worth it

  Here in the north, August brings a sense of pathos. The days are getting darker-- due mostly to the immense cloud cover, and the leaves are falling off the deciduous trees. Summer is definitely on the wane. I cheer myself up by bringing a bright spot of color inside. 99 percent of the time, it means bringing flowers home. One doesn't need to spend a bunch of money to make oneself feel better. Sometimes a single stem can do the trick. Several universities, Rutgers among them, have done studies on the impact of fresh flowers in your living space, and the effects are electrifying. Did you know that fresh flowers in your home makes you more patient and compassionate at work? And couldn't we all use more of that! One of my current favorites is hydrangeas. They are huge spots of color, and they remind me of my granny's house. They start off as a pastel in the spring, and as the bloom matures over the season, the color becomes more intense. There are a myriad of varieties now, so the shape, color and form of each individual bloom cluster can look totally new to you. They are very thirsty, so check the water level every day and replace as needed. The stems are tender and tend to become clogged easily, so be sure your container is spotlessly clean-- if it isn't clean enough you wouldn't mind drinking out of it, it's not clean enough for your cut flowers-- of any kind. And of course, cut with a sharp knife. A commercially manufactured preservative is best-- it has the correct amounts of sugar for the flowers and an antibacterial to keep the water usable to the flower. Any bloom should be displayed away from forced air-- computers, TV, fans, heaters. Forced air is dehydrating to the botanical, and cuts life. In these days of uncertainty and economic turndown, it is easy to deny ourselves the "extras." I know that I FEEL better with the indulgence of a stem or two, and anyway, aren't I worth it?

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