Buy yourself the flowers…

March in like a lion, out like a lamb? I don’t know about you but I am SO ready for spring. The last few weeks of winter usually weigh on my mental health. Holidays are done, our winter birthday celebrations are done and I’m eager to get outside with the kids. We get little glimpses of spring and then winter is back with a vengeance.

For the past few years, getting myself a bunch of fresh stems has been my favorite way to brighten up the house and my spirits. It’s really amazing the effect waking up to fresh flowers can be. I am lucky because we have a local flower farm that sets up at our farmer’s market every week with stunning, in-season stems. I know this isn’t a possibility for everyone, but if you also love fresh flowers I wanted to share some sources online where you can find beautiful blooms, as well as my tried and true tips for keeping your blooms fresh as long as possible and how I choose my flowers.

Choosing your flower:

When it comes to choosing flowers, I like to go with what is in-season at that time. In late winter/early spring I usually go for things like daffodils, ranunculus, anemones, quince blossoms and forsythia branches. My personal preference is to just have a bunch of one type of flower, rather than mixed. If I am going to mix flowers, I will choose them in a monochromatic scheme.

Flowering branches are a great way to add some drama to a space. The forsythia branches I’ve shared recently lasted almost 3 weeks!

Keeping your stems fresh:

Most flowers will stay fresh for up to two weeks if you care for them properly. Here’s a few tips that will apply to most flowers to keep them thriving longer:

Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline in your vase or vessel.
Use a clean and sharp pair of shears to snip the ends of your stems at a 45 degree angle under water. Cutting them under water helps to eliminate any contamination or bacteria from getting into the flower.
Place your stems into warm water (with the exception of flowers that grow from a bulb like daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, which typically prefer cool water.)
If available, use a floral preservative in your vase water.
Replace water every 2 days, if not daily.

Wilted / dying blooms?

When your fresh flowers eventually get to the end of their life, you can either dry them by hanging upside down in a cool/dark place for a dried arrangement, press them for use in crafts, make potpourri, or just simply compost.

One of my favorites is to make potpourri.

To make potpourri, remove all the petals from the flower and place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 200 degrees for a few hours until completely dry. Once petals have dried, place them in an airtight container with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Close the lid and allow the oils to absorb for 4-6 weeks. Then you can display in a jar or put in a satchel for your drawers or closet.

Where to find fresh flowers:

Trader Joe’s is always a great option if you have one nearby. I like to choose a couple of filler bunches that are usually around $4 each and create my own arrangement. You can see a tutorial I shared here. You can do a lot with grocery store flowers without spending too much. The options linked below are a bit of a splurge, but beautiful nonetheless.