Flower Arrangements
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Flowers: Simplified
Perhaps you're wondering what my expertise in flowers is, and how I became involved in this topic. I will describe my relation to flowers and how they play a key role in my career in the concluding section.
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Seasons and Availability
Consider peonies (a personal favorite) a flower that is technically available year round. They are in season during the spring, and come in much higher quality and quantity at much better pricing overall. You can get peonies out of season, such as wintertime, however you will be paying a premium. Higher prices are not the only downside generally peonies (or any flower) purchased out of season come at lower quality due to the extremes that it must go through from transportation, distance in transit, and a host of other variables all equating to a more fragil, less resilient flower.Despite the many drawbacks you can still purchase unseasonal flowers. A word of advice be sure to throughly examine flowers, ESPECIALLY ones that are out of season, before you buy them. To get the absolute best information I reccommend becoming friends with your florist. Retailers are the people who know when shipments arrive, what companies deliver the freshest flowers, and how much handeling flowers have gone through. This kind of knowledge is priceless when it comes to getting the most "bang for your buck$". On a side-note: it never hurts to be friendly and florists are always knowledgeable on everything from how to get the best bang for your buck, to how to keep flowers alive and health for as long as possible.
Seasonal Impact Example:
Orchids: are flowers that are on the more expensive end of the price range. However you can get orchadis for a reduced price during their season (which just happens to be winter). During this time frame you can get them for 20% - all the way up to 45% sometimes even 50 % off.
Another pro of orchids: they are "resistant to mositure loss and heat" as stated in 10 Popular Wedding Flowers Lens
Other Considerations
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Water requirements - how much water they generally consume, and how often
Wilting / Discoloration Tendencies
Changing Tendencies (i.e. Opening up) for example roses tend to open in warmer tempuratures http://www.squidoo.com/Ten_Most_Popular_Wedding_Flowers - Temperature Preferance - I found it very surprising when my florist told me that flowers lifespan and quality can decrease significantly during the winter months due to HEAT. Many flowers are sensitive to HEAT, there try to place them in a part of your house with low heat, or far away from the radiators etc.
- Handling Requirements
- Wilting / Discoloration Tendencies & Changing Tendencies (i.e. Opening up) for example roses tend to open in warmer temperatures, as stated in 10 most Popular Wedding Flowers Lens
How to Keep Flowers Fresh
like the day you bought them!
One of the most important things when it comes to flowers is proper maintenence. After spending all that money on beautiful blooms you don't want to have them die only a few days after you purchased them. In order to keep your flowers fresh, and beautiful for as long as possible:Transport flowers from florist to your house AS FAST as possible
Put flowers in luke warm water once home
Then cut the flowers stems, at an angle (try to get much of the stem cut as possible since larger surface area = larger amount of the flower that has access to water
EVERY DAY re-cut the ends of the flowers and change the water. Also remove any leaves, or other debris that occur (you want to avoid cloudy water, or leaves because both make water less "healthy" for flowers and harder to access)
Note:
If an flower is out of water for a significant amount of time (longer then 2 MIN) you need to recut the stem before putting flower back into water. If you don't the flower will have a much harder time replenishing / absorbing water (think of it as a cut that you have on your finger, the cut will heal ans stop bleeding pretty quickly as will the flower).
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Additional Flower Resources
- Flowerona | Inspired by Flowers
- Flowerona is a site dedicated to the authors love of flowers. The site author is extremely passonate about flowers. Once a big player in a corporate business world she took a surprising turn and study floristry both in school as well as under notable flower great (in England) Paula Pryke.
- Flower Arrangements Part II
- Recently I've learned a lot about flowers! Now I know even more then I did when I wrote my first article about floral arrangements! My existing flower arrangements lens, is already pretty long... so instead of adding new information I wrote another one covering lots of new great information!
- MY Photostream
- My flickr photostream-- since I'm CONSTANTLY taking pictures usually highly detailed macro photos I have a lot of helpful info and advice in descriptions portion of each picture. A wide variety of flowers are covered, and documented based on their flower species name. Sooo take a look and check it out if you're interested in seeing some beautiffful flowers!
- floraphilia.net | Flower Photo Blog | Gardening | Growing | Flower Gazing
- Flower photo blog. - This site has excellent pictures and short descriptions of a wide variety of flowers. Wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning more about gardening or flowers for flower arrangement and design purposes.
Ready to Purchase?
has reading about beautiful flowers peaked your interest
Flowers and Art
how I became a familiar face at the florist shop + how it impacts my job
The trick with still lives is finding subject matter that really inspires you. For me after many trial and error tests I found that flowers are my perfect still life set up. I have always loved flowers, with their vivd smells, and endless range of colors (from subdued pink to vivid, highly saturated orange), Also with flowers make me feel as though I'm almost paint a landscape outside - since they are after all from the earth. This helps to avoid the "stuffy, confined" that tends to turn people off from still lives.
Thoughts...?
Show some love if you liked this article, if not explain - so improvements can be made
Feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks for stopping + reading!
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CarterLenhart
Jan 31, 2011 @ 2:58 am | delete
- Nice flowers! Honestly, I don't know how to arrange them because I'm a guy obviously. But I just got so curious on how to make beautiful flower arrangements because I want to make one for my wife on her birthday. Maybe I will just go and seek some help from some florists (Calgary-based) 'coz I know that these florists in Calgary are good in making flower arrangements.
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ART-aid
Jan 19, 2011 @ 12:39 am | delete
- thank you delores - I'm happy you enjoyed it:) don't forget to check out my newly published where I provide more good flower selection, and care tips!
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Delores
Jan 18, 2011 @ 9:34 pm | delete
- I am very old,but new at oil painting.I found your article very interesting and informative.Thank you.
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ART-aid
Dec 12, 2010 @ 12:56 am | delete
- haha aerome- thats good to hear I'm happy to hear that, and thanks for the comments guys! I'm always happy to get feedback
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aerome
Dec 12, 2010 @ 12:42 am | delete
- This is a lens my mother would love, for sure ;-)
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by ART-aid
I am artistwho works both in plein air and the studio.My specialty is landscape paintings, which I prefer to do on location. To view my artwork please... more »
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