Decorator Carleton Varney: Join me in celebrating the ‘Year of the Gladiolus’
It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through July, but the calendar doesn’t lie.
I always enjoy when June comes, as it means more flowers begin blooming in the garden. And with the arrival of July, the annual flowers begin to dazzle — the zinnia, the snapdragon, the hydrangea and the gladiolus, all blooming brightly.
The gladiolus, in particular, is in the spotlight this year, as 2022 was named the Year of the Gladiolus by the National Garden Bureau. Although that organization singled out the flower as it bulb crop of the year, seasoned gardeners know that the gladiolus grows from “corms,” which may look like bulbs but technically are not.
Although everyone has their own preferences, I have often planted just one color of gladiolus in my gardens. I don’t even enjoy mixing colors when arranging cut gladioli. A singular color in a crystal vase is perfect, in my view.
And for those who don’t have access to a garden, floral shops and even grocery stores are always well-stocked with gladioli this time of year. You can often find gladioli available year-round.
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Whether you're buying gladioli at the store or cutting them from your garden, it’s a good idea to choose stalks with least some buds that have not yet fully opened, for they will keep flowering in a vase.
And here’s another tip: Choose your vase wisely. The gladiolus is a flower that easily bends, so a tall vase is best to keep them upright and steady.
Many people never think of using colored crystal, favoring clear instead. But a colored vase can add a bright note of color into your space while complementing the flowers.
For displaying gladioli, for instance, I would suggest a green crystal vase, which would reinforce the fresh-from-the-garden look. Or perhaps you might bundle a dozen stems in a blue crystal vase on a dining room buffet for a handsome arrangement.
I had friends who displayed cut gladioli in their unused fireplace in a striking fan arrangement.
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Gladioli aren’t just for gardens and vases, of course. I recently discovered a wallpaper design depicting gladioli blooms displayed on a yellow background. I want to purchase it to use in an entry hall — and then continue the yellow color onto the living room walls with the trim in crisp white.
A crystal vase in blue, green, or pink would be a sparkling gem on a table against a yellow wall, and any flowers displayed in it would look so happy. Or you could display green palm fronds in a clear glass for a look that celebrates summer.
Think about happy colors for your home, not only for the flowers you bring inside but also the vases you display them in.
And for those of us with gardens, summer is a time to think about flower varieties for next year. You can keep intact the sections of your plantings you love and play around with other flower beds. Perhaps you might even plant a row of gladioli along the garden wall.
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Palm Beacher Carleton Varney is president of Dorothy Draper & Co., an international design firm with offices in New York, West Palm Beach, London and White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. His new book is titled "The Draper Touch: The High Life and High Style of Dorothy Draper." Visit CarletonVarney.com or email him at cvarney@dorothydraper.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 2022 named ‘Year of the Gladiolus’ by National Garden Bureau
