Hello Tulip Season!

As tulip season is right around the corner, I wanted to give everyone a little information on tulips and how to care for them. Tulips, depending on their color, symbolize many ideas, mostly pertaining to the idea love. These flowers are perennials, meaning they live quite a bit longer than other flowers. They are large, beautiful, egg-shaped bulbs that come in different variations. You’ll most often see the classic “Dutch” tulips. However, there are many other species of tulip, like the Lily-flowered tulip or a fan favorite, the parrot tulip.

In terms of tulip care, the first step in growing tulips is finding good quality tulip bulbs. When your flowers finally bloom, they should be someplace where they will get at least 6 hours of sun. Water your plants regularly, and lastly, to have these same blooms year after year, you have to carefully track your area’s climate. Tulips thrive best in climates with freezing cold winters and hot dry summers. If your climate matches this, then your tulips should have no problems adapting to the environment.

To cut these flowers, you should snip off the end of your stems. Place your flowers in a vase with cold, fresh water. You should change your water every few days and keep your flowers in a cool location. Happy gardening!

Mornings in the Flower Market

One of the things no one tells you about flowers is how difficult it can be to shop in a flower market. People don’t usually associate flower markets with New York City. However, flower markets are one of the busiest parts of the city that never sleeps. In the morning, shoppers can be found as early as 5 A.M. to browse and pick out the freshest and possibly rarest flowers available during that season. Chelsea Market in New York City has one of the most beautiful assortment of flowers, thanks to local vendors. If you find yourself in this market, you may be so entranced by the flora that it’s possible to forget that you’re not in a tropical jungle (and that you’re instead in a concrete one instead).

If you decide to take part in this market, remember a few things: Firstly, if you have a specific plant in mind that you want to buy, its best to arrive as early as possible. Secondly, make sure you browse all the vendors before making a purchase, since some vendors may have better prices or quality than others. Lastly, it’s helpful to always take some cash with you, since some vendors may only use that as a form of payment. Either way, flower markets are a beautiful, wonderous place that’s worth visiting in New York City.

Flower of the Month: Hellebores

This month’s flower spotlight shines on Hellebores. Hellebores, also known as the “Christmas rose,” are a genus of flowers that hold over 15 species of perennial flowers. These plants are incredibly tolerable and can be found blooming in cold regions between late winter and early spring. These five-petaled flowers come in a range of hues and are most often seen as a mix of pink, white, or purple.

Hellebores require a specific amount of care to ensure proper blooms. Firstly, they should be grown in slight shade, and they should also be in damp soil that has easy drainage. These flowers are also incredible susceptible to disease and insects. Therefore, these flowers should have plenty of nutrients (use compost!) and should often be checked to ensure no contaminations have taken place.

If you wish to cut your flowers, you may! As with other flowers, just make sure to cut the part of the stem that lies below the waterline. Also be sure to remove leaves found below the water line. Keep your Hellebores in a cool place and change the water every two days or so. With this, your Hellebores will stay fresh, healthy, and beautiful in your living space!