Buzzing with Bees + ‘Honey It’s Good’ Flower Arrangement

Think outside the vase and upcycle a vintage honey can as a vase for garden flowers. Post includes includes flower arrangement longevity tips and additional floral inspiration.

Happy Monday! The garden has burst into bloom and is buzzing with bees!

And I’m joining my blogging friends to share some floral inspiration and Monday Morning Blooms! You’ll find my links to my flower-loving friends’ blooms at the bottom of this post.

Our common theme for this week’s edition of MMB was a flower arrangement using a jar or can with a label. I found this ‘Bradshaw’s Clover Blossom Honey’ can on eBay.  I was all abuzz over the vibrant *bee*utiful graphics, depicting bees swarming around a bee skep! The seller identified it as a 1940s-era can. I’m not sure that’s accurate given how pristine the can is, but it spoke to my bee-loving heart.

I used one of my favorite tools for flower arranging, chicken wire, which is reusable, unlike floral foam. Cut your chicken wire wider and longer than your container, so you have a several inches of wire on all sides of your container to bend and hold it securely in place. Chicken wire is easy to cut with pliers and is available at most craft stores, online, or at garden centers.

I picked up a $4 bundle of sunflowers at the grocery store for a pop of sunny yellow color to go with the color of the bee skep on the can.  The other flowers in the arrangement were blooms growing around the Potting Shed, including a few of ‘bee favorites’ like this Lamb’s Ear, currently buzzing with bees . . .

And bee balm which attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

 If you want a plant that attracts pollinators, self-sows and that tolerates the heat, plant Verbena Lollipop! It grows in zones 6 – 10 and prefers full sun in well-drained soil. Find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone by zipcode, here.

We had several new clumps of Lollipop that volunteered this spring, seeded from last year’s plants. I’m a firm *bee*liever in not being too hasty when it comes to pulling your ‘weeds’ in case you can identify them after a little growth as a flower. . . or that’s my excuse anyway. ;)

For a little whimsy in my arrangement, I used my bee magnets that I use to transform my napkin rings. . .

I used a metal binder clip, on top of a bamboo skewer.

I placed one bee magnet on the can, covering up the ‘Net Weight 5 lbs.’ . .

And added the second bee to the clip, tucking the skewer down in the hydrangea until the clip and skewer were concealed.

Like a little bit of jewelry for the flower arrangement!

Have a seat on the bench by the window boxes. . .

A bee hive shaped watering can is blooming with garden flowers. . .Veronica, Endless Summer Hydrangeas, Verbena Lollipop and Queen Anne’s Lace.

And joins a couple of decorative bee skeps.

Here are few tips to help extend the life of your flowers in your arrangement:

💐 Start with a clean container or vase, washing thoroughly to remove potential bacteria that will shorten the life of your flowers.

💐 Cut your flower stems at a 45 degree angle for maximum water uptake and remove any leaves below the water line.

💐 Always add the floral preservative packets to your vase water that come with your flowers. If you don’t have any floral preservative, you can make your own with this easy formula.

💐Check your water level to top it off if necessary. Some flowers like hydrangeas are heavy drinkers.

💐 If you’re using cut hydrangeas, use the alum-dipping method to keep them from wilting.

💐 Keep your flower arrangement away from heat or direct sunlight.

💐When using garden flowers, cut them in the early morning when they are fully hydrated and not water stressed from the heat. For best results, condition them prior to arranging them, placing them in floral preservative / water solution for several hours or preferably overnight.

💐 Once a flower starts to fade, remove it from the bouquet as soon as possible. A dying flower releases ethylene gas that will hasten the decline of other flowers in your arrangement.

💐 Change your vase water every other day if possible.

This bee flew over to enjoy a little nectar from the Lamb’s Ear in the arrangement. . .

He flew to several flowers in the arrangement, including the white hosta blooms, but the lamb’s ear was the clear favorite.

Honey, It’s Good! 🐝

*Buzz* over to visit my talented blogging friends to see their floral inspiration this week:

Pam at Everyday Living

Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse

Shirley at Housepitality Designs

🐝🐝🐝

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch