Floral Arrangements

Floral arrangements can be an impulsive bunch of field flowers or an elaborate, multi-textured presentation soaring up to the ceiling. Pit all of Nature's fresh flowers against mankind's ingenuity and nimble fingers. Arrive at arrangement ideas that challenge and delight the imagination.

A flexible and endearing art, floral arrangements adapt to a very personal approach or a chic, florist exercise. On the broadest of terms, floral artwork is for outdoor, indoor or personal human adornment. Perhaps the most readily accessible of decorative matter, flowers can adorn a crib, a crypt, banquet or boardroom with perfect ease and appropriateness. Flower styles can be European, Asian, country-style, tropical exotica or individual picks and flicks.

Open-air arrangements are many. The natural flower garden, landscaped to individual tastes, climate and land contours. To green house cultivations, flower bowers, poolside arrangements and rock gardens that need constant supervision. In clusters or all by themselves flowers can festoon arches, porches, pillars and other outdoor venues as well.

Indoor floral displays offer more opportunities for creativity and variation. From the front door to the staircase, hall or basement, bedroom or bathroom, wall, window, floor or ceiling, flowers decorations can be placed anywhere, to appeal everywhere. Used furniture and cutlery, old teapots, family trophies, baskets, cans, stands, trays and fishbowls take on charming new tones when adorned with flowers. And when combined with greenery, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, pinecones, ribbons, paper, taffeta, faux flowers or silk flowers, flowers exude extra life and room appeal.

Simple arrangements require basic flower sense. Organize flowers by appearance into the brightest, biggest, most exotic blooms, to the lean, straight-looking ones, rounded ones, forms other than round, and finally, feathery, filler flowers. But florists can be your ideal mentors. Drop by at the store to get a feel of the flowers, style alternatives, arrangements and price options available. Browse flower design books for more ideas. Discuss with the florist, the occasion, your recipient's age, personality, home d?cor and your relationship, before picking on the right flowers. Decide on the budget and then ribbon-tie, cello wrap or customize the selection.

Taking flowers out from their natural ambience into other areas of human proximity calls for skill and expertise. Fragile shelf life imposes precise timing and clarity of purpose in the use of cut flowers. Heat, weight, moisture, packaging and deft handling can all dictate flower longevity.

Dabble with flowers, and spend a lifetime learning new things. Topiaries, spool wire, puff, acrylic paint, pothos, floral frogs, foam, adhesive, sheet moss, Spanish moss, moss wheat grass, beet, cattails, decoupage, greening pins, wilt-proof spray, watering spikes, pour spouts?and you thought flower arrangements just happened.

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Florist Tips - How To Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer

By following a few simple steps on how to treat cut flowers, you will have the pleasure of them lasting so much longer. Once the stems of flowers have been cut you have removed their life support system, so flowers should be placed in water as soon as possible.

Picking Your Own Flowers If you are picking your own flowers it is best to do this in the morning or the late evening. Sugar reserves in the stems are at their highest in the mornings or evenings. Ideally the best time is early morning when flower stems are filled with water after the cool night air. You should never pick flowers in the middle of the day when the sun is at it's hottest.

The heat of the sun lowers the water content in the stems and the flowers will not last nearly as long. If it has been raining and the flowers are wet, shake them gently to remove the excess water. Too much water will often damage flowers - especially delicately petalled flowers.

When to Pick Flowers Most flowers should be picked when they are in bud or half open. You will then have the pleasure of seeing them slowly open up. The colour of the petals should be starting to show. If picked too tightly in bud, they may never open. This is especially true of tulips and roses. The green pointed sepals around the base of the rose should be starting to turn downwards. Irises and daffodils should be half opened. Gladioli should be picked when the bottom three or four florets are open and the top florets are still in bud. Carnations, dahlias, marigolds, hydrangeas, camellias, gerberas and chrysanthemums should be picked when they are fully opened.

Fill a plastic bucket a third to half way with warm water. Warm water should be used as flowers take up warm water more readily than cold. Its preferable to add preservative to the water. (The use of preservatives is fully explained further on). Flowers only drink through the ends of the stems and not through the sides of the stems, and for this reason buckets should not be filled right up to the top with water, as foliage left on stems below the water line will rot and pollute the water. This will cause bacteria and the flowers will die more quickly. The foliage of marigolds, chrysanthemums, stock and daisies send off a particularly strong odour when left standing under water over a period of time.

Take the bucket of water into the garden with you. Use a sharp pair of secateurs and cut the flower stems on an angle - a slanted cut allows a better intake of water. Remove all foliage from the lower portion of the stems which would stand under the water line. Place the flowers immediately in the water.

Never overcrowd flowers. Allow enough air to circulate between each flower. Too many flowers crowded together in a bucket may cause the petals to become squashed and bruised. Place the bucket in a cool dark place and allow the flowers to have a long drink before being arranged. When picking short-stemmed flowers, use a smaller container.

Conditioning Flowers and Foliage Allow flowers to have a good drink for four to five hours, preferably overnight before arranging. This step is called conditioning. It allows the stems to fill up with water and the flowers will become crisp. These flowers will last twice as long as those that have not been conditioned properly.

Bought Flowers Bought flowers should be placed in warm water as soon as possible. Remove the wrapping paper, as paper can bruise the flowers and cellophane can cause them to sweat. When cut flowers have been left out of water for any length of time, cells start to form over the cut ends of the stems, which will prevent the stems taking up water readily. To remove this sealed portion, snip off about 2.5cm (1") from the stem ends and then place in water preferably with preservative added, and allow the flowers to have a long drink before arranging.

You may be given flowers when you are away from home. It may well be several hours before you are able to place them in water. The best way to keep flowers fresh is to place them in a strong plastic bag with some water in the bottom. Secure the bag with a rubber band. Another method is to wrap flowers in damp newspaper. If travelling by car, place the flowers in the coolest spot. As soon as you get home, recut the ends of the stems, place them in water and allow them to condition overnight before arranging.

Preservatives A flower preservative helps destroy bacteria in the water. Flower preservatives are available in garden centres or supermarkets. Another alternative is to use a capful of household bleach in the water. If a preservative is not used, the water needs to be changed and the stems cut on an angle daily. If a preservative is used, the stems do not require recutting and water needs changing only about twice a week. Flowers like freesias, spray carnations and liliums have lots of buds. By using a preservative in the water, it helps develop the buds to open.

Special Treatment Special treatment should be given to certain flowers to give them the longest life possible. Flowers with woody stems do not take up water readily. Woody-stemmed flowers include lilac, hydrangea, and rhododendrons. To help break down the thick fibres, you can split the ends of the stems upwards for about 5 cm. (2") After this treatment, place the stems in a container filled with warm water and give the flowers a long drink before arranging.

Flowers with Milky Stems Poppies, poinsettias and dahlias have a milky liquid flowing through their stems. To seal this liquid in and make the flowers last, the ends of the stems should be held over a flame like a candle, gas jet or cigarette lighter. Hold the end of the stem over the flame for about thirty seconds until the end of the stem turns black. The flowers should be held on an angle to protect the delicate petals. Another method is to dip the stems in boiling water for about thirty seconds. Hold the flower heads away on an angle and protect the petals from steam by holding newspaper around the flowers. Place stems immediately in warm water and give flowers a long drink before arranging. If stems need to be recut later on when arranging flowers, you will need to repeat the above steps. To avoid this you could cut the stems to different lengths before sealing the ends of the stems.

Bulb Flowers Certain flowers grow from a bulb. These include tulips, daffodils, jonquils, narcissus, irises and hyacinths. These flowers often have a white portion at the ends of the stems. Cut this white portion off before conditioning as only the green part of the stem can take up water. Daffodils, jonquils and narcissus have a thick sap which oozes from the end of the stems when they are cut. Wipe it off before placing the stems in water. Keep these flowers separate from other flowers when they are being conditioned as the sap can affect other flowers. The thick sap can clog the ends of stems and prevent the uptake of water. Stand the stems in about 7.5 cm. (3") of water and allow to stand at least six hours before arranging. Bulb flowers prefer shallow water. If daffodils, jonquils and narcissus are placed in deep water, the thick stems can become water logged and the stems shrivel up and the petals go papery.

Wilted Flowers Wilted flowers can often be revived by standing the stems in fairly hot water right up to the flower heads. After the water has cooled, allow the flowers to stand in the water for a few hours before arranging. Roses can often be perked up by floating the whole stem, head and all, in warm water for half an hour.

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Fay Chamoun is the Principal of Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School.The school was established in 1972 and offers Floral Design Courses for a career or hobby http://www.floral-art-school.com.au

The Lasting Beauty Of A Silk Flower Wedding Bouquet

Most couples will put a great deal of time and thought into the selection of the bride's bouquet and rightly so as the bouquet is not only an essential bridal accessory and a central part of the bride's wedding outfit, but the flowers used in the bouquet will convey a very special and personal message to the groom.

To ensure that just the right flowers are available for the bouquet and to provide a lasting reminder of this very special moment in any girl's life, couples are increasingly turning away from traditional cut flowers in favor of a silk wedding flower bouquet.

The art of making silk flowers dates back many centuries and the first silk flowers were believed to have been made in China. Silk flower making was also adopted in Italy and France during the eighteenth century and moved from there to England and then across the Atlantic to America during the nineteenth century.

Silk flowers are fashioned from nature with the first stage in the process being the manufacture of a series of dies which are used to cut the silk flower petals and leaves. These dies are modeled on actual flower petals and leaves and a great deal of care and time, as well as expense, goes into the manufacture or each set of dies.

The dies are then used to cut the flower petals and leaves from white silk before each piece is individually hand died using cotton balls and fine brushes. This is skilled work and it can take up to an hour to die a single petal.

Each petal is then placed into a mold and heated and pressed into the correct shape before being stiffened where necessary with fine wire inserted by hand and glued into place.

Finally the individual petals and leaves are assembled into the finished flower using a series of fine wires, each wrapped in floral paper and coated in a fine layer of wax.

The result of this highly labor intensive process is a flower of quite exquisite beauty which, in virtually all cases, is so realistic that most people would not be able to tell the difference between the natural flower and its silk equivalent.

For the bride this means the ability to use out-of-season flowers with ease and so express her faithfulness to the marriage through the use of blue violets, or her simple joy through the use of gardenias, whatever time of year she chooses to marry.

The use of silk flowers does not of course have to be confined to a silk flower wedding bouquet and can also be extended to the groom's buttonhole, the bridesmaids' flowers and indeed the floral decorations as a whole.

One increasingly seen benefit of the use of a silk wedding flower bouquet lies in the fact that the bride can, if she wishes, keep her bouquet as a beautiful and lasting memory of one of the happiest days of her life.

To find out more about the lasting beauty of a silk flower wedding bouquet please visit Talking Weddings today.

Buy Flower Bouquet

Flowers are some of the best gifts that you can give a friend or loved one for a birthday, anniversary, and get well wish or just because you want them to know that you are thinking of them. Some people may not know what to look for when they want to buy a flower bouquet. Here are some things to keep in mind whenever you decide to surprise someone with your thoughtfulness.

Make sure that you buy a flower bouquet that matches the occasion. For example, you do not want to send a bouquet that comes with balloons that say “It’s a boy!” for mothers day. You just mixed up a baby bouquet with a national holiday. Sometimes people will say that it doesn’t matter; it’s the thought that counts. This may be true, but wouldn’t make more sense to not only think about the person but also take time to pick a great gift for them?

You should also keep price in mind whenever you decide you want to buy flower bouquets online or in person. Flower bouquets can range in price from $30-$100+ and can be a simple bouquet or an extravagant spectacle. It all really depends on how much you feel you want to spend on the person. Once again, to them price wont matter, just the thought.

Something else that is less considered by people when buying a flower bouquet is making sure that what you buy for someone won’t be harmful. For example, if you are sending flowers to someone who is in the hospital and they have certain allergies, then make sure that the flowers you send are not going to aggravate them. Also, if you send flowers to a child for any reason, make sure that the bouquet does not have small pieces that they could possibly choke on.

The best way of buying a flower bouquet is online, where you can do it during work or at midnight before you go to bed. This is also good if the person you are sending flowers to do not live in the same city or state as you. Most online flower boutiques also have next day delivery for a quick response. As you can plainly see, buying a flower boutique can be a fun and easy thing that anyone can do. All it takes is a few clicks of the mouse and you can tell someone that they are special to you.

If you would like more information on how to buy a flower bouquet, check out http://www.squidoo.com/buyflowerbouquet/

Are You Hiring The Wrong Florist?

Many people agree that flowers are one of the most important elements in your design. From big parties to small get-togethers, flowers can bring that added touch to any setting. If you are planning to appoint a florist for your event, discuss what you want to achieve with your flowers. Many people do not know what they require and will be left with disappointing flowers. Lots of hosts or organizers hire florists that can turn out to be a disappointing investment. If you follow the 5 rules laid out below, you will invest in a good florist that knows exactly what you like and can use flowers to reinforce the mood you must create.

1. Research

This step is very important before you talk to your florist. Discuss what type of flowers you prefer for your special occasion. To get more ideas, look around in local flower shops or even online. Get a taste of florists' outlines and flower arrangements in your area. Knowing what color, size or type of flower you want will let your florist tailor to you. Also, researching different flowers trends can give you more creativity with flowers. If you are aware of what flowers are in season, your purchased flowers will stay strong and stay healthier, longer.

2. Budget

When discussing your budget with a florist, be very firm. Only you know how much you are willing to spend on your flowers. If the quote that a florist gives you is unreasonable, search around your neighborhood. It is always better to find a great deal and a florist that will take your flowers seriously. A knowledgeable florist should be able to suggest new flower ideas within your price range.

3. Communication

Communication is key when dealing with your florist. Your florist must know what you like or dislike. If your florist suggests a theme that you are not comfortable with, be honest. It could save stress and grief later. Get to know your florist better. If you are friendly, you are more likely to solve and negotiate problems. A good florist will build on your ideas and create them into beautiful flowers for your special day.

4. Style

This one is crucial for your flowers to be perfect. Know your florist's style. Florists and flower shops usually have distinct details that are seen in their arrangements and bouquets. Many professional florists stick to one prominent style or topic. If you are unsure about his/her style, ask to look at photos of other weddings, events, etc. that they have planned. Make sure your florist has some experience in this area. If you are still not keen, shop around for another florist who has flowers that you can pour your heart into.

5. Planning

To make an event fabulous, you must organize and plan. Always know where you are going to be placing your flowers and how many arrangements you will need. Florists are great at helping you categorize and outline your feelings and personalities into flowers. This creates mood when you are entertaining your guests. Florists can also point out things that you may have overlooked. All of the little details, like planning and being in control, contribute to the making of a wonderful day!

Florists can be a tremendous asset in helping you in designing and creating magical flowers for your special occasion. Whether a birthday party, wedding, or anniversary many florists are willing to plan any event for you. They can also help you create the appropriate mood for business functions or a more somber statement such as a funeral. After reading these tips, you can be confident that you will save money and time on a good and reliable florist.

If you put these 5 tips for hiring a florist into action, you will be rewarded with exceptional results.

Janna Hagan is the owner of Flower Delivery Service Online, where it is easy to find the right florist online for you! Visit the site to hire or search a florist now; http://www.flower-delivery-service-online.com