Feature of the month

Make a floral textured table decoration

You will need:

• A bowl of any material that can hold water, approx 10" diameter, 3-4" high, round or square. Bowls with straight sides are much easier to manage.
• Scissors and/or knife;
• Block of oasis;
• Pot tape, preferrably 1/2" thick (for securing the oasis in the bowl).

Flowers and leaves:

• You will need 3 sets of 3-5 flowers of similar size for the main framework of the display, eg Roses, Carnations, Gerbera. You could also use Dahlias, Tulips, Iris, or experiment with your favourite flowers; Choose colours which complement or contrast with each other. Strong pinks and reds work well with the greenery of the foliage, or you might prefer subtler mauves and purples with pale-greens or yellows.
• 3 Trachelium;
• 5 stems of round Spray Chysanths (not daisy) eg lime green 'Kermit' Chrysanthemum;
• 3 stems of Bupleurum if available;
• 5 Hard Ruscus if available;
• Selection of small texture and flat foliages from the garden, eg Hebe, Ivy, Euonymus, Pieris, Ligustrum (variegated).

Quick tips for buying flowers: If possible, buy on the day you intend to use them. When buying carnations, you shouldn't be able to see the stamens at all - if you can they are too old. Sometimes people are disappointed with carnations because the flowerheads don't seem to open at all. This doesn't mean they were too young/old when picked, they just sometimes get 'stuck'. If you have bought carnations with the flowerheads still quite closed, just gently frill the petals out to encourage them to open. With Gerberas, the dark spot in the middle should be small, if it is large the flowers are too old.

Method

First of all cut the oasis to completely fill the bowl. The oasis should be about 1/4-1/2" higher than the bowl itself. Fill a basin with water and drop the oasis in it to soak up the moisture - oasis nowadays is made to draw up the water without aid, so don't press the oasis down as this will be less effective. When the oasis is completely soaked, re-arrange it in the bowl. Next use the pot tape to secure the oasis in the container, so your arrangement won't slip while you're creating it. Tape from one side of the pot across the top of the oasis to the other side of the pot - two tapes across the centre should do.

Now start with your main flowerheads. When cutting flowers, you can either use scissors or a knife. A knife is quicker and more effective once you become more proficient, as it doesn't squash the stem in any way, as scissors can do. Squashing the stem can reduce the amount of moisture the flower takes up. Also, cut the stems diagonally, as this will increase the surface area of the cut and allow more moisture to be drawn up. Diagonal cuts also makes it easier to press the stems into the oasis securely. If the cut is flat, the stem will make a larger hole and the whole thing may wobble about.

Cut the flowers very short, leaving about 1 1/2" of stem. Then push them into the flat surface of the oasis in groups of 3-5, keeping them upright, so that you cover the main area. What you are aiming for is splashes of colour, like a painting. Think about the way the way the colours and textures work together. Keep the heights of the flowers around the same. Once you have added your main flowers, begin adding in the 'fillers', starting with the Spray Chrysanths and the Trachelium. The Trachelium, being feathery, will contrast well with the denser shape of the flowerheads, making both appear more distinct. Don't try and put too much of the Trachelium stem in at once, cut off the individual branches and put them in individually. This is more time-consuming and a little fiddly, but you will get a much neater and more controlled result. Again, keep the height similar to the flowers. You are aiming to fill all the gaps between the flowers and to come down the side of the oasis to the level of the pot, with enough foliage overhanging the edge of the pot to cover any pot tape that is on view. Finish by adding in the foliage, filling in any gaps. Look at your arrangement from every angle - you should not be able to see any oasis or pot tape. That's it!

To prolong the life of your arrangement, keep the oasis moist.