Floral Workshop ~ A Winter Palette

• By Barb
• Posted in Amazing flower pairings, Bringing the garden inside, DIY home and garden craft projects
• On January 28, 2013
• Comments Off on Floral Workshop ~ A Winter Palette

Nearing the end of January and all gardeners are yearning for flowers and green plants. Leave it to Emily Smith to dream up a beautiful arrangement to satisfy and do away with the cabin fever in all of us! For this Delaware Center for Horticulture workshop, Emily put together more muted toned flowers in a birch bark container. But, not to worry, bright accents of dogwood and terra-cotta rose give it just the right touch of color. For this round arrangement you will need:

• 3 stems each of white spray roses, wax flowers, peach carnations, hypericum berries, protea and terra-cotta roses
• greens to your liking ~ variegated pittsporum and juniper
• a birch bark container with a waterproof lining
• floral oasis cut to fit & soaked for 1 hour in water
• 3 branches of colored dogwood
• burlap ribbon & pinecones

Emily’s method is pretty foolproof. She cuts the oasis, inserts it into her container and trims the top at a slant. The oasis trimmings are inserted in the oasis container to help stabilize it. Next, greens are added all over the container (her rule of thumb is to not exceed 1 and 1/2 times the height of the container). Larger flowers are placed next (roses and protea) followed by the smaller blooms (spray roses and wax flowers). Last of all, add the accents (dogwood branches & pinecones) and a burlap bow if desired.

Water thoroughly and you’ll have a lovely touch of nature to brighten your home during these winter days. Make one yourself or sign up for one of Emily’s classes at the DCH!