How to make Fall Flower Arrangements

A tall dining room table arrangement

Fall flower arrangements share a hallmark of color, regardless of the varieties of flowers used. From flowers and greens found in a home garden, to a selection of floral retail blooms, creating arrangements can be an inexpensive way to bring the season indoors.

Things You'll Need

• Vases, baskets, clay or pottery vessels (with liners) Floral (oasis) foam Sharp nippers or shears Garden gloves Water

Instructions

Selecting Containers

1. Choose containers that suit the flowers. A broad, open basket works well with greenery and plant filler that will spill over the sides and fill up the inside. Narrow top opening rose bowls work well for displaying large quantities of single flowers like carnations or roses.

2. 

   Select a space for the arrangement before creating it, if possible. Kitchen or dining room tables are popular for flowers, but can pose a problem if the arrangement blocks the view of diners. Keep arrangement heights in mind to enjoy flowers, family and friends at the table.

3. Soak floral foam in container at least 15 minutes to make sure the foam is saturated before using. If not using foam, fill the container about two-thirds full with water.

Selecting Flowers

1. 

   Cut flowers allowing enough stem to display the blooms well above the top of the container. Autumn flowers may include anything still blooming in the garden, such as sunflowers, zinnias, black eyed Susans, asters, Joe Pye weed, helenium, lilies, and goldenrod, all good choices in North America.

2. Look for autumn color more than a particular variety when shopping for flowers at florists or other flower retailers. Combine a variety of colors, red, yellow, orange, following nature's fall palette in your local area.

3. Recut any flowers after bringing them home from shopping and prior to arranging them.

4. Alter the height of flowers for a loose arrangement, keeping taller flowers in the center and shorter ones around the perimeter. Add greens, including ferns or evergreen branches, for textural interest and color contrast.

Tips & Warnings

• Scale flower sizes to containers, and change the water frequently, if not daily to maintain freshness. To freshen a flower arrangement, remove and discard faded blooms and replace with fresh ones. Recut stems to prolong the life of some types of flowers, like zinnias and sunflowers.

References

• Section 2 Step 1

Resources

• Flower Arranging Information For Hobbyists
• General Flower Arranging Information
• Making Arrangements