This is my contribution for Metamorphosis Monday.
Start with some Oasis or a floral foam product that you can soak in water to keep your flowers fresh. Secure the oasis to your container with floral tape so the weight of the flowers won’t pull the foam out of your container. This urn has a hole in the bottom, so I lined it with several plastic bags to keep the water in the oasis from dribbling out.
I started with (2) white bundles & (1) pink bundle of fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s. I’ve also bought great looking floral bundles from Super Target or my grocery store if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you. My greenery in my yard is still pretty cold-shocked and sad-looking now, but normally I could snip greenery from my shrubbery. This is Euonymus that was in my Trader Joe’s bundle that I started with as my “line” greenery.
Next I used my larger leaf greenery to help camouflage my tape & oasis.
Add your larger flowers next. There are a couple of video links/how-to’s at the end of this post that are very helpful.
To help make this arrangement, this urn is on a lazy susan, since it’s heavy.
I like to use produce in my arrangements. I think it makes it more interesting, and you can always find apples at the grocery store. It also serves as a great “hole-filler”. Granny Smith are great to use since they are hard, and piercing them in the bottom with your pick won’t cause them to expire too quickly. With that rule in mind, pears are NOT great to use because they will get extremely soft very quickly. I meant to pick up some artichokes to use with this white and green arrangement, but left them off my grocery list, (oops) and I was loosing daylight to take these photos and didn’t have time to run back out. So I used pears as a substitute.
Hydrangea is my favorite flower. . .we just planted some Oakleaf Hydrangea this fall, so hopefully I’ll have some to clip this summer. I love how it fades from white to green to pink. . .
I had picked up a pink bundle of flowers at the same time. . .it had a lot of “filler” flowers in it, so I added the pink after I finished with the white. Personally, I think it’s hard to beat green & white as a color combination . .
All complete, with 3 bundles of flowers in about an hour, including clean up– if you don’t stop and take pictures :-) When I do arrangements at Christmas time, I usually put a fitted sheet on the island, so it makes for easier clean up.
Here are some great video link floral how-to’s from MyHomeIdeas.Com. If you’re not already familiar with this site, you may want to visit it for great Design Tips, Idea Houses, Entertaining Ideas etc.
Floral Arranging Video Part 1
Floral Arranging Video Part 2
Absolutely beautiful, I love how you used the fruit. I have always wanted to arrange flowers like that, I went to a few classes years ago but never stuck with it. you’ve inspired me to give something a try, hopefully soon :)
Mary,
This is just gorgeous! I love the use of fruit in the arrangement. It adds another dimension…the colors are great too! Thanks for the tutorial, videos, and for just sharing!
Sharlotte
Mary, I enjoyed this post very much. What a talented lady you are! And, your dogs are precious! I’ve also enjoyed all the pictures down the side of your blog.
Great to see how that’s done. I always like fruit mixed in and these are soooo perfect for the Easter holiday. Thank you and hope you’ll visit us, too — we have a fun headboard bench project. — Jane F.
Beautiful my dear. I will pick that up Saturday morning. It will be perfect for my Easter tablescape. The granny Smiths will be great for pie later.
Love it! and you are right about the white and green…I also love the bells of ireland plant (flower?) which is the same green…grew some last year, but also can buy…..your blog is AWESOME
i love your blog…