Everyday Bouquets - Sweet Peas

Last week's blast of heat may have fried the hydrangeas, but at least it brought on the sweet peas....most years they're in full and fragrant bloom by my birthday in mid-June. But after such a cold spring, it was last  Wednesday evening before I could pick my first real bouquet and the perfume filled the house....

Sweet peas' old-fashioned charm call for the simplest of vases, like this square, green glass pitcher. Arrange a big bunch loosely in your hand, sort the colors out so that the darker shades are distributed throughout the paler toned blossoms. Then snip a half inch or so off the stems with a pair of sharp shears , and plunk the whole bunch into a vase filled with cool water.  Fluff them up, and that's all there is to it with such satisfying flowers.

When you plant sweet peas in March, be sure and include a few bi-colors and some of the darkest shades to give dimension to your bouquets. I bought all my sweet peas this year from Renee's Garden Seeds....now they're in bloom I'm particularly loving deep, dark 'Zinfandel' and the creamy pale, supremely fragrant 'April in Paris'.

 

Comments

[sue n.]

Gorgeous! I bought two bouquets at Pike Place. $5 apiece. There's a bargain.

[Stacie Shepp]

Love your Sweet Peas, and the reminder that even though my hydrangea too got fried in the heat, there are other blooms to look forward to. Thank you!