Flower display tutorial

HOW TO CREATE A SUMMER VASE ARRANGEMENT

By Julia Freemantle

STEP ONE

Choose your vessel, I have used a vintage Dartmouth Pottery Mantle vase. Any vase, jug, bowl or pot will do. For the mechanics which will support the stems in the design, you will need chicken wire and pot tape. You will need scissors; any will do although specialist floristry scissors are easier to use. Gather a mix of flowers; you can use foliage too.

STEP TWO

Your piece of chicken wire should be approximately three to four times the width of your vessel. Carefully fold the chicken wire into layers and create a pillow shape taking care to fold the sharp edges into the pillow. Mould your pillow into your vessel placing it so it appears just above the top edge. Secure the pillow tightly into the vessel using pot tape (I have used clear pot tape; for darker vessels use green pot tape). Half fill with water.

STEP THREE

Using your three taller stems start to create the outline of your design. One stem is placed up and to the right, followed by the second lower down and to the left. Your third stem is then placed lower down slightly to the right and resting just above the lip of the vessel.

STEP FOUR

Loosely following the line of the key stems continue to place in stems to finish the outline of your design allowing some space between them to keep your design ‘flowing and natural’. As you continue to add in your other stems you will create fullness and depth. For a frontfacing design, although you may not see all of the stems placing some stems at the back helps to create depth to your design.

STEP FIVE

Carefully placing your larger ‘focal’ flowers will bring ‘definition and drama’ to your design. Your eyes will be drawn to ‘focal’ flowers, however, you want them to be an intricate part of the natural and relaxed shape with the smaller headed ‘filler flowers’ helping you create a sense of movement to the design. You are aiming for fullness but not compactness. Placing shorter stems lower down with some tipping over the vase edge ensures the mechanics are not seen and helps to create a further flow to the design. Top your vase up with water. Enjoy your arrangement!

A vintage Dartmouth Pottery Mantle vase created with Hydrangea, Garden Roses, Agapanthus, Delphiniums, Stocks, Nigella and Alchemilla.