RED, WHITE AND BLUE ARRANGEMENTS -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Red hybrid tea rose "Abraham Lincoln," white daisy "Esther Read," and Asiatic lilies "Red Alert" and "Olina Eyemaster" and white "Royal Respect" with true blue bush delphinium make a colorful and patriotic arrangement for the 4th of July holiday.

Some years I didn't have white roses all month long, so I planted early blooming white Asiatic lilies. They, along with my favorite daisy, Esther Read, which was a transplant more than 40 years ago from my Grandmother's garden, always give me the white that I need. I've also used white clematis in years past--it just depends what is blooming the day I need them.

I snip off the stamens from the white lilies--this keeps the petals white (no falling pollen on them), and also increases their longevity in the arrangement.  However, in some arrangements, the stamens add some real beauty.

I'm always happy for July to roll around, and anxious to see what is blooming for the arrangement.

RED, WHITE, and BLUE -- Patriotic Summer Arrangements

In Utah the week of the 24th is a special holiday; Utah became a state on that date. So, for the July 19th arrangement, I did a red, white and blue bouquet. Huge red State Fair zinnias, white and red glads, and white glads and daisies, with bright blue bush delphinium make up this festive arrangement. A flag finishes off the look. After the blue delphinium are finished blooming, I let the seed pods dry, then crush the pods and sprinkle the seeds right onto the damp, but not wet, soil. Press slightly, but they need light to germinate, so don't cover. The fresh seed will germinate quickly, and little seedlings will come up. When a couple of inches tall, you can transplant them to areas you desire, or you can just thin them out. Always keep flower arrangements out of direct sun and drafts. Change water every other day if possible, using a floral preservative in the water.

SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS WITH COLOR - Use a variety of flowers for impact

Early summer blooms from the garden make this July 12th arrangement colorful and happy. Gladiola, lilies, zinnias, delphinium and daisies in various colors of yellow, pink, blue, and white are in the bouquet, which will last more than a week. Gladiolas will bloom in the garden late spring through fall because of early planting, and planting at 2-week intervals from early spring into early summer. Delphinium is the same. By cutting down to the basal leaves after the first bloom, it will bloom again. I can get three bloom cycles from the delphinium in a season. Zinnias will bloom until a killing frost in fall. The more you cut, the more they bloom. The vase is a new one--a friend gave it to me for helping with the wedding reception of her daughter. I love it! It holds about 11 quarts of water, and is very heavy to carry, so I only fill it up not quite half way. As always, use a floral preservative and make a second cut of the stems under water for longer vase life.

ARRANGEMENTS - RED, WHITE & BLUE FOR THE 4TH OF JULY

I always like to do a few arrangements in red, white and blue for the month of July.  June 29th was the first of three arrangements done in these colors. It's interesting to see what's blooming in these colors year to year. Since Mother Nature doesn't always follow a schedule, the flowers in bloom will be different each year.This year, the red Asiatic lilies I usually use had already bloomed a week or two prior. The red and white gladiola weren't quite ready for bloom. Luckily, the first flush of bush delphinium were in bloom. Bright blue delphinium are great to use in arrangements; they have an extra-long vase life. I have 4 different daises in the garden, and used 3 varieties--Shasta daisy, Crazy Daisy and one I call Grandma's daisy-mum, because it looks like a mum; I took a start of it from my Grandma's several years ago. I have transplanted it in many places throughout the gardens and have shared it with several friends. I have never seen this variety in any nurseries, so I haven't been able to name the beautiful and long-lasting flower. However, I had to buy some small red button carnations, having no red in the garden. 

2014 FLORAL ARRANGEMENT - USING LILIES, ZINNIAS and DELPHINIUM

The fragrant, giant OT LILIES are beginning to bloom, as well as the last of the ASIATIC LILIES. Together with colorful STATE FAIR ZINNIAS, my favorite DAISY from my Grandma Holland's garden, the first GLADIOLA of the year, and bright blue bush DELPHINIUM, this arrangement will have a long-lasting vase life.  As always, cut at dusk, or early in the morning before the sun is up.  Plunge immediately in water with a floral preservative.  Keep out of bright, direct light for a longer vase life.  Change water if possible, every other day.

State Fair Zinnias

First GLADIOLA bloom of the year

My favorite DAISY
The start came from my Grandma's garden 35 years ago

Bright Blue Bush Delphinium

Fragrant HOLLAND BEAUTY - a favorite OT lily

I love these 36" + STATE FAIR ZINNIAS--they'll bloom until frost

You can see fragrant SALTERO Lily (left) and Fragrant CONCA D'OR lily (right)