Amazingly, hints of spring have been around these past too weeks (although as the temp just recently cooled down, I might have spoken too soon). Aside from longer days and a slight compulsion to wear shorts, it’s really the plethora of spring flowers on the street everywhere I turn that sing spring. The myriad of colours; tulips, daffodils, lilacs, cyclamens and many more I don’t know the sames of, simply brighten up one’s day.

Photo courtesy of Cool, Green, and Shady

Here, at HRG we’ve been working with a local florist Cool, Green, and Shady (2012 Queen St. East located in the Beaches area) for home shows across Ontario. Seeing how the lovely brilliant flowers really lit up the recent National home show (amongst many staged interiors), encouraged me to get some for my own home. Not to mention, there’s a reason why home stagers love adding plants in the home; they really do add some warmth and freshness to any room.

A super cute gift idea for your home or a loved one is a “bulb” plant, which will slowly blossom in the home and after which, can be planted outside.

Here are some helpful hints from their website:

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BULB POT (“Bulb pots” are pots and baskets that include a mixture of spring bulbs.)
•	Bulb pots require a moderately bright location.
•	Keep soil moist, but avoid over watering.
•	Room temperature is preferred; avoid excess heat or cold.
•	Once your bulb pot has finished blooming, you may prune the greens and plant the bulbs in your garden where they will bloom again each spring.

Although there are some arguments about how green the cultivated plant industry is, I can’t help but feel that flowers are a simple luxury, and you can take the extra step in asking where your local florist sources the flowers and plants they sell.

Consider buying plants that you can nurture that will clean the air in your home, rather than cut flowers that will not last as long. Mini rosebushes – need I say more?