Fresh-Flower Topiary

A fresh floral topiary can last up to two weeks if it is regularly refreshed with water. Cut off the angled edges of a piece of foam and soak the floam block until it darkens and gets very heavy. After all the flowers have been added in bunches of three, press the foam form onto the bundle of stems.

1. Start with a pot filled with floral clay and foam.
   
2. Make a trunk for the topiary from a bundle of seven or eight rose stems. Cut the leaves and flowers from the stems, leaving one to two inches of stem, and set the flowers aside. Bundle the stems together, tying them with raffia. Push the bundle securely into the foam at the bottom of the pot.
   
3. For the rounded shape at the top: Use a block of foam that is sized proportionately with the pot and stems. Cut off the edges so it has no sharp angles, just a gently rounded appearance. Soak the foam in water until it's quite heavy.
   
4. To create the top of the topiary, fill in the bottom of the foam first with asparagus fern all around the outer edge. Simply push in the fern around the edges at the top and then turn the foam upside down so the plants are now located on the bottom and drape gracefully.
   
5. Then insert the flowers into the foam, working in sets of three and bunching the same colors together; fill in the form.
   
6. When the foam is covered, push it carefully down onto the bundle of stems.
   
7. To finish off the base, fill in with asparagus fern and scatter rose petals on top for added color.

Keep the arrangement out of direct sunlight. Refresh occasionally by removing the top and soaking it in water. The arrangement should last about two weeks.