You don’t have to be a DIY genius to be able to do it either. Head to your favorite blue or orange store and buy a 6-foot piece of PVC. Mark the desired width all the way down. Once you’ve done this you will want to use a miter saw to cut the pipe – it’s MUCH faster than doing it by hand. Then all you do is glue it to the front of your piece of furniture. I would recommend using a strong nonexpanding glue like Gorilla Super Glue. Then all that you have to do is paint! And this is where it gets really fun. You can paint it one solid color like I did or you can change it up and go really bold and funky by painting the background one color and the PVC pipe a contrasting color. The hardware store is filled with everyday things that we never look at from a different perspective. So next time you have the chance, walk through it with new eyes and open up to all of the possibilities that people just look past!
What you do for yourself isn’t everyone’s business...
It’s Ours. Kent Gardner, MD
1490 E. Foremaster Dr. Bldg #C St. George, UT • 435-674-5230 www.coraldesertsurgery.com
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Nature’s Prettiest Spring Offerings WRITTEN BY Kathy Jessop | PHOTOS BY Nick Adams
The first blooms of spring are among nature’s finest in color and fragrance. Often there are so many flowers in our gardens that we can bring some of them indoors to enhance our living space. Here are some tips on how to get the most from your own floral arrangements.
For best results, prepare a solution of floral preservatives consisting of a few drops of bleach and a splash of lemon-lime soda. The bleach will help kill harmful bacteria, and the sugar in the soda will provide a food source for the flower. Once the flower has hydrated, the stems and blooms will harden.
Basic design principles include color, form, fragrance, line, pattern, size, space, and texture. Pick a container that will compliment the flowers. For example, a simple, modern design might use a sleek container with clean lines, filled with a single type of flower (e.g., all tulips, all hyacinth, or all peonies). Many find this approach easy to arrange and aesthetically pleasing.
Tips for Creating Floral Arrangements The best time to cut and prune flowers is during the coolest part of the day, usually early morning or late evening. The cool temperature ensures that the cut flowers will not lose nutrients that are stored in the stems. Cutting flowers during the hot hours of the day will weaken and drain the plant of nutrients. Cut the stem close to its source, keeping the stem long to give more options when designing.
To clean and process cut flowers, start by removing all foliage that might hang down into the water source. Be careful not to damage stems when removing thorns and other foliage – damaged stems can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the flower. It is best to cut stems with a sharp knife or pair of clippers; angled cuts will provide more surface area so the stems are able to drink water and absorb nutrients. Dull knives or blades will crush vital capillaries that deliver water and necessary nutrients to blooms. Immediately after cutting, place the stems directly in warm water, around 65-70 degrees.
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THE ARTS ISSUE 2012
A more advanced design mixes different blooms in a geometric form. Select flowers with different shapes and textures to create an interesting mix. Try to keep the flower hues within the complimentary color tones. For example, yellow and purple are complimentary colors. This approach can be challenging because the various-sized stems may not stay where one would like them to stay, but there are tools that offer relief; floral “frogs” and oasis foam will help secure stubborn stems.
To create harmony in floral design, elements must be in sync with one another. To achieve harmony, select components that have a common thread. For example, an organic arrangement should have elements and colors that represent the outdoors. Greens, browns, greys, blues, are great colors to start an earthy-toned arrangement.
PROPS Backyard Gardens and Gifts, Urban Renewal, Bloomers Flowers and Décor STYLING Signe Adams
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