Why do we so often overlook the opportunity of cutting the many flowering plants in our yard and garden for use indoors?  To me, it is just natural to want to spread the colour and fragrance of the garden indoors also.  Each spring, I set aside a part of my garden to grow flowering plants specifically for this purpose.  I call this my ‘flower cocktail’ and it is easy to do.  I prepare the ground by pulling all of the weeds in early May, adding about 4 to 5 cm or 2 to 3 inches of compost/soil mixture to the area and broadcasting the seeds over the area by hand.  I rake the area smooth (gently and not too deeply) and water.  For the most part, Mother Nature looks after it from there, though I do have to continue to pull weeds in June and July until the flowering plants become established. 

When I cut flowers to bring indoors, I pour water into the bottom ¼ of a bucket and make sure that the stem of each flower makes contact with the water.  If I do not have time to arrange them right away, I store the bucket full of flowers in a cool, shady place.

Have a look around your garden for flowers that are suitable for cutting.  Chances are you will find something worth bringing indoors!

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