APRIL: MY FLOWER OF THE MONTH, WITH WHITNEY BROMBERG HAWKINGS

April: Celebrating The Fleeting Beauty Of Fringed Tulips

Welcome to Flower of the Month, our brand new column, curated by FLOWERBX founder Whitney Bromberg Hawkings. At FLOWERBX, every month of the year is celebrated for its own unique floral beauty; from summer to winter - and back round again - there is something to be cherished in every season. This month, Whitney chooses her favourite flower to style throughout April, and tells us why we should embrace its charm and character while it lasts. 

When it comes to this time of year, it is so easy to look ahead and miss out on the changing seasonal beauty that is being showcased all around us. For this reason, I find that April is all about savouring those last tastes of floral spring delight before we embark on impending early summer varieties. As for the perfect flower to champion all that this moment in the calendar has to offer, I always turn to tulips. This year, I have a love for the fringed variety more than ever before, which is why they are my pick of the month. 

With an exquisite, frilled texture that demands attention, this particular variety of tulip is full of floral flair, and has been a favourite amongst everyone I have met so far this season; from friends looking for the perfect spring gift, to my bunch of choice when brightening up temperamental March days at home!

But the tulip is more than a pretty face, although her beauty is extraordinary! Tulips are one of the world’s best-selling flowers; now heavily associated with the flower markets of Holland, they are in fact native as a wild flower to central Asia. A firm favourite within the FLOWERBX community when sending flowers to those they adore; they are known to symbolise deep and perfect love, which is just one of the reasons we see so many leave our doors throughout Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day celebrations! 

So, with all of this heritage, it is not hard to see why our fresh fringed tulips are a spring staple! I simply adore that they add an extra point of interest to a classic, elevating every stem without losing any of the charm we all know and love. At FLOWERBX, our fringed tulips come in an array of divine sorbet shades, from pared-back Pressed Linen -  a luxurious ivory hue, to colour pop yellow Lemon Sherbert.

Caring for tulips could not be more straightforward, but there are a few industry-insider tips that will come in handy to keep them looking their best for even longer. Always remove any foliage that sits below the waterline, and re-cut your tulip stems at a 45-degree angle with our FLOWERBX Floral Scissors. Tulips love fresh water, and are a particularly thirsty flower, so I like to make sure mine are topped up throughout the day, and aim to change their water completely each morning. I like to think a little movement keeps stems looking full of character; in fact, tulips are one of the only flowers that keep growing after they have been cut, which is why they have a mind and direction of their own in the vase.  However, to avoid the dreaded tulip droop, be sure to keep them in a cool spot, out of direct sunlight. 

I have the inside scoop that one of my favourite fringed tulips has a spot within April’s FLOWERBX flower subscriptions, so there is no better time to start exploring extraordinary flowers, delivered to your door on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. With options starting from just £40, simply choose a frequency and duration to suit your schedule, and keep enjoying seasonal flowers month after month. Discover more about all that our subscription services have to offer here.

I simply cannot wait to share more floral joy - and another of my favourite flowers - with you next month.