Blooming artistry
Flower arrangements complete rooms of any style: country, cottage, classic, traditional. An arrangement can consist of a single blossom in a simple jar on up to a blousy affair in a crystal vase. Create one that suits your personality.
Add variety to your bouquet by mixing herbs with flowers. Fresh snipped herbs top off a sweet collection of dianthus, spirea, purple pansies, pink rose geranium and purple violas.
Traditional favorites
Match the personality of your flower to the personality of the vase. Here, a fistful of the old-time favorite peonies billows from an equally old-fashioned pitcher.
Sunny side
Combine different colors of the same flower for a striking bouquet. From yellow to orange to black, all sunflowers bring bright summer sun inside.
One of a kind
Because they're available year-round, you can count on roses when you need a quick and lovely arrangement. A mass of pink roses makes for drama.
Color guard
Unify three containers of three colors of flowers by including one that blends the other two shades. This scheme transitions from white to dark pink via the white-and-pink hydrangeas between.
Two tones
Layer two shades of the same flower (here, calla lilies) to make for big impact.
Singular sensation
Even a single flower can look dramatic, especially in the right container. A yellow tree peony takes center stage in this retro-style vase.
Well anchored
Put larger blossoms, such as the roses, anemone and white parrot tulips here, toward the bottom of your arrangement, and let smaller ones like the freesias soar above. A solid mass of blooms supports blossoms rising to airy heights.
Stairstep
Vary the height of your flowers. Just as the three vases stairstep down, so too do the blooms—from climbing clematis to velvety tulips.
Sweet tea
Look to your china collection for captivating vase ideas. Here, lilies of the valley in sweet teacups provide sweet touches. Florist frogs hold stems steady.
Casual ease
Even the simplest of containers can make for a charming vase. Here, stems of herbs (try fennel or mustard seed) stuck in Mason jars communicate summertime ease.
Marching down a table
Line up a row of vases filled with the same flowers for continuous beauty.
Hide and seek
Grape hyacinths peek from the large petals of pink hydrangea. A hidden grid of floral or transparent tape across the top of the bowl supports the cloud of blooms.
Clearly beautiful
Crush the stems of woody plants, such as lilacs (pictured) and viburnum, to promote water absorption. Poppies need to have their cut end cauterized to prevent sap from leaking. Other flowers need their stems snipped every few days to overcome their efforts to heal the ends.
Framework
Yes, fresh water in the container will help your bouquet last longer; however, never spray a bouquet with water, which encourages fungi to develop. Here, hosta leaves frame cosmos and oak leaf viburnum.
How creative! I love the usage of everyday household items for vases. I shop flowers as I don't have the time or the creativity to make arrangements on my own. I like to have different flowers to reflect the seasons. The company I use is www.canadawideflowers.ca. They always have something unique for my home.
7/14/2010 06:29:50 PM Report Abuse