BLOOMING PLANT IMPLANT

Abstract: A method and system for implanting a gift or message (11), within a blooming plant (1), includes removing a plug (3), from the base portion (5) of a plant bud to form a channel (7), through which a gift or message (11) is implanted within a central portion of the plant. The plug is replaced and sealed with grafting wax (19). Upon subsequent blooming of the plant, the gift or message (11) is exposed to open sight.

Description: BLOOMING PLANT IMPLANT BACKGROUND OP THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: This invention relates generally to a method for implanting a gift or message within a blooming plant as well as to a plant modified by such method. More particularly, this invention concerns the removal of a plug from the base portion of a plant bud thereby forming a channel through which a gift or message is implanted within the plant. Description of the Prior Art; In the field of blooming plants and in the commercial marketing of blooming- plants such as roses, a long-standing drawback has been the relatively anti-climactic effect on the recipient of a bouquet or arrangement of blooming plants or flowers once the initial pleasure or satisfaction experienced during the presentation of the gift has expired. That is, the typical recipient of a bouquet or arrangement of blooming flowers quickly looses interest in such gift thereby decreasing their perceived overall value as a gift. One attempt to increase one's interest in a growing plant is disclosed by Payton in U.S. Patent 3,955,321, wherein a plug is withdrawn from the wall of a living pumpkin while still attached to its vine. A plastic bag is then introduced into the hole formed upon removal of the plug and an object is inserted into the bag whereupon the bag is tied and pushed entirely into the pumpkin. The plug is then replaced and the pumpkin is grown to maturity and subsequently harvested at which time the foreign object, which may be a gift such as currency, will be discovered. hile such method may be applicable to plants such E SHEC as pumpkins or gourds, a need still exists for increasing the interest and anticipation of a recipient of a bouquet or arrangement of blooming plants such as roses. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention has been made to overcome the problems described above, and therefore has an object to provide a method for implanting a message or gift within blooming plants and flowers so as to increase the interest and appreciation of the recipient of such plants and to create a sense of excitement or anticipation in such recipients. The above and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by the provision of a method for implanting a message or gift within a living plant in the bud stage of its development. As the bud slowly opens spontaneously, the message or gift is slowly revealed thereby enhancing, augmenting and sustaining the initial pleasure of the recipient of such plant modified in accordance with the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts through the several views and wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a flower bud showing the removal of a plug from the base section thereof; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the bud of Figure 1 showing the relative placement of the components of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a message in scroll form suitable for implant within the bud of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an encapsulated gift suitable for implant within the bud of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a perspective plan view of the bud of Figure 1 showing the message or gift disposed therein after blooming. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The method and assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying Figure 1, within which, for example, a blooming or flowering plant 1 is disclosed. The bud or blossom is typically a bud of a flowering plant such as a rose bud as typically provided within a bouquet or flower arrangement. While roses are most readily adaptable to the method of the present invention, tulips have been found to be readily adaptable to the method of the present invention as well. While the invention is primarily directed to cut flowers, potted plants or rooted garden plants may also be so modified. The first step in the implant process is to remove a plug member 3 from the base portion or receptacle 5 of a blooming plant so as to temporarily form a channel 7 therein. Any rigid " channel member having relatively thin walls may be used to remove the plug 3. For example, a rigid plastic straw or a thin-walled pipe may be used to remove plug 3. The outer diameter of the straw or channel member should be on the order of approximately one-quarter inch so as to form channel 7 with a corresponding diameter. The channel member is simply pushed through the base portion 5 of the bud 1 such that plug 3 becomes wedged within the channel member and is removed from base portion 5 upon removal of the channel member. When removing the plug 3 from base 5 of bud 1 it has been found preferable to limit the angle formed by the axis of channel 7 with respect to the axis of the stem 8 of bud 1 to an arc A of less than 30°. In addition, the plug 3, shown as a tubular plug in Figure 1, should be removed in a manner such that the channel 7 communicates with the interior hollow portion of the bud 1. That is, channel 7 should be bored in a manner which results in the opening of such channel into the interior portion of the bud at a point near the center of the bud and n-"~- SHE* preferably at a point within the natural internal cavity defined by the plurality of petals of the bud 1. Typically, channel 7 will have an axial length ranging between 1/2 and 1 inch. A good indication of a properly bored channel is the existence of a portion of the reproductive organ 9 of the bud 1 upon the inner end portion of the plug 3 upon removal of the plug from the bud. The presence of such reproductive organ 9 indicates that access to an internal chamber defined by the petals of the bud 1 has been effected. Access to this chamber is required for the proper implantation of a message or gift therein. As shown in Figure 2, an object 11 such as a scrolled message or small gift is inserted within channel 7 and pushed therethrough until it has gained access to cavity or chamber 13 within the bud 1 so as to be removed from open sight. That is, object 11 is placed to lie above receptacle 5 so as to be surrounded by the petals of blossom 1. Any suitable object may be used as a ramrod for pushing the object 11 through channel 7, such as a dowel pin member having a diameter less than that of channel 7. After implanting the object 11 within the cavity 13, the plug 3 is removed from the channel member with, for example, a pin and reinserted within channel 7 such that the outer surface 15 of the plug 3 is returned to its original relative position with respect to the base 5 of bud 1, that is, flush with the surface of base 5. Should the bud 1 be of relatively small dimensions, an axial end portion 17 of the inner end of plug 3 may be removed so as to provide additional room within the bud 1 for the object 11. Once the plug 3 has been reinserted to its original natural position, a surface coating 19 may be applied over the incision defining the outer boundaries of channel 7. The coating 19 may be a grafting wax or simply a melted candle wax provided for the purpose -of minimizing the trauma ttythe bud 1 caused by the implant of object 11 therein. As shown in Figure 3, object 11 may be a scrolled cylindrical message or alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, object 11 may include a gift 21 such as a gem. Gift 21 may further be encapsulated within capsule 23 such as a standard gelatin capsule. Capsule 23 would therefore shield the gift 21 from any adverse effect of contact with the interior of the bud 1. Alternatively, the scrolled message may be shielded by such encapsulation, and may be taped closed to maintain a scrolled configuration in order to facilitate implantation within the bud 1. Figure 5 shows the final results of the implant method wherein object 11 is displayed within the central portion of the bud 1 after it has bloomed. It can be appreciated that one receiving a bud such as shown in Figure 1 and modified in accordance with the method set forth above, would, upon being told of the message of gift implanted therein typically experience greater interest in such plant than a plant not so modified. Moreover, in addition to the increase in initial pleasure of receiving such modified plant, the interest of the recipient would typically be increased and sustained as a result of the anticipation created by the expectation of receiving a message or gift upon blooming of the bud. This period may vary from a day to a week, depending upon the stage of development of the bud and the type of blooming plant used. Moreover, blooming times for various plants modified in accordance with the invention may readily be determined such that the message or gift will be displayed spontaneously and automatically to open sight upon a predetermined date. Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A method for implanting an object within a blossom, which comprises: removing a plug member from said blossom so as to form a channel having a central axis, said channel leading into an interior portion of said blossom; and inserting said object into said channel so as to remove said object from open sight such that said object is surrounded by petals of said blossom, whereby upon opening of said blossom, said object is revealed. 2. The method according to claim 1 which further comprises replacing said plug member within said channel. 3. The method according to claim 2 which further comprises applying a protective coating over said plug member after replacing said plug member within said channel. 4. The method according to claim 1 which further comprises removing an inner end portion of said plug member to facilitate insertion of said object into said channel. 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said blossom comprises a rose bud and wherein said object comprises a message scroll. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said blossom comprises a rose bud and wherein said object comprises a gift object. 7. An article of commerce, comprising: a living blossom not fully opened; and a man-made object implanted within said blossom and hidden from view by petals of said blossom, such that upon opening of said petals, said object is exposed to open sight. 8. The article according to claim 7 wherein said living blossom comprises a rose in bud form and wherein said object comprises a message scroll. HEET 9. The article according to claim 7 wherein said living blossom comprises a rose in bud form and wherein said object comprises a gem. 10. The article according to claim 7 wherein said living blossom comprises a tulip in bud form. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: GEIGES ALBERT F JR, GEIGES, ALBERT, F., JR.
Applicants: GEIGES ALBERT F, GEIGES, ALBERT, F., JR.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A01G1
IPC codes: A01G7