bouquet, look beyond just blooms to incorporate seed pods, grasses and other foliage from the backyard or woods, says Wilber. Tese will not only fill in gaps leſt by thin-stemmed flowers, but also help create contrast in texture, she adds, recommending that 70 percent of the container be green. Once the design is complete, fine-


tune the arrangement by stepping back to see the big-picture look and making any adjustments, removing discolored leaves and adding greenery to any bald spots, says Wilber. Many designers wrap large, flat leaves around the inside of a container for a clean, polished look that hides the stems. Most importantly, don’t forget


to stop and smell the lilacs. Let the flowers lead the design and let go of any unattainable vision of perfection. “Appreciating the flowers and being thankful is an important part of the process, too,” says Ha.


Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Tompson at AprilWrites.com.


Flower Arranging Tips From a Pro


A


healthy, professional-looking bouquet doesn’t take years of flower designing


to achieve; these tricks of the trade will help neophyte designers get started. To loosen up tightly wound buds, breathe on


them. Hot breath will open buds up faster, says publisher and arranger Kathy Jentz. An arranging technique Jentz recommends


is clustering blossoms between the index finger and thumb of the less-dominant hand, resulting in a tight arrangement that can be held in place by a rubber band pulled up to the tops of the stems.


If working with hydrangeas or other flowers with woody stems, smash open the


stems along the length to get more water circulation. Consider upcycling common containers to make flower vases, Jentz says. “You


can create recycled vases out of old jars and bottles, or use chalk paint to colorfully cover over a tin can.” Te secret sauce in flower food is simply sugar and citric acid, says Jentz, so a little lemonade mix added to the water of an arrangement will work fine in a pinch.


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www.meditationsformiracles.com May 2020 17


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