Rustic Floral Arrangement

Create a colorful arrangement by combining dried and fresh elements in a rustic pitcher.

Bring a touch of the sunny outdoors to your home with a pitcherful of wildflowers and dried wheat.

Materials:

large vase or pitcher
dried wheat/flowers
assorted fresh flowers
sunflowers
kitchen shears or knife
lemon-lime soda
bleach
lukewarm water

Figure A

Floral Preserver

Mix 8 oz. water, 8 oz. lemon-lime soda and 1 tsp. bleach together. Pour the preserver into the vase and top off with water.

With scissors or a kitchen knife, trim the ends of the flowers to the desired lengths. Trim the flowers at an angle if possible (figure A); it's best to cut flowers under running water and place in the vase immediately.

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Flower-Arranging Tips

When working with assorted flowers, it's a good idea to fill in the base of the vase first, using flowers or greenery that are full (figure B).
Add the height to the arrangement by using flowers that have long, sturdy stems (figure C).
Fill in the midsection of the arrangement, looking for holes and cutting the stems as you go.
Dried elements, such as sheafs of wheat, add to the rustic farmhouse feel of the arrangement (figure D).