I feel like a giddy child who just received an unexpected gift from a favorite aunt! I’ll pass it along to you if you 
love flowers, and you’ll be as thrilled as me. Years ago I tore out a page from a magazine now long forgotten. In an organizing mood about a year ago, I scanned the magazine page and put it in the Ideas folder in the software I use to write my blog. (Scrivener) Today when I was trolling my files, I came across this very helpful article on flower arranging. As I re-read it, I decided to research a bit and find out about the author, Sarah Raven. When I found her website and then her blog I was enthralled. My self-discipline was sorely tested when I had to stop reading her treasure trove of gardening advice and actually write my own blog article. I wanted to keep soaking up all the videos, articles, and instructions this knowledgeable lady offers free on her blog.
Are you ready for some delight? Did I mention she’s British and speaks and writes in her winsome Brit way? Here is your doorway to a great deal of gardening help: sarahraven.com Set aside some time to dig in! (Pun intended.)
Here is one of her videos on flower arranging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4zAWPaZl2g
Since this is the time of year when flowers are in abundance, I thought a quick recap of Raven’s approach to flower arranging would be in order. Basically, Sarah’s approach is to choose three kinds of foliage before adding three kinds of flowers. The framework for the bouquet is a woody-stemmed plant with long stems and a full top. The other foliage plants and the flowers are added by sticking them through this framework. The woody stemmed plant holds up all the others.
The next foliage plant she adds contrasts with the framework foliage. It’s color and shape should be different. This one is interspersed with the framework foliage by sticking it through.
The third foliage plant she chooses has an interesting shape that protrudes above the first two and is also interspersed on lower levels.
She now adds the three flowers. Her clever name for the main flower is the bride. This one is the color that will carry the bouquet. It’s scattered through the foliage plants, not placed around the edges, but threaded through the framework.
The secondary flowers she calls the bridesmaids. They carry the color scheme forward by echoing the same color as the bride. But they are normally not as large or otherwise impressive as the bride, so as not to compete with the bride.
The third flower is one of contrasting color that gives an unexpected pop to the mix which she calls the gate-crasher.
Sarah Raven’s advice on preparing flowers for arranging is worth noting. Her suggestion which I always do is to carry a container with water to my garden so I can plunge flowers immediately after cutting into a tepid drink, and I try to let them rest before arranging, but I wasn’t aware of the another important prep step she suggests. She recommends searing- putting 2” of boiling water in a cup and dunking the ends of stems in the hot water for 10 seconds for fragile plants, 30 seconds for nonfragile flowers, and 1 minute for woody plants like lilacs. The searing will refresh wilted flowers and extend their longevity. Adding 5 TBL white vinegar to the water in a 12” vase, for instance, helps prevent bacteria from multiplying and lengthens the life of the arrangement. Adjust amount of vinegar to the size of the vase, of course.
Watching the video above will make all this much plainer as you can watch her make an arrangement as she explains.