Creative with Flowers # 5 - Pink and Purple Scented Stocks

Scented stocks are one of my favourite flowers and what's so great about them is that they are available for many months of the year - usually from January to August, but they peak from about March - July.

They come in quite a few colours - white, cream, burgundy and like here in purple, lilac, pale pink and cerise pink.

They are usually called scented stocks - their botanical name is Matthiola - named after the Italian physician and botanist Pierandrea Mattiola (1500-1577). Stocks were popular in Elizabethan gardens, where their spicy fragrance led them to be called 'gillyflower' a popular name for any flower with a strong, clove like scent. 

When you get them home - trim the stems and especially cut away any white parts of the stem as they will not take up water. Also remove any leaves that would end up below the water level in the vase. 

These small containers are tea-light holders and I have simply put one of the little flowers in each cup - floating in some water. They only last for about a day but can easily be replaced with new ones.

The container I have used is a vintage pickling jar with tall straight sides. They will hold even quite tall flowers and it's big enough to take a large bunch which is useful if you want to make an arrangement with some impact.  

Stocks looks fabulous on their own but is very versatile and can be mixed with peonies, Alchemilla mollis as well as many other flowers.

I love the soft colours, the sweet scent and the delightfully frothiness of the individual flowers. It's a flower that has a romantic and cottage feel to it - as well as its being contemporary and timeless in design.
  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous and floral Wednesday!

I'll be be back soon with more floral delight from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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