A Valentine’s Window
Window displays should aim to catch the customers’ attention and drag them into the shop. Something in the display will capture the imagination and encourage an impulse buy. Certain occasions, such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, are very traditional in flavour, and we tend to turn out the same designs year after year, without perhaps giving enough thought to the matter.
Next Valentine’s Day, why not try something a little different, creating an alternative Valentine’s Day display to appeal to the younger generation? Get your thinking cap on and see what you can come up with to entice those youngsters through the door of your florist Wombourne shop.
Bulb Soil Preparation
Preparation of the soil for spring-flowering bulbs follows the same steps as those for all bulbous plants. But where the earth is heavy and largely clay, an inch or two of coarse sand dropped into the bottom of each bulb hole will assure the fast growth of a good root system. A florist Allerton will usually encourage the bulbs by placing a teaspoon of bone meal mixed thoroughly into the sand or soil at the bottom of the hole.
After you have planted your bulbs, be sure to soak the soil thoroughly. The water will wash the soil in around the bulbs, eliminating air spaces, and will start the bulbs rooting. Because of their hardiness, none of the spring bulbs needs protection against cold after planting if set at the proper depth. But they do need protection then and in later years against unseasonable warmth: wherever alternate freezing and thawing occur, the soil will heave, and this movement can damage roots by shifting the bulbs. An aboveground layer of mulch, applied after the soil has frozen at least 2 inches deep, will usually keep the ground hard and eliminate this danger. The best mulches for this purpose are 5 or 6 inches of salt hay, 2 to 3 inches of pine needles, 2 inches of buckwheat hulls, sawdust, wood shavings or bark, or a thatching of evergreen boughs 6 to 12 inches deep. If you use salt hay or evergreen mulch, be sure to lift away the mulch before the bulbs' stems peep aboveground the following spring; if you wait too long, you may damage the tender shoots. If by chance they have sprouted, lift the mulch with a tined fork, not a rake.
My flowers don't stand up straight
It could be your vase is too short for your flowers, or your flowers are too tall for your vase! A good rule of thumb is that your flowers should be two to three times the size of your vase. Build a grid across the top of your vase with clear tape and place the flowers within the grid. Once your vase has been properly prepared it's time to call a reliable florist and place your flowers Shadow Hills order. The most common mistake made when preparing your flowers to go into a vase is cutting them too short. Always remember you can always trim a little more off if they're too long, but you can never add some stem back on!
Many Blooms
Polyantha roses are low, very hardy plants that continuously produce large clusters of small blooms and survive winters unprotected in cold climates. Indeed, "many blooms" is what the Greek word polyantha means. The blossoms are small, rarely exceeding 2 inches in diameter, and the plants are generally 2 feet or less in height, which makes them ideal for massing in beds and for use as low hedges. They are also widely grown by Mont Belvieu florists as house plants for Easter and Mother's Day, after which they may be set out in the garden. More than most roses, polyanthas bloom profusely not only on old canes but also on new canes that spring from or close to the ground. This tendency of polyanthas to have a number of canes and stems at different stages of maturity at the same time ensures a steady supply of flowers week after week.
Secondary and focal flowers
The secondary and the focal flowers can be inserted into any floral arrangement. The carnation sprays are added to the design so that when it is completed they will flow across the design. The focal roses move through the centre of the design in a gently curving line. The spacing between the roses is larger at the outer edges, and much smaller at the centre, which is the focal area.
To emphasize the focal area, lilies have been recessed underneath the roses. These help the visual weight and balance of the design. The crimson carnation spray strengthens the line or grouping of the lilies and adds colour contrast. The combination of the wax flower and silvery foliage; gives an airy effect to the arrangement and is sure to please any recipient of this wonderful flower delivery Gordon.
Use short flowers and foliage types to complete the design and hide any small gaps. Mist the arrangement and keep cool.
Basic Steps for Arranging
1. After choosing the container, add a support (or base) to fit securely inside. A block of floral foam or a circle of chicken wire fitted tightly into the bottom of the container will work as a support. Secure the support to the side of the container with floral tape. This important step prevents the arrangement from becoming top heavy. If neither floral foam nor chicken wire is available, use fine sand (a centuries-old method) as a support. Simply fill the container three-quarters full with dry fine sand.
2. Create the outline of the arrangement using taller spiky flowers. The stems of the flowers should not be all the same length because this would give an unnatural appearance.
3. Add tiny bunches of interesting material such as Nigella pods and secure them with wire onto a North Birmingham florists pick before adding.
4. For a final touch you may add some special flowers or pods. Place uneven numbers of these throughout the arrangement.
5. Place your filler material, such as German statice or baby's breath, to fill in holes and give a finished look.
6. Because of the brittle nature of dried flowers, spray the finished arrangement with a preservative.
Design lines
The main lines in a traditional flower design include the outline, which refers to the contours, and is created with spike materials; the focal point line, which is the main line of graded flowers, forming the centre of interest, and for which a mass form is used, and the transitional lines, which link the two contrasting spike and mass forms. Smaller flowers and foliage are arranged in sequences (lines) of graded sizes, buds being placed towards the outer edge, and fuller Lightburn flowers at the centre. Other materials can then be placed at various levels to fill in the gaps in the design. Follow these simple guidelines to create some inspired floral arrangements.
Funeral Thoughts
Floral tributes can be arranged into the shapes of letters to spell out a name or phrase. Be careful when choosing what to put here, especially where nicknames are concerned. Maybe the name you knew the person as affectionately was not the preferred name for the family. Always respect the wishes of the immediate family. Chrysanthemums are most effective for this kind of arrangement, and again matching the edged ribbon to a complimentary colour scheme. The flowers can be arranged beautifully, and there are numerous complimentary colour schemes that you could use. Red and cream go well together as an example, as does yellow and pale green foliage. You can send flowers
Rustic Canyon in almost any colour combination you can think of.
