Mother's Day Flowers: Homemade Floral Bouquet

Pass on the Florist
Your Mom deserves the best and what Mom wouldn't appreciate a homemade floral bouquet made with love. How can you pamper your mother with luscious bouquets of Mother's Day flowers without breaking the bank?

Buy Flowers at the Supermarket Instead
According to Sally Ferguson, director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center, the solution is to "buy supermarket flowers - then take them home and doll them up. Bringing home bunches of tulips and lilies and more is as convenient as picking up a gallon of milk. Buy strategically and it's possible to extract weeks of stylish color from these modestly-priced treats."

More is Better
In spring, you'll find grocery store floral departments are brimming with beautiful cut spring flowering bulbs. Many supermarkets have recently upgraded their floral departments to offer a more beautiful selection of flower bouquets that rival any florist. "Bought and displayed 'as is', supermarket floral offerings are generally top-notch," says Ferguson. "But why stop there. For a more stylish presentation, do what magazine stylists do: buy supermarket flowers in multiples and reconfigure them to create pricier looks for peanuts." To create luscious, over-the-top elegance, buy multiple bunches in a single color and over-stuff containers. Or select one type of flower such as tulips but buy two or three bunches in different colors.

How to Choose Cut Flowers
When shopping for cut tulips and other spring and summer bulb flowers here's a tip from the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. I always thought it was best to buy tulips tightly budded but actually "tulips should be purchased when the buds are just opening and already showing some color," says director Sally Ferguson. "If the buds are too tight, they won't open properly".

How to Arrange Your Flower Bouquet
Pick up an inexpensive flower vase at Ikea, a craft store or dollar store. Fill it with cool water. Put a fresh cut on each stem before putting in the base or container. Take the time to carefully arrange each flower one at a time. Feel free to remove any extra foliage. Too much will quickly decay and smell terrible in a few days.

How to Care for Your Mother's Day Flower Bouquet
Advise Mom to remove any wilted foliage and to drain and refresh the water every couple of days with cool, not chilly cold or hot water.

Source: Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center at bulb.com.