Spring flowering bulbs are a sure and happy sign

that S P R I N G is on the way!

WELCOME to our Spring Bulb Edition of

MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS.

At the end of this post, I'll share the spring bulb beauty my friends have

created for all of us to love, so you can go visit them too!

This is such a perfect time to bring the beauty of spring bulbs inside!

Even if spring weather may still not have arrived

you can create spring indoors.

I bought some planted spring bulbs for my table setting

and a bunch of green and white parrot tulips because I could not resist them!

To set my table for a few friends who were stopping by to celebrate the first day

of sunshine, {hooray!} I layered the table in the kitchen with an

antique French Boutis Quilt.

The new FGH pink linen ruffled napkins add springtime color.

Some of the potted bulb flowers went into a French tureen,

which I covered with sheet moss.

Because the moss can be messy, I placed the tureen on an antique ironstone platter,

added a small nest, and a bundle of cheerful narcissus.

I couldn't help but use this sweet antique Bunny Cart to hold a pot of pink tulips

and a pot of small narcissus flowers.

Most likely made by a loving papa for his little ones

many Easters ago, he is a dapper rabbit, especially when carrying flowers

instead of dolly or bear.

If you grow your own bulbs in the garden,

it does seem a shame to cut them unless you have a lot!

Luckily, these springtime wonders are readily available in markets and nurseries.

Whether you cut them from the garden or buy them,

bulb flowers are a little bit different than most other flowers to care for.

HERE ARE MY BEST TIPS FOR ARRANGEMENTS WITH SPRING BULB FLOWERS

*DON'T ADD PRESERVATIVE.*

Most bulb flowers do not like preservatives or sugar in the water.

Changing the water every two days will make your bulb flowers last longer.

NARCISSUS

Narcissus flowers that you buy in the store are sold dry.

They have been rinsed to get rid of their sap.

If you cut your own flowers from the garden, fill two buckets half way. As you pick them, place the freshly cut flowers into one of the buckets.

When you have cut all the flowers you want, pick up the entire bunch of flowers and immediately place them into the second bucket and leave them for 15-20 minutes.

Clean out bucket #1, and fill with water again.

Examine the ends of the flowers while taking them out of the #2 bucket.

If they are still oozing sap, put them in the clean water again in bucket #1.

This should be a quick process: out of one bucket, look at the cut ends, and, if necessary, put them into the fresh bucket immediately.

Repeat the rinsing process - fresh water, wait, examine - until the stems lifted out of the water are done losing sap.

HYACINTHS

If you are picking hyacinths from your garden for a vase arrangement, choose flowers that are already showing some color.

Try to cut the leafless flower stem as long as possible, and don't damage the foliage around it.

Some people are very allergic to the sap, so be careful.

Place in cold or room temperature water for atleast 1-2 hours before arranging.

Hyacinths do not do well in floral foam.

TULIPS

The tulip is one of the few flowers that grow after they have been cut!

Try to pick tulips {or buy them} when they are almost still all green, with only the edges of the flowers colored.

Cut tulips for an arrangement too short. They will grow 1-1/2 - 2 inches in the vase.

Tulips are phototropic, they turn to find the strongest light in your room, a window or a white wall.

I love the way tulips look when they are all wild and bendy, but if you don't,

just turn your vase or pot around every day 1/2 a turn.

I hope you have enjoyed the bulb arrangement and my tips.

Now go out and buy some of those beautiful blooming bulbs!

Spring might not have arrived chez vous, but you can make it so inside your home.

SOURCES:

Antique Rabbit Child's Pull Cart Pink Linen Napkins Antique Green Majolica Plates {scroll to bottom of page} Grey Enameled Cake Pedestal

Please don't forget to enter the give-away, which is almost over!

{See the preview of this glorious book HERE > }

Go get inspired by my amazing floral friends!

SHIRLEY at Housepitality Designs.

PAM at Everyday Living

MARY at HomeIsWhereTheBoatIs

and me...LIDY FrenchGardenHouse.

à bientôt