Cut flowers, kids and living the dream

I've always been hugely taken with the idea of cut flowers from my own garden.  It forms part of an elaborate fantasy where I'm the Edwardian hostess, trotting out, trug in hand, to pick some gorgeous blooms to decorate my guests' rooms.  This is, obviously, before meeting my dependable cook to discuss the various menus for the weekend.  In reality, it's just me and and old bucket to put the flowers in and then some uncouth yelling across the garden to MM to see if he's got something out of the freezer for tonight. Still, one can dream...

Selfishly, I usually reserve the whole floral cutting experience for myself, but this time, I invited Oscar and Ava to help.  I've been hesitant up to now, partly because I don't want them to start taking it upon themselves to chop down all my prize flowers and also because Oscar makes me unspeakably nervous whenever he has a pair of scissors in his hand.

However, with a bit of direction they did manage to help out, and I think this is something I will do again.  I know many a gardener feels there is something sacrilegious about cutting down plants in growth, but personally I think it's a way to enjoy the garden inside as well as out, and it also makes the children look closely at the various plants and decide what will look good together.

For those remotely interested, this week we have mostly been cutting - Alchemilla mollis, Iris 'Langport Wren', Cotinus 'Grace', Heuchera 'Obsidian' and chives.

Comments

[Helen/patientgardener]

Its never occured to ne to cut irises for the house! I suppose its because mine have only started to bulk out this year and so I didnt want to remove the only flower stem in the garden.

I would like to have been an Edwardian lady as well - spending my days painting, embrodiering and pottering in the garden. However having read Virgins, Weeders and Queens (or a title to that effect) I dont think Edwardian ladies were really encouraged to garden

[Dawn Isaac]

Oh Helen, don't go shattering my dreams!

And yes, I use iris quite often, but partly because they bulk up in a milisecond in my garden and it helps keep them in check.

[Jan (ThanksFor2Day)]

Oh, how pretty your arrangement is! Having your kids help is such a sweet idea. I never thought of cutting my heuracha for an arrangement but now I have a new idea!! You are right about the beauty should be enjoyed indoors, as well...but sometimes I am 'afraid' to chop off the blooms too! I am going to need to work on that and bring some in this summer!!

[Dawn Isaac]

Jan - 'help' may be overstating it, but they are always interesting company! And yes, I use Heuchera a lot - although it does tend to drop it's tiny flowerheads all over my kitchen table.