CONSTRUCTING A CONICAL ARRANGEMENT

1. CONSTRUCTING A CONICAL ARRANGEMENT Written by: Holli Bowman & David Lynn Hall County Board of Education April 2003 Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office September 2005

2. This presentation is designed to supplement the textbook, Floriculture: Designing Merchandising, Unit 10 “Circular Arrangements”. The author is Charles Griner and it is published by Delmar Publishers.

3. Step 1: Selecting Materials • 11 standard carnations • 2 stems of pompon (daisy) mums • 8 stems of leatherleaf fern • 3 or 4 stems of baby’s breath • A pedestal container • 1/3 block of floral foam • waterproof anchor tape • floral preservative

4. Step 2: Preparing the Container • Cut approximately 1/3 of a block of foam • The foam should extend about 1-2 inches above the rim of the container • Soak the foam in a warm preservative solution • Secure the foam to the container with two pieces of waterproof anchor tape

5. Step 2: Continued • Criss-cross the tape over the foam and attach the ends to the container • Do not attach more than 1 inch of the tape to the container. Long pieces of tape are difficult to hide. • The tape shouldn’t cross in the middle of the foam. A flower stem will be inserted in the middle.

6. Step 3: Greening the Base • Green the base of the arrangement. • Place a ring of leatherleaf fern in a circle at the rim of the container. • Use the tips and save the base of the leatherleaf fern stems for later use.

7. Step 3: Continued • This is a side view of the container after the ring of leatherleaf fern has been placed. • The fern tips should not touch the table top.

8. Step 4: Establishing the Height • Place a standard carnation in the center of the floral foam. • If a low, wide container is used the height of the flower stem should be 2-3 times the width of the container. • If a taller container is used the height of the flower stem should be about 2 times the height of the container. • The height can be increased for a more dramatic look.

9. Step 5: Establishing the Base • Place five standard carnations equidistant from one another around the rim of the container. • Do not be concerned about having to reposition the flowers.

10. Step 5: Continued • If flowers have to be repositioned, don’t use the same hole in the floral foam. • Make a new hole each time you move a flower.

11. Step 6: Adding the Remaining Carnations • Add five additional carnations between the top flower and the base flowers. • Vary the height of these flowers and do not extend them beyond the imaginary line from the base flowers to the top flower. • This will help maintain the conical shape.

12. Step 7: Adding Additional Fern • Place two stems of leatherleaf fern back-to-back on each side of the center carnation stem. • Add additional greenery until the mechanics are covered. • Remember to use the bottom of the leatherleaf fern stems used earlier in step 2.

13. Step 7: Adding Secondary Flowers • Insert blooms of daisy mums where there are large spaces in the arrangement. • Do not crowd the flowers. • Remember to keep the daisy mums within the boundaries set by the standard carnations.

14. Step 8: Adding Filler Flowers • Filler flowers such as statice or baby’s breath can be added to soften the lines of the design. • Cut small pieces of baby’s breath and carefully place them between the flowers in the arrangement. • Allow the baby’s breath to stick out slightly around the flowers and foliage.

15. Step 9: Checking Your Work • Step back from the arrangement and observe it from all sides. • Move flowers if you wish, but remember to make a new hole in the floral foam each time you do. • When the design is completed to your satisfaction, lightly mist the flowers and foliage to give them a fresher appearance.