My Aunt Shari: Amateur in Floral Arrangements

My Aunt Shari is so cool. When she came up to visit early last May, she arranged some roses for my mum's Kentucky Derby Party. Recalling this, I decided to phone her up to get the scoop on florists and DIY flowers. Another great resource has been (please don't consider me crazy!) Real Simple Weddings. Pages 68-81 are all about flowers. While it may be geared towards weddings, the advice is very applicable to prom and the colour and flower charts have been very useful. Committee and I have also explored local options and prices including Stop & Shop, a wholesale plants nursery called Valley View Wholesale Greenhouses, Bon Fleur (a flower boutique in our town), Food Emporium and Stew Leonard's floral section. While these trips are time consuming, they have also been very useful and educational. It's important to explore all of your options, consider your theme, your colours and the overall ambience you want to create.

An Interview with Aunt Shari:

Her parents and now her sister used to be florists. Having been around the industry, she knows a bunch of the tricks....

Where do you look for inspiration when you do flowers?

In some ways, I look at nature to see what's growing and around. I sometimes also look at books. Sometimes, if I saw something a while ago, I'll pull that from my own experience.

Have you done your own arrangements?

I have but I'm kind of limited. I've seen some really cool ones where they've tied up roses together in a long stemmed vase. It has kind of a topiary look. They're great for like a buffet table. And they're quite easy to make. (For Aunt Shari's Rose Topiary Trees, see the end of this post)

When you're looking for a florist, what do you look for? What are the 'tells' of a great florist?

When I'm looking for a florist, I want to know if they're doing up-to-date work. I look for blown-glass vases - it's their job to find you vases that don't cost too much - kind of light (versus heavy) glass. I know they're good if I can look through the glass and see the stems - no 'oasis', aka floral foam. If they're really good, they make a grid with floral tape and stick the flowers in and it keeps the flowers in position.

What's your ideal arrangement?

I guess I like something with birds of paradise or ginger - it gives you a big, modern look with fewer flowers. I think those are stunning, the modern arrangements. Those flowers just grow in places like San Diego, just out in the yard. They're so exotic!

On a budget, if you were ordering centerpieces for 40 tables, what would you pick out?

If I were to pay to have an arrangement done, I'd probably get a spring mix because I know I'm getting the biggest bang for my buck. Plus, if you do a mixed spring, you wouldn't have to make all the arrangements match as much. If I had that many tables, I'd even through in some ferns on a couple of tables.

What exactly goes in a spring mix arrangement?

It's going to be whatever the florist has on hand. Probably some mums, spider mums are really good looking. There's going to be some filler flowers. Perhaps some stargazer lilies, carnations or pixie carnations. The florist can help you make selections.

How about for cocktail or buffet tables?

Cocktail tables - you can almost just skip them. People

often leave dishes on them. They just aren't that important.

Buffet tables - First, you need to know if your buffet table serves both sides. If it is serving on both sides, you need a round arrangement (so it looks pretty on all sides). If it's only serving on one side, you can get a linear arrangement. Plus, you don't want your flowers down in an oasis (in this case, a low-lying bowl). Really, if you're going to get someone to make the arrangements, you want clear vases with stems showing - it's very up-to-date. Yo don't want a basket - baskets are from the 70s and if they use a ribbon, you probably want a sheer one and keep to a minimum. The rose topiary trees can also have good height on a buffet table - try one at either end.

Tips and Tricks

• If you're trying for a theme, your flowers affect that ambiance. Flowers like roses, ginger and birds of paradise are elegant. Stargazer lilies and roses are very classy. Mixed arrangements containing daisies, daisy mums or carnations are less formal.
• The most expensive times to buy flowers is Valentine's Day. Then, the price fluctuates until Mother's Day when it spikes again. The cheapest prices are in the middle of the summer.
• Flowers should always be 1.5 or 2 times the height of the vase.
• Sometimes, a florist will make what's called a "European garden" which is a combination of cut and planted flowers. They aren't long term (Don't think 'house plant' or 'biology class extra credit'). "I think they're stunning," related Aunt Shari with a vigor.
• People usually go for height, especially on buffet tables. Gladiolas are great for a mixed spring type thing with carnations and mums.

How to Tell if Roses will Last:

Lightly pinch the head. If it's firm, it will last longer. If it's soft, it won't last as long.

Aunt Shari's Rose Topiary Trees

You will need: 6-8 roses per tree, vase, sheer wired ribbon, marbles, floral tape (or use your sheer ribbon), gloves in case of thorns

1. Cut the roses and put them in warm water so that they drink it up
2. Pull those stems together
3. Put them down in the vase
4. Tie with floral tape or ribbon just below the heads of the roses at the top of the vase
5. Add some water
6. Add your marbles (to hold the roses upright - otherwise they will fall to one side)