BASKET DESIGN

These kind of basket designs arranged in round shape are perfect gifts for any occasion. They can be a nice gift for someone's office or just change the color palette and they are new baby gifts. Or better yet, make one just for yourself and brighten up a corner in your house.
Round arrangement shape appears the same on all sides and there is no front or back to this kind of arrangement. It is helpful greening the design before the main flowers are inserted with the foliage to define the shape. Flowers and foliages are added in a radiating pattern, keeping the outside edges rounded on all sides. Working with odd numbers (having 3 of the same flowers creating a triangle) is the easiest way to achieve the round shape. The design is finished by adding filler flowers (small branched flowers) in empty spots to fill up the gaps. Here I used carnations and chrysanthemums and lots of greens and two bells of ireland.

ASIAN INSPIRED

This Asian inspired design uses very minimal materials and very quick to make. I have seen the design on Florists Review Magazine March 2008 issue. They were using some greens at the rim of the vase which changes the look a lot in a nice way. I didn't have any greens at the time but had the other ingredients so I had to try. I only use a bunch of canes and two stems of lilies. The stamens need to be removed from the lilies otherwise they may stain the tablecloth or someone's clothing very badly.

MADAGASCAR DRAGON TREE

My husband is very picky about houseplants and he doesn't like most of mines; but he loves this one. Dragon tree is actually a very popular houseplant and it is easy to care for too. The genus dracaena has many species of palm like plants from Africa and Asia and they are quite tough. This makes them very popular indoor plants. This particular one I have is called dracaena marginata; means red margined dracaena. The name comes from the narrow green leaves edged with purplish-red. It has a narrow trunk, often twisted- mine is shaped like a heart:) Many growers train the trunks into controlled shapes when the plants are young in order to achieve fun and interesting graphics. They are un-branched on young plants but may become branched and tall up to the ceiling height in time. As the plant grows, the older leaves will yellow and die back from time to time. So don't worry when you see some of the bottom leaves falling. Older canes may branch at the top as well.

Dragon Tree requires at least moderate light but no direct sunlight. Keep evenly moist. Water freely from spring to autumn, sparingly in winter. Always discard drainage. Never let the roots dry out. They require average indoor humidity levels but they benefit from misting the leaves regularly. The leaves will scorch if the air is too dry or the plant is in a draft. Minimum winter temperature is around 55 F degrees and summer temperature is around 75 F degrees. Only feed during late spring and summer months. You can take stem cuttings at any time and new plants can be started with air layering. Always pick off yellow leaves and trim leaves with brown tips. Sponge the leaves occasionally to keep them clean and bright. Repot in spring if necessary.

TELEFLORA COMMERCIAL

TELEFLORA'S TALKING FLOWERS:)
I really like this commercial. I never understand the logic behind sending flowers in a box- unarranged:( I totally agree with Teleflora on this.

flowers - florists - flower delivery

FIRESIDE BASKET

Fireside baskets are usually sent to funerals by family, friends or business associates. It is a floor basket and I like to use it by the fireplace. So it reminds me not the funerals but the winter and fireplaces. Choose your flowers in warm colors and it will warm you up just by looking at it. This one is designed using an iglu holder by OASIS and it makes the designing much easier.

POOR BRIDE'S BOUQUET:)

I love gypsophilia/baby's breath. Chrysanthemums are also beautiful, have many colors available and affordable. This bride's bouquet is probably the most affordable bouquet ever yet very cute. It is a very easy bouquet to make too. Just gather several stems of baby's breath together and glue chrysanthemum flower heads directly onto the baby's breath with floral glue. You can wrap the stems with nice ribbon or a piece of tulle and you have a nice bouquet.