Whether you grow or buy cut flowers they add a truely amazing elegance to any room or any person who holds them. Straight to
suppliers U.S.A. or
U.K. suppliers.
But first, to get the best out of flowers you need to put them in a suitable setting and present them properly. I have some pointers for you below I write to the fellows, as ladies have a natural way with these things. Just see if you agree.
A U.K. COLLECTION OF CLEAR GLASS VASES - is on this link.
Before Your Bouquet Arrives - Clean and Study the Vase
First, you need a vase with a size and shape that compliments the arrangement - a tall vase for long-stemmed flowers e.g. sweat peas, freesias, gladiola; a round bowl for globe headed flowers like roses, begonias and carnations. It is the shape of the flower head not the stem length that really matters.
Royal Albert Old Country Roses Purple Posy Vase
Highly coloured and patterned vases can be distracting and even spoil a beautiful bouquet. On the other hand, a colour-neutral Crystal Vase will sparkle to highlight your bouquet. Here's a beautiful 14" Crystal Vase - 'Pinwheel'
Narrow neck vases support stems in a more natural upright posture; they also reduce evaporation; I prefer them. But open funnel-shaped vases should be available for fuller larger bouquets. Don't forget that you can cut flower stems to different lengths to give a tiered display.
Slim vases are popular among modern designs as they are useful on narrow wall-shelves. Check these narrow profile vases here: 12 inch 'Curved Glass Vase'
for delicate stems of orchids, freesias, sweet peas, or daffodils; and this 'Heavy & Elegant Mouth Blown Glass Art Vase'
- a more impressive vase balances a fuller or mixed arrangement and vice versa.
You can also make an arrangement of several vases. This enables you to display and position individual groups to best advantage instead of them being overshadowed by each other when all in one vase. This group of 4 small crystal vases may be useful when positioned apart; when grouping vases together use several shapes or sizes of plane cylinder vase or bowl.
Single stemmed flowers and wall mounted vases
have also become popular as well as petal float bowls. Did you know that rose bowls were actually used by the Victorians to keep petals - a kind of Pot Pouree.
You also need a sharp knife or sharp scissors. I've found nothing available quite like my lightweight florist's scissors. They have a sharp razor blade with anvil, a serrated blade, and a notch for de-thorning. However, modern florists scissors have pointed blades - great for snipping.
Extra Care Makes Blooms Last Longer
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Be ready with your clean vase and knife or snippers. Don't use a metal container,
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Upack your bouquet as soon as possible,
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Fill the vase up to half full of clean tepid water,
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If a nutrient sachet is available, mix in part of the contents until dissolved. 'Old Wives' add bleach, aspirin, sugar, etc... which should be avoided,
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Strip stem leaves from blooms that will be below water level and de-thorn roses. Don't allow dead leaves of petals to fall into the vase water,
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Make a sharp diagonal cut across the stem to the desired length. Don't crush or split stems. A tiered arrangement of blooms can sometimes be made by carefully cutting stems to different lengths,
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Submerge stems in vase immediately they are cut,
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Top up the water level. Shorter stems should perform better. Deeper water is better for tall stems,
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Avoid placing your vase near a heat source or direct sunlight and keep away from draughts. Don't place your flowers near to fruit.
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Change any dirty water and sprinkle more flower food into vase water every few days. Some flowers may benefit from recutting the ends.
As winter comes many gardeners will be settling down indoors to enjoy the winter leaves of a good gardening book or magazine.
Click here if you love scented blooms
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