SUMMER FLORAL ARRANGEMENT OF LILIES, ZINNIAS AND GLADIOLA

This week's floral arrangement uses the last of my blooming ORIENTAL LILIES, and the bright, ever-blooming STATE FAIR ZINNIAS, and the third flush of GLADIOLA. UCHIDA LILY is a beautiful, late-bloomer, and will stay fresh for much longer than a week in this arrangement. FLASH POINT OT LILY is like Stargazer Lily on steroids--much taller and thicker stems, but looks like Stargazer. Colorful 3-4 foot tall STATE FAIR ZINNIAS remind me of Gerber Daisies, but are much easier to grow and stay fresher much longer in the vase. I plant  GLADIOLA corms early spring, and then at two-week intervals, giving me blooms through the summer and into early fall.  As always, cut blooms early in the morning, or at dusk in the evening for arrangements that last the longest in the vase.  Add a floral preservative to your water, and recut the stems under water after picking when you arrange to give the longest vase life results.