1. CONSTRUCTING A THREE-BLOOM BUD VASE
Written by:
Holli Bowman & David Lynn
Hall County Board of Education
April 2003
Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office
September 2005

2. This presentation is designed to supplement the textbook, Floriculture: Designing & Merchandising, Unit 9, “Bud Vases”. The author is Charles Griner and it is published by Delmar Publishers.

3. Step 1: Selecting Materials
3 long-stemmed roses or carnations
5 stems of leatherleaf fern
1 ½ yards of #3 satin ribbon
gauge florist wires
1 stem of baby’s breath
Leaf polish
A large-necked bud vase
Floral preservative

4. Step 2: Preparing the Flowers
Fill the bud vase with preservative water to within two inches of the top.
Wire the carnations using the straight wire method.
Select the smallest carnation and cut it to twice the height of the container.
Select the medium-sized bloom and cut it one to two inches shorter than the tallest flower.
Cut the largest flower one to two inches shorter than the middle flower.
Remove all foliage that will be below the water line.

5. Step 3: Inserting the Flowers
Insert the flowers in the bud vase.
Place the smallest flower in the center, facing up.
Stagger the medium flower off to one side of the smallest flower.
Stagger the largest flower off to the opposite side of the medium flower.
Gradually face the middle and bottom flowers toward the viewer.

6. Step 4: Preparing the Fern
Select two pieces of fern and hold them so that the backs of the fern face each other (image #1).
Bring the two pieces of fern together so that the curves are straightened out (image #2).
Spray the best piece of fern with the leaf polish.
The best piece of fern should be an inch or two longer than the other. #1 #2

7. Step 5: Inserting the Fern
Place the fern behind the carnations with the best piece acting as a back-drop.
Insert shorter pieces of leatherleaf on each side at a 450 angle and in front of all the other stems.
An optional piece may be inserted vertically in front of the tallest stem.
Be sure to spray the additional pieces with leaf polish.

8. Step 6: Insert the Filler Flowers
Insert the baby’s breath so that it surrounds the carnation.
It shouldn’t overwhelm the carnation.
One full piece of baby’s breath may not be required.

9. Step 7: Finishing the Vase
Make a bow using the #3 satin ribbon.
Attach the bow to a wooden pick and insert the pick into the vase so that the bow will be located centrally above the rim of the vase.
Add a cardette if desired and refrigerate.