May 2005 (ARA) - The long, cold winter that has brought record low temperatures and snowfall to many parts of the country is finally winding down. Soon the landscape will turn green and flowers will start blooming. Before you know it, it'll be time to take a cue from Mother Nature and redecorate your home. But you don't have to spend a small fortune on new furniture or an interior designer to make a dramatic change. You can do it with flowers. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and can be used to create any number of decorating effects.

"You can use flowers as a window treatment by lining up a row of simple vases on the window sill and filling them with your favorite flowers. In the kitchen, fill a vase with spaghetti, and add flowers for a fresh look. They can be used in the bathroom as air fresheners, or even as artwork hung from the walls. The possibilities are endless," says Will Carlson of flowerpossibilities.com, a Web site run by the Flower Promotion Organization.

Here are a few ideas for using flowers to decorate some of the most used rooms in your house, beginning with a project that works well anywhere you want to add a little color.

Bloom and a Bud Vase - Recipe and Photo by Jill Slater

One single flower is all it takes to add a little spice to any nook or cranny in your space. The office, bedside or bathroom is a perfect place for a single bloom. No need for floral expertise or expense either. An old jar, bottle or of course a bud vase can contain one flower. Whether you select a lily, a single rose, one gerbera daisy, or even a big fat chrysanthemum, just one is enough to liven up your indoor landscape. Here's How to Select a Fresh Cut Flower: Make sure the flowers' blooms or buds are not bruised or browning. The foliage should be green without yellowing leaves. The water the flower is sold in should smell clean. If it smells bad, chances are the flowers are old. Buy flowers when they are closed or just partially open. Many flower varieties, such as lilies are multi-bloomed. That is, the flower has several blooms on its one stem. Try to select a single stem with one bloom open and the others closed. That way, you will be able to watch the additional blossoms open and enjoy the flower longer. Here's How to Create a Bud Vase: A single flower in a bud vase is a perfect way to decorate with flowers and not empty your wallet.
Materials:
	One narrow necked bud vase, bottle or jar One single flower Approximately five stems of bear grass or other linear foliage One to three stems of greenery for the rim of the bud vase Floral preservative Floral clippers
Directions:
	Step 1 - Fill the container with water containing floral food.
	Step 2 - Cut the flower stem to about twice the height of the vase. Strip the flower's stem so that none of the leaves will be covered by water. Place the flower in the bud vase.
	Step 3 - To give added support and beauty, add stems of linear bear grass or other linear foliage. Cut the foliage so that they are just slightly taller than the flower.
	Step 4 - To give the bud vase an elegant, balanced look, insert greenery at the rim of the bud vase.

Buy flowers when they are closed or just partially open. Many flower varieties, such as lilies are multi-bloomed. That is, the flower has several blooms on its one stem. Try to select a single stem with one bloom open and the others closed. That way, you will be able to watch the additional blossoms open and enjoy the flower longer.

For more decorating idea for spring and beyond, log on to www.flowerpossibilities.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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