Friday Flowers

Today’s overcast skies and chilly temperatures call for an emergency infusion of Spring, don’t you think?  Today’s Friday Flowers are brought you by my own garden and the blissfully warm temperatures we experienced early this week.

Seasonal Tips

All bulb flowers in the narcissus family, like daffodils, secrete sap that will clog stems of other flowers and dehydrate them.  If you are planning to use cut daffodils along with other blooms in arrangements at home, be sure to follow these tips for best results:

• If foraging from your own garden, be sure to harvest your daffodils before they start to open.  You should be able to see a hint of yellow, but the bud should be tight (see below).  Daffodils have a short vase life, so cutting them early ensures your longest possible enjoyment.  This goes for other bulb plants (hyacinth, tulips) as well.

• Once you have your daffodils, re-cut the stems (about 1/2 and inch to ensure they will drink properly) and place in cool water prepared with professional floral food.  If the water is warm, the buds will open faster and the flowers will go by quickly.   

• Let the daffodils drink for approx. six hours.  This will condition them so the sap is less likely leach out into the water and effect other flowers

• Do NOT re-cut the stems before you add them into an arrangement with other flowers.  Re-cutting the stems can start the flow of sap again.

• It’s advisable to use floral foam when working with with daffodils, as the foam acts as an additional blocking agent for the sap.