A pretty flower - Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan)
Characteristics: Black-eyed Susan is a showy, daisy like native American perennial often found in natural meadows and along roadsides. It provides wonderful garden color all summer long. Black-eyed Susans make long lasting cut flowers. Their range of petal colors includes yellow, orange, red and bronze. When the petals fall off, they leave a dark, attractive cone-shaped center. This dark core is excellent for use in dried arrangements. Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa Daisy' has profuse displays of large blooms up to 5 inches across on 3-foot stems.
Cultural Information: Plant black-eyed Susan 2 feet apart in average, well-drained soil. Divide the clumps in spring or autumn every four years. Dividing will ensure a more robust production of blooms. These tolerant plants will grow in poor soil and can withstand rough handling if Elwick flower delivery is being used for shipment.
Harvesting/Drying: You can harvest black-eyed Susan at any time during its development. Just decide what size center you want to dry. Remove the petals and hang up the centers to dry. If you prefer, simply allow the flowers to mature on the stems and harvest later. The individual petals can be pressed and then reattached to the core with glue before mounting on a board.
The colour of summer
The colours available in summer flowers are as profuse as the varieties. Sweet peas come in a range of blues, whites, purples, red and pinks, from the softest shell pink to deepest crimson. The fiery oranges and rich yellows of the marigolds contrast with the soft cool green of lady’s mantle, and on the hottest of summer days there are plenty of flowers to choose for a refreshing design in blues and white.
The shapes and textures of cut materials (flowers and foliage) are also diverse, including tiny lavender spikes, the large spears of the red hot poker, rounded hydrangea heads, and lilies, with their pointed petals. At this time of year, there is a selection for every type of design, and numerous possible containers from which to choose, always bearing in mind that the latter need to be sufficiently large to hold a good-sized reservoir of water for thirsty summer flowers. All good florists Blenheim should be able to provide you with an abundant array of colourful summer blooms to brighten any occasion.
Constructing a Hoop
The hoop is first covered with paper ribbon, which is simply wound around the hoop and held firmly at the join with florists’ tape. The flowers are wired and taped, using the appropriate methods, and bound together with fine binding wire. The wires are divided into two sections and bent outwards after being trimmed to approximately 2.5cm (un). They are then taped onto the hoop and the leaves pulled over the taping to conceal it.
Another way to make this type of design would be to make a garland and wind it around the hoop.
Choice of materials
Small dainty flowers Droitwich are the most suitable for a hoop; large flowers are too heavy and would be difficult to balance. They would also be visually too heavy for such a dainty design.
As with any bridal design, the colours will be chosen to match the dresses of the bride and her bridesmaids, and the flowers to match the bride’s bouquet. Ribbon trails may be used to complete the design.
Cylinders or Tubes
A single rose is the classic token of love and affection, but to wrap it in shop paper would detract from its initial romantic impact. To enhance the flower, we need to add complementary packaging. Single flowers in cylinders or tubes are suitable for most occasions. They are especially popular on Valentine’s Day, when a single red rose with a piece of asparagus fern is placed in the tube and decorated with red ribbon, but they are also appropriate for Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries. Although roses are normally used in cylinders by florists Gorton, there is no reason why other flowers, such as spray carnations, freesias or orchids should not be given in tubes of this type.
Acetate Cylinders
Such containers come in many shapes and sizes, and are available from most florists’ wholesalers or from specialized packaging companies.
Texture of dried flowers
Texture plays an extremely important part in a dried arrangement. Leaves, flowers, seed heads and grasses all have different textures, and it is important to mix them, especially in a design of similar colours. Grouped materials also have far more impact than flowers dotted around, and the mixture of red and green in a basket is a complementary colour harmony that balances perfectly. Getting to know these different textures, and using them to your advantage is a key skill that any up and coming florist Village Green must master.
Strong groupings of both textures and colours will give the arrangement a dramatic visual appeal. The handle of the basket can be removed so as not to detract from the flowers. This design would be ideal for use in a lounge or reception area, on a low table, where it would be viewed from above.
Slowing down flowering
There are times during the seasons when it may be advantageous for a florist to ‘hold’ the development of a flower, perhaps to even out a glut of flowers, or before a peak sales period. Tulips, gladioli and peonies are especially suited to the following method.
It is essential to use flowers that are in good condition, showing no signs of mould or fungal diseases, so a thorough inspection is recommended. If the cut flowers are flaccid, they will need a drink to regain firmness before storage. Excess foliage is removed and bunches can be re-wrapped in paper. Shake off surplus water. Cellophane should not be used, as it can induce moulds. Once wrapped bunches are carefully packed into boxes.
Placed in the cold store, or in a cold dark cellar, the flowers can be kept for five to seven days, and conditioned in the normal way when required prior to the flower delivery Lilybank.
Design for a Table
A flower arrangement design for a table needs to look attractive from all sides, and the flowers must be in perfect condition, as they will be viewed closely by the seated guests. The arrangement should not impede visibility or conversation across the table.
The size and proportion of the design is dictated by the size of the table and the number of place settings. Scale the flowers to the surroundings, preferably keeping them small and dainty, and coordinate the colours of the blooms with the china and table linen, and with the decor of the room or the occasion. Round and smaller tables will have a circular arrangement; a long table demands a diamond shape.
The container is either hidden completely, or can be an integral part of the setting, as a florist Kirkby you can decide which. Always avoid highly perfumed, musky flowers, as the scent can interfere with the taste of the food.
Overall proportions
The overall dimensions or measurements of height, width and depth must relate to one another and to the container in the correct proportions to create visual balance in a design. As floristry is an art form, there are only a few guidelines on proportion, and these are mainly for flower arrangements. For many designs, florists use the approximate proportions of one third to two thirds, and in the bouquet on the left we can see that the dimensions are not quite correct, the top of the design being rather short and cut off.
Proportion has a close relationship with scale, and therefore its surroundings and positioning will have an effect on proportion and the way in which it is used within a design. A good grasp of design and design principles is required of a Trowbridge florist — a rather daunting prospect for a new student. Design skills require practice with a broad range of flowers, foliage types, accessories and occasions, and these skills are not acquired quickly, partly due to seasonal restrictions.
Go Roses
To show your eternal gratitude to someone, when just a simple thank you will not suffice, consider going for roses. These flowers will certainly express your extreme gratitude to someone. Maybe someone has done you a good turn, or helped you out in some way, then these should do the trick. Saying thank you is a wonderful human trait, and you will be rewarded for your good nature.
- Pink Roses – gratitude, admiration, appreciation, friendship, thankfulness and a whole host of other commendable sentiments. Sending flowers Wakefield is the ideal way to show someone how much you appreciate what they have done for you.
- Peach Roses – gratitude, appreciation, admiration are all conveyed through these
- Yellow Roses – express joy and friendship
