TIP: Remember- fresh, warm water and your flowers will last much longer.
Flowers from your garden will be the freshest, most fragrant options that you will be able to find. But, I know, it’s hard to cut down that clump of tulips in your front flowerbed. So plan ahead a bit and work a flower cutting bed into your landscape. Fill it with bulbs like Tulips and Daffodils, annuals like Zinnias, Cleome, and Cosmos, and perennials such as Autumn Joy Sedum. Don’t forget the greenery- Hosta leaves and Ivy are workhorses in arrangements! When working with garden flowers, clean any stray dirt and always cut on a diagonal to ensure that the flower will draw up the most water. Place like type flowers in vases and enjoy! Be abundant and group the vases together for major impact on your dining table or foyer.
TIP: Daffodils have a substance that is poisonous to other flowers, so never mix them with others.
Flowers from a florist are luxurious and can either be arranged by them or by you. The florist will be able to broaden your flower choices by having things flown in from Europe, South America, and other parts of the United States. This is great for special occasions and events, but will be a bit pricier for the unique flowers that they carry. When ordering flowers, be specific about where they will go and what the event is.
TIP: Let your florist know that you are flexible with certain things like shape or color and they will hunt down the best seasonal flowers to fit your needs.
Flowers from a big box home store- what would you do with that? Flowering plants like hydrangea and lilies are a gorgeous centerpiece or on a foyer table. Usually they will carry flowering plants on a seasonal basis- so check out their offerings now and again. When you get the plant home, take the foil wrapper off and put it in a decorative container. Cover the soil with a top dressing of seashells, marbles, even aquarium gravel, and enjoy the instant impact of the blooms!
TIP: Poinsettias at Christmastime are best on a lower level, like a hearth, since they are rather branchy and their blooms are prettiest viewed downward.
The supermarket is one of my favorite places to buy flowers- convenient and relatively inexpensive if you are not too concerned with the choices. If you are lucky enough to have a place that offers a mixed bunch special or 3 bunches/ »$12, grab it up! The 3 bunch special you can buy all the same and have that glorious large bouquet sitting on your table. The mixed bunch requires a bit more work: we want to break it apart to make more of a statement. Generally there is a focal flower like a rose, filler flowers like baby’s breath, and some type of greenery in this bunch. Use three different vases-small, medium, and large, and divide the flowers up. In the smallest, lowest vase, put all of your greenery. In the medium one-use the filler flower to enhance this size vase. The focal flower goes in the most dramatic vase- that’s what you really paid for, so show it off. Group the three vases together and “wow” everyone with your flower arranging!
TIP: Do use the flower food packets that generally come with these bunches.
Flower arranging can be a lot of fun and need not take too much time and money. Be creative and mix and match your containers- I love to use canning jars in the summer with a single posy in each. Fresh flowers are all about immediate impact and putting a smile on your face. Life is too short, so go ahead indulge today!
Tracey Schabel is the editor of http://www.GirlzDealz.com and http://www.GirlzNetwork.com – websites “for women by women”, where you can find ideas, tips, and deals about home and lifestyle trends. Be sure to check out our websites for the latest in interior decorating, green living, lifestyle trends, handpicked shopping deals, entertaining, book reviews, and much more.
If you’ve decided on flowers, you can choose flowers specific for her birth month. If her birthday is in January, send her carnations; in February, violets; March, jonquils; April, sweet peas; May, lilies; June, roses; July, larkspurs; August, gladioli; September, asters; October, calendulas; November, chrysanthemums; and December, narcissuses.
For younger women and girls, your flower arrangements could be based on a flower theme for her birthday party. You could create large paper blooms, perhaps of sunflowers, and do up T-shirts with flowers in thumbprint designs and get them to carry cake and confectionery bouquets.
Begin with the party invitations and design them in the shape of large flowers with each petal bearing all the details of your party. Make these cards with a sheet of card paper from which you will need to cut four-inch long petals. Now, cut a 1.5-inch diameter circle from the remaining sheet. In each petal, punch two holes, one in the center and the other at the narrow end. Pile up all the petals and cover them with the circle, ensuring that the holes are in line with each other and stick them together with tape. Open each flower and write the details of your party on each petal.
Flower Arrangements provides detailed information about flower arrangements, Christmas flower arrangements, dried flower arrangements, and more. Flower Arrangements is affiliated with Growing Hibiscus.
Teddy Bear Sunflowers – a small version of the original sunflower. It grows to 3 feet in height. Dahlias – a cheery plant of the daisy family that has full blooms that can reach 10 inches in diameter. Scented Geranium Leaves – this plant has sculpted leaves that are available in many scents from ginger to chocolate. Zinnias – available in a variety of colors and sizes and has a hearty bloom. Spray Roses – a miniature version of the rose that comes in lots of colors and scents. Perennial Salvia – a purple sprig that adds a spiky contrast to the full blooms of the other plants.
Decide on the container you want to use for your flower arrangement and fill it with water. A short bowl-like container will result in a fuller arrangement while a tall vase will result in a thinner arrangement. Garden flowers usually have thick and leafy stems which can make the water murky or cloudy. For this reason, it is best to use an opaque container such as a ceramic bowl or vase. To design the bouquet, start by grouping the medium and large flowers (Dahlias, Teddy Bear Sunflowers, and Zinnias) in your hand until you have the desired look. Stand the arrangement next to the container to gauge the proper height. Cut the stems at an angle to help the flowers stay hydrated.
Once you place the medium and large flowers in your container, tuck in the smaller flowers (Perennial Salvia and the Scented Geraniums) around the medium and large flowers. You should now have a beautiful flower arrangement for your home!
Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the founder of http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com – The Home Decor Exchange is a valuable website full of information and resources about home and garden decorating.
In addition to editing the Home Decor Exchange website, Lesley is a crochet pattern designer and needle fiber artist. You can view her crochet patterns and needle fiber designs at: http://www.ErinOliviaDesigns.Etsy.com
You can use real or silk flowers for your centerpieces or for table top decorations. You may want to arrange centerpieces ahead of time so that all of your party preparations don’t have to be done at the last minute. Silk flowers are perfect for this accommodation.
If you want to help fresh flowers last longer there are a few things you need to do. Make sure that you use only healthy flowers. There should be no brown spots or wilting pedals. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle underwater, place the flowers in lukewarm water and add a little lemon-lime soda to the water to give your flowers an extra punch.
If you are using flowers for centerpieces keep the arrangements high for a buffet table, low and long for a sit-down dinner and small and scaled down for smaller tables. Use unique and inventive items to place the flowers in. Look for elegant shaped vases, beautiful bowls or even silver or metal trays.
To create interest and beauty to your centerpieces fill the bottom of clear vases with colored stone or add floating candles to a centerpiece with few flowers. Using an online florist such as www.florists.tk will save you time. Shopping on the internet you can find all of the supplies you will need to create a wonderful setting for your party.
Another flower tip is to only use the petals of flowers in your decorating. Using this method is a great way to use your own flowers that are not picture perfect. Sprinkle pedals on table tops and other flat surfaces with a few candles as your decorative statement.
Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Lovely flowers, centerpieces and gifts are available online. Here is a store that specializes in online Flower Delivery.
