A week is a long time in politics. It's a lifetime for a bouquet of tulips! From tender baby buds to the dried edges of a dying blossom, there's beauty at every stage of a tulip's life. How do you make them stay, as Jackson Browne would say, "just a little bit longer"?
It starts when you chose the bouquet. Tightly closed buds will begin to open overnight, and slowly unfurl in the days to come. If you buy fully opened blossoms, they'll put on a great show for tonight's dinner party, and then take their bows. It's curtains for them.
Once home with your flower bundle, wash your vase, to prevent any bacteria from attacking the tulips. Fill the clean vase with fresh, room temperature water. Martha Stewart recommends placing tulips in shallow water, about one third full, however, everyone else fills vases three-quarters full. If the florist or grocer has not provided a little packet of plant food to dissolve into the water, you can make your own. One teaspoon of sugar and two drops of bleach in four litres (about a gallon) of water, will keep your bouquet fresher, longer.
Cut the tulip stems at a 45 degree angle, so that they will absorb water better. Leaves will decompose in water, and contaminate it. So, remove all low-growing leaves on the tulip stems. Change the water every day or two. Keep the tulip arrangement in a cool place, away from strong sunlight.
If you want the tulips to last a really long time - take a picture! Maybe that's why politicians love those photo ops.
Photographs Copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.
WOW Ruth!,
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful. My Azeleas are beginning to bloom and one Camellia bush is almost done with its blooms. I wish they would bloom year around...
Thanks for sharing those beautiful photos.
Thank you, Monique. Azaleas are one of my favourites. I envy your Southern climate.
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