Fantastic Flowers

One of the most beautiful things you can do for your home is to bring in flowers. They’re beautiful, fragrant, and invigorate a room in a way that other pieces can’t. Although it may not be realistic to have them every week, having them at least once a month is a great way to add something special. An eight dollar monthly budget for a bunch of hydrangeas that can last up to two weeks? Not bad, not bad at all. Actually, I think I need to take my own advice. Hope the husband won’t mind.

When it comes to creating your own arrangements, there are a couple of ways to go at it. First, choose a single flower and group it in a mass. It’s simple, beautiful, and doesn’t take any flower arranging talent. The other route is a mixed bouquet. This is often left to the masters, and if not done well, can actually look a little dated. If you want the challenge, there are lots of resources that will teach you how.

I had an Easter brunch at my house a couple of years ago and made my own arrangement with white hydrangeas, pink spray roses, and white stock. I watched a few youtube videos, bought some floral foam, and went to town. Surprisingly, it was a hit. And it was a lot easier than I thought, thankfully. With most things, keeping it simple is key, especially when you’re a novice. Now let’s review some of the best flowers for your home in my opinion.

Hydrangeas

Few flowers are more classic than hydrangeas. On top of that, they’re available year round in white, they’re inexpensive, one stem can fill an entire small vase, and they’re available in almost any grocery store that you can find. My personal favorite is white, but they also come in pink, blue, green, and what they call an “antique” color – but within each color there’s a wide range of the exact shade. It’s such a huge impact for such a small price, and if you change out the water every couple of days, I’ve found that they can last up to almost two weeks. However, some seem to die immediately, and others just keep going. No idea why. But to account for that, I sometimes buy a second bunch if I need the flowers for a party. And someday, I’m going to get the hang of gardening and grow my own. We’ll see how that goes.

 

Tulips

Tulips are another, classic, beautiful flower. They’re also readily available, and offer a vast array of colors. And as long as you can stand their tendency to droop, they can easily become the centerpiece of a table or a room. They aren’t usually available year round, but for maybe 6 or so months a year I’ve been able to find them. For tulips, I mix colors, or I keep them all the same. It just depends on the look I’m going for. For tulips, I usually buy at least two bunches. The flowers don’t take up nearly as much space as hydrangeas, but the leaves do. So, I often strip the lower leaves off to make more room in the vase for the extra blooms.

 

Peonies

Among the three, peonies are the least readily available, and the most expensive, but to me, probably the most beautiful. Growing up my mom had huge peony bushes in the back of our house and the last week in May they would bloom into huge bursts of powerful, beautiful color with an entrancing smell. And it was my pride and joy to bring a small bouquet to my teacher every year. I’ve loved them ever since.

Until recently I’ve always rented and never had the opportunity to grow my own. But, a few months after we purchased our current home and my mother in law came to visit, she let me know that we had 9 peony bushes! I couldn’t have had better news, especially as the garden that we were left with by the previous owners was undesirable in every other way. But now every end of May, I peek out my bedroom window daily to gaze at all of the beautiful peonies. And of course sneak out to cut a few to place in every corner of every room that I can. It’s a short, but beautiful show and something I cherish every year. If you’ve never had a bouquet of peonies before, venture out in late spring and pick up some of the glorious blooms.

Personally, I think it’s worth the small expense of flowers, to have their incredible beauty and brightness in the house. It’s a great way to lift the spirits on a tough day, and automatically heightens the look of a room. With only the addition of a couple of bouquets, all of a sudden an occasion is taken from every day to elegant. So go out and get yourself some blooms. I know I’m going to.