Hollyhocks make every flower bouquet special.
Have you cut hollyhocks only to watch them wilt in a few minutes.
Hollyhocks will last for days in water if you know this little trick. Singe the ends over a flame for 20 to 30 seconds.
This only works with
SIDE STEMS (pictured on the right).
The hollyhock main stems (pictured to the left) will not work.
And while you have so many beautiful hollyhocks in your garden.
why not dry a few. Their colors will last for several years.
Wait until the dew is gone from the flower and immediately place in very dry sand. Cover completely with sand and place in dry spot for 5 to 7 days.
Pour sand off slowly.
(Use Builders Sand from the Home Improvement store, it is inexpensive and does a better job than expensive silica sand).
Hollyhocks, Roses, Clematis, Anemones, Ladies Mantle and Cosmos all live happily in one container.
Happy gathering,
Gina
Gina, I did not know that trick about hollyhocks. Your arrangements are stunning!
ReplyDeleteHello Art @ Home, This little trick works every time. Give it a try. Thank you for your visit.
DeleteBeautiful bouquet, Gina!
ReplyDeleteHello Marigene, Hollyhocks grow everywhere and make instant bouquets.Thank you for commenting.
DeleteI love these colourful flowerarrangements and so special with hollyhocks.
ReplyDeleteHello Janeke, I don't know of any flower that doesn't look wonderful with Hollyhocks. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteHello, Gina — I wish this method of extended lifespan were true for roses. I have given up using them for arrangements.
ReplyDeleteDear Mark, Here are a few tips to extend the life of a rose: Always cut them very early in the morning, never, never in the heat of the day. Best if you give the plant a good soaking the night before. Take a pail of water with you and plunge rose into water as you cut each one. Let sit in water and in the dark for several hours. When re-cutting roses, always cut stems under water. Drop a few copper pennies into vase or a couple of Aspirin. This applies only to roses from the garden. Not those from the Florist. You never know how old they are because they have been kept in a cooler. Good Luck.
DeleteDear Gina,
ReplyDeleteyour vase holds a lovely variety of flowers and colors so beautifully and artistically arranged and photographed. Do I see raindrops on your windows in the background? Not many flowers are to be found in my garden now, except for a magnificent Lily 'Ellen Bosanquet'.
Warm greetings, Sieglinde
Yikes dear Sieglinde. What you see are dirty windows. You never even miss the tiniest detail. In addition, yes, we have had a few very welcome rain showers. Makes everything so green and beautiful.
DeleteI have seen your photos of your magnificent Lily Ellen Bosanquet. She is a beauty!
Dear Gina - your pretty hollyhocks evoke childhood for me, my father grew them in all colour-ways.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - are you getting to grips with the camera?
You have so many good tips on extending life, do you have any tips for we humans to keep us preserved and going for longer????
Dear Rosemary, Have you tried growing Hollyhocks? Do they do well in your climate? I know that if I want pretty hollyhocks I have to deep water their roots almost every day. It is worth it.
DeleteYes, I like my new camera. I use it most of the time but sometimes go back to my old one. How about you? do you use yours exclusively? The photos of your last post were absolutely stunning.
I think that you have the business of longevity already figured out..A keen Interest in life seems to be the answer.
Hollyhocks grow very well here, they are the flower of choice to grow in old cottage gardens. I don't have any at the moment, but should really rectify that.
DeleteI only use the new camera now Gina, but still have some posts in drafts done with my old one.
Dear Rosemary, Did you use your new camera for your post about Notre-Dame and Saint-Etienne? As I recall Notre Dame is very dark inside yet you were able to produce wonderfully bright images. What setting did you use? Your suggestions are always appreciated.
DeleteYes, I used it on that post, but I don't bother to change the setting, I just leave it on intelligent auto Gina
DeleteThank you Rosemary. You are so very nice. ox
DeleteGina, the colors of those flowers in your photographs are so dazzling, yet also harmonious...just the perfect contrasts of shapes and textures, too. How you have me yearning for a garden. Maybe next year....
ReplyDeleteThank you also for all the preservation tips to keep those beautiful blooms going much longer.
Hollyhocks were a childhood favorite of mine. I could always imagine the blooms as little ladies wearing beautiful full skirts!
Happy weekend to you and many thanks for the beauty you bring us in each post. xo
Dear Frances, You are so sweet. Your comments are always so appreciated. I wish you could have just a little bit of a garden because you love flowers so.
DeleteI see in your beautiful knitting how you appreciate color and you always incorporate different colors in such artistic ways. Your knitting is complicated, difficult to execute, and beautiful at the same time.
You are a true artist.
What beauty this post holds, as all of your posts do, but this one truly hit the spot this evening as I try and not focus on more heavy rains coming our way. I used to have Hollyhocks and other lovely flowers and I am not sure if it is the shade areas, or too many things all planted too close together, or the wildlife, but I have none left. What marvelous ideas though to preserve their beauty a little longer., Have a great week Gina~
ReplyDeleteHello Mary, I am so sorry to hear about your rainy weather. Hollyhocks really do like the sun. If you would like to give them another try I would love to send you a whole bunch of seeds. All you have to do is broadcast them over several areas and I know that you will have success. Just let me know.
Delete