Flowers

For 10-year-old Paris Lyles, the gathering in his Annapolis neighborhood was about balloons, burgers and bubble gum. But for his mother, Quintina Curtis, it was a chance to plant flowers and commune with neighbors about building relationships in a sometimes-troubled community. "We need this. It helps kids understand how to keep the community clean, and they will appreciate it," Curtis said. "And we need something positive in this community to bring everyone together to form a support group to make things happen."

Just in time for Valentine's Day, this news: Romance is dead. If you get flowers, candy or a card tomorrow, it will be an act of rote. A habit, or somebody's idea of what to do to keep the peace. "It's not a nice picture out there," says Gerald Celente, founder of Trends Research and publisher of The Trends Journal. He keeps track of demographics and cultural behaviors. "It is everywhere we look," he said. "People aren't treating each other lovingly. Romance is off limits." What can you say about the nature of love in this country when "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" receives an Oscar for best song, he argues.

Once, when the children were small and her husband was alive, the garden filled Annie Green's tiny back yard. Her ruby roses burst through the chain-link fence and spilled onto the sidewalk, the talk of the neighborhood.But that was many years ago.Once, when her memory was better, she knew the names of all the flowers in her garden, and she grew tomatoes, peppers and greens, but that was before someone stole her collards.Now, cool October mornings whisper to her as she stands at her kitchen door, behind bars, squinting in the morning sun.Neighbors call her "Gran."

THROUGHOUT THIS year, I have watched the Dutterer Family Park blossom with grandeur like the flowers that once filled the field owned by the Dutterer family.First came the ball fields and then a walking path that weaves around the 6 1/2 acres. Then came the play equipment, the new trees and the park benches.In April, brick columns and a wrought-iron arch heralding "Dutterer Family Park" appeared, followed by wooden signs that document a little of Westminster's past as well as a tribute to the park's future.

For a long time, real men not only didn't eat quiche, they also didn't get flowers. But things change. Today, some florists estimate that 25 percent of their delivery calls are for men."There's been a real upsurge in the last couple of years," says Lynn Green at National Flora, a nationwide floral delivery service. "Last Valentine's Day, particularly, there were quite a few women ordering for men."Cris Wilkins, owner of Flowers by Michael in Baltimore, agrees."I've seen a definite change, especially in the last five to six years," says Wilkins, who has been in business for two decades.

It took 350 years, but Lady Anne Arundell has finally reached the New World.Anne of Arundell, the English noblewoman who married Cecil Calvert, second Lord of Baltimore in 1618, never set foot in Maryland.But this spring, she will be seen along the shore at Annapolis' City Dock, at elementary schools and highway entrances into the county bearing her name.Lady Anne Arundell, a new daylily with light wine-colored petals and gold throats, comes to Maryland as part of the 350th anniversary of the Puritans' founding of the region.

MIAMI -- Overhead, the cargo planes come one after the other, tracing the same flight path that will be followed about 35 times a day, more than twice as often as normal. On the ground, trucks stand ready for dispatch to the fronts.It is an airlift of massive proportions, equal parts military campaign and romantic folly.All may be fair in love and war, but come Valentine's Day, it takes the techniques of the latter to celebrate the former.The goal of this particular mission: to deliver millions of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador into the hands of Valentines across America, all on the same day."

Maybe it was a crime of passion.Early yesterday morning, someone broke into a downtown Bel Air flower shop and stole more than a dozen red roses.Laura Flowers said the thief made off with the booty from her husband's store, Dale Flowers Florist, in the 100 block of N. Main St. after throwing a pot through the glass front door."

COLLEGE PARK -- The clock had ticked down to 17 seconds and the reality of a 25-22 upset loss to Duke was beginning to set in for a disgruntled Maryland fan."We wanted to go to a bowl game!" screamed the man, who was standing in a row of seats close to the Terrapins' bench.The angry words only added salt to the wounds for a Maryland team that has lost two of its past three games at home and is in jeopardy of not getting a bowl bid.The Terps (5-3 overall, 2-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference)

What do women really want? Well, an awful lot of them want to be able to walk out their back doors into a beautiful garden and cut a bouquet of fresh flowers. Sounds like a modest ambition, but it's trickier than one would think.Many flowers wilt without conditioning, and it's a challenge to cut flowers out of a landscaped display garden without diminishing it. Pauline Runkle, who professionally arranges flowers, said she gets much of the material for her company, Floral Artistry, which specializes in corporate and private events, out of her home garden in Massachusetts.

On November 8, 2009, JEFFREY MARSHALL; beloved son of Audrey Sue Marshall (nee Sutherland); dear brother of Michael Marshall and wife Kathleen Burton. Also survived by many family and friends. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD, 21211. www.mcullyfuneral.com

JAMES E. PARRIER was called to his eternal rest at the age of eighty-eight on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Beloved husband of Ella Parrier (nee Newton). Devoted daughter, Cynthia Johnson (nee Parrier) and son-in-law, Lynford Johnson. The family will receive friends at Vaughn C. Greene, 4905 York Road on Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The family visitation will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 1201 Taylor Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21234 on Friday, November 6, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Christian Worship Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at Arbutus Memorial Park.

On Saturday, October 31, 2009, Mrs. Catherine I. D Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, November 4th, 20090 from 5-7:00 PM in HUBBARD FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4107 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, where a Funeral Service will be held at 7:00 PM in the Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in remembrance to the American Lung Association.

On Sunday, October 4, 2009, Stanley A. Duran A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Oak Crest Village, 8820 Walther Boulevard, Parkville, Maryland 21234 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 11A.M. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Alzheimer's Association at: www.alz.com.

On October 31, 2009, Ilene S Funeral from the E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home (Kingsville) on Tuesday at 10:30 A.M. Visiting on Monday, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stella Maris.

Charles Henry "Chuck" Wills A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 31 at 10 A.M. in the Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home and Chapel, Leonardtown, MD. Visitation is Friday, October 30 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the funeral home. Prayers will be said at 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers the family will gratefully receive donations to a trust fund for Autumn Elizabeth Wills, c/o Alma Wills, 7731 North Point Creek Road, Baltimore MD 21219.

B ernard ullough Jr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Suddenly on October 20, 2009, EVANS, devoted husband of Mirian. He is also survived by one daughter, two sons, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two sisters, three brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the Carlton C. Douglass Funeral Service P.A., 1701 McCulloh Street, on Thursday 3 to 9 PM. Family will receive friends on Friday 10 to 11 AM at the Grace Baptist Church, Alameda and 32nd Street, with services following.

John Whittingham Wilmer, A memorial service and reception will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Robert E. Groft A memorial service will be held at 11:00am Saturday at the Freedom Valley Worship Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Freedom Valley Worship Center, 3185 York Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Panebaker Funeral Home, Hanover, PA is in charge of arrangements www.panebakerfuneralhome.com