YOUR PLACE ON THE CUTTING EDGE.Byline: Barbara De Witt De Witt, uninc. town (1990 pop. 8,244), Onondaga co., central N.Y., a residential suburb of Syracuse. All those roses, irises and daisies are finally in bloom, just waiting to be snipped and styled into a floral arrangement. But you need to have a snipping strategy. ``Don't just rush out in the middle of the day, because your flowers will rapidly wilt. The best time to cut flowers flowers cut from the stalk, as for making a bouquet. See also: Flower is in the morning before the dew has evaporated, or in the early evening,'' says Robin Pokorski, president of the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Garden Club, which was founded in 1927. More tips? Marigolds, zinnias and mums need to be fully open when you cut them, while others such as roses are best cut when the buds aren't fully open, and about a half-inch above a five-leaflet leaf. And while it's best to cut stems at a slant underwater for the vase, Pokorski says stems on the bush should always be cut straight across to prevent pests from gaining easy entry. When you're ready to cut the flowers, take a bucket of tepid (room temperature) water outside with you so you can immediately slip the flowers into the water. It's called conditioning thirsty flowers to ``harden up,'' says Pat Ross in her book ``Flowerstyle: The FTD FTD Financial Times Deutschland (German sister newspaper of the Financial Times) FTD Frontotemporal Dementia FTD Fitted FTD Federal Tax Deposit FTD Flight Training Device FTD Fastest Time of the Day Guide to Flowers in Your Home'' (Stewart Tabori & Chang; $47.95), otherwise the stems will go into shock and close up and you'll have to recut them in the house. Ross also says to strip lower leaves, trim off thorns and cut stems at an angle, which takes time and patience. The result is longer-lasting flowers and minimal bacterial growth Bacterial growth The processes of both the increase in number and the increase in mass of bacteria. Growth has three distinct aspects: biomass production, cell production, and cell survival. (a common problem with daisies and mums) that causes the water to get stinky. Florists and garden experts also suggest changing water in your vase every day or so to keep flowers looking fresher longer. Want flowers with longevity? Pass on the pansies. Those that will last a week or longer, says Pokorski, include iris, dahlias, roses, mums, sunflowers, daisies, calla (lilies), daylilies, alstroemeria al·stroe·me·ri·a n. Any of several South American perennial herbs of the genus Alstroemeria, popular as cut flowers for their showy, variously colored blooms. , gardenias, carnations, bird of paradise bird of paradise, common name for any of 43 species of medium- to crow-sized passerine birds of New Guinea and the adjacent islands, known for the bright plumage, elongated tail feathers called wires, and brilliant ruffs of the males. , sea lavender sea lavender Any of about 300 species of chiefly perennial herbaceous plants that make up the genus Limonium of the family Plumbaginaceae, especially L. vulgare. Bearing small flowers in dense spikes, L. (also known as statice) and cymbidium orchids. When the arrangement is totally limp and ready for the compost heap Noun 1. compost heap - a heap of manure and vegetation and other organic residues that are decaying to become compost compost pile cumulation, heap, pile, agglomerate, cumulus, mound - a collection of objects laid on top of each other , be sure to wash your vase with hot soapy water and a little ammonia to kill any bacteria from the last flower arrangement. For more information about cut flowers, check out the number of new books on the subject. One of the most stunning is Barbara Bordnick's coffee table book ``Searchings: Secret Landscapes of Flowers'' (Welcome Books; $40). Her close-ups of the most glorious blooms are exquisite, and their beauty will last longer than any bouquet. Rebecca Cole's ``Flower Power'' (Potter; $30) is short on photos but the author gives complete instructions on how to pick the best flowers at a market or flower stand (always look for sturdy stems) and even how to wire them to look like they were created by an upscale florist. Think flowers can only be arranged in a vase? You've got to see David Stark
Regardless of what you snip, garden experts always advise washing the clippers or scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends with soap and water when you've finished, and also drying well to avoid rust. CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Left, Robin Pokorski demonstrates how to clip roses. Inset, Garden tools include gloves, a rolling garden stool and clippers. (3) no caption (book: ``Flower Power'') (4) no caption (book: ``Wild Flowers'') |
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