Easy and Awesome flower arrangements including forcing Cherry Blossoms and Christmas Ideas

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness the human soul is apt to revive also" Harriet Ann Jacobs

Arranging a flower arrangement for my home is one of the most self-expressive and artistic things I have ever done. When I am working with the flowers I lose myself in complete abandon. The world goes on and I stop and am caught up by all my senses. It is a time when space, color, or size, does not matter.

I love to collect jars, vases and bowls to arrange in along with spiked floral frogs to help the flowers to stand up or floral foam. I can usually find these items at flea markets and antique stores. Some florists believe the foam prevents the flowers from absorbing water and nutrients but it can be easy to work with and is inexpensive. Be sure to keep it wet.

I use nature as my starting place and just walk around my yard or maybe even the neighborhood looking for ideas for my new creation. It is even more special if the arrangement is for a special occasion and the more shapes and colors I find the more excited I become about the limitless possibilities of ways I might begin to express my feelings for that moment.

It is a time when I can go very dramatic, something I might never do with a pattern on a sofa or a wall color . But for that small area, be it my dining room table or guest bath I know I have created something very personal to share with others and hopefully maybe even brighten someone's day.

I have learned this art not so much by studying but just observing and years of practicing or playing, My garden has become a cornucopia of colors and my oldest daughter likes to lovingly label it my crazy garden because of all the different shapes and colors.

We have even named certain flowers after friends because a flower has a way of taking on a life and personality of its own and my girls and I can often see personalities in these beautiful gifts from God.

I might use all one color and be very bold."This might be the difference between being seduced and being distracted"♦ by the arrangement.

When I concentrate on very bold colors perhaps in a red and burgundy or dark purple and then put the arrangement on my dining room table for guests it takes on a life of it's own and may "smolder through a dinner party like a glowing piece of coal."♦

Your dinner may not be as big a hit so much as the arrangement that you created.

When you concentrate on similar colors you can keep from being distracted by the arrangenent but rather see the beauty of the flowers.

Today's arrangements are "compact and gutsy". In these times of financial downsizing people are "becoming concerned about the value of flowers, the ratio of visual impact to money spent".

Small yet very intense groupings of the same or very similar flowers set around a home can be more stylish and a lot less expensive, like a grouping of tulips or even daisies from your local grocery store.

Taking my pruning shears out with me on a beautiful spring day I might take clippings of my Chinese cherry tree as it is begging to burst into bloom. To do this I start in February when the weather has warmed up just a bit and pic branches with plump closed buds on them. I look at the way the branch is growing to see if it will work in an arrangement. Once I clip it off with pruning shears I bring my prizes in and cut again and score the bottom of each branch up to about 1/2 inch to help it absorb water. Then I place the arrangement of branches in a very clean large deep container with a homemade solution. If your water turn cloudy change your water and be sure there are no buds dipping in the water that will encourage rotting. Once the buds begin to open the fun begins. It looks awesome in a large clear container in the corner of almost any room and each morning when I sip my coffee it has metamorphosed overnight into a new creation. You can help your branches to last longer by placing them in a cool spot once they have begun to bloom.

The Recipes to Preserve Your Arrangements

• 2 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage • 2 cups water • 1 /2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 1 tablespoon sugar • 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach • mix with 1 quart water
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach • mix with 1 quart water

Use which ever you like and even play around and see which one works the best for you. These are great for keeping all you flowering blooms fresh or in a hurry just use the little bleach solution.

My garden is usually the beginning of my color palette. Whatever the season at the time I can find something to be creative with. It might be beautiful yellow jonquils or blue hydrangeas I have found in my backyard. I bring them in and can then become an artist with a limitless palette.

I am always amazed at the beauty of the blooms on my chive plants. They never fail me but are always ready to greet in mid-April. What person is so dependable? To top it off they offer the sweet herb all summer long to flavor my salads or my sour cream and chives on my salad or potato.

As summer approaches roses start to green up and the buds begin to form. Often I may have forgotten the color of each one and wait for my surprise to see a rose bush burst into deep burgundy or pale pink. All along the way the hosta leaves are growing quickly preparing to push up their glorious lilac colored flowers in mid- summer. Each green plant in my garden is the promise of a new but familiar friend from last year. Sea hollies begin to grow their long leaves preparing to reward me with their beautiful blue star-like blooms.Clematis climbs up my mailbox and honeysuckle plays against the rails of my porch bringing beautiful scents. Gladiola's begin there ascent toward the sky. It is as if they are waiting for Easter's arrival!!

Sometimes when I am collecting my arms become so full I have to go in for baskets to bring my specimens inside. Once inside I can spend hours coming up with all kinds of ideas for my arrangements.

I especially love the smell of the wisteria bush as it bursts into bloom or the lavender plants at the lake in early spring. In my shade garden I can always find ferns and ivy to add beauty to any arrangement. I love to add impatiens to this part of the garden to add a pop of color. Each year is different.

There is always a joy when your garden proliferates and you share it with a dear friend. It brings a kind of oneness to you both.

Who can not enjoy the outdoor arrangement of ornamental grass for height and sweet potato vine to cascade down the side of a beautiful or even simple pot. Now add the awesome color of geraniums and/or cascading petunias. As summer lingers the pot rewards you with more beauty.

Just keep it well watered and pinch the plants back so they don't go to seed. Remember also when bringing fresh flowers inside to cut the stem at an angle so it can drink as much as possible. Put the stems in cool water as soon as you can after you bring them in from your garden. If you can let them sit for several hours in water before you arrange this can prolong the life of your creation. Put a small amount of bleach in the water, maybe 1/2 capful to keep them fresh or better yet make up one of the three recipes mentioned above. Change your water often and be sure no leaves from the stems are dipping into the water. This will cause fast rotting.

Yes flower arranging is awe inspiring. This is one hobby I look forward to each year and of which i feel I will never tire. The garden itself reminds me of the reality and trustworthiness of God and that each day the sun will rise and the moon and stars will rise at night. What a an awesome thing to behold. It is difficult to garden and not be one with God. Give it a try and you probably will become smitten and discover your creator once again.

"Enjoy the small things of live" Nella Cordelia

References Traditional homes march 1998♦

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