3 years ago

Get Glads!

While certain flowers do seem to go in and out of fashion, gladiolus are a timeless classic. Hitting the stands at Lunds & Byerlys this month are Midwest grown gladiolus from Bachman’s. Big buckets of colorful gladiolus or “glads,” as they are affectionately called, call to mind summer farmer’s markets and that impromptu bunch of flowers plopped in a vase on the kitchen counter. Gladiolus are members of the iris family and are perfect for adding height and color to an arrangement, though they are beautiful on their own. Consider combining a couple bunches of the same color in a large cylinder vase and placing them in the middle of your kitchen island or dining room table. If bold color isn’t your thing, don’t worry, gladiolus come in a wide range of colors and white or a pale pastel works well for a more modern setting. Grab a few bunches of foliage and combine with your glads for a whimsical arrangement, or cut fern fronds or hosta leaves from your yard for a fresh-from-the-garden look.

To keep your gladiolus looking their best, be sure to give them a fresh cut as soon as you get home, and pop them into a vase with fresh water and Bachman’s flower food. If your gladiolus have yet to bloom, use warm water to encourage buds to open; then move to a cooler location once they’ve opened to help the flowers last longer. Keep flowers out of direct sunlight or drafts to prevent the flowers from dehydrating. As florets fade, pinch them off to help the blooms on the rest of the stem last.

Whether you go with a simple bunch of these bright blooms in a vase or create your own custom arrangement, be sure to add color and life to your home this summer and get glads!