It’s about now each year that winter seems to really bite: cold and flu season is still well and truly with us and the warming rays of Spring are still a little way off. While you keep up the nutrition intake with season’s best produce, we thought we’d share some wellness boosters for your home, courtesy of our flower and gardening experts. And look at that, some of our floral favourites are at their best in the cooler months.
Clara at Clara’s Flowers has plenty of locally grown, seasonal flowers to choose from. “Tulips are great this time of year and there are plenty of colours available. The Tulipa ‘Queensland’ are really popular this year, their ‘fringed’ edges make them so pretty and delicate looking.
“The poppies from a local farmer here in Victoria have bloomed beautifully and they look great in a simple vase. If you are looking for something that makes you think of spring, the blossoms have flowered early and these are really stunning and simple, with white and pink double flowers.”
Clara recommends changing the vase water every two days and each time, cutting the stems and adding some flower food to the new water to help your flowers last longer.
Sebastian at Flawless Flowers has three recommendations for beautiful but easy flowers for this time of year. “We are able to get different varieties of flowers all year round now but traditional winter flowers that are looking really great right now are Tulips, Kale and Ranunculus. As they are perfectly in season, they are available in different colours and varieties.”
To help your flowers last as long as possible, keep them away from a heat source in the home. Sebastian recommends cutting the bottom of the stem off at an angle before putting into water and at every water change. Also, use flower food in the water, or you can use a little sugar. If looked after, the flowers should last up to two weeks.
If potted is more your thing then head to Prahran Garden Centre. There you will find lovely Cyclamen, Orchids and Peace Lillies. The Cyclamen come in different sizes and are available in white and vivid pink/purple, which is sure to brighten any room.
Helen says “Orchids are great all year round and Prahran Garden Centre has a selection of different varieties to choose from. Peace Lilllies are such an elegant flower that suit any style of décor, so you can’t go wrong.” And, if you prefer greenery, Monstera, Rubber, and Fiddle Leaf Fig plants are all on-trend.
Get to know more about some of these flower varieties:
Tulips: Whilst likely cultivated in Asia from the tenth century, tulips did not come to the attention of the West until the sixteenth century. They are typically associated with the Netherlands, which is the major producer for world markets. Tulip flowers are generally cup or star-shaped and they have minimal leaves.
Tulipa ‘Queensland’: These really pretty and long-lasting double-flowering tulips are easily identifiable by their reddish-pink ruffled flowers with frayed white edges. This variety has grown in popularity recently.
Kale: Kale flowers are really versatile, working well both on their own or as the focal flower in a bouquet. They have a bold appearance and are often symmetrical. They vary from deep purple to bright green to soft white. It is recommended to wash the vase and refill with fresh water each day and trim the ends every second day.
Cyclamen: Cyclamen have pretty and vibrant flowers with interesting leaves. They grow best in cool, humid conditions so, if your house is too warm you will notice the plant begin to yellow and the flowers will fade. Water the plant from below the leaves when the soil is dry to the touch.
Poppies: Poppies are available in almost every colour, though commonly referred to as red. Their petals have a ‘crinkled’ edge. Poppy seeds contain small quantities of both morphine and codeine, which are pain-relieving drugs that are still used today. Poppy seeds and fixed oils can also be nonnarcotic because when they are harvested about twenty days after the flower has opened, the morphine is no longer present.
