Richard Bloom was on location in an Oregon City nursery today with great tips on which flowers to grow for your cutting garden...and how to use your flowers in arrangements.

For the best variety in your arrangements, grow both line flowers (like delphiniums, stock, snaps, or calla lillies), face flowers (zinnias, dahlias, peonies, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, alliums, or cosmos), and filler plants (sunset william, lavendar, salvia, or silver dust).  

• When choosing the vase, select a shape and size that matches the types of flowers you plan to place within the vase. For example, tall, linear vases should be used to display line flowers.
• When making your floral arrangement, Richard suggests one pump of antibacterial soap in the bottom of the vase. Always start with greenery as your base, followed by line flowers, then face flowers. Finally, use filler plants to put the finishing touch on the flower display. 
• One tip for cutting dahlias: Scald the cut tip of the plant in boling water. This will extend the life of the flower.  

Richard Bloom's store, R Blooms, is located at 449 Third Street in Lake Oswego.  The store's phone number is 503-636-5876.

For more information, visit the R Bloom website.