When in doubt, send flowers

One of my favorite gifts for the hostess is flowers. I like to bring them in a vase trimmed and arranged so they can be enjoyed with little effort. 

A long road trip would not be kind to a floral arrangement, so I am thinking of sending some in advance. In fact, I may or may not be sending some to friends that I can't be with this holiday season. I don't want to spoil any surprises.

Flowers Via ProFlowers

Now the hard part of deciding which one to send.

Plants via ProFlowers

Last month, my husband sent me flowers from ProFlowers and they were lovely, so I used their images.

Do you ever send a hostess gift in advance?

 

Hydrangeas and a Field Trip

Today is short and sweet with a bit of recycling. For my Nantucket post, I'm going to point you in the direction of Hydrangea Centerpieces.  Hydrangeas are probably the most popular flower image of Nantucket. It is also one of my most popular posts....and quite honestly, it has a life of it's own. Between you and I, it is all those Brides. Thank you, Brides.

I'll be doing another post in a bit to tell you where we are going for the field trip.

How To Care For Cut Hydrangeas

Today, I am borrowing a post from my blogging friend, Mimi. She is always posting great floral tips for your own arrangements. Like the time she convinced me to try this one. Recently, I received a question about how to care for cut hydrangeas on the Hydrangea Centerpiece post that I did.

So here is Mimi's answer

How To Care For Cut Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are beautiful, but they do require a little special care. Follow these steps below and enjoy:

 8 Tips for Caring for Cut Hydrangea

1) Purchase hydrangea from places that always sell fresh flowers. Hydrangeas, or any flower really, purchased from shops that sell old, poor quality flowers won't last long.

2) Buy hydrangeas that look full. There should be no brown spots. No wilting or gaps between the flowers either.

3) Fill a clean vase with room temperature water.Hydrangeas are big drinkers. So don't skimp on the water.

4) Add a little floral preservative. Yes, use that little packet that comes with the flowers. It helps the flowers last longer. I use it all the time.

5) Don't smash the stems with a hammer. That's old school advice. It destroys the cell structure of the hydrangea stem.

Instead, just cut the stem twice. The first cut should be on the angle. The second cut should be a vertical one at the bottom of the stem.

6) Spray the hydrangea blooms with water.Remember, hydrangeas are really thirsty. 

7) Place hydrangeas in a cool spot. Away from the sun and other sources of heat.

8) Change the water. Remove hydrangea from the vase. Wash the vase with soap and water. Repeat steps 3-5 above.


Now for a quick tip, find out how to make a 5 Minute Flower Arrangement.

Carnations?

Yes...carnations! My blogging friend, Mimi from First Come Flowers, did a post on carnations. I was completely skeptical, and thought ...I'll just stop by to say "hi"....you know how that goes. This was one of the images she used

Original Source

I know....those are carnations! Not what I remember, so I read on...I'll cut to the chase... Mimi convinced me to buy a bunch of carnations and make a simple arrangement.

Store bought carnations $5.... Bunch them all tougher, keeping the heads at the same level

Put a rubber-band close to the top of the bunch and trim the ends to the length that will fit your vase

That's it! This should last 2+ weeks...

Thanks for the great tip, Mimi! To read her entire post you can go here.

Spring Centerpieces

It's getting closer....I can feel it....I can smell it....I just can't wait any longer. Spring is so close...let the dreaming and planning begin. Here are some lovely easy spring centerpieces

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What is your favorite spring flower?

Tangerine........ Roses!

If you are a gardener, right about now, you are probably getting inundated with mail order plant catalogs. I am, and I love it. I get great ideas from those images and when it is winter, I am also reminded that spring will be here soon. I could use a few new rose....ground-cover, bushes, or topiary...I don't care. Well, this got me to thinking, will Tangerine Tango (you know what that is) work its' way into our gardens?

Here are some lovely tangerine roses

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For a very long time, I have had a garden "policy" of "no reds, no yellows". I prefer the cool shades...purples, blues and whites. My ultimate dream is to have an all white garden, but I already know that I don't have that discipline for that. Over the last few years, I have broken down and let yellow into my garden. I am still holding strong on "no red". It is just too commanding for me.......but what about tangerine? Will you try tangerine in your home or garden?