Valentine’s Day in a Flower Shop

***This is the ninth article in a series of 100 articles all about floral design and running a flower shop.

Valentine’s Day is a profitable holiday for the florist industry. It is one of our main events to amass cash flow to help get us through the slower summer months. This holiday has been around for centuries, the first valentine having been sent in the 14^th century. There are many myths and tales as to the origin of the holiday. We celebrate our love and affection with loved ones mainly by exchanging flowers, candy, cards, gifts and stuffed animals.

One has not seen chaos until they have experienced Valentine’s Day in a flower shop. Wow!!! Laughing all the way to the bank!! After two days of healing so you can walk!! February 14^th, it is the second biggest holiday for the floral industry next to Christmas. The difference between Christmas and Valentine’s Day is a big one. Christmas is a season celebrated all month. Valentine’s Day is one day, maybe three or four depending upon what day it lies. It will fall on a different day every year. A florist would want to plan carefully for this holiday for there is a lot of money to be made as well as an opportunity to get new customers in your door and make regular patrons out of them.

Roses will be your biggest seller. Although the wholesale price of roses climbs tremendously, it is all relative. You have to pass the price increase on to your customers. That is why rose prices go up on this holiday. Your wholesaler raises his price and you must raise yours to make any money. We can pay anywhere from one to three dollars a rose wholesale price each  So you can see why and how the prices have to be raised. Those roses are costing you an arm and a leg. There are always going to be those who want roses, yet you need to have other offers as well. In addition to red roses, other colors of roses need to be available. Furthermore, you can offer short stem roses as a selection. Some relationships are not up to the “long stem red rose level” and one may be celebrating with a friend or relative. Have other choices that can provide a larger profit margin such as balloons, mixed bouquets, stuffed animals, candy, and plants or a combination. Depend on cute little bears, ribbons, and heart insertions to make the V-Day gift special. Offer delivery to the point of where you know you will get it delivered in a timely fashion. All your pre-ordered floral deliveries should take precedence.

Flower in reds, pinks, purples, and whites most easily substitute for roses. Flowers that are popular and available on Valentine’s Day include tulips, daffodils and irises, heather, and stargazer lilies, orchids and gardenias. Many people favor a mixed flower bouquet on Valentine's Day, as it looks colorful and springy. Some may need a corsage for that special Valentine’s Day dinner or dance.

A fresh mixed-flower bouquet can be made to look “heartily loving” by adding balloons, candy or a small plush animal. A florist can make a loose, mixed flower bouquet by selecting flowers that convey the emotions of your heart. Maybe have a book of flower meanings nearby. By all means do not encourage this kind of assistance on the actual holiday. This would be a good way to presale flowers. You will be too, too busy on this day!! It will be all you do to keep up with designs and deliveries that are preplaced. Wrap the flowers in some heart paper and clear cellophane and add a natural raffia ribbon and stick a heart in it. As Valentine's Day comes at the end of the winter season, one can find a large number of spring flowers in full bloom. Be sure and order lots of everything because by the end of the day your shop will be bare!

The Wonder and Beauty of a Flower Shop

***This is the eighth article in a series of 100 articles all about floral design and running a flower shop. Enjoy!

Have you ever walked into a flower shop and saw all the visual beauties and the fragrant odors? Maybe the sound of water from a background fountain is nearby.A flower shop can be an awesome place to spend your workday. Imagine the smell of a flower shop; the air thick with a mix of blooms, buds, and blossoms; it is unique, fresh, green aroma is unlike any other botanical scent! Everyone loves the smell of a flower shop. Although, do not get me wrong. It is not always serene beauty and nature sounds. The backroom can be a place or hectic and deadlines. Yet, this is what we want. This means business is “blooming”!

There is nothing more beautiful than seeing all the designs and accents in a floral shop. Dried flowers and all the subtle colors of purples, ivory, yellows, oranges, and reds are readily seen. The feelings that all the visual sights evoke can be calming. The fragrances all around; fresh fragrant flowers cinnamon, lavender, eucalyptus, and rose, are palpable. Stacks of baskets and green plants, gives us the feel of a country garden. You can find fluffy soft animals to cheer the sick. Then immediately we could turn and view desert cacti. Often there will be bath scents, including lotions and potions and soaps. As gift baskets, are a big part of a floral business, often there will be coffees, teas, cake and cookie mixes, and gourmet chocolates all around. Likewise, an entire selection of candles may be a gathering to the overall aroma.

Herbs are popular these days. Try picking up some oregano and basil for some homemade pasta. Leaves from a peppermint plant will spice up a hot cup of tea quite nicely. Take home a whole basket of herb plants for your kitchen. Pinch here and there for your cooking. Chives, sage, rosemary, and once again, basil, and oregano all would make perfect plants for a kitchen window sill. 

What a vision and magnificence all these details bring to mind! Ever feel down and blue! Go visit your local florist. Take time to enjoy all the wonders before you. Buy a whole bouquet of flowers or just a single flower. Treat yourself! Take home a fragrant candle or a bit of the desert. Maybe even a stuffed animal with which to snuggle. Try some herb plants. Once again, just treat yourself. Maybe even take a friend. Get to know your local florist. They are a wealth of creativity. You deserve it. 

Focus on Flowers: Discovering and Photographing Beauty in Gardens and Wild Places 

Gerber Daisy Liquid Illusion Silk Flower Arrangement in Beauty - Nearly Natural - 1086-BU 

The Flower Shop: Charm, Grace, Beauty & Tenderness in a Commercial Context 

Double Phalaenopsis Silk Orchid Flower Arrangement in Beauty - Nearly Natural - 1026-BU


The Artful Ribbon: Beauties in Bloom

 

The Flower Shop Birthday Club – Running Your Own Shop Advertising Tip

By Debra Cary

 ***This is the seventh article in a series of 100 articles on floral designing and how to run a flower shop.

Join our Birthday Club! The club is open to all ages. All you have to do is stop in the shop and fill out a birthday club application. This is how it usually begins. This gets a prospective customer in your shop maybe for the first time. When it is their birthday and they must come in to pick up the free gift; that gets them in the store for the second time. This is a great opportunity to promote other store offers or just get them to explore your shop while you are getting their flowers ready. 

A birthday club in a flower shop is an advertising technique that need not cost a lot of advertising dollars; although, this probably will work better in small town rather than a large city. I suppose in large city giving away a free flower vase for every birthday person that signed up could get out of hand number wise. In a large city you would want to have a drawing for a daily winner of the birthday flowers. A florist will always have three carnations, greens, filler flowers and a ribbon to spare; or maybe a vase of daisies. This is an opportunity to show some shop creativity. 

Have people come in and sign up for the birthday club. Buy a spot on your local radio station. Call it “The Birthday Club”, sponsored by your shop. Once a day, or once a week, submit to the radio station the names of the birthday recipients. On your radio spot, preferably at the same time every day, the DJ will announce the lucky birthday people or person. The lucky person will then have to come to your shop, usually they bring friends with them (great for advertisement), and pick up their flowers. 

The flower birthday club is a very social and up close personal to build your business. You may feel you would like to do this type of promotion with balloons or a balloon bouquet. Your radio spot will always be a chance for you to promote a seasonal holiday as well. People will tune in to your radio spot to see if they won or hear their name or their friends name on air. It’s a great community thing!!

Beautiful Wooden Sheds to Adorn Your Backyard , Raise Your Property Value

How To Build A Shed In 10 Steps - Outdoor Storage Shed to Start Your at Home Business

So you need a storage shed to keep your floral design supplies properly protected. Also,use a backyard shed to preserve and hang your flowers to dry. You have shopped around to see what’s available, but you just can’t find one that suits your needs. Well, that’s no problem. You can build one yourself ,even if you’re not a carpenter. All that is required is for you to follow some quick and easy step by step plans, and you will have it built in no time.

Step One
 Is to determine where you want to build it. You need to have a designated area planned out before you begin. What space you have available will determine the maximum size you can build it.

Step two
 Once you know your exact size it’s a good idea to rough sketch what you want. There are many home improvement stores that you can take your sketch to. They will draft up your storage shed  plans for you, according to the specs you provide them with. They will also supply you with a list of materials that you will require. So now you have your plans. In addition they will provide you with a guide on how to perform each step.

Step Three
Purchase the materials you will need as outlined in your plan. it’s a good idea to have everything at hand so you don’t have to keep running out for supplies once you start construction.

Step Four
 Now you are ready to start. Level your ground and prepare to lay the foundation. You would have already decided whether you are going to have a wood plank floor or concrete slab type.

Step Five
 Next comes the side walls. Put your materials aside that you are going to use for this. It is better to construct the walls on the ground then lift them into position once they are together. Just follow your guide for the how to instructions.

Step Six
Now its time to start the roof. You will need to build your trusses. So construct one and then use it as a template for the rest. Once again  follow your guide on how to build the trusses.

Step Seven
Your storage shed should now be taking on some shape. Its time to build the end walls. How you do this will depend on what you have chosen in your plans. Be sure to stay with your original plans.

Step Eight
Now you are getting down to the final steps. The trim is just as important as the rest of your structure. Its what gives it that finished look so don’t scrimp here.

Step Nine
Your last two steps are applying the shingles for the roof then treating the wood. The wood must have some type of protective coating on it to protect it from the elements and rotting. This can be varnish, stains or paints whatever is your preference.

Step Ten
You’re done! All that’s left is to sit back and admire your completed storage shed. If you hadn’t built it yourself you would think it was a professional store bought model.

 

Suncast GC1500B Portable Outdoor Gardening Center with Interchangeable Shelves, Tool Storage And 
Utility Bin, Taupe

Outdoor Storage Shed - Cedar Hutches and Garden Sheds

Suncast PB6700 Patio Bench

Fiskars 9920 Garden Multi-Snip with Sheath

More Papers from the Potting Shed: A New Collection of Gardening Curiosities

Step2 5A0100 Garden Kneeler

The Playground Potting Shed: A Fool Proof Guide to Gardening with Children

Rubbermaid 5E28 Deluxe Tool Tower Rack with Casters, Holds 36 Tools

Air Drying Flowers

***This is the sixth article in a series of 100 articles on floral design and running a flower shop.

Air drying flowers is the simplest method used to dry flowers for use in arrangements and wreaths. This method takes a minimum amount of time and requires no special equipment. Moisture is removed from plant material by air circulation, without any use of drying agent.

To air dry most flowers, remove some or all of the foliage.  Bunch similar flowers together loosely, tying together with a rubber band or twine. Hang bunches upside-down, as this enables stems to dry straight. Hang bunches in a well-circulated, dark area. A barn, closet or dark garage would be ideal. Attics tend be dry and dark and are a good place to hang flowers, while basement may be too damp. In an attic, you will usually have overhead beams. On the beams, you can hammer nails directly into the beams, and hang the flowers upside down by string or florist wire. You will need a room that does not have dust or direct sunlight. Wooden pegged coffee cup hangers and pieces of lattice attached to the wall are places to air-dry flowers. Temperature should be cool and dry. Damp conditions will promote poor results, as well as mold and mildew. Dark, cool conditions will help flowers maintain their color and keep them from becoming brittle. Most flowers should be dry within 1-3 weeks. You can tell they are dry completely when they feel crisp to the touch.  

A variation of air drying is to place grasses and branches upright in container filled with a few inches of warm water or to dry them flat on newspaper. Flowers can also be dried upright in buckets to allow some of the material to gain natural curves and a drooping effect as they dry. Some flowers that have air-dried well for me are: yarrow, dahlias, poppy seed heads, roses, marjoram, delphinium, larkspur, lavender, strawflower, globe thistle, cornflower, statice, baby’s breath, globe amaranth, and peonies. Grasses, such as wheat, rice grass, and any natural grasses along the creek bank dry well. Pick wild grasses while still a little green. 

Dried flowers make excellent floral centerpieces. Dried flower wreaths are also a wonderful addition to a bedroom or kitchen. Wreaths can be made of dried roses, gypsophilia, and statice. Bunches of herbs can be air dried and made into a wreath for the kitchen. For extra scent and visual interest, add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and dried apple and orange slices. Once dried, many flowers, grasses and seed pods benefit from a light coating of commercial sealant. The sealant will keep the flowers and grasses from shedding. 

Microwave Flower Press Is Fast And Easy To Use! 

Flower Drying Crystals (Silica Gel) - 1.5LBS of Flower Preservative 

Quick Cure Drying Rack for Drying Buds and Flowers 

Preserving Flowers: Dried & Pressed Floral Designs for Every Season 

11 000 Rose Petals Wedding Freeze Dried Rose Petals Red 5 LbFMM Flower Drying Stand, Flat Pack 

Dried Flowers from Antiquity to the Present: A History and Practical Guide to Flower Drying 

The Rack Collapsible Drying System 24"x53" 

Drying Cut Lavander Flowers after Harvest, Sault, Provence, France, June 2004 Photographic Poster Print by Inaki Relanzon, 12x16 

Flowers Give an Arrangement Shape

By Debra Cary

***This is the fifth article in a series of 100 articles on floral design and running a   flower shop.

It is fascinating to know how different types of flowers and foliage are combined to make beautiful, distinctive bouquets. Flowers have individual shapes, textures, and colors. Line flowers are the tall flora that gives designs height, width, and a balanced look. Line flowers give a design its basic shape. Liatris, snapdragons, delphiniums, larkspur, stock, gladiolus, tuberose, veronica, curly willow, bells-of-Ireland, stock and Canterbury bells are all excellent examples. The line flowers are inserted both vertically and horizontally in the design after greenery. Focal and filler flowers are then added to add to the shape, texture and sentiment of the design.

Branches and tall foliage can also serve as line flowers. Most line flowers have blossoms graduating to buds at the top. Line flowers by themselves look stunning in cylindrical vases. Line flowers can give characteristic and creative importance to your designs.

There are several types of line in an arrangement. Lines can express different moods and feelings just by the direction they are placed. Line provides a pathway for the eye to follow throughout the arrangement. The three main types of line are actual line, implied line, and psychic line.

Actual lines are very obvious. The eye can easily follow the design to its height and width. Actual lines sets up the skeleton of the design. Actual line flowers can be curving and flowing within the design. Implied lines in floral design provide a pathway for the eye to follow but no actual line flowers are there. Although carnations are not line flowers per say, if they are cut one taller than the other that can create a line effect. Greenery can also create a line effect. As our eyes connect the upward graduating carnations we see a line result. The third kind of line is the psychic line. This is a line that does not exist, yet we feel the line outcome. Psychic designs are made by placing flowers in a manner that directs the eye up and throughout. Two tall birds of paradise can be placed high in an arrangement, while all other flora materials are rather short and to the base. The two tall birds of paradise create a visual line and bring the visual path upward. Many oriental designs use this technique.

Line direction is where flowers placed in the design giving the arrangement vertical direction, horizontal direction, or a diagonal line. Line materials also place curves into the flower design. Without line in a design, we would not have any fluid movement. Our eyes would be stuck and not circulate throughout the design to see the whole image we are trying to create.

Have fun with line flowers. Go as tall as you want. As long as a design is balanced with focal and filler flowers most designs work. Practice and play with color and texture. Have fun and dare to experiment!

Branches and Berries in Floral Designs

Branches and Berries in Floral Designs

***This is the fourth article in a series of 100 articles on floral design and running a flower shop.

The use of natural branches in floral arranging can give dramatic effects. Natural branches include manzanita, birch, curly willow, red twig dogwood, witch hazel, and blooming tree branches. Sierra Manzanita has a wonderful bonsai look that is great alone or within arrangements. Each is different, giving its own look and representing different seasons of the year. Branches can be used in floral designs or in a vase all by themselves. The one good thing about purchasing branches are most of them are everlasting, not perishable, as much of the flora with which we work.

                                                                                             

When adding branches to designs, the potential is boundless. I love to go into the mountains and find natural green moss covered branches. I use these in live plant basket gardens. Also, little replicas of birds in a nest can be perched on the branches for a woodlands look. Very curly willow can be used to add height to green plants or fresh and silk arrangements. These branches can be left natural can be sprayed any color of your choice. Glitter can be applied to the branches for a festive effect. 

Very unique pieces of wood include the natural sanded grapeseed branch. Each piece of sanded grapeseed displays knots and very nice wood grain. This is also a very gnarled piece of wood with lots of twists and turns. Small forest animals, moss, birds and eggs are appropriate accents.

Branches with berries on them are some of my favorites. They are so versatile. Natural huckleberry branches with faux red berries can be bought from your wholesaler. These branches are perfect in wreaths and container designs. Pyracantha berries are also a good choice for much of the year. They can be grown in a home landscaping. The berries on the pyracantha range from orange to dark brown. Their orange to brown color makes them wonderful for fall designs. 

The hypernicum berry branch is a stem with olive green berries to darkish brown. Hypernicum berries combined with preserved oak leaves and cattails, are also spectacular choices for an autumn design. Hypernicum berries have also become popular in bridal bouquets. Stems with berries can either be bought in the fresh, natural form, dried or artificial variety that is extremely realistic. Do not forget about responsibly gathering materials from the outdoors.

Natural branches can be placed in buckets, baskets, or crates and draped with white lights. This type of preparation makes a fascinating display piece for your shop, exhibit window, or event where drama is needed. Flexible and easy to use, artificial branches and berries can be arranged and rearranged for all kinds of events. 

In the springtime, flowering branches are readily available. Forsythia, cherry branches, pussy willow, apple blossoms, and crab apple stems. These branches are not extremely long lasting. They do have a series of buds and blossoms making the blooming power longer. There is nothing more attractive, says that spring is coming than a vase of forsythia. Look around your yard and your neighborhood for flowering branches as well.

Branches and berries can be used in upscale designs to everyday natural, country creations. Large bunches of branches and berries tied with lots of natural raffia strewn throughout your shop are terrific accent pieces. A large bunch of branches or berries can be bought from your local wholesaler for about $5.00-$8.00. A bunch goes a long way. Using berries and branches in your designs is a way to distinguish your shop from the mass marketers. Natural materials such as these give your store unique character and personality.

Set of 6 Pre-Lit 36" White Berry Branch Sprays With Clear Lights #179944 

Pack of 12 Holly & Berries Decorative Silk Berry Christmas Branches 28" 

24 pieces of 21" Hand Wraped Artificial Berry Sprays with Berries 

18" Myrtle Wreath with Dried Flowers 

Frontier Chamomile Flowers, German Whole Certified Organic, 16 Ounce Bag 

Flower Press Kit for Microwave Ovens- 9" x 9" 

Malcolm Hillier's Guide to Dried Flowers 

Sunflowers for Floral Design

Sunflowers are an awesome, stunning flower to use in summer and fall floral bouquets. They are readily available at this time of the year and are inexpensive. As a florist, and maybe a home gardener, one can grow this flower for their shop as long as the flowers are processed and hardened correctly. There is a very strong trend towards “garden flower designs”, kind of a natural flower patch and wildflower look.

Sunflowers come in a variety of dramatic Indian summer and fall colors. The annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is the flower most people picture when they think of a sunflower. They range from bright, sunny yellow to dark reds, to chocolate brown, and  all colors in between, including variegated varieties. Sunflowers have long, strong stems and are long lasting. As a matter of fact, if you do not use your sunflowers as fresh flowers, hang them upside down and dry them and use them in your dried flower fall arrangements. In your garden, they can be cut just before the flowers die off and dried over a few weeks. For design projects, it is important to leave a sufficient amount of stalk.

Sunflowers are beautiful in a tall vase, mixed with your favorite greens, maybe a little boxwood and eucalyptus. Statice, wax flower, solid aster, and salal leaves might also accent your container of sunflowers. Because sunflowers are large and showy, and  because they are hearty with thick stems that stand up well in a vase, and this is the very reason they are perfect for this type of arrangement.

Some varieties of sunflowers have one big head or flower. They are usually the giant sunflower varieties. Other large headed varieties, have a few much smaller heads that form on lower branches. Some varieties have multiple heads. These are typically mid sized sunflowers. Miniature sunflowers make lovely fresh bouquets also. Florist can make use of all varieties. Talk with your customers. Make suggestions to them. Educate your customers to try new and different types of flowers and foliage. It will make your job as a designer much more interesting when you can use new and exotic flora. They will be thankful for the unique ideas. You are the professional; that is why they trust you for their floral needs.

Just a fact for fun; sunflowers have a special property called heliotropism, which means that as it grows, the sunflower turns its face/flower head, to the sun throughout the day. In the morning, the sunflower's bud faces east to catch the rays of the rising sun and by night, the bloom is facing west to capture the last sunshine as the sun sets.

Natural, nutritious and attractive, sunflowers have it all. That is probably why sunflowers have spread from their native home in North America, and are now grown around the world! 

Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers Floral Picture Framed Art Print 

Heirloom Sunflower Seeds Flash Blend Certified OrganicPackage of 4 Autumn Harvest 10" 

3 Way Metal Floor Lamp w Sunflower and Silk Shade

New Autumn Silk Flower Centerpiece 

Club Pack of 12 Artificial Sunflower Silk Floral Garlands 6' 

St. Ives Sunflower and Silk Moisturizing Body Wash, Nourishing 13.5 Oz 

Sunflowers 

Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower Heirloom Seeds 

van Gogh and the Sunflowers (Anholt's Artists Books for Children) 

At last—a Technology Resource That Truly Itegrates Raw Materials and Design Theory!

 The Floral Design CD-ROM is a powerful study and reference tool for students, instructors, and professionals alike. Beautifully designed and easy to use, this software offers a wealth of images and information to increase the user's understanding of flowers and foliages. User's can search by numerous criteria—botanical names, common names, design use, color, vase life, availability, horticultural zones, and more—to learn about the plants themselves as well as how they fit into the professional floral design process and the horticulture industry. Professionals, instructors and students will appreciate the full-color images, in-depth information, audio pronunciations, and glossary that work together to reinforce classroom instruction and aid in the creation of exciting floral designs.

Floral Design CD-ROM - Stand Alone Version


Full-Color Art Nouveau Floral Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Series)

Fresh Flowers for Corsages

Making corsage flowers are a good way to build your floral business. Corsages are flowers worn by women on special occasions such as weddings, proms, and other formal occasions. They can be designed with either fresh flowers or silk flora.. Corsages are commonly worn either on the shoulder or on the wrist; although a corsage could be put on an evening bag or purse.

Corsages can be made with either one single flower, a focal flower, such as a rose or an enchantment lily. The success of any design is in using proper and secure mechanics in which to put the corsage together. A single rose corsage may be embellished with green fern, asparagus fern, baby’s breath, statice, and other filler flowers. A silken ribbon is also added for a couple of reasons. First of all, it adds beauty to the design and secondly, it hides the design mechanics in a corsage and pulls all of the elements together to finish the corsage. Be sure and advise the customer of delicate flowers such as gardenias, as they bruise easily and turn brown when touched. Also, you may want to take allergies into consideration. Make sure the recipient has no allergies to flowers. If so, the corsage can be made of silk flowers.

Also, corsages can be made of several smaller flowers. These are multi-flower corsages. Miniature carnations are an inexpensive example of this. Rose of the miniature variety can also be used. A combination of flowers such as small daisies, and carnations, with green leaves, baby’s breath and accent flowers such as monte- casino (a small solid aster) are good choices. Color is very much a concern. Usually as with weddings and proms there are either a color theme or dress color that needs to be matched. Wiring together many small flowers is more time consuming. Each flower and filler flowers are wired together individually and then wired together as one flower. Special efforts have to be made to make sure the corsage is firmly wired together so it does not flop. As with the single flower corsage, a ribbon is also added to the multi-flower corsage to finish off the design.  

Wrist corsages are made the same as a single-flower or a multi-flower corsage. The difference here is that a wrist corsage has a “wristlet” securely attached. There are several commercial wristbands available.

Before packaging any corsage be sure and add at least 1-2 corsage pins. A corsage pin resembles a very long thicker straight pin, usually with a round, pearl top. They are commercially available as florist supplies. A wrist corsage does not need a corsage  pin. Sending a corsage out of your flower shop is a good chance for advertisement for your shop. Be sure and have an attractive corsage box with your shop clearly labeled so all knows from where the flower came. This is a part of “branding your shop”; getting your shop name and logo out there. We all want our flower shop to become a household name. 

There are several good books out on the market about corsage design. You may want to check out this book to aid in your floral education.

White Silk Rose and Calla Lily Corsage or Boutonniere - Package of 6 

FloraCraft Floral Accessories 90-Corsage Pins, Crystal 

Wrist Corsage Elastic Bands - Package of 48 - Make Wrist Corsages for Prom, Dance, or Wedding 

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE IN PROM SUIT from the movie NAPOLEON DYNAMITE Action Figure with Display Base & Sound 

How to Design Fresh Flowers - the basics

Flowers are beautiful. Flowers make people happy. Flowers are a positive in an often scary world. Many yearn to know how to design and work with flowers and natural materials. It is a skill and a talent, but it is a talent that can be learned by starting with the basic design skills. Once the basic design skills are learned, design embellishments can be learned. Knowing where to start was my biggest obstacle when learning floral design. I was taught by a professional florist with her own exclusive shop. I remember her telling me to make a design, anything I wanted to design. I stood at the floral cooler thinking where do I start? Being able to choose materials to work with comes with experience. The more one makes those decisions, the more one becomes comfortable with making selections and the choices become second nature. To learn to select materials, one might consider these points:

• What colors do I need to work with?

• What textures do the flowers have?

• Do I need tall or short flowers?

• Will this be centerpiece or a one-sided design?

• For what occasion am I designing?

• Do I need everyday flowers, such as carnations and daisies, do I need roses, or do I need tropical flowers?

• Do my flower choices all last about the same?

Your flower selections do need to be addressed by points such as these. Your choices will automatically be narrowed by answering these questions. Many times I let colors guide me. Colors of fresh flowers are vivid and many. If you are uncertain about what colors go together, consult a color guide for flowers such as this one Quick and Easy Flower Design: More Than 125 Color-Based Recipes for Everyday BouquetsPinks, purples, yellows, reds, whites, orange... color is one of the features that makes floral design exciting. When I see combinations of flower colors put together I get excited! Color, textures, size, types of flowers, what am I designing, and the lasting ability of each flower, once again are all points to consider. Don't be afraid to experiment. Just pick up and start doing. The more you practice, the more you learn. Each and every design time gives you knowledge and is a valuable learning experience.