This month we welcomed back Cathy Rich as our guest presenter. Cathy demonstrated and created beautiful flower arrangements which were auctioned off at the end of the program.

Cathy showed us how to use plants and flowers from the garden to make interesting and unusual arrangements.

Follow the “continue reading” link below to see some of her beautiful arrangements and learn how to use your own garden plants to design unique arrangements of your own.

In the beginning…

1. Start with a concept-either container, color, flowers or placement
2. Look at what you have in your yard and closets (or go to Goodwill)
3. Go around your yard with a bucket(or 2) of water  and cut branches, flowers, leaves that are in season.
4. Condition plant material: cut branches/stems on diagonal, place  in cool water (3-4 hrs or overnight)
5. Think about Principles and Elements of design when making choices…

Principles:  Balance, Rhythm, Contrast, Dominance, Proportion, Scale

Elements:  Line, form, color, light, texture, pattern, space, size

Mechanics…

1. water vs oasis (soak oasis for several hours, holes down into water first, do not reuse.  Leftover oasis can be stored in refrig in plastic bag)
2. tape grid (apply to dry container)
3. decorative stones/pinholder/cellophane
4. Oasis floral mesh, chicken wire, floral netting, Holly Chapelle pillow, skewers
5. UGLU, water tubes

Rules of Thumb…

1. Volume of flowers is 1 ½ times volume of container
2. Height of bouquet is 1 ½ times height of vase
3. Use odd numbers of flowers (most of the time)

Tips…

1. Remove lower leaves of flowers/foliage (no leaves in the water or oasis)
2. Place main/largest branches or flowers first
3. Height of design is 1 ½ times largest dimension of container (usually).
4. Largest flowers should be cut shorter and placed lower in container than smaller flowers (they look heavy if placed high)
5. Turn container as you’re arranging
6. Hide the mechanics with plant material
7. Water design well and often

 Today’s Designs…

1. Quick designs-ie Hosta bouquet in glass container
2. Tall vase with decorative stones or cellophane
3. Clear glass cube or cylinder with floral netting (mechanics)
4. Centerpiece (meadow)