Sunflowers, snapdragons, larkspur, stocks – some of our loveliest summer flowers are available online for much longer than just the summer months. There’s a profusion of flowers available from early June to late August; varieties have been improved, and many are pre-treated to prevent petal drop. Larkspur was once notorious for pretty confetti and bare stalks. Thanks to research, you can now be sure summer flowers bought online have a long vase life.
The colours available in summer flowers are as profuse as the varieties. Sweet peas come in a range of blues, whites, purples, red and pinks, from the softest shell pink to deepest crimson. The fiery oranges and yellows of the marigolds contrast with the soft cool green of lady’s mantle, and on the hottest of summer days there are plenty of flowers to choose for a refreshing arrangement in blues and white.
The shapes and textures of cut materials are also diverse, including tiny lavender spikes, the large spears of the red hot poker, rounded hydrangea heads, and lilies, with their pointed petals. At this time of year, there is a selection for every type of design, and numerous possible containers from which to choose, always bearing in mind that the latter need to be sufficiently large to hold a good-sized reservoir of water for thirsty summer flowers.
Like all other flowers, summer flowers cannot tolerate direct sunlight for a long period of time, and during summer, the sun’s rays can be harsh, particularly a window. Vases need daily checking, and thirsty cut materials will need regular topping up. Flowers such as dahlias have stems that decay quickly in water, and they will need to be re-cut and have their water changed regularly.
