To be honest, I'm a little intimidated to write this post! Similar to a recipe or "how-to" post, I can lay out as much detail as possible, but it will never be the same as doing it with you in person. To simplify things, this post focuses on two basic flower arrangements with some overall tips and tricks along the way.
Some overall points....
- Don't be afraid of the flower! Yes, flowers are delicate, and yes they will bruise/wilt, but they can handle you handling them. :) Make the flower stand the way you need it to by pushing, tugging and twisting the stem.
- If you have been reading my blog or follow me on Instagram, it's clear I have a favorite color palette of white, blush, and a pop of blue/purple/gray. However, some of my favorite arrangements I have made are ones using "different" flowers. Always lean into your style/color palette, but don't be afraid to add something new that you have never used before. For this post I used dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, peach/pink David Austin Juliette Roses, white & pink standard spray roses, light pink stock, lavender, carnations, and anemones.
And now to the 101s...
Where to Purchase:
Most wholesale flower shops only sell to licensed florists. If you don't have any connections in the floral industry, there's still hope! I buy from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco, and Kroger (for my southern friends). They all have great selection of standard flowers such as hydrangeas, roses, seeded eucalyptus, and carnations. Carnations have gotten a bad rep as a flower to buy or give, but they are wonderful in arrangements.
Prep, Clipping, & Preserving:
As soon as you get home, you should clip the stems and place them in fresh cold water with flower food. This should be the first thing you do, even before you unload the cold groceries! Depending on when you want the flowers to open up will determine when you strip them of their greens and separate them. I purchased the flowers in this post on Tuesday morning, but didn't want to arrange them until Friday. I kept them in their packaging and in a cold dark room until Thursday night. The day before/or day of arranging is the best time to unwrap them, strip them of all leaves/thorns, and place them in a new container with fresh water w/ food. {as pictured below}
As I mentioned in an Instagram post, sometimes the flowers style themselves. Don't be afraid to let that happen and go with it! Both the picture above and below were taken after I had simply unwrapped, stripped the stems, and placed the flowers in a new container.
Large Arrangement:
Begin with a shallow container with a wide opening. A trick of the trade is to create a weave over the top of the container with tape. I would suggest using clearer, thinner tape than what is pictured, but as you can see, any tape works. Try to cut the tape so that it barely wraps over the edge. You never want your "mechanics" to show in the flower arrangement. This includes oasis, wire, and floral tape.
Start adding the greenery around the outside edge and continue to work your way to the center. I inserted the stems at a very hard angle. Clip as much greenery/leaves/stems as needed to get the stem good and secure.
Small Arrangement:
This technique can be used for a bouquet or a small arrangement as pictured. The idea is to arrange the flowers in your hand and then place them in a container. Move the flowers around, add more, add less, this is all about how big you want the bundle to be.
Once you have the flowers styled the way you want, measure the stems next to the container and cut. Tip: always cut a little long at first, and then little by little, continue to shorten the stems to get the correct height.
I usually end here, but because my mom had flower tape, I wrapped the stems to give the arrangement a more stability.
This type of arrangement is great for a smaller space such as a gift/cake table or placed amongst a spread of food. This is the size I most commonly have around the house - including on my bedside table as a warm welcome to the day in the mornings!
Single Stem Arrangements:
The idea is so simple, yet it has a big impact. You can place them as a group on a table (use an odd number of vases). Also, place them in bathrooms or in small corners that needs a sweet touch. This is a great solution for left over flowers or flowers that were cut too short for another arrangement.
