Monica Yurconic-Groff
Florist & Owner, Ross Plants & Flowers
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The earth laughs in flowers.” To bring flowers into your life or to give them to others is to tap into the jubilant energy and calming beauty of the natural world. Monica Yurconic-Groff of Ross Plants & Flowers in Orefield shares some tips on how to put together a beautiful flower arrangement that will give life to everyone who sees it.
Floral Feelings
Flowers are far from a frippery. Being around fresh flowers has a measurable impact on mood, which is no surprise to those of us who delight in the sight and fragrance of a bouquet. Studies show that in areas of a nursing home adorned with floral arrangements, residents are more active. Flowers and plants in a work environment are linked to greater productivity and innovation. Clients stuck in a waiting room are much more relaxed and positive with flowers present.
Not only are flowers a passive plus, the act of giving them has powerful effects. When you give someone flowers, you’re giving them an ongoing source of happiness and energy, and if you’ve arranged it yourself, you’re bound to be feeling the boost, too!
Color Considerations
Whether it’s the friendliness of yellow or the purity of white, color speaks a language we all recognize, and it can create a calm, sunny or luxurious mood within moments.
Using the wisdom of the color wheel to pair analogous or complementary colors is a great way to make the selection of hues for an arrangement easy, but you can also feel your way.
Creamy whites and pastels give a soothing, light feeling while bright pinks and yellows are cheerful and energetic. Darker colors bring intensity. Consider not only the feeling you wish to impart, but also the likely setting of the arrangement when choosing your colors.
Assembling Arrays
There are three roles to consider in the assembly of your floral friends: focal, line and filler.
Focal flowers catch your eye. Think of a sunflower standing out in an arrangement, or a beautiful rose or gerbera daisy. Start with these showstoppers to establish the shape of your arrangement.
Line flowers are often long-stemmed flowers strategically placed to draw your eye upward or outward, giving the arrangement dimension in the space around it.
To create a lush, dense, bounteous look, filler flowers are the final touch. They can be smaller, bushier flowers like the traditional baby’s breath, mini carnations or the small, lily-looking, speckled alstroemeria. Foliage also comes in many shapes, textures and shades, and can occupy these roles as well.
Vessel Varieties
An opaque, neutral color vase is a good venue to let flowers (and not stems!) take the spotlight. A good bundle of blooms can look thin if the vase has too wide a mouth, so mind your proportions. As long as your container is watertight, it can hold flowers in a floral foam block, which acts as a long-lasting sponge. Stick flower stems into the foam exactly where you want them, and they’ll drink from it.
Pinterest is full of ideas for staging your arrangements, from jars and old boots and paint cans, to teapots and empty perfume bottles. If you want to add a unique personal touch to your flowers, be they gift or décor, this is a good way to get creative.
Care and Keeping
Adding flower food to vase water helps keep flowers blooming brightly, but only if the stems can drink it. Maintain the health of the stems by cutting them on an angle every three to four days to allow the flowers to keep drinking. The water should be changed just as often to lessen the chance of harmful bacteria taking over. Trimming leaves from the stems you’re working with keeps foliage from breaking down quickly in the water and making a bacterial swamp of things.
Floral foam has to be kept wet or flowers will dry up and close off to fresh moisture.
Placement can affect the longevity as well. Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight and away from cold drafts.
Planting Season
The wildflower look is perennially popular. Many people grow beautiful flowers in their gardens with the intention of cutting them and bringing them into their homes. The freshly gathered look is so appealing and pretty, and gives an indoor memento of pride in your gardening.
The key to cutting flowers to bring inside is hardening them off. When you’ve cut the flowers you want for your arrangement, put them in warm water halfway up the stems and set them in a cool place for two hours or more. The flowers will take up the moisture and remain firm for hours. Once the flowers are hardened off, give them another cut and you’re ready to arrange.
2704 Route 309, Orefield | 610.395.5193 | rossplantsandflowers.com
