| White Lilies and Smooth Pebbles Ingredients: a rectangular glass tank; 8 or more smooth beach pebbles; 4 stems of white longiflorum lilies; 2 stems of artichoke foliage or similar leaves. (1) Prepare flowers by removing foliage from lower stems. Fill tanks with water and carefully put pebbles on bottom. (2) Lodge the 2 foliage stems on one side of the tank, using the pebbles to anchor the stems in place. (3) Add lily blooms on other side. White longiflorum lilies are long-lasting and have a beautiful scent. Each bud opens out slowly and the lower ones can be removed as they fade. Glass Tank and Gladioli Ingredients: 10 stems of white bridal gladiol; 1 stem of variegated ivy; 2 leaves of helleborus corsicus; 1 spray of vine leaves; an oblong glass tank. (1) Prepare stems and foliage. Put foliage into tank and space it out. Balance this with foliage on the opposite side. (2) Place helleborus leaves against back and front of tank. Put gladiol among the foliage. Make sure the stems are clean and without leaves, which will rot and spoil the water. Amaryllis and Glass Cilynders Ingredients: a narrow heavy glass cylinder; 1 stem of amaryllis; 1 cotton thread; cotton wool. (1) Trim stem of amaryllis roughly 2 inches (5cm) and split them. (2) Measure the flower stem against the cylinder and decide on the right height. Cut off excess, if necessary. (3) Secure end of stem with cotton thread. Fill stems with water. (4) Plug end with scrap of cotton wool and stand the stem in the cylinder, half filled with water. Summer Basket on a Bookshelf Ingredients: a shallow oval basket; a standard block of florist foam; plastic film; 10 stems of lilac; 5 sprays of chrysanthemums; bunch of white and pink anemones; 10 small roses; 10 ranunculus; 5 freesias. (1) Line basket with film, wet foam, and put inside basket. Split chrysanthemum sprays into single-flower stems and split lilac twigs. (2) Fill basket with lilac. Make the back layer talles, graduating down to front edge. Insert chrysanthemums, graduating again. (3) Add anemones, ranunculus and freesias evenly throughout basket, following the same plant. (4) Finally, add roses, balancing colors throughout and concentrating them at bottom front edge. Foliage and Twigs on an Antique Basket Ingredients: a small basket with handle (an oval shape if possible); a selection of leaves and twigs, including evergreen and variegatred ones; a standard block of florist foam; plastic film. (1) First prepare the basket by lining with a double thickness of plastic film. Cut the florist foam and soak. (2) Place foam in basket. Prepare the stems by splitting, and then begin to fill the basket. (3) Work across the basket from side to side. Make small groups of one type of foliage, following the shape and curve of the handle. (4) Start with the back layer and work forwards, finishing with small stemmed decorative material. Daffodils and Twisted Twigs Ingredients: a jug or container; 4 stems of corkscrew hazel; 15 daffodils. (1) Fill the jug with water and prepare the ends of the twigs if you want them to open into leaf water. (2) Group the twigs at one side of the jug. Place daffodils next to the twigs, letting a few flowers fall naturally around twigs. A Posy of Roses Ingredients: a small basket; a waterproof container to fit inside the basket; 45 stems miniature roses; 15 sprigs sweet bay leaves; rubber band. (1) Trim the lower leaves from the bay sprigs, leaving about 4 to 6 leaves on each sprig. (2) Take the roses and build them into a round posy which fits into the hand. (3) Secure roses with a rubber band. Add bay leaves, working round posy. When complete, secure with band. (4) Trim off all the stems neatly and place the bunch in water, inside the basket. Marrows and Melons Ingredients: 1 round melon; a small vegetable marrow; a small bunch of mixed marigold; a small bunch of mixed nasturtiums. (1) Skim off a small amount of skin at base to make melon stand steady. Slice off a lid, scoop out seeds and flesh. (2) Make marigolds into a bunch in your hand, cut stems to same length and put marigolds into the melon. (3) The nastutiums in the long marrow will need to be put in place one or two at a time. Stand the fruit on a tiny disk of foil to be sure not to stain the furniture below it. |
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| (Source: The Five Minute Flower Arranger by Jane Newdick) |
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