this arrangement has been made in a yellow ceramic pot

7/29/2019 This Arrangement Has Been Made in a Yellow Ceramic Pot

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This arrangement has been made in a yellow ceramicpot. I have used Hamamelis mollis for the height, andthe triangles on the right are made from Equisetumhyemalis, which can be bent into all sorts of interesting shapes. More of this (unbent) is used onthe left of the arrangement to give a change of form.Other foliage used is Arum italicum 'Marmoratum',Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart', rolled Hederahibernica leaves, and the grassy leaves of Acorusgramineus 'Ogon'. Flowers used are yellow double'Monte Carlo' tulips, purple iris and yellow daffodils. I

have tied the daffodil stems together with raffia sothat they create a block of colour towards the top of the arrangement. All the foliage is from the garden, asis the Hamamelis mollis. Other flowers are from theflorist.



The inspiration for this arrangement came from thelovely green and yellow swirled glass vase. It has a verynarrow neck, and is ideal for a minimalist arrangement.There is no room for floral foam, so all the plantmaterial has been placed carefully to achieve thedesired effect. I have used Corylus avellana 'Contorta',which has been sprayed yellow, to give height andoutline to the arrangement. There is just one leaf to theleft, which is a variegated green and yellow Fatsia japonica leaf. Any more than this would have spoiledthe balance of the arrangement. Finally, just threesingle Lilium 'Connecticut King' flowers complete the

picture. The lilies are from the florist, everything else isfrom the garden.



I couldn't resist using this trug basket for a display of spring flowers. Flowers used include Tulipa 'BlackParrot', Narcissus 'Pipit', Muscari armeniacum,Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Euphorbia wulfenii,Euphorbia robbiae, Tellima grandiflora, Lunaria annuaand Carex elata 'Aurea'. Foliage used includesBerberis thunbergii 'Purpurea', Hedera colchicum,Hebe 'Silver Dollar', Fatshedera x lizei, Heuchera'Cascade Dawn' and Arum italicum 'Chameleon'. Allthe plant material was from the garden.

I found this old terracotta drain hopper at the back of theshed, and I thought it would make a good container! Icleaned it up and placed a plastic tray inside the top to holdthe floral foam. I have used a terracotta plant saucer as abase. Flowers used in the design are: Peach Carnations,Terracotta Roses, Euphorbia wulfenii, Euphorbia robbiae,and Tellima grandiflora. Foliage used is Phormium tenaxpurpureum, Phormium tenax 'Sundowner' (looped on theright), Mahonia japonica, Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo',Heuchera 'Stormy Seas', and Rheum 'Ace of Hearts'. TheCarnations and Roses are from the florist, everything else isfrom the garden.



I love this blue glass vase. It only has a narrow neck, so Ihave used a small plastic saucer with floral foam, and fixed

it to the neck with sticky floralfix. I love strong colour schemes, so I decided to go with blue and yellow. I haveused blue painted Corylus avellana 'Contorta' to pick up theblue of the vase. The tall yellow flowers are Ligulariastenocephala 'The Rocket', and either side of these I haveused two different varieties of Sarracenia (Pitcher Plants).These last a long time when cut, and if you want to drythem, they dry well if you fill them with cotton wool to keepthe shape, and support the "lip" on both sides with morecotton wool, until they have dried. At the base of thearrangement are some yellow lilies, and the foliage I haveused is Fatsia japonica variegata (on the left), Pelargonium'Susie Q' (on the right), and some Hedera helix 'Buttercup'

to fill in at the back. I have used a yellow base to pick up thecolour of the lilies, with some blue glass round chips topick up the colour and texture of the vase. The lilies werefrom the florist, everything else was from the garden.



This design was made in an unusual basket,which has some terracotta fish as decoration. I

inserted a container with floral foam into the neckof the basket, to hold the flowers. I have usedsome lovely Kniphofias (Red Hot Pokers), and tothe right of these is a group of green Heucheracylindrica 'Greenfinch'. I have also used orangelilies and orange carnations, with peachDendrobium orchids. Foliage used is Mahonia japonica, Hedera, Berberis thunbergii 'Purpurea',and some trimmed Fatsia japonica. For addedinterest, I've used some Corylus avellana'Contorta' (contorted hazel) and used a piece of this to link a small placement of lilies, Heucheracylindrica and Hedera foliage which has been

placed at the base of the basket. I have used around flat basket as a base, and this has beenvarnished to match the colour of the basket. TheKniphofia, Heuchera, Corylus and all the foliagewas from the garden, the rest of the flowers werefrom the florist.

These lovely sunflowers were the inspiration for

this design, which has been made in a ceramicblue vase. I have used floral foam inside a plasticcontainer which fits neatly into the neck of thevase. Foliage used is Cordyline to form theheight, Aspidistra leaves rolled and stapled, andHedera colchica 'Suphur Heart' at the front of thearrangement. There are also some recessedxFatshedera lizei leaves. Flowers used areSunflowers (Helianthus annuus), small yellowdouble Chrysathemums with deep brown centresto echo the shape and colour of the Sunflowers,and tall blue spires of Aconitum. Some bluepainted corkscrew hazel, Corylus avellana'Contorta', have been added to give interest andecho the colour of the vase. The round yellowbase repeats the round shape and colour of theSunflowers. The flowers were from the florist, andall the foliage and the Corylus were from thegarden.



There is so much lovely foliage around, that you don't always need flowers to create aninteresting design. The picture above shows an all-foliage design, looking directly down on itfrom above. It has been made on a blue glass dish, using a block of floral foam. The design isquite low, and all the plant material has been grouped. In the centre, a pale pinky-grey group of Graptopetalum paraguayense (a succulent rosette-forming plant, hardy in my garden in a well-drained pot on the patio) forms a focal area. Strong horizontal lines are created with thePhormium tenax variegatum. Other foliage used includes, on the outer ring, from the top,clockwise - yellow leaved Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart', Hosta (unknown variety),Petroselenum crispum (Parsley), Heuchera 'Beauty Colour', Humulus lupulus aurea, Hedera'Sulphur Heart', Rubus tricolor, and, just visible, Mentha gentilis variegata. On the inner ring,from the top, clockwise - purple-brown Corylus maxima purpurea, Zonal Pelargonium 'Suzie Q',Hedera hibernica leaves, rolled and wired into cone-shapes, and Ballota pseudodictamnus, agrey, furry-leaved shrub. Running diagonally across the arrangement is a loop of plaitedLeymus arenarius, a glaucous-leaved grass. Also looped diagonally are leaves of Phormium'Platt's Black'. Linking the whole arrangement are stems of Corylus avellana 'Contorta', whichhave been sprayed blue to link the colour of the container. Blue glass beads have been placedon the leaves of the Zonal Pelargonium, and also inside the cones of the Hedera hibernica.Again, these help to link the colour and texture of the blue glass container. All the foliage isfrom the garden.



This arrangement has been made in a low oblongcontainer, using floral foam for the mechanics. I haveused Cordyline leaves for the height, and to the left of these are some Phoenix palm leaves, which have beenplaited to change their shape and characteristics. Other foliage used is Hosta 'Francee', Hosta 'June', xFatshedera lizei, and Heuchera 'Stormy Seas'. The wovengrey foliage in a wide loop across the arrangement isLeymus arenaria, a blue grass, which I have used with theunderside uppermost, as that is the more silvery side.Flowers used are yellow Lilies, and pink Celosia. All thefoliage was from the garden, and the flowers were fromthe florist.



This arrangement is in one of my favourite colour schemes, purple and yellow! The container is a tallblack vase, and the mechanics are floral foam, inside ablack plastic flower pot which sits snugly in the neck of

the vase. The drainage holes have been filled with hot-melt glue so that the flower pot holds water. Foliageused is Cordyline for the height, lovely blue-greyMelianthus major (one of my all-time favourite shrubs),Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart', purple Heuchera'Stormy Seas' and Ligustrum ovatum aurea (goldenprivet). For added interest and to bring the blackcolouring of the vase through the arrangement, I haveused black-sprayed Corylus avellana 'Contorta'(contorted Hazel). In the centre of the arrangement Ihave used three purple painted cane balls for their form, texture and colour. Flowers used are tall purpleAconitum, purple Lisianthus (syn. Eustoma), purpleAster chinensis, yellow Carnations and yellowChrysanthemums (now known as Dendranthema!).There is also a group of the Foxtail Grass, Setariaitalica, which gives a lovely contast of texture. To bringthe purple colour down to the base, I have used apurple velvet drape, which is wrapped around the neckof the vase (under the foliage) and pinned into placewith dressmaker's pins. A black octagonal basecompletes the picture.

This arrangement has been madein one of my favourite containers,a shallow blue glass dish. Thereis no floral foam used, instead Ihave made a framework of Cornus stems, wired together toform a support for the flowers.These extend beyond the edge of the dish to form part of thedesign. Flowers and foliage aregrouped to form blocks of colour and texture. The flowers used areLilium 'Stargazer'. red Tulips(unknown variety), red Rosa'Jaguar', and purple Lisianthus(syn. Eustoma). All the flowerswere from the florist.

Foliage used is xFatshedera lizei variegata, Hedera helix 'Adam', and Hedera hibernica, whichhas been wired into cone shapes and grouped together, to form a lovely textural group near thecentre top of the arrangement. The framework was made from Cornus 'Elegantissima' stems,which were red, but unfortunately, this doesn't show up on the picture.



This flower arrangement has been made in a low rectangular plastic dish, of a neutral pale greencolour. Floral foam has been used for the mechanics. I have used Phormium tenax purpureumleaves for the height on the right hand side, and a group of Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) stems onthe left. Between these groups in the centre, are some stems of an upright Ivy, Hedera helixconglomerata. A single Cordyline australis leaf arches over from right to left at the back of thearrangement, to give a change of direction. At the front of the arrangement, the foliage I have usedis Heuchera 'Beauty Colour' on the right, then just above this, a group of green XFatshedera lizei

leaves, and in the centre, some Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum leaves, which have agood colour and a feathery texture. On the left of this is another Heuchera, this time 'StormySeas'. The flowers used are a group of pale pink Lisianthus on the right, then three deep pink miniGerbera. In the centre, a group of pink Hydrangea. To the left of this are three red roses (varietyunknown) which have a silvery grey colour on the underside of their petals, and on the extremeleft, a group of small pale pink Chrysanthemums with deep maroon centres (variety unknown).

In the very centre of the arrangement is a gold wicker ball to give a change of colour, form andtexture to the arrangement, and there are several gold twisted cane stems throughout thearrangement, to pick up the gold colour of the wicker ball. All the foliage and the Hydrangea wasfrom the garden, the rest of the flowers were from the florist.



This design is made in a low rectangular container, which I have sprayed purple.Floral foam is used for the mechanics. It isdesigned to be viewed from all sides, andthis picture shows one side. On the left isa group of lovely purple Gladioli. The

green foliage to the right of these isRhodocoma gigantea, a Restio from SouthAfrica. Some curled gold-sprayed canegives height in the centre, and there aresome gold beads threaded onto these togive added interest. To the right of these isa group of purple Dutch Iris. The darkleaves on the right are Heuchera 'PalacePurple'. In the front right-hand corner issome purple velvet fabric, which actuallywinds its way through the arrangementdiagonally to the other side, although youcan't see this in the picture. The fabric iswound round with gold-coloured wire onwhich more gold beads have beenthreaded. Some deep pink roses aregrouped in the centre front of the design,and to the right of these is another Heuchera, 'Mint Frost'. To the centre-rightis one of two gold painted wicker balls.The other one can be seen from the other side (see below).

This view is from the opposite side of thearrangement. The Gladioli, gold cane, Rhodocomagigantea and Iris can be seen from both sides. Deeppink Carnations are grouped at the front on this side,and the purple velvet fabric with the gold wire andbeads can be seen in the bottom right-hand corner.The foliage in the left-hand corner is xFatsherea lizei,and on the right is Heuchera 'Mint Frost'. The secondgold wicker ball can be seen in the centre of thedesign.

All the flowers used in this design were from the florist, and all the foliage (except for the



Rhodocoma gigantea) was from the garden.

For this arrangement of autumn plantmaterial, I have used a vase which wasmade by a pottery student at the Collegewhere I work. I have used a small plasticdish which fits into the neck of the vase,

with floral foam, for the mechanics. For theheight I have used two Phormium tenaxpurpureum leaves. Other foliage used isred-coloured Mahonia japonica, and in thecentre (recessed) are some purple vineleaves from Vitis vinifera purpurea. A smallbunch of grapes from this plant are alsoincluded at the centre front. I have alsoused two types of Berberis berries(varieties unknown), and some rose hipsfrom some wild briar roses which grow inthe vicinity. I have added some Corylusavellana 'Contorta' (the Contorted Hazel),

which had been coloured using dark tanshoe polish. (Yes, really!) This gives alovely tan colour to the wood, which ismore in keeping with the colour scheme.The orange "flowers" are really the lanternsfrom the Chinese Lantern, Physalisfranchettii. These have been cut open andfolded back to reveal the orange berry inthe centre. Each "flower" has been taped toa stub wire to give it a stem. These"flowers" will dry in situ. The Physalis,Phormium tenax, Vitis vinifera purpurealeaves and grapes, and the Corylus

avellana 'Contorta' were from the garden,everything else was from the local vicinityof the garden.



This arrangement is made from artificial plant material only,with no fresh flowers at all. I have used a lovely terracottacontainer, with feet, and chosen artificial plant material interracotta and green colours to complement it. Dryfoam hasbeen used to hold the flowers in position. A bow of terracottacoloured paper ribbon has been added at the front of thedesign for a change of texture, and this has been wired tosecure it into the dryfoam.

For this design, I have chosen a plain black vase, and I haveused a black plastic flowerpot which sits snugly into the neck of the vase, to hold the floral foam. The flower pot has had thedrainage holes blocked with hot melt glue, to make it water tight.For the height I have used some dried Strelitzia regina (Bird of Paradise) leaves, which have been sprayed gold, and someblack painted Corylus avellana 'Contorta' stems, which havealso been used lower down in the arrangement. The only flowersused are some yellow 'Connecticut King' Lilies. The foliage usedis variegated green and yellow Fatsia japonica. A fan of pleatedgold tissue paper adds interest, and this has also been rolled toform a gold rope which winds through the arrangement anddown to the black wooden octagonal base. Three gold cane ballscomplete the arrangement. The Lilies were from the florist, allthe other plant materials were from the garden.



This green vase is one of my favouritecontainers, as it is so versatile. A standardgreen florists saucer fits neatly into the neckof it, so I only need to use one third of a blockof floral foam for the mechanics. I have usedPhormium tenax for the height, with a groupof Phlomis russelliana seed heads to theright. Two large white Agapanthus givetexture to the arrangement. White Carnationshave been grouped lower down, with somemore Phlomis seed heads and Agapanthuscut short and recessed to the left. Other foliage used is xFatshedera lizei, Mahonia japonica, and Chlorophytum comosum(Spider Plant). Corylus avellana 'Contorta' hasbeen added for extra interest. Two fans of pleated cellophane add a translucent quality.A green velvet base has been used, with a

grouping of glass marbles to echo thetranslucent look of the cellophane.

This arrangement is a petite, which

means (by NAFAS rules) that it must be

no more than 25cm (approx. 9") in width,

depth and height. It was made for a

competition to depict a Fabergè creation.

It is made entirely from dried plant

material. The head of the topiary tree is a

dryfoam ball, which has been covered

with dried Buxus leaves (Box), which

have been stuck on in layers using hot

melt glue. The leaves were varnished to

give them a shine. Stuck on to the leaves

at intervals are some small pieces of

dried Statice dumosa, sprayed gold, and

some dried continental lentils, which

have been painted with pink pearlised

nail varnish to emulate enamel. The stemof the tree is a gold sprayed piece of

twig. The container, base and plinth have

been made from cardboard, which I

sprayed green, then highlighted with

black, to give a marbled effect. On each

of the corners of the container and plinth



are some dried seed pods which have

been painted with pink pearlised nail

varnish. A garland of gold Statice

dumosa and lentils adorns the container,

with glycerined and gold sprayed tasselsof Garrya eliptica at the corners. Gold

reindeer moss (Cladonia rangifera)

covers the dryfoam in the container.

This arrangement has been made in a small trough, using floral foam. All the different types of plant material have been grouped. To give height at the back, I have used Cornus stolonifera'Flaviramea', which has lovely yellow-green stems. I have "bundled" the Narcissi together, andtied them with raffia, to form a block of colour. To the right of these, some Aucuba japonica'Crotonifolia' leaves have been arranged upright. Yellow Statice limonium (syn. Limoniumsinuatum) has been grouped together in three places to balance the colour. Other flowers usedare yellow 'Connecticut King' Lilies, white Carnations, and white Dendranthema (syn.Chrysanthemum). Other foliage used is a blue conifer, Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard', some

Taxus baccata (Yew) and large Hedera helix (Ivy) leaves. To add interest, I have included somebracket fungi, and some artificial Toadstools.



This design is a table centre arrangement, and has been

made on a Florists' foam posy pad. A similar effectcould be achieved with a plate, and floral foam cut to around shape. Some irridescent ribbon has been boxpleated and pinned around the edge of the foam.Xerophyllum tenax (Bear Grass) has been groupedtogether and tied with gold cord. A green stub wire ishidden inside the group, to keep the grass upright.Another group of bear grass is looped across thearrangement. More gold cord threads its way throughthe whole design. Three candles have been groupedtogether, and pick up the colour of the ribbon edge.Foliage used is Tellima grandiflora, Cyclamenneapolitanum, Hedera helix and Picea pungens glauca.Flowers used are deep pink Roses, deep pink spraycarnations, and mid-pink standard Carnations. Somebun moss has been added for interest.

This design is made in a blue ceramic modern vase,which I use a lot. A flower pot with the holes glued upwith a glue gun to make it watertight, just fits snuglyinto the neck of the vase. Floral foam is used to holdthe flowers. The height is formed with Phormium tenax

'Variegata'. To the right of this is a group of driedgrasses, dyed blue to match the container. To the rightof this is a group of Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'. Agroup of yellow 'Connecticut King' Lilies forms the focalpoint. I have also used some yellow spray Carnations.Foliage used is Mahonia japonica, Hedera helix'Buttercup', and at the front, some variegated leaves of the tree Acer platanoides 'Drummondii'. I have sliced alemon and threaded the slices on a long barbecue stick,to give an added design dimension, and another lemonand a half are placed at the base of the arrangement ona blue velvet drape. A yellow base brings the colour through to the bottom of the arrangement. I have also

used a green bell-pepper, skewered onto three cocktailsticks. Some blue tissue paper has been folded andpleated to form a fan on the left of the arrangement, andthe same paper has ben twisted to form two rings onthe right.



This design was for a competition "A Visit to Outer Space".The backboard was made from black mount card, and this waslightly sprayed with silver, to depict the Milky Way. A "moon"was made from a circle of card, sprayed silver, and stuck on tothe backboard, slightly raised, to give depth. Two driedStrelitzia regina (Bird of Paradise) leaves were sprayed silver,and a the curly piece of willow on the right of the arrangementhad a dried Allium seed head attached, and was also sprayedsilver. The mechanics were a pinholder, which was coveredwith some some small pieces of white rock, which were pitted,and reminded me of the surface of the Moon. A blackoctagonal base repeats the colour of the backboard.

I have used a blue hand-made pottery vase for this

design, with floral foam for the mechanics. SomeCorylus avellana 'Contorta' has been used for theheight, with a group of white tulips coming through thecentre. Some white Dendrobium orchids have beengrouped at the front of the design. In the centre I haveused some Hedera helix 'Anne Marie', which have beenrolled and wired into cones, and these have beengrouped to form a good texture. On the right are someMahonia japonica leaves, and on the left, some Fatsia japonica leaves, which have been shaped into fans. Apiece of Corylus avellana 'Contorta' with catkins hasbeen used on the lower left of the arrangement tocomplete the picture.



For this design, I have used an unusual round basket

which has long willow rods attached. I have made thedesign using pink and green colours. Flowers used areLiatris spicata for the height, with some tiny greenDendranthema (Chrysanthemum) to the right. Some brightpink mini Gerbera, bright pink Carnations, and salmonpink Roses have been grouped to give blocks of colour lower down in the design. Foliage used is Pittosporumtenuifolium, (not visible), mottled Prunus laurocerasus'Castlewellan', purple Heuchera 'Plum Pudding', andxFatshedera lizei 'Anna Mikkels'. To finish the design, thewillow rods were gathered at the top and tied with a greenraffia bow.

The flowers were from the Florist, and all the foliage wasfrom the garden.

This is a pedestal arrangement, which is approximately

2 metres tall. The arrangement is made in a plasticbowl, with wet floral foam for the mechanics. The bowlsits on a gold plinth. On top of the foam, a tall goldwicker cone has been secured to the foam withmossing pins. The arrangement has been made in andaround the cone, and is a mixture of fresh foliage andartificial flowers. The foliage used is all from thegarden, and includes Fatsia japonica, Melianthus major,Hedera 'Curly Locks' and Pittosporum tenuifolium. TheHedera has been allowed to trail, and has also beenwired to the cone, to look as if it is climbing. Artificialbamboo has been arranged in arcs either side of thecone, and red and yellow lilies form the focal point.Greeny-yellow orchids have been grouped on the lefthand side, and are also arranged inside the cone. Redroses have been grouped on the right hand side, andthree gold wicker spheres have been added to giveadditional interest, and to pick up the gold usedelsewhere. A group of deep red hydrangea on the leftcompletes the design.



This design is a wall hanging which is made on a base of twigs tied together. The flowers andfoliage are a mix of dried and artificial. Three wicker balls form the focal area, with groups of Papaver (Poppy) seed heads, artificial lemons, paper roses, yellow artificial Mignionette, and

Lagurus ovatus (Hare's Tail Grass) coming out from the focal point. Some wide blue hessianribbon has been wound through the design, to give a change of texture, and to bring thecolour through the design. A wire loop has been added on the back to hang the design.

Here are a pair of conical arrangements,which would look great either side of amantlepiece, or a window ledge. They areboth made the same, on a floral foam coneshape, which has been glued onto a whitepottery container. Starting at the base of thedesign is a row of glycerined Laurel leaveswhich have been pinned to the foam to forma "frill" around the bottom edge of thedesign. Above that is a row of artificialHydrangea flowers. Then comes a row of green reindeer moss (Cladonia rangifera),pinned into position with wire pins. Abovethat comes a row of white paper ribbon,glued into position. Next comes a row of artificial blue-black berries. Then a row of hemp ribbon, again glued into position, witha sprinkling of the artificial blue-blackberries used lower down (see detail picture

below). Above that comes another row of the white paper ribbon, then some artificialgreen leaves glued into position and tiedaround with raffia. Then another row of thewhite paper ribbon, and finally, the top of the cone is covered with more greenreindeer moss, with some more berriesscattered around it.



Detail showing the hemp ribbon and artificialberries.

This design has been made in a brown ceramic bowl, using floral foam for the mechanics. Ithas been made to be viewed from all sides. The above picture shows one side of thearrangement (the other side is below), and the foliage used is (from the right, clockwise),Hedera 'Anne Marie', Heuchera 'Plum Pudding', and Pittosporum tenuifolium. The flowersused are orange Roses and orange Tulips (varieties unknown), lime green buttonDendranthema (Chrysanthemum), and standard pale green Carnations, which have beenpainted gold on the edges. (A closeup view of these is below.) In the centre of the design aretwo Hedera-covered dri-foam spheres. Small Hedera (Ivy) leaves have been pinnedoverlapping each other to cover the spheres, and this gives a change of form and texture. (Seeenlarged picture below.)



This picture shows the other side of the design. The foliage used here is (from the right,clockwise) Pittosporum tenuifolium, XFatshedera lizei 'Anna Mikkels', Heuchera 'Winter Red',then more Pittosporum tenuifolium. The flowers seen on this side are orange Tulips, lime-green Dendranthema, and green Carnations (painted gold on the edges.) A group of Ivyberries adds texture to the design.

This picture is a closeup of the Ivycovered spheres, showing how theleaves overlap to give a lovely texture. I

have chosen leaves which have beentinged purple by the cold weather.

Here's a closeup of the green Carnations, withtheir edges painted gold. To do this, I sprayedsome gold paint into a snall shallow container,

then just dipped the ends of the petals into thepaint. This would work well with any colour paint,and adds an extra dimension to the flowers.



Here's a semi-crescent design with a difference.It is a traditional shape, but using a more

modern approach. I have used a tall black metalcandlestick, which has a small plastic saucer with floral foam taped to the top. For this type of design to be successful, curved plant materialmust be used for the outline, and I have usedglycerined Laurel leaves, (these turn deepbrown or black when glycerined), which havebeen wired to form a curved branching unit.Some individual leaves have also been used.Other foliage used is Heuchera 'ChocolateRuffles'. Six Roses have been used to bringcolour to the design, and three small applesform the focal point. Just under the apples, Ihave used a lime-green paper ribbon bow. Toecho this colour, I have used some small greenbananas (well - bananas are curved plantmaterial aren't they?!!)

This design uses no floral foam, and all the plant materialis supported by a sphere of Rubus cockburnianus stems,which was made by twisting and wiring the stems intoshape. The base of the sphere sits neatly inside the

container, and requires no fixing to keep it in position.The top two-thirds of the sphere is left on show to formpart of the design (see closeup photo below). Thecontainer is a terracotta flower pot, inside which isanother plastic flower pot which has had the drainageholes closed with hot melt glue so that it holds water.The Rubus stems support the plant material well, and it'squite easy to keep the flowers and foliage in position.

For the height I have used Contorted Hazel, Corylusavellana 'Contorta'. A group of purple Iris is on the right,and a group of pale peach/cream spray Carnations is infront of these, and this group winds its way through the

Rubus stems towards the back of the design. At the frontis a group of purple Lisianthus, and on the left is a groupof orange Roses. Foliage used is clipped Fatsia japonica,Hedera 'Anne Marie', and Heuchera 'Stormy Seas'. Theflowers were from the Florist, and all the foliage wasfrom the garden.



A closeup showing the Rubus stemstwisted to form an open sphere to

support the flowers.

I thought I'd do

something a bit different

for this one! A wicker

ring forms the container,

with a plastic saucer and

floral foam for themechanics. A dryfoam

sphere covered in Ivy

leaves has been placed on

top of the floral foam, and

a wicker cone encloses

this, and has been wired

to the wicker ring for

stability. Around the edge

of the foam, groupings of

flowers and foliage, plussome artificial crab-

apples, have been placed

for effect. Some red and

yellow Tulips have been

added, and these have

been placed at an angle

and wired to the cone to

keep them in position.

Finally, some small fairy

lights have been wired tothe cone (see detail

picture below), which

give a completely

different element to the

design. Flowers used are

Roses, standard



Carnations, spray

Carnations, and Tulips,

with some artificial crab-

apples which matched the

colour of the flowers.

Foliages used are Hedera

(Ivy), Cyclamen

neapolitanum, and

Euonymus "Emerald and

Gold". All the flowers

were from the Florist, and

the foliages were from the

garden.

A closeup showing the little fairy lights,and also the ivy covered ball inside thewicker cone.



This design was made for acompetition entitled"Anything Goes". Thecontainer is a tall oblonggalvanized metal trough,with floral foam for the

mechanics. It containsseveral unusual elements.Firstly, some silver paintedstems of Corylus avellana'Contorta' were laidhorizontally across the withof the floral foam andanchored with mossingpegs. Two silver paintedwicker "lanterns" giveheight on the right and side,and two silver paintedNelumbo nucifera (Lotus)

seedheads give a strongvisual texture, which isechoed in a third Lotusseedhead which has beenattached to the front of thecontainer with floral fix.

Three Arum italicum 'Marmorata' leaves flow down over the front of the container on the right. Acurving line of pink roses runs from right to left across the design. Cream standard Carnationshave been grouped to give a block of colour at the back of the design. This colour is echoed inthe arching Calla lilies (Zantedeschia), and the arch of the Lilies has been repeated with Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax). A group of plain green Hedera leaves gives a contrast of form andcolour towards the left hand side of the design. Towards the back-right of the design, threeAsparagus shoots give a vertical accent. Because the container is shiny and has a large surfacearea, the Calla lilies have been arched over the front, and the flowing line has been extendedwith a further Lotus seedhead, and a sphere of Ivy (Hedera), which have been fixed to thesurface with floral fix, to break up the surface. To echo the colour and metallic texture of thecontainer, two metal pan scourers have been pulled into pendulum shapes, and pinned under the Arum leaves. (Well, "anything goes"!) A third scourer has been unravelled and pinnedacross the top of the floral foam to cover the mechanics and bring the colour and texturethrough the design. The foliage was from the garden, and the Zantedeschia was from theconservatory. The rest of the flowers were from the Florist.



This design is based on a Moribana style of

Ikebana. I am no expert on Ikebana, although Iappreciate the beauty and simplicity of it verymuch. That is why I describe this design as"Moribana-style". It uses a low, shallowpottery dish with feet, and a kenzan or pinholder has been used to hold the plantmaterial. I have used three stems of Pussy-Willow, Salix sachalinensis 'Sekka', the Stag'sHorn Willow, which grows with curiousflattened stems. Three 'Stargazer' lilies havebeen used, and some stems of Pittosporumtobira variegata help to cover the kenzan,without adding bulk to the design. The flowerswere from the Florist, and the Salix andPittosporum were from the garden.



This design is based on a Nageire style of Ikebana. I amno expert on Ikebana, although I appreciate the beautyand simplicity of it very much. That is why I describethis design as "Nageire-style". It uses a tall potterycontainer of a neutral colour, with a double rim of palepink. To hold the plant material in place, kubari, or Yshaped sticks have been wedged inside the container. Ihave used some curving stems of Acer palmatum'Senkaki' which has lovely red bark, and five pale pinkstandard Carnations pick up the colour in the rim of thecontainer. Two clipped Fatsia japonica leaves addbalance at the base of the design. The flowers werefrom the Florist, and the Acer and Fatsia japonica were

from the garden.



The clean lines of this neutral coloured container were theinspiration for this simple design. Floral foam has beenused for the mechanics. I have used curving branches of Salix sachalinensis 'Sekka', the Stag's Horn Willow, to forman 'S' shape, from top to bottom of the design. Some'Stargazer' lilies form the focal point, and three Arumitalicum 'Marmoratum' leaves add weight at the centre of the design, and help to cover the floral foam. The flowerswere from the Florist, and the Salix and Arum leaves werefrom the garden.

Spring flowers are so lovely and colourful! I've useda galvanized jug for the container, with floral foamfor the mechanics. The red stems of Acer palmatum'Senkaki', just breaking into leaf, have been used togive height, and a multicoloured mixture of springflowers have been grouped throughout the design.These are purple Dutch Iris, purple Anemonecoronaria, red Anemone coronaria, deep pinkAnemone coronaria, yellow Tulips, pale creamyyellow Narcissi (Daffodils), and lime greenEuphorbia robbiae. A bow of hemp stringcompletes the design. Foliage used is Hedera (Ivy),

Mahonia aquifolium, and Euphorbia robbiae. All thefoliage, the Euphorbia robbiae, and the Acer pamatum 'Senkaki' were from the garden, and theflowers were from the Florist.



This arrangement is classed as a miniaturedesign under NAFAS rules. This means thatthe dimensions must not exceed 10cm (4")in height, width or depth. (Thesemeasurements do not affect the diagonaldimensions.) For this design, I chose a deeppurple perfume bottle top for the container,with a small piece of floral foam for themechanics. The foam was a good fit in thecontainer, but a good idea to help to keepthe foam secure, as it cannot be taped in, isto fix a drawing pin, point side up, into thebottom of the container, and spear the foamonto it.

When doing miniature designs, the scale of the plant material used is extremelyimportant. Very small flowers and foliage

must be used, and a flower which is a filler flower in a normal sized design wouldbecome a focal flower in a miniature design.It is also best to choose wiry stemmed plantmaterial, as very soft stems would bedifficult to insert into such a small piece of foam.

The foliage I have used for this design is pink-tinged Lophomyrtus 'Little Star', and smallHedera helix 'Ivalace' leaves to cover the mechanics. I have also used some small stems of Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (Contorted Hazel), and some purple coloured cane stems tomatch the purple container. The flowers used are three individual Chamelauciumuncinatum (Geraldton Waxflower) flowers, and a small amount of Gypsophila 'Million Stars'

as a filler flower.



This arrangement is classed as a petitedesign under NAFAS rules. This meansthat the dimensions must not exceed 25cm

(10") in height, width or depth. (Thesemeasurements do not affect the diagonaldimensions.) For this design, I chose ablack coffee jar lid for the container, with asmall piece of floral foam for themechanics. The foam was a good fit in thecontainer, but a good idea to help to keepthe foam secure, as it cannot be taped in, isto fix two or three drawing pins, point sideup, into the bottom of the container, andspear the foam onto it.

When doing petite designs, the scale of theplant material used is extremely important.Small flowers and foliage must be used,and a flower which may be a filler flower ina normal sized design would become afocal flower in a miniature design.

The foliage I have used for this design is Buxus sempervirens (Box), and three smallHedera helix 'Harold' leaves to cover the mechanics. I have also used some small stems of Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (Contorted Hazel), painted black to pick up the colour of thecontainer. The flowers used are five small blue Muscari armeniacum, and for the focalflowers, an open individual spray Carnation flower, a partially opened bud, and a bud just

showing colour. Some closed buds of spray Carnations have been used to add interest.

this arrangement has been made in a yellow ceramic pot

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