Given with love, received with joy, cut flowers are among the most popular of all Mother’s Day gifts. To really “wow” Mom this year, help her keep that bouquet blooming and beautiful for as long as possible – with basic training in the lives of cut flowers courtesy of “Bouquet Boot Camp.”
Don’t worry; no one will shout at you and there won’t be any muddy obstacle courses involved. Instead, you’ll just need to take a few minutes to educate yourself on which blooms last longest, and what steps you can take to make them last even longer.
“Every mom loves flowers for Mother’s Day, even if she doesn’t know the names of the various varieties,” says Dr. Bridget Behe, the “Flower Doctor” and a professor in Michigan State University’s horticulture department. “Once you learn about flowers, you grow to appreciate and love them even more.”
Behe offers “Bouquet Boot Camp” — expert advice and answers to consumer questions about cut flowers — online at www.flowerpossibilities.com. The site also offers a flower encyclopedia, downloadable care and handling tip sheets, and design recipes for those who might want to personalize their Mother’s Day gift by creating a personalized bouquet for Mom.
Here are a few basics that can help extend the life of cut flowers:
• When choosing flowers from a florist or market, opt for those with upright, firm petals and buds just beginning to open. If the leaves are yellow, spotted or drooping, they’re old. Also, skip broken or bent stems.
• The water in which the stems are stored should smell fresh and clean, and the stems should be clean, not slimy.
• Store your bouquet in a cool place before giving it to Mom.
• Commercial flower food/preservative solution is a must. Carefully follow the mixing instructions on the packet.
• It is best to use warm water in the vase with your fresh-cut stems. If the water feels too hot or cold for you, then it’s not the right temperature for the flowers either. Warm water is taken up by stems faster and the warmth makes it easier to dissolve the flower food/preservative.
• If any leaves from the stems fall below the water line, remove them. Leaves in the water will promote bacterial growth that may limit the water uptake by the flowers.
• Before placing flowers into water, re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife or scissors. Be careful not to crush the stems.
• Keep fresh flowers out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources and drafts such as air vents or fans.
Still have questions on how to keep your fresh flowers from withering away too soon? Log on to www.FlowrMD.com for more information or to e-mail a question to the Flower Doctor.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
TAMMY WILLEY’S KINDERGARTEN CLASS from Pine Street Elementary School potted marigolds for a Mother’s Day gift at the SAD 1 Educational Farm May 2. Pictured are, front row, from left: Joseph Michaud, Ethan Palmieri, Stephanie Donovan, Ethan Hanks, Sam Beaulieu, Chris Bearden, Austin Prescott and Caleb Carney. Back row: Mrs. Michaud, Philip Palmieri, Taryn Smith, Mrs. Willey, Angle Parsons, Kassidy Sirois, Jessica Curtis, Hana Boucher, Austin Plourde, Keegan French, Abbi Allen, Michael Allen, Eric Davenport and Rob French.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
PLANTING MARIGOLDS FOR MOM — Rhonda Tweed’s kindergarten class from Pine Street Elementary School potted marigolds for a Mother’s Day gift May 2 at the SAD 1 Educational Farm. Participating students were, front row, from left: Lizzy Nadeau, Aaron Cowett, Corey Estabrook, Amanda Boyce, Olivia Sanchez, Alley Hanks, Riley Roderick, Connor DeMerchant and Tanner Smith. Back row: Joy Wang, Sera Mathes, Kassie Rouse, Patience Nightingale, Tristyn Case and Lexi Jutras.
