The most important consideration when working with fresh flowers is the selection of Flowers, not just how beautiful they are but how fresh and healthy they are. Here are two key factors to look for:

1. Brightly colored, tight blossoms.

2.Strong, straight stems. (Flowers fade as they age, their petals loosen and droop and the stems bend, not the most desirable look for an arrangement!)

To prepare your flowers for use, just follow these guidelines and your arrangement will look fresh and beautiful for days.

1. Cut flower stems at a diagonal to remove sealed end and allow the flower to absorb fresh water, If you are preparing the flowers for later use, store the cut flowers in water at a cool temperature until ready to style.

2. Remove the lower leaves and any excess greenery on stems. Use a paring knife to remove thorns from roses.

3. Select the stem length you desire for your arrangement and cut all the flowers the same length.

4. Fill each glass vase with fresh water and style your bouquet.

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The preparation of silk flowers is much less of an effort than fresh, but there are a few more considerations. The first is cost. The price range of silk flowers varies tremendously and depending on your taste, it might be wise to spend time researching the costs and selections.

Once you have made your selection, the rest is easy:

1. Cut all your flower stems the same length using wire cutters.

2. Dip the cut end of flower stem in clear nail polish to prevent rusting (Using silk flowers in vases filled with water creates a very realistic look j

3. Arrange flowers in vases filled with a dry, easy to pour anchoring material like salt, silica sand, grits, cornmeal, even popcorn. You can be creative with the anchor ingredients, just make sure the density enough to hold the stems.

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The selection of dried flowers is almost as varied as fresh in today s market, in fact many home gardeners have enjoyed drying their own. The most important thing to remember when styling with dried flowers is their fragile make up. Many flowers are treated with glycerin which gives Lhem a little more flexibility but generally speaking, dried flowers require delicate handling and become more brittle with age.

1. Cut the flower stems to the desired length.

2. For delicate stems, add a piece of floral wire and wrap with floral tape to reinforce the stem.

3. Arrange in vases filled with non-caking silica sand or salt mixed with rice to prevent caking. (The delicate dried stems are too fragile to force into resistant filler that cakes.)

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Last but not least we have the FOOD category which requires the same common-sense preparation and handling as meal preparation. Select fresh, firm and colorful fruits and vegetables. Eye appeal is psychologically as important as flavor when it comes to working with food. Wash and dry the fruits and vegetables to remove any preservatives, soil, etc. Cut your fruits and vegetables to their desired lengths and immerse in cold water to maintain freshness until ready to style the arrangement. If using greens such as parsley in the vases, cut the stems the same length to create an even base for the food presentation. Place the greens in water as soon as possible to avoid wilting. Style the final arrangement as close to sewing time as possible. The greens will remain fresh as long as there is adequate fresh water in the vases. The skewered fruits and vegetables will start to shrivel if left in a warm room for an extended period of time. To keep your fruits and vegetables from oxidizing, dip them in lemon juice immediately after cutting and they will remain fresh for hours.

The more time you take in preparing your flowers and foods before styling, the better your results will be. Neatly trimmed and groomed flowers and foods are the secret to professional looking arrangements,

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