"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." - Max Muller

Flowers are one of many things that make me happy! I love keeping a fresh bouquet of flowers in our home - they totally brighten up any space. Also, in the beginning of spring G & I love having potted plants on our front porch.

Today, I am sharing some of my tips for caring for a few of my favorite blooms.

Roses

I absolutely adore roses, and mine typically last almost two weeks in a vase! Below, are my tips for long lasting roses.

Change your water often. like to put new water in every 2-3 days, this eliminates any bacteria in the water. Also, adding bleach into your water aids in removing any bacteria!
Use the flower food provided with the roses. This is important as the roses need proper food to bloom. If your flowers don't come with food, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar.
Properly cut your stems. Cutting your stems allow the roses to drink the water and food easily.
Ice, ice, baby. Putting a few ice cubes in your vase once the roses are cut, help the roses bloom very nicely. My grandmother taught me this trick, and it works like a charm!
Remove the extra foliage. Getting rid of the extra leaves before placing the roses into the water in essential. Removing them prevents rotting and elimintaes extra bacteria getting into the water.

Hibiscus

G & I go all out in setting up our patio for Spring. When the weather stays consistently warm, we go to Home Depot, and pick out our flowers for the season. This is our second year having hibiscus plants, and they are the best! Below, are my tips for keeping your hibiscus blooming all summer long.

Water, water, and more water. When these beauties are blooming, they need a lot of water! Also, the hotter it gets, the more water they'll need. These plants drink up a lot of water, so always check the soil, and if it's dry to the touch, you'll need to pour up.
Choose the right pot and potting soil. Selecting the proper soil is essential to getting these flowers blooming. Also, ensure that the pot you choose has one or more holes at the bottom - this helps for your plant to properly drain. Keep in mind, the bigger the pot, the more soil you'll need.
Soak up the sun. It is super important to have your plants in a spot where they are facing the sun. This will help these gorgeous flowers bloom quickly!
Pruning. Make sure you prune your plants regularly. It's very normal, and also exciting when your plants to get larger. It is important to prune them to ensure that they have the right amount of space to grow.

Happy gardening!

XO, Analise

Some of my favorite memories and belongings from this week ...

I have taken on the role to re-organize my closet. This process has been a serious task I must admit. I stumbled upon my wedding shoes made by Menbur that were worn last year in March. On my wedding day I opted for gold beaded, lace flats, which matched perfectly with my Maggie Sottero wedding gown.
Vintage earrings that my Dad picked up for me when he was on his Naval deployment in Spain. He bought them for me when I was 9 years old, and had my Mom put them away until I was old enough for them. The earrings came with a matching necklace, and on my wedding day I opted to wear them - obviously there were my something old, they were simply perfect. My Dad was so shocked that I decided to wear them, and it meant the world to him.
Beautiful blooms in the Biltmore Estate Garden. G and I honeymooned at the Biltmore Estate, it is nestled in the mountains of Asheville, NC. The flowers were absolutely stunning and the scenery was breathtaking! G & I re-visited the estate for our one year anniversary, and did additional exurcsions and tours that we missed the first time around. It's such a peaceful and gorgeous place, also it doesn't hurt that there's a winery too! We are making it a plan to visit the estate once a year.
Earlier this year, G and I were able to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. It was one of the greatest and monumental experiences we had this year. We are definitely planning to go back for a second visit in the new year. The museum is bubbling with so much history, and it is truly an eye opening experience. We spent all day at the museum, and we made it our mission to see everything, ... but we absolutely need to go back, because we only saw 85% of that gorgeous building.
Our visit to Potomac Point Winery in Stafford, VA last spring. Not only were the wines amazing, but the view, food, and winery were to die for. Potomac Point is definitely on our list of favorite wineries in Virginia! We love stopping at the winery on our way to visit my best friend and her husband.

What are some of your favorite memories?

XO, Analise

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit Photography

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