Maximizing Minimalism: Create an Amaryllis Tree

Prepare the Vase

Pack the lower half of the vase with scrunched-up cellophane or recycled plastic bags. Fill three-quarters of the vase with water. Trim the soaked block of floral foam so it fits the diameters of the vase and put it into position on top of the cellophane or bags. It's important to layer these pieces as instructed rather than using all floral foam in the vase; too much floral foam will make the vase too heavy.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Arrange the Flowers

Push the amaryllis stems and garden stakes down into the foam until the stakes disappear from view and the flowers can stand by themselves.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Finish it Off

Fill the rest of the vase with black pebbles, almost to the rim. These pebbles will also help support the flower stems. Top of the vase with water. Tie a length of seagrass neatly around the fixed stems as an extra detail, if you prefer.

If you have any stems of amaryllis left over, cut the stems short and arrange the flowers in a short matching vase to stand near the main arrangement. Alternatively, make up separate stems in small vases as individual place settings for a meal.

This arrangement will last for seven days if you mist the flowers regularly and keep the floral foam wet. The buds on amaryllis stems open up in sequence, so you can carefully cut off the older blooms when they are past their primt to make room for the newer buds to open up.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited