Fresh Cut Flowers

White Oriental Lily

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. ~Claude Monet

Flower's are inspirational: They smell beautiful, lift the spirit and give your space a spa feel. Sir Elton John spent a reported half million on flowers in just 18 months. Truth is, you can indulge the luxury of fresh cut flowers for very little cost. I purchased these magnificent lilies from my local Home Depot garden centre for less then $8.00. Gladiolas are now in season and can be purchased for just $0.50 a stem. I pick up a bunch weekly from my grocer and arrange them myself. Once you start, you will indeed tap into your creative resources and design ever more interesting bouquets. Here I have combined  navy blue gladiolas with a heavy crystal vase. Perfect to add interest or brighten a dark corner. Simple, pure, fabulous!

Navy Blue Gladiolas

Remember: Fresh flowers will last longer if your trim the stems and change the water daily.

Peace Lily

Buzz: Peace lilies are an elegant addition to any spa setting. Stately white flowers contrast perfectly with its shiny green foliage. They look great, are low maintenance, don't require alot of light, flower year round and purify indoor air. If you have just one plant, this would be the one.

Care: Place plant in indirect light, water weekly and fertilize every other month. Misting regularly is a good idea as these are tropical plants. If your peace lily is not flowering, move a little closer to the light source.

Cost: I purchased this one at my local garden centre. It is large and beautifully potted with English Ivy. Total purchase price was $55.00. Bargain!

Spring Bulbs

Buzz: Bulb flowers are the first to greet us after a long cold winter. They are spontaneous and bright bursting forward with the joy of spring. What's more they continue to bloom year after year.

Planting: Plant in fall before the ground freezes. Just choose your favourite combination of flowers and follow direction on the package. Ask for a pep talk at the local garden centre.

Paperwhites: Can easily be grown indoors for that home spa feeling in a pot or vase. They are elegant white daffodils on long stems that smell fabulous.

Cost: About $1 per bulb. Bulk packages cost less.

Review: I planted five paperwhites indoors in a terracotta bowl filled with small river rocks. Outdoors, I planted 60 white tulips in groups of 9 to 12 and 100 multi-coloured crocuses randomly. Hint: I used a cordless power drill fitted with a 1 inch blade to burrow the holes. Planting was easy but like all gardening projects a little hard on the nails. Spring flowers were beautiful especially the white tulips. I plan to plant more this fall.