A spectacular flower-arranging workshop
Talented Garden Club member and Carlisle resident Judy Blaikie Lane presented several styles of floral arranging at our May, 2018 meeting. The arrangements included a low, all-around arrangement for a dining table; a lush, "Dutch-Master" style creation; a contemporary, layered style; and an informal hand-tied "spiral" bouquet.
At left: A low 360-degree arrangement for a dining table. Photos by Nancy Jaysane
Judy emphasized you should have fun as you play with flowers. A lifelong arranger who "inherited" the skill from her mother and grandmother, she demonstrated several alternatives for us. First, she said, decide exactly what you're trying to achieve: a low, in-the-round centerpiece for a dinner table; a tall and dramatic, outward-facing bouquet for an entrance hall; a formal, layered display for a special spot; or a cheerful, casual bouquet for a friend or a sickroom.
A 3-D, low centerpiece for dining
Her first example was a low arrangement for a dinner table. As she worked, she urged us to carefully select the container to achieve the overall look. Other general tips: work with flowers that you enjoy (she loves tulips); work with monochromes on one side of the color wheel; use appropriate neutrals (whites, greenery, etc.) to punctuate or tie an arrangement together. Acquire good tools, such as a sharp set of shears for crisp angle cuts; be prepared to crush or shave woody stems or cut an X in the base of the stem for greater water uptake. To stabilize the plant material, Judy believes a crumpled ball of chicken wire is more flexible than oasis, for example, if you want to reinsert some stems as you go.
Build the basic structure of the centerpiece with greens. Work in the round, rotating the bowl as you go. She suggested eucalyptus or dusty miller to vary the greenery. You don't need to create a triangle, but DO prepare a "center area." Select a focus flower such as a spectacular peony, and place it slightly off-center. Continue inserting blooms; as always in flower arranging, work with odd numbers. Use interesting foliage such as lady's mantle to create side interest. Different shapes, repeated periodically, as in a garden bed, provide rhythm and contrast. Try to create a "line" the eye can follow (and check it from all angles). Create subgroups or vignettes. It's like a painting. Consider the audience-- does everyone have a good view? Remember there's no right or wrong way. Flowers are forgiving.
To maintain the arrangement, change its water regularly. Keep it in a cool place, out of direct sun. A week is a long life for an arrangement. You may be able to remove and replace dying blooms to refresh the bouquet. And yes, tulips DO continue to grow in water -- you might have to trim them. Always, when cutting, remember it's better to make multiple small cuts than a single cut that leaves the stem too short!
At left: A low 360-degree arrangement for a dining table. Photos by Nancy Jaysane
Judy emphasized you should have fun as you play with flowers. A lifelong arranger who "inherited" the skill from her mother and grandmother, she demonstrated several alternatives for us. First, she said, decide exactly what you're trying to achieve: a low, in-the-round centerpiece for a dinner table; a tall and dramatic, outward-facing bouquet for an entrance hall; a formal, layered display for a special spot; or a cheerful, casual bouquet for a friend or a sickroom.
A 3-D, low centerpiece for dining
Her first example was a low arrangement for a dinner table. As she worked, she urged us to carefully select the container to achieve the overall look. Other general tips: work with flowers that you enjoy (she loves tulips); work with monochromes on one side of the color wheel; use appropriate neutrals (whites, greenery, etc.) to punctuate or tie an arrangement together. Acquire good tools, such as a sharp set of shears for crisp angle cuts; be prepared to crush or shave woody stems or cut an X in the base of the stem for greater water uptake. To stabilize the plant material, Judy believes a crumpled ball of chicken wire is more flexible than oasis, for example, if you want to reinsert some stems as you go.
Build the basic structure of the centerpiece with greens. Work in the round, rotating the bowl as you go. She suggested eucalyptus or dusty miller to vary the greenery. You don't need to create a triangle, but DO prepare a "center area." Select a focus flower such as a spectacular peony, and place it slightly off-center. Continue inserting blooms; as always in flower arranging, work with odd numbers. Use interesting foliage such as lady's mantle to create side interest. Different shapes, repeated periodically, as in a garden bed, provide rhythm and contrast. Try to create a "line" the eye can follow (and check it from all angles). Create subgroups or vignettes. It's like a painting. Consider the audience-- does everyone have a good view? Remember there's no right or wrong way. Flowers are forgiving.
To maintain the arrangement, change its water regularly. Keep it in a cool place, out of direct sun. A week is a long life for an arrangement. You may be able to remove and replace dying blooms to refresh the bouquet. And yes, tulips DO continue to grow in water -- you might have to trim them. Always, when cutting, remember it's better to make multiple small cuts than a single cut that leaves the stem too short!
Above: hall table is a great spot for a voluptuous "Old Dutch master" bowlful of bloom. At right: After you master the basics, experiment with a layered look.
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Go tall in the hall
When this arrangement is placed against a wall, you don't need a full 360-degree view, but do work in 3-D in the outfacing sections. Again, place largest blooms first, work with subgroups, and create "lines." If your cuttings have multiple blooms, use shears to break them apart and place each bloom separately. For tall blooms, you might need to use green florist's wire wrapped against the stem with green florist's tape. (Always hide your mechanics.)
Winter arrangements using evergreens from your yard can be long-lasting and dramatic.
A layered look
In an "it's OK to try this at home" moment, Judy demo'ed how you can create a formal, layered assembly. Clutching a handful of white tulips, she closely wrapped a choke collar of white roses to hold the tulip stems in place. By experimenting, you can take this technique in several directions, she explained. For example, small bulbs such as muscari or greenery such as boxwood could be tucked into the collar. Herbs or fruit could be worked into the arrangement, which could also start with a bouquet of calla lilies -- a relatively long-lived species.
Personally, I think this is a good one to practice before unleashing it in prime time.
A great way to make an informal bouquet
For a brief final take, Judy showed the informal "tap and turn" method of assembling a quick and casual bouquet for a friend or a simple summer container. This works well with species from a florist, a picking garden, or even wildflowers. [Hold the bouquet in your non-dominant left hand as you add flowers with your dominant hand.]
You're going to create a floral spiral. To start, select the first set of flowers and place the 1st one in your left hand. Pick another, tap the flower against your left shoulder (to remind you to twist the bouquet) and add the flower. Continue to tap, twist, and add as you gradually build a spiral bouquet. You can intermix flowers for a variegated display or arrange a number of blooms from a single species, then switch to a new species. Just tap, twist and add to your heart's content. With practice, you'll learn what works best for you.
Reported by Joeth Barlas
When this arrangement is placed against a wall, you don't need a full 360-degree view, but do work in 3-D in the outfacing sections. Again, place largest blooms first, work with subgroups, and create "lines." If your cuttings have multiple blooms, use shears to break them apart and place each bloom separately. For tall blooms, you might need to use green florist's wire wrapped against the stem with green florist's tape. (Always hide your mechanics.)
Winter arrangements using evergreens from your yard can be long-lasting and dramatic.
A layered look
In an "it's OK to try this at home" moment, Judy demo'ed how you can create a formal, layered assembly. Clutching a handful of white tulips, she closely wrapped a choke collar of white roses to hold the tulip stems in place. By experimenting, you can take this technique in several directions, she explained. For example, small bulbs such as muscari or greenery such as boxwood could be tucked into the collar. Herbs or fruit could be worked into the arrangement, which could also start with a bouquet of calla lilies -- a relatively long-lived species.
Personally, I think this is a good one to practice before unleashing it in prime time.
A great way to make an informal bouquet
For a brief final take, Judy showed the informal "tap and turn" method of assembling a quick and casual bouquet for a friend or a simple summer container. This works well with species from a florist, a picking garden, or even wildflowers. [Hold the bouquet in your non-dominant left hand as you add flowers with your dominant hand.]
You're going to create a floral spiral. To start, select the first set of flowers and place the 1st one in your left hand. Pick another, tap the flower against your left shoulder (to remind you to twist the bouquet) and add the flower. Continue to tap, twist, and add as you gradually build a spiral bouquet. You can intermix flowers for a variegated display or arrange a number of blooms from a single species, then switch to a new species. Just tap, twist and add to your heart's content. With practice, you'll learn what works best for you.
Reported by Joeth Barlas