When I heard the petals fall this morning, I thought of him.
The rose is Hermosa, which means beautiful in Spanish.
Rose petals can sometimes be more fun than the blooms they come from. They certainly have many uses.
A recent inquiry, about how to prep rose petals for a wedding, inspired me to pull out my petal pictures, and give you a few tips.
ROSE PETALS FOR AN EVENT
I fill a plastic garbage bag with petals as I walk amongst the roses. Full and almost spent blooms are preferable, for they release easily into my hand. When my bag is either full or I’ve de-petaled all available roses, I squirt them with water from a spray bottle, then lightly close the bag and place it in the fridge. The petals stay fresh for several days, which means this can be done well in advance of the special day.
A PETAL BOWL
There have been times when I’ve supplied rose bouquets for large dining areas that require a daily sprucing for a week or more. Many blooms, which are too spent for another day’s service, are still beautiful. I’ve taken to simply heaping the petals into a large bowl. The bowl becomes a gorgeous, if fleeting, arrangement.
FLOATING PETALS
Floating rose petals become a greeting when placed in an English birdbath. This one used to be outside the entrance of our home.
On the day of my first book signing party, I was scurrying around with last minute details when I realized I had no arrangement for the living room. The party was outside, but I certainly needed something inside. With no time to make an arrangement, I grabbed a large glass bowl and filled it with water and added a few rose petals. Placed on a plexiglass stand in our living room window, it became a stunning welcome.
Sorry to tempt you with rose petals when there are no roses in most of the world, as I write in early spring. All the above applies to florist roses as well. When your purchased roses look tired and energy bereft, pluck the petals on several and float them in a pretty bowl.
