Summer has arrived...

and for some of you I know it will be most welcome. For myself, and cut flowers though, not-so-much! 

I cannot stipulate, request, or beg you enough to please, please, PLEASE look after your flowers if you are lucky enough to recieve some. Your flowers, and florist will both thank you. 

I feel like I am telling some of you off - you all know who you are - but there are a few 'Dont's' if you want to keep enjoying your blooms for as long as is possible. 

Don't - put them on a windowsill. Even a north-facing window will get the evening sun.

Don't - put them in a conservatory; even worse, the windowsill of a conservatory! I recieved a complaint once from someone who had done such a thing, in a south-facing one no less. Within a single day those poor little flowers had been cooked to a crisp. The thermometer on the wall, which was closest to the house itself so a little cooler, was showing 51.3'C. Nothing wants to live in that! 

Don't - pop them next to any other heat source. Oven (you'd be amazed) TV, computer; basically anywhere that is chucking out a little bit of heat. 

Don't - add anything to the water. As long as your vase is clean and the water is fresh there is no need to add anything extra. 

I know it's not always easy and a lot of rooms will be warm, but where possible try to choose the coolest room you have. 

Do - change the water daily if you can at the moment. It will be of benefit to your flowers. Just as we need fresh water to keep us going, so do they.  

Do - strip any leaves, even the tiniest of ones, which will be below the water line. These can help turn the water yucky, and if fail to change the water will leave you with a not-so-nice smell.  

Do - trim the smallest of slivers from the bottom of the flower stems every-other-day. This helps to break the seal which can form at the very base. There is no need to cut on a slant. It really won't make any difference.  

The growers, our wholesalers and ourselves do all we can to supply you with fresh flowers in a good condition. Please don't undo our time-and-effort. Remember, flowers are just like that cute little puppy, the fluffy little kitten, or the silky furred rabbit; they need clean, fresh water for any chance of survival.