Classic Beauty: A Rose and Lilac Vase

Materials

Flowers and Foliage
5 red Peruvian lilly
7 pale pink spray roses
6 guelder rose stems
5 lilac stocks
6 dark pink lilacs
3 white leaf stems
2 monstera leaves
5 garden viburnum stems

Consider subsituting lisianthus for spray roses or snapdragons for stocks.

Other Materials
clear glass or opaque urn or flared vase (18 inches high)
chicken wire
sterilizing tablet or flower food
florist’s scissors

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

How to Arrange

Line the glass urn with the monstera leaves to transform the urn into a lovely lush green color. Place a piece of chicken wire inside the rim. Fill two-thirds of the urn with water and add a sterilizing tablet.

Group the flowers and foliage into separate piles. Build up a framework of foliage using the white leaf and viburnum stems.

Arrange those flowers with darker hues first, such as the Peruvian lilly and lilacs, so that you will know where to place the more dominant pink roses and stocks. Place the lilacs around the sides and in the middle so they can hang attractively. Add the roses and stocks. Turn the vase and check its profile as you work to ensure that you have a graduated front-facing shape. When you have added all the flowers and foliage, top the vase off with water.

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

Supporting Role

Foliage enhances flowers beautifully and shows them at their best. Mixed seasonal foliage, such as this cultivated guelder rose and garden viburnum, also provides visual interest in an arrangement.

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