Picking the wrong vase is a sure way to
wither a fresh flower arrangement. Here are some expert tips
for pairing the right vessel with the right bouquet:
Shallow, bowl-shaped containers are a good choice for tables
where you want to see over the arrangement. Many types of
vessels can work, from soup bowls to sherbet glasses and
coffee cups. Short-stemmed blossoms, such as violets,
impatiens, and begonias, are best-suited for these containers.
To create a rounded arrangement, cut floral foam so that it
fits inside the container and rises an inch or so above the
top. Crisscross floral tape to hold the foam in place. Insert
some flowers at an angle pointing down so that they overlap
the edge.
Tip: To camouflage floral foam in a
glass vase, line the container with moss or broad, flat
foliage, such as these tulip leaves, before inserting the
water-soaked foam.
There's a good reason why an urn-like shape is the most
popular for vases: It makes the most sense for flower
arranging. The narrow neck holds the flowers in place while
the wider bottom and slightly flared top allow the stemsand
blooms to spread out. Virtually any kind of flower works well
in this type of vase, but it is particularly well-suited to
lilies, spider mums, and other flowers with large, showy
heads. When assembling a single-flower arrangement, let taller
stems with tighter blossoms or buds define the upper and outer
edges of the design. Place larger, showier heads near the
bottom for balance.
Tip: To make arranging easier and to keep vase
water clean, strip the leaves from the portion of the stem
that falls below the waterline. Also, change the water when it
becomes cloudy
