Details December 2022

Embossed tree | $35eachfrom LittleMissMuffin (766HarrisonAve.,504 482-8200;3307SevernAve., Metairie,504-455-1444; shoplittlemissmuffin.com).

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JUDYATTHE RINK

Cajunmagnolia

891-2005;4300Magazine St.,800-375-7557;3301 VeteransMemorialBlvd., Metairie,504-835-2244; mignonfaget.com)..

On theRocks

7018;judyattherink.com)

$18from Tiff’sGifts (4413ChastantSt., Metairie, 504-512-2249; facebook.com/ tiffstreasuretroveshop) STAFFPHOTO

EVERY ROOM FOR ABloom

TIPS FOR stylingflorals

By JENNYPETERSON

Everyday flowers canbeaneasyway tobrightenupanyroomin yourhouse,notjustfortheholidayseason,butyear-round. Thankstoalargeselectionoffreshflowersatlocalgrocerystoresand markets,freshbloomsarereadilyavailableandperfectforwintercele brationorjustamid-weekpick-me-up.

GET PICKY

KENMARINO,AFLORALDESIGNER ANDOWNERofFabulousFlowers, whichprovidesfloralsforspecial occasions,weddingsandother events,regularlypicksupfresh flowersfromthegrocerystorefor animpromptucenterpiece

“It’sreallyeasyandconvenientto getamixofflowersatareasonable price,”hesays.

Butthere’samethodtoselecting flowers.Marinorecommendswhen choosingrosesatthegrocerystore, givingthebudasqueezetoseeif it’sfresh.

“Squeezerightabovethestem tofeelthebaseoftherose.Ifit’s firm,thatmeanit’sfresh.Ifit’s mushyandthepetalsopenwhen yousqueezeit,thatmeansit’solder andthelifespanwillbereduced,” hesays.

Thoughdeep,redrosesareespeciallyfestiveforwinterholidays, theydon’tlastaslongasothervarietiesoffreshflowers,Marinosays.

Daisyvarieties,includingchrysan themumsandredrovers,canlast morethanaweekwithpropercare andwatering.Liliesalsolast,but thebudscanoftentakeseveraldays tobloom.

“TheliliesIhaveinmykitchen rightnowareverytightbudsand they’renotshowinganycoloryet, andthey’lltakeatleastthreeorfour daystoopen,”Marinosays.“Ifyou wantsomethingtoshowoffthat sameday,youwouldn’twantto choosealily.”

Butwatchoutforliliesthathave white“dust”inthestamens,which Marinosaysmeansthey’relikely pasttheirprime.

Waystorampuptheeffectsof grocerystoreflowerscaninclude addingseasonalgreeneryfromyour ownbackyardorselectingsome fromalocalpark.

“Englishivygrowingonoutdoor walls,palmfrondsfrompalmtrees —Icutgreeneryoffofmybushesall thetime,”Marinosays.“Iputapop ofgreeninabouquettomakethem lookfuller.”

SEASONAL FLAIR

TRENDSINWINTERFLORALSskew lotsofredandgreentones,Marino says.Theiconicpoinsettiaisaholidaystapleplant,butitispoisonous todogsandcats,sokeepthese plantsoutofreach.

Dressingupaneverydaybouquet offreshflowerswithatwigofber riesoreventinyornamentsortinsel

canbeanodtotheholiday.Fora holidaylook,Marinoalsosuggests takingasmallbranchfromapine orfirtreeandplacingitinsidea bouquetwithdeeprichflorals.

Professionalfloristsaregetting bookedupforholidayparties,so reachoutassoonaspossibleifyou wanttoleaveyourcenterpiecesto thepros.

TRIM ANDFEED

TRIMMINGTHESTEMSOFFRESH

FLOWERSatananglewithapairof scissorsorsharpknifeisamust-do onceyougetflowershome, Marinosays

“Afreshcutatananglemeans theyhaveabiggersurfaceareato drawwaterin,”hesays.“Addthe littlepacketofpreservativeflower foodthatcomeswiththemandput theminlukewarmwater—flowers drinkbetteroutofwarmwaterthan coldwater.”

Marinonotesthatflowerfood shouldnotbeusedwithametal container,astheflowerfoodcan reactwiththemetalandshorten thelifeoftheflowers.Stickwith flowerfoodonlyforglassandplas ticcontainers.

DESIGN TO MATCH

THEVESSEL

ALMOSTANYCONTAINERINYOUR HOMEcanbecomeamakeshiftvase —baskets,smallcoppertubs,tall glassesandmore.Andanyofthose

JENNY PETERSON

Redand greentonesare popularthistime of year,and expertssuggest addingseasonal berries or sprigs of pine or fir forfestive accents.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FEDERICO’S FLORIST

The poinsettia is aholidaystaple,but it’s importanttokeep it away from pets.

FILE PHOTO

caneasilybestyledforthewinterseason, withribbons,twinklelightsorotheraccoutrements.

“It’seasytojustgrabsomethingthat’s sittingonacounteroronashelfandturn thatintoavase,”Marinosays.

Foraprofessionallook,Marinosuggests trimmingtheflowerstemssothatthetop oftheflowersarejustabovetheedgeofthe containerorvessel youdon’twantinches ofstemsshowing

“Youcanbuildupstems(inside)the bouquetbutyouwanttohaveatleastthe frontbaseflowerlinetostartatthelipofthe vase,”hesays.

Tocreateamoredramaticdesign,Marino useslongstemsinthemiddleofabouquet.

“Ioftenusetipsofcurlywillowtomakethe designtaller,withprettytwigs,”hesays

Anotherprotipistoarrangetheflowers tomatchthecontainer.Ifthevesselislong andlow likeametaltub,forexample keeptheflowerslowtofollowthelineofthe container.

“Ifyouhavearoundbase,lettheflowers beafull,rounddesign,”Marinosays “If you’reputtingtheflowersonashelforon acounter,youcaneasilydoathree-sided design(withthelastsidefacingthewall).”

EVERY ROOM FOR ABloom

EXTEND THE LIFE OF FLOWERS

INORDERTOEXTENDthelifeoffresh flowers,Marinosaystochangeoutthewater everythirdday.

AsurprisingprotipforDIYflowerfood? FlatSpriteor7-Up

“Youdon’twanttohavecarbonationinit becausethatactuallypreventtheflowers fromdrawingwater,”hesays “Butflatsoda hasthesugarthathelpspreservesflowers andmakesthemlastlonger.”

MIXED MATERIALS

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KEN MARINO

WHILEMARINOMAINLYFOCUSESONfresh flowerarrangements,driedandsilkflowers canalsobeincorporatedintoarrangements. “Makesureyougetgoodqualitydried andsilkflowers,”hesays “Driedflowers aregoingtoabsorbthewaterthatthefresh flowersneed,sofreshflowersmightgetlimp faster,whichisanotherthingtoconsider.”