Floral Arrangements
Floral Arrangements can be made the night before an event and stored in your refrigerator. Make sure you have
selected a container that is appropriate to your table. If you have a long thin table you’ll want your centerpiece
to echo this design. Smaller, round or oval tables will require squat centerpieces that people in can easily see over.
Once you have selected your container, cut some floral foam to fit, a small kitchen knife will easily pare the foam
down to the appropriate size. Rounding the corners will prevent edges from peaking out amid the blooms and foliage.
Soak the shaped foam for approximately fifteen minutes.
Select flowers with at least a three-inch stem. Firm stems are preferable, as they will stand up straighter and taller for a
longer period of time. Remember that three colors and flower types is a good way to start and won’t create a visually
overwhelming display. Leaves should compliment the flowers; experiment with leaf shapes and varieties.
Establish the shape of your arrangement by placing leaves in the foam, around the base of the container. Let the leaves
hang down a bit to hide the foam. Prepare your flowers by removing the leaves and cutting them to the desired length.
Place your tallest flower in the top, center of the foam. Next, work around the arrangement by placing flowers of a similar
length at an equal distance. Mentally slice the foam as you would a pie and place a flower in the center of each slice.
Angle the blooms outward so each side of the display will be equally beautiful. Fill in the area between the bottom flowers
and the top stem with a few more flowers of similar length. These flowers form your structure. Step back and view the
arrangement from all angles to make sure you’re happy with the basic shape.
Now begin filling in between the structure flowers by adding more, building through the middle and balancing the type
and spacing throughout. Sporadically add leaves to emphasize the bright floral colors and to disguise the foam core.
Take time to inspect your work from a distance and make sure you’re happy with the overall effect.
When you’re finished, fill the container with water, mist the entire display and store overnight.
Before placing your flower arrangement on the table, re-mist the flowers and check for any that may have slipped out of place.
Homemade centerpieces can be just as beautiful as expensive flower shop displays with just a little patience and effort.
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