First go at cut spring flowers from the garden. I think I need to brush up on my arranging skills though. I understand that it's best to have odd numbers of flowers. Any tips appreciated.
Hi Tootles, ex florist here. Your spring vases are very pretty.
The odd numbers thing is the same principal as planting in 3s, 5s, 7s etc. to look more naturalistic and avoid straight lines or squares ( eg. 4 primroses planted in a square would look like the corners of a box ).
Top tips off the top of my head would be:
start with your greenery or most bulky material, this helps build your framework to support the stems of your blooms
remove all the foliage that will sit below water level, they will rot and cut stems at an angle to help them take in water
cut stems at different lengths to avoid it looking flat and all on one level, take inspiration from how plants grow in your garden
as far as colour combos go I was taught the rules of the colour wheel but personally think that anything goes if it makes you happy
Basic tips but I could go on all day. I'm open to any queries about flower arranging, and remember that the only bad vase of flowers is an empty one.
Thanks Kitty2. Great tips! Do you have any advice on the size of the flowers? Is it possible to mix large and small or is it best to stick to ones around the same size? Any colour clashes to avoid?
have had another go at the daffs and muscari; my favourites but I'm not sure I've got the balance right!
Hi Tootles, at college we were taught to have a focal flower which was your main feature (always in 3s,5s,7s etc) and used other flowers of varying sizes and shapes as well, the idea being to create interest throughout the arrangement and fill in the gaps.
We were mainly arranging in floral foam, not vases, but the same principals apply even with bridal work, funeral tributes and gift bouquets.
There are so many different styles of flower arrangements ranging from informal bunches to the strict Japanese Ikebana displays. I think everyone will have their own favourite style.
Your spring vase is a perfectly appropriate mix as it's what is growing right now, it's probably the size difference in blooms that's throwing you off, in an ideal world cheerfulness or tete-a-tete narcissi would be a better balance but at this time of year you have to use what you have available.
As far as colour goes the colour wheel is a good guide to what goes together but there are no hard and fast rules. I love a vase full of sweet peas with pink, red, white, purple, cream, violet etc. and that looks ok doesn't it.
This is a link to blog I follow as well as others that post each Monday it may be a help to some of you who are wanting to be a bit creative with the flowers from your new cutting gardens
Posts
First go at cut spring flowers from the garden. I think I need to brush up on my arranging skills though. I understand that it's best to have odd numbers of flowers. Any tips appreciated.
Hi Tootles, ex florist here. Your spring vases are very pretty.
The odd numbers thing is the same principal as planting in 3s, 5s, 7s etc. to look more naturalistic and avoid straight lines or squares ( eg. 4 primroses planted in a square would look like the corners of a box ).
Top tips off the top of my head would be:
start with your greenery or most bulky material, this helps build your framework to support the stems of your blooms
remove all the foliage that will sit below water level, they will rot and cut stems at an angle to help them take in water
cut stems at different lengths to avoid it looking flat and all on one level, take inspiration from how plants grow in your garden
as far as colour combos go I was taught the rules of the colour wheel but personally think that anything goes if it makes you happy
Basic tips but I could go on all day. I'm open to any queries about flower arranging, and remember that the only bad vase of flowers is an empty one.
Thanks Kitty2. Great tips! Do you have any advice on the size of the flowers? Is it possible to mix large and small or is it best to stick to ones around the same size? Any colour clashes to avoid?
have had another go at the daffs and muscari; my favourites but I'm not sure I've got the balance right!
Hi Tootles, at college we were taught to have a focal flower which was your main feature (always in 3s,5s,7s etc) and used other flowers of varying sizes and shapes as well, the idea being to create interest throughout the arrangement and fill in the gaps.
We were mainly arranging in floral foam, not vases, but the same principals apply even with bridal work, funeral tributes and gift bouquets.
There are so many different styles of flower arrangements ranging from informal bunches to the strict Japanese Ikebana displays. I think everyone will have their own favourite style.
Your spring vase is a perfectly appropriate mix as it's what is growing right now, it's probably the size difference in blooms that's throwing you off, in an ideal world cheerfulness or tete-a-tete narcissi would be a better balance but at this time of year you have to use what you have available.
As far as colour goes the colour wheel is a good guide to what goes together but there are no hard and fast rules. I love a vase full of sweet peas with pink, red, white, purple, cream, violet etc. and that looks ok doesn't it.
Ooh Kitty Will be asking your advice about wedding flowers, not yet though.
Need to grow them first and see what I get
https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/in-a-vase-on-monday-never-work-with-animals/
This is a link to blog I follow as well as others that post each Monday it may be a help to some of you who are wanting to be a bit creative with the flowers from your new cutting gardens
http://peoniesandposies.com
sorry it hasn't worked as a link but you will find links on the previous blog
http://suffolkpebbles.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/in-vase-on-mondaypaper-white-narcissi.html
Little-ann just push the space bar after the website to make it to a link
Tootles nice to have flowers inside pretty little vases with flowers, how many raised beds you going to grow flowers for cutting in?
Thanks GG