Flower Arranging 101
Mary Bruce Rae-Grant
On an unusually balmy February Tuesday, Debbie Oliver, from Cincinnati's Town and Country Garden Club, visited us. She filled our heads with sunny floral designs. She piqued our interest with clever decor mechanics and taught us how to make a stunning contemporary design. Debbie's Hort Couture program won our enthusiasm for floral arrangements. Debbie explained the elements of design and the use of color. We learned about the difference between traditional floral arrangements and contemporary ones. She then demystified the mechanics of flower arranging, and she showed us the tools of the trade. Her favoirte items to use include oasis (in all colors), kenzans, frogs, pruners, scissors, stem wrap, picks, tubes and waterproof tape. Debbie then explained how a GCA flower show works, how to fill out a card, and how the judges evaluate an arrangement.
As we studied our SLGC schedule for The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring-Tra La!, Debbie discussed each class of flower arranging, and offered some valuable tips on the best flowers to use. She gave us suggestions for resources and references. Everyone should visit the GCA website (www.gcamerica.org) and explore all the tips for floral design and flower shows. We should also visit our own SLGC website (www.shakerlakesgc.org) to read the clever and creative flower show schedule for May 18. Finally we should contact Amy Miller to sign up to make an arrangement. Debbie's wonderful information guarantees that we are all contenders for the blue ribbon!
