YORKTON - Easter is just past, and as I sat down to write this, there is still some snow in the garden and the wind is chilly!
But by Easter, the weather looked much more seasonal, and that’s always exciting for gardeners!
During this special season of Easter, flowers are a favourite and beautiful gift that is always appreciated. But we can think outside the Easter basket for flower ideas.
I know that lilies are probably the first and perhaps favourite choice of Easter flower for many people. The plant is elegant and timeless, with large white trumpet-shaped flowers that speak of the floral meaning of purity. I know some gardeners make a good effort to keep them until gardening season begins and then plant them outdoors. They may or may not grow but it is an interesting experiment. While they are a popular flower choice, some people are sensitive to their fragrance, so keep that in mind.
Azaleas are such a pretty choice, with fluffy clusters of blooms in white, pink or burgundy. These plants like a cooler spot in the home, but one where they can get a lot of indirect light. Some plants do not mind drying out between waterings, but azaleas won’t be so accepting. They like consistent moisture (not wet). And while the plant is in glorious bloom, we shouldn’t fertilize it. It will direct that energy in foliage rather than flower, so save the fertilizing till later.
The showy hydrangea is a stunning plant, with those large clumps of blue, pink or white blooms. Talk about a perfect plant for a larger space! Hydrangeas like good light and well-drained soil, but they are also plants that like to be consistently damp. They are thirsty plants and if the need water they will let you know with their drooping leaves. While they can revive well, the stress of extremes in moisture is not good for the overall health of the plant.
If you are happier giving (or getting) cut flowers, the cheerful tulip and stately iris always speak of spring. They are some of the first flowers to bloom, and their bright colors bring joy and happiness to your Easter displays. They may not last as long as some flowers, but they certainly shout out “happy spring!” while they are with us.
There are various ways to display spring cut flowers, whatever they are. Method one: get a vase, fill with water, cut stems, place in vase. Oh, sorry, did you doze off just now? I did, but I think that any occasion that renders a gift of flowers deserves a little more attention than that!
I love looking at images of flower arrangements, whether from my garden library or online. Sometimes you just see one small idea and it brings a few more bright glimmers of inspiration!
Here’s one: if you have a clear glass cylinder vase and a bunch or orange or yellow tulips, go one step further and line the inside of the vase with straight, slender carrots, fill with water, then place the tulips in the centre. It’s a little extra fussing, but wouldn’t that beautiful on an Easter table? Or maybe hollow out the centre of a small head of cabbage, fit in a small jar in the cavity, and fill the jar with white daisies or mums. A collection of small jars of various heights and sizes, with a few stems of posies in each, each wrapped with a wide bow in various pastel colours and placed in a grouping, would bring a fresh sense of style to the table.
You get the idea! Make it joyful, make it fun, and enjoy not only the finished product but the process as well! There is no right or wrong, just enjoy!
Thank you to our friends at YTW for their fine work. Gardeners, visit the hort society at www.yorktonhort.ca. Keith and I wish you a blessed and joyful Easter; savor quiet times, the beauty of nature, and the gifts of family and friends! Happy Easter!
