How to Make Floral Arangements

Design

• 1

  Decide on the flowers for your arrangement. Consider the mood you want to achieve. Use a dozen or more roses in a solitary color or dramatic-looking large flowers such as calla lilies or dahlias to create a sophisticated, elegant look. Choose an assortment of wildflowers such as black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, cosmos and prairie asters to give your arrangement a casual, friendly feel.

• 2

  Choose a container for your flower arrangement. As with your flower choice, the container will affect the mood of the arrangement. Use a traditional vase or china container for formal arrangements. Consider unusual containers such as cups for small arrangements of flowers with tiny blossoms or canning jars wrapped in gingham ribbon to hold daisies.

• 3

  Determine the shape you want your finished arrangement to have. Possibilities include a tall, triangular bouquet using a few trumpeting lilies as the focal point; an arrangement with trailing nasturtiums that cascades down around the sides of your container; or a neat, round, ball-shaped arrangement that incorporates similarly sized miniature varieties of roses, carnations and gerberas. Keep symmetry in mind when picturing the look of the finished arrangement.

• 4

  Select greenery to put among the flowers in your arrangement. Ferns and ivy are widely available and work well with nearly any type of arrangement. Add color and variety to tall arrangements with spiky wheat grass. Eucalyptus stems add interest and a long-lasting scent. Add a splash of dark green color to your arrangement with lemon leaves.

Arranging

• 5

  Snip the flower stems at an angle and immediately place them in a container of tepid water. Leave the flowers in the water as you work. Remove individual flowers only when you are ready to put them into the arrangement.

• 6

  Cut a piece of floral foam to fit snugly inside the container you have chosen. Thoroughly saturate the foam, and place it in the container.

• 7

  Insert flowers into the foam to achieve the desired shape. Put the largest flowers in first, then add medium and small flowers.

• 8

  Mix greenery among the flowers.

• 9

  Fill in open spaces with filler such as baby's breath, limoneum or other flowers with tiny blossoms.