June is a month of long-lasting, vibrant, and fragrant blooms. The air gets warmer, the hours of sunshine lengthen, and plants magically bloom at the invitation of summer knocking at the door.
Sunflower
The sunflower, a plant typical of the low Mediterranean scrub, grows wild along the coasts and inland of Italy, finding its ideal habitat especially in central and southern Italy and the islands. With its golden flowers and characteristic intense aroma, it is a distinctive symbol of Mediterranean landscapes, coloring and scenting both coastal and hilly areas.
In reality, when we speak of "sunflower," we are referring to only one of approximately 600 species of the Helichrysum genus found throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, 25 of which are native to the Mediterranean.
Over the last decade, the use of sunflowers as an ornamental plant has seen a notable expansion, thanks to the increase in genotypes available for gardening, potting, and cut flowers.
Here are some tips to help your sunflowers last as long as possible in your vase:
-
Choose a clean, tall, and stable vase and place the sunflowers in cool to lukewarm water. The stems should be about halfway filled with water.
-
Add a preservative to the water in the jar and don't use sugar or similar additives. These accelerate decomposition.
- When choosing a location, avoid direct sunlight, proximity to air conditioning, or proximity to fruit.
Hortencia
Hydrangeas are deciduous plants (they lose their leaves during the winter) that bloom from spring to autumn. They are highly resistant to winter cold, then bloom in all their splendor the following season. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from compact bushes to climbing varieties.
The distinctive feature of this plant is its flowers, gathered in more or less spherical inflorescences called corymbs or panicles. These bear mostly sterile flowers, especially the outer ones, whose petals are replaced by sepals, large, petal-shaped leaves, while the other floral parts are aborted. The fertile flowers, however, are hermaphroditic and small, with a number of petals varying from four to more than ten. Colors generally range from white to various shades of pink, red, violet, and blue. The hue is due partly to the plant's genetic makeup (some varieties are exclusively red, pink, or white) and partly to the soil's pH.
How to care for cut hydrangeas:
- Fill half of the the vase with clean cold water.
- Add flower food.
- Cut small stems diagonally and, if possible, make a small incision inside to facilitate absorption.
- Place the pot in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Check the water level daily. Hydrangeas drink a lot. Change the water and trim the stems every 2-3 days.