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Friday, April 17, 2009

La Vie En Carnation

I love fresh flowers at home, though I am also always tortured by the impracticality of it all. I can't help but want to smell the roses every morning. Lately, like most everyone, we've been more conscious about what we spend our money on. Flowers every month from the farmer's market was the first on the list to go. It was an easy decision, but not a pretty one.

However, I had to share my pictures of the carnations that I received in a mixed bouquet from our family friend. I just took this picture this morning, three weeks after receiving these flowers! Most mixed bouquets have to be thrown out after only a few days, but these carnations have remarkably sustained their "beauty." I was one of those haters and considered carnations cheesy and cheap. But now, I have a new found respect for them. Cheap, pretty, and incredibly robust. Just like me in this economy. ;)

So, if you have a few dollars in your pocket, buy yourself a bunch of carnations to cheer up your home. Trick is, buy all one color. It makes a huge difference.

-Thuy
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40 comments:

Felicia - I complete Me said...

I too love fresh flowers, but with my allergies, along with cost, it's just not right for me. Oh those flowers looks so good.

Deb said...

This is the reason I love carnations, my birth flower. They may be "cheap," but they last forever. I love them!

Heather said...

They look gorgeous after such a lengthy amount of time. We went to the local greenery last night and I was in flower heaven. We brought home begonias for the front yard. I didn't even think to grab something pretty for inside.

Ali said...

Love this idea. Fresh flowers really are splendid!

Sarah said...

So pretty!

Connie said...

Flowers are very inexpensive around our town - even at 'foreigner prices'. I don't buy them very often though. When I picked up my daughter from kindergarten the other day, we got in the car and she said "Mom, don't forget to stop at the flower shop so we can pick up some flowers on the way home." As if we did this regularly! Unfortunately, the only cash I had on hand was the bill to pay the driver or I'd've got that little girl some flowers :)

Kimmy said...

I love flowers too!!! They always seem to put a smile on my face :O)
I can't believe how beautiful your flowers are after 3 weeks??!! Fantastic!!!

Kathy B! said...

I love the purple of the carnations with the green of the vase. Beautiful combo :)

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said...

No money for cheap carnations either, I recommend a vase of potatoes. Equally lovely, don't you think?

BlogBaby

Grand Pooba said...

Those are great, I didn't even realize they were carnations! I think what makes them look extra fantastic is that vase you have them in. For some reason I've always reused the clear vases that flowers usually come in. I think you need to be my interior decorator.

Please?

Anonymous said...

lovely! Your flowers look so pretty what did you do to keep them looking like that for so long?

theUngourmet said...

Carnations are great! They last so long! I have daffodils in my yard and I have been cutting them and putting an arrangement on the dining table. It makes the house feel happy, I can tell!! :0)

Anonymous said...

What also makes a difference is the freshness. So much of what you get has been forced open and old, but people don't realize that because they don't know how long they can last. When I owned a floral business my carns came straight from Colombia and they lasted weeks. Some places see an advantage to their carns not lasting that long, so they get more frequent repeat customers who don't know the true life of the flower is much longer. ~Mary

Amy said...

I have to agree. I love fresh flowers. I can find some pretty cheap at Wal-mart.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much Fran - a -licious (still working on the nickname) I appreciate your sweet comment. I'm snapping out of it though and becoming my normal (freaky) self.

Hugs
Angi

Helene said...

I love fresh flowers too but I often don't indulge because I just can't seem to justify spending money on them for myself. But I did receive a beautiful bouquet for my birthday almost 2.5 weeks ago and those carnations are still alive as well!!

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

How pretty!! Like you I love fresh flowers, but it is just an expense we can't justify right now.

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

They look lovely in that sleek green vase...carnations, the new recession-proof flower!

Counselormama said...

I agree with you, I love fresh flowers in the house! I have been getting the wild flowers from around our neighborhood and just mixing different ones together to make them look more exciting.

Kailey said...

I've always loved carnations for that reason and for their scent.

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

I feel the same way! Love fresh flowers, but the cost is not in the budget:( Carnations last for weeks! I love them too!

Boy Mom said...

Whenever I get flowers I try to see how long I can keep them alive, carnations are some of my best efforts. My ultimate goal is to grow roots on the Christmas tree and plant it in the backyard,what can I say, a girl has to have her dreams.

Anonymous said...

I am always buying myself flowers! Who says you can't buy them for yourself?!

Anonymous said...

The flowers look great! I had the same experience with carnations last year. It was a very inexpensive bouquet from the local grocery store. My daughter wanted them on the way out. I grabbed them and they lasted for weeks!
Great tip on buying all the same color!

Judah said...

i love fresh flowers in the house. they truly brightenit up. unfortunately i have a cat that likes them too. no matter where i put them he finds a way to get to them and eat them....

AiringMyLaundry said...

Beautiful flowers.

I love flowers. Sometimes I cheat and get that air freshner stuff that smells like flowers. But it's not really the same thing..

And sometimes I try to hint to my husband that he should surprise me with flowers. But he's dense and doesn't quite get all the hints I throw at him. *Sighs*

Dee said...

I dont normally have fresh flowers b/c they dont last too long...BUT..I'm going to the farmers market later today for hanging planst and such so I might have to pick up some! :)

ScoMan said...

I'm just going to throw this out there..

If the flowers are staying fresh for such a long time, has anyone checked to see if they're plastic?

jennykate77 said...

I LOVE fresh flowers too! That has always been my "treat" at the grocery store on Sunday's. Carnations do have the reputation of being cheap and unappealing, but I've always thought they are sweet. I'm totally impressed that yours have lasted 3 weeks and they look great! Another flower I've always had good luck with is peruvian lilies. They last a long time.

I think I'll have to pick up some flowers later today!

Hope you guys are having a wonderful weekend!

Live.Love.Eat said...

I agree, fresh flowers is awesome in the house. If you get them all in one color, they will last longer - is that the trick? I never knew.....

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

I agree, a bunch of fresh flowers always lifts the spirits. It's a pity they're not cheap here. When I was in London they were beautiful, fresh and inexpensive. They even came with a money back guarantee for freshness that they'd last a certain number of days!

Banteringblonde said...

Totally agree ... one splurge that is worth the $!

Fiauna said...

Carnations get such a bad rap. What's not to love about a flower that can be dyed any color you'd like and last three-times longer than any other flower?

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

I always liked carnations... it might have been the elementary lesson on changing their color by putting food coloring in the water. I loved that trick.

mary said...

I've never been into fresh flowers... they are beautiful but the beauty is so fleeting! But I love orchids... and so far, after killing about 5, I am keeping 2 alive... and the bloom lasts for like 2 months or more. no sweet smells though.

Aquaspce said...

I had some carnations brought to me... the pretty white ones with the red laced trim on the ends... yeah those. And they lasted FOREVER too!

Now, really, in a recession how could you not buy CARNATIONS???

Anonymous said...

Great idea, but Hubby is allergic - all silky ones around here.

But, then I can get the most gorgeous cuts and not worry about watering them! Lol.

Casdok said...

I treat myself once in a while :)

The High Family said...

I've always loved Carnations because they last forever. I wouldn't be surprised if you were to an update 3 weeks from now and they are still showing their beauty in your home! :)

Donnetta said...

Lovely AND cheap - the perfect combination!