TIP: Remember- fresh, warm water and your flowers will last much longer.

Flowers from your garden will be the freshest, most fragrant options that you will be able to find. But, I know, it’s hard to cut down that clump of tulips in your front flowerbed. So plan ahead a bit and work a flower cutting bed into your landscape. Fill it with bulbs like Tulips and Daffodils, annuals like Zinnias, Cleome, and Cosmos, and perennials such as Autumn Joy Sedum. Don’t forget the greenery- Hosta leaves and Ivy are workhorses in arrangements! When working with garden flowers, clean any stray dirt and always cut on a diagonal to ensure that the flower will draw up the most water. Place like type flowers in vases and enjoy! Be abundant and group the vases together for major impact on your dining table or foyer.

TIP: Daffodils have a substance that is poisonous to other flowers, so never mix them with others.

Flowers from a florist are luxurious and can either be arranged by them or by you. The florist will be able to broaden your flower choices by having things flown in from Europe, South America, and other parts of the United States. This is great for special occasions and events, but will be a bit pricier for the unique flowers that they carry. When ordering flowers, be specific about where they will go and what the event is.

TIP: Let your florist know that you are flexible with certain things like shape or color and they will hunt down the best seasonal flowers to fit your needs.

Flowers from a big box home store- what would you do with that? Flowering plants like hydrangea and lilies are a gorgeous centerpiece or on a foyer table. Usually they will carry flowering plants on a seasonal basis- so check out their offerings now and again. When you get the plant home, take the foil wrapper off and put it in a decorative container. Cover the soil with a top dressing of seashells, marbles, even aquarium gravel, and enjoy the instant impact of the blooms!

TIP: Poinsettias at Christmastime are best on a lower level, like a hearth, since they are rather branchy and their blooms are prettiest viewed downward.

The supermarket is one of my favorite places to buy flowers- convenient and relatively inexpensive if you are not too concerned with the choices. If you are lucky enough to have a place that offers a mixed bunch special or 3 bunches/ »$12, grab it up! The 3 bunch special you can buy all the same and have that glorious large bouquet sitting on your table. The mixed bunch requires a bit more work: we want to break it apart to make more of a statement. Generally there is a focal flower like a rose, filler flowers like baby’s breath, and some type of greenery in this bunch. Use three different vases-small, medium, and large, and divide the flowers up. In the smallest, lowest vase, put all of your greenery. In the medium one-use the filler flower to enhance this size vase. The focal flower goes in the most dramatic vase- that’s what you really paid for, so show it off. Group the three vases together and “wow” everyone with your flower arranging!

TIP: Do use the flower food packets that generally come with these bunches.

Flower arranging can be a lot of fun and need not take too much time and money. Be creative and mix and match your containers- I love to use canning jars in the summer with a single posy in each. Fresh flowers are all about immediate impact and putting a smile on your face. Life is too short, so go ahead indulge today!
Tracey Schabel is the editor of http://www.GirlzDealz.com and http://www.GirlzNetwork.com – websites “for women by women”, where you can find ideas, tips, and deals about home and lifestyle trends. Be sure to check out our websites for the latest in interior decorating, green living, lifestyle trends, handpicked shopping deals, entertaining, book reviews, and much more.