White was the order of the day for Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet.
01.08.2023 - 14:44 / gardenerstips.co.uk / hortoris
Tulips blowing gently in the breeze are a sign that summer is around the corner. If you only grow a few tulips then why not splash out on bulbs that will produce double flowers. Tulips can be planted until the end of November.
Double flowers have more than one array of petals so the flower is fuller of petal and colour. That is not just twice the number of petals but more than one array or ring. Usually the structure of regular flower would be compose of 4 rings; Sepals, Petals, Stamens and Pistils. Sepals are the outermost, green leaf-like organs to support flower when were young. Petals are the main organ to show a flowers appearance. Stamens and Pistils are male and female pollen. Truly Double Flowers must have all 4 rings in each flower but common parlance has more than one ring of petals as a double. Roses, Carnations, Camellia and Peonies often seen in double flowered mode. The latin sobriquet ‘flore pleno’, means full flowered and if you buy a plant with this in its name it should be a double.
It is still November and you can plant tulips for flowering in late spring. Double tulips like this treatment. Holland Baby is a Kaufmanniana type of water lily tulips in vivid red like the variety above. It is early flowering and naturalises in a good sunny position. Double Red Riding Hood tells all in the name. Like other greigii tulips the leaves are spotted or mottled. Monte double tulips are available with orange and red flowers. A good bulb merchant will have a wider selection of double flowered varieties.
Favourite Double Flowers
Any gardener seeking a long floral display should opt for doubles as they tend to last for longer. Doubles are a mutation often stamen originally developing as petals. Most doubles are sterile
White was the order of the day for Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet.
Copper from an old penny, vinegar, lemon juice and aspirin have some preservative effect as they are all acidic.
Picnic in the shade of Cherry Trees
This selection of top ten Roses to grow as cut flowers has been chosen for their scent and the length of the vase life. If Roses are picked as the buds are breaking they will last at least a week and if they are picked fully open it will be several days.
Alstromeria are one of the longest lived cut flowers I know. Several weeks of flowering are possible if the bunch is bought with colour just showing. Ensure there is plenty of bud and you will be delighted.
Climbers can look really great if you do some preparation. Select an appropriate wall to train your Climbers against or use a free standing structure like this metal frame for the blue Clematis.
Formal or informal, neat or exotic, there are so many ways to do justice to the flowers. Here are just a few tips to get you thinking.
Some Camassia species were an important food staple for Native Americans and settlers in parts of North American
White is the second most useful colour in the garden after green. I am progressively increasing the number and variety of white and grey plants that I grow.
Double flowers are generally ‘Gardener bred’ and not naturally available in the wild.
My perennial Phlox have been a good stalwart flower for cutting and filling a vase this last few weeks. I found the pink colours had more scent but all the Phlox seemed to drink copious amounts of water (I wondered if water and scent were related). The Penstemon in the same vase as the Phlox was not as successful as they had a far shorter life. Another successful long lasting cut flower is the Alstromeria. The Reds performed better than the yellows but both lasted over a week.