Don't let dropping temperatures freeze your floral creativity. Design experts share tips for easy tabletop arrangements of fresh flowers.

Produced by Deb Wiley. Photographs by Kritsada/Fotoj.

Fresh Flower Arrangements

(Originally Published: November/December 2005)

FRESH FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS at this time of year offer a classy contrast to wintry weather. Making your own gives you a chance to play with colors and textures—and find a surprising array of fresh materials. Hydrangeas, lilies, curly willow, chinagrass, hypericum berries or ever-popular roses are a mouse-click away on the Internet or as close as your local florist.

For design pointers, we turned to Michael Gaffney, owner of Tulipomania European Flower Market and the Milwaukee School of Flower Design, to explain a few simple techniques, including pave (pronounced pah-VAY) and zoning. Pave is a jeweler's term and describes a close-together, cobblestone effect designed to hide a metal base. Floral designers use the concept to divide arrangements into sections; each boasts distinct colors and textures. Zoning groups similar colors or types of flowers in vases.

Michael frequently works with Dana Golubeff, display designer and linen buyer for George Watts and Son, a 135-year-old specialty store in Milwaukee.

The 11-inch-tall main arrangement uses a pave technique. Place floral foam in a silver vase, then set peach 'Tropical Amazon' roses head-to-head like jewels in a tennis bracelet around a silver ornament. Fill the edges with ivy, Fraser fir and hypericum. The small arrangements represent a zoning technique. Michael grouped flowers in similar but non-matching holders. The short silver vases hold alstroemeria and 'Mambo' floribunda roses in the same peach hues.

Related Links: