INTERIOR PLANT DESIGN
Native Flowers
Going for a hike or walking through a
meadow we are easily enticed by native
flowers that look so beautiful in their
natural habitat that you can’t help but
want to take them home. Unfortunately
without proper care when picking these
flowers many are soon discouraged as
these once beautiful blooms are now
droopy and wilted in the vase at home.
Wondering if there is a trick ...yes
there is but you need to be prepared
As with all flowers as soon as they
are cut it is essential to be
immediately placed in water to keep
them well hydrated. Remove all
foliage from the lower area of the
stems and recut prior to placing in
water. If stems are woody in nature
splice up the middle of the stem
with a sharp cutting knife as well
to allow quick intake of water -
a dash of non-iodized table
salt helps the stems absorb water.
The ideal time for harvesting your
flowers is always early morning
while the dew is still on the
flowers. The best choice in flowers
is to look for flowers that are just
on the cusp of opening in order to
get the most out your selection.
Allow the flowers to hydrate
properly for two to three hours in a
cool location away from direct light
When working with native flowers and
greenery it is best to choose for
cutting natives that have interesting
shape and texture in their form, leaves,
stems and texture. As in nature there
should be a balance between foliage,
flowers and branches in your design.
Working with native flowers also
provides the opportunity to be
eco friendly however many will become
frustrated in attempting to create a
shape in their arrangement with these
delicate stems. The trick is to create a
support system in the vessel either by
building an armature using branches of
dogwood or willow bound together or by
using a ball of coated chicken wire at
the bottom of the vessel through which
the stems may be placed. It is best to
minimize your colour selection to three
colours at best to create an elegant and
natural feel to your design. Embrace the
uniqueness of the shape of your stems
and allow them to be the guide in
creating a beautiful, unique and organic
design. To prolong the life of your
flowers disinfect your vessel and change
water daily remembering to recut your
stems each time. Make sure to remove any
stems that may be rotting to avoid
affecting the balance of your
arrangement and always keep your design
away from heat and bright light. Be
inspired.