We have compiled a variety of tips and techniques which we hope will be helpful in fine tuning your fresh floral arrangements so they can look as beautiful as designs done by a florist.

ANEMONES - Straightening Curved Stems

1. Wrap the flowers securely in a few sheets of dampened newspaper and secure with a rubberband.

2. Stand the bunch upright in a deep container of water and store overnight in a cool, dark place.

DAFFODILS - Buying and Conditioning When buying daffodils, always choose bunches that are still in bud with the color just beginning to show at the tip.

1. Daffodils that are in full bloom should not be bought because they will bloom out too fast and shorten the life span of the arrangement.

2. Daffodils exude latex which is harmful to other flowers. To condition the flowers, cut and slit the stems and let stand alone in water for 24 hours before using with other flowers in an arrangement.

EUPHORBIA - sealing Euphorbia Stems Euphorbia stems exude a thick, milky latex when cut. This sticky fluid can block the stem, preventing it from absorbing water and can be harmful to other flowers in the display To seal the stem, hold a lighted match to the stem or dip it in boiling water for a few seconds, This flower can cause rashes We advise handling the flower with rubber gloves if you have sensitive skin or allergic tendencies.

GOLDEN ROD - Buying and Conditioning

1. Buy golden rod when the flowers are still green and are just starting to open. If you buy the flower at this stage it will last up to ten days in your arrangement.

2. Cut the stems at a severe angle to expose as much stem as possible. This will allow the flower to take up enough water to stay fresh and healthy looking.

HYACINTH - Buying and Conditioning

1. Buy the hyacinth flowers when a few of the florets are freshly opened and all the unopened florets are showing their true color

2. Cut the stems and stand them in tepid water for a few hours before arranging.

LILY - Avoiding Lily Pollen Stains Falling pollen from the beautiful lily flower can cause serious stains on clothing. To avoid this problem, pinch the stamen between the thumb and forefinger while preparing the arrangement. if you arc too late and have a problem with pollen on clothing, sprinkle talcum over the area and brush off with a clothes brush.

NARCISSI & TULIPS - Using l Narcissi and Tulips To give tulips an exotic, lily-like appearance try opening out their petals so they can turn back on themselves; such petals are called reflexed. Very gently curl each petal back wards between your finger and thumb, repeating the process until it retains a graceful line. Narcissi come with a natural paper like cover over the flower buds. To remove them, carefully pull down the protective cover and, using a sharp knife, cut it off neatly where it loins the stalk.

STOCKS - Buying and Conditioning Stocks tend to be difficult flowers to deal with and have a short life span in vase arrangements and have weak stems. Careful conditioning can overcome these problems.

1. Remove the lower white section of the stems, along with the excess foliage. Once arranged, the stems should be recut often to keep them fresh.

2. Keep away from direct sunlight, heat and drafts.

WILD FLOWERS - Wild Flower Tips

1. If you pick flowers in the wild, try to give them a drink of water as soon as possible. Wrap the stems in damp tissues and put them in water immediately

2. To have access to your own personal wild flower garden, look for wild flower mixtures in specialty seed catalogs. There are wildflower garden mixtures to attract birds and butterflies; a flowering lawn mix, and coastal woodland mixtures suitable for specific regions and soil types.

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Dried flowers are commercially available through specialty flower shops and a number of craft and variety stores. Due to improved techniques for preserving flowers, today the selection has broadened to encompass everything from exotic pods to nostalgic, Victorian nosegays flowers~ The basic technique remains the same, the fresh flowers are cut, banded and hung upsideside down to dry in a warm, well ventilated area. The newest additions to the process are custom dying flowers in decorator colors and dipping in glycerin to add flexibility to the naturally brittle flowers. Not all flowers are conducive but these techniques have expanded the selections and longevity of many flowers. As mentioned in a previous chapter, we recommend strengthening weak, dried, stems with the use of floral wire and floral tape. The real plus when working with dried flowers is the fact that they are completely reusable and can be recycled to work with fresh and silk flowers, especially dried  filler  flowers such as baby s breath and statice.

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Silk flowers are available in various ranges of price and quality. The care and handling to create life-like flowers is the same regardless of the quality. Here are a few hints to make your silks look like real flowers.

1. Newly purchased or stored silk flowers are often smashed or flattened from being tightly packed in boxes. To revive these flowers we suggest two options, the first is to carefully manipulate the petals and leaves by hand, smoothing and twisting the flower and straightening the stems. The second idea is to gently steam the flowers over a tea kettle or use a portable, hand held steamer The trick is to steam lightly Do not allow the flower to absorb too much steam or it will become wet and the colors may run~ When steamed properly the wrinkles will fall out and the blossoms will regain their original shape. You may wish to hand manipulate the steamed blossom if there are special shapes to be attained.

2. Inexpensive silk flowers are often sold in clusters which can be separated into individual stems to allow more flexibility in styling.

3. To add a touch of glamour for a special occasion, silks can be sprayed with aerosol glitter which can be found at your favorite craft shop or variety store. Stylists refer to this product as  floral sparkle spray.

4. Silk flowers are reusable and will last forever if properly cared for To freshen the silks you can spray the flowers with regular leaf shine which can be purchased in the garden department of most hardware and variety stores.

5. To stretch the uses of your silk flowers we suggest mixing them with fresh or dried flowers.

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Techniques for food preparation are almost identical to regular meal preparation, except there is more precision with regard to cutting the greens the same length for the vases. Any fresh fruits that normally brown or oxidize with air, should be dipped in citric acid or the juice of an orange or lemon. Fruits and vegetables that are sus ceptible to shriveling or drying out should be soaked in ice water before displaying in the arrangement. Carrot sticks, radishes, celery etc. all have a tendency to go limp or shrivel up as their natural moisture evaporates. When soaked, they stay fresh for hours. When serving cream based dips and sauces, we suggest you display the sauce or dip in a smaller bowl nestled in a larger bowl of ice, this will allow the dip to remain fresh for hours. To create a truly festive look to your hors d oeuvres do not forget to add a few fresh flowers to brighten the presentation~ A good example of this idea is illustrated with our salsa and chip arrangement which is colorfully accented with red carnations against green parsley

If you would like to add a few new tools to your kitchen repertoire, we would like to suggest that you invest in a garnishing kit. Once you become familiar with these tools you can carve flowers from fruits and vegetables and add a professional touch to your food presentation. Guaranteed to impress any guest.

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