden where they are only expected to perform as spring wildflowers while the weather is mild. If maintained, they may be less appealing in summer, but can be naturalized.