(ARA) – The long, cold winter that has brought record
low temperatures and snowfall to many parts of the country
is finally winding down. Soon the landscape will turn green
and flowers will start blooming. Before you know it, it’ll
be time to take a cue from Mother Nature and redecorate your
home.
But you don’t have to wait for spring, or spend a small
fortune on new furniture or an interior designer to make a
dramatic change. You can do it with flowers. They come in
all shapes, sizes and colors, and can be used to create any
number of decorating effects.
"You can use flowers as a window treatment by lining
up a row of simple vases on the window sill and filling them
with your favorite flowers. In the kitchen, fill a vase with
spaghetti, and add flowers for a fresh look. They can be
used in the bathroom as air fresheners, or even as artwork
hung from the walls. The possibilities are endless,” says
Will Carlson of flowerpossibilities.com, a Web site run by
the Flower Promotion Organization.
Here are a few ideas for using flowers to decorate some
of the most used rooms in your house, beginning with a
project that works well anywhere you want to add a little
color.
* Bud Vase
Materials: One narrow necked bud vase, bottle or jar, a
single flower of your choice, approximately five stems of
bear grass or other linear foliage, one to three stems of
greenery for the rim of the bud vase , floral preservative,
floral clippers.
Directions:
Step 1: Fill the container with water containing floral
preservative.
Step 2: Cut the flower stem to about twice the height of
the vase. Strip the flower's stem so that none of the leaves
will be covered by water. Place the flower in the bud vase.
Step 3: To give added support and beauty, add stems of
linear bear grass or other linear foliage. Cut the foliage
so that they are just slightly taller than the flower.
Step 4: To give the bud vase an elegant, balanced look,
insert greenery at the rim of the bud vase.
Basil and oregano aren't the only spices that can liven
up your kitchen. Here’s an arrangement that’s sure to
catch people’s attention every time they walk into the
room:
* Flower Pastabilities
Materials: Recycled spice jar, Recycled pasta sauce jar,
Uncooked spaghetti, floral preservative, Gerbera daisy and
roses.
Directions:
Step 1: Mix floral preservative and water in recycled
spice jar.
Step 2: Place spice jar inside recycled pasta sauce jar.
Step 3: Insert spaghetti between pasta sauce jar and
spice jar.
Step 4: Insert flower stems into spice jar and arrange to
please!
Flowers also make great centerpieces for the entryway,
dining room or a breakfast nook. After the long, cold
winter, a fresh armload of flowers, the textural branches of
a tree and all of nature’s bountiful gifts are sure to
spread cheer.
* Arts & Crafts Style Table Décor
Materials: Three clear glass hurricane vases, one bunch
hot pink Gerberas, nine yellow roses, one bunch natural
branches, nine total stems. (Collect them from the backyard
-- Beech, Birch, Pussy Willow, Forsythia are great options.
In the spring, look for flowering branches), three dinner
plates or chargers, fresh evergreen branches, extra
enhancements (flower petals and figurines).
Directions:
Step 1: Fill hurricanes with water and flower
preservative. Cut 18 stems of Gerberas approximately 12
inches long. Stems should be cut with ends flat so they rest
evenly in container (six per hurricane vase). Cut roses
eight inches long. Strip all foliage from the flower stems.
Step 2: Cut ends of nine branches six inches long (three
for each hurricane vase). Lean vertically to criss-cross
inside the hurricane vase, forming a natural flower holder.
Step 3: Juxtapose three roses at an angle between
branches in each hurricane vase.
Step 4: Cut three to six branch tips 14-16 inches long
(one-two per hurricane vase). Lay six 12 inch Gerbera stems
along side the center branch (per hurricane vase). Insert in
center of each container. Insert remaining laterals around
the center insert. Add water and enjoy.
Step 5: (Optional) For an added touch, slide a favorite
dinner plate or decorative charger under each hurricane
vase. Enhance plates with floral petals and decorative
figurines.
If you don’t want to go all out and make a centerpiece,
a single flower is all it takes to add a little spice to any
nook or cranny in your home. Whether you select a lily, a
single rose, one Gerbera daisy, or even a big fat
chrysanthemum, just one is enough to liven up your indoor
landscape.
Just make sure it’s fresh! The flowers' blooms or buds
should not be bruised or browning. The foliage should be
green without yellowing leaves; and the water the flower is
sold in should smell clean. If it smells bad, chances are
the flowers are old.
Buy flowers when they are closed or just partially open.
Many flower varieties, such as lilies are multi-bloomed,
that is, the flower has several blooms on its one stem. Try
to select a single stem with one bloom open and the others
closed. That way, you will be able to watch the additional
blossoms open and enjoy the flower longer.
For more decorating idea for spring and beyond, log on to
www.flowerpossibilities.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
