Friday, April 27, 2007 11:17 AM
Spring flower arranging tips!
People got so excited about the season premiere of The Sopranos...but for me, it's all about the season premiere of The Peony.These lush pom-poms bloom in spring and then poof, gone! Just like that other American beauty, Sanjaya.
When I recently started as Deputy Editor of The Nest, my husband sent me a peony arrangement that had me drooling (see pic below). But how was I going to keep them alive? Well, I got some great tips from the pros at Belle Fleur in NYC. The flowers there? To die for.
Watering Them: Peonies need to be hydrated constantly. Always keep the water level 3/4 full in the vase. The head of the peony is so big that it sucks up water through its stem very quickly.
Display Tip: Do not set out your peony arrangement in bright light or sunlight. They will become soft. The perfect spot: an endtable in your living room or an office that doesn't have a window (finally, a reason to be happy you're in a windowless office!)
Forcing a Bloom: If they're golfball size and don't open up fast, lightly mist them with cool water from a spray mister (the drugstore kind for your hair). Say you buy peonies in a bodega and they REALLY aren't opening. Submerge them in bucket of cool water for a few seconds. It's an auto boost to make the flower develop faster.
Drying Peonies: Have a peony wedding bouquet you want to preserve? Once they start to wrinkle, tie them with a ribbon if they are not already bunched, and hang your bouquet upside down in a dark space like a closet. It takes 3-6 months to preserve. They look like pretty tissue paper when dried.
Get more fabulous flower arranging tips! Or start your own garden!
Tell me...what kind of flowers do you like to get from your husband? What kind do you hate receiving?
Posted by
Nest Riann
Filed under: Decor Tricks