Flower Arranging

Posted by Emily

My mom has been part of the Garden Club of America for as long as I can remember.  Through this club, she participates in flower arranging competitions around the country.  I have always loved watching her arrange flowers.  It really is an art, one with various styles and countless techniques.  It is an artform that one can learn over time through experimentation.  Looking at the finished arrangements brings much joy, but the process of making them is really my favorite part.  I still have a lot to learn and plan on sharing the new techniques my mom teaches me with you.

But, before we get started, there are a few essential TIPS that I must share with you about arranging flowers.  When you bring your flowers home, you want to immediately put them in water.  There are three important things to remember:

1. Use very warm water.  This will be easier for the flowers to draw up their stems and help the flowers last longer.

2. Give your stems a fresh cut at an angle.  It is best to you a sharp knife and not scissors (although I cheat sometimes).  The idea is that you want to keep the xylem (tubes that bring water and nutrients up the stem) open.  The ends of the stems will have dried out during transportation (even if that is just a trip inside from your garden), and you want to open them up again with a cut.  Scissors can crush the tubes, while a sharp knife with open them and make them ready to take in fresh water.  (Some people think it’s best to cut the stems under water, but I think this is overkill.  My mom agrees.)  

3. Keep checking the water.  Add water every few days (your thirsty flowers will keep drinking) and change it if it starts to smell or look murky (give the stems a fresh cut if changing water).  Keep the leaves of the plant out of the water, as decomposition with cause the water to get murky and gross.  

Grew these in my garden!