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Wednesday, July 21, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C1 Cut flower tips Dutch experts A s summer spreads its warm embrace, the lily once again takes centre stage as the season's premier cut flower.Now is lily season, when lilies are at a peak availability and sold at their best prices. Exotic lily blossoms lend themselves to a wide variety of sum­ mer flower arrangements -- and are equally at home in the most elegant bridal bouquet or a casual kitchen vase. The lily is undoubtedly one of the world's most romantic and decorative flowers. Its history dates to the ancient Greeks, who said that lilies sprang from drops of the goddess Hera's mi,lk as she nursed baby Hercules. Through the ages, lilies were used to make fine perfumes, cos­ metics and anti-aging creams. Lily petals, mixed w-ith honey, were thought to remove facial wrinkles and make skin soft again. The flower was also used for making aphrodisiacs, and roasted bulbs were considered a deli­ cacy in the East. Medicinal qualities were also credited to the lily: it was said to treat burns, snakebite and even leprosy. There are about 100 species of lily. They grow only in the northern hemi­ sphere (in regions with a more moder­ ate climate) and are available in a vari­ ety of colours. Three primary lily groups are: Asiatic hybrids These are the type most often found in the florist's shop or corner flower market. Their flowers grow closer together on the stem than do other lilies -- making them perfect for use in large compact bouquets. They have a high bud count and their spotted blossoms are generally bright. The blossoms vary in shape from simple open bowls, to flowers with exquisitely recurved petals. Colours range form the softest pastels to fiery reds and oranges. Good prices make large arrangements a viable option. Oriental hybrids Known for their flamboyant 'per­ sonalities,' they have large, luscious, highly-scented flowers widely spaced along the stem. Though often pricier than Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies have such impact in the vase that just a few stems go a long way. Longiflorum hybrids With their large, trumpet-shaped, white or pastel flowers and pleasant scent, longiflorum lilies are most familiar to Canadians as 'Easter Lilies.' In Europe, these classic beau­ ties are also prized as cut flowers. Watch for increased interest in cut longiflorum lilies as their availability here increases. Expert tips for cut lilies Following are some simple tips from the International Flower Bulb Centre of Holland for creating fabu­ lous lily arrangements this summer. • Choose lilies with buds that are just about to open, with a bit of the flower colour showing (not tight and green). It's okay to buy lilies with only a flower or two open. Lilies have lots of flowers per stem, so more blooms will follow. • As soon as you get them home, take about an inch or so off the bottom of the stems making a diagonal cut with a sharp knife. It is advisable to cut them under water. This avoids creating an air bubble in the water channel that can block water from ris­ ing up the stem. • Strip all lower leaves off the stems. Submerged leaves decompose quickly and can cause scummy bacte­ ria to from, causing vase water to cloud and smell just dreadful. • A good lily arrangement can last two or more weeks. Remove Photo courtesy of the Intemationaal Bloembollen Centrum, Hillegom Holland A few lily stems, a variety of ferns, and in no time an extraordinary arrangement is created. spent flowers after they've faded so as not to detract from the new flowers opening. This also helps preserve the fresh lily fragrance of your arrange­ ment. • Adding commercial flower food can help prolong the life of cut lilies. However, lilies require only about half the dosage recommended for other flowers. Tips on using lilies in flower arrangements • The classic rule of flower arranging is that young buds and ten­ der pointed leaves be placed at the top of an arrangement and that larger, more dominant flowers be placed at the bottom. Lilies flower this way nat­ urally. No wonder they're so prized by flower arrangers. • Lilies are strong enough to carry an arrangement all by them­ selves. However, they also mix well with other flowers. Even one lily stem can 'dress up' an arrangement of more modest flowers. Lilies should be placed centrally in an arrangement, preferably in the lower two-thirds. • Lilies are large, fairly heavy flowers, requiring suitably large con­ tainers. In summer, lilies are abundant both in the garden and at florists' shops. Now is the time to indulge, when so many different varieties are available at such reasonable prices. Visit your local florist or garden centre for more information. Information courtesy o f the Netherlands Flowerbulb Information Centre. F l o w e r arranging tips No matter where, when, why or at what time of year, a bouquet of flowers always adds that special, welcoming touch to one's home. Whether your preference runs to natural-looking wild- flower arrangements combining many different kinds of flowers and ornamental grasses, or, you prefer the other end of the spectrum where one perfect Calla lily takes centre- stage on a bare mantle -- something in the current variety of summer flowers is bound to suit your taste. The container Certain flower vases have such an inspiring shape that they will be a definite factor when it comes to selecting a bou­ quet, or flower, for them. Tall slender vases are ideal for hold­ ing flowers with long stems, gladioli or Anthurium, for exam­ ple. A vase with a more traditional shape (i.e. the classic rose bowl) is best used for mixed bouquets, or a dense mass of all the same flower. Tiny, bottle-shaped vases, on the other hand, are perfect showcases for a single flower, or a modest bou­ quet of smaller flowers such as lily-of-the-valley or grape hyacinths. Creating a unique composition is possible by assembling a group of different vases, each containing the same flower -- or conversely, a group of identical-vases, each containing dif­ ferent flowers. How you choose to arrange your flowers is entirely up to you -- all you have to do is set your imagination free. Trends in flower arranging Classic flower arranging teachings say that the vase should occupy the bottom third of the arrangement, the flow­ ers the top two-thirds. However, some European floral designers are turning this rule completely upside down, by having the flowers occupy the top third of the arrangement and the vase the bottom two-thirds. It takes a bit of getting used to, but this form of flower design is a growing trend. Another trend recently noted in Europe, especially in Holland where flowers are a way of life, is to take a tall, cylin­ drical, clear vase, and actually arrange the flowers inside the vase, with nothing peeping over the top. Again, at first glance, a bit odd, but it's a style that stands out from the crowd. Tips on arranging, from the experts There are two things that the home flower arranger often doesn't do, and within a day or so, they stand back looking at their arrangements and wonder what's gone wrong: • The first, is to use a sharp knife to trim the stem at an angle and to the correct length for the vase, or the position the flower will take in the vase. Rarely do florists use flowers all of the same height. Some should stand higher than others, and others should be cut shorter to fill in the blank spaces just above the rim of the container. • The second, is to remove all foliage from the part of the stem which will stand in the water. Leaves decompose quick­ ly, turning water murky and making it smell just awful. A few other tips are: • Generally, greenery goes into the vase first. Then flow­ ers are interspersed among the greens. • Place flowers in the vase one at a time, turning the vase constantly to make sure there are no blank spaces, or imbal­ ances and/or clusters of colour or variety of flower. • A packet of cut flower nutrients dissolved in the water will help prolong the life of the flowers, as will keeping flow­ ers out of direct sunlight. * i Rectangle table. Reg. price, $1320 storew ide summer $899 celebration sale Gold finish candleholders. Reg. price, fj $119-229 s99- 179 The savings are in full bloom during our Summer Celebration Sale! Now is the time to save on fine furniture and accessories for every room in your home. Visit us today and discover the Ennisclare tradition of elegance! Storewide sale ends August 28T1999 Leather chairs. From $2880 to $5345 sale $1989 to $3999 Shown, Reg. price, $3890 $2389 1075 NORTH SERVICE RD. WEST, UNIT 22, OAKVILLE. TEL (905) 825-2450 STORE HOURS: Mon.,Tues.,Wed. & Sat. 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Ttiurs. & Fri. 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Sun. Noon to 5:00 pm Closed Sundays in July and August Lar ge s e l e c t i o n of d i s p l a y m o d e l s 2 5 - 5 0 % OFF 4 * celebration