Emerald Envy: The Gorgeous Green Bouquet

This hardy bouquet will last up to a week in harsh temperatures such as fierce air-conditioning or hot rooms; it is a suitable choice for the office or an apartment. Consider making a vibrant variation by using all white, red or pink flowers.

Materials

Flowers and Foliage
6 shamrock chrysanthemums
15 single roses
7 green santini chrysanthemums
5 green flamingo flowers
8 green ti leaves

Don't worry if you can't find all four varieties of green flowers. Three will suit this arrangement just fine.

Possible Substitutions
Hydrangeas (for shamrock chrysanthemums); small spray roses (for santini chrysanthemums); gerberas (for flamingo flowers)

Other Materials
garden string or raffia
florist's scissors

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

How to Arrange

Sort the different flowers and foliage into separate piles. Hold the stem of one flower in your hand. Add another variety of flower to it at an angle, twisting the bunch around slightly in one direction in your hand as you do so.

Add one of each of all the flowers and leaves at the same angle to create a spiral stem effect, turning the bunch in the same direction as you do so. Reserve most of the green ti leaves until the end. As you add the green ti leaves, fold the tips of the leaves over and hold them at the binding point. This helps to provide an unusual, interesting feature and added texture. Check that you are happy with the arrangement of flowers, then add the remaining blooms. Insert the last two layers of flowers at a lower angle around the edges to create a domed effect, and add the remaining green ti leaves last.

Tie the arrangement with garden string or raffia secured in a knot.

Cut the stems at an angle, so they are roughly the same length and will all be able to sit in water. If the bouquet is a gift, wrap it and tie it with a black, green or cream ribbon.