What should I use for a winter floral arrangement? Winter floral arrangements are infused with Christmas greens, chrysanthemums, carnations, roses, and candles. When asked about winter floral arrangements,...
When asked about winter floral arrangements, Nancy Wharton, who has been in business for twenty-six years and is the founder and owner of Casa Verde Florist in Austin, Texas, offers this advice: "For winter, people use a lot of the Christmas greens. These outdoor greens can be mixed with various types of flowers. You have got your chrysanthemums, which are beautiful...you can use the white chrysanthemum. These can be utilized with the greens around them. Lilies can also be used. Carnations are popular...especially peppermint color carnations. These mixed in with roses are just beautiful. Roses can be either spray roses or sweet heart roses. The red and peppermint carnations are utilized a lot in Christmas arrangements."
"Better Homes & Gardens Flower Arranging", published in 1957 by Meredith Publishing Company, suggests, "Get acquainted with the evergreen family and use it frequently in winter arrangements- not just at the holidays. Try fragrant needled types and polish-shiny holies, magnolia or camellia. Many of these greens are inexpensive to buy at a florist shop" Now, I know prices have changed since this book was published but as it goes on to say "Almost all are so long lasting you'll feel your money's well spent."
Another tip that the book offers is to use dried flowers in your arrangement: "Fresh flowers and greens...can be dried for rich winter bouquets. You need no special equipment. A closet or attic can serve as the 'drying room' and some of the loveliest materials are found growing in the wild." If you didn't think ahead for this during the previous months, you can also dry flowers from your local flower shops to make arrangements that will last all season long. They can stand alone or be mixed in with fresh foliage to create a beautiful contrast.
Like any other season, you can also bring nature indoors by utilizing things such as pine cones and branches. Nancy suggests, "For winter, you can always throw in a candle or two in your arrangement." This will brighten up any dark cold day. She says, "Candles are used a lot at Christmas." So, why not utilize them in your arrangements all winter long?
A unique idea for an arrangement towards the end of the season comes from "Better Homes & Gardens Flower Arranging". The books suggests, "One day, toward winter's end, when you feel you can't wait for spring to arrive, go cut some branches of flowering shrubs or trees for indoor forcing. Be judicious. You don't want to mutilate the parent plant, and you won't if you select branches that should be pruned later, anyway. You'll have best luck in forcing if you cut branches about a month before they'd be leafing out normally. Try to select those with lovely, natural curves so they'll make an interesting arrangement even when they are still bare. Give them lots of light, frequent doses of warm water; see buds swell and tiny leaves open." This not only gives you an interesting winter arrangement, but helps in the preparation of next season as well.
