Free Floristry Lesson
Tulips And Gladioli Arranged In A Tall Container Filled With Water
This flower arrangement is made in a tall glass container filled with water.
It features 8 orange tulips, 2 apricot gladioli, emu grass foliage, bud wax, hosta and camellia leaves, twisted willow and is accented with a bow made of raffia.
One of the advantages of arranging flowers in water is that they will last longer, especially for flowers like tulips and irises.
Material
8 feature flowers such as tulips – other suitable flowers are irises, roses and lilies.
2 Gladioli. Other suitable spike flowers are delphiniums and snapdragons.
Filler flowers such as bud wax (this is wax flower in bud). Other suitable filling flowers are heather and misty.
Tall spiky foliage such as emu grass. Other suitable types are Boston fern and privet.
Foliage such as leather fern. Other suitable types are eucalyptus gum and nandina
Large leaves such as hosta or camellia leaves
Twisted willow.
Tall glass container,
Raffia
22 gauge florist wire x 45cm long
Method
1. Fill the container three quarters of the way with water.
2. Insert leather fern in the container crisscrossing the stems to form a rounded shape in the centre. This foliage should be fairly full as it is used to help hold the flower stems in place.
3. Insert the 2 gladioli in the back of the container cutting each one to the desired length (the height should be at least one and a half to twice the height of the container).
4. Tulip stems often curve after they have been arranged. To prevent this, the tulips can be wired. To do this, insert the end of a long 22 gauge florist wire into the base of the flower head and wind the wire spirally down and around the stem three or four times.
5. Start with the smallest flowers at the top and graduate down to the largest flowers at the bottom. Cut each stem to the desired length and position them in the container, having a space between each flower head as shown in the photo.
6. Insert the emu grass at the back of the arrangement to form a fan shape cutting each stem to the desired length and position as shown
7. Insert the larger leaves in the base of the arrangement to fan out to the sides. This should be the widest part of the arrangement.
8. Starting at the top and working downwards place bud wax evenly between the flowers cutting each stem to the desired length.
9. Insert a couple of stems of twisted willow at the back of the arrangement.
10. Take several strands of raffia. Place them together and starting at the centre form them into a figure eight shaped bow with long ends. Place the centre of a long 22 gauge wire across the centre of the bow, pull them down and twist the wires tightly together at the back of the bow.
11. Cut the wires slightly shorter and insert them down amongst the foliage in the front of the arrangement. Spread the loops out to the sides and cut the raffia ends to the desired length.
12. Spray lightly with water. Top up the container daily with water.
NOTE: Other flowers can be used together to achieve a different look. Roses, lilac and delphiniums for a romantic touch. Liliums and orchids for elegance. Strelitzias for a dramatic look.
This lesson is briefly explained. In the Floral Art School of Australia and International floral Design School Advanced Certificate of Floristry Course each practical lesson is fully explained in detail with measurements on how long to cut the stems and exactly where to position them with diagrams and a colour photo of each design. There is an online step by step video showing you how to make each lesson so you can soon be creating stunning floral designs the easy way.
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