Secrets Revealed - Top Tips to Make ‘Tricky’ Flowers Last Longer.

A vase of fresh flowers brightens up any room, but to keep them looking their best they need to be cared for properly. While all flowers require some level of basic care, there are some ‘tricky’ flowers that need a little extra TLC. While this requires a bit more effort on your part, the payoff is worth it. 

There are two main things to look at - the bloom and the stem. 

Tricky Blooms

Hydrangeas:

Hydrangeas are known for wilting quickly. What’s not as well known is that hydrangeas absorb water through their petals. 

If your hydrangea is looking tired, fill a bucket or sink with water. Submerge the whole hydrangea head in the water for 30-60 minutes to rehydrate. 

Note: This is only if your hydrangea has wilted prematurely. This will not revive a bloom that is dead.

Lilies:

As lilies bloom they reveal stamens of pollen in their centre. Removing the stamens will lengthen their vase life.

Bonus: Lily pollen stains anything it touches. Removing it will save you from having to deal with a stain on your clothes later on.

Roses:

When you first get your roses, if the outer petals seem wilted and a bit black around the edge, don’t worry. Growers leave these petals on to protect the inner part of the rose during travel. Just remove the outer layer of petals to allow the rose to bloom.

Note: When you buy your roses check the base of the bloom. If one layer has been removed, no problem, that was the guard petals. If many layers have been removed, don’t buy. If  someone has removed multiple layers they’re trying to hide the fact the rose is old.

Tulips:

You bring some tulips home, put them in a vase and they’re standing straight and tall. The next morning the stems are curving and bending. What went wrong? Actually nothing. There are two scientific reasons why this happens. One, tulips continue to grow after they are cut and two, they’re attracted to light, so they’ll reach in that direction.

If you want your tulips to be straight, use a tall vase to give the stems extra support and turn the vase a quarter rotation daily.

Note: Or, you could just embrace the tulips movement and enjoy the uniqueness this flower has to offer.

Tricky Stems

Woody stems:

Woody stemmed flowers: Hydrangea, roses, lilac, heather, pussy willow

• You may have heard you should smash the end of woody stems in order to help them absorb water. This is actually the wrong thing to do. Smashing the stems will increase the amount of bacteria in the water and shorten the vase life of the flower.

• Instead, after cutting the end of the stem at a 45-degree angle, create an additional 2 inch cut up through the length of the stem. 

Hollow stems:

Hollow stemmed flowers: Bells-of-Ireland, amaryllis, delphinium, lupins

• The trick to getting hollow stemmed flowers to last longer is to fill the stem with water.

• Remove any foliage off the stem; Cut the end at a 45-degree angle; turn stem upside down under a running tap to fill with water; hold thumb over the stem until it’s placed in a vase of water. The flower now has a whole stem full of water to drink from. 

“Sap’ dripping stems: 

Sap dripping flowers: Daffodils, tweedia, poinsettias

• When you cut the stems of these flowers, a milky sap seeps out. This sap in the water clogs other flowers from absorbing water. There are two methods you can use to prevent this from happening. 1 - Cut the stem and immediately dip it in boiling water for 30 seconds; 2 - Light a candle and hold the end of the flower stem in the flame for a few seconds. Both will seal the end of the stem so they can then be placed into the vase of water.

If you follow these tips you’ll have ensured your flowers are in the best possible condition to give them the maximum amount of vase-life possible.

If you know of any other ‘secret’ tips, you’d like to share, please put them in the comments below.

Meaningful Flowers for February Birthdays

Do you know someone with a birthday in February? Are you planning on giving them some flowers? An easy way to make your gift extra special is to create a meaningful message with your choice of flowers.

With knowing just a few things, your floral gift can be personalized specifically for someone with a February birthday.

Birth month flower:

There are two birth month flowers for February. Neither are used in bouquets, but both are widely available in plant form.

Violet: Violets signify loyalty and faithfulness. Giving an African violet plant is a way to say, “I’ll always be here for you.”

Primrose: The most popular meaning for primrose is “I can’t live without you’. 

Zodiac:

Every zodiac sign has a flower that represents it. 

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18: Your flower is the orchid.  The meaning for orchid is ‘refined beauty’. You could add cut orchid stems to a mixed bouquet, or buy an orchid plant.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20: Your flower is the water lily. The meaning for water lilies is ‘purity of heart’. Fresh water lilies would be difficult to give as a gift, but perhaps you could incorporate it into your message by giving a card with a water lily on it.

Colour:

Pink and red are big colours for the month for February, because of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. I have two other colour choices to recommend:

Purple: The birthstone for February is amethyst. Purple flowers would be a great way to represent it.

Yellow: February is a rather dreary month. Yellow flowers are cheerful and would brighten any room.

BONUS: Purple and yellow work well together is a mixed bouquet.

Seasonal:

February is abundant with flowers that are available all year long, as well as early spring flowers that are just starting to make an appearance. Some to consider:

Lilies, alstroemerias, gerberas, lisianthus, ranunculus, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, iris, daffodils, and tulips.

Personal touch:

Consider the person you are giving the flowers to. Try adding into your bouquet, flowers in their favourite variety or favourite colour. 

Top tip:

You don’t need to include all these options. Pick what works best for the message you want to send, and you’ll have created a unique and meaningful gift for that lucky February birthday person. 

Suggestion:

If I were to give flowers to a friend with a birthday in February, my bouquet would include:

• Purple alstroemeria: Purple to represent February’s birthstone and alstroemeria for it’s meaning of ‘friendship’.

• Yellow gerberas: Yellow is a cheerful colour and the meaning for gerberas is also ‘cheerful’.

• White tulips: Tulips are just coming into season and white represents ‘honour’ - an important quality in a friendship.
  

Flower Delivery - the Easy Way

If you’d like to have a year filled with flowers, there are simple things you can do to find success. One way to make it easier to have flowers in your life is to arrange for a regular delivery of flowers. 

What I’ll share in this post:

• Pros and cons of the traditional flower delivery system

• Introduction to flower subscription box services

• Details of how the flower subscription box service works

• My experience with a flower subscription box service

• Two flower subscription box services I recommend

Pros and cons of the traditional flower delivery system:

The ‘traditional’ flower delivery system is a method we’re all familiar with. We call the florist, order some flowers, give them the name and address for delivery, and they take care of the rest.

Pros:

• Each time you place an order, you pick the flowers you want, you set your budget, and you choose the date you want the flowers delivered. 

• This is a great service when sending flowers to people who live far away, or if it’s for a ‘one-time’ delivery.

Cons:

• The cost of delivery is an additional cost on top of what you spend on your flowers.

• Every time you want a flower delivery, you need to spend the time placing the order.

Definition of a flower subscription box service:

A flower subscription box service offers you the opportunity to sign up for a recurring delivery of fresh flowers. While there are difference in the specific details of how each flower subscription box service runs their business, there are general concepts they all follow. 

Details of how the flower subscription box service works:

1 - One time sign up. You sign up one time to receive recurring deliveries, saving you time and effort.

2 - Prearranged delivery date. There’s a certain day of the week when flower boxes are delivered to your area. You can’t choose the day but you can choose weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deliveries.  With a regular schedule like this you always know exactly when your flowers will arrive.

3 - No middle man. The subscription service buys the flowers straight from the grower, boxes them up and delivers to you. Having no middle man keeps the costs down.

4 - Seasonal product. The business picks what flowers will be delivered each week depending on the season and what is available. While this means you have no say in what flowers you receive, you do get to enjoy the element of surprise when you open your box.

5 - Local product. Using local product ensures when the flowers arrive they are as fresh as can be.

6 - Flowers arrive in a box. As the flowers are not already in a vase when they arrive, you get the chance to be creative arranging the flowers.

7 - Adjust your schedule. If you need to, most flower subscription services will allow you to skip a week or put your plan on hold for a specific amount of time.

My experience with a flower box subscription business:

In April 2020, I tried the flower subscription box service in my area. It was easy to sign up for, the cost was reasonable, delivery was on time, and the flowers were fresh just like they promised. 

After a few deliveries, I did decide to cancel the service.  While I was really pleased with everything and never had any problems (not even with cancelling the service), I really missed the hands-on experience of going to my local flower shop, seeing what they had available, and choosing the exact flowers I wanted. 

While I prefer shopping for flowers in person, for those of you who want (or need) something more convenient, I would definitely recommend giving a flower subscription box business a try. 

Two flower subscription box services I recommend:

These are the two subscription services I’m familiar with. Both have excellent websites that will answer any questions you have.

Bear’s Blooms - Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria area

Freddie's flowers  - UK

While I only have experience with the two subscription services listed above, if you know of any others, please comment below. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Get To Know Your Florist

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.

Why you should get to know your florist:

One of the best things you can do is get to know your local florist. A good florist can offer their customers so much, but a strong relationship with their customers is also really important for the florist. 

Benefits for florist:

 1 -  Loyal customers: Florists want to create loyal customer relationships. Their biggest means of marketing is often word-of-mouth, so if you’re happy with their service, you’ll tell your family and friends, creating new customers for them.

2 - Less waste: Florists have to stock their shop with fresh flowers - a perishable product. There’s nothing worse for them than to have unsold inventory that has to be thrown out - they’re basically just throwing money away. If a florist has strong relationships with her customers, she gets to know what and when they’ll buy flowers, helping her make the best choices possible when purchasing from her buyers. 

Benefits for customers: 

1 - Gain knowledge: Florists are a great resource for  your flower-related questions. If they don’t already know the answer to your question, they should be able to find it for you. They’re also able to share with you  tips and tricks on how to keep your flowers looking as fresh as possible for as long as possible. 

2 - Help with decision making: If you’re not sure what flowers you want to buy, your florist will be able to give you recommendations. They know what’s in season, how to style them and can work within your budget.

3 - Be informed: If you cultivate a relationship with your florist they’ll be able to contact you when your favourite flowers come to the store, or remind you when there’s important events in your life when you’ll want to make a floral purchase.

4 - Source for specialty items: If you have a special flower you’d like but it’s not local, a florist should be able to source it for you.

5 - Delivery taken care of: Florists are able to arrange for local delivery. If you want to send something to a location further from home, they’ll be able to assist you with a local florist in that area.

Top tip:

Make sure you ask your florist which day they have flowers delivered to their shop. Then you’ll be able to have the widest selection to choose from and the freshest flowers possible.

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.