FAVORITE

CUT FLOWERS:

1. MUMS (PINCH BACK TWICE, MEMORIAL DAY & 4TH OF JULY.

2. DAHLIA

3. AMARANTH

4. ZINNIAS. CUT OFTEN FOR MORE BLOOMS!

5. ASTERS

6. LILACS

7. BABY'S BREATH

8. DELPHINIUM

HINTS TO EXTEND BLOOM.

ADD FLORAL PRESERVATIVE OR 2 DROPS BLEACH PER QUART OF WATER

ALSO ADD 1 TSP SUGAR PER QUART OR 1/2 LEMON PER QUART

CUT FLOWERS STEMS EARLY IN A.M. (NOT SO NECESSARY ON COOL OR RAINY DAYS).

CHOOSE FLOWERS FRESHLY OPENED, OR ON VERGE OF OPENING.

USE SHARP PRUNERS, SCISSORS, OR KNIFE.

CUT AT AN ANGLE.

PUT STEMS IN WATER IMMEDIATELY (LUKE-WARM PER MY MOM), DEEPER THE BETTER, AND ALLOW TO REST FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

MAKING TRADITIONAL BOUQUETS

CHOOSE CONTAINER LESS THAN HALF AS TALL AS LONGEST STEM. IF POSSIBLE, DECIDE WHERE TO DISPLAY THE BOUQUET BEFORE MAKING ARRANGEMENT.

POSITION LONGEST STEMS TO DEFINE ARRANGEMENT HEIGHT & STRUCTURE. (TREE BRANCHES, SPIKEY FLOWERS, OR LONG STEMS OF SHRUB FOLIAGE.) THINK OF THEM AS THE BONES OF YOUR DESIGN. (IF STEMS WON'T STAY PUT, CRUMPLE UP A SMALL PIECE OF CHICKEN WIRE & STUFF INTO VASE, THEN STICK STEMS INTO WIRE.

PLAN LARGEST, HEAVIEST FLOWERS NEAR BOTTOM OF THE ARRANGEMENT. THIS GIVES THE COMPOSITION WEIGHT IN THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE.

NEXT ADD SMALL FLOWERS & FOLIAGE & ABOUT 3/4 OF YOUR FILLER. TURN TO SEE & ADJUST FROM ALL ANGLES.

PLACE BRIGHTEST, PRETTIEST FLOWERS WHERE THEY CAN SERVE AS FOCAL POINTS. ADD REST OF FILLER TO FRAME THESE FOCAL FLOWERS, & SO IT DRESSES UP THE BASE OF ARRANGEMENT.

AFTER

CUTTING:

ADD FRESH WATER TO CONTAINER. (PUT PRESERVATIVES IN WATER BEFORE ADDING.)

WITH HAMMER TO HELP THEM TAKE UP WATER, OR SPLIT STEMS FOR AN INCH DOWN THE MIDDLE.

HOLLOW STEMS - (IRIS, BALLOON FLOWER & TITHONIA) THAT BLEED A WHITE OF CLEAR GOO, SINGE THE CUT END IN CANDLE FLAME FOR 5-10 SECONDS.

REMOVE ALL LEAVES THAT WILL BE BELOW WATER IN VASE, OR THEY WILL ROT & FOUL THE WATER.

CHANGE WATER EVERY OTHER DAY.

TRIM STEMS EVERY FEW DAYS.

ENJOY THE BEAUTY!