The Holiday Countdown

     Here we are, one week from Thanksgiving again.  I hope you have your menu ready and are on your diet now so that when the big day is here you can eat a lot!  We are getting ready this week for a busy next week.  Usually this time of year people are sending their loved ones something festive for the holiday such as a cornucopia or a beautiful centerpiece for the table.  This is a cornucopia on the left that I  made using artificial fruit with fresh flowers.  It really brightens up a room with the Thanksgiving theme.

 
     If you receive an arrangement for the holidays you will need a few helpful tips to help keep it beautiful as long as possible.  Most importantly, water.  Fresh flowers will not last without water.  Make sure and water your arrangement at least once a day. At home, I add one cap full of bleach to a gallon of water.  The bleach keeps the bacteria from growing, but will not harm the flowers.  Be very careful though and use the bleach sparingly.  Depending on how warm your environment is, you might need to water twice a day.  Find a spot for your arrangement and leave it there, if possible. The less it gets moved around the better.  Fresh stems are fragile when they are bumped and jostled around.  Make sure there are no heat vents blowing directly on your flowers.  The warmer the air, the faster your flowers will age.
     As the arrangement begins to age you can pull out the old flowers and rearrange the remaining flowers to manage the bouquet.  This will give your arrangement the effect that it is not aging as fast.  Fresh flowers are easy to move inside the bouquet.  Simply, pull out the stem clip it then put the stem back in the oasis or green foam.
     Hopefully these tips will help you keep your flowers beautiful.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that you will consider adding some fresh flowers to your home to welcome your guests.
Sherry