Prepare your vessel
Use chicken wire or waterproof tape to create a mesh over the opening of your vase. This will support your pieces and allow them to rest at different angles.
Lay it all out
Lay out the best of your plants and get rid of any pieces that are damaged. Group them according to type, size and colour so it’s easy to build your arrangement as you go.
Size matters
Consider for a moment the size and shape you would like your arrangement to be. Generally speaking, an arrangement one and a half times the size of your vase works well. Also think about how it will be viewed―will it be seen from all sides or only from the front?
Wildflower Waiheke. Photography—TVS Creative.
Colour me up
Try to use no more than three colours, although different shades of the same colour work well. Have fun and experiment with combinations such as purple and yellow, or pink and green.
Strip back
Remove foliage from the part of the stem that will be underwater, as it can invite bacteria and shorten the life of your flowers. Foliage above the waterline however adds interest and fills space.
Get started
Start with the bigger pieces first, such as branches and greens. Allow them to spill out of the vase naturally to avoid a symmetrical shape. Now add your main flowers. Use an odd number and place them on different levels to create interest and texture. If your arrangement leans to one side, consider building it higher to create a sense of balance.
Wildflower Waiheke. Photography—TVS Creative.
Build it up
Continue to build your arrangement with the smaller supporting pieces, fine-tuning and building character with pieces such as feathery grasses. This helps create the sense of wildness. Be sure to cover the wire or tape you used at the mouth of the vase.
Et voilà!
Consider your work from all sides and adjust as needed. Enjoy your masterpiece!
Event
The Wildflower School Spring Floral Indulgence workshops at Oyster Inn and Mudbrick. 1-2 November 2020; and The Picking Garden Workshop at Nourish Gardens flower farm 22-23 November 2020.
