A note from Marcia:
I love having some of the outdoors indoors, and having a fistful of flowers or a branch or two in a vase is a great way to bring the garden inside in a small and delightful way. The flowers can be what some might consider ordinary, such as pansies in winter, hellebores in early spring, or ubiquitous hydrangeas in summer and fall. When I look out my window, I see so many possibilities for cutting.
I like to cut something different and unusual from my garden. When the sweetly scented native azaleas are blooming, I cut a big branch or a fistful of flowers for a small vase. All it takes is a branch or two in a tall clear vase to make a statement and to fill the room with a delightful scent.
India Hicks, the style maven who recently spoke at SCAD and showed pictures of her Harbor Island house, likes to use a single tropical leaf in a vase. Here in urban Atlanta, a Kousa Dogwood branch in spring or a colorful coleus would look very smart.
Tips to keep your flowers fresh:
- Use a floral preservative such as those the florist uses. Grocery stores sell it in the flower section of the store.
- Keep daffodils in a separate vase. The sap will wilt other flowers.
- Cut your flowers in the morning before the sun warms the day.
- In the house, place the vase out of direct sunlight.
- Always use sparkling clean containers.
