Floral Arrangement

Bring the Garden Indoors

Floral Arrangement

Flower arrangements add color and cheer to any room by bring the outdoor garden inside. As a hobby, or weekend activity, floral arrangement can be a fun challenge to incorporate your outdoor blooms into an ever-changing bouquet. Hopefully, these tips and pointers will help the lay-person enjoy their blooms longer as well as offer ideas for arrangements.

1. Changing the water frequently, adding a few drops of bleach each time, will allow your floral arrangement to last longer. This floral arrangement preserver is recommended by the folks at Homes and Gardens: Mix 8 oz. water, 8 oz. lemon-lime soda and 1 tsp. bleach together. Pour the preserver into the vase and top off with water.

2. When cutting flowers, its best to cut the stems under running water and at an angle.

3. Use these steps in order for an easier arrangement

• a. Start the floral arrangement with the greenery first, to add a backdrop to the color and a frame for the arrangement. Additionally, draping stems like ivy will soften the transition from arrangement to vase.
• b. Using flowers with long sturdy stems, trim to the desired height and add to the arrangement.
• c. Fill in the middle section, pruning the stems for the desired height and position you wish to fill in the floral arrangement.

4. Select items for your floral arrangement not just for diversity of color, but texture as well.

5. Set aside some blooms to create dried floral arrangements in the winter months.

6. Use unconventional or seasonal items as vases to add a decorative touch to your floral arrangements.