How to Make Sympathy Flower Arrangements
Creating a sympathy arrangement is a labor of love that allows you to convey your expression of condolence with the serene beauty of flowers. Here you will find detailed instructions, from flower and vase selection to adding finishing touches, that will enable you to design a lovely vase arrangement you will be proud to give as a personal, caring tribute to a lost loved one.
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Things You'll Need
- Flowers
- Greenery
- Flower vase
- Floral knife
- Flower preservative
- Garden glove or finger protector
Instructions
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Select three to five different kinds of flowers, for a total of 12 to 20 stems, depending on the size of arrangement desired. Sympathy arrangements can be any color or combination of colors. Using the favorite colors of the deceased person is one possibility. Vary the size and shape of the flowers. The arrangement pictured above was created using asiatic lilies, spider mums, calla lilies, snap dragons and roses. Choose two or three different types of greens such as leather fern, salal or ming fern.
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Prepare your flowers. Dissolve flower food in warm water in a clean bucket. Using a floral knife, and cutting at an angle, remove about 1/2 inch from the end of each stem and place it in the bucket. This allows them to hydrate while you get the vase and greens ready. Wear a thick garden glove or a finger protector, which can be purchased at a floral supply store.
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Fill the vase with tepid water and flower food. A 9-inch tall vase will be about right for a medium-sized arrangement. For larger arrangements, choose an 11-inch or taller vase.
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Add greenery to the vase. Place several stems of the shorter, fuller type of greens, such as leather fern, at the opening of the vase, interweaving, or crisscrossing the stems as you go. Do the same as you add the taller greens. Insert the hanging type of greens, such as seeded eucalyptus or ming fern, around the outer rim, allowing them to drape gracefully.
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Place the flowers. Hold each flower in front of the vase to get an idea of where you want to it to be, and cut the stem accordingly, again cutting at an angle. Then carefully insert the stem into the greens. If there are sufficient greens, they should hold the flowers in place. If the flowers move around loosely, add more greens.
Continue placing the flowers, using some as a focal point at the lower front of the arrangement, and work your way up and out. Use the longer-shaped or line flowers to add height.
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References
- Photo Credit Donnes Measures
