 |
(Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine) |
I’m at the flower market; what should I look for?
Just as tomatoes taste freshest in the summer, flowers look best when bought in season. I like shopping in the Flower District or at the farmers’ market. The Flower District has a mix of seasonal and imported flowers; farmers’ markets exclusively sell seasonally and locally grown flowers.
How can an amateur create an elegant arrangement?
An easy way to create a sophisticated bouquet is to use a large amount of the same flower or branch. I’m very into putting stemmed fruit into arrangements right now.
Thoughts on the deli bouquet?
Deli arrangements are not always in season and are often dyed. There’s no way to determine how old they are. It’s worth the extra ten bucks to shop at the florist’s. Certain flowers inherently live longer than others, though, so if you truly need a grab-and-go bouquet, buy whatever is in season. But check the stems! If you see dye seeping through the base, move along.
What types of flowers do you like for the fall?
Dahlias start blooming in the summer and are available through the fall. And sunflowers are available through the fall, too. When in doubt, buy roses. They’re available year-round and come in lots of colors. Plants like black basil, flowering oregano, and peppers on the vine come alive in autumn and look beautiful in bouquets.
Any simple tricks for keeping arrangements alive?
Recut the stems on an angle, to increase the surface area from which the stem can hydrate. Flowering-branch stems should be hammered or mashed a bit, then cut. Flowers need to eat. Pour that packet of preservatives you get with your bouquet into the vase. If you don’t have the packet, add 7-Up to the water, with a wee bit of bleach to keep the water clear. The sugar will help extend the life of the plant. Change your water every two days or as soon as it starts to look murky, and recut the stems when the water is changed. Most important, be sure there’s no foliage below the waterline. Leaves, thorns, and other debris introduce bacteria into the water, and that will kill your flowers.
Any recommendations for the allergic or absentminded who want some green at home?
There are a ton of blossomless options that need to be watered less frequently. My favorite low-maintenance plants are potted herbs, scented geranium, and aloe vera. If you want to make a bigger statement, ficus fig trees and Boston ferns are very hardy and hard to kill.