Put thrills, fills and spills in your spring flowers displays
Simple Ontario-grown arrangements will add a touch of colour to your home
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COLOURFUL DISPLAY of Ontario-grown spring flowers proved irresistible at Canada Blooms last weekend. I decided to treat myself to enough flowers for a full arrangement: creamy white tulips, violetblue hyacinths, a generous bunch of grape hyacinths and tall purple iris.
A catchy phrase reminded me to include thrills (tall iris), fills (tulips and hyacinths) and spills (grape hyacinths) in my design. This simple reminder pops up when planning our spring planters, but it is also a good strategy for successful cut flower arrangements.
Thrills
Thrills are the focal point of the arrangement, look for flowers that will stand out for their unique form and colouring. Designers recommend working with an uneven number like three or five blooms, depending on the size of the final arrangement. Cutting the stems to different lengths will add more interest.
Fills
Fills are the flowers or foliage that ‘fill’ the body of the design. Choose a bouquet of one colour that will either contrast or echo your ‘thriller’ flowers.
Twigs or branches create dynamic upright lines in an arrangement. At this time of the year, head out into the garden to scavenge branches of early blooming shrubs and trees. Forsythia, pussy willow and yellow twig dogwood come to mind, but don’t be limited by these suggestions, use what is available in your garden or purchase stems from your local florist.
Spills
Flowers, trailing vines, or foliage that will cascade over the edge of the vase or bowl connect the tall elements to the vase. Like a soft scarf softens the neckline of a tailored jacket, flowers and foliage that spill over the edge of vessel soften and blend the edge, giving it a professional finish.
Vessels
Choose a vase, bowl or jar that is sturdy enough to support the arrangement. A vase that echoes the colour scheme is ideal, or slip a recycled jar into a wicker basket or decorative canister for a rustic look.
For a unique hostess gift, arrange the flowers in a recycled jar and slip the jar into a decorative wine bottle bag that matches the flowers. Cut the bag to fit the jar and tie it with a ribbon or piece of raffia. Your hostess will appreciate not having to search for a suitable vase at the last minute.
Stabilizers
Woody stems, a loose ball of chicken wire or a flower frog can be used to stabilize an arrangement. A flower frog is a handy gadget that keeps the flowers stable in the vase. A metal disc with upright spikes, resembling a hedgehog, is a type of floral frog. The needles hold the flower stems upright. Antique glass frogs have a series of deep holes in them. Simply slide the stems into the holes when making an arrangement. Classic floral frogs are great thrift shop finds.
Colour schemes
When faced with a rainbow of cut flowers, I’d like to try one of each, but that’s not the best approach when it comes to making an arrangement. Decide on a colour scheme and stick to it.
Monochromatic schemes are based on a single hue or different shades of one colour. If possible, look for foliage that will echo the chosen colour. For example, in an all white arrangement, look for variegated foliage with a cream border, or red tipped leaf buds for a red-themed arrangement. Echoing a little of the colour in the foliage or stems will reinforce the chosen theme.
Complementary colours appear on opposite sides of the colour wheel. Using a florist’s palette, a simple red rose with with green leaves, or a pairing of purple and yellow tulips, would each represent complementary colour schemes. Complementary schemes are lively and energetic.
Analogous colours appear side by
side on the colour wheel. On the warm side of the colour wheel, red, yellow and orange tulips would work together, while blues, violet and purples blend on the cool side of the colour wheel. Analogous colours schemes are easy to work with, use the warm colours for a vibrant, lively arrangement, or choose the cool blues and violets for a soft, soothing design.
Staying power
A few basic strategies will help your cut flowers and branches to last a little longer in the vase. Start with fresh, unblemished flowers, the bottom of the stems should have clean cuts.
Condition the flowers before assembling your arrangement. Remove all of the packaging, discard any loose or damaged foliage. Give the stems a fresh cut with a sharp pair of pruning shears or knife. A 45 degree angle cut is said to encourage the stem to take up more water. Immerse the stems in a bucket or large jug of room temperature water and set them in a cool room out of direct sunlight. Let the flowers rest in the water overnight if possible.
Re-cut the stems and remove any foliage that will be below the water line in the final design. If desired, dissolve a packet of floral preservative in the water before arranging the flowers.
Place the arrangement out of direct sunlight in a cool room. To refresh the arrangement and extend the life of the flowers, change the water every day or two and give the stems a fresh cut. Remove any flowers or leaves that are past their prime.
March is the perfect time to visit your local florist for a bouquet or two of Ontario-grown spring cut flowers—remember to include thrills, fills and spills in your design. Enjoy!