How to Arrange Flowers

Flowers. 

I realized, even as a little girl, that flowers were essential to my soul. 

I am as drawn to beautiful flowers as I am drawn to the smile of a baby. 

It touches my heart.  I think it is one of the reasons I love Europe like I do,

and especially England with those fabulous English Gardens.  In fact,

my style of flower arranging tends to lean towards the unorganized and 

free-flowing English style.   But, there really is a method to the madness.  

I am sharing it here with you.

How to Arrange Flowers in a Vase Using the Clock Method

I have never had any type of formal training when it comes to arranging flowers.

My technique is to simply start adding flowers and greenery that I like, and just

let the arrangement speak to me.  But, not everyone is a flower whisperer.  LOL 

Several years ago while I was working with JoAnns Fabrics, I started teaching

floral arranging classes using a method called the “Clock Method.”  Particularly,

the 12-3-6 and 9 o’clock times.  This technique works in any container.  Today, I

am using one of my faves… a rusty tin can.  🙂

Believe it or not, just a few days ago this beautifully, rustic tin-can was a brand

new can that held tomatoes.  Shiny and new and not a rust spot in sight.  So how 

did it go from a shiny, new can to this rustic beauty so quick?  Simple, I took a 

bucket of water and submerged the can, and added some rocks in the botom of the

can to weigh it down.   Just a few days later…instant rustiness. 🙂

(ssshhh… don’t tell anyone it’s my secret)

Next, you will need some floral foam that fits your container.  

I like to pre-soak my foam in warm water for about 10-15 minutes.  Keep the

foam snug so it holds firm.  Now comes the fun part.  Adding the 

flowers and greenery. 

I have two different bundles of flowers and herbs and greenery which I

picked from the garden and from our yard.  The above is a mixture of pink

lantana, dill blossoms, asparagus fronds and tendrils of thyme. 

Here is the second bundle…

Pink hydrangea, daylilies and purple butterfly bush blossoms and cone flowers.

Perfect!

So, what does four points of a clock face have to do with arranging flowers?

Before I explain it, make sure you have stripped the bottom 1/3 of all stems of

excess leaves.  Leaves in the water will lesson the water quality and life of the

arrangement.  Also, cut the end of the stem at an angle, preferably under

warm, running water, and remove any dead or diseased-looking leaves and 

blossoms, as well.

Start with some of the taller flowers at the back.  These will be placed at

9, 12 and 3 o’clock.  (I will explain why I am leaving 6 o’clock open in a few.)

Stand back, and see if the stems look appropriately placed and are not too tall. 

The total arrangement should not be much more than about 1 1/2 times the

height of the container to maintain proper scale. 

If you are happy with the placement, its simple a matter of continuing to add

more stems in the same clock positions. 

I will add sometimes 5-6 layers of different stems in this general position. 

So, why have a left the 6 o’clock position open?  Because in this case, the star of this

arrangement will be the two pink hydrangea.   I want them to take center stage. 

So, the stems of the hydrangea are cut shorter to accommodate a low placement

closer to the top of the container.

Once you have the 6 o’clock flowers in place, go ahead and fill in with other

flowers.  Here is a little hint… having a hard time pushing some stems into the

foam?  Take a wood skewer or pencil and create a hole, then the stem will slide

right in effortlessly.  When adding filler, etc, the Clock Method is no longer

necessary.  Use fronds and greenery and smaller blossoms as filler.  

And there you go!

I call this “English Garden in a Can.”  Quite poetic, huh?  🙂

I added the tendrils of thyme at the bottom, and the asparagus fronds

work beautifully as light and fluffy filler. 

 I may not have a huge, English Garden outside our front door. 

But, I have some blossoms and herbs that allow me to bring a touch of

the English inside of our home.   

Thank you for letting me share this Flower Arranging Technique

with you.  If you have trouble arranging flowers, I think if you use this

“Clock Method” you will find it helps you and be arranging all kinds of

beautiful bouquets. 

Here is a little sneak peek at my “English Garden in a Can” in our Garden…

I will share more of this, as well as my French Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

later this week. 

 

May Your Life Be Filled With Flowers…

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Here are more “Flower” Posts from The Everyday Home…

5 Reasons Why I Love Grocery Store Flowers

 

How to Make Silk Flowers Look Real

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