Cutting and Arranging Lilies
My Winter House is filled with gorgeous, bright, and fragrant lilies.
If you follow my blog regularly, you may have seen yesterday's post on my beautiful white lily garden just outside my main greenhouse. Last weekend on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, I also showed some of the lilies that are currently flowering around my home in East Hampton. Lilies are at their peak here in New York - it's the perfect time to cut some of the lovely blossoms to make cheerful arrangements.
Enjoy these photos.
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- If you are cutting flowers from your garden, the best time to do it is early in the morning before the sun and wind have a chance to dry the flowers. One can also cut late in the evening after they are rehydrated. This day was especially warm and humid, so we cut our flowers as early as possible.
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- Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with prominent flowers.
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- My housekeeper, Elvira, carefully walks through the lily bed to cut flowers from the back, so that the garden still looks pretty from the front. When selecting flowers, always consider appearance as well as condition.
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- My housekeeper, Enma, is in the flower garden, She also picks those lilies growing in the back or behind taller plants. Here she is with a bunch of light yellow blossoms.
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- Choose buds that are just about to start opening or have recently opened. The flowers will continue to mature after they’ve been cut, and by choosing the young blooms, one can extend the lifespan of the lily display.
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- Lily flowers are large, often fragrant, and come in a range of colors including yellows, whites, pinks, reds, and purples. These plants are late spring- or summer-flowering.
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- Rose lily flowers are pollen-free Oriental Liliums and have at least a double amount of petals. They also have a sweet fragrance and an excellent vase and pot life.
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- Here is another rose lily flower in a lighter shade of pink.
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- This bin of lilies is just enough so they are straight and snug but not crowded. There is also a bit of water at the bottom, so Enma and Elvira make sure every stem reaches the water.
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- Enma begins stripping the leaves of each stem – this makes it easier to create arrangements. She carefully grabs the stem from near the top and then strips the leaves to the bottom.
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- This process is done to each and every cut lily.
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- Then she gently pulls the anthers off of each flower. Pollen is notorious for staining flesh and fabric. Removing the anthers prevents any pollen from getting on the flower petals, which can eat away at the delicate flower parts and shorten the life of the blooms. Enma’s hand is already stained. When handling lilies, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. If you happen to get a pollen stain on your clothing, do not rub! Instead, reach for a roll of tape and use the sticky side to gently dab the area – the particles will adhere to the tape.
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- Enma and Elvira carefully carry the bin of lilies to the Winter House for arranging.
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- Enma places a stem into the vase to see if it needs any additional trimming. Each vase will account for about one-third of the total arrangement height. When cutting flower stems always cut at a 45-degree angle. Cutting the stems at this angle, rather than straight across, allows for greater surface area and increased water uptake.
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- Lilies are one of the top cut flowers in the world because of their long vase life and flower form. Enma arranges them, so they look full from all sides.
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- Lilies are beautiful in small, simple arrangements as well as large, regal centerpieces. This is the first finished arrangement for my servery.
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- Enma makes an identical arrangement for the other end of the counter.
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- Next, the rose lilies are placed into a vase. While arranging flowers, it is always a good idea to periodically take a step back and look at the display to decide whether any adjustments are needed.
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- A smaller vase is used for these gorgeous yellow lilies.
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- Finally, Enma fills the vase with water. Remember to change out the arrangement’s water on a daily basis to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
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- And always place the vase in a cool area out of direct sun and drafts. This arrangement will look pretty in my green parlor.
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- This arrangement sits on a dining table between my servery and my foyer. It looks great on this silver platter.
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- And here are the two large white lily arrangements on the counter in my servery. Every arrangement is so pretty. If you don’t already, I hope this inspires you to grow your own lilies. What are your favorite varieties and colors?
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