THE JOY OF CUT FLOWERS
The Joy of Cut Flowers is the promise of the Beautiful Bouquets they will produce. In the Springtime, I turn from my store-bought house plants that sustain me during the snowy season. Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis – – – they were nice while they lasted. And they usually don’t last well in the dry Wintertime air inside my house. But they helped tide me over till I could bring loads of Tulips and Daffodils into the house.
CURB APPEAL
When planning for your home’s curb appeal, don’t forget to include a few “treats” for yourself: Roses, Lilacs, Lilies, Peonies, and so forth. The lack of a large property needn’t stand in your way. Flowering bulbs and even annual flower seeds can be tucked here and there amid the shrubs and perennials around your house.
BOUNTIFUL BOUQUETS
I always long to have so many flowers blooming at the same time that I can bring them into the house by the armful, without emptying my garden. Daffodils are especially easy to gather. Just grab the stem as close to the ground as possible, and pull straight up. They make a popping sound as they pull free from the plant. Annuals such as Zinnias, Cosmos, and Coreopsis also make great cut flowers.
SILK FLOWERS VS. FRESH BOUQUETS
Today, silk flowers dominate store shelves, and even flower shops sell pre-made arrangements that will last for decades. But by comparison a fresh bouquet seems extravagant. There is a reason why Valentine’s Day is so special. No one presents their lady love with a red rose made from silk flowers.
Bringing a fresh bouquet into the house, something you grew yourself, will give you more pleasure than the flowers bought at a flower shop. And the fragrance will be better than expensive perfume. Plus, being able to gather them just a few steps from your door is an added bonus.
MAY BASKET DAY
May 1st is “May Basket Day.” This holiday used to be a pretty big deal back when I was a girl. Flower baskets, large and small, were exchanged between children, adults, presented to American First Ladies, and also given to a romantic interest to announce your intentions.
Flowers weren’t always given in baskets, but it didn’t seem to matter. They were a gesture of friendship and affection. A knock would come at the door, and a shy neighbor child would present a bouquet to an elderly neighbor lady – – – who could tell the posies had probably come from her own flower bed. And she didn’t mind a bit!
The custom of giving fresh flowers on “May Basket Day” has gone out of favor, which is a shame because it really was charming. This is yet another good reason to pick fresh flowers for your wife, your girlfriend, or the secretaries in your office. And don’t forget your MOM!
HAPPY FLOWER GATHERING! Susan
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