Pretty Fluffy: A Hydrangea Ball

Hydrangeas, with their impressive size, dense shape and multiple petals, are ideal for creating maximum impact with minimal ingredients. They are also one of the few flowers whose petals are coarse enough to tolerate sitting in water.

Excerpted from Fresh Flower Arranging
Filed under: Flowers, Centerpieces, How To

Hydrangea Ball Set in Low Fishbowl for Centerpiece

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited A Natural Base A woven, dried ring of twisted vine adds texture, interest and another natural element to this flower arrangement.

Materials

Flowers
6 pink hydrangea flower heads

Possible substitution: baby's breath

Other Materials
fishbowl (16 inches high)
florist's scissors
woven vine base or similar

How to Arrange

Pour a small amount of water into the fishbowl. The water should only be about 2 inches deep.

Cut the stems of three of the flower heads slightly shorter and arrange them first, placing the ends of the stems in the water.

Take the remaining three flower heads and carefully insert their slightly longer stems in between the bottom layer of flowers until the stems sit in the water. The lower layer of flower heads should help to keep these uppermost blooms stable in this all-around display. Fluff out the hydrangea petals so they are not squashed. Be careful not to fill the bowl up to the rim with petals.

Keeping Your Flowers Fresh

Misting is an excellent way of keeping the petals fresh, as they absorb the water. This design will last for a week if you refresh the water and recut the stems.