Bringing the Garden In
hoose a container. This will help deter- mine how many flowers you need to avoid overcutting. Pitchers, urns, pots, boxes (you might need a liner) or tin cans are all great options that you probably already have on hand. Clean the vessel and fill with fresh, cool water and flower food (see homemade recipe, at right). Floral Design by Jenni Koch Photography by Kelly Hutchinson C An easy guide to cutting, arranging and choosing the perfect container for your homegrown blooms.
Trim away foliage. Anything that will fall below the water line needs to be removed to help decrease microbial growth that can rot flowers. Also, remove any unnecessary leaves as they increase the rate of dehydration. Cut stems. Use a sharp knife or floral snips to cut stems at an approximate 45-degree angle. Design. Begin placing larger stems in the con- tainer and rotate it as you work until reaching
desired fullness. Ideally, you want your flower height to be no more than 1-1/2 times your container height. Add in any foliage to make it fuller and give it a little extra life. There are no rights or wrongs to colors. Play with different flowers and styles to create something that’s truly your own! How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh • Use cool fresh water • Use flower food • Keep vase water clean and free of debris • Keep them cool and out of direct sunlight Homemade Flower Food Effective and easy-to-make preservative that uses products you have around the house. 1 teaspoon sugar
Simple, early summer arrangement of mixed pink peonies and white anemones, placed in an antique mercury urn.
1 teaspoon household bleach 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice 1 quart lukewarm water
Jenni is a local floral designer and owner of Wild Hill Flowers. She and her husband, Charlie, live in Spring Hill, KS, with their sweet and active 2-year-old daughter, Katie.
Lavender is a charming addition to your home décor! Stems should be cut just above the leaves when the flower buds are about to open and have good color. This is when they are the most fragrant. Tie them into bundles and hang upside down in a dry, dark place. They will take a few weeks to dry!
Summer bouquet of dark purple lisianthus, dian- thus, sweetheart roses, ranunculus, dusty miller and limonium in a large ceramic pot.
Check out her store at wildhillflowers.com.
VintageKC / Spring 2014 27
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