Flowers / Tips
Practical tips and surprising things no one ever told you about flowers.
Hydrangeas
There are lots of different kinds of hydrangeas; bigleaf, peegee, oakleaf, etc. But all cut hydrangeas have two surprising needs: First, hammering their stems into smithereens before placing them in water will help them drink better. Second, dunking their blooms directly onto a bowl of fresh water and leaving them there for five minutes will make them last twice as long. Be careful not to leave them longer than that or you might run the risk of drowning the petals. Spray the blooms every two days. Give the stems a fresh cut every three days.
Water Lily
Ah water lily, my favorite flower. Water lily is very easy to take care of. My favorite way to display them is by leaning the stems sideways in a clear, square vase with large white pebbles and very little (about 2 inches) of water. Watch them close their petals at night to sleep....and when morning comes, they'll stretch out, open their gorgeous lavender petals, and start the day fresh and invigorated.
Ah water lily, my favorite flower. Water lily is very easy to take care of. My favorite way to display them is by leaning the stems sideways in a clear, square vase with large white pebbles and very little (about 2 inches) of water. Watch them close their petals at night to sleep....and when morning comes, they'll stretch out, open their gorgeous lavender petals, and start the day fresh and invigorated.
Roses
One of my pet peeves and mind you, I don't have a lot: drivers who cut me off in the freeway, people who don't make eye contact, people who text while on a date (oh wait, that's me). Anyways, what was I saying ... Oh yes, pet peeves. People who insist on having perfect petals on roses. For me, the bruises and cut petals only highlight their beauty. Kind of like wrinkles and laugh lines on a person's face. Sure there's botox, but why cover up and freeze life history?
One of the things I like to do with roses is take off all their thorns by hand so as not to damage their stems, making them vulnerable to infection, thus cutting their lifespan in half. I put them in a vase with very little water. Just enough so all the stems are submerged. One thing I learned is that water can be a flower's frenemy. Sure, water gives them life but too much can also be a breeding ground for bacteria that can take that same life. Kind of like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian when they were BFF's.
I adore it when roses are arranged in a monochromatic way. One color or same color hue, with no fillers such as baby's breath or greens. One exception is china berries. Putting green china berries in between, make roses look scrumptious, modern, and fresh. Like going on a first date right after you lose five pounds.
One of my pet peeves and mind you, I don't have a lot: drivers who cut me off in the freeway, people who don't make eye contact, people who text while on a date (oh wait, that's me). Anyways, what was I saying ... Oh yes, pet peeves. People who insist on having perfect petals on roses. For me, the bruises and cut petals only highlight their beauty. Kind of like wrinkles and laugh lines on a person's face. Sure there's botox, but why cover up and freeze life history?
One of the things I like to do with roses is take off all their thorns by hand so as not to damage their stems, making them vulnerable to infection, thus cutting their lifespan in half. I put them in a vase with very little water. Just enough so all the stems are submerged. One thing I learned is that water can be a flower's frenemy. Sure, water gives them life but too much can also be a breeding ground for bacteria that can take that same life. Kind of like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian when they were BFF's.
I adore it when roses are arranged in a monochromatic way. One color or same color hue, with no fillers such as baby's breath or greens. One exception is china berries. Putting green china berries in between, make roses look scrumptious, modern, and fresh. Like going on a first date right after you lose five pounds.
Freesia
The smell of cereal in the morning always takes me back to my childhood. And freesias smell exactly like Cap'n Crunch. Beware of placing freesias right next to your dinner table because their smell might mingle with your pot roast and especially with your red wine, and will then give them a cloying, quirky flavor. Remember, friends don't let friends drink and mix freesias.
The smell of cereal in the morning always takes me back to my childhood. And freesias smell exactly like Cap'n Crunch. Beware of placing freesias right next to your dinner table because their smell might mingle with your pot roast and especially with your red wine, and will then give them a cloying, quirky flavor. Remember, friends don't let friends drink and mix freesias.
Branches
You're probably wondering about my company name's origins. It's a complicated, sentimental, long-winded story that I'll share over Riesling with you one day. Branches, have always been one of my favorite accessory in flower arranging because it's organic, sculptural, and oh so easy to take care of.
You can turn them into dried pieces of art by spraying them with paint. White looks modern and stark against dark wood. Red, yellow, orange, pops. Plop in a tall vase and place against a wall or on top of a table.
You can also place them in water and watch them slowly produce green nubs. Then these weird nubs will suddenly pop into little leaves, and before you know it, your branches will become this symbol of new beginnings right there, on your foyer.
You're probably wondering about my company name's origins. It's a complicated, sentimental, long-winded story that I'll share over Riesling with you one day. Branches, have always been one of my favorite accessory in flower arranging because it's organic, sculptural, and oh so easy to take care of.
You can turn them into dried pieces of art by spraying them with paint. White looks modern and stark against dark wood. Red, yellow, orange, pops. Plop in a tall vase and place against a wall or on top of a table.
You can also place them in water and watch them slowly produce green nubs. Then these weird nubs will suddenly pop into little leaves, and before you know it, your branches will become this symbol of new beginnings right there, on your foyer.
Carnation
Carnation, in my mind, is Colin Farrell.
Very, very bad reputation but deep inside, it's actually sweet and gentle.
Carnation has long been thought of as a cheap alternative to the more elegant rose. They're used in funerals and as fillers. Surprisingly, carnations can actually cost as much as roses, but last a heck of a lot longer.
Fun carnation project:
Submerge a small oasis foam ball in water.
Poke foam onto a 24 inch stick, planted in a simple terra cota pot.
Cut each carnation bloom, leave about an inch of stem
Stick each carnation bloom around the foam until completely covered
Ta-dah! Elegant topiary carnation ball!
I want to single-handedly bring back the carnation's reputation and make it sexy again. Come help me.
Carnation, in my mind, is Colin Farrell.
Very, very bad reputation but deep inside, it's actually sweet and gentle.
Carnation has long been thought of as a cheap alternative to the more elegant rose. They're used in funerals and as fillers. Surprisingly, carnations can actually cost as much as roses, but last a heck of a lot longer.
Fun carnation project:
Submerge a small oasis foam ball in water.
Poke foam onto a 24 inch stick, planted in a simple terra cota pot.
Cut each carnation bloom, leave about an inch of stem
Stick each carnation bloom around the foam until completely covered
Ta-dah! Elegant topiary carnation ball!
I want to single-handedly bring back the carnation's reputation and make it sexy again. Come help me.
African Violet
My grandmother's favorite. I like placing a cluster of them on our bay window by the kitchen sink.
I'll share a weird trick with you ... don't laugh.
Once the blooms start to wither, I pinch the dried flowers and leaves out, then water the African violet with my own concoction: water with a teeny, tiny bit of tea. Then I sit back and watch them wake up and re-bloom.
My grandmother's favorite. I like placing a cluster of them on our bay window by the kitchen sink.
I'll share a weird trick with you ... don't laugh.
Once the blooms start to wither, I pinch the dried flowers and leaves out, then water the African violet with my own concoction: water with a teeny, tiny bit of tea. Then I sit back and watch them wake up and re-bloom.