Budding Creativity: Accentuate Floral Arrangements with the Right Choice of Container
Summer is well underway, and if you are anything like me, sometimes you get caught up in the everyday grind. A list of tasks to be completed becomes more important than simply stopping to smell the roses. Literally. Infuse your home with such beauty, fragrance, and happiness that only nature can provide. Take advantage of the flowers outside your doorstep or at your local market for very little expense. By sprinkling your home’s interior with fresh colorful blooms you are creating a daily reminder to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
To display your fresh cut flowers you need to choose a vase that enhances the arrangement. In selecting your vase consider formality, size, shape, and color. How formal the vase needs to be depends on the flowers chosen. For a more traditional approach, think of materials like mercury glass, cut crystal or silver. For a more casual look think handmade pottery, recycled glass or galvanized tin. The container’s size should be appropriate for the quantity of flowers: using a vase that is too large will make the flowers look skimpy and an afterthought. The color of the container can either offer contrast and a little bit of pop, or it can be muted and recede into the background allowing the flowers to take center stage. In choosing the shape of the container you are looking for a vessel that supports and complements the blooms. Most vases fall into these basic categories; use these guidelines as a jumping off point to select an appropriate container.
Bud Vase
This vase is narrow at the top, so using thin stemmed blooms you can create a dramatic effect using fewer number of flowers. You can choose to display several of these of varying heights in a bookcase or along a dining table. Bud vases are also great for separating flowers from a mixed bouquet. Suggested flowers: freesias, lilies of the valley, clematis, poppies, and craspedia.
Cylinder Vase
The cylinder vase has no narrowing at the top, the sides are straight up and down. The height and narrow column complements abundant bouquets, flowers with unusual shapes, and flowers with bulky stems. Suggested flowers: quince and other flowering branches, alliums, calla lilies, bells of Ireland, and sunflowers.
Trumpet Vase
This vase is narrow at the bottom and flares at the top. Flowers naturally arrange themselves in this type of shape. The arrangement should be loose and airy, organically extending and accentuating the flare of the vase. Suggested flowers: sweet peas, ranunculus, snowdrops, crocosmia, and lisianthus.
Urn-Shaped Vase & Footed Bowl
The height and wide mouth of this container works well with flowers with large blooms. The lip supports the flowers while allowing them room to open. Suggested flowers: hydrangeas, dahlias, lilies, and peonies.
Pail
This container is slightly wider at the top, allowing blooms to have some room. For arrangements to work with this container you will need to have enough flowers to fill the pail’s space. Suggested flowers: tulips, daisies, carnations, and chrysanthemums.
Sphere Vase/Ginger Jar
A sphere with a medium size opening and generous interior allows the stems to spread out while still being supported; so you can pack in a lot of blooms to create a lush globe. Suggested flowers: anemones, delphiniums, roses, astilbes, and lilies.
Anything can be made into a vase with a little creativity. Be fearless – experiment with different objects to create a floral arrangement that is truly stunning. Assemble an arrangement of blooms that allows you to (almost) forget that pile of laundry waiting, or at least puts a bit more spring in your step.
