Floral Design Competencies 30.00-32.00

Types of Design Materials There are four basic types of design materials: Line flowers Mass flowers Form flowers Filler flowers

Line Flowers Tall spikes of flowers with florets blooming along the stem Create the outline for an arrangement and establish the height and width as well as the curvilinear lines. Line flowers are attractive by themselves in a tall vase.

Line Flowers-Examples Snapdragons Gladiolus Foxglove Liatris Scotch broom

Mass Flowers Have the flower head on the terminal end of the stem, usually round and full. Draw attention to the focal point and add mass and weight to the arrangement. Cover floral foam and help fill in empty areas with flowers. Good choices for a quick vase. Usually sold in bunches.

Mass Flowers-Examples Carnations Roses Chrysanthemums

Other Mass Flower Examples Sunflower Alstroemeria Gerbera or Shasta daisy Zinnia Daffodil Tulip Hydrangea Lemon Leaf

Form Flowers Unique in shape or color Create the accent or focal point or focal area of the arrangement to attract the viewer’s attention

Form Flowers-Examples Bird of paradise Orchid

Other Form Flower Examples Anthurium Iris Calla lilies Peony Stargazer Wax Flower Ferns

Filler Flowers Have small sprays of flowers or are like ferns Used to fill empty spaces and to accent the other floral materials within the arrangement Also used to cover or hide the mechanics of the arrangement including the frame, supports, ties, etc.

Filler Flowers-Examples Baby’s breath Statice

Other Filler Flower Examples Queen Anne’s Lace Ferns Heather Asters Sprengeri Fern Bear Grass

Floral Design Shapes

Round Flower arrangement is basically round in shape

Oval Flowers make an oval shaped arrangement

Fan Flowers make a fan or semicircle shaped arrangement

Triangle Shape may be an equilateral triangle with all three sides the same length or asymmetrical triangle with sides of different lengths.

Right Angle Flowers make an L shape

Inverted-T The flowers make an upside down T

Vertical Straight up, in a bud vase, tall vertically, narrow horizontally

Horizontal Long horizontal and short vertically

Diagonal Halfway between vertical and horizontal

Crescent Shaped like a quarter moon

Hogarth curve Shaped like an S curve

Design Principles

Balance When the flower size and container flow together and complement each other

Focal Point Creates the accent and interest to catch the eye

Proportion Keeps relative size, color and texture of the flowers to create a pleasing arrangement. Floral designs should be at least 1 ½ to 2 times the height or width of the container.

Scale The principle that the design must be in proportion to the surrounding area where it is placed.

Accent Used to catch attention and draw attention to the design

Repetition Accentuates the flowers and colors by repeating their use throughout the design

Rhythm Creates a sense of continuity or flowing together

Harmony When all parts flow together to give a completed look to the arrangment

Unity When the flowers complement each other through color, size, and shape

Floral Design Tools

Floral Foam Foam used to hold flowers in a container. Fresh flower floral foam-absorbs water. Soak it in water prior to starting your arrangement. Dry flower floral foam-does not absorb water. Used for dried or silk flowers. This floral foam is dense.

Styrofoam Coarse in texture and is used mostly for silk flowers.

Wire Supports flower stems or creates artificial stems. Boxed wire measures 18” in length. Wire gauge ranges from #6 to #30. The higher the gauge number the thinner the wire. #22 gauge wire is a good general purpose wire, used for securing bows.

Wire #28 gauge wire is used for wiring average weight flowers. Paddle wire (wire on a wooden or plastic spool) is used to wire pine cones and accessories to wreaths, etc. and is available in different gauges. Wire cutters should be used to cut wire-NEVER scissors

Picks Wooden picks with wire increase the stems length and attach bows or ribbon used in the design.

Floral Tape Waterproof tape is used to attach floral foam to the container. Floral tape (stem wrap) is a tacky tape used to wrap wire. It is used to conceal wire and stems when creating boutonnieres and corsages.

Cutting Tools Shears are used to cut woody stemmed flowers/plants. Scissors are used to cut ribbon or fabric. Floral Knives are used to cut flower stems.

Ribbon Sold in bolts by number size and textuure

Ribbon Number Size #1.5=5/16” #2=7/16” #3=9/16” commonly used for corsages and boutonnieres #5=7/8” commonly used for potted plants #9=1 5/16” commonly used for potted plants

Ribbon Number Size #40=2 ½” commonly used for wreath bows #100=4” commonly used for funeral sprays

Ribbon Texture Satin Organza Mesh Burlap Raffia Prints Solid Paper Wired and unwired

Containers Range from bud vases to large containers. Can be made of glass, plastic, glazed pots and light weight liners.

Foil Paper to wrap a potted plant. Sold in rolls or pre-cut sheets.

Design Techniques

Steps in Designing Arrangements Select a design shape Select appropriate container, cut floral foam and attach to container Set container and foam in water for 20 minutes Select fern or other filler and arrange in foam to cover foam and extend at least 1 ½ times the width of the container.

Steps in Designing Arrangements Insert flower to make arrangement desired height Insert more flowers to make design outline and focal point Add other flowers as needed to make arrangement Arrange filler flowers such as baby’s breath to give a completed appearance