Plan your Spring Blooming Bulb Garden for Cutflowers!
So the weather is starting to get warmer and we are all ready for the summer months that are in the not-too-distant future, right? And I realize that fall may be the last thing you want to think about. However, in order to have a beautiful spring garden of tulips, daffodils, crocus, allium, and hyacinth, you need to start thinking about what you’re going to plant in fall NOW! After all, once the time to plant these bulbs come around, the blooms will be long gone and furthest from your mind. So why not select your bulbs for fall now!
A mixture of textures (such as daffodils and tulips) can make for professional looking floral arrangements.
The majority of gardeners plan their garden around one sole purpose: they want to have a yard that’s in bloom for a long time that looks great year round. While this is a very logical goal, you can get more out of your garden if you consider another factor when planning for the colors and types of flowers your garden will include: cutflowers! Who wouldn’t love to have a vase (or maybe two or three) of fresh cutflowers in their house at all times? Now think about how even more lovely it would be if they were flowers which you had grown yourself in your own yard!
If you’re somewhat of an experienced gardener, you probably already plan your garden so that the bloom time is spread out over as long of a period of time as possible, correct? But what about taking into consideration plants and flowers that can be used for cutting over a long period of time? By paying special attention to colors and textures that will look good in a vase together that are also in bloom at the same time, you can also lengthen the period of time you can enjoy these fresh cut flowers in your home!
Two tips when cutting flowers out of the garden: First, be sure to take flowers from various places within your yard…you should not even be able to notice any
Why not plan your garden for gorgerous bouquets?
are missing once you’re done 
And secondly, always try to cut back to another node or bud (the place where the next leaf comes out of the stem) or to the ground. By doing so, you will help to disguise the stems which have been cut and still give your garden a “natural” look.
So go out today and bring a piece of your garden indoors!
Until next time,
Have a question about which bulbs work best for cutflowers or any other gardening topic? Ask Bridget! Email her at bridget@bulbblog.com! If she features your question in a future post, you’ll receive a Holland Bulb Farms coupon for your next order with Holland Bulb Farms!
Tags: bloom time, Cut Flowers, cutflowers, floral arrangements, fresh cut flowers, gardeners, spring blooming bulb, spring garden, tulips daffodils, types of flowers, vase
How to Find the Perfect Flower for the Perfect Lady
Surprise her this year with a unique bouquet!
“Think staying power when choosing flowers,” advises Sally Ferguson, the director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. “For long-lasting flowers, choose tight buds just beginning to open. Fully-open flowers are short-hitters,” says Ferguson whose website, bulb.com, offers these and other cut flower tips.
More flowers are sold on Valentine’s Day than any other U.S. holiday and, not surprisingly, men are the major buyers.
“Roses are the most commonly-given Valentine’s flowers, but tulips are closing in as a creative alternative,” says Ferguson. “Last Valentine’s season, one major national floral retailer alone reported delivering three million roses and nearly one million tulips for the holiday,” she said. Ferguson says, with either of these favorites, the most important thing is to buy buds that are fresh and gift-worthy. Why not go out on a limb and try buying her some Calla Lilies this year? Score extra points if you buy the flower that adorned her wedding bouquet! Here are some tips to picking the perfect flower:
Classic white calla lilies cut in a vase.
Non-Traditionalist: Picking Perfect Calla Lilies
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Petals that spring back when touched
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Straight stems (try either classically long for formal vases or stylishly short for low vases)
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Monochromatic (all one color) generally preferred
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Deliver promptly – need water quickly and don’t respond to sitting all day in a box, unless kept cool
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Use cut flower food provided by florist
Uncoventional: Choosing Perfect Tulips
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Look for tight buds with some color showing
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Red, Pink, Apricot, and bi-colors dominate for Valentine’s Day
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Monochromatic looks are stylish or pick several for a more fun, flirty touch
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Skip flower food; tulips tend to like plain, cool water — top vase off daily
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Consider potted tulips instead of cut for an unusual gift that will be a lasting treasure!
Tulips are a great alternative to the over-used rose bouquets!
After all, you can’t really go wrong with flowers. Says Ferguson, “Candy is fattening, lingerie risky, but flowers are almost always sure to please.” For longer vase life for all flowers, she adds: re-trim stem tips before arranging, remove leaves below the water line to keep water fresh, and place vases away from sun and heat. For additional cut flower tips, visit bulb.com.
Want to REALLY impress her next year? Why not try planting and growing your own spring or fall bulbs for cutflowers! What could be more personal than giving the love of your life flowers which you grew yourself?!