Flower Arranging 101

Tips for Creative Centerpieces and Floral Arrangements

Start with your container. Choose a container that will complement the arrangement and color scheme you have in mind. As a general rule, your container should be about one-third to one-half the size of your finished arrangement. Anything can be a container and often, less expensive ones are more creative and reflect your personality much more than a store-bought vase. Try these ideas and match them with the type of party you have planned.

• Colorful water pitchers are fun for backyard barbecues.
• Antique china tea cups and mismatched tea pots found at a flea market bring a creative flair to a formal tea party.
• Tin cans set the tone for a casual get together.
• Or simply use a clear glass container of any kind and fill it with interesting items that complement the colors or shapes in your arrangement or the theme of your party, such as: seashells, peppers, key limes, colorful marbles, lemons, or cranberries.

Once you have selected your vase and prepared the water, you are ready to start arranging.

Cut stems to about twice the height of your vase, leaving several stems an inch or two longer for the center of your bouquet. Then take a few of the largest blooms-the focal point of the bouquet-put them in place and step back to get an idea proportion. If the stems seem too long, cut them shorter. If they're too short, try a different container or add more florist's foam, pebbles or marbles to the bottom of the vase to elevate the flowers.

To fill out the rest of the arrangement, visually divide it into quadrants (north, south, east and west). Then, insert your stems of foliage and filler flowers. Criss-cross the stems as you insert them in your vase. This will create a grid that will help hold the other flowers in place. Starting at the rim of your vase and working toward the center, add other flowers, spacing them as if they were points on a triangle. Continually turn the design around to see where you need to add flowers to keep the proportions balanced. If the flowers appear too bunched up, try cutting them at different lengths for more variety. Fill up the quadrants and adjust the heights of flowers as you go along. You'll know you're done when the arrangement looks visually pleasing from all angles.

If you're a beginner, don't try a complex arrangement. Stick with one or two types of flowers with some filler greenery and simply work on making sure it is visually balanced and the colors are complementary. Remember, when creating a floral centerpiece for your sit-down dinner party, be sure it's not so high that guests can't see each other over it. That will inhibit conversation around the table. Don't go for long-stemmed bouquets like lilies or tulips. Try something that looks better with a little lower center of gravity such as mums or magnolias.

Tricks of the Trade

These great tips and tricks will make your flower arrangements look as though they came from the florist.

• Cut flower stems as soon as you get them home; then put flowers in warm water and let them sit for two or three hours. This opens the stems so the water can flow to the flowers.
• Change the water in your flowers every other day, or when the water looks cloudy.
• Always remove leaves that will be below the water line. This keeps the bacteria down and helps the water stay clean longer.
• Flowers appreciate being spritzed with water often. Also, keep the water level in the container at a consistently high level to keep flowers fresh longer.