The days are shorter and nights are colder, but there’s still plenty of botanical beauty to be found outside -- and brought inside for enjoyment.
Should your own garden be devoid of chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias or other brilliant fall favorites, you can purchase fresh cuts from a florist to arrange at home. Sharla Hubbard of Lewiston’s Stillings and Embry Florists said the selection they offer in the fall is similar to what is available year round, but the reds, oranges and yellows of the season become more popular.
Fresh cut flowers need to be trimmed before being placed in water, Hubbard said, because of an air bubble that forms in the stem, preventing water intake. Cutting an inch or more off the bottom helps the flowers last longer.
When arranging, Hubbard suggests creating a grid with clear tape across the top of the vase, which helps stems stay where you want them. The final arrangement should be kept out of direct sunlight, as well as appliances that emit heat.
One of the common techniques for arranging outdoor flower containers works for bouquets as well -- using thrillers, fillers and spillers, you can create festive fall floral arrangements:
Thrillers. These are the showstoppers of your floral arrangement. Popular fall options from your florist or garden include sunflowers, chrysanthemums, dahlias, roses and zinnia. For a medium size arrangement, select five to eight stars for your floral show in the palette you prefer, whether single tone or combination.
Fillers. Once your thrillers are selected, it’s time to fill in the gaps using smaller flowers, greenery or whatever else strikes your fancy. Statice and alstroemeria are long-lasting options available at most florists, but don’t rule out getting creative from cuttings from your yard. Evergreen shrubs, bare branches, ornamental berries and grass, garden cuttings, lavender and daisies are just a few things you might find.
Spillers. These are the fillers that round out an arrangement by flowing downwards. You don’t see them all the time, but if you have strongly vertical flowers, spillers can soften the edges. Any filler that has a floppy inclination can be place at the bottom of an arrangement, spilling out of it.
Looking for more floral beauty and ideas for arrangements? The 34th annual fall flower show, sponsored by the Garden Club for All Seasons and the Hi Lo Chrysanthemum Society takes place today through Saturday in Clarkston. Several varieties of cut flowers and arrangements will be judged and on display.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: “Welcome Autumn” annual fall flower show
WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Patt’s Garden Center, 1280 Port Drive, Clarkston
COST: Free
