Rue La La » Valentine’s Day Flowers

Rue How-To: Preserve That V-Day Bouquet

Julia Ivins — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:00:22 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow’s the day. If you’ve prepped your partner, flowers are in your future (hopefully delivered to your desk at work, in front of all your friends). The downside? In three to five days, those pretty petals will begin to wilt. In the spirit of being crafty – and a tiny bit sentimental – here are two ways to preserve that bouquet for years to come.

The Hairspray Method
Ideal for flowers with delicate petals, like daisies, tulips, and lilies.

What you’ll need:

Bottle of aerosol hairspray
Twine

How to do it:

Remove flowers from their vase when they’re in full bloom (or at least before they begin to wilt).
Lightly mist each flower with hairspray.
Tie twine to the flowers’ stems and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place (like your basement or closet) for two to five days.
Arrange them back in the vase. If you’re careful not to break the petals (this can be tricky), the colors and shapes of the flowers will last.

The Oven Method
Works best with more compact flowers, like roses, carnations, marigolds, and chrysanthemums.

What you’ll need:

Oven
Baking dish
Sand (hit the craft store, unless you live near the coast)

How to do it:

Set oven to its lowest temperature, between 100 and 200°F.
Fill the bottom of the baking dish with one to two inches of sand.
Place the flowers in the dish and cover completely with sand.
Place the dish in the oven for two to three hours. Check the oven periodically to make sure it does not get too hot, and leave the oven door ajar for extra circulation.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Have an idea to make your Valentine’s Day flowers last? Tell us in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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The Bouquet Breakdown: Your Valentine’s Day Flower Guide

kcoffey — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:39 +0000

Come Valentine’s Day, choosing a bouquet shouldn’t be as hard as choosing your significant other was (and trust me, I know that’s hard). So, to help you sort out your options, consider this floral guide your bouquet cupid.

The Unexpected Pick: Stargazer Lily
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone wants a dozen red roses for Valentine’s Day. Speckled deep pink and sweetly scented, the stargazer lily is the perfect substitute – one that’s sure to be admired in your loved one’s office. (Trust me – I had this bunch on my desk for an hour before it went down to our photo studio, and it made me one popular writer.)

The Comeback Kid: Carnation
Carnations have gotten a bad rap, but I’m not buying it. In fact, much like Carrie Bradshaw, I’m a big believer that the once-regal flower is making a comeback. And if my word isn’t enough, just look to famous fans Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, and Martha Stewart (who’s praised their longevity). Convinced yet?

The Unsung Hero: Greens
No Valentine’s Day bouquet is complete without a little greenery. For bold flowers like roses and tulips, choose hearty greens (like eucalyptus). And when you want a really romantic look, you can never go wrong with a little ivy.

The Classic Blossom: Red Rose
An unmistakable symbol of love, the red rose has pretty much become the unofficial flower of Valentine’s Day. But it’s important to remember the color: while red says love, yellow and white do not. To make sure you get it right (and don’t end up in the doghouse), check out this color guide.

Our Love at First Sight: Flowers by KaBloom Boutique opens Thursday, January 31, at 3PM ET.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

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