Year Of Flowers: Update #1

Part of my 2010 Resolutions and my Life List was to buy flowers for myself once a week.

This has been going pretty well thanks to stops at Costco and Trader Joe's. Picking up flowers in February feels so luxurious it makes my skin tingle. Literally. Even though I spend under $10 per bunch.

A couple of things I'm learning about flowers.

I need more vases.

I need some flower arranging tutorials.

Flowers last about 2 weeks (as long as Gary The Cat keeps his mouth off them).

Comments

[Tracy]

Such a simple thing can really liven things up! Just composted my valentine flowers, now it's time for more...the kitchen table looks dreary. May I suggest resale shops for vases. Amazing selection. Inexpensive. Eco-friendly :)

[Stacey]

I have been pouring through perennials to figure out which ones make the best cut flowers. The only problem? They tend to be high maintenance :-) I much prefer the plants that require pruning once a year! But hopefully in a few years I'll have enough plants to be able to enjoy fresh flowers in my house regularly. Such a treat!

[Faith]

Just a thought, in case you weren't aware - be careful when you get to April and don't let the cat (or the dog, I think) anywhere near Easter lilies. It's a recipe for death, as I found out when my most beloved cat died from kidney failure after ingesting a few blossoms.

Otherwise, this is a fantastic idea, and will definitely be a resolution of mine next time around!

[smallstatic]

Long time reader, first time (?) commenter... Really love that you're doing this for yourself. The arrangements are beautiful. :)

[Tiffany]

My trick for making flowers last longer: a splash of bleach and a spoonful of sugar. The bleach kills bacteria and the sugar feeds the flowers. Change the water every other day and add the bleach and sugar each time.

[Kristin]

I second the bleach idea. Used to live across the street from a florist, who'd occasionally bring over flowers she couldn't sell. Always told me a capful of bleach in the water keeps it from getting scummy. I was always too lazy to change the water, but the bleach really did a great job. Enjoy!

[followingtheroad]

What a great idea. I may adopt it myself.

Although: $10/week x 52 weeks = $520.

Maybe I'll go for every other week. I'm a cheap bastard.

[Savanna]

I love the thought of buying flowers every week (or 2 if they last that long HECK thats a better deal!) I think I may start that resolution a little late. I got spoiled with an anniversarwwy & v-day in the same month, now my flowers are dead & I miss that smell, and the reminder that things still grow (and have COLOR and are GREEEEN) in this crazy michigan weather!

[Melissa Summers]

That's what it's ended up being for me too, the flowers last two weeks typically!

[Mental Momma]

A great resolution! Just picked up the daffodils at Trader Joes, do you get those? They are bundled and closed, then you snip them and plop them in water and they open.

[MelissaS]

I can't do daffodils. I remember them at my father's funeral and now I have a flower aversion.

Thank God there weren't hydrangea at the funeral (favorite).

[Beth]

I was going to buy some cut flowers the other day, but instead I picked up a small pot of tulips (like, planted and blooming already) and stuck the whole plastic container inside a nice blue pot. It's sitting on my kitchen table and it seriously makes my day when I see it in the morning. I'm going to plant them after the blooms die.

[Sara]

That's such a good idea! I recently bought myself a hyacinth from Whole Foods...I told myself life was too short not to enjoy flowers once in a while!

[Saple]

Blumz in Ferndale has flower care and arranging classes at night.. very reasonable and you come home with a whole arrangement.. plus Robbin and Jerome are amazing

[Mary Mcelrath]

To many people, it can be overwhelming to know what flower arrangements to select for either sending to the funeral home or to the family’s home.

[judy]

Kroger is a great secret place to buy beautiful flowers. I paid $10 for a $40 bouquet the day after Valentine's Day. Hard to believe but they sell a ton of flowers, they are high quality and last forever. The clearance ones are my favorite because I'm the bargain hunter.

[Linda]

I meant to comment on this a while ago, no excuse why I didn't. The flowers in your "French Breakfast Muffins" still life were lovely. I'm enjoying your flowers too. Thanks.

[Julie]

What a great idea to bring some color in during these last LONG weeks of winter. I think your arrangements have been beautiful.

Just want to second the comment above about Easter lilies - really, many types of lilies can be toxic to pets. The ASPCA pet poison control center has a website that lists common toxic plants: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/