January 2007

Ask Ardith: Four Little Something’s for Your Valentine

#1 Peony with teal container
Ingredients:
Peony
Small ceramic container
2 Cowee new pink hyacinth sticks,
each cut in 4 equal lengths
Handful of Strong Pink Sisal
Teal bullion
Teal corsage pin
Anchor pin
Waterproof Anchor tape-green
Double face tape
Isle runner tape
White Distilled Vinegar
1/3 block of foam
Water with flower food

Instructions:

  1. Cut and shape floral foam to fit inside the container with one to two inches above the lip of the container. Hydrate foam with clean water with Flower food. Insert foam in container, secure in with anchor tape or pan melt glue.(TIP: to glue foam to a decorative reusable container clean inside bottom surface with White Distilled Vinegar and a piece of cotton. Let dry, secure a piece or Isle runner tape to the bottom. The isle runner tape will remove easily without leaving a residue as Duct tape does. Place an anchor pin on the isle runner tape with glue from the glue pan, double face tape or Oasis adhesive. Set the hydrated foam on the anchor pin)
  2. Place the pink Cowee sticks around the perimeter of the container, wrap a small handful of Strong Pink Sisal around the sticks, using teal bullion wire wrap the sisal in an irregular pattern around the sisal. This will shape and gather the sisal in a cylinder form.
  3. Make a nest of Sisal, lay it in the top, add a peony, rose, gerbera any single beautiful flower.
  4. Wrap the teal bullion around three fingers many times, keep the wraps loose. Take it from your fingers, cut the end a bit long, and with the end wrap it around the center of the loops to make a figure 8. Spread out the flower shape. Place it on the sisal with a teal tipped corsage pin.
  5. Top off the water daily with water with flower food.

#2 Rosemary & Roses
Ingredients:
½ block of foam
Water with flower food
Anchoring techniques as in step #1 above
¼ bunch rosemary-or less
3 stems spray roses
1 yard # 9 green satin ribbon
1 strong pink flower Lomey Gem



Instructions:

  1. #1 of above
  2. Insert rosemary around the foam, concealing the foam. Cut stems; use the entire stem in desired lengths. A general rule is you may go as high as the height of the container for physical and visual balance.
  3. Cut the top off the rosemary even. Place the spray rose stems in the top of the rosemary.
  4. Wrap the ribbon around the base of the rosemary at the top of the container. Glue it in place, add the Lomey flower Gem, and tuck a rose in the knot.
  5. Top off daily with water with flower food.

#3 Gypsophlia with Acolyte
Ingredients:
Small ceramic container
1/3 block of foam
Hyacinth stake
Spring Green Just For Flowers
Australian Lily Grass
2 spray roses
1 stem gypsophlia
1 Acolyte LED Votive tea light
1 votive candle holder


Instructions:

  1. #1 of #1
  2. Cut the hyacinth stake to desired length, insert into the base of the Acolyte Votive candle holder, and place the votive candle in the holder. Hold the stake, spray with Just for Flowers Spring Green, outside and inside of the votive tea light. Place in the center of the wet foam.
    3. Insert the Australian Lily grass around the lip of the container into the foam. Cut the lily grass in the shape of taller in the back to wrapping around shorter in the front.
  3. Insert gypsophlia keep in the shape of the Lily Grass. Add spray roses for color and texture.
  4. Top off with water with flower food.

#4 Equisetum with a heart
Ingredients:
Ceramic container
½ block foam
Water with flower food
½ bunch equisetum cut into 5 equal lengths
3 large roses (be sure and buy 40 cm roses)
2 stems red mini carnations
1 small stem burgundy seeded eucalyptus
20” red aluminum wire
10” red aluminum wire
Red bullion wire
Red Sisal (small amount)
Keepsake Decorative metal flower holder

Instructions:

  1. Make a heart with a tail with the 10”red aluminum wire, wrap it with the sisal. Wrap the sisal around the aluminum wire with the bullion, keeping the shape of the heart. Wrap many times in an irregular pattern bringing the Sisal in tight to the shape. Add a decorative keepsake flower holder, insert flower in holder.
  2. #1 of #1
  3. Insert Equisetum at the same height around the inside lip of the container.
  4. Insert roses, carnations and seeded eucalyptus.
  5. Bind Aluminum wire around the equisetum.
  6. Add heart with glue onto the binding wire.
  7. Top off with water with flower food (mix the flower food with water according to the directions on the container. Add that mixture of water to your designs in water and in foam).

For comments, questions, or to correspond with the author write:
Ardith E. Beveridge, aaf, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, MSF
Koehler & Dramm’s Institute of Floristry,
2407 E. Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 800.298.0495 or 612-331-4141;
E-mail: abeveridge@koehlerdramm.com