How to Make Your Flowers Last Longer

The new year is a great time to start a healthy habit. This year I’m encouraging you to improve your well-being by having a flower-filled year. Scientific research has proven that having flowers around you will boost your mood, brighten your environment, decrease your anxiety, improve your sleep, increase your productivity, and strengthen your memory. 

My goal is to provide you with a year’s worth of information and inspiration on all things floral, to help you be successful with your resolution.

To be able to keep your resolution for a whole year, you need to be interested in what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. For the month of January, I’m going to share with you things I’ve learned over the years that will make buying flowers as easy and engaging for you as possible.

How to make your flowers last longer:

When you invest money and time in flowers, you want to make sure you give them the longest vase-life possible. This requires some basic flower care. The level of care you need to give depends on if you buy a bunch of flowers, a bouquet, or a flower arrangement. (If you’re not sure of the difference between a bunch, bouquet, or arrangement, you’ll find that information HERE. )

Flower Arrangement:

A flower arrangement doesn’t require much care at all. Place your arrangement away from any heat sources or drafts and add water to your arrangement every two days.

Bouquet:

If you have a bouquet of flowers, once home carefully remove all packaging, recut stems at an angle, and place in a vase of clean water. Every two days, empty the vase and refill it with fresh water. Re-cutting the stems is also a good idea. (I do this about every second time I change the water.)

Bunch of Flowers:

If you’ve bought a ‘bunch’ of flowers, they require a bit more work - which is why they usually cost less than an arrangement or a bouquet - but it also gives you the opportunity for some hands-on care and creativity.

Here are the steps you need to follow: (Take special note of step #5. This is the least well-known step but it’s a vital part of the process.)

1 - Carefully remove all packaging and elastics from your flowers.

2 - Remove all leaves from the stems that will sit below the water line to prevent them from rotting in the water.

3  - De-thorn any stems that need it.

4 -Recut all stems at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors.

5 - Place your freshly cut stems in a bucket of clean water and leave in a cool place for a couple of hours. You want the flowers to have a long drink before they are brought into a warmer environment.

6 - Once hydrated, recut stems and place directly in a vase or container of clean water.

7 - When you’re finished arranging your flowers (see note below about flower arranging*), put them on display in an area away from heat sources and drafts.

8 - Every two days, empty the vase, and refill with fresh water. Re-cutting the stems is also a good idea. (As mentioned above, I do this about every second time I change the water.)

To Note:

• Flowers are all different and last different amounts of time. As flowers fade, remove those stems. ‘Downsizing’ your arrangement like this will keep the rest of the flowers looking fresh and beautiful.

• Make sure your vases are clean. I run my vases through the dishwasher, but alternatively, you can hand wash them with hot water and a splash of bleach.

* If you’re new to arranging flowers, make sure you’re following ‘The Floral Prescription’, in February. I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about arranging flowers at home.

If you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to ‘The Floral Prescription’, by filling in the ‘Subscribe’ box. You’ll receive an email every Monday when a new blog post has gone live. (All that’s required is your email address.)

Bunch, Bouquet or Arrangement - Which Should You Buy and Why?

Flowers make life better, so this year, I hope you’ve made a new year’s resolution to have a flower-filled year. My resolution is to provide you with a year’s worth of information and inspiration on all things floral, to help you be successful with your resolution.

Having flowers in your life can be as simple as picking up some flowers as you pass a corner store and popping them in a glass of water when you get home. That definitely helps fulfill the goal of having a flower-filled year, but to keep that resolution all year long you need to be interested in what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. There’s so much to know about flowers and the floral industry and what you learn can keep you focused on your goal. For the month of January, my blog posts will share with you things I’ve learned over the years that will make buying flowers as easy and as engaging as possible.

When I worked as a florist I quickly learned that when I was asked for a ‘flower arrangement’ I needed to clarify with the customer that what they wanted was their flowers in a vase. More often than not, the answer was no (meaning an ‘arrangement’ was not what they wanted). Knowing the proper terminology is key. 

Bunch, bouquet or arrangement, while different from each other, all have their own benefits and reasons for why you should buy them. Here’s what you need to know:

BUNCH:

A ‘bunch’ of flowers is a selection of fresh cut flowers, with or without greenery, that has been loosely wrapped or tied together, with no time having been spent on arranging them. 

You’ll typically find bunches of flowers - like chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemerias, and lilies - sold at the grocery or corner store. Seasonal flowers such as daffodils, tulips, sweetpeas, and peonies are also commonly sold in a bunch.

Reasons to buy a bunch of flowers: 

• Flowers bought by the bunch usually cost less than a bouquet or arrangement as you’re not paying for the florist’s time to arrange them. 

• Buying a bunch of flowers gives you the opportunity to be creative.  Once you get them home, you get to choose what vase or container you want to put them in and arrange them any way you like.

BOUQUET:

A bouquet is a group of carefully arranged fresh cut flowers, with or without foliage.  They’re usually wrapped in paper and tied with a ribbon. No vase is included.

Reasons to buy a bouquet:  

• When buying a bouquet, you’re paying for the flowers and time spent arranging them, but you don’t need to pay for a vase.

• A wrapped bouquet is all ready to go and easy for you to carry home or deliver.

• When you receive a bouquet, you get a chance to use one of the pretty vases or containers you already have.

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT:

A flower arrangement is a group of flowers and foliage that have been arranged in a container. 

Reasons to buy a flower arrangement:

• There’s no need to find a vase to put the flowers in and you don’t need to spend time arranging the flowers yourself. The arrangement comes completely finished.

• It’s perfect for gift giving. A flower arrangement makes a great hostess gift, or if you’re visiting someone in the hospital.

My Top Tip:

When ordering flowers, ask your florist what’s in the cooler. That’s where the most recently delivered flowers will be. Just the other day I was at the grocery store and wanted some lilies. The ones out on display were gorgeous, but they were quite open already so I knew they didn’t have many ‘good days’ left in them. I found the lady working in the floral department and asked if she had any in the cooler. No problem at all, she went and looked and came back with the same gorgeous variety of lilies, but they were only just beginning to open. 

Bunch, bouquet, or arrangement - it’s so much more fun to shop when you’re a knowledgeable consumer!

A Flower-Filled New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year!

I never used to make a new year’s resolution, but in the past couple of years, I’ve found it a fun thing to do. Today I’m going to encourage you to make this specific resolution - ‘Have a flower-filled year’.

Let me tell you why this is a great resolution for the upcoming year, and all the things you can do to make it come true. At the end, I'll share my personal resolution for 2021.

Why having a flower-filled year is a great resolution for you:

Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy, but scientific research proves it. Study after study shows that flowers improve our mood, brighten our environment, decrease our anxiety, improve our sleep, increase our productivity, and strengthen our memory. There’s no doubt about it – flowers make us happier and healthier!

How to be successful in having a flower-filled year:

It’s great to have a resolution, but if you don’t stick to it, there’s really not much point. The good thing about this specific resolution of having a flower-filled year is you can keep it as simple as you want while still reaping the benefits. There’s no need to complicate things and get stressed about not having the time or money to have flowers around you. There are so many ways you can use flowers that are easy and affordable and all will help you be successful in having a flower-filled year. The best way for you to learn about these things just happens to be connected with what my new year’s resolution is all about.

My 2021 New Year’s Resolution:

To provide information and inspiration on all things floral, all year long.

All year long I will share information and inspiration on all things floral that will help you to keep your new year’s resolution of having a flower-filled year.

My blog will focus on everything you need to know to create a life-long habit of having flowers in your life. My Instagram account will keep you up-to-date on my blog and include several posts each week that will bring you ideas and joy on all things floral.

If you haven’t already subscribed to my blog, you can go to my website to sign up, and then be alerted every Monday when there’s a new blog post. You can find me on Instagram @thefloralprescription.

I hope you’ll take on this challenge for the new year, and I can’t wait to help you be successful. Are you up for the challenge?

How to Make Fresh Flowers Look Festive at Christmastime

Poinsettias are the most well-known flower at Christmas time. In fact, they’re now as much a symbol of Christmas as stockings or a decorated tree. But Christmas florals can be so much more than this traditional potted plant. 

Here are 4 ways to make fresh flowers look festive during this holiday season:

1 - Winter wonderland: No matter where you live or what your climate is, you can embrace a snowy look by creating an all-white arrangement. Use a clear glass vase or a white ceramic container to complete the look.

2 -Woodland inspiration: Go for a walk and forage branches, pine cones, and bits of bark. Mix these in with some neutral coloured flowers to create a nature-inspired seasonal arrangement. And if you have a few toys or ornaments of woodland creatures add them in to complete the look.

3 - Sparkle it up: It’s the holidays which makes it the right time for adding a bit of sparkle to your flower arrangements. I have two favourite ways to do this. First - lightly mist your flowers with water and then sprinkle with glitter. The water will help the glitter to stick, and then when the light hits it, your flowers will shine. A little goes a long way so be light-handed when adding the glitter. Second - use a metallic vase. Copper, bronze, gold, silver, and rose gold all work to add a bit of glitz to make your arrangement twinkle for all your festivities.

 4-  Make it personal: Think of ways to take the traditional red, white, and green of Christmas, and give it a personal twist. For example, if you love Hawaii, consider adding in some tropical flowers; use a vase that’s been passed down from generation to generation; incorporate a special ornament, or even try something as simple as mixing in some flowers in your favourite colour. (For me, this means adding in pink flowers - you wouldn’t believe how well this works and how happy it makes me every time I see my arrangement!)

Flowers to use in winter arrangements: Ranunculus, roses, hellebores, carnations, amaryllis, paperwhites, poinsettias, white lilies, and white anemone. Add in snowberries, cotton, eucalyptus, and winter greenery.

Top tip: Most people don’t realize you can use poinsettias as a cut flower in an arrangement, but you certainly can. Before you do, however, there is one trick you need to know. 

When you cut the stem of the poinsettia, sap will ooze out of it. To keep the bloom from wilting you need to seal the end of the stem before placing it in your vase of water. 

You can seal the stem one of two ways. First, pour water that is just below the boiling point into a cup. As soon as you’ve cut the poinsettias stem, dip it in the heated water for a few seconds and then quickly place it into your vase of cool water. Your second option is to hold the cut end of the stem over a flame for a few seconds which will seal the end, making it ready to use. Either method will work and I hope you’ll give it a try. Using a poinsettia in a fresh flower arrangement is a really nice alternative to only having them as a potted plant. Let me know how it works for you.

Wishing all of you the very best this holiday season. xo

4 Reasons Why 'White' is the Perfect Colour Choice for Flowers

It’s our last stop along the floral rainbow, and this time we’re going to talk about white flowers. Some of you may say ‘white’ isn’t a colour, but it’s a very popular choice for flowers which is why I include it in my floral rainbow.  

You really can’t go wrong with white flowers. Here are four reasons why, when shopping for flowers, they make the perfect choice:

1 - White flowers are neutral.  If you’re giving flowers as a gift, and you’re ever in doubt about your colour choice - choose white. Their subtleness will be compatible with almost any surroundings they’re put in. And while I think white flowers make their biggest impact in a monochromatic arrangement, they also work well in a mixed bouquet.

2 - Meaning and symbolism. A big reason white flowers are so popular is for what they represent. They symbolize purity and innocence and exude tranquillity. At the same time, they have an elegance that evokes perfection and simple beauty. 

3 - Capable of portraying different looks or moods. Have you ever wondered why white flowers are popular for both weddings and funerals - two very different emotional life events? It’s because of their versatility. At a funeral, white flowers give a feeling of calm, serenity and respect, while at weddings they create a sense of timelessness and the way they reflect light creates a sense of brightness.

4 - Can be a gift for everyone. White flowers can be gifted to anyone for any occasion. Male or female, young or old. Gift them for new births, birthdays, get well soon, anniversaries, a thank you, or to someone looking for a bit of hope and light. 

The list of flowers that come in white is long. Here are some of them you could look for: Tulips, roses, lilies, orchids, carnations, lisianthus, peonies, gardenias, gerberas, hydrangeas, daisies, daffodils, lily of the valley, anemones, cosmos, dahlias, amaryllis, scabious, snapdragons, sweet peas, and baby’s breath.

Personal note: My favourite white flower is the snowdrop. Why? I think it’s because they’re the first flower bursting through the ground as winter very slowly starts to turn to spring, my birthday is in January and the snowdrop is one of the official birth month flowers (carnation being the other), and because snowdrops symbolize ‘hope’.  

What’s your favourite white flower? And do you have a special reason why?

5 Ways You Can Use Flowers to Boost Your Mood

It’s winter, and during these shorter, colder, darker days, we can sometimes start to feel a little bit down. An easy and affordable way to boost our mood is with flowers. 

For centuries people have intuitively known that flowers have a positive impact on our emotions. Having fresh flowers in your home and workplace is a natural way to improve not only your own well-being, but the well-being of those around you.

Here are my top 5 suggestions on how to use flowers to boost your mood:

1 - Have a small bunch of brightly coloured blooms on your bedside table. When you see flowers first thing in the morning they give you an instant mood boost. Not only that, but that initial boost will make you feel happier and more energetic throughout the day.

2 - Have a vase of fresh flowers in the kitchen. A communal spot like the kitchen is a great place to have flowers so everyone in the family can enjoy them.

3 - Have flowers on your desk at work. Even a bud vase with one stem of flower will give you a cheerful pick-me-up every time you glance at it throughout the day. Research also shows that having fresh flowers at work can increase your productivity.

4 - Give a bouquet to someone. Giving someone flowers not only has a positive impact on the receiver but also on the one who gives them. Such a great way to brighten someone else’s day as well as your own. 

5 - Choose flowers in your favourite colour for an extra boost. Flowers in a colour you love makes them extra special and will have an even bigger mood-boosting impact.

Top money-saving tip: To make your flower dollars go further, buy one bunch of flowers and divide it into several small vases, spreading those vases throughout the house. 

It’s almost magical the way flowers make us feel better. Their colour, fragrance and freshness make an impact on us without us even realizing it. Next time you’re out-and-about pick up a bouquet, and see how something so simple can make you feel so much better.

4 Ways to Use Edible Rose Petals - Plus An Easy, Elegant Recipe

Edible dried roses

We’re heading into winter when it’s not as easy to use fresh edible flowers in your baking and cooking, but don't worry, you can still use dried flowers! They’re readily available and have great flavour. Today I’m going to share with you a number of ways you can use edible dried rose petals, followed by a really simple idea for you to try out at home.

Whenever I talk about using flowers as food, I always give a caution as you must make sure the flower you are using actually is an edible flower and that it meets certain safety standards. You can read my top safety rules HERE. 

Whether you dry your own rose petals or buy them from a reputable source, the best way to store them is in a cool, dark, dry place. Kept this way, they will last 1-3 years before they start to lose their colour.

Here are 4 ways to use dried rose petals:

As a garnish on sweet or savoury dishes: Dried flower petals can have a papery texture, so when using as a garnish chop them quite finely and sprinkle over top. You’re using them for their beautiful colour effect, not their texture.

As a spice: To use dried rose petals as a spice, toast lightly in a dry pan. This will intensify their aroma and add a smokey hint to their flavour. Just keep an eye on them while toasting as they can burn quite quickly. Grind them up and add to your savoury dishes. They work especially well in rice dishes. 

Brewed as a tea: Used as a tea, dried rose buds can be used on their own, or mixed with other types of flowers or herbs. The combinations are endless.

To make flavoured sugar:  Use ground rose petals (untoasted) and mix with granulated sugar to add as a flavoured sweetness to your dishes.

There are a multitude of recipes you can find that include dry rose petals, but if you want to start with something simple, try your hand at this beautiful and tasty treat:

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries With Rose Petal Sprinkles

To make approximately 24 strawberries:

16 ounces of good baking chocolate. I prefer semi-sweet or bittersweet, but you could also use milk or white chocolate;

2 Tbsp shortening (coconut oil also works);

1 lb fresh, clean, dry strawberries with leaves

2 Tbsp dried, coarsely ground edible rose petals

• Leave about ½ cup of chocolate to the side and then melt the rest of the chocolate and the shortening/coconut oil in a double-boiler stirring constantly until melted;

• Remove from heat and add in the reserved chocolate to temper it. Stir until melted;

• One at a time dip the strawberries in the chocolate;

• Sprinkle with rose petals on all sides;

• Lay on a parchment paper covered baking sheet until chocolate is set.

Top tip: These dipped strawberries sprinkled with rose petals are best eaten the same day they’re prepared, but if needed, you can store uncovered in the refrigerator for one day.

Use Long Lasting Greenery To Make Your Flower Dollars Go Further

As winter approaches and the days become shorter and darker it’s more important than ever to add bits of joy to our lives. A great way to do this is with flowers, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. A great money-saving tip is to use long-lasting greenery along with your flowers in bouquets and arrangements. If treated correctly the greenery can be reused for weeks so all you need to do is replace the flowers. 

In today’s post, I’ll list the important role greenery plays in flower arrangements, tips on properly caring for greenery, and suggestions for hardy greenery that has a long vase life.

Five ways greenery plays an important role in a flower arrangement:

1 - Provides a backdrop to highlight the flowers.

2 - Adds a rich texture.

3 - Fills space to create a fuller look

4 - Holds the flowers in place.

5 - Creates a more “garden-esque” look.

Six tips on how to properly care for greenery:

1 - Use mature growth. New growth has not had time to get robust and won’t last as long.

2 - Make sure your vases are clean and have fresh water.

3 - Clean the stems so any leaves that would be below the waterline are removed.

4 - Cut the stems at an angle so they have the largest surface for absorbing water.

5 - Keep out of direct heat sources and away from open flames.

6 - Replace the water and recut the stems every two days.

Top Tip:  You may have heard that it’s a good idea to bash wooden stems. I suggest you don’t. Bashing them prevents the water from flowing freely up the stem.

Four long-lasting greenery suggestions: There are a number of greens available all year long that are easily accessible and will last a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

1 - Eucalyptus

2 - Salal

3 - Ivy

4 - Ruscus

Ten suggestions for winter greens: Since we are heading into the winter months, I thought I’d make a special note about winter greens. Their fragrance is something that will instantly make your home feel cozy and put you in the holiday spirit. As with all greens, treat them properly to make them last longer. 

1 - Noble fir 

2 - Holly

3 - Rosemary 

4 - Cedar 

5 - Hemlock 

6 - Pine 

7 - Magnolia 

8 - Blue spruce 

9 - Juniper  

10 -Carolina sapphire  

Final words: 

The colour green symbolizes life, renewal, energy, growth, harmony, and good fortune. To learn more about the colour green read my previous blog post, ‘Yes, There are Green Flowers’.

If you have a favourite long-lasting greenery that you recommend, please add it in the comment section below.

5 Fun Flower Food Facts

Before getting to all the fun flower food facts, I’m going to start (and then finish) this post with a safety note.

CAUTION: With all flowers do not assume the variety you have is the edible variety. Check with an expert before you consume. Once you have positive confirmation you have the right variety of the right flower, follow the general safety rules for edible flowers that I wrote about HERE. 

With that in mind, here are five fun flower food facts.

1 -  Violets: Violets taste like mint. These pretty purple petals have a hint of mint making them a perfect garnish for sweet or savory dishes. The leaves are also edible, just cook them in the same way you would spinach.

2 - Roses: The most flavorful rose petals are those that are the most fragrant.   All roses (once they’ve passed the safety test) are edible, but if you want a lot of flavour, choose the really fragrant varieties. Roses are great to infuse liquids or as a garnish for baked goods. Full of vitamin c, they are also a perfect - and pretty - addition to salads.

3 - Dandelions: Dandelions are a highly nutritious edible flower. If you want to eat something packed full of nutrients, eat dandelions. Vitamin A and C, iron, calcium, phosphorus, fiber - you’ll get them all in a dandelion. Young dandelions have a sweet taste (reminiscent of honey), but the older they get the more bitter they taste. The yellow petals are a great addition sprinkled on a salad and the greens can be eaten raw, or cooked as you would spinach. And if you want to be adventurous, perhaps try your hand at making some dandelion wine.

4 - Hibiscus: The hibiscus flower is edible. Hibiscus are beautiful, colourful tropical flowers. Their blooms are so big, you don’t naturally think of them as edible. Even in Hawaii I’ve never been served anything with a hibiscus flower as part of the dish. Making tea from the blossom is the most common way it’s used, but you can also chop it up to add a colourful confetti look to a salad or dessert. Recently I’ve had hibiscus blossom in syrup as part of a festive drink.  You can find details HERE. 

5 - Crocus: You need a specific type of crocus to harvest saffron. As mentioned in my ‘caution’, many flowers have multiple varieties. Crocus is one of them. Saffron comes from the ‘saffron crocus’, not to be confused with the ‘autumn crocus’. Saffron (from the correct type of crocus), is a great way to add flavour and colour to many dishes. It works well in Mediteranean and Asian dishes, (particularly anything with rice), and it’s also popular in bread baking. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. To make sure you’re using the real thing, I’ve heard of a little test you can do. Place a little piece of saffron in a cup of warm water or milk. If the liquid colours right away, your saffron is a fake. The ‘real deal’ takes 10-15 minutes of soaking before the colour changes. With the price you’ll pay for it, you want to be sure your saffron is genuine.

Once again remember this caution: With all flowers do not assume the variety of flower you have is the edible variety. Check with an expert before you consume. Once you have positive confirmation you have the right variety of the right flower, follow the general safety rules for edible flowers that I wrote about HERE.

Five Things to Know About Remembrance Day Poppies

A field of poppies

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - Remembrance Day. The day World War I ended and the day we remember and acknowledge those who lost their lives in war. As the years go by, it’s more important than ever that we don’t forget those who went before us and what they sacrificed for us. As this is a blog about all things floral, I’m sharing five things about the Remembrance Day poppy.

Your poppy should be worn on the left lapel of your jacket as close to your heart as possible.  According to the Royal Canadian Legion, the lapel poppy is a sacred symbol. Wearing it over the heart is a sign of respect. The pin you use to affix the poppy should not obstruct the actual poppy in any way. 

The donations received for poppies go towards funding veteran’s needs. We’ve all put money in the little box as we get a poppy, and probably don’t think much about it. But that money is used to directly help veterans if they need financial assistance, housing, long-term care, or have medical needs. That’s something to think about the next time you pop some coins in the box.

The author of the famous poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, was Canadian. John McCrae was a doctor serving with the Canadian Artillery in 1915. He wrote his poem after the funeral of his friend and fellow soldier. The poppies are a reference to the flowers that grew over the soldiers' graves. It is now one of the most well-known poems in Canada.

The Remembrance Day poppy is not the same poppy that opium comes from. There are many varieties of poppies. The ‘opium’ poppy is native to Turkey, while the poppies in Flanders is native to France. While poppies grow in many colours - white, pink, yellow, orange, red, and purple - it’s only the red poppy that represents Remembrance Day.

There is a protocol of what to do with your poppy after Remembrance Day. As a sign of respect, after a Remembrance Day ceremony, poppies can be removed and placed at the base of the cenotaph or on a wreath. If you’re not at a ceremony, your poppy should be disposed of in a respectable way or stored carefully until the next year.

This Remembrance Day, let’s wear our poppies (over our hearts), and while remembering the pain of the past, have hope for a peaceful future.

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“IN FLANDERS FIELDS THE POPPIES BLOW

BETWEEN THE CROSSES ROW ON ROW ...”

First two lines of In Flanders Fields - May 3, 1915, John McCrae

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Nine Flowers and Facts you may be Surprised to Learn

The colour of a hydrangea is determined by the type of soil it’s grown in.

We all love flowers. They’re a gift to us from nature, that we re-gift by giving to others. They’re beautiful and colourful, and fragrant, and they put a smile on our face. They’re also really interesting! I’ve chosen nine flowers to share some fun facts about them.

1 - Sunflowers: Young sunflowers move throughout the day, following the sun from east to west. Why does this happen? It has to do with the growth of the sunflowers. It’s a result of different sides of the stem, growing at different times of the day. The side of the stem facing east grows quickly during the day, and the side facing west grows quickly at night. Thus they move from east to west, following the direction of the sun. Once the sunflowers are mature, their growth slows down and they gradually stop tracking the sun altogether.

2 - Roses: Roses are related to many herbs and trees that include edible fruits. The rose family is called ‘rosaceae’. Included in this are a number of trees: apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, cherry, and almond, as well as berries including raspberries and strawberries. If you look closely at these trees and bushes when they’re flowering, you’ll see the similarities between them all. 

3 - Tulips: At one point in history, tulips were more valuable than gold. In Holland in the 17th century, tulip bulbs became so desirable they could cost more than ten times an annual middle-class income. That crazy time became known as ‘Tulip Mania’. Eventually, the tulip market crashed, and while they no longer have the same monetary value, they’re still one of the most popular springtime flowers. 

4 - Chocolate Cosmos: This flower actually smells like chocolate. It’s true! This delicate bloom actually smells like chocolate (and the colour actually looks like a red velvet cake). But while it smells like chocolate, don’t be tempted to eat it as it’s not an edible flower.

5 - Gerberas: Gerberas help you get a good night’s sleep. Gerba’s are so bright and cheerful looking you don’t think of them as a ‘restful’  flower. But because they release small amounts of oxygen throughout the night, they make a great flower to have next to your bed.    

6 - Hydrangeas: The colour of a hydrangea is determined by the type of soil it is grown in. The acidity level of the soil is what determines if you will have a blue, pink, or purple bloom. If the soil has a higher pH level, the hydrangeas will be pink. As the pH level gets lower they will become purple or blue.     

7 - Daffodils: Daffodils are used as currency. On the island of Scilly, as rent for his lands, Prince Charles is paid one daffodil! (That would be a nice rent to have to pay.) 

8 - Lilies: You can extend the vase life of lilies with one simple act. Fresh cut lilies can last up to two weeks. But you can extend their vase life even further by removing the pollen from the centre of the flower. When each bloom opens, carefully remove the pollen off the stamen. Be careful to not get any pollen dust on the petals as it will eat away at the flower shortening its life span.

9 - Daisies: How did the daisy get its name? One theory is related to its physical appearance. It’s said the yellow centre of the daisy resembles the sun. That was known as ‘the day’s eye’. Eventually, that just morphed into ‘daisy’. 

Before I started researching for this post, I knew some of these facts but didn’t know all of the explanations. Others were completely new to me. What did you learn?

(I’m now working on another post with uncommon facts related to edible flowers.)

3 Reasons Why Pink Flowers Are So Popular

It’s time to once again visit our floral rainbow , this time focusing on the colour pink. 

If I could choose only one colour flower to have for the rest of my life, without a doubt I would choose pink. And it turns out I’m not the only one who feels this way, as pink is one the most popular colour choices for fresh flowers. Here are three reasons why we love pink flowers:

Pink is seen as a positive colour:  Pink represents compassion, nurturing, affection, and admiration. And depending on whether the flowers are light pink or bright pink they create a different mood or emotion.

Soft pink flowers have a gentleness and daintiness to them that creates a sense of calm and serenity.  A great place to have light pink flowers is in the bedroom where they add a feeling of peace and tranquility.

Bright pink flowers are strong and dramatic creating a feeling of energy. If you want to be more motivated and productive at work, make sure you have some bright pink flowers on your desk.

A large variety of flowers come in the colour pink:  Pink flowers are also popular because there’s such a wide variety of pink flowers they’re always available. The choices are almost endless. I couldn’t possibly list them all here, but these are my suggestions for ones I think you might like. 

Roses, alstroemeria, gerbera, lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, gladioli, tulips, sweet peas, ranunculus, hydrangea, peonies, and dahlias.

Pink flowers look great on their own, or mixed with other flowers: The versatility pink flowers have is yet another reason why they’re so popular. A monochromatic arrangement always looks great, but it’s also fun to mix pink flowers with other colours. But here’s something to keep in mind: not only do pink flowers come in light and bright shades, they also come in warm and cool hues. The success of how your overall arrangement looks will partly be based on what you pair together.

Warm pinks have a tint of yellow. Think of peach, salmon or coral. Warm pinks look great paired with orange or yellow flowers.

Cool pinks have a tint of blue. Think of fuchsia or hot pink. Cool pinks look great paired with purple or blue flowers.

To create the most cohesive look, use either all warm hues or all cool hues in your arrangement.

Top designing tip: To create an arrangement with a natural, balanced look leave the stems of the lighter coloured flowers longer than the brighter coloured flowers. Having the brighter shades lower will anchor your arrangement, while the lighter colours higher up will create an airy feeling.

My favourite pink flowers are tulips and sweet peas in a soft pink. What are your favourite pink flowers and do you prefer them in a light or bright shade?