Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
PEONY ENVY Gather your supplies
• Floral foam brick, dry
• Oval boat shape container, 30-35W x 15D x 11cmh
• Fern leaf spray (6245) x 2
• Green fern leaf spray (6243) x 2 • Lavender dried-look hydrangea (6252LV) x 1 • Purple peony (6249PU) x 3 • Pink stonecrop stem (5818PK) x 3
You’ll also need
Secateurs; knife; heavy-duty wire cutters
NOTE: Cut stems, as required, to suit height of arrangement as you go.
Here’s how
STEP 1 Arrange flowers and foliage by type and colour on work surface. STEP 2 Shave foam brick, shaping it to suit container. Stuff gaps with leftovers. Aim for a snug fit that is almost level with the container. STEP 3 Separate and trim fern leaf stems and, following shape of
container, insert into foam at centre front and sides of foam so they spill over rim. STEP 4 Trim green fern leaf sprays to suit and insert
3 at back of container. Following container’s shape, position 1 at centre back and the other 2 leaning in opposite directions toward left and right of container. These ferns should stand taller than those at front. STEP 5 Start by arranging left half of container. Cut hydrangea stem to suit, then angle it so head points
to left of container before inserting into foam. Aim for the head to almost rest on ferns at front.
STEP 6 Arrange right side of container using 3 peonies. Note differing heights of peonies and how they don’t face the same direction, for a more natural appearance. STEP 7 Using trimmed stems of stonecrop, fill gaps at centre front and back plus left side of container. If necessary, tuck fern offcuts into any gaps or to conceal any visible foam.