Ultimately, you’ll want the floral arrangement to be balanced & in proportion. Balance is achieved when a design gives a feeling of stability. This is accomplished by establishing a pattern with flowers in the bouquet. Proportion is the visual relationship when flowers, foliage & container appear appropriate together.

You can create balanced & proportional arrangements in the way of a hand tied bouquet. An arrangement of hand-tied flowers lasts very well because flowers always last longer in a vase of water & floral preservative versus arrangements designed in floral foam. When you master the Euro/Spiral bouquet making technique, you’ll be able to make bouquets for every room & every body.

Supplies: Clippers or Floral Designer’s Knife, Selection of California Cut Flowers, Selection of California Greenery, Florists String or ½” Ribbon, Bucket or Vase of Water with Floral Preservative.

Here are some easy instructions for making your own Stand Up Bouquet:

1. Decide where the flowers will be placed… dining table, living room, or a small fragrant bouquet for the kitchen table.

2. Select your favorite flowers & greens.

3. Before you begin construction of the bouquet, gather & clean all flowers & foliage that will be used. Remove foliage that will fall below your thumb while making the bouquet.

4. Gather 3 to 5 stems of flowers in your hand. Hold them vertically between your thumb, index finger & third finger. (The lower you hold the flower stem, the longer & larger in circumference your hand tied bouquet will be.)

5. Begin the spiral placement by placing additional flower stems at a 45 degree angle against the rest of the bouquet. Do not lay the stems on top of each or let them cross, instead, lay them next to each other. After 3 to 5 stems have been added in this fashion, twist the bouquet (either clockwise or counter clockwise, depending on what feels comfortable in your hand. Add additional flowers using this same method. You will be creating a spiral of flowers. Keep all the heads/blooms & greens at the same height.

6. When you have achieved a pleasing result bind the flowers. Bind the flowers by wrapping the florist string several times around the flower stems. Leave several inches of thread to tie off the bouquet. Bring the thread through the center of the flowers & pull the thread tightly. Cut the thread & tie it to the loose end.

7. Cut the ends of the flower stems very straight.

8. Finish the bouquet off with a complementary ribbon if desired.

9. To make the bouquet literally stand on end, by itself, gently spread the stems & if necessary, trim the center stems slightly shorter than the rest of the bouquet.

10. Place the bouquet in the center of the dining table WITHOUT A VASE. Your guests or family will rave. At the end of the dinner party, give the bouquet a fresh cut, & put your beautiful hand tied bouquet in a vase of water so it can re-hydrate.