How Long Can you Expect a Bunch of Flowers to Last?

A bunch of flowers is a lovely gift and will look beautiful in your home. However, they will also have a limited lifespan once they have been cut, so you need to look after them as well as possible in order to make them last as long as possible. In general, you can perhaps expect a bouquet to last for around 2 weeks, though this also largely depends on the types of flowers used. A spring bouquet, for example, will not last as long as other forms of flowers as they use fresh, delicate blooms. Flowers like roses and tulips might look their best for up to a week, and other flowers like freesias may last for longer.

If you are going to have a bunch of flowers for as long as possible, you can also help by looking after them. Change the water regularly so it doesn’t become cloudy, and use plant food to help your flowers thrive.

 

Some Popular Autumn Flowering Bulbs for your Garden

The autumn and winter months in the UK can still give you lots of options as a lover of plants and flowers. There are many autumn flowering bulbs you can plant that will give your garden plenty of colour, keeping it just as vibrant as it is during spring and summer. Many of these flowers can be naturalised, so they will return year after year and bring colour to your garden once more.

When should you plant autumn flowering bulbs? 

You should usually plant autumn flowering bulbs in the late summer, though it will differ for each type of bulb. See the instructions on the bulb you are going to grow before you buy it and plant it. You need to pick the correct time of year so that the soil is the right temperature and you avoid issues such as frost.

A guide to some popular autumn flowering bulbs 

These are some of the autumn bulbs you might like to plant in your garden:

Colchicum 

You might also know the colchicum as a ‘naked lady’, because it flowers in the autumn, by which point it has lost all its leaves. You should plant these bulbs around 3 inches deep in the soil, and make sure they are 6 inches apart to give them room. The soil should, if possible, be moist and able to keep hold of the moisture. You should plant them in July or August.

Crocus 

The crocus will flower best when left undisturbed, and will produce small, delicate flowers. These flowers are very much associated with autumn and are very popular to grow. You should plant crocuses in the late summer, before the weather starts to get colder. They will grow well without too much fuss and are one of the easiest flowers to grow.

Hardy cyclamen 

You can plant these bulbs in late summer or early autumn, ready for them to flower in the autumn. They won’t require much more than some good, loose soil, though you might want to dig some mulch into it before planting. They will rot if the soil is too damp, so be careful not to over-water them. Once they begin to grow successfully, you can leave them be, as they will generally do very well on their own and grow very big.

Nerine 

The nerine will brighten up your garden in autumn with its beautiful flowers. Also known as a Guernsey lily, the nerine will need to be planted somewhere dry and sunny. They won’t deal well with being moved once they have been planted, so try to leave them be during the spring and summer. If you look after them well, they can continue to flower into the winter and grow much bigger over time.

 

These are just some of the most popular bulbs you can buy – there are plenty more autumn flowering bulbs you can choose. Pick something that will work in your garden and create a variety of shapes and colours, to keep your garden interesting all year round.

Meghan Markle’s Wedding Bouquet

Yesterday marked the wedding of the year – the royal wedding. It was the day where Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle, and the flowers she chose were simply stunning.

Meghan opted for a white bouquet, featuring flowers including sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia. It is also said that Harry played a part in choosing the flowers for the bouquet.

The bouquet also featured the traditional sprig of myrtle, which is a tradition that came from Queen Victoria. She included myrtle from one of her own bushes in the bouquet, and ever since, royal brides have followed this tradition.

The bouquet also included forget me nots, which were the favourite flower of Princess Diana. The couple specifically chose these flowers so that she was acknowledged at the wedding ceremony, and many people noticed the similarities between the bouquets chosen by Meghan Markle and Pricness Diana.

Learning how to Become a Florist

Floristry is a specialist field, and one that often proves very popular, making it highly competitive to run a successful florists’ shop. If you are interested in plants, flowers and gardening, and have considered going into business as a florist, you will need to make sure you are cut out for the industry and go into it armed with the correct knowledge.

Whilst you might not necessarily need a particular qualification, you will generally need to take some kind of floristry course, unless you have worked in the industry before and have lots of existing knowledge. You can find a course at a local college, and you might even be able to take parts of it online.

The main thing you will need is passion and commitment. It isn’t easy to make it work as a florist, so once you know how to arrange flowers, the main thing that will keep your business going is a love for what you do.

Buying Gladioli Bulbs – Quality Flowers for Springtime Planting

Gladioli are colourful flowers with an unusual shape that will add character to a garden. They are enjoyed by seasoned gardeners and beginners because they aren’t too fussy about soil – they will grow well in any kind of good soil, for the most part. Many gardeners choose to plant gladioli bulbs, seeing the flowers through until the bloom. Why not join the other gardeners who love gladioli and plant your own bulbs this spring?

Why choose gladioli? 

Gladioli help create a tropical look in your garden, with their flower spikes that stand out from the crowd. They are versatile, pretty flowers that are traditional, yet can adapt well to a modern garden or space. With all of their colour, they make a really interesting feature within any garden.

Types of gladiolus 

Gladioli come in different varieties and these are some of the most popular that you can choose and buy easily:

  • Butterfly gladioli
  • Medium flowering gladioli
  • Dwarf gladiolus

All varieties have their own distinguished and unique look that you can enjoy. You can have lots of fun planting gladioli bulbs, because of their tall, colourful appearance. Many gardeners choose to plant them in long lines – you can walk between them and they will form a kind of walkway. This can also make it easier to look after the flowers, because it will be easy to cut them back and keep them in a manageable shape. However, you can also use them as statement pieces in your garden. Plant them alongside other plants and flowers, especially shorter ones, because the gladioli will reach above them, stand out and create an area of interest.

How to plant and grow gladioli bulbs 

Here is a guide to planting and caring for your gladioli bulbs:

  1. You should plant gladioli bulbs between March and June, when the weather and soil have started to warm up. You should be confident that you are planting after the last frost has passed.
  2. Plant the bulbs around 4 inches deep in the soil and plant around 3-6 inches apart, depending on the look you would like to achieve.
  3. Choose a spot that gets lots of sun, with well drained soil. You should also plant them with a good layer of compost.
  4. It will take gladioli around 90 days to take root, grow and bloom.
  5. Keep the soil around a gladiolus moist. If there isn’t a lot of rainfall, water the soil throughout the summer months. You might want to use a mulch to help keep the soil moist.
  6. Deadhead the flowers once they die off to help encourage growth. They should continue to grow back each year if they are happy in the spot you have chosen.

The other main factor is the quality of the bulbs you plant. Make sure they are not mouldy or rotting and that they look healthy when you receive them. You can buy bulbs online or in garden centres – check the supplier or retailer to see how many products they offer and how well regarded they are.

 

Flowers for a Wildflower Bouquet

Wildflower bouquets are some of the most fashionable types of bouquet at the present moment. They can be made up of many different types of flowers that will go with the wildflower theme. People are choosing them to send as gifts, as well as to have for their weddings. They might even wear them in their hair as well as an extra touch.

These are some of the most popular types of flower to have in a wildflower bouquet:

  • Lavender. This is a delicate and pretty choice that will also smell beautiful.
  • Roses. Choose light, pastel coloured roses for a pretty touch.
  • Daisies. These will add a real touch of nature to your bouquet.
  • Poppies. Choose different colours for different looks and bouquets.
  • Sunflowers. Add an impressive touch to a bouquet with a sunflower.

Don’t overcrowd your bouquet – a bohemian themed bouquet should be light, relaxed and pretty. A heavy bouquet will detract from your theme.

How to Grow Magnolias in the UK

Magnolias are large, pale coloured flowers that add decoration and a lovely scent to a garden or courtyard area. They are simple enough to grow and there are many different varieties to choose from. Here is a guide to growing your magnolias successfully:

  • The soil should, if possible, be slightly acidic. The main thing to ensure is that the magnolias are planted in well draining soil. If you don’t have these conditions, use some peat moss and compost to help.
  • Magnolias are quite versatile and can grow in sun, or in a place that has some shade.
  • Water your magnolias often at first. Over time, you will not need to water them as often as they become more resilient.
  • Give them enough space. A magnolia tree is really quite large. Magnolias are small when planted but they will fill the space they are given, so don’t keep them too cramped.

Letterbox Flowers – Changing the Way we Send Bouquets

Letterbox flowers are a unique concept in floristry. They are flowers that are carefully packaged up and sent in a box that will easily fit through a standard letterbox, making it much easier to send flowers as a gift. This can help make flowers even more special because the recipient will have no idea they are receiving them.

Usually, flowers will be individually wrapped in gauze or a similar material to protect them. The way they are packaged and the box they come in will also offer extra protection. This can be quite labour intensive, however the florist doesn’t have to put the bouquet together in an arrangement so actually, it can save time.

Wildflowers like waxflowers, freesias and asters are a very popular option as they will be easy for the recipient to arrange. They won’t need to be an expert in flower arranging – they can pop the flowers straight into a vase.

Putting Together the Perfect Bouquet

 

A bouquet of flowers can say so many things. It can be a beautiful gift to thank somebody, it can be a way of wishing a loved one a happy birthday, and it can also be a way to show you are thinking of somebody at a difficult or sad time in their life. Here are some tips for creating the perfect bouquet in different situations:

  • Know which flowers are traditional. For example, roses are often given on Valentine’s day and lilies are usually associated with funerals.
  • Think about the colours that work together. Don’t try to choose too many or the bouquet will look too busy. Work with colours that complement each other.
  • Try to find out a person’s favourite flower. If you can’t do this subtly, think about the colour schemes that they like. If they like bright colours maybe opt for something like a bouquet of tulips. For pastels, try carnations and freesias.

Getting Wedding Flowers Bedford: A Few Tips That Are Likely To Make It A More Successful Process

One of the most important components of any wedding is the kind of wedding flowers that one uses. In fact, this is usually thought of as one of the central elements of any wedding. Making sure that you get the best flower arrangements for both the wedding ceremony and the reception is extremely critical if you are to end up with an event that will be memorable. To make this happen, there are a few things you might need to keep in mind including:

Don’t be too rigid

There are times when the bride is very rigid about the kinds of flowers they want for the wedding. For instance, when you see other weddings that you like, you may want to get the same flowers that that wedding had in order to replicate the design. However, you need to remember that just because a particular type of flower worked in such a setting does not necessarily mean that it’s going to work for yours. Rather than picking a flower type and then insisting on it being used, you should tell your florist what look you are going for, and then let them work the magic. They are usually a lot more effective when working using such terms rather than when you insist on particular flower types, especially if you work with a high-quality one. more

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