Ranunculus on day five from the floristWith the lack of green at this time of year,how do you get your fix? I am drawn to the flowershops like a moth to the porchlight. When asking the florist for a flower that could withstand my evening of errands and being stuck in the gym locker, she recommended Ranunculus.
This is a cheery flower with a rose-like shape and vivid green stems that beg to be noticed as much as the blossoms. It is hard to believe this flower is related to the buttercups that we used to grab from the fields and rub under our chins when I was a child.
I bought Ranunculus because they were durable and the colors were bright - perfect to keep me company on a week of late nights at the desk. As the week progressed I was surprised at how these flowers revealed more subtleties in color and texture. In the end the petals had turned semi-transparent and silken, relaxing from the outer edges of the flower and taking on a softer tonal range. But the stems still held their shape and not one head drooped from exhaustion.
Everyone has different expectations from their flowers. When I am buying at the florist and paying more for a better flower I (like most everyone) hope that they will last. But more importantly I always hope that they age beautifully. I can sometimes enjoy a bouquet even more on the tenth day than I did on the first. Ranunculus was a perfect flower to watch this progression.
ranunculus after ten days
-matt
matt at apartmenttherapy dot com
Beautiful! I'll be looking for these next time I'm at the local flower shop.
Oooh - thanks for the suggestion. Flowers are one of the few things that are gonna get me through this season.
About 10 years ago, I had a straight-male psychiatrist tell me that having flowers around this time of year is a necessity, not a luxury. He's absolutely right!
Yesterday I bought orange-yellow flame (best-looking of the bunch) tulips and split the flowers between home and work. Next week I'll have to look for some Ranunculus.
I also love flowers that "age beautifully" as Maxwell puts it.
I just blogged about the Valentine's Day sales that 1800flowers.com and ProFlowers.com are both running, and in my post I said that I sooo love looking at all their gorgeous arrangements online because it just makes me happy. Until this post here at AT, it never occurred to me that I'm enjoying looking at their online catalogs so much because we're smack in the middle of winter. It makes perfect sense. Go figure. Duh!
Forget those little light boxes, Plant Therapy is the best cure for SAD! I go into my local florist (just stepping inside, with the humidity and floral scent is a great pick-me-up) and ask for something luscious and tropical. Then I can pretend I'm on a sunny holiday.
this is my favorite time for flowers, as the desire for spring rises, tulips, and daffodils are out in buckets at all the corner stores.
i'm so glad you highlighted ranunculus! i had my first experience with them last spring, when my sister and i had to get a lot of flowers on a budget for our other sister's baby shower. we couldn't believe how inexpensive and beautiful they were; i've been thinking about them this past week and just hoping i'd be able to find some soon. and until just now, i was only aware that they were colorful and cheap--but long-lasting, too? Amazing.
I have a tip for those of us in NY:
Buy the cheap mixed bunches of flowers from your neighborhood bodega but split them up into smaller single-flower bunches. Then display the miniature arrangements in smaller vases around your apartment. Creates a more designed look with the cheaper bunches. And you get flowers in everyroom!!
BTW, Viga Massi has some nice mum prints in a vibrant orange if you want some fresh, bright color year round:
http://www.vigamassi.com/product.php?productid=16198
You think those look good, check out these photographs of flowers - gorgeous. I'm putting a bunch in my new house. They're taken by my mother-in-law, a fine art photographer.
http://www.judithgigliotti.com
Ranunculus are one of my top five favourite flowers - that bright lime green middle gets me every time - they are really easy to grow too so don't just get the cut flowers!
Violetrose -
I also have heard they can be easy to grow, but that here in the Northeast they should be considered an annual and to dig up the tubers before frost sets in.
Does anyone have experience in growing these beautiful flowers in NYC?
I had found one website in California that offers many varieties of Ranunculus tubers for sale (and some online planting instructions) in case anyone wants to give them a try. Just click on my name for the link -
Oooh growing them! However, I wonder if they'd be a Deer Buffet, like most of my other flowers are??? (Stargazers, Dahlias, and pretty much everything I plant the deer come by and feast on the moment they bloom.) Arrggh.
Matt, I am exactly the same!! When I was sick and had to stay at home recently, I was craving some colour and life in my new flat. I ended up buying a succulent for the kitchen (everything green looks good in a white pot!) and trying out different flowers for the living room. I like tuberose for their scent (try pairing them with tiger lilies for maximum effect); but my real favourites are magnolias - they look so good whether in a tall vase or a fishbowl!! Roses are still a fav, altho they don't last long in humid climes...
Great photos and really lovely flowers! I blog about flowers for Teleflora: www.teleflora.com/flowerblog. You'll find flower news, events, care tips, horoscopes and a chance to win free flowers. Hope you can check it out.
view JMF's profile