Rose of Sharon Bouquets

This bouquet is from one of the Rose of Sharon trees I trimmed. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

“Charlotte, I LOVE your idea of trimming Rose of Sharon bushes into trees. I have several to trim. Can I use the flowers in bouquets?” - Marilyn

Rose of Sharon Bouquets

Hi Marilyn, glad you’re going to try to trim Rose of Sharon shrubs into trees. And yes, you can take those branch cuttings and bring them inside for cut flower bouquets. The already-blooming flowers will close and fall off so concentrate on branches with flower buds.

I also save stems with a lot of seed pods to add to outside wreaths, they add a lot of interest to a wreath.

If you have extra cut branches, share with a friend, there’s nothing more cheery than having blooming flowers around.

Let me know how your trimming project goes and have fun!

Charlotte

Where to Put Flowers in Your House

One of my favorite spots for fresh flowers, the main level bathroom. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

“Charlotte I love all of your flower arrangement ideas but I’m not sure where to add them in my house. How do you decide where they should go??” — Tania

Where to Put Flowers in Your House

Hi Tania, glad you enjoy the flower arranging ideas, it’s one of the ways to keep enjoying a garden by bringing flowers inside.

Actually your question is a very good one. If you’ve never brought flowers regularly inside, there are several things to consider:

1. Do you have pets? You may want to keep the flowers away since some flowers can be toxic.

2. Do you have small children? Same thing here, you want to keep your breakable flower vases, and the flowers, away from little curious hands.

Now where do you spend most of your time in the house? Usually we all spend daily time in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. And for those of us who work from home, we also have an “office space” or somewhere in the house we use as a work space.

Most discussions about flower arranging center on those huge flower collections that sit in the center of a table. Lovely, to be sure, but not practical if you want to have them close to where you are spending time. As a matter of fact, I prefer lower sitting flowers on my dining room table for dinners so I can see the person on the other side.

So scope out where you would like to have flowers and then find a vase that will fit that space. You can find some lovely flower bases at thrift and consignment stores. I probably - well, not probably, I do have a lot of small vases. I change them out when I put in a new flower arrangement. I also like to have options on the flower vase shapes - long skinny ones for that one single rose or flower, short round vases when I make little bouquets.

If I have only one flower vase to add, I put it where I am working and can easily see it. Nothing quite cheers me up as a small bouquet of flowers.

These peonies have opened from buds in my main floor bathroom. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

And here I go showing you the exact opposite, a tall flower vase. Which only goes to show you that the vase needs to match the space.

My second favorite spot may be a surprise but it’s my main floor bathroom. Especially if the flowers are scented, a bouquet will turn that small room into a lovely haven. But as you can see, to even see the flowers the vase needs to be tall and skinny so that it fits in the corner.

Next is my kitchen, where I keep a little space next to my center island for flowers. Since I sometimes use the island as a desk, I consider that an annex office.

Finally if I have extra flowers I will take a bouquet up to my bedroom, especially if I’m going to spend time reading or doing laundry. Since I have inquisitive cats, I have to be careful where I place them but it is a special treat when I do.

Now a few dont’s. Don’t place the flowers on top of a TV or a warm spot, that will dry them out. Don’t tear your flowers when picking them, cut them so you don’t damage the stems. And don’t bring in visitors, gently shake your flowers to dislodge any bugs that may be in them.

Once you scope out the spaces and have appropriate sized vases, the rest is the fun of cutting garden flowers and bringing them inside.

Remember to change the water every other day, that will help keep the flowers lasting longer in the vases and compost the dead flowers. The compost will keep giving you more flowers!

Charlotte

Mixing Daffodils with Other Flowers

“Charlotte I heard you’re not supposed to mix daffodils with other flowers so how do I mix them in a bouquet?” - Paula

Mixing Daffodils with Other Flowers

Hi Paula,

When I want to mix daffodils with other flowers, I leave the daffodils in a flower vase by themselves for a good day or so. That way the toxins daffodils have will leach out so they don’t impact the other flowers.

I also make flower bouquets without mixing the flowers. I keep each flower type in their own flower vase and group them together so I can still enjoy them mixed but without impacting each other. This is also an easier way to refresh the bouquets by removing those flowers that may die off sooner than other flowers. Iris, for example, may not bloom as long as some other cut flowers.

Charlotte

What Daffodils to Pick

“Charlotte, my first daffodils are in bloom this year. We planted them to add some color to our spring garden. I want to take a bouquet to my Mom. Which flowers do I pick?” — Monique

What Daffodils to Pick

Hi Monique,

Congratulations on getting your first daffodils, they add so much to a spring garden.

When picking daffodils out of a garden, don’t get the ones that are part of the landscape. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Since these are your first daffodils, you want to keep the majority for your daffodils that add to the landscape, especially those along paths and close to where you can see them.

When picking daffodils, pick those ones that are falling over. Those won’t stand back up once they fall over so you can clean up the landscape by removing them. While you are at it, also remove the spent daffodil blooms so the plant doesn’t spend energy making seeds.

Secondly, use an old paring knife or garden snips to remove the branches at the lowest point you can reach. Cutting will minimize the damage to the daffodil stems.

Any group of daffodils will make a pretty gift bouquet. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Finally place the daffodils in a jar full of water immediately after cutting them. Don’t worry if you have all of the same kind or not, I frankly think the mixed variety bouquets are more interesting.

If you plan to mix them with other flowers, let the daffodils sit in a separate jar of water for a good day or so. Daffodils have a toxic substance that will kill other mixed in flowers. After a day or so, you can pour out the water, give them fresh water and add other flowers to the daffodils.

Bet your Mom will love whatever bouquet you take her!

Charlotte