Research – DIY flowers part two – Unexpected resource
Written on July 17, 2011 by Cody Whitefoord
Four months to go! I have used silk flowers to determine a shape of my arrangements. Next I wanted to work with real flowers to see how they hold up. I am planning to top Eiffel tower vases with a six inch ball of hydrated Foam. I need to test how long varieties of flowers live in this foam so I can gauge how many days before the wedding can the arrangements be started.
I have found several discount flower sites that I could use to order the wedding flowers. However, due to their minimum order requirements, getting just enough to test a single arrangement is ridiculously expensive. I decided to just head to my local grocery, Krogers, florist department and buy a few loose bouquets to work with. I was very lucky and the floral manager was there. She provided hints, tips, advice and encouragement. Next she pointed me to the flowers she had just discounted as great items for test arrangements. Not worrying about color but types of flower I was able to pick up 2 dozen roses for $6!
This department doesnt do wedding arrangements; but they will order flowers in bulk for you if given enough notice about 30 days to 2 months. I am happy to have another flower source too. Now I really look forward to Sundays when this floral manager is working. I find discounted flowers and get an opportunity to run ideas by her!
From my trials I have learned:
1. Buy the right foam! The first foam I bought had no intention of being hydrated it was for silks only. I put it into the water only to have it float like a fun-noodle pool toy to the surface. Funny the label said For Naturals I thought real flowers were as natural as you could get guess not!
2. Hydrangeas need to be hydrated! Hydrangeas need their stems to reach into the vase of water. You might use foam to stabalize them; but you wont be able to use foam to provide them enough water. Hydrangeas that I stuck into foam didnt last the afternoon.
3. Roses lasted for several days and I was careful to re-moisten the foam each day.
4. Chrysanthemum, Carnation and Alstroemeria do great in the foam for days without the extra re-watering attention.
None of my tests have been wedding appropriate yet. After all, the colors have been all over the palette and I still havent discovered the right quantity and filler to hide the foam.
Next goal for me see if my Krogers can provide me with just enough flowers to do one arrangement in the right colors this month as my future Mother-in-law comes to visit. This will hopefully cement the choices of flowers and allow me to plan for that final order.
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