Mix It Up With a Luxurious Winter Display

Materials

Flowers and Foliage
6 single red roses
6 bells of Ireland
7 ruscus stems
5 pale pink cymbidium orchids
2 green tie leaves
7 'Baby Blue' eucalyptus stems

Other Materials
flared clear glass vase (12 inches high)
florist's scissors
chicken wire (optional)

Possible Substitutions
Euphorbia (for bells of Ireland), amaryllis (for roses), eucalyptus (for ruscus)

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

How to Arrange

Slice down either side of the midrib of each green tie leaf using use a craft knife or scissors. Separate the leaf into two separate halves. Curl the half-leaves around the inside of the vase in diagonal patterns.

Trim the stems of the ruscus stems just a little. Arrange them in the vase to create a three-dimensional fan shape that gives height to the display. Arrange the eucalyptus in a similar fashion. To create an all-around arrangement, keep turning the vase around as you work to build up an even shape from every angle. Use chicken wire if you find it hard to angle the stems.

Strip the leaves off the bells of Ireland, being aware of the sharp white spikes left on the stems; cut these spikes off, too. Recut the stems just above a join, or node, and arrange them in the center of the vase, turning the vase around as you work.

Arrange the roses next and then the orchids, as they are the most dominant flowers. Place them in the obvious gaps around the arrangement. Check to make sure that you have an even, graduated shape from every angle. Put the vase in position and fill it almost to the rim with water.

This arrangement will last for seven to 10 days.

Exotic Addition

Cymbidium orchids with roses may appear an unlikely mix, but the different colors and shapes of these blooms actually enhance one another.

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