2 minute read
BLUSHING Beauties
Create
As renowned artist Claude Monet once said: “I must have flowers always, and always.” We asked the savvy Mia from Buds On Buderim how to use flowers to bring sunshine into your life.
What are your favourite flowers? It changes all the time, especially when you’re working with them daily. We are so blessed to have great local flower farms on the Sunshine Coast, so it makes it tricky to choose an all-time favourite. At the moment it would be Dahlias, Sim Carnations or Lisianthus.
What’s the best way to care for flowers?
Give your flowers some love every two-three days by changing the water and recutting the stems. Only fill the vase one-third of the way because too much water can cause rot and yucky water. Please don’t torture your flowers with things like flower food, bleach, sugar, vodka and all the other things. They just keep the water cleaner for longer but kill your flowers quicker. Try to keep them in a cool environment away from direct sunlight and heaters.
How do you choose the right vase?
Less is more. So go with a high volume of the same flower as it will always make your vase look fuller or if you have a décor or statement vase it will show the vase off, rather than making it busy and messy. Match the flowers to the vase, for example, choose tall flowers such as Oriental Lillies or Roses for tall vases, Hydrangeas for squat vases and so on. A simple mass of stunning foliage that lasts longer can also be really effective.
Why use a filler flower or foliage?
Foliage or filler flowers can make a bouquet look bigger as well as adding an extra dimension. It also helps with design; greenery starts the sculpture and draws the outline of the design and also helps the hero flowers sit in the position we want. We try and teach our customers that greenery isn’t for every design. For example, if you are purchasing flowers for your home, spend the extra money on the flowers to fill the vase out as any added greenery can take away from the flowers. But if you’re using a feature foliage then choose flowers that complement that and not make it look a bunch of mismatched flowers and foliage.
What advice do you have for buying flowers? Support your local florist so that you know where your flowers are getting made, you will also get more value as the florist doesn’t have to split the proceeds with a national network.
What is your top tip for filling your house with flowers on a budget:
1. Invest in a statement vase that can sit on your table, empty or filled. Smaller openings will require less flowers to fill it.
2. Shop seasonally, buy flowers or foliage that will last in that season’s conditions.
3. And my favourite, less is more! I always recommend to go with one flower type.
I understand flowers are a luxury item, so I don’t expect customers to buy hundreds of flowers in one go. I love to educate customers on buying the perfect vase first, that way you can stick to a weekly ‘bloom budget’ that always ensures your home is full of beautiful fresh blooms!