A summer project I finally began tackling was sorting through boxes of inherited china and crystal. Boxed, in some cases a decade or more ago, I had been loath to let them go. At last, using the principles of that organizing guru Marie Kondo, I decided it was high time I said thank you and sent them off to a new home where they would be better loved.
For a destination, I chose Replacements. Located in North Carolina, Replacements buys and sells china, glassware, silver, jewelry, and watches. Their website has a feature to help you identify patterns, and, once identified, you can contact them to get a price list for anything you wish to sell. While you can ship things to them, I had so much that I scheduled an appointment, combined with a visit with friends.
Wondering what this has to do with flowers? Well, while trying to identify various patterns, I was struck by how many there are that feature flowers. One long hallway at Replacements displays a single dinner plate from the top 500 china patterns – many of which include flowers. I wonder how many of the more than 36,000 existing china patterns have flowers; I suspect more than half.
What does that tell us? It tells us unequivocally how important flowers are as décor, as art, and as beauty. Something this prevalent clearly has carried emotional resonance for over 1,000 years.
Beautiful blooms convey love and memories and connection. Using local blooms conveys extra notes of freshness, care for the environment, and support for local farms and businesses.
Find out more about the power of local flowers at our upcoming Farm Tour on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Castlebridge Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland. Tickets on sale soon!
What’s Available Locally in August: This list is by no means comprehensive, just a sampling of what growers in our area may have this month.
Ageratum, alstroemeria, amaranth, baptisia foliage, basil, celosia, Chinese elm foliage, cosmos, dahlias, dara, gomphrena, gladiolous, hydrangeas, hypericum, lilies, lisianthus, marigolds, scabiosa, scented geranium, sea oats, smoke bush, sunflowers, sweet William, yarrow, and zinnias. Also ask your local growers about dried flowers and wreaths – many dry their harvest!
Care Tips for Zinnias – The last few years have brought an explosion of new varieties of this summer staple. Try the Queen series, Zinderella beauties, or Persian Carpet for something unexpected. Zinnias prefer warmer temperatures and can be damaged by cold, so best to store at 40-45 degrees. Zinnias respond well to clean cutters, buckets, and solutions, so consider using slow-release chlorine tablets. They typical last a week, although some varieties last longer.