Marion Baker Gloucester Virginia www.duchessflowers.com marion@duchessflowers.com Wâv{xáá Éy ZÄÉâvxáàxÜ YÄÉãxÜá
Williamsburg Farmers Market Marion Baker Specialty Cut Flower Grower Sell Bouquets, cut flowers by the stem, dried flowers, edible flowers Specializing in dried lavender keepsakes such as potpourri, lavender wands and lavender sachets Special event flowers for all occasions
Holiday Decorations Selecting the materials Greens, Dried Flowers, Fresh Flowers, Berries, Nuts etc. Conditioning the materials Putting it all together Preserving your creation
Selecting the Materials Gather a variety of evergreen materials. Fall is a good time to prune your evergreens and utilize the trimmings. Some good ones to use would be Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana), Magnolia, Boxwoods and Hollies Collect Berries. Wild rose hips (red), Beautyberry (Calycarpus), Hollies, Nandina, and Bayberry/Wax Myrtle all work well. Collect dried seed pods such as pine cones. Siberian iris pods are nice, trumpet vine pods, Okra Pods Use your imagination Dried grasses, shells, tree bark
Conditioning the Material Prepare the evergreens by putting the cut ends in a bucket of hot water and floral preservative in a cool place for 24 hours to hydrate the greens For dried material If collecting the material yourself, put it in the oven for 2 hours at a low temperature to kill insects that may be on the material For grass seeds, cattails and other fragile material, spray with unscented hairspray to preserve For berries Dip in acrylic floor wax which gives them a shine and seals them so they retain moisture and don t wither as quickly For shells and other materials, clean thoroughly
Putting it all together Select your container. Soak oasis in water for approximately 1 ½ hour or until it is thoroughly wet. Cut the oasis to the proper size to fit in the container you have selected. Tape the oasis securely in the container. Prepare the decorative material by attaching wire floral picks.
Cut evergreens to appropriate length and strip the last 1 ½ of the stem of any leaf material
After removing foliage from the end of the stem, push the bare end into the floral foam.
Starting at the bottom begin inserting your evergreen material into the oasis, shaping as you go
Hold the wreath still as you stick the pieces into the oasis.
Keep turning the wreath as you stick in the evergreens, Keep greening in the same direction
and clip pieces from the branches to keep them all the same length.
Now that the wreath is greened it is time to decorate!
Begin adding the decorative material you have chosen. Berries, nuts, feathers, shells, dried flowers or whatever you choose. Keep in mind the color and the shape and size of the materials to create a satisfying arrangement.
Here is a finished Fall Centerpiece in the workroom
And a Hanging Piece for Fall
Preserving your creation Spray your arrangement with an anti desiccant such as Crowning Glory Water your arrangement and check frequently to ensure the oasis doesn t dry out. It will need more moisture in the first few days If the arrangement is outside, it will last longer in a shady or protected location If the arrangement is inside, keep it in a cool location out of direct sunlight If properly maintained your arrangement should last a couple weeks
Marion Baker Gloucester Virginia www.duchessflowers.com marion@duchessflowers.com Wâv{xáá Éy ZÄÉâvxáàxÜ YÄÉãxÜá ANY QUESTIONS?