Exotic Flowers in Boston

Boston is starting to slide into another season and so aren’t thecity’s florists who are changing their palettes accordingly.  The soft pastels and vibrant green and blue hues that traditionally grace the floral vases of summer are beautiful but it’s time to swap things up! Warm tints of gold, red, sienna and emerald are just what we’re looking for to dramatize our creations and omit a seducing taste of what autumn has to offer.  Texture, tone and container selection are all part of fall’s new style with simple designs that you can even recreate at home!  Here is one I whipped up over the weekend that reflects this current fad of flowers, which was not only easy to make but really inexpensive as well.  Here are the steps to achieving these three seasonal arrangements for your bedrooms, living rooms or kitchens!

What you’ll need:  

1. A watertight container.  Preferably a ceramic dish, bowl or planter that has a bit of wear and tear.  The chips or faded color will just add to the appearance of the arrangement and reflect a fuss-free style.
2. Flowers, flowers, flowers!  Either take a peek in your backyard or visit a flower shop for these fall ready varieties.  If you have one close by, hit a farm stand-they usually have freshly picked goodies that will last and last.  In these pieces, I’ve chosen green amaranths, black millet, October-weed and black privet berries but exchange any of these for other options available that you prefer as long as you don’t spend double the amount.  All of these flowers cost me less than $25.00 from a nearby farm with fill ins from my own garden so look for the native blossoms first that are usually low in cost.  
3. A pair of cutting shears.  Try not to use scissors but if you must, cut the stems on an angle to avoid shredding.

As Simple AS 1-2-3:

1. Fill your container up with warm water-NOT HOT!  Steamy water will kill the flowers faster than anything else so keep the temperature moderate.  
2. Start with the variety that is most “bushy” and cut the stem to the desirable length, making a globe structure.  Once you have the base, add in the rest of the flowers placing them strategically throughout the arrangement.  Avoid clumping too many of the same varieties together in one place- it will make your design look “clumpy”.  
3. Use whatever sprigs are leftover and place them in bud jars for the bathroom or entryway.  Never, Never, NEVER throw out flowers that can be used somewhere else and ENJOY!

I’ve always had a sweet spot for sunflowers in the summertime and clearly I’m not alone judging from the beautiful pictures I always see while scrolling down social media feeds.  Maybe it’s their happy faces or maybe it’s their colorful warm glow of yellow that triggers pleasant thoughts from onlookers.  For me, a sunflower’s simple elegance as it towers above all other flowers growing from the earth is what has kept this bloom my one my seasonal favorites.  

The funny thing about sunflowers is that although they can be easily grown by seeds in a variety of different soil conditions, they are commonly threatened by wildlife such as chipmunks, rabbits and worst of all, woodchucks!  I have my own battles brewing in the yard against pests that bend the sunflowers stems until it snaps, allowing them easy access to the plant’s leaves.  Yes, you can attempt to stake the stalks but even that’s no sure fire way to ward of those horrible rodents from ruining your gardening efforts.  This year, I decided that I would try to out-seed the demand by growing three times the amount of sunflowers that I have in the past.  Right now, I have around ten sunflowers out of thirty looking hopeful but you never know when their number is up when it comes to critters.  After all, they have to eat too, right?

So the better answer to enjoying these stunning summer blossom is to locate farms that professionally grow them, allowing you to not only view the sunflower fields but to also take a few stems home for yourself!  Typically, these are called flower-cutting farms where you bring or borrow a pair of clippers, tote a bucket and clip from their crops cultivated especially for this activity.  Make sure you ask what their rules are before cutting since many of these operations take the care of their harvest very seriously and what to ensure a long season of beauty for all.  

Interestingly, there are many places that offer this fun and memorable chance to clip sunflowers and here are a few that I’ve found to be wonderful so far!

Tangerini’s Farm         Indian Head Farm                  Land’s Sake Farm

 Spring Street                232 Pleasant Street                90 Wellesley Street

 Millis, Ma                       Berlin, MA                               Weston, Ma

I really love flowers.

So much so that it’s hard not to want fresh arrangements in every room of my home every day of the year but the problem is, this addiction can sometimes get pricey.   It’s true there are hundreds of affordable options available to people like me that won't break the bank such as spring tulips and bulbs of narcissus that seem to be sold everywhere but what if I’m looking for more?  There’s nothing like looking at a mixed bouquet or a mound of wild flowers to brighten up a dreary day so how can we incorporate blooms into our everyday life without going flat broke?  You’ll be pleased to know that after careful research and years of experimentation, I’ve come up with a set of tips that can lift you out of the flower drought while still staying on budget.  By referring to these guidelines, not only will you be able to enjoy this delightful vice without spending exorbitant amounts of cash but you’ll learn a thing or two about designing on your own!  It’s fun, fast and as easy as 1-2-3, plus your aura and home will glow from the presence of having frequently displayed flowers.

Tips for the Addicted Flower Lover

1.  Tulips sometimes get a bad wrap from flower snobs who consider them to be beneath other exotic varieties but in reality, they are truly stunning when bunched together in a mass and dropped into an attractive container.  

Species such as French Tulips or Parrot Tulips are drop dead gorgeous and are cultivated in a broad spectrum of color leaving the possibilities endless.   They’re also relatively inexpensive if you're attracted to some of the plainer breeds which still have a lifespan of at least a week if not longer.  Dutch tulips are ranked number one in the industry making their lifespan a few days longer than other competitors.  One thing to keep in mind is to make sure that you cut tulip stems a little shorter than desired because they actually stretch in height as they soak up water.

2.  If you have a garden, pull out the clippers and snag a few of the early spring arrivals that might be starting to pop up in your yard.  Plants and flowers such as forsythia, grape hyacinth and daffodils make perfect kitchen and bathroom arrangements and come in cheery tones of bright yellow or lavender/purple.  They won't cost you a thing plus you know that they’ll last being brought straight in from the garden.  I wouldn’t wait too long though since these flowers despise the heat and only last during the cool and wet days of early spring.

3.  Did you know that you can grow flowers from seed all throughout the year?  That’s right!  All you need is a warm and sunny window to harvest your very favorite blooms and it won't matter a bit if there’s still snow on the ground.  Put away some packets from your summer stash and start growing your own whenever you feel like it!