CONSTRUCTING AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE ARRANGEMENT Written by: Holli Bowman & David Lynn Hall County Board of Education April 2003 Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office September 2005

This presentation is designed to supplement the textbook, Floriculture: Designing & Merchandising, Unit 11 “Triangular Arrangements”. The author is Charles Griner and it is published by Delmar Publishers.

Step 1: Selecting Materials A low container (6” design bowl or Revere bowl) 5 stems of gladiolus 13 standard carnations 2 stems of statice Several stems of sword fern 10 stems of leatherleaf fern ½ block of floral foam Floral preservative Waterproof anchor tape The sword fern is optional.

Step 2: Preparing the Container Select a low or pedestaled container for this design. Soak floral foam in warm preservative solution and place it in the container. The foam should protrude at least one inch above the rim of the container. Secure the foam with waterproof anchor tape.

Step 2: Continued Criss-cross the tape over the foam and attach the ends to the container. Do not attach more than ½ inch of tape to the container. Long strips of tape will be difficult to hide later. The tape should be slightly off-center in order to insert a stem in the center of the foam.

Step 3: Establishing the Height and Width The first gladiolus should be placed in the rear center of the foam and tipped slightly backward for balance. The height should be at least two times the height of the container. The other two gladiolus will establish the width of the design. They should be spaced equidistant forming the points of an equilateral triangle. If a low, wide container is used the height will be at least two times the width of the container.

Step 3: Continued Tipping the gladiolus slightly backwards will counterbalance the forward placement of the flowers. Insert the stems into the sides of the foam near the back. The stems should angle slightly backward and downward.

Step 4: Finishing the Outline Position an additional gladiolus at the midpoints of the two vertical sides of the triangle. They shouldn’t extend beyond the boundaries established by the first three gladioli. If you were constructing larger designs, more than one flower would be needed on each side. A short (6 inch) piece of gladiolus can be inserted in the front, angled down above the rim of the container to add depth.

Step 5: Adding Carnations Add standard carnations following the outline of the design. Use the smaller blooms along the outer edges. The tallest carnation should be slightly lower than gladiolus that is behind it. With these seven carnations you are constructing a triangle within a triangle.

Step 6: Greening the Design Insert greenery into the foam along the triangular lines of the design in front of and behind the flowers. Green the back of the design so that all mechanics are covered. The leatherleaf fern should maintain the triangular shape of the design.

Step 7: Adding More Carnations Place the largest carnation in the front center, just above the rim of the container. Position it to come straight out and slightly downward. Angle the lower flowers downward over the rim. All of the stems should appear to radiate from one point. Correct facing is important. Flowers near the focal point should face forward.

Step 8: Adding Filler Flowers Add statice or other filler flowers to fill in the voids. Be careful not to crowd the flowers. The sword fern can also be added at this time.

Step 9: Evaluating the Arrangement Check your work. Step back from the arrangement and observe it closely. Move flowers as needed, but remember to make a new hole in the floral foam each time.