Lilies Around the House

Lilies All Around the HouseIt's easy to fill your home with Lilies- simply by using this special technique- I purchased a 10 stem bunch of lilies at my local flower seller. I look for bunches that have only a few flowers open- because Lilies are ideal for providing - what I like to call: Waves of Flowers- for a very long period of time.I prepared a collection of different vases- with the specific purpose of using a few stems in each vase- and then being able to spread my Lovely Lilies- all around the House!Watch this segment of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" in Episode #305- Lilies in Bloom - HERE!Vase #1 - is a Shorter vase- that holds 3 Lilies- I love the way the Lily Stems- actually replicate "heaven-earth and man" as is dictated in Ikebana - the Traditional Japanese Flower Art! Another favorite feature - #ILoveLilies - is that not all Lily blooms open at once... and each lily stem has several buds- (sometimes as many as 8-10)... and they open in succession- so you get waves of Flowers!It's important to mention- that I use Chrysal Bulb Food- or Chrysal Professional #3 as my flower arranging solution- for my Lilies- they are a bulb flower- and these solutions have extra ingredients that allow all the blooms to open- the foliage to remain Vibrant Green- and the blooms actually get larger and have more intense color- when you use these flower food supplements!In this vase- I placed 3 stems- and one of the stems - is just buds- that means that this vase specifically will the be the longest lasting vase in the collection!Vase #2- has been bound to a Manzanita Branch- I bound this sand blasted branch to the vase with craft covered wire. I love the craft covered wire- because it's easy to use- and it won't damage the vase! With the Manzanita branch hovering above the vase it provides a natural (and dramatic) support- to the 4 Lily stems I placed in the vase. This support is great- and the lily blooms will open and be supported- even with the stems at full length!Vase #3- is a skinny (Narrow) vase- it's sleek- and I placed two lily stems at one end of the vase- they actually hold one another in place- and it gives this a more contemporary- even japan-esque or Ikebana feel! One of the greatest things about Lilies- is that each stem is nearly an arrangement unto itself- it doesn't take much to make Any Lily Look Great!Vase #4 is a low glass tray that is filled with river rocks- this allows me to cut the final stem in my 10 stem bunch- short- resting the open bloom on the rocks- that hold the stem in place... then as other blooms open- the stem is still supported!You'll note that removed the pollen from each of the blooms- before arranging- and I stand by with my Grandpa Joe's Lily Pollen picker- to remove the pollen as soon as the buds starts to crack open... that way- the pollen never comes in contact with the stigma- (When Pollen touches the stigma - it moves into the pollen tube and starts to create a seed or bulb- and thus shortens the life of the cut flower)... This way I can ensure that my lilies will last as long as possible!The Lily Pollen Trick- for removing Lily Pollen Stains is featured in this Episode #305- Lilies In Bloom!See how easy it is - to spread the Flower Power all around your house- with a simple bunch of lilies (Just 10 stems) and make a statement- it's just another reason why #ILoveLilies ! Send me your pictures- when you're creating Lily arrangements in your home- I love to see what you created- and it's a fun way to share our love of flowers with each other!Special Thanks to the US Lily Growers and their European Bulb Suppliers- for their Support of  this "Lilies around the House" segment and of Episode #305- Lilies in Bloom