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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bouquets and Cornicopia

We sell various cut flower bouquets at the New Leaf Flower Shop. Simple is the key. Adjectives that we use in our promotions are...colorful...long lasting...and inexpensive. Occasionally, I cut from my wildflower patch to add some color and zest to the carnations without adding to the price! This time of year, you can start to add evergreens that are from the grounds... adds scent and texture.

Most of the time, my cut flower arrangements are 4-6 carnations, one stalk white pom daisy, a filler flower (such as baby's breath, limonium, or solidago), a huge piece of baker's fern and one or two speciality items. This time we have alstromerium (Peruvian lily) and purple statice. I have put in delphinium for the richness of the blue, but it doesn't stay fresh for very long. At Halloween, we put in a spray of white roses instead of daisy, and used orange novelty and burgundy carnations. Christmas and Valentine's Day, we tend to move towards red and white bouquet.

You can buy precut pieces of cellophane with a sticky edge so that when you roll the flowers together, life is simple and sweet. I make the guys cut the cello off of big rolls with the edger. It just seems more like a florist! After there is a rectangular piece of cello, just put the baker's fern down in the corner point, next goes: filler, white pom, Peruvian lily, 2 or 3 carnations, speciality flower and lastly the remaining 2 or 3 carnations. Roll and tape.

Voila!
Today we took some of the flowers from the bouquets (which you can see in the corner of the first picture) and practised making cornucopia arrangements because we will make several dozen soon. These need to be made quickly at Thanksgiving in hopes that folks will get them for tables!! During the bouquet making activity, one of my patients became very agitated with another patient. So, when we advanced to the cornucopias, I sent the first patient on deliveries to ease his nerves. I suppose creative endeavors are not always pleasant to all involved. Although he verbalized that he was 'alright', I think that his nerves were agitated because he was trying hard to comply with my directions and another patient came over and completed the task quickly and easily and then started remarking on things that were left out. The second patient said all truth, but the timing was all wrong. Issues for discussion....

One last thing, the best investment that I have made in Horticulture Therapy was to purchase several Bowdabras! It takes out the mystery (and arthritic pain) out of bows. YAY.

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