White Rose Gift Bouquet

White Rose Gift Bouquet

A friend's wife and daughter were under the weather so I picked a small bouquet to cheer them up. John F. Kennedy fragrant white hybrid tea roses, purple forget-me-nots and white garlic chives all in a porcelain watering can I picked up at a local thrift shop.

Punishing summer weather this year gave way to a couple of weeks of cool temperatures, prompting my garden to produce flowers again.  Most plants go into survival mode when temperatures go over 90F for any length of time. 

I pick up these small containers when I find them so I have them handy to make gift flowers.

Pick up small containers you can use as flower vases for gift flowers from your garden.

I did explain to the husband/Dad that the roses will smell wonderful but there will also be a garlic whiff from the garlic chives. Garlic chives are wonderful bee plants and one of the few plants that bloom profusely in August and September in hot weather conditions.

If you have to choose between a small and large container, choose a smaller one. Small flower containers are more versatile than large ones. Most people can make a spot for a small flower vase versus something larger and it takes less flowers to make a bouquet.

Pick roses early morning still in bud form so they can have a longer vase life.

Pick roses and the other flowers early morning. Use sharp scissors to cut them at a 45 degree angle and get them into water immediately. I sometimes take a jar with water into the garden when I am cutting flowers so I can get the cut ones immediately hydrated.

Also make sure the flowers are compatible. Daffodils, for example, don't get along with other flowers unless they are kept in a vase with water to drain toxins first.

Another benefit of making gift flower bouquets, it gives me a chance to see my garden from a different perspective. Garden dreams are a delightful way to enjoy a garden, too!

Charlotte

February Gift Flowers: Primroses or Violets

A lovely variety of English primroses for sale for 99 cents at one of our local grocery stores.

February Gift Flowers: Primroses or Violets

Depending on which calendar you check, the February gift flower is either the English primrose or violets. The only violets available this time of year in Missouri are the tender, inside African violets.

Both these flowers are non-natives and grow in shade in their native habitat. English primroses are blooming now in France, where although it's also winter the weather is a little more forgiving.

I have a little purple English primrose in my living room, a purchase at a local grocery store.

This was the only purple English primrose in the bunch of flowers on sale. 

I bought the purple English primrose because it reminded me of the wild violets that will be  blooming in my one-acre hillside garden later this year.

What I noticed about caring for English primroses is that they don't tolerate their roots going dry. That makes sense since in their native environment, they live in the moist leaf litter under trees. When the soil is dry, their leaves drop and the plant can easily die.

The same thing with African violets, only African violets prefer their soil more on the dry side. This is a hybrid purple African violet I've had for many years:

This little purple African violet has been with me for many years and almost blooms continuously.

I keep both English primroses and African violets in indirect light on the southwest side of the house in a window and check daily that the soil has not dried out. 

This is one of the older African violets, considered original. It's hardier and blooms continuously.

Besides a few African violets purchased on sale, the rest of my African violets are a non-hybrid variety so they are hardier, and bloom almost constantly. Their color is more of a pink purple and the color changes as the flowers unfold.

In the "Language of Flowers," violets stand for faithfulness. In a month celebrating Valentine's day, it seems appropriate, don't you think?

Which ones have you tried to grow or have you grown both?

Charlotte

January Gift Flowers: Carnations

Red carnations from a gift bouquet keep a little sprig of pink geraniums company in kitchen vase.

January Gift Flowers: Carnations

January is a special month in my home because both my cat Margaret and I celebrate our birthdays. Margaret turned 19 years old this year, human years equivalent of 98 years old. She has always had selective hearing and now she's a little challenged with her eyesight so I keep tabs on her so that when she cries because she's lost, I can quickly find her.

She was sitting next to the little vase with leftover gift flowers from a friend over Christmas when I remembered carnations are January's gift flowers. The red carnations had lasted almost a month already, one of the longest cut flowers one can buy among the many choices.

Florists like to add long-lasting flowers in their arrangements so the flowers can be enjoyed as they wilt. Chrysanthemums, in all of their forms, is another long-lasting choice, as are Peruvian lilies, which can last as cut flowers for a good 6 weeks.

I try to remember how well a plant will work as a cut flower as I add them to my garden. 

What Carnations Represent in Language of Flowers

In the Victorian era, flowers held special meaning so they were carefully selected when sending to someone. Today the "Language of Flowers" still holds, with the color of carnations having a different meaning, much as roses do.

White carnations suggest pure love and good luck, light red symbolizes admiration, while dark red represents deep love and affection.

Here are some other meanings for carnations in various different colors:

Pink Carnations: Mother's Love

Light red Carnations: Admiration

Dark red Carnations: Deep Love and a Woman's Affection

Striped Carnations: Regret, Refusal

Green Carnations: St. Patrick's Day

Purple Carnations: Capriciousness

Yellow Carnation: Disappointment, Dejection

These hot pink carnations blended in beautifully with my long-lasting Peruvian lilies.

I almost picked up some yellow carnations on sale to keep my flower vase company earlier today. I settled instead for a bouquet of hot pink ones to keep my still-blooming Peruvian lilies company. The yellow ones were so tempting because they were bright and cheery, a welcome spot of color in an otherwise cold and gloomy month.

When I looked up the meaning of yellow carnations in one of my Language of Flowers book, it said yellow carnations represent disdain. Regardless of the meaning, I think fresh flowers are welcome in any color, for any celebration, any time of the year!

Charlotte

September Gift Flower: Asters

September gift flowers are New England asters, which are a favorite fall garden flowers.

September Gift Flower: Asters

There is such a lovely variety of colors in this family of flowers, asters. Some of my favorite fall blooming plants belong to this group: White Boneset, White Heath Asters and one of my top favorites, New England Asters.

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, "Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, commonly called New England aster, is a Missouri native perennial which occurs in moist prairies, meadows, thickets, low valleys and stream banks (Steyermark) throughout the State. It is a stout, leafy plant typically growing 3-6' tall with a robust, upright habit.

New England Asters feature a profuse bloom of daisy-like asters (to 1.5" diameter) with purple rays and yellow centers from late summer to early fall. Rough, hairy, lance-shaped leaves (to 4" long) clasp stiff, hairy stems. Flowers are attractive to butterflies" and I will add bees, too.

How to Grow New England Asters

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun, prefers moist, rich soils. Good air circulation helps reduce incidence of foliar diseases. Pinching back stems several times before mid-July will help control plant height, promote bushiness and perhaps obviate the need for staking. Pinching back will also delay flowering.

Most New England Asters are sold early fall when they are in bloom. I buy the plants after bloom, remove the spent flower heads and make sure they are well watered and mulched when I plant them. Any dead branches get left on to help protect the new growth that will start at the plant base. I also give them some water for a couple of months to make sure their roots get established.

Since this is a native Missouri wildflower, it's also easily seen growing on road sides, my garden and a friend's garden.

These are wild Missouri asters growing in a beekeeping friend's side garden.

According to the Language of Flowers, the Victorian Era practice of giving every growing thing meaning. The Victorians used this vocabulary to send secret messages in flower bouquets. In this flowery world of meaning, asters represent "variety" and "spontaneous impulse."

Charlotte

March Gift Flower: Daffodil

Miniature daffodils "Tete a Tete" were a gift from an east coast friend last fall.

March Gift Flower: Daffodil

March gift flowers have to be either borrowed from someone who grows them or given as bulbs the fall before. That's how I received mine last year, two bags in a small box from a friend I had not heard from in some time. We had worked together a few years back and enjoyed comparing notes about our gardens.

His was a more formal design, with clipped topiary Boxwoods, old Weeping Willows and lovely Drooping Cherries - I used to tell him his garden sounded a little sad based on his description.

By comparison, my hillside garden is a combination of native redbuds and compact fruit trees sprinkled with anything that blooms. No grass to mow, ponds, lots of birdhouses, bird baths and bees. And frogs, lots of frogs. 

Frogs, he would say. 

One of my spring peepers makes a cameo appearance on a deck shepherd's hook.

Spring peepers, I would say, nodding. Little frogs with a big sound, they make a lot of noise on the first warm spring-like day, everyone knows just when that is. It's special.

We would go on with our business, no more garden talk until later, when we would be sharing a meal or waiting for something to start. The conversation would inevitably come back around to these little frogs and what they did.

Well, I would say, giving it due consideration. I find them swimming in the water in my empty flower pots. They sit under plants. They suction cup themselves to my windows. 

And peep?

They peep. Usually in spring, when the daffodils are blooming.

I didn't say it was scintillating conversation, now, did I. 

So when I opened the box of miniature daffodils, I knew exactly why he sent them. They were for the spring peepers, tiny flowers for the frogs.

Happy garden, happy frogs!

Charlotte

February Gift Flower: Primroses

These sweet pink primoses are now giving my den a splash of spring color.

February Gift Flower: Primroses

I picked up this little pink primrose grocery shopping last week. It was one of the last little pot of flowers left, most of the flowers dark or shriveled so the flower was on sale. I love primroses but I haven't had much luck getting them past their inside blooming stage.

Primrose History

Diana Wells, in her book "100 Flowers and How they Got Their Names" said the primrose is the prima rosa, or the first rose of the year. Diana said the shade-loving plant is also named for the first spring flower. 

How to Grow Primroses

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, primroses prefer cool temperatures, a rich humus soil (lots of compost and leaf mold) and partial shade. They appreciate full sun in the spring, but must have semi-shade as the temperatures warm.

Luckily for me, they are quite tolerant of being transplanted, even when they are in bloom. They should be planted in a cool, partly shady area in the garden with rich, well-draining, slightly acid soil (pH 6.5). Primroses need to be planted so that their crown is right at soil level.

The Key to Growing Primroses Indoors

Missouri Botanical Garden's website said Primroses may be grown indoors "if you are able to provide them with cool night temperatures of 50-60° F, high humidity, filtered sun and moist soil." That may explain it, my house tends to be dry in winter. Maybe if I place the potted primroses on rocks in a saucer will help its growing conditions.

When they have finished blooming in the house, the Missouri Botanical Garden said  it is best to plant them directly into the garden, or summer them outdoors in their pots and move back to the house at the end of the summer. I may just try that. Our summers tend to be very hot so I doubt these cool-temperature lovers will like those conditions. 

My basement, on the other hand, is quite cool, perfect conditions to keep this primrose happy, I hope. Wish me, and this sweet little pink flower, luck!

Charlotte

January Gift Flower: Carnations

Pretty bouquet of pink carnations brightening up my kitchen for my January birthday.

January Gift Flower: Carnations

Carnations or Dianthus, their Latin botanical name, are the January gift flower of the month, a nice idea for personalized gift-giving. I should know, I have a January birthday.

Carnations, along with a number of favorite garden flowers, are ancient flowers, possibly named from the Greek word for flower garlands, since this long-lived flower was a popular choice for those floral decorations.

According to the Victorian-era language of flowers, carnations in general represent fascination and divine love. Each different carnation flower color also has it's own special meaning:

Pink carnation: I will never forget you

Purple carnation: Capriciousness

Red carnation: My Heart Aches for You; admiration

Solid carnation: Yes

Striped carnation: Sorry I can't be with you or Wish I could be with you.

Yellow carnation: Rejection, you have disappointed me.

White carnation: Woman's good luck gift.

Some carnations are nicely-fragrant, especially ones out of home gardens. One of the advantages of carnations is that they ar

October Gift Flower: Calendula

Dried calendula at a Turin, Italy market September 2016.

October Gift Flower: Calendula or Pot Marigolds

I had to go to Italy, it seems, to find actual Calendulas. They were dried ones but Calendulas nevertheless. What struck me was how bright the colors were even in dried form.

Commonly called pot marigolds, Calendula officinalis has long been a staple in British cottage gardens. Like traditional marigolds, petals of the calendula flower are used in cooking and were used as yellow coloring in cheeses and butters in centuries past.

When used in stews, broths and salads, petals of the calendula flower add a spicy taste similar to saffron to many dishes.

Flowers and leaves of the calendula may be dried and stored for later use.

In the vegetable garden, calendula draws aphids away from valuable plants.

While uses of calendula plants are diverse, growing calendula in the flower or herb garden is an optimum use of this attractive plant. Calendula plants are frost tolerant and somewhat cold hardy and add long-lasting color and beauty in a flower bed or container. 

Charlotte

Sur-PRISE Lily Gifts

Sur-PRISELily Gifts

If you need a less than ordinary gift from the garden, try surprise lilies. These North American cousins to the traditional holiday flowering gift Amaryllis bloom mid-July through August and have a colorful arsenal of names - glory lilies, resurrection lilies and the more provocative naked ladies.

Bulbs are planted in fall so they can get established through winter. Once spring starts to unfold, the long, rounded leaves sprout out of the ground to collect energy in the bulbs.

Surprise lily leaves appear in spring, then die back until the flowers bloom mid-July.

About mid-July, the flower buds pop out of the ground without any greenery around them.

Surprise lily buds pop out of the ground mid-July without any greenery around them.

Within days, the flower stalks are 2-3 feet tall with unfolding buds at the top. Some stalks have only a couple of flowers, others may have several.

My surprise lily bulbs blooming into stalks with several buds per stalk.

My surprise lilies bloom in waves, starting mid-July through early September. The ones southwest bloom first. The bulbs on the north side of the house bloom last, giving me almost a one month blooming season.

Cut surprise lilies make lovely scented gifts. Select tall bases to better display their long stalks.

To give as gifts, place a small bouquet with long stems in a flower vase with water. Add a card explaining what they are. "Enjoy these naked ladies" always gets a response.

I dried surprise lilies from a neighbor's yard and share bags with gardening friends.

You can also dry surprise lily bulbs once they have finished blooming and stalks turn yellow. Once dry, store in a cool place until you can either gift them or plant them in the ground.

 Most garden centers offer the bulbs for sale in the fall along with other spring-flowering bulbs.

Charlotte

August Gift Flower: Gladiolus

Pink gladiolus in a vase at my local favorite Japanese restaurant.

August Gift Flower: Gladiolus

Yet another reason why I love this Japanese restaurant where I live. In addition to wonderful food, they keep gladiolus in vases by the check out. It seems people either love or hate these beautiful annual flowers from sub-Sahara Africa. 

I used to associate these flowers with funeral arrangements until one of my brothers confessed he loved these flowers, too. He has planted several dozen in his flower bed, daylilies fronting the bed and hiding the bottom of the flower stems.

In the Victorian Era language of flowers, Gladiolus is considered the Flower of the Gladiators. It symbolizes character strength, sincerity, and generosity. It also symbolizes “love at first sight" so if a bouquet shows up on your desk full of gladiolus, a romance may be starting.

How to Care for Gladiolus

Gladiolus are sold as corms in bags mid-spring. They are planted after all danger of frost has passed, usually Mother's Day.

Once planted, their leaves reminiscent of Iris will grow, followed by flower stalks. Gladiolus don't always sit up on their own so they sometimes need to be tied to support, especially after a good rain storm. 

After blooming has finished for the season, leave the foliage in place. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future. Water as needed. Leaves and stalks may be removed when they yellow.

f you live in an area where your glads aren't winter hardy and you want to save them for next spring, dig the corms after the first frost, cut the stems to 2", wash the soil off, dry for a few days and then store in a cool place in paper bags or cardboard boxes filled with peat moss.

Your gladiolus will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle in the spring.

There is now a more hardy gladiolus on the market, one that doesn't have to be dug up if winter temperatures don't get below -10F. Haven't tried those yet, have you?

Charlotte

March Gift Flower: Daffodils

A bouquet of daffodils from my garden usher in the season of new beginnings, spring.

Give the Gift of Spring

When I think of what marks the four seasons, daffodils are the ambassadors for spring. The long-nosed flowers are the first to bloom in my garden, the early ones smaller than the mid-season flowering bulbs but special in my heart for ushering in the season of new beginning.

How to Incorporate Other Flowers with Cut Daffodils

If you want to include other cut flowers in with daffodils, allow daffodils to sit in water all by themselves for a good day or so. Daffodil sap has calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant, so let the sap work its way out or it will kill the other flowers.

Include Daffodils Still in Bud Form

I personally like a handful of daffodils in a vase all by themselves, either all the same or a nice variety. Include a few still in bud form, they will continue to open once picked and placed in water.

A bouquet of freshly-picked daffodils should last about a week if placed away from heat sources.

Charlotte

June Gift Flower: Rose

If there is one flower that we associate with gift-giving it's a rose.

From miniature roses for baby showers to wreaths with roses at funerals, roses are the go-to gift flower for a variety of occasions.

In the Language of Flowers, roses are by far the most popular flower and appear in many different types, colors and combinations. Their meaning has also evolved over the years. Yellow roses, for example, stood for being untrustworthy to the Victorian but by the mid-20th Centurey had come to symbolize friendship.

In general, a rose symbolizes full blown love. A red rose signifies "I love you."

And for those of you who think more is better, sometimes one rose is all you need to give. A single rose is beautiful all on its own.

Charlotte

April Gift Flower: Daisies

These simple but happy flowers don't usually bloom in Missouri in April so I waited to get some good pictures.

When I first started learning to identify Missouri wildflowers, this was the second easiest plant to identify. Ox-eye daisies grow from a ground-hugging green wreath of a start, the leaves frilly around the edges. When they are ready to bloom, the stems seem to shoot up overnight.

When finished blooming, the stems dry and the little ground-hugging wreath returns.

There are a number of other daisy-like varieties on the market. Shasta daisies are the domesticated version of these wild cousins but to me, Ox-eye daisies will always be what I think of when someone says daisy.

In the Victorian "language of flowers," these cheerful white flowers represent beauty and innocence.

 Charlotte

May Gift Flower: Lilies of the Valley

The May gift flower is Lilies of the Valley, a small, sweet-looking but poisonous plant that likes part-sun and moisture.

A friend of mine refers to Lilies of the Valley as grandma's flowers because she always came across them when she visited her father's Mother's farm. 

In my garden, these small plants can get lost among the other plants in a flower bed so I plant them in their own separate spot between beds. That gives them room to expand, are protected from trampling and, when it's time to bloom mid-spring, they can stand out on their own.

In the Victorian era's "language of flowers," when messages were snuck into flower bouquets, Lilies of the Valley symbolized the return of happiness. I'm certainly happy when I see them because they mean the growing season has finally arrived!

  

Charlotte