What you need
Flower Arranging Equipment
Instructions
I believe that all of us are artists at heart. No matter if we are planting a garden, decorating a room, making a meal, welding or whatever. We get pleasure from seeing our work done well.
Flowers, unlike other art media, is forgiving. You can arrange and rearrange till you are happy with the outcome. There are endless possibilities in flower arranging.
I like to see a garden basket full of cut flowers and herbs and greenery. Masses of flowers on the roadside are beautiful to see as you travel the roads. Mixing fruit and flowers is very common, but many materials for beautiful bouquets can be used.
Flowers, foliage, rocks, pebbles, driftwood, bark, shells, and many more things can be used in flower arranging. Use containers that you normally would not think of to hold flowers. Use your imagination. Try using grasses, seedpods, and techniques of your own. Preserve flowers for these bouquets or use them fresh. Love your flowers and the magic will come.
I love the kind of arrangements that look like you just brought them in from the garden. The Chinese have a way with flowers that comes from respect and love. The flowers are symbols of many things in the Orient. In the sixth century the Chinese took their art and love of cut flowers to Japan. There is much history behind flower arranging that is very interesting. Priests, generals, painters and more had their hand in styles of flower arranging.
One style in Japan that is very popular is the Shoka arrangement of flowers. It is also referred to as the Ikenobo style. This style has three main lines; heaven or “ten”, earth or “chi”, and man or “jin”. Shrines in Japanese homes consists of a scroll painting, a treasured art object and a Shoka arrangement of flowers. Over the centuries Japan has developed many more styles that are each beautiful.
Flower arranging became a living art form with influences from the east and the west, past and future combined. As styles changed over the years, the production of ornamental vases became a new trend. The tools of flower arranging has changed over the years. The old “frogs” used to hold flowers in place are popular collectibles today.
Arranging flowers is like painting a picture or creating a beautiful garden. There are principles of design–balance, proportion and contrasts. You could adhere to the other rules of flower arranging or you could just throw them to the wind. Use your own fresh ideas and imagination. Think about the mood at the moment and let go.
Here are some tips to help you get started
1. Choose flowers that are almost open fully, cut at a slant and place in water.
2. Remove bruised petals and leaves that don’t look so good. Let flowers condition by letting them stand upright in water in a cool, dark place for a few hours.
3. When conditioned and ready for arranging, hold stem under water and trim half an inch off, cutting at a slant. For woody stems, split each stem lengthwise for an inch or so and crush the end. If you have milky or hollow stems, sear them over a flame or dip in boiling water.
4. Change water daily for fresh arrangements.
Any reason you can think of to have flowers in the house is a good one. Even a little vase of daisies picked from the side of the road can bring life to a room. Don’t just have flowers for special occasions. Make them part of your daily life, and wherever you look you will see something of beauty.
Flower arrangements can go in every room, can be for men and women alike and given to a special person when you say hello or goodbye. I think flowers bring calmness and peace to a room.
So, go get some flowers and bring some cheer into your home. Once you get used to having flowers around, you will find it hard to do without them.
This project was contributed by User Katiekay
Thank you! 🙂 I love flowers. I can tell you do, too!