How to Keep Flowers Fresh Longer

Clients and friends ask me how to keep cut flowers fresh longer...there are some "secrets":

• Clean the vase/container very well before putting in flower. Bacteria is the number one killer that shortens flower life.
• Angle cut stems.
• Dip flowers in florist alum quickly before putting in water. It allows flowers to absorb more water. Alum works for most flowers.
• Add flower food or floral preservative in clean water.
• Keep flowers away from ripening fruits, which generate ethylene gas. Flowers are extremely sensitive to ethylene gas, which will cause decay to happen much faster!
• Keep flowers away from heat.
• Change water frequently.

Repeat these steps everytime you change water for the flowers, and they will last longer for you!

Give Today

I think most of us should have heard about the disastrous earthquake happened in Sze Chuan, China on May 12, 2008. I am deeply moved by what I have seen and heard from the media. My heart is crushed when I see children losing their parents; parents losing their precious only child; death roll rises pass 50,000; five million left homeless...I can not find the right word to describe my feelings. Sze Chuan is very far away from where we live, but I believe every one of us can still give a helping hand. Give today.

World Vision
UNICEF
American Red Cross

May Weddings

As we are entering the busy summer wedding season, I would like to share with you some of the fun late Spring weddings we did in May.

I will try to pick out several real weddings to share with Poppy's Blog readers every month. Check back often!

A New Direction

Poppy's Petalworks had relaunched our website for about six months. It is our pride and greatest pleasure to have Hybrid Workshop design this new image for us. When we relaunched our website, I wanted to included a blog just so that brides may check out our latest works and get updates about Poppy's Petalworks. But as time goes, I am defining a clearer direction and mission for Poppy's Blog. I want this blog to be a base ground where we can not only to share Poppy's latest projects and news, I also want it to be a home where I can share with readers my passion for floral design.

I fall in love with this at-first-a-hobby, now-a-career, about six years ago (to know more about my journey in floral design, please read Poppy's About section). I have been continuously advancing my techniques and expanding my horizon by taking floral design courses and attending conferences and workshops. Recently I am developing a new passion in competition and exhibition work. So, what have I been up to? Other than Poppy's weddings and floral design workshops I am teaching for CCHC, I have been practicing and here are some of my recent works.