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Tag Archives: roses

a vase, some flowers and a solution

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Sharon ت

You may recall that I went browsing a few weeks ago and that I started out in a retail store before the “voices in my head” made me leave and high tail it to Goodwill.

Well, before I got out of dodge (a.k.a. Kirklands) , I did manage to make a purchase. I felt justified since it was only $7.99, and I really liked it…as in I couldn’t imagine leaving the store without it.

What is it? Well, let me show you. Let’s play a game of “parts to whole”, and please don’t cheat by looking at the title of this post. To play the game, you carefully observe all of the pictures below to piece together what the object is. Ready? Here we go.

If you guessed vintage style vase, then you get an A! Now, I have no idea what era a vase like this would have come from, but I do love its vintage design.

There’s just something so rewarding about having fresh cut flowers from your own yard.

The leaves and flowers are starting to wilt, but there are a few buds left. I did make a d.i.y. preservative for the water which is very cost effective since it is made from ingredients that we all have on hand.

I don’t know if it really extended the life of the roses or not, since I winged it with the ingredients and the measurements. When the picture was taken, a full week had passed since placing the rose clippings in the vase. They didn’t start to wilt til about day 4 or 5.

Next time, I’m going to use one of these recipes:

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #1

2 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage (e.g., Sprite™ or 7-Up™)
1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
2 cups warm water

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #2

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
1 quart warm water

Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #3

2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
1 quart warm water

The source of these recipes also has some great tips for keeping your cut flowers fresh. I think I would have gotten more life out of my flowers if I had changed the water regularly and followed a more precise recipe for the preservative. Lesson learned.

Do you have any tips to share for keeping flowers fresh?

Until next time,

Sharon

I’m sharing this post at these fun parties:

Country Homemaker Hop @ My Simple Country Living

Cowgirl Up @ 1 party at 4 blogs: Cedar Hill Ranch, The Farmhouse Porch, The Ivy Cottage, and Craft Texas Girls

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Knick of Time Tuesdays @ Knick of Time Interiors

Tutorial Tuesdays @ The Kurtz Korner

Tutorials and Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged fresh cut flowers, homemade preservative, roses, vase, vintage. Bookmark the permalink.

a rose ere blooming

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Sharon ت

Last night, as I was despairing over the lingering, gloomy weather, I wondered, “Where is my sunshine on a cloudy day?”

This morning as I glanced up from the computer to admire the fresh cut roses across the room, I realized I had my sunshine.

These roses have been the bright spot of my week. I brought them in to put in a vase after trimming my knock out roses earlier this week. I’ve delighted over the fact that I have fresh cut flowers from my very own yard. I beamed with pride the other night as I cut the stems, trimmed the leaves and whipped up a d.i.y. solution for the water.

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As I so often find, nature has pointed me to our Creator.

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger they found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

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Until next time,

Sharon

linking to:

Potpourri Party @ 2805

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense