The Canadian Family

Floral arrangements come in a wide variety of designs and sizes and can be created to suit many different situations. Whether it be party floral decorations, table centerpieces or funeral sprays, floral arrangements provide a fantastic means of enhancing the mood of an occasion and expressing your feelings. Floral arrangements are flexible enough to cater for all styles and budgets, anything from elegant single blooms to extravagant floral arches, each one beautifully displaying your own style and creativity.

Whatever the occasion, all floral arrangements need the same kind of care and consideration if they are to remain at their best. Fresh flowers of course, last for a shorter period of time than artificial flowers and may require a little kinder handling. Many varieties of flowers will not tolerate extremes of temperature and need to be kept well watered and away from direct sunlight and artificial sources of heat. Artificial floral arrangements can last a lifetime if looked after properly and kept away from strong sunlight. Silk floral arrangements in particular are becoming very popular, since they can provide a very beautiful, natural looking display.

If you decide to create your own floral arrangement, here are a few hints to bear in mind. Using florist foam will help you to arrange your design with more precision – green foam for fresh flowers and brown for artificial or dried flowers. Always soak the foam before inserting fresh flowers and try to ensure that the stems are in touching the foam at their base, otherwise they will wilt. It can be useful to cut a little v shaped notch in the top of the foam to allow you to top up with water. Try very hard to resist the temptation to reuse foam, since it will already have holes in it and so you may well be inserting your fresh stems into air pockets which will make them wilt.

Properly caring for cut flowers arranged in a vase or similar container can extend their life. It is good to use a clean container and add appropriate cut flower food. It pays to take away any shots or leaves which would be submerged in water as these would quickly rot. For those floral arrangements which need to have immediate short term impact e.g. wedding bouquets, use flowers which are at or almost at their full bloom; they wont last long but they will look stunning. For those floral arrangements which you can enjoy over a longer time,those used in home decorating for example, use cut flowers which are in bud or just beginning to open and then you will have the pleasure of watching them blossom.

Artificial flowers need much less care and attention. A gentle blow of the hair drier will easily remove dust and keeping the display away from direct sunlight will prevent fading. However it might be helpful to consider the following if you are going to create your own artificial floral display. Since artificial flowers are quite light, you may well have to weight the bottom of the container, preferably with decorative items like shells, stones or sand, for a more permanent display, clear acrylic can be used. When arranging the individual flowers, try to think of how each one would naturally fall and shape it accordingly before adding it to your floral arrangement.

For many people however the thought of creating their own floral arrangements is just too daunting, especially if it is for an important occasion such as a wedding or funeral, when time is at a premium and emotions are running high. The best option is to then employ a professional florist to design and create your special floral arrangement. Choosing the right florist can be a task in itself, but a little effort at this stage will ensure that your are much more satisfied with the results.

The choice of florist is as unique as the floral displays you want to create and choosing someone who’s style matches your own will mean that you are more likely to be satisfied with the result. So, if at all possible you should have a look at their previous work and check that they have designed displays similar to the one you have in mind. Equally important is communicating clearly your ideas to the florist and if you can show them pictures so much the better. Be specific on the colors and style of arrangement that you want, be it modern, elegant etc.