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Flower Arrangements

FLORAL DESIGN

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Elements & Principles of Floral Design

 The Attributes , Elements and Principles of design can vary from one art form or organization to another.  Those listed below are the ones National Garden Clubs, Inc. has historically embraced and uses for floral design and judging exhibits. FGC is a member of the NGC and the following text is from the Handbook for Flower Shows 2017*.

  1. Attributes of Design​​

    1. Beauty 2. Distinction 3. Expression 4. Harmony​

  2. Elements of Design​

    1. Color â€‹2. Form 3. Light 4. Line 5. Pattern 6. Size 7. Space 8. Texture

  3. Principles of Design​

    1. ​ Balance - actual balance means â€‹an object remains upright.

      1. In floral design visual​ balance is needed so objects appear balanced from top to bottom, side to side or front to back.

      2.  Types of balance: Symmetrical , Asymmetrical & Dynamic

    2. Contrast-​ the placement of unlike characteristics of a single element together to emphasize their differences.  Strong contrasts can be softened by using subtle changes between the two extremes.

    3. Dominance - the emphasis or impact of one component over another, implying subordination. 

    4. Proportion - the relationship between amount and quantity of one area to another or to the whole.  It does not refer to individual sizes. a) the ratio between all the components as they relate to each other in the design b) the ratio between the design and the Total Space (Frame of Reference)

    5. Rhythm - the dominant visual movement throughout a design.

    6. Scale - the size relationship of one object in a design to another.

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Conditioning your Plant Material 

This is a really easy thing to google & some plant materials need special treatment , I'm looking at you Euphorbia.  Make sure the buckets/vases & snips/pruners are clean as bacteria is the enemy to long lasting blooms.  Here are the basics : cut your flowers / foliage in the evening with sharp clean snips.  Give them a nice angled cut so a greater surface is exposed and place in lukewarm water with only stems in the water , either in the garden or when you get inside.  If you bought your flowers you should give them a clean angled cut when you get home and remove any plant material below the water line.  Then place them in a cool dark place not near any fruit or vegetables as they give off ethylene gas which shortens the vase life.  Adding plant food, pennies , bleach it's a google rabbit hole jump in !

Forms of Plant Material 

Line: Amaranthus, Belles of Ireland , Calla Lily, Rosemary, Solomon Seal 

Spray: ​Button Mums, Wax Flower, Masterwort, Spray Roses, Sedum

Round: Billy Buttons, Dalhia, Hellebore, Hydrangea, Sunflower

Above are a few examples Judith Blacklock's Flower Arranging gives detailed info with pictures !

Some like Lisianthus & Chrysanthemums are both Round & Spray or 

Celosia & Star of Bethlehem Line & Round

Containers & Vessels

This section is a work in progress !

Design 101 - American Traditional Mass Design

 Create a centerpiece in a low round water tight container/vessel (suggested size 5-7 inches in height & diameter )provided by the participant as well as mechanics needed.  Pin Frog & Chicken Wire will be the mechanic demonstrated (chicken wire provided by facilitator at no cost). If you choose to use Oasis please bring your brick pre-soaked.  Participants are to provide floral materials consisting of 3-5 stems of line , 3-5 stems of spray, and 3-5 stems of round( #of stems assumes the container is within the suggested range bigger vessel = more floral material) 

All flowers should be conditioned before arranging this is true for those trying this at home or those who attend the workshop ideally a few hours or overnight. 

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American Traditional Mass Design : Characteristics*

  1. Each design is based on a single "set pattern" of geometric form ( sphere, pyramid or cylinder ) our focus for 101 are sphere & pyramid 

  2. Plant material is used in a naturalistic manner, radiation from one point. Little or no abstraction.

  3. Plant material, forms and colors are integrated rather than grouped. 

  4. Space within the design is of little importance.  Large quantities of plant material with a closed silhouette.

  5. ​Depth is achieved by : overlapping of forms, placing some forms in profile, completing the back of the design, using transitional materials and gradation of colors and sizes.

Mary Lane pin frog .jpeg
Designer :Mary Lane  Shape: Pyramid Mechanic : Pinfrog
Designer: Cathy Slavin Shape: Sphere Mechanic: Taped Grid
Design 201 - Parallel Design : a Creative Design

 This introduction to Creative Design will focus on vertical placement of plant material. You will need to bring a low rectangular or oval water tight container/vessel (suggested size 10 inches in legnth)   Two eco friendly mechanics will be demonstrated 1)Chicken Wire & Moss 2) Agrawool (Agrawool provided by facilitator for a small fee ). If you choose to use Oasis please bring your brick pre-soaked.  Participants are to provide plant materials consisting of 3-5 stems of 2 varieties of line (total 6-10) , 1-2 stems of spray, and 3-5 stems of round( #of stems assumes the container is within the suggested range bigger vessel = more plant material required) 

All plant material should be conditioned before arranging both for workshop participants and those giving this a go at home ideally a few hours or overnight. 

Creative Floral Design is an acknowledged art form introduced in the late 1950s to American Flower Shows. These designs are not bound by traditional patterns or styles. They are designs with a relationship between form and space.* 

Characteristics of all Creative Designs*

1. Conform to the Principles of Design

2. Are eclectic in approach, borrowing from different styles and /or periods to create new concepts and forms

3. Shows restraint in the amount of plant material and or number of components used.

4. May have more than one point of emergence and focal area, but clarity of design is important

5. Uses components in a non-realistic manner and may contain abstraction, with plant material not necessarily in water

6. Positions components according to plastic organization, molding and shaping the design within a volume of space to create a three-dimensional effect.  Create rhythm and balance using forms and spaces to achieve depth

7. Juxtaposes components by placing them side by side, front to back, and above and below to achieve depth and a third-dimensional unity to increase the appearance of depth

8. Uses penetration of space 

9. Employs contrasting, advancing and/ or receding colors, smooth and /or rough textures, transparent and/or reflective qualities

10. Uses plant materials, non-traditional containers/s with multiple openings and unconventional, man-made objects not normally associated with floral design or art

11. Allows any part of the design to be dominant, including the container

Parallel Design: Characteristics*

1. Multiple containers/bases may be used if combined to appear as one unit

2. Parallel direction may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal within the allotted space

3. The overall effect must appear parallel.  Groupings need not be equidistant from each other

4. A connective/s may be used at the base of the design. 

Mechanics

Another work in progress !​

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