This Little Piggy

This little vintage quilt pig is adorable down to its ears and snout. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

This Little Piggy

I have to confess, I have favorites. And this little vintage cutter quilt pig is at the top of my list.

Cutter quilts are pre-loved quilts that have areas where the cotton fabric is bald from wear. These quilts are then repurposed into pillows and animals to preserve the memories and recycle the good parts of the quilts.

This vintage little pig was made out of a cutter quilt. You will see some wear spots, which gives the vintage pig a vintage character.

The design of this pig includes a charming detail, a wrinkled pig tail.

okay, and the cute wrinkled pig tail, too! (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Adding a vintage quilt animal to a sofa or chair is an easy and quick way to bring a vintage vibe into a space. Don’t be surprised if the vintage quilt animal becomes the focal point, they usually are!

off to your new home! (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

This is a unique vintage quilt animal now getting sent off to a new home. We have a few more still available.

Safe travels!

Charlotte

Extending the Bouquet

extend a small bouquet by gathering flowers of the same and similar colors. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Extending the Bouquet

Sometimes our gardens don’t have much blooming but we still want to bring flesh flowers inside. Or need a bouquet to give and cheer someone.

• One option is to gather flowers of the same color. Even if you only have one geranium, one vinca and one rose, for example, together then can make a lovely tiny bouquet. Having the flowers in the same color make them look cohesive.

The key is to have small vases that look full with only a few flowers.

• If you already have flowers in a vase and need to refresh it, compost the faded flowers and replace with a couple of stems out of your garden. Re-cut all of the flower stems and replace the vase water.

• If you don’t have cats that like to munch on greenery, remove spent flowers and add garden greenery such as Liriope, also called Monkey Grass, leaves.

  Having fresh flowers around uplift spirits so don’t overlook enjoying only a handful in a small vase.

  Charlotte

Small Flower Vases

This colorful syrup dispenser is one of my favorite small flower vases holding geraniums, phlox and wild germander. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Small Flower Vases

Let’s face it, sometimes we don’t have huge armfuls of flowers to make bouquets to enjoy in our homes and offices. Especially this time of year, when record hot temperatures and a drought are challenging our gardens, we’re lucky to find a bloom here and there to bring inside.

added my little handblown bee for the finishing touch! (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

That’s when small flower vases come in handy, and they don’t have to be actual vases.

What you’re looking for is something small enough to fit on a table or shelf that will highlight one or two flowers.

here are some other pitchers and containers with handles that make charming flower vases. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Syrup and Creamers

When I stop by thrift stores and yard sales, I look out for creamers and syrup dispensers. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes so I scope out ones that will fit nicely on a desk or table without taking over the space.

These small vessels are perfect for making small fresh flower bouquets. At times all I find growing in my garden is one or two flowers. With a little greenery those can nicely make a pop of freshness.

toothpick holders make excellent small flower vases. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Crystal Toothpick Holders

If you like something more formal, keep an eye out for crystal toothpick holders. I’ve found two sizes, both excellent for tiny bouquets. The only issue is you need to keep an eye on the water level or they can easily go dry.

Personalized Gift Ideas

Over the years I’ve also collected these small vases to give as gifts full of flowers. Especially for hospitals and friends recovering from surgery, the smaller flower arrangements are easier to manage.

Regardless of size, keep several sizes handy so you can enjoy flowers inside all year around!

Charlotte

When to Cut Daffodils

Cut daffodils still in bud when flower colors are starting to show. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

When to Cut Daffodils

Friends have told me over the years that they have a hard time deciding when to cut daffodils to bring inside so here are a few tips.

When walking through your garden, look for the daffodils that are bending over. Check the stems. You will find some daffodil stems have been bruised by weather. Those are the ones you should cut since the damaged stems won’t be able to feed the top flower.

Once inside, trim the dry part of the stem off so the fresh stem can take in water.

Bruised stem daffodils are perfect candidates for cutting to bring inside. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

My second tip is look for daffodils getting ready to bud. Cutting daffodils in bud form will give them a longer vase life. You want to cut the buds after some flower color is showing, not when the buds are still all green.

Once flower buds are in water, they will open when inside and exposed to warmer temperatures.

Look for daffodils showing color in their buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

As you search for buds with color, cut the ones that may be lying on the ground. Not all of them break where they bend but their stems may be damaged. That way you won’t feel as bad cutting the flowers, and you leave standing flowers to enjoy in the garden.

These yellow daffodil buds are ready to be cut for an inside bouquet. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

So how early should you cut the buds?

Wait until the stem is fully extended and the buds are starting to show color.

These daffodil buds need a little more growth before being cut. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once inside, place them in water and replace the water every day or every other day.

One more note: don’t mix daffodils with other flowers, they have a toxin that will kill off other blooms.

If you want to mix them, let daffodils sit in water for 24 to 36 hours first so the toxins can drain. Replace the water; then mix other flowers with the daffodils.

only a few daffodils to bring inside? place them next to a mirror to double the size. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

If you just have a few daffodils in bloom, cut them to enjoy inside. If you place them next to a mirror you will double your daffodil supply.

There are few flowers that brighten up a room than a bouquet of bright daffodils!

Charlotte

Pruned Flowers Bouquet

This bouquet is made up of flowers that were pruned. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Pruned Flowers Bouquet

Most of us think of cutting fresh flowers for a bouquet but have you considered using the flowers you deadhead or otherwise pruned?

As you trim your flowering bushes and potted plants, save those with flower buds, flowers and even flower seed heads to include in a bouquet or two of cut flowers for home decor.

This little bouquet was made from flowers I trimmed off of geraniums and vinca potted bushes. They were getting too lanky so needed to be trimmed back to grow bushier.

The red roses were trimmed from a discarded climbing rose branch.

And the light pink vincas were from another bouquet that was destined for composting until I realized I could add them to this flower grouping.

To best group these flowers together, find a flower vase that accommodates the shortest stem and then cut the rest to match. Cutting the stems also gives the flowers a fresh stem for taking up water.

By themselves they were not exciting but grouped together these discards make a lovely splash of color in my den.

And imagine making a bouquet of plant trimmings for someone who may be in the hospital or otherwise away from their favorite garden!

Charlotte

Bouquet Roses

Bouquet Roses

Undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to freshen a room is to add flowers. Whether blooming on a plant or in a fresh bouquet, flowers quickly brighten up a space - and a mood.

This time of year, early fall, is a good time to shop plant sales to find good bouquet flowers.

One of my favorites are “Drift” roses, a small shrub rose that grows small flowers low to the ground, several flowers on one stem.

I found some cut a few years ago and was delighted to find how long they lasted in a vase as a cut flower. Since my flower “arrangements” tend to be simple - a spray of cut roses in a vase can be enough - knowing that these have a long vase life is important.

This variety comes in several colors from white to coral, pink and red. Since they are shrub roses, they tend to be hardier than tea roses, which can be difficult to grow in my soil conditions.

Climbing Roses

You can also use hardy climbing roses for bouquets. Usually a little thornier to handle, these hardy roses will also last a long time in a vase.

So start looking at those late season plant sales and pick up some roses you would like to include in next year’s bouquets.

Charlotte

Lilac Bouquets

Bouquet of fresh-cut lilacs now in my den. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins ph

Lilac Bouquets

One of my favorite spring flowers are often overlooked for home decor. That’s a shame because old-fashioned lilacs have a lovely scent that can easily fill a room and, with a little trick, can be long-lasting cut flowers.

The trick to using lilacs in flower vases is how you cut them.

With most flowers, a clean bottom cut will ensure that water gets into the flower and keeps them fresh longer.

I use clippers to carefully make two vertical cuts at the woody stem bottom. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

The same principle works for lilacs only you also have to make a vertical cut at the stem bottom. The extra one or two vertical cuts provides a wider surface for water uptake, giving the lovely cut flowers a longer life in a vase.

Select lilac flowers still budding for long lasting cut flowers. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Also cut the lilac flowers when they are still in bud and starting to open.

Finally don’t place flower vases full of lilacs close to warm spots like vents, televisions and sunny windows. Keep your flower base full of lilacs in a cool shady spot and you will enjoy the lovely scent for several days.

Now that the lilacs have bloomed, iris and peonies should be blooming next.

Charlotte

Picking Daffodils

A vase of daffodils will easily brighten any room. Here, Ice Follies. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Picking Daffodil

Some of my daffodils got an early start on spring this year, blooming almost a month earlier than they have in the past. I was good with that; there are few things that easily brighten a room, or spirits, than a bouquet of fresh daffodils.

Friends have told me over the years that they have a hard time deciding when to cut daffodils to bring inside so here are a few tips.

When walking through your garden, look for the daffodils that are bending over. Check the stems. You will find some daffodil stems have been bruised by weather. Those are the ones you should cut since the damaged stems won’t be able to feed the top flower.

Once inside, trim the dry part of the stem off so the fresh stem can take in water.

Bruised stem daffodils are perfect candidates for cutting to bring inside. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

My second tip is look for daffodils getting ready to bud. Cutting daffodils in bud form will give them a longer vase life.

They will happily open when inside and exposed to warmer temperatures.

Look for daffodils showing color in their buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

As you search for buds with color, cut the ones that may be lying on the ground. Not all of them break where they bend but their stems may be damaged. That way you won’t feel as bad cutting the flowers and you leave standing flowers to enjoy in the garden.

These yellow daffodil buds are ready to be cut for an inside bouquet. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

So how early should you cut the buds?

Wait until the stem is fully extended and the buds are starting to show color.

These daffodil buds need a little more growth before being cut. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once inside, place them in water and replace the water every day or every other day.

One more note: don’t mix daffodils with other flowers, they have a toxin that will kill off other blooms. If you want to mix them, let daffodils sit in water for 24 to 36 hours first so the toxins can drain.

Happy spring!

Charlotte

Re-Blooming Moth Orchids

favorite white moth orchids. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Re-Blooming Moth Orchids

You’ve probably seen these in your local grocery store floral section and home and garden store. Maybe you were given one as a gift. Moth orchids are a favorite gift flower for major holidays from Christmas and Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day.

I love giving moth orchids as gifts myself because they are easy to grow and, with a little exposure to cool conditions, will re-bloom year after year.

Valentine’s Day gift moth orchid, love the polka dots! (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Moth Orchids Background

Phalaenopsis Blume, commonly known as moth orchids, are a genus of about 70 species in the Orchid family.

Orchids in this genus have long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. These orchids are native to India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Sign of new growth, a new moth orchid stem with buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

I was given my first moth orchid a good 15 years ago or so. Since then, I keep a little stable of continuing-blooming orchids around the house. They not only are long-blooming but they are easy to grow.

Don’t Over Water

The biggest challenge is over-watering. If your moth orchid still has decorative foil around the pot, discard the foil and give the pot a saucer.

Some of these moth orchids are promoted as getting two ice cubes a week. I personally prefer not to give my tropical orchids something cold. I give them a splash of water once a week out of a room temperature watering can. If I had to guess, it’s closer to 1/8th cup of water.

Another option is to immerse your orchid in room temperature water for a few minutes, then let the water completely drain out of the orchid pot.

Indirect Light

Blooming moth orchid flowers will last longer if they are kept out of direct light.

In between blooming cycles, the orchids like indirect light as well. Mine seem to do well in southeast windows.

Cool Temperatures

Once they’ve finished blooming, I also move my moth orchids to the basement where they get indirect southern light. The basement is also cooler than the rest of the house and that cool period triggers new growth.

Give your orchid fertilizer only after it’s bloomed. I give mine half the recommended amount.

This is the 4th time these white moth orchids have re-bloomed. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Bug Management

Sometimes in winter some of my moth orchids will get aphids. A warm water bath following by a towel trying is a good start. Then I spray with alcohol to remove anything I missed.

Although there are a variety of different-colored moth orchids, the white ones are often used in TV studio and staged home decor.

Another white moth orchid currently in bloom. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

This white moth orchid is another re-blooming one I’ve had for many years. To keep track of colors, I cut up an old blind and have the colors marked on the blind piece and snuck into the tree bark.

Not all of them, it’s still fun to now know what color will re-bloom until it does.

Charlotte

Napping Blanket Fold

Fold blankets so they can easily be pulled over your legs. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Napping Blanket Fold

We are getting ready for another winter storm with much rain followed by ice and snow. And lots of traffic accidents because people don’t slow down when weather conditions change. The forecasters have been careful with snow accumulation predictions so far except to say at least 4 inches. Where I live in the US Midwest, that’s a call to go grocery shopping, and to stay home if you have the luxury of doing so.

I like winter storms. I like what they do for gardens, adding back moisture and stratifying wildflower seeds. It’s also a good excuse to recharge batteries so besides getting groceries, I like to check my blankets for napping readiness. There are few things more fun to do in the middle of a winter storm than curl up with a book, a cat, and a warm blanket that entices one to a nap.

For years I have kept lap quilts and throws at the foot of beds. I used to fold them once in the middle, then once again before settling them. However, when I was ready to take a nap, it was hard to pull them over my legs so I developed a new folding technique.

Etta Girl almost gets lost in the folds of this equally gray fake fur throw. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

First, the fake fur throw in the photo was purchased at a local thrift store for the two kittens I found abandoned on a county road in 2020. The idea was the throw would give them a sense of having Mom around. They didn’t spend much time on it as little kitten nuggets but they sure like it now that they are teenage cats. Especially on cold, winter days.

James A Mess likes to curl up on mama throw in the mornings. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

So back to the original topic, the idea is to make it easier to pull the throw at the foot of the bed over your legs when all you want to do is nap.

I tweaked the approach a little, starting with turning the open end of the fold towards the pillow.

Reverse the blanket folds so the opening is towards pillows. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

That worked for a while but I was still getting my legs caught up in the blanket as it unfolded.

Then I started folding the throw in thirds, leaving the open top end facing the bed pillows. That’s what creates the fold facing bed pillows.

That way once you fall, or crawl, into bed, all you have to do is tug the top end of the throw to pull it over yourself.

Fold the blanket in thirds instead of fourths. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

If you have a cat sleeping on the throw, it’s also a more gentle way to move the cat towards you with the least disturbance.

It may take a couple of tries to get the idea but once you can easily move the cat, take a nap and cover yourself, you won’t go back folding your lap quilts and throws any other way.

Pull the blanket top to unfold it over your legs as you nap. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Now I may have forgotten a step or two so I plan to confirm this technique as soon as the snow storm hits. Or the nap, whichever comes first!

Charlotte

Cyclamen Care Tips

A white cyclamen gift keeps me company in the kitchen. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Cyclamen Care Tips

I can’t remember the last time I had a blooming cyclamen but I’m back in the fan club with this white variety now keeping me company in the kitchen.

Cyclamen is a member of the Primrose family, and grows around the Mediterranean. The species that has achieved houseplant status, Cyclamen persicum, originates from Persia, present-day Iran. The philosopher Plato described the plant as far back as the 4th century BC.

The small plants have very interesting heart-shaped marked leaves and flowers sitting on top of long stems.

When I was growing cyclamen a few years back, I remember I was most successful growing them in the east window with indirect sunlight. I also marked them as the leaves died off. The plant needs a couple of months of rest before starting a new growing cycle.

Another challenge is over-watering. Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch but don’t let them sit without water for long, they like to have consistent moisture.

Once blooms fade, leaves start turning yellow and fall off. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Yellow leaves can be caused by a couple of issues. Too much water will prompt leaves to lose their green color. The leaves will also turn as the plant starts to fade.

Flowers will also develop seed heads, which I cut off so the plant doesn’t exhaust itself.

Once the leaves die back, give the plant a rest for 1-2 months, then start watering again to see it re-bloom.

Charlotte

Drying Flowers

Russian sage, a favorite dried flower for wreaths, hanging up in my garage to dry. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Drying Flowers

Some of us may remember when wedding and dance bouquets were dried and saved under glass, either a dome or in a picture frame or shadow box. A friend of mine said she just goes to a hobby store and buys her dried flowers. Certainly an option but a lot more expensive than walking through your garden and gathering a few stems to dry.

Now for years I thought drying flowers was a complicated process. After I started, I found in general popular flowers can easily be dried for use in wreaths, bouquets and home decor including vases and baskets.

Start by looking at what flowers dry naturally still on the plant stem. Some will hold their shape; others may have pretty seed pods. It’s a great opportunity to leisurely walk through your garden and observe your plants at the various stages. I tend to leave seeds on the stem for birds and have found some interesting seed pod shapes once the seeds were consumed.

How to Cut Flowers for Drying

When cutting flowers to dry, cut long stems to they can easily be tied and hung to dry.

The shelf brackets with hooks can also hold paper towels. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wigigns)

I didn’t plan this when I was putting garage shelves in but they sure come in handy for flower drying. I have these metal shelf brackets that include a hook at the end. I have a round closet pole running through them on the bottom rung where I keep easy to reach paper towels and, right now, dried flowers hanging.

These shelf hooks make easy flower hanging spots. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Here’s another view of the metal shelf brackets with hooks on the end and two tied up drying flower bouquets.

Keep stems long so they can easily hang from the shelf brackets. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I first tie the end of the stems, then make a second loop with a bow tie that hangs from the hooks. If the flowers are heavy, I may do a double knot to keep them from falling.

To make it easier to dry flowers, I keep a ball of twine with scissors close to the hanging brackets. I like this twine because it easily dries if it comes in contact with wet stems.

Keep a ball of twine and scissors handy. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Once dry, I spray with a clear coat of polyurethane outside and let dry before I bring them in to help preserve them. I can remember my mother using hair spray before polyurethane!

Over the growing season, I add dried flowers to this inside wreath hanging in my den. This year it has daffodils, roses, yarrow, sedum, balloon flowers, straw flowers, lavender, Russian sage and some dried seeds with an interesting shape.

Flowers that don’t dry well this way include marigolds, daisies and zinnias.

Every year the wreath looks a little different depending on what dried flowers I add.

Dried greenery and lavender decorate this grapevine and make a sweet welcome. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I don’t spray this wreath; it’s hanging on an inside wall without sun exposure so the dried flowers are protected from fading.

This wreath reminds me of the Vintage Knitted Flower Quilt where each block features a different flower.

Drying and preserving flowers from someone’s garden would make a sweet personalized gift!

Charlotte

Small Flower Bouquets

All of these flowers were bent or otherwise severed from their stems. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Small Flower Bouquets

As garden bounty hits mid-season, it’s easy to focus on big flower bouquets for home decor but think again. Small flower bouquets are more practical and convenient, and you can use those flowers that were bent or inadvertently cut.

I was not feeling my best earlier this week so I headed out to the garden to do some maintenance. In the process, I ended up with a handful of flowers that were broken off from their stems. It could be a deeper cut than I intended to make when clearing an area, or my brushing against a stem and breaking it in the process. Whatever the accident, I brought those flowers inside to enjoy in a flower vase close to my working space.

This small flower bouquet in the photo started out with two small red zinnias that were knocked over in a rain storm. I added a few springs of purple monkey grass flowers to fill out the vase, then I broke a stem of surprise lilies. There’s a dahlia bud in there somewhere, too, I bring whatever flowers inside to add to the bouquet.

These scented roses were cut off of plants I’m getting into the ground. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another opportunity to make small flower bouquets is when you are planting. Plants need to concentrate their energy getting their roots established. I cut off the flowers of those plants and bring them inside so the flowers don’t sap the plant’s energy.

When the flowers start to fade, I will compost those and look for something new to add.

Having small flower bouquets are a quick way to brighten your day and to enjoy those “oppsie” cut flowers.

Charlotte

Ode to Mulch

The mulched path from the front of my house where I release turtles. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Ode to Mulch

If you have relatives and friends visiting; if you are selling your house or you just want a pick me up as you drive up to your house, get some mulch. Mulching flower beds and walkways is the quickest and easiest way to give your home and garden landscaping a new and finished look. Think of mulch as your garden’s carpet, giving your landscape a finished look.

By definition, mulch is a protective ground cover that reduces evaporation of soil moisture, helps maintain uniform soil temperatures, reduces soil erosion, controls weeds, and, in the case of organic mulches, enriches the soil. And, may I add again, it makes your garden look great.

Mulches are classified as organic or inorganic.  The organic mulches include straw, compost, leaves, pine needles and barks.  Inorganic mulches include plastic, rocks, chips and other non-plant materials.

Benefits of Garden Mulch

I use organic garden mulch for a variety of good reasons:

1. Mulch prevents soil moisture loss by up to 70 percent.  This is especially true with a reasonably thick layer of organic mulches. 

2. Mulches help keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It also keeps soil temperature even and reduces fluctuating soil temperatures, helping to give plants a better growing environment.

3. Mulching helps reduce rain splash and runoff, especially gardening as I do on a Missouri limestone hillside. Reducing splash and runoff can significantly reduce the spread of several types of plant disease organisms.

4. If you use a thick mulch layer such as 4-to-6 inches, you should reduce the growth of unwanted plants. And if you like herbs, you will find herbs love that growing environment!

5. Organic garden mulches will also enrich the soil as they decay. The humus they form provides nutrients to the soil, which helps refresh and keep soil healthy.

6. Mulch helps give my garden areas a finished look. Think of garden mulch as your garden’s carpet!

Most Common Garden Mulches

Here are some of the more common organic garden mulches:

Wood Chips. I get mine from our local recycling center. I want the older wood chips, the ones that have started to decompose and are not generating heat in the process. If I do get the more recently chipped wood, I use those on paths where I don’t want plant growth and let a pile for flower beds sit for half a month before using.

Leaves.  Leaves are one to the least expensive mulches.  I apply leaves as mulch in the fall when I can access ample supplies from our local recycling center. Leaves are slow to decompose and provide winter cover for a number of beneficial garden bugs.

Pine needles.  Abundant in some areas, this popular mulch provides a uniform covering for beds and pathways.  Because pine needles are moderately acid, they are well-suited for acid-loving plants such as azaleas and gardenias.

My handyman found me this little wood chipper so I can make my own mulch. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

More on Garden Mulch

Now there are a number of different tinted mulches on the market. Steer away from those if you can. The best mulch is the natural, chipped wood. You can even buy a “chipper” and make your own mulch from downed tree limbs. I have a small one that is helping to clean up downed branches that will get returned to the garden in even smaller pieces so that it can be re-incorporated into soil.

For nearby trees, don’t pile the garden mulch up against trunks. Make a well between the tree trunk and the mulch to help capture rain water and keep the mulch away from tree trunks.

Another advantage of putting mulch on garden paths is that it’s kind to your knees. Mulch cushions your walk on paths making the experience much more enjoyable.

Oh, I don’t plan on moving any time soon, I have a wonderful recycling center right where I live.

Charlotte

Dry Daffodils

Every year I update this dried flower wreath with dry daffodils. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Dry Daffodils

Don’t toss out those dried up daffodils in your flower vases, you can dry them out further and add them to dried flower arrangements and wreaths. Or start your own with a basic wreath form and have fun adding flowers with special memories.

And if you just want something interested to add to a book case, just leave those dried daffodils in a flower vase, they will retain their color.

I use dried daffodils to update my dried flowers wreath. The wreath was a gift several decades ago so it an use periodic refreshing. One of the unexpected flowers I now like to add is daffodils.

Daffodils are long-lived in gardens and flower vases. After enjoying them in a vase, I will set them aside to dry. Once the daffodils are dry, I place them in a jar without water to allow the stems to dry out. Depending on your room conditions, this can take a few days to a couple of weeks.

You can also tie the stems together and hang them upside down in a garage to allow the whole flower to dry. Just remember to periodically check them because the stems will shrink and easily slip through whatever you used to tie them. Rubber bands work well if they aren’t applied too tightly.

This dry wreath holds other dried flowers with special memories. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Once the flower head is dry, you can add them to a wreath or flower arrangement.

If you wait for the stem to dry, it may be a little brittle so I like to add the dry daffodils before the stems dry out. The still green stems make it easier to weave the stem through the wreath.

Take a look at what adding just solid yellow daffodils does to a dried flower wreath.

Dried yellow daffodils add a nice dash of brightness. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Dried daffodils hold their color and add a nice pop of spring colors to dry wreaths and flower arrangements. Our native wildflowers don’t dry as well as more domesticated and hybrid flowers so try drying the flowers you like and see what happens.

I was happy to discover the daffodils hold their color and dry so well. And what a nice way to preserve spring colors you can enjoy the rest of the year!

Charlotte

Cutting Lilacs

Old-fashioned lilacs now keeping me company in my den basket vase. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Cutting Lilacs

One of my favorite spring flowers are often overlooked for home decor. That’s a shame because old-fashioned lilacs have a lovely scent that can easily fill a room and, with a little trick, can be long-lasting as cut flowers.

The trick to using lilacs in flower vases is how you cut them.

With most flowers, a clean bottom cut will ensure that water gets into the flower and keeps them fresh longer.

I use clippers to carefully make two vertical cuts at the woody stem bottom. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The same principle works for lilacs only you also have to make a vertical cut at the stem bottom. The extra one or two vertical cuts provides a wider surface for water uptake, giving the lovely cut flowers a longer life in a vase.

Also cut the lilac flowers when they are still in bud and starting to open.

Finally don’t place flower vases full of lilacs close to warm spots like vents, televisions and sunny windows. Keep your flower base full of lilacs in a cool shady spot and you will enjoy the lovely scent for several days.

Now that the lilacs have bloomed, iris will be blooming next!

Charlotte

Fireplace Cover

Cozy winter fires can cool a room when not in use unless you have a fireplace cover. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Fireplace Cover

The forecast is for more snow, which I love - let it snow as long as we don’t get ice along with it. The forecast includes a few record cold weeks ahead so here’s how to make sure you stay cozy when you don’t have your fireplace going.

Some fireplaces have glass covers that keep cold out and harness the heat. If you don’t have a fireplace cover, this will come in handy when you are not at home and want to prevent cold air from coming in. This also works for covering your fireplace at nights when you don’t have the fireplace in use.

Whether you burn real wood or use gas in a fireplace with an opening to vent to the outside, the fireplace opening in your house can be a huge source of heat loss when not in use.

To keep your fireplace from loosing heat, you can make a fireplace cover. This one is made out of black quilted fabric with a quilt batting fill.

Cut the cover a good 4-6 inches larger than the opening on three sides.

Measure ties on either end that will attach to the fireplace cover grill to keep the fireplace cover safely in place.

This quilted fireplace cover with ties sits on the fireplace opening when not in use. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Measure quilting fill to place inside. You can use sewn batting remnants together or double up batting.

Sew the batting to one side of the fireplace cover to keep batting in place. Then sew the back side onto the front, reverse it and finish by sewing the opening shut.

Add the ties. Once tied onto the metal grate, the metal grate is tucked up against the fireplace opening, sealing the opening so that cold weather doesn’t enter the room.

The fireplace cover keeps cold air from entering through the fireplace. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wigigns)

If you want something fancier, you could use the front of the fireplace cover for a design out of fabric and leave the back quilted.

I like the black quilted cotton fabric because once it is tied to the metal grate and tucked up close to the opening, you can’t even see that the opening is covered.

We often hear advice about wearing more sweaters and turning the thermostats down to cut down on heating costs. This little trick will also help keep you warm and cozy.

Charlotte

Last Flowers of Season

Zinnias and lantana in the last cut flower bouquet of the season. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Last Flowers of Season

The first frost came early this year; about two weeks earlier than the usual Halloween frost that marks the first hard frost of the season. I live in USDA Hardiness zone 5 where we have four distinct seasons. With our rapidly changing climate, springs and falls are getting longer while summers and winters seem shorter.

I started bringing in my tropical plants a few weeks back which includes pots of annuals including geraniums, lantanas and salvia. The pots of zinnias have not survived well inside in the past so those are cut to preserve the last flowers of the season.

If you want to enjoy a few more cut flowers from your garden, cut them as you would any time of the year. Early morning is best, and use pruners or flower scissors to make a clean cut on the stem.

Lantana flowers are annuals that have a sharp scent as cut flowers. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This time of year you can also cut the buds. In the case of zinnias, the buds very nicely open up inside to form full flowers in a vase.

You can cut zinnias in bud; they will unfurl into full flowers in a vase. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Remove leaves from the stem bottoms.

Change water every day or so to keep the flowers blooming.

If the stem is collapsing, recut so the flower can still absorb water.

If you get the stems too short, consider putting them i a shorter flower vase instead of throwing them out.

You can also add wildflowers currently in bloom. The combination of annuals and wildflowers can make lovely combinations. Since I was cutting these flowers in the middle of the night I chose not to go looking for wildflowers. Wildflowers will make it through a frost much better than these tropical annuals.

Enjoy, and start planning next year’s garden!

Charlotte

Picking Throw Pillows

Pick a favorite theme and work off the colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Picking Throw Pillows

I forget what well-known designer said it but someone recently was quoted as saying solid color throw pillows are a sign of laziness.

Well, unless you’re buying the same patterned pillow, trying to collect interesting complimentary throw pillows can be a challenge. Or an adventure, depending on your point of view.

The advantage of collecting different complimentary pillows is that it quickly adds interest to a chair and sofa. The disadvantage is that it can take a little time and treasure hunting.

To start, I pick a throw pillow I really like. I found the outdoor bird pillow in the photo for my deck at a local sale. The colors are complimentary to the outside rug and the theme is a personal favorite.

My outdoor deck with a few extra pillows tucked under the table. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I took a picture of the pillow and had it handy whenever I ran across other pillows.

A few weeks later, I found the outdoor throw pillow with the single bluebird. It’s not a perfect match but it is complimentary in colors, which means they look good next to each other in the deck chairs. And the bluebird theme is a personal favorite.

I’m good with these two bird-themed pillows for the deck. I have a few solid color outdoor pillows for when I need to add seating. I keep a couple of the solid outdoor pillows tucked under the deck table. I want it to be inviting and comfortable, not a place to collect pillows.

The end of the season is also a good time to shop for outdoor throw pillows on sale. Take a photo of one you like and have fun finding throw pillows that make you smile!

Charlotte

How to Get Blue Phlox

Blue flower colors can be hard to find to add to cut flower bouquets. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

How to Get Blue Phlox

It can be challenging to find blue flowers for home decor bouquets. When I think of blue flowers, bluebells from Texas come to mind but they don’t grow well in Missouri. Virginia bluebells do bloom here in spring but they disappear by June.

By happenstance I discovered that with a little patience I can have blue phlox for flower arrangements.

These lovely blue-toned flowers are actually native Missouri pink phlox, the original flower species that is the basis of all hybrid phlox varieties.

The blue cut flowers come from native Missouri pink phlox. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If you leave the pink phlox inside in a flower vase with fresh water every day or so, the pink will fade to a blue, giving you the option to add a blue-toned flower to your cut flower arrangement.

This is such an easy way to get a hard to find blue flower for home decor!

Charlotte