CONSTRUCTING A CENTERPIECE 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 Low, wide container 1/3 to 1 block floral foam (depending on container used) 9 standard carnations 3-4 stems of pompon mums 2-3 stems of statice 2-3 stems of baby’s breath 8 stems of leatherleaf fern Waterproof anchor tape Floral preservative

Step 2: Preparing the Container Due to the low profile, select a low oval, round or rectangular container. The container should be in proportion to the size of the table. Soak the floral foam and place it in the container so that at least one inch sticks above the container. Tape the foam into place with two pieces of tape in a criss-cross pattern.

Step 3: Placing the Skeleton Flowers Select five carnations to form the skeleton. The height of the design should be less than fourteen inches. The length of the design should be 1 ½ to 2 times the length or width of the container.

Step 4: Adding the Remaining Carnations Add the remaining carnations as shown in the image to the right. Remember to use the skeleton flowers as your boundaries to maintain the triangular shape.

Step 5: Greening the Arrangement Add leatherleaf fern to cover the foam. Place a stem of leatherleaf on both sides of the center carnations. The fern should radiate from the center of the foam. Don’t pack the fern too close. Leave spaces for the other flower stems.

Step 6: Adding Secondary Flowers Add the pompon mums by inserting them in the gaps between the carnations. Remember to place them randomly throughout the design. Do not crowd the flowers. Use the carnations as boundaries.

Step 7: Adding Filler Flowers Add filler flowers to soften the lines of the arrangement. Add them in spaces between the primary and secondary flowers. Do not crowd the flowers.

Step 8: Evaluating the Design Check your work. Step back from the arrangement, and observe it from all sides. Move flowers as needed, but remember to make a new hole in the floral foam each time. Remember to move the flowers only if absolutely necessary.