Why Pineapple Hill?
The pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality since the days of the early American colonies. According to legend, the symbol began with the sea captains of New England who would spear a pineapple on a fence post outside their home to let the community know of their safe return home and to invite friends to visit and share their hospitality.
Likewise, we hope Pineapple Hill Designs boutique will make you feel “Welcome”! We know how important it is to find something special for that certain someone or just the right accessory to complete a room. We believe everyday is a day to celebrate, and we have just the thing to help you create something special out of the ordinary.
Organize the Shed
Spring-cleaning means not only giving everything a good wipe-down but decluttering your space to welcome the warmer seasons ahead.
Follow these tips and you'll breathe a sigh of spring relief.
For storing everyday garden and home tools, wood lattice is even handier than a basic trellis. Choose a heavy-duty variety, sold in sheets at hardware stores and lumberyards, and screw it onto a door using spacers. Then hang implements from S hooks, which fit snugly in the diamond framework. For items that can't be hung, attach broom clamps or suspend binder clips from hook.
Plants that tolerate heat:
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| Arizona Sun' Blanket Flower |
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Moss Rose (Portulaca Grandiflora)
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Melampodium
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CaptionRudbeckia (Black-eyed Susans)
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and last but not least...
Get the most of your spring flowers
How to Trim, Arrange,
Display and Extend
the Life of your Blooms
via Real Simple
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Long-Stemmed Flowers
Tulips and daffodils come in dozens of varieties; Ranunculus (shown, second from left) and Poppies (shown, bottom) run the rainbow gamut. Also look for Anemones (shown, top red flower),Iirises, and Amaryllis. All bloom sometime between March and July.
Trim
- Cut stems at an angle with sharp flower clippers or a knife. For poppies, use a lighter or a match (Perez uses a flat iron) to gently singe the cut ends. This keeps sap inside but allows for water absorption.
Arrange
- Some of these flowers emit a sappy substance (in poppies, it is toxic and can kill other flowers). Let the sap drain by putting flowers in water separately overnight before arranging.
- For a dense, upright arrangement, cut stems so the blossoms are about three inches from the top of the vase. Or fasten flowers loosely with a ribbon or a twist tie and lean them to one side in an extra-wide-mouthed vase.
- Poppies’ curling stems rule out structured arrangements. Put a bunch in a tall vase for a loose, extravagant look, or place two or three stems in a bottle or a decanter.
Maintain
- Tulips can grow after they’re cut, changing shape; trim them vigilantly.
- Tall stems have more leaves, which decompose and pollute the water; change it at least every three days. Alejandro Saralegui, a landscape designer in Wainscott, New York, uses Floralife Crystal Clear, a citric acid formula, to extend the life of blooms.
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tree & shrub blossoms
Fruit trees bear flowers ranging from pure white to hot pinkish red. Some of the most popular are cherry (shown, far left), quince (shown, center), and apple (shown, right). Also look for crab apple, plum, and, for a jolt of yellow, the nonfruiting forsythia bush.
Trim
- Start tall. Height is an advantage of branches; you can always trim as you go.
- Cut branches on a diagonal (if they’re thick, use pruning shears or shrub pruners). Then split each one up from the bottom about an inch, or use a vegetable peeler to peel the bark off the bottom two inches. Don’t mash them; splitting is less traumatic and allows just as much water in.
Arrange
- Mixing varieties is fine, says Saralegui, “but keep things fairly symmetrical―short cherry blossoms with tall dogwood branches will just look strange.”
- Branch arrangements can be top-heavy. Make sure your container is sturdy enough to resist tipping. For more stability and a wider arrangement, use a shorter, broader vessel.
Maintain
- Tepid water is best―cold water delays branches’ already slow blooming. Murk and bacteria accumulate much faster with branches than with stems, so check the water daily (if you use an opaque vase and can’t assess the water, simply expect a shorter life span).
- Trim branches every few days, splitting or shaving as you go.
- As with long stems, a tablespoon or a capful of a good floral food helps prolong the spectacle. You can prune out wilted blossoms and adjust your arrangement to suit its new, sparser shape.
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Trick the Little Birdies
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| via Real Simple |
Hang unbreakable ornaments on tomato plants
early in the season. When pesky sparrows or blue jays come to peck, they’ll
find the hard bulbs (instead of juicy treats) and abandon their attacks by the
time the real fruits ripen.
So remember to keep a few of those non-breakable
red balls out for spring planting time. If you don't have some ... Get
some now while they're on sale!
Did you know ... There is a language of flowers.
photo by Lucas Allen
Inspiration from Real Simple Magazine
Here are some of the hidden meanings.
Amaranthus: Constancy and fidelity
Amaryllis: Pride, pastoral beauty
Anemone: Abandonment, forsakenness, sincerity, fragility
Chrysanthemum: Happiness and long life
Chrysanthemum (White): Truth
Chrysanthemum (Yellow): Secret admirer
Chrysanthemum (Red): Love
Daffodil (a.k.a. Narcissus): Respect, good fortune, chivalry, unrequited love
Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, purity
Forget-Me-Not: Faithful love and memory, true love
Iris: Faith and wisdom, inspiration
Ivy: Fidelity, wedded love, affection
Lilac: First love
Lily: Purity and sweetness
Lily of the Valley: Renewed happiness and humility
Orchid: Love and beauty
Peony: Happiness and prosperity
Rose (Red): Love and desire
Rose (White): Purity and innocence
Sweet Pea: Departure
Tulip: True love
Violet: Modesty
Zinnia: Thoughts of friends, thoughts of absent friends
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Set silverware out in pretty terra-cotta pots.
Label each container using chalk, so you can wipe off the writing and reuse the pots.
