Capturing Memories ~ Alstroemeria Flower Photos

Flower Gifts

Many people when they are invited to a friend's home for dinner wish to take a little something to show their appreciation. It would seem that for time immemorial flowers have been chosen as the perfect gift. These flower gifts seem to fit any and all occasions.

Most everyone likes a gift of pretty flowers, unless for some reason they are allergic to them, and flowers compliment almost any decor.

My husband and I have a special friend who has brought us beautiful blooming alstroemeria flower bouquets on different occasions. When she found out how long they lasted and how long they graced our home with their gorgeous colors, she has sought to seek out more alstroemeria cut flowers and gift us with them several times and often in different color combinations.

We have other friends who know my husband's special love of tulips and who have often brought those stemmed beauties several times to our home. Thanks Pat and John!

Now we are starting to associate the alstroemeria flower gifts with our friend Cheryl simply because of the frequency of her thoughtful gifts. Thank you Cheryl! This hub will capture memories of some of those alstroemeria flower beauties.

Peruvian lily

This is another name for the flower called alstroemeria. In addition to Peruvian lily it is also sometimes called a Lily of the Incas.

These names would have come naturally as this perennial flowering plant is a native of South America.

Many of the plants delivered to flower shops and grocery stores and other places that sell fresh cut flowers come from crosses between the more than one-hundred and twenty species of these flower plants coming primarily from the countries of Peru, Chile and Brazil.

Lasting gift

So many cut flowers have a short time that they remain pretty after being arranged in a vase of water. Of course there are methods that can extend the life of cut flowers and some florists include a packet of something to be mixed with the water when hydrating the flowers. I have never seen a label as to what is in those mysterious packets...but they seem to work.

Some things to do to extend the life of cut flowers like alstromerias (as well as other types of flowers) besides changing the water and refreshing it every couple of days are some of the following which can be added to the water if not given a packet from the florist:

• Add a crushed aspirin tablet
• Some people use a copper penny in the water
• A few drops of household bleach plus a teaspoon or two of sugar
• Just a little sugar
• Believe it or not, some people use a multi-vitamin!

Personally I have used a little sugar and it seems to extend a cut flower's life in a vase.

But the most beautiful thing about purchasing alstroemeria flowers or receiving them as gifts is that they last much longer than many other cut flowers...with or without those additives being added to the water.

On average, one can expect just about two weeks of vase life when having alstroemeria flowers in one's home. When first acquired the buds are not fully opened and with the passing days they just get prettier and more beautiful as they continue to open. So if wishing to give a more long lasting gift or beautifying one's own home, think of picking up some alstroemeria flowers the next time one is shopping for cut flowers.

Growing alstroemerias

Truthfully this is one flower that I have never tried growing but might just have to give it a try one of these days. It does not sound that difficult.

While it naturally grows in central Chile and eastern Brazil in opposite seasons (Chile in the winter months, and Brazil in the summer) as well as Peru, if one provides the right kind of light and well drained soil and it is grown in sun or part sun, this bulbous perennial plant could provide some gorgeous blooms in the summertime for many people.

Provide enough water and humidity and then be prepared to harvest one's own blooms for vases in the house...or just admire the plant as grown in the ground or in tubs or pots on the patio.

It can grow to be anywhere from one to three feet tall and one to two feet wide, so allow plenty of room for it to spread.

I found a couple of interesting videos on how the alstroemeria flowers are grown and gathered for the cut flowers...and or kept dead-headed in the garden. Watch the videos and be amazed!

Blooming gift

Thanks to our friend Cheryl, we have now had many different colors of alstroemeria flowers in our home at various times.

Of the many hybrids...colors such as lavendar, red, purple, white, yellows, oranges, apricot and pinks can be seen as well as striations of colors in each blossom.

It was fun taking photos of these thoughtful gifts and if you, the reader, were unfamiliar with these alstroemeria flower beauties...hopefully you are now better acquainted.