The rain held off this morning and I was able to do some work in the garden. What started out as Japanese Beetle “bubble bath” day and garden “clean up” day, soon moved to BOKAY DAY. I just couldn’t help myself. With a garden the size of my garden there is always something to pick and the JB are SOOOOO attracted to the roses that they leave many of the other beauties alone. I became mesmerized by the bloom explosion that was happening today and decided that today was to become BOKAY DAY. So I’ll make bokays and share them. #favoritedays
Since I can’t share a bokay with each of you today, I thought I would share my favorite bokay makers and a few tips and tricks for your fresh cut bokays.
PERENNIALS (Bloom year after year)
Roses
Oriental Lilies
Yarrow
Coreopsis (Favs Moonbeam & Creme Brûlée)
Phlox
Dianthus
Bellflowers
Daisies
Stokes Asters
Ferns
Herbs (Lavender / Sage / Thyme / Mint)
ANNUALS (Bloom for one season)
Zinnias
Larkspur (reseeds)
Nigella: Love in a Mist (reseeds)
Superbenas (Proven Winners)
(Favs Violet Ice / Whitecap / Royal Chambray
Senorita Rosalita Cleome (Proven Winners)
Herbs (Rosemary / Parsley)
Euphorbia Diamond Frost (Proven Winners)
SHRUBS
Hydrangea (Favs Bobo / Pinky Winky)
Boxwood
Lilacs
Viburnums
Evergreens
MY MORNING HARVEST…
TIPS AND TRICKS
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Morning is the best time to cut flowers.
- Choose the freshest flowers — best to pick those not yet fully open.
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Take bucket to garden with you.
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Place in water immediately after cutting.
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Let “condition” before arranging … even as little as one hour can be very helpful in their recovery and being ready for arranging. I go for at least 4 hours.
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Cut under water if possible before adding to bokay.
- Use preservative in water.
- I purchase floral preservatives …
- But, there is a recipe below if you want to make your own.
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No greenery underwater… begins to decay quickly and that takes away from the life of the arrangement.
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Every 3-4 days, recut stems, add fresh water (with preservative) to your vase.
P. Allen Smith’s Floral Preservative Recipe
Equal parts lukewarm water and lemon lime soda
One aspirin
Half a teaspoon of bleach
BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK…
Here’s a video of one of my evening garden walks this week after work. In the video you will see many of the annuals and perennials I mentioned above. Most of them are very hardy and have done fine in all the heat we have had this year. We do water occasionally, but not extensively.
Well, it is time for me to get back in the garden and continue with my original plan … Send more Japanese Beetles to a soapy “bubble bath” ☠️ and garden “clean up.”
HAPPY BLOOM THYME FRIDAY
Such lovely gardens, flowers, and bokays, Teresa! WOW,
Thank you. I still need to finish the garden “clean up.” lol
hi, love all your blooms! and your bouquets (that’s how we spell it here in Canada!) are gorgeous. I am so looking forward to retiring to spend more time in my gardens
This is such an inspiring post about what plants can complement our roses both in the garden and in a vase, but most of all I love your cheerfulness in the face of adversity and your eco-friendly pest management! And your garden is looking exquisitely beautiful, congratulations!
I love to see them growing all together!
Love, love love your post. I look forward to reading every 2 weeks. I also love your ‘BOKAY’ spelling. So creative! I need some help with the Superbenas by Proven Winners. Can’t find.
The BOKAY spelling is something I started when I worked in a flower shoppe! Most of our garden centers had superbenas early in the season but are all out now. They go fast! Hope you can find them if not put on your list for spring! Glad you stopped by!
love all the text information…..
good teacher you are
hugs
c
That’s a big compliment coming from you. Love you.
Oh how nice that the Japanese beetles get some fun time in a bubble bath! Who doesn’t like a bubble bath? Sadly, the aphid did not. hmmmmm
Not sure why but I didn’t have many aphids this year. Maybe the thrips discouraged them! 😂