Modern simplicity
Flowers, like people, come in myriad sizes and shapes. They have distinct personalities. Some are gregarious, others ingenuous. Either way, they tempt us to tall in love with them through our associations with how they look, or smell. Who can resist them?
Like people, too, flowers like to show off their plumage. To appear at their most alluring, though, they need a little help from us. The container used to show them off is important, as is the setting in which they are displayed. Traditionally, floral arrangements were proudly arrayed in the public areas of a house - the entrance hail, where flowers were proffered as a gesture of welcome; the sitting room, where floral displays were placed on dainty occasional tables; and the dining room. Flowers delivered to your home can be placed throughout the house to bring you immense joy and satisfaction.
One of my favourite flowers - Ageratum houstonianum (floss flower)
Characteristics: Originally from Mexico and Central America, ageratums thrive in hot summer weather as long as they are well watered. The range of blues, from soft, clear blues and powder blues to rich, dark blues, make ageratums very popular annuals.
There are dwarf, compact and tall, upright varieties. The compact varieties form mounds of fuzzy, tufted blossoms that bloom from early summer to fall. Two excellent dwarf varieties are 'Blue Danube' and 'Pink Powder-Puff', which both make very showy edging plants. However, 'Blue Horizon', a taller variety, is better for use in drying and is conveniently available for flower delivery in many areas.
Cultural Information: Ageratums thrive in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. They can be propagated from cuttings, but most are grown from seed. The seed requires light to germinate, so simply press the seed lightly into a moist planting formula. The young plants are very tender and initial growth is slow. After transplanting into the garden, pinch back to encourage fullness. On parts of the West Coast where winters are mild, seed can be planted in late summer for fall bloom. Space dwarf varieties 6 inches apart, tall varieties 12 inches.
Making a Funeral Tribute
The selection of materials is important. Use good quality, well-conditioned, mature flowers at their peak of perfection in colour and form. Avoid using tight buds, as they are too small and lack impact.
This design can look very attractive if made with seasonal flowers, such as the tulips, irises, narcissi and hyacinths of spring. Alternatively, a beautiful tribute might be designed with just one type of flower - a heart of open pink roses, interspersed with grey foliage, can express many feelings for a grieving customer of the florist. Fans of cupressus, single leaves or pleated ribbon edgings can provide attractive outlines, and a range of decorative types of foliage can be incorporated.
Constructing a funeral tribute
Space the main flowers evenly, on the same level - usually at the centre. Add secondary flowers to form the outline and fill in the design. Finally, intersperse the flowers with groups of foliage. As with all funeral tributes, remember to give the design a beveled profile; place materials on all levels, and ensure that the overall height does not exceed 20-23cm (8-9in).
Plants for tubs and hanging baskets
One of the plants which has improved so dramatically over these last few years is the begonia. The small semperflorens with their excellent and wide colour range are superb in pots, tubs and hanging baskets. They are also excellent for use as a bedding plant as well, for they flower right into October, or at least until the first frost. I have never been a lover of tuberous-rooted begonias though they are magnificent as a handsome planting in parks or large areas where they have plenty of space to show off to their best advantage. But these little semperfiorens are another matter altogether, and a great delight. 'Venus Rose' is one of my favourites, and is always included whenever I have flowers delivered. It stays a good shade of pink all summer as does 'Rosanova', and 'Dancia Scarlet' has the added attraction of dark bronze foliage which is a lovely plus.
Easy flower arranging
The following are a few guidelines supplied by a very friendly florist to help anyone considering flower arranging as a hobby:
Maintain a balance by imagining a vertical line in the centre. Place similar flowers on both sides at the same angle by placing longer stemmed flowers closer to the line. This will provide a more symmetrical look and is more pleasing to the eye.
Choose a good variety colors by balancing both dark and light colors. Do not place all dark colored flowers together and do not place them all at the top as this will appear darker in light. Create a well balanced colour scheme.
Flower Gifts for a Birth
Flowers are a wonderful gift for any occasion, and can express love, sorrow, joy and happiness. Floral gifts come in all shapes and sizes, including arrangements, cards and handtieds. Cellophane, ribbon and accessories can be used to enhance a gift of flowers, and turn it into something personal.
The range of containers includes lace cradles, pottery and basketware. Pinks and whites are usual for girls; blues, yellow and cream for boys. Again, there are many delightful accessories that might be added, and a whole range of different flowers to choose from.
Add Foliage for men
Adding some green leaves or foliage to the arrangement is a great way to add a more masculine feel to the bouquet. Lots of men enjoy pottering around in their gardens and have an affinity with green foliage. The added touch of green can cool off your vibrant flower colors. If you are unsure about adding green accents, ask your florist. Think carefully about which type of green plant will compliment your flower delivery. Adding additional foliage to a bouquet or flower arrangement will usually lead to a cost reduction as an added bonus.
Elegant Formality
When the furnishings of a room are traditional in style, roses generally look best in an arrangement that reflects the quiet dignity of their surroundings. Colors that harmonize and blend into one another are better than sharp contrasts, and a good choice for a container is a footed vase or urn that lifts the flowers above the surface on which they stand. When foliage seems called for, choose one that is ornamental in form, like spiral eucalyptus.
For example, perhaps imagine that you have a table in front of a low-keyed French painting. An open and deliberately simple arrangement of Queen Elizabeth and Regal Gold roses in a china shell would create an island of serenity in an object-filled environment.
Rose Festivals
Of the scores of rose shows held each year, a few have become full-fledged festivals, complete with parades, queens and attendant hoopla. The largest of these is the 10-day Rose Festival staged every June in Portland, Oregon, a major commercial growing center that calls itself the "Rose City." Others are the September Festival of Roses in Wasco, heart of the central California rose industry, and the Texas Rose Festival, an October fixture in Tyler, Texas. The best-known event of all, Pasadena's Tournament of Roses, where the winners often send flowers to people worldwide, provides fewer opportunities for the serious rose enthusiast, but is probably unmatched for its sheer display of blossoms, which cover the dozens of floats that wend their way through Pasadena streets on New Year's Day, prior to the Rose Bowl football game.
Stick to the tried and tested
When arranging flowers, many people consider only the sensuous impact the actual blossoms will have on the beholder. But flowers are more than just blossoms - they are also composed of stems, leaves and roots. And then there are the myriad other forms a flowering plant may assume, such as a tree, shrub or vine. Taking an artistic risk with an arrangement rather than sticking to the tried and tested, may therefore result from an impulse to experiment with the delightful and novel shapes and textures of tall, smooth stems, glossy leaves, rustling grasses, bare branches and sculptural seedpods.
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