“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”- George Sand

Valentine’s day is one of my favorite Holidays.  I always decorate my home with all kinds of floral arrangements.

Here is one of my creations inspired by love.

• Heart shape iron hanging lantern
• Red and pink Spray roses
• Wax flowers
• Heather
• succulents

Design by:  Araxsession

 None traditional pumpkin arrangement.

A combination of a variety of succulents arranged in a bed of moss on top of a pumpkin.

Design by: Araxsession.

Garden Purse

A non-traditional floral arrangement for her special occasion.

Happy Mother’s Day.

The longevity of cut flowers in a vase depends on how you care for them.

Bacteria kill flowers faster than anything else.  For your arrangements always use clean containers and change the water regularly to help the flowers last longer.  Fill the vase with water at room temperature.  Add the floral preservative that is provided with the bouquet; this will prevent the bacteria from clogging the stems and deliver nutrition to the flower heads, boosting their freshness and vibrancy in the arrangement.

Before giving the stems a fresh cut (if bought at the market) remove their damaged foliage as well as those that will end up below the waterline in the container.  Foliage in water rots and encourages bacteria growth and stem blockage

Next remove damaged and bruised petals where needed on the flower heads. For example, remove the outer few petals of roses if they look damaged or bruised. This will give them a fresh healthy look, help them open up quicker, and last longer.

There are three main types of stems: Green stems, Woody stems, and Hollow stems.

Green stems are slender, green, and bend easily and should be cut in water in a sink or a bowl, with a sharp knife or scissors at a 45 degree angle to prevent air getting into them. Otherwise a blockage occurs and the stem water uptake becomes inhibited.  Usually one or two inches are cut off; however this amount varies according to the flower variety and the stem length.

Woody stems are stiff and resistant.  Follow the above steps, however, after you make the new cut, take the stalks out of the water one by one and smash the ends with a hammer or cut a slit into the sides with a knife. This slit should be no longer than one third of the stem length to enable a free flow of water and nutrients up the stalk.

Hollow stem flowers such as Shasta Daisies, Dahlias, Poppies, Poinsettias and so on require more attention.  When you give these stalks a fresh cut, a white substance leaks out at the spot. This white fluid is a nutrient that the flower needs or it will die.  You will have to seal the stem ends with flame (match or candle) immediately.  This will help the flower to contain the nutrient inside.  After that, place the flowers in water at room temperature.

For daily maintenance, make sure to check the preservative solution level in the container.  Replenish as needed.  Remove any damaged or dead flower or foliage.  Cut an inch off the stalks every 4 to 5 days to maintain their water upkeep.

Enjoy grooming and caring for your flowers and keep in mind that they love it and definitely appreciate it!

March 7^th is the World Hyacinth Day.

Hyacinths are  highly fragrant bulb plants that bloom from March to April.  They are native to the eastern Mediterranean region, eastern Iran, and Turkey.  In the Victorian language of flowers, the Hyacinth symbolizes sport; the blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity.

The common hyacinth is Hyacinthus Orientalis of the family Liliaceae.  The plant produces a dense, compact spike of bell-shaped waxy flowers, 6-12 inches tall in shades of white, peach, orange, salmon, yellow, pink, red, purple, lavender, and blue in a bundle of narrow bright green leaves.

Planting

Plant hyacinth bulbs in Fall when soil temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  Select a site with full sun to light shade and well-drained soil.  Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches and mix in a 2 to 4 inch layer of compost to prepare the garden bed for planting.

Set the bulbs in holes of 6 to 8 inches deep holes, point the tips upwards, 4 to 6 inches apart; cover the bulbs with soil pressing firmly; water them thoroughly.   Harvest when the first florets just begin to show color, or earlier.  After they blossom in Spring, allow the plants to grow until their leaves die off.  After blooming they need time to store energy in the bulbs for the next year. After it stops producing flowers at the end of flowering season, to remove the dead plant, either snip it off at the base or twist the leaves while pulling it lightly.

Cut flower care

Nowadays, fresh-cut Hyacinths are sold complete  with roots intact to make the flowers last longer. Don’t cut these off, but just give them a good rinse. Use a clean vase and filling it with clean lukewarm water mixed with a floral preservative solution; follow the instructions provided. After removing any damaged flowers,  arrange your bouquet in the vase so that it is displayed  attractively in the house.

Hyacinth flowers should be kept in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Check the water level frequently and top up the vase with lukewarm water, which promotes good liquid uptake. Remove regularly  damaged and dying flowers. This helps the flowers last longer. Every four days cut off about one inch (2.5cm) of the stems in an angle and change the water at the same time. If taken good care Hyacinth flowers last seven days and possibly slightly longer.