Let's go to the flower show

Pew ends . .
Everyone loves pew ends. They guide the bride down the aisle to the altar; they make the scene complete, and they help to give the church a fairytale appearance. In addition, pew ends are expected to be a low-cost item, and they can be a good way of using up short flowers.
Traditional style
If the wedding is in a traditional church or cathedral, the flowers are generally massed, with little space left between them and with lots of foliage. The typical arrangements to choose for the occasion would be large triangle-shaped pedestals, and the pew ends would be in keeping with these. Again, they would be triangular in shape, but in this case with the length running down the design, and with flowers and foliage massed together.
Modern style
In a modern building, it is far more appropriate to make the arrangements modern. Use bold flowers and leaves, and lots of space. Here again, the pew ends would echo the larger arrangements. Getting the flowers delivered Horfield to the church on time is also a critical factor to take into consideration.

My Favourite Flowers - Agapanthus
The Headbourne varieties are the best hybrids of this popular perennial plant. Headbourne hybrids,
Carrying round heads of clustered florets on stout, smooth stems that grow 60—90 cm (2—3 ft) high, they are most welcome for the flower arranger as they give a blue flower head at a time when there are few other tall blue flowers. I have always felt that agapanthus was not hardy, but today there seem to be several hardy strains. Whether grown against a wall, or in the herbaceous or shrub border, they provide a lovely patch of blue and a nice change of form, with their decorative strap-like basal leaves.
Cultivation
Plant in April or May in any good garden soil, but preferably against a south- or west-facing wall. It is a worthwhile precaution to protect the plants against winter frosts by covering them in October or November with a 15 cm (6 in) layer of peat, straw or bracken. This is also the best time to get them from your local florists Hammersmith.
Conditioning and preserving
The flower heads last very well with no special treatment but, rather like azaleas, it is important to remove each floret as it dies, or the whole head begins to look dead long before it is really over. The buds continue to open in water, so you can keep the flower stems in a vase for a few weeks.
For preserving, leave the flower heads on the stems until the seed is well formed, then cut and hang the stems upside down to dry off thoroughly. They can then be used whole, or taken apart and used individually in smaller vases.
Arranging
I think one of the best examples of the use of agapanthus can be in an arrangement with acanthus, though they will mix well in any large arrangement, using the stems short or full length. They add that vital touch of blue so important in mixed flower groups, or make an excellent focal point for a foliage arrangement in late July through to September, the combination of blue colour and rounded shape making an excellent foil against mixed leaves.

Lines within your floral design
Lines are visual paths, created by flowers, foliage or accessories, which the eye follows so they appear to have visual movement, which is called rhythm. The lines may be straight, curving, simple, bold or gentle; they may have vertical, horizontal or diagonal movement, and the visual effect of this can be fast or slow.
Ways of creating lines
Indirect lines are formed by a graded sequence of flowers, foliage types or accessories, and a line of this type is built up by placing materials on different levels, usually in vertical or diagonal lines. Horizontal lines should he avoided, as they tend to cut a design in half visually. Indirect lines link the outline and focal point line, and also fill in gaps, so that the design created by the Geebung florist looks attractive from all angles.
A direct line appears where the line is visually solid. Materials that can be used to create a direct line include contorted willow (curving lines), Phormium tenax (straight lines), and trails of hedera or paper ribbon tubing.

Drying in water
I find the only way to dry hydrangea heads well is, strangely enough, with their feet in water and their heads in a warm atmosphere. Cut the heads when the colour starts to change from pink to red, and blue to a greeny colour. Remove all the leaves and stand the stems in about 5cm (2 in) of water and place the jar on or near a boiler or in an airing cupboard. The warmer they are the quicker they dry and the heads will stay a better colour. Getting flowers delivered Crossmyloof may seem the easier option, but there is immense satisfaction in doing it yourself.
I dry a few stems of the charming green bell-like spikes of moluccella or ‘Bells of Ireland’, by first standing them in shallow water on a pin-holder so that they take on charming natural curves. Then I transfer them to a jam jar, still in a little water, until they are completely dry. They are strange as sometimes they stay green and sometimes turn a parchment colour. I always place a few stems into a solution of glycerine as this gives a glossy texture and keeps them from dropping. Seed heads of hosta also dry well like this and you can watch the green closed seed heads gradually opening out and turning back to reveal all their seeds.

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 Stretford 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.

Unusual flowers - Echinacea (coneflower)
Characteristics: Coneflower is a wonderful addition to any garden. It is a sturdy plant with showy flower heads 3 to 4 inches across. The flowers Playa del Rey re­semble black-eyed Susan, but have reflexed petals, and bloom in pink and white. The foliage, 3 to 4 inches long, is dark green and coarse in texture. Echinacea is an American native and is lovely when grown in an informal or woodland garden setting.
Cultural Information: Echinacea will grow in an ordinary soil but prefers soil enriched with compost to help it tolerate heat and drought. Grow individual plants from seed. Prevent overcrowding by dividing every three years. Space plants 18 inches apart and enrich the soil before replanting.
Harvesting/Drying: For dried arrangements allow the flower heads to dry naturally on the plant before harvesting. Seed heads are also interesting in dried arrangements.

Hospital flowers
Everyone loves flowers, and someone who is ill and in hospital will appreciate them even more than usual. Flowers convey love and affection, sunshine and happiness, making the patient feel cherished, and it is very important that a florist should select appropriate flowers to send in such cases.
Hospitals are normally very warm, especially the maternity wards, and it is therefore essential that any flowers sent are long-lasting species, which can tolerate heat. Spring flowers and roses, unfortunately, do not last long in warm temperatures, but there are some suitable flowers and foliages for consideration, including the following:
carnations and spray carnations
Alstroemeria hybrids
Astrantia major
Wax flowers
Chrysanthemum blooms and sprays
Cymbidium orchids
Lilies
Limonium sinuatum
Triteleia hybrids

All flowers delivered Pacifica should be well conditioned before being sent out. Make sure the stems have been cut correctly and that they have stood in water for at least three to four hours, but preferably overnight, to get a good drink before being used.

Summer annuals

These annuals as their name suggests, are not comfortable in the cold winter months so the ideal time to grow them is three weeks after the last spring frost. Since these annual flowers grow well in warm climates, you can expect to see them in all of their glory in the late spring and the warm months of summer. Just imagine strolling into your garden to pick some beautiful fresh blooms to place on your coffee table. If you can't be bothered to go to all of this trouble to grow your own flowers then you might want to just organise a flower delivery Corrigan in Victoria to meet your needs.

Dried Flowers

There are many methods that we can use to dry flowers, and we discuss one of these here. As always, if you have any doubts, always call your local flower delivery Arrochar expert for some sound advice.

Air-drying, also known as "hang and dry" method, is the oldest and simplest method for preserving flowers. The flowers are collected, tied and then hung upside down in a warm, dry place. Since the flowers are dried in air, the method is referred to as "air-drying". This needs to be done in a darkened room to help retain the color of the flowers. Flowers such as baby's breath, cattail, celosia, dock, goldenrod, heather and pussy willow preserve well when stored this way. Blue and yellow flowers retain their color whereas pink flowers tend to fade miserably.

It's a rewarding hobby to get into, and one that I thoroughly recommend. A wonderful stress buster for those of us we lead a hectic lifestyle and just want to perform a relaxing task in our leisure time.

Further reading
Thanks for reading the post, we hope you enjoyed these great flower facts and tips. If you're a florist, or looking to become one, you may also enjoy Florist Files which has even more information for you.

Local florists need love too

A Modern Handtied Design

For many years, assistants in flower shops in Europe have held flowers in the hand as the customer chose them, and then tied them together with twine, to produce

a carefully organized bunch, ready to be placed straight in a vase.


Most designs are very modern in shape, and demands flowers that have a great deal of impact, plus inbuilt space, to show them off. Gerberas are ideal for this purpose, but must sometimes be support wired, allowing the stems to be bent without damage. Liatris, with their strong straight stems, are excellent for providing height.

Large leaves look good, but again it is advisable for the florist Kensington to wire them so that they can be positioned horizontally. Bear grass softens the outline of a design.

Basing your blooms

Basing is the art of padding a shape with flower heads usually chrysanthemums and then making a spray of more delicate flowers arranged across the centre . Ribbon edging gives a lovely finishing touch. The centre spray can be highlighted in the same colour as the ribbon edging to create a flower arrangement that you can be proud of. Contact your local florist and arrange for the coloured ribbon to accompany your flower delivery Whakatane .

My Favourite Flowers - Aichemilla mollis

Aichemilla, a perennial, is a ‘must’ for every garden, with its lime-green or sulphury-yellow feathery sprays of flower, which I use continuously from June to August. The flower stems branch from compact umbels of cup-like leaves which, because of their silky hairs, retain rain drops to glitter like quicksilver after showers. My florist Perry Barr now stocks these just for me.


Cultivation

Plant from October to March in any good well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade, Twiggy sticks may be needed to support the plants if they are growing strongly. Cut almost to ground level in the autumn. A moisture- lover, it does not do well in hot and dry areas.

Conditioning and drying

It really needs no special treatment, but it is best to remove a few of the leaves, as these tend to die long before the flower, and then give the stems a long drink in deep water. Remove all foliage.

The flower dries well, though loses some colour. Drying is best done by allowing stems to dry off in the vase in which they are arranged.

Arranging


Because of the delicate form and wonderful blending colour of the flowers, I am tempted to use alchemilla in almost all my arrangements. It lasts so well, and adds such a soft touch that I look forward to it flowering, and it is a joy to find a piece that has blossomed in late autumn. The colour mixes well with pinks, reds, blues, yellows and any all-green arrangement.

Simple Steps to Long-lasting Cut Flowers

Keep the water fresh and deep. For maximum life, change the water in your vase at least every third day. Many flowers benefit from fresh water daily. There is a direct correlation between clean water and long flower life. When you change the water, cut ½ inch off the base of the stems with a sharp instrument. Also consult with your florist for the best advice when you take your flower delivery Miles Platting.

Design Principles

Composition is the organization of the elements within a design to achieve unification. Form, color and repetition contribute to the composition of the design.

Unity is created when the elements in a floral design relate to each other. The individual materials then blend together to produce a unified whole. This is achieved through color harmony as well as material selection.


Proportion refers to the correct relationship of the design elements; they should be of comparable size. The container or base determines the size of the items; a small wreath should not be overwhelmed with overly large flowers. Focal points should be similar sizes, whole fillers should be smaller. In addition, the scale of a design in relation to its surroundings must be considered. A tiny basket will look out of place on a long, formal dining table. For this reason it is often necessary to have an idea of your recipient’s home décor if you choose to send flowers Village Green as a gift.

Balance results in visual and, often, physical stability. Placing smaller flowers of lighter colors at the top of a design with larger, darker flowers at the base provides visual stability. For symmetrical balance, place the elements in the design with equal visual weight on each side of a vertical line. By placing the items unequally on each side of the imaginary vertical line (heavier on one side), asymmetrical balance is established.

Orchid care



An important part of orchid care is looking out for various fungi or parasites. Isolate any plant that has a problem, check it out, find the remedy and start treating as soon as possible. The old saying that one rotten apple can spoil the bunch applys equally well to orchids. Always keep a well stocked garden shed containing the correct chemicals to use. I always order mine through my local Simshill Florist who usually has the best prices in town. It doesn't take a great deal of time to look after your orchids, just set aside a few minutes a day to ensure a magnificent crop.

King of the roses

When you hear the word “roses”, you would often assume that it is the red rose that is being referred to. So why is this? Simply because the red rose is The Rose of all roses. Beautiful, elegant, dramatic and intriguing - Red roses are the most popular of all the roses.



The red rose is a universal symbol of romance, passion and most importantly true love. Red roses are most often used as a strong expression of love, especially on special occasions like Valentine's Day. If you are in a relationship and your partner doesn't receive a red rose on Valantine's Day, then you're in trouble my friend. Many men rush to phone their local Thornton Florist as soon as they realise what day it is.

Packing perfection


Foliage from distant countries, such as Costa Rica, arrives on our shores in perfect condition enclosed as it now is in sheets of polythene, within strong boxes. The polythene keeps the foliage in the conditions of high humidity that most foliage types prefer. Mimosa also requires high humidity around its fluffy flowers, and is sold in individually sealed bags.

Chrysanthemums are usually enclosed in cellophane sleeves and packed in boxes to prevent movement during transit. The cellophane also slows down the transpiration and evaporation of water from the foliage and flowers, creating a moist and humid atmosphere. Gerberas, with their delicate petals, have an inner sleeve in the box so that each flower head is held quite still during the flower delivery Pentwyn process.

A beautiful flower - Artemisia (sweet Annie, sweet wormwood)

Characteristics: Sweet Annie grows into a tall, pyramid­-shaped plant that often reaches 6 feet. It has ferny, dark green foliage and a wonderful fra­grance.

Cultural Information: The an­nual sweet wormwood will thrive in most soils in a sunny pot provided it has adequate drainage.


Harvesting/Drying: Sweet Annie is grown for its soft green color, which blends well with any flowers Flatiron District. You will enjoy its lovely scent even after drying. Sweet Annie is a nice filler for dried arrangements and makes an ex­cellent base material for wreaths. Harvest Sweet Annie on a dry day before it has reached full maturity. Hang to air-dry.

Additional information
If you love flowers as much as we do you may also enjoy The Home of Flower Lovers. Another blog dedicated to bringing you the very best florist information on the internet.