The Fiesta De Los Vaqueros

One of Tucson's oldest and most treasured traditions is the Fiesta De Los Vaqueros. The Rodeo is held every year in February. The Fiesta started in 1925 with a modest parade and Rodeo to follow. Through the years it has grown and is now celebrated for a few days in a row. Starting with the parade.
  In 1925 Tucson was a frontier town. A man named Leighton Kramer conceived the idea of La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros to draw visitors to Tucson during the mid winter season. Being a Winter visitor himself, Kramer was also President of the Arizona Polo Association. In 1925 both Kramer and the Arizona Polo Association created the Fiesta and the Tucson Mid Winter Rodeo and Parade. The event would give visitors a taste of cowboy range work and glamorize Tucson's Wild West Image and notoriety. Kramer's idea continues to flourish today with the rodeo being an important Tucson Event.
     The first Rodeo was held at Kramer Field, now a neighborhood called Catalina Vista, east of Campbell between Grant and Elm. It was preceded by a parade, with costumed entries including Lone Wolf, a Native American artist, in full regalia and flowing feathered headdress. Lone Wolf also provided the artwork for the first Rodeo. Local ranches were represented on horseback, mounted polo players wore their white helmets and bright silk shirts, and the 10th Cavalry and 25th Infantry bands from Fort Huachuca provided rousing music. The city leaders and the University declared February 21, 1925 a city holiday. Tucson's first Rodeo featured four events including steer wrestling, steer tying, calf roping and saddle bronc riding. The prize was a fabulous $6,650. Special events included a wild horse race, lady bronc rider Tad Lucas and Jack Brown bulldogging a steer from a Packard automobile.
   The Rodeo was a success and as a result of Tucson's rapid growth, a larger La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros moved to the abandoned municipal airport field at south 6th ave and Irvington road. The 1932 Tucson Rodeo opened the grounds with seating for 3,000 and parking for 59 cars. An added event of the 1032 Rodeo was Jack Rabbit Roping. Wild Jack Rabbits were released in the arena and contestants attempted to rope them. Due to sell out crowds, the rodeo was extended to four days in 1948. The Rodeo arena and grounds were continually enlarged, local hotels and dude ranches were booked solid during the Rodeo season. The Tucson Rodeo has attracted many types of western entertainers. Old time trick riders Buff Brady and Dick Griffith amazed the crowds in the early days of the Rodeo. Acclaimed trick roper Montie Montana appeared in a number of the performances from 1936 to 1974. In 1975, Leon Adams exhibited
" Roman trick riding like from the days of Ben Hur on performing Brahma bulls. And Willcox, AZ native Rex Allen was featured in 1956 and 1957. The Tucson Rodeo has also served as the backdrop for a few movies.
In 1954, the movie "Arena" was filmed there. The 1994 Rodeo was featured in scenes fro the movie "8 Seconds" Featuring Luke Perry. And in 1996, the Rodeo was featured in the showtime movie " Ruby Jean and Joe" starring Tom Selleck. The Rodeo was broadcast coast to coast in 1962 on ABC's " Wide World of Sports" and was seen in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998 on ESPN.
Today the Tucson Rodeo is a five day event and is one of the top professional Rodeo events in North America. The prize money exceeds $200,000. Leighton Kramer's vision of creating an event to attract more tourism in Tucson has been realized. But here in Tucson we adopted the Fiesta De Los Vaqueros as an honored tradition from the very beginning. Area schools still close on Thursday and Friday for Rodeo Vacation, local citizens dress in traditional western clothing, businesses advertise rodeo specials and over 250 organizations participate in the Rodeo Parade, now viewed by over 200,000 spectators. La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros is planned and operated by the Tucson Rodeo Committee and the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Both are non-profit, run by volunteers who are committed to preserving the western tradition and heritage of Tucson.
This weekend is Tucson's 87th annual Fiesta De Los Vaqueros. There are many events being held over the weekend to celebrate, starting off with the Parade on Thursday the 23rd. Here is a schedule of events... If you are looking for something to do this weekend check out the Rodeo and see what it is all about! 

Rose and Flower Care

Flowers are one of the most popular gifts on Valentine's Day. It is one of the busiest days of the year here at Mayfield Florist. If you were lucky enough to receive flowers from your Sweetie this year you probably want them to last as long as possible!!! Cut flower arrangements do need a little care on your part for them to last as long as possible. Don't worry... It's not a lot of maintenance but do keep these tips in mind.

  Roses are one of the most popular Valentine's Day Flower. They are the Flower of the month and also one of the flowers that means Love. They take a little bit different care than other flowers and can be a little High maintenance.
1. Keep your roses in a cool place, out of direct sun and drafts from doors, windows, etc... Roses will last a lot longer when they are not to warm. If you have the heater on in the house make sure the roses are not directly in it's path. The perfect temperature for a rose arrangement is between 60 and 70 degrees.
2. Change the water daily. Your roses will keep a lot longer when they are in clean water. Your vase should also be deep and full to the top. Roses are thirsty and need a lot of water. If your roses arrived in plastic water tubes, take those off before arranging in a nice deep vase of clean water.
3. Remove any leaves from the stems that will be under water, taking care not to cut through the stem. This should also be done on any greens or filler flower that may have come with your roses. Leaves under the water creates bacteria and makes the water dirty.
4. Re-cut the stems every time you change the water. Rose stems create air pockets at the bottom and can no longer drink up water. By re-cutting them about a 1/2 inch to an inch this will re open the stems and they will be free to drink again. Roses need to be able to drink to survive. If this is not done at least every other day your roses will not last as long as they could. If you take the stems out of the water for more than 7 seconds you will need to re-cut them.
4. Use the floral food packets that we provide with delivery. Mix it in the clean water when you change the water in the vase. This is also very important for the life of your roses!

   All other flower arrangements the care is very similar.....
1. Clean water. Make sure that the water in the vase is clean and that their is no debris or leaves under the water. Clean the stems of your flowers so that all leaves and petals are above the water line. Your vase should be full of water to the top!
2. Re-cutting stems. This is also important. Other flowers also need a fresh cut at least every other day.
3. Floral food mixed in with the clean water. If you run out of the floral food that we provided here are some other " Preservatives " that help prolong the life of flowers..  Flowers are living things, and like us they need food for proper growth and healthy color. Amazingly, you can provide much of what a cut flower needs with one of the following simple vase solutions. They contain acid to improve water flow in flower stems, sugar to help buds open and last longer, and a preservative to reduce growth of bacteria and fungi.
  1. Mix one part of any of the common lemon-lime sodas with three parts of water. Do not use diet drinks or colas. Diet drinks have no sugar and the colas contain too much acid for flowers. Adding 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per quart will keep the solution clear.
  2. Put 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or bottled "Real Lemon," 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of warm water. Add another 1/4 teaspoon of bleach to the vase every 4 days.
These 2 options seem to work well but they may not be as effective as the floral food we have.

Don't use aspirin or vinegar in vase solutions; they are rarely effective in increasing vase life of flowers.

We hope that everyone is enjoying their Valentine's Day flowers and remember the tips to make them last as long as possible!!!  If you have any questions about floral or plant care please give us a call at 520-885-6987 and we will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Mayfield Florist
7181 E Tanque Verde Rd
Tucson AZ 85715

 

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day will be here soon! This year Mayfield would like to help you plan ahead. Every Year you plan to have your gift delivered on Valentine's Day. However consider the option of delivering in advance. This way the magic of Valentine's Day will last longer than just one day.

Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year. Although it is great receiving flowers on Valentine's Day consider what sending flowers early would mean for your loved one. Here are some great reasons to ponder....
1. Delivering early is definitely more of a surprise! She expects a gift on Valentine's Day, However delivering the day or two before is not expected and will be a pleasant surprise!!

2. You Just Couldn't Wait!!! The chance to be the first one to say Happy Valentine's Day and I love You is a great reason to be the early bird. She will appreciate flowers and candy anytime so why not do it sooner than later.

3. Avoid the Hassle. Ordering early helps you to avoid the rush and hassle of Valentine's Day. If you have your gift delivered early it comes with the piece of mind that she will receive her flowers before Valentine's Day afternoon. Having them delivered a day or two early is an even better idea because you know that she will be able to enjoy them the whole day!!!!! While others are waiting for their gift to be delivered your sweetheart will already be enjoying hers!!!!

4. This year Mayfield will send a 12.5 ounce box of Maxfield's Gourmet Chocolates with your order if you have your flowers delivered in the three days before Valentine's Day! This is just an extra special way of letting them know how much you care!!

5. With Valentine's Day falling on a Tuesday this year, it's a perfect opportunity to celebrate your love all weekend long.

• Send flowers to your sweetheart at work on Friday, Feb. 10 with a note reading, "Looking forward to a romantic weekend" or "I couldn't wait to say I Love You." She'll be the first to receive Valentine's Day flowers.
• Surprise your sweetheart by having flowers delivered to her at home on Sunday, Feb. 12. That way you know she will be home and she will get them.

Remember that whatever you are planning on for this Valentine's Day here at Mayfield we want to help you make it special! Stop on by one of our two stores in town and see what we can do for you!

Valentine's Day Floral Gift Ideas

                                                         If you are sending flowers to your Valentine this year, Mayfield can help you create something unique and romantic that is also very personal. Here are a few ideas to help you personalize your gift.
Create a destination with flowers.... Here at Mayfield we can help you be romantic. If you can't actually go to a desired destination, why not create it at home? Flowers can take you places and help you relive fond, romantic memories ... whether it be reminiscing about a Caribbean honeymoon, creating a relaxing spa retreat feel, or reliving a wine country getaway - flowers can set the stage for a romantic evening.

Enjoy a romantic dinner for two at home. Make it special with a floral centerpiece or sprinkled rose petals on the table, orchid blossoms tied to the neck of a bottle of champagne or wine and a flower petal path leading the way to the table. Make a flower trail through your home leading to a bubble bath with rose petals sprinkled on the water and also on and next to your pillows on the bed. This is classic romance at it's best! Enhance the evening even more with slow love songs or classical music and finger foods like strawberries or Decadent chocolates.

If you want to recreate your honeymoon at the beach we suggest tropical flowers such as Birds of Paradise, Orchids, Protea, Ginger, Anthurium, etc....We can accent these long lasting flowers with shells and sand for a beachy look or fresh fruit and foliage for a very unique design. Also consider an Orchid Lei. This is a very special way to give flowers she can wear! Also by adding Bells Of Ireland or Delphinium to the arrangement you are adding cool tones of greens and blues that will really bring you back to those days on the beach.
  For an English " Bed and Breakfast " style we can create a stunning basket arrangement or a low traditional bowl of garden roses, ivy and waxflowers. Serve the flowers on a small tray with teacups filled with gourmet teas and crumpets.Or to really bring her there we can create a teacup arrangement. We have traditional English teacups including saucer that we fill with delicate flowers.  Take in the French countryside with an arrangement of fresh herbs and wild flowers such as heather, daisies, delphinium and miniature roses.A wildflower arrangement will make you feel like the two of you are strolling along in a field of flowers. How romantic. For another European look, send a loose arrangement of garden-style flowers such as tulips, hydrangeas, ranunculus and roses in a clear glass vase or decorative container.

  What girl would not love a spa weekend? You can create the same atmosphere with flowers!  Aromatic flowers such as freesia, lilies, roses, stock, and other lightly scented flowers will relax her and sooth the senses. Fresh eucalyptus in the arrangement is also a very refreshing scent. Include lotions and other nice bath products with your arrangement so you can give her the spa treatment at home! Here are a few ideas for an elegant arrangement that is also relaxing..
1. A simple glass vase filled with callas or white Casablanca lilies and cool blue glass gems inside the vase.
2. An all white floral arrangement in a sea glass vase or frosted with aquamarine accents.
3. Bouquet of blue iris in a clear glass vase with sea glass or shells clustered together in the bottom of the vase.
        For a wine country weekend feel use purples, reds and green in various textures to evoke the feeling of a stroll in the vineyard. Here are a few ideas....
1. A few beautiful roses or lilies arranged in an empty wine bottle shared on a past date. She'll love the sentimentality.
2. Deep reds (roses, carnations and soft greens). Add accents of vines, mosses and a bottle of wine to share. You can than use the wine bottle at a later date. See #1 right above...
3. Grapes, sunflowers, grasses-outdoorsy and lots of yellow/peach/olive greens. This looks gorgeous in a handled basket. Nice for a picnic...
4. Burgundy flowers with fresh grapes and Brie cheese in a large basket. Include a bottle of wine or fresh fruit and grapes with deep wine colored roses. Again a romantic picnic will sweep her off her feet!
5. Bold collection of vibrant purple Anemones or Alstroemeria, green Hydrangea, Hypericum and red Roses. Stunning!!
6.  Rich royal-colored floral bouquet consisting of a mixture of textural materials such as purple tulips, magenta stock, green hydrangea and lavender roses tied with natural raffia. The design may include clusters of grapes.

     It's all about creating special moments.. No matter where you are. Flowers can really help remind someone of romantic moments passed. To create a moment that she will remember forever you must be creative and do something that will truly touch her. When ordering for your Valentine think about things you've done together as well as things that may have been said or dreamed about! If your Valentine always wanted to go to Japan we can create a traditional Ikebana style, Send her a summer bouquet with summer colors and flowers if you met in summer, if she had a certain flower in her wedding bouquet when you were married you can recreate her bouquet in an arrangement, meaning we can use the same flowers she carried to make something new for her. These are just a few ideas to make Valentine's day extra special this year. Also You can take the opportunity to make a new memory or tradition. Give her flowers the day after or before Valentine's Day with a note telling her that this day is now your own personal Valentine's day and make it a tradition! Send her flowers on the same day next year, and the year after and so on....
No matter what romantic, wonderful thing you decide to do for Valentine's Day don't forget the flowers!!!
Mayfield can help with all your floral needs! We also carry a wide variety of Jewelry, lotions, greeting cards, and giftware. We can add on any of these items to any arrangement to make it that more special!!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day will be here soon! This holiday has long been accused of being invented by candy companies and greeting card stores but it actually has a rich history and a lot of meaning. While it is good to say I love you everyday to loved ones, doing something special on Valentine's Day is an Old tradition and should never be taken lightly or forgotten!  Here's some fun legends and truths about Valentine's day maybe you didn't know. Just a little information about why we send gifts and what the color red has to do with it. Enjoy...
1. St. Valentine's day dates back to the 14th century. The tradition of sending Valentine cards has no relation to the original saints. It is probable that the valentine was the first of all greeting cards.

Paper valentines date from the 16th century. By 1800 hand-painted copper plates were produced to meet a large demand.These were followed by woodcuts and lithographs.

2. Red, the color of Valentine's Day, is equated with the heart, flesh, and emotion. The emotions evoked by red are those that get the blood up, from love and courage to lust, rage and joy.

3. The red rose, the ultimate symbol of love, is said to have been created out of the lifeless body of a nymph by Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers.
One popular origin myth of Valentine's Day is the imprisonment of a christian, named Valentine, who was compassionate towards children. When Valentine refused to worship the Roman gods, he was thrown in jail. Children from all over wrote endearing messages and tossed them to Valentine through the bars of his cell window. He later became St. Valentine.

4. Giving candy on Valentine's Day became popular in the late 19th century when sugarcane cultivation spread worldwide. So It wasn't until sort of recently that candy became a Valentine's Day tradition.
Chantilly Lace, a delicate trim of flowers and scrolls, is often the background fabric for cards,
candy and flowers on Valentine's day.

5. Other flowers symbolizing love include red tulips - declaration of love; honeysuckle - bonds of love; red carnation - passion, fascination and pure love; and larkspur - ardent attachment.

6. Hallmark, the world's largest greeting card company, helped create the modern greeting-card industry, pioneering the sale of inexpensive card-plus-envelope to replace the postcards and elaborate valentines common to pre world war I.

7. An old English belief dictates that birds pick their mates on February 14th.



Call Mayfield florist at 1-800-584-6080 to pre-order your Valentine's day arrangement for that special person. We have many ideas from roses and beautiful mixed arrangements to gift baskets, stuffed animals, and beautiful blooming plants. Our staff is anxious to assist in all your floral needs. Come in and see us. We have two locations in town to serve you.

The Number of Roses and what they mean

The number of roses you choose for a vase of roses matters! The amount of Roses you send has different meanings depending on how many there are.    Where one rose is the best for a first date,  a dozen means I love you and there are meanings for all other quantity of roses. 

If you didn't know that, not to worry! Mayfield Florist is here to help. Here is what you need 

to know.......

1 Rose- On a first date, this can symbolize love at first sight. Given throughout a relationship it says, "I still love you."

2 Roses- This shows mutual love and affection when given.

3 Roses- Traditionally a one month anniversary gift, three roses represents a couple and their shared love.

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6 Roses- A bouquet of 6 roses shows an infatuation with the recipient, whether in a new relationship or a long standing one.

9 Roses- "I love you forever" is the message these roses send across.

10 Roses- A number of perfection, 10 symbolize a perfect love.

12 Roses- Nothing says "Be mine" or "I love you" like a traditional dozen roses.

13 Roses- Showing that you'll be their friend forever is what this number does best.

15 Roses- Need to say you're sorry? Not to worry. These will do the trick!

20 Roses- Letting someone know that your feelings are sincere is a breeze with this bouquet.

21 Roses- Dedication can come in many forms, but here is another wonderful way to show it!

24 Roses- Say "I'm yours forever" with these gorgeous roses. What an impression they make!

25 Roses- Sending these is a a great way to say Congratulations for all occasions!  

36 Roses- "I'm head over heels" is the message coming across when 36 roses are sent.

 40 Roses- Trying to find the words to say "My love is genuine" can be difficult, but the roses say it all.

50+ Roses- To express a love that knows no boundaries, there are an equally limitless amount of roses to send.

 This Valentine's Day express your love with roses that say exactly what you want to tell her. Flowers really are Nature's Greeting cards!! Call us here at Mayfield and order your roses early to avoid the rush!! 520-760-1111 or www.mayfieldflorist.com to place your order and see a little of what we are offering this  February 14th!

Flower of the Month.... Carnations

Celebrate the New Year with the flower heralded as the official birth month flower for January, the Carnation. Sadly, because of their familiarity, carnations get a bad rap. How many times a day do we hear " I don't like Carnations." However Carnations are one of the longest lasting flowers available. They come in many many colors as well as variegated or two-toned colors. They also are one of the only flowers that still has a strong scent even after all the cross breeding that is done in the flower world! They have a pleasant " clove " smell which is sweet. In fact, they were called “clove pinks” because their original color was a pinkish purple. Now days they naturally come in every color of the rainbow with the exception of blue. Additionally, white carnations have long been used to symbolize good luck. With a new year, who doesn’t need a little “good luck?” Oh, did I mention they are inexpensive. So Turn over a new leaf for 2012 and show the Carnation some love.

Carnations have been a flower staple for more than 2,000 years. The Greeks and Romans used them to decorate their homes. Today, carnations are the third top-selling flower in the United States behind roses and chrysanthemums. They look lovely arranged with other types of flowers such as Alstromeria, Iris, Snapdragons, Gerbers, Roses, Lilies, Sunflowers, Asters, Etc... When arranging them a cool trick is to gather three or four together and tie the stems. Then place them in a mixed arrangement with other full flowers. This gives them a fuller look and also strengthens the stems. Arrange several bundles in the vase adding your foliage of choice or simply the flowers for a more contemporary look. Another very chic look for carnations is to bundle six or seven Carnations together and use them as a mound at the top of a shorter stocky container. Use your favorite color but stick to just one color of Carnation. These make very modern centerpieces and are incredibly easy and inexpensive to create.

When selecting carnations, choose those with clear strong color and firm petals that show no browning or rolling of the edges. Stems and leaves should be firm and a lovely gray green color and free of discoloration and lesions. Re-cut the stem with a sharp knife, removing any leaves below the water level. Place in a cool area in a clean vase or bucket with at least 3- 4-inches of water to which an accurately measured amount of flower food has been added until ready to use. To further lengthen their vase life, re-cut the stems and change the water ever four to five days. Keep them cool and out of direct sun and drafts. Also be aware, carnations are sensitive to ethylene gas, which is produced by maturing fruit and vegetables. Carnations properly maintained can last three or more weeks. What a bargain!

Additionally, Carnations are also an edible flower. The petals have been used since the 1600s to make a French liqueur known as Chartreuse. Petals can be steeped in wine, used “candied” or as decorations on cakes and desserts. The miniature Dianthus petals taste like nutmeg and clove making them a tasty addition to salads adding spice and color. If used for consumption flowers should be organically grown or from a local grower who has grown them specifically for that purpose.

Ring in 2012 with a new found appreciation for a very traditional but awesomely versatile carnation. Not only will you enjoy their long lasting simple beauty, but also your budget will appreciate the relief. Visit Mayfield florist to see the wide selection of carnations available.