Artistic Flower Arrangements

As promised, here is the first of six articles about the Principles of Flower Arrangement. I hope you enjoy this and the coming segments.———-Judy

For centuries flowers have been cultivated for their beauty, fragrance and color. Due to the amazing variety of flowers available and the natural beauty they lend to any place, flowers have long been used for decorative purposes. They have been used to beautify the barest of dwellings and used for special occasions and festivals.

One of the most popular ways of using flowers is to place them in artistic and creative arrangements. However, floral arrangements, though commonly used today, have developed over centuries and across cultures around the world. Some of the earliest records of flower arrangements have been traced to China. Here Buddhist beliefs led to meanings being assigned to flowers and thus determined their use in arrangements. China was also amongst the earliest cultures to place flowers in containers of water to prolong their life. Closely following China was Japan, which developed its own distinctive style of flower arrangement, relying more on shape and form. It was in Egypt, Rome and Greece that flowers were used for making garlands and wreaths, both to wear and to use for decoration.

Today, at an individual level and at the level of hotels or bigger gatherings, people love having flower arrangements around. And while most people will randomly arrange flowers and branches in a vase, there is in fact an art to flower arranging. Of course this doesn’t mean that only professionals can employ this art to make stunning pieces of work. Anyone sitting at home can also learn the basics of floral arrangements and with a little creativity make some fun and beautiful flower settings.

A floral arrangement is simply a combination of different elements which, when put together well, produces a visually striking and appealing display. Technically, there are 3 basic styles of arranging flowers. Any other style is generally a take on one of these.

The Oriental style of floral arrangement emphasises lines. The Traditional or Western style is based on the use of many flowers together in the arrangement, and the third Modern style has no rules really, but does pay more attention to line and form.

Whatever the style of floral arrangement, there are certain principles that should be followed for a beautiful and complete looking display. One of the more important principles to follow is Balance.

Balance is the one aspect that gives a floral arrangement its visual appeal and determines whether it can be classified as a formal or an informal arrangement. Balance in a floral arrangement is to be maintained in two areas – physical, the actual balance of the arrangement so it stands up straight, and the other is the visual balance so that it looks balanced to the eye.

Visual balance in a floral arrangement can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. In a symmetrically balanced arrangement, the two sides of the display are identical. Such arrangements are generally meant for formal use and give a slightly serious and rigid appearance. On the other hand, asymmetrical floral arrangements are different on either side of an imaginary central axis. These are more fun, active, informal and dynamic.

Balance in the appearance of the floral arrangement is related to the correct use of color and weight of flowers (the visual weight and not its actual weight). Generally dark and dense flowers appear heavy. As a rule, for a balanced appearance, heavy flowers are placed at the bottom of the arrangement and lighter ones towards the outer edges and upper portions.

Putting a pleasing floral arrangement together is a matter of practice and creativity. All it requires is a willingness to experiment and have some fun with flowers.

Learn about Flower arranging – FREE lesson and newsletter

Whose heart is not gladdened at the sight of a flower? A bouquet of flowers can immediately brighten up a day, cheer a gloomy face, lift a depressed heart, even cause friendship to sprout and love to flourish.

A true appreciation of life can be felt each spring as you pass by a body of water with it’s surface filled with beautiful water lilies gleaming under the spring sunlight. Even in the fall the brilliance of asters and the gleam of goldenrods decorating fields as you walk through brings a feeling of enrichment. Even at home flowers bring beauty and happiness, the kitchen enhanced with garlands or the windows beautified, or the living room transformed simply by the presence of plants and flower arrangements bring the added sense of serenity.

For the majority out there, be they men or women, flowers are a lot more than just creations of decorative beauty. They represent a lot more as they excite the imagination of all. Even more, fresh flowers are a lot more than the being the epitome of naturally occurring beauty, rather they are nature’s display of life, they give one a great feeling of relaxation and provides the human soul a splash of freshness for the times that a fine presentation of floral arrangement is placed before their eyes.

It is certain that floral arrangements brings a sense of happiness to people. A personally tend floral burst can provide even more happiness to a person receiving it knowing that a lot of effort has been place in the preparation of this display of beauty. Even the experts themselves claim that a floral burst brings a unique kind of relaxation to individuals and more so from personally tended floral blooms. This said, for those that want to bring this feeling of satisfaction and happiness to others that creating a flower garden design could be ideal for them.

Planning for the Right Kind of Flower Garden Design

If you yourself are planning to create your own flower garden, it is very important that you take into consideration the first hand procedures that you must give attention to. One of which is the concern that you are supposed to give on the kind of flower garden design that you would likely install in your house or in your backyard. Through this particular process, you would be able to plan how the flower garden design that you chose could actually work for the best of your satisfaction.

Whatever choice you make with the type of flower garden design, be it a perennial flower garden or something else, it will certainly be a great source of satisfaction and relaxation for the people living in you home including yourself especially since you will definitely consider the kind of flowers that you will bundle together to create a wonderful flower landscape in your home.

Learn about Flower arranging – FREE lesson and newsletter