Lots of us will start spending more time inside and less in our gardens as the mercury begins to rise. The midday heat will make even the most heat loving people wilt. This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your garden. Why not bring the garden inside with you?

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the fruits (or blooms) of our labor by gathering flowers and foliage to enjoy indoors. The reward for time spent planting, fertilizing, watering and mulching in spring and early summer are an abundance of beautiful blossoms ideal for flower arrangements.

Annual flowers in many colors, shapes and sizes make the possibilities endless for creative combinations.

A successful flower harvest depends on sharp cuts with a clean pruner or cutting tool. Torn or jagged cuts make it difficult for the stem to absorb water and at the same time invite disease and insect problems to the remaining plant. Clean water and containers must be used in the process since any bacteria present will clog the cut stems.

Placing flowers into a bucket or other container with water is preferable, although, a basket is a light weight and easy to carry option for flower gathering. Since a woven container doesn’t hold water, you must work fast and avoid this method during the hottest period of the day. Morning or late afternoon harvesting is best in the heat of summer, however, with hectic schedules this is not always possible. Removing flowers from strong sunlight as soon as possible is best even if they are in water.

After bringing the flowers inside, it is time to condition them. First remove the foliage that will be submerged and recut the stems at an angle. Immediately place them into a clean container of water. Some recommendations are to cut the stems under water although this presents a challenge especially if you have lots of flowers to work with. The first method works fine for me.

Many different opinions abound about additives to the water to increase vase life. Some of the most interesting are to dissolve an aspirin, add a pinch of sugar or to pour a little lemon-lime soda into the vase. A simple and affordable way to keep any bacteria under control is to add two to three drops of household bleach to a gallon of water.

Celosia is an interesting choice for summer and fall arrangements and is excellent fresh or dried. The cristata varieties are also called cockscomb and have flowers that are shaped and look like colored brains. Plumed or plumosa varieties are feathery, vertical flowers. Cutting fully developed flowers will result in a seven day vase life minimum that can be extended by removing any remaining foliage as it wilts.

Flower heads of celosia can be dried by standing them in a vase with no water until the stems are free of moisture. Next, hang them upside down in an arid, dark place until they are completely dry.

Cosmos are blooming all over town and are also useful as a fresh cut flower. Harvest them when the petals of the first flower have opened but not flattened and they may last up to five days in a vase.

Recommendations for harvesting globe amaranth (a.k.a gomphrena or bachelor’s buttons) is to cut flowers when they are almost fully open and their flower color is most intense. Leave them in a container of water at room temperature overnight before arranging. A seven day vase life can be expected with this method. These flowers may also be hung upside down to dry and will last indefinitely.

Gather annual sunflowers when they are almost completely open. Strip off as much foliage as possible before placing in a bucket. Expect fresh sunflowers to last seven to ten days from cutting. The flowers are fun to air dry by placing stems in a dry, dark place with the flower head facing up until the moisture is removed. These are great for fall and winter arranging.

Zinnias have been popular as &uot;cut and come again&uot; flowers for many years. Cultivars can be found in single or double flowers and in a variety of colors, and heights. Harvest when the flowers are fully mature. Condition and plunge stems into cold water immediately and let them sit at room temperature overnight before arranging. Expect a vase life of at least seven days.

Angelonia is wonderful summer annual that is somewhat new to the bedding plant scene. Proving to be a plant which can handle our hot summers, it is equally as satisfying in fresh flower arrangements. These are just a few of the annual flowers that are great for cutting. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ones.

Growing and harvesting flowers from ones own garden can be a rewarding experience for everyone, especially children. The results are guaranteed to produce smiles and lasting memories.

Recollections of my mother and I sowing zinnia and sunflower seed in our garden when I was a child evoke treasured feelings of the past. We nurtured our seedlings until they produced beautiful blooms, some of which we brought indoors to enjoy. Of course, the rewards of our cultivations are much deeper than flowers.

Gardening Miss-Lou Style is a weekly column written by Traci Maier of Natchez. She can be reached at Fred’s Greenhouse at 445-5181 or by email at ratmaier@iamerica.net