Garden Detective

When a loved one is ill or has experienced a loss, we send flowers. And when we’ve messed up really badly, we’re told flowers can help smooth things over. Sure, flowers are pretty and smell nice, but do they really have the power to mend broken fences? For years I’ve believed the traditional mindset was the result of some marketing genius, but a recent Harvard study says otherwise.

The results of a recent behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveal that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh-cut flowers are present in the home. Energy and enthusiasm are boosted as well. “Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them," said Etcoff. "What we didn't know, is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings."

So sure, take vitamins to keep your body strong. But be sure to add a daily dose of fresh flowers to keep your spirits up. The following ‘flower recipes’ to brighten up areas of your home come from Flowerpossibilities.com:

Kitchen

Materials

5 to 8 stems red gerbera daisies
Oblong vase, approximately 6-to 8-inches tall x 6-inches wide
Floral clippers and floral food/preservative

Directions

1. Fill the vase with water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

2. Cut the gerbera daisies approximately 2-inches taller than the height of the vase.

3. Stack the gerberas to one side of the vase, some of the stems will be almost side-ways in the vase.

Living Room

Materials

One 10-inch x 10-inch square basket
Two 4-inch clay pots
3 small jars or juice glasses (approximately 3-inches tall x 2-inches in diameter)
One 4-inch fern or other foliage plant
3 stems purple mums
4 stems green button mums
3 stems red roses
3 stems green hypericum
5 stems orange standard carnations
3 rubber bands (optional)
Floral food/preservative, clippers and knife

Directions

Fill the jars or glasses with water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

Cut the flowers to approximately 4-inches in length and insert them into the water glasses. If desired, rubber band the bouquets together.

Mix the hypericum with orange standard carnations and the roses with the green button mums. The heads of all flowers should be at the same height.

Place the flowers and plant into the basket. One glass with a bouquet will be inserted into the empty clay pot, which also goes inside the basket.

Bedroom

Materials:

One 8-inch in diameter salad or mixing bowl
One 2-inch round pin frog
Floral clay adhesive
5 red gerbera daisies (or color of your choice)
5 yellow gerbera daisies (or color of your choice)
Floral clippers
Floral food/preservative

Directions

Adhere the floral clay to the bottom rim of the pin frog and press the frog to the bottom center of the bowl.

Add water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

Cut the gerbera daisies between 8 and 10-inches in length and insert each stem into the pin frog. The center stems should be taller than the outer stems.