| Making flower arrangements is an activity that | | | | opposed to an emotional expression. If you want |
| you should enjoy at all times. Of late it has been | | | | a decoration, buy a balloon. |
| taken far too seriously on a lot of websites that | | | | - Make flowers arrange themselves the way that |
| are around at the moment. In this article, we are | | | | you want, let the natural arrangement of the |
| going to discuss the most common mistakes | | | | flowers guide you. |
| people make and how to avoid them. We will | | | | - Have all of your flowers in full bloom, or just |
| keep it light hearted and try to avoid getting too | | | | buds, you want to avoid the cluttered effect that |
| serious about this really enjoyable, relaxing artistic | | | | occurs when they are all in bloom at once. |
| craft. | | | | - Starve your flowers, if their stems can't reach |
| Flower Selection | | | | the water, they cannot drink. Think about it! |
| The health of the flowers that you select for | | | | - Start with the 'Taj Mahal' flower arrangement. |
| your arrangement is an important factor. If you | | | | Start small and basic, as you improve your |
| start with flowers that are not healthy, you will | | | | knowledge and skill, attempt bigger arrangements. |
| end up with a droopy and unattractive | | | | - Ignore the surroundings that the arrangement is |
| arrangement. Key factors of healthy flowers are | | | | being made for, a bouquet for a wedding will look |
| healthy foliage, unbroken stems and looking | | | | entirely different to a bouquet to lay on top of a |
| generally attractive. | | | | coffin. |
| Believe it or not, different flowers (and even | | | | - Leave it to the last minute when making a |
| different colors of the same flower) have | | | | flower arrangement for a special occasion, |
| different meanings. It is probably not appropriate | | | | flowers need time to settle and develop before |
| to send your grandmother a flower arrangement | | | | they will look comfortable. |
| made up of red roses and pink lilies; unless of | | | | - Use more flowers than you need. The mother |
| course you want to let her know that you have | | | | of a new born baby, fresh out of hospital, would |
| a passionate, romantic love for her. | | | | probably not appreciate an enormous bouquet of |
| More is not always better! You should keep your | | | | roses. |
| selection of color combinations to a maximum of | | | | - Make it harder than it needs to be! Enjoy |
| three. Any more just looks cluttered and | | | | yourself and your new found past-time |
| unappealing. | | | | Have Fun! |
| Flower Preparation | | | | The most important thing that people do not |
| Arranging flowers is an artistic expression of one's | | | | consider when they are making a flower |
| self, so don't just throw your flowers into a vase, | | | | arrangement is that you inadvertently project |
| even if they are pre-arranged. If making a fresh | | | | your mood into your arrangement. If you are |
| flower arrangement, never include "organic mulch" | | | | happy and really enjoying yourself, this will shine |
| type items like dried foliage or twigs. Unless of | | | | through in the way your arrangement comes |
| course you are trying to make your water go | | | | together. By the same token, if you are getting |
| stagnant as they quickly decompose. | | | | frustrated and looking at your project as a chore, |
| For success, when preparing your flower | | | | this will shine through in your arrangement. |
| arrangement: | | | | No matter how hard you try to convey the |
| - Before adding the flowers to water, cut the | | | | "WOW I'm so happy" feel in your arrangement, if |
| stems at an angle, under running water | | | | your partner just left you, your pet parakeet has |
| - Use floral foam to avoid the growth of bacteria | | | | just flown away and your car was just stolen |
| and maintain the freshness of your flowers | | | | while you were on your way to have a coffee |
| - Before you begin arranging, remove any foliage | | | | and relax at the local cafe, your arrangement will |
| that is not required | | | | reflect a feeling of disappointment and sorrow. |
| The Arrangement Process | | | | So before you begin making your next flower |
| Some people think that florists simply add some | | | | arrangement, take some time to consider the |
| colored wrapping to a few random flowers that | | | | emotions that you would like to project and get |
| they throw together at a moments notice. This is | | | | yourself into that mindset and that emotional |
| obviously not the case (otherwise we'd all be | | | | mood. Without ensuring that you are enjoying |
| florists!) It can still be a very simple process if you | | | | yourself and you are in the right mood, you will |
| avoid the common mistakes outlined below. | | | | soon give up on flower arranging, which is one of |
| As a rule of thumb, do not: | | | | the most rewarding, relaxing and pleasurable |
| - Squeeze in dozens of varieties of flowers, too | | | | activities you could become involved in. |
| many variations will result in decoration as | | | | |