CasaSugar

Flowers 101: Ranunculus

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:49:06 -0700

Ranunculus may be my favorite cut flowers of all time. In looks, they remind me of a cross between a poppy and a rose, but with a longer vase-life than the former and less pretension than the latter. These bulb perennials have bright yellow, red, orange, or white flowers (if white, they will have a yellow center). The Tecolote strain of ranunculus produce big 3”-5” flowers, straight, long stems, and best of all, a single bulb can produce dozens of ranunculus flowers.

Flowers 101: Ranunculus

partysugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:58:31 -0700

The other day one of my sister's friends stopped by with a bouquet of pretty pink flowers from her garden. They were ranunculus (pronounced ran-UN-kew-lus) a small camellialike bloom that ranges in color from red to yellow to pink and white and grows here in the Western United States during springtime. Wildly popular, there are over 400 different species.

When planting ranunculus, monitor the soil's moisture and handpick away slugs and snails. These bulbs grow in full sun to partial shade, spread naturally, and do best with cool night temperatures and slightly warmer days. When cut, a ranunculus can last over a week, making them an ideal choice for a bride's bouquet, a wedding centerpiece, or a mailed gift. They combine well with pansies, sweet alyssum, and other early spring blooming flowers.

Before and After: Simple Spring Changes

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:35 -0700

Last year, I decided to install a "window box" on the inside of my bedroom window. In part, I did it because the outside view is completely saturated in plant life, and wrestling exterior window space away from the bougainvillea is a thorny proposition. I also like to take risks with some quirky interior accents, especially if they can be changed out fairly easily. For the past year, these Aucuba plants enjoyed the sunny window spot. I decided that I wanted to make a Spring change, though.

To see my change, read more.

I transplanted the Aucubas to some larger containers (they needed it!) and replaced them with these cheerful ranunculus flowers. I don't plan on leaving the flowers there for much longer than a month, since I'll soon put them in a pot in my garden. For now though, they should do well. If you want to try some ranunculus flowers inside, keep in mind that they prefer nighttime temperatures in the 40s and 50s, and daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. They need bright light, but hot, direct sun should be avoided. Good luck!

Casa Verde: Farmers Market Bouquets

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:30:52 -0700

How does your bouquet grow? Well, if you ordered it from Bay Area florists Studio Choo, it grew locally. Owners Alethea Harampolis and Jill Pilotte shop at farmers markets daily for fresh and seasonal flowers, and deliver throughout the Bay Area. Not only are their vibrant, just-picked arrangements entirely unique, unlike those 1-800-Flowers deliveries, but sourcing (and delivering) those anemones, ranunculus, and poppies locally curbs the pollution associated with shipping flowers cross-country. Then consider that many farmers market flowers are grown organically, and you've got yourself the most eco-friendly (and gorgeous) bouquet you can find, short of an arrangement of wildflowers. Why not see if a similar service is offered in your neck of the woods?