I’m not a professional florist, so I asked Buettner and Debra Prinzing, the producer behind Slow Flowers, an online directory of suppliers of local and domestic blooms, for help on how to create a beautiful arrangement. Because it’s Valentine’s Day, I’m featuring roses in my arrangement; they come in my favorite color (pink) and symbolize love, so they’re perfect for the holiday. But, be aware that not all roses are the same. Garden roses, which you’ll find at your local florist, not at your grocery store, are bigger and have a higher petal count, Buettner explains. Prinzing often uses different varieties of David Austin roses that she grows herself in her arrangements. “Garden roses are not long-lived, which makes them all the more special,” Prinzing says. “Enjoy them for the moment; for a few days. And enjoy watching the natural progression of older petals floating down to your tabletop or mantel as the arrangement ages.”
How to Arrange a Bouquet with Roses
Prinzing recommends stripping the lower foliage off of each stem. “It’s nice to leave one leaf stem near the flower head to add some contrast in your arrangement or bouquet,” she explains. If your roses have thorns, use a rose stripper to remove them carefully. “To arrange roses only, vary the bloom size and stem length to create a bouquet with depth and shape,” Prinzing says. “To arrange roses with other flowers, place the roses in the vase first; then add annuals, herbs, foliages, bulb flowers in between the roses. Use the same technique of varied heights of stems,” she adds. For my first arrangement, I used dusty millers, white hydrangeas, light pink garden roses, tulips, leatherleaf ferns, and monte casinos, thanks to recommendations from Buettner. After I had everything arranged, I tied a bow made from pink sheer ribbon ($5, Michaels) around the vase for an extra pretty touch. Of course, cut flowers aren’t like your houseplants, and they will only last about a week or so, Buettner says. To keep your blooms looking their best, “Change your water every day,” Buettner recommends. “And every three days, give the stems a fresh cut. It opens up the stem like a straw,” she adds. If you use a hydrangea as I did, you can submerge it in water if the flowers start to wilt. Enjoy your arrangement while it lasts, and when it’s time for a fresh bouquet, check out what’s available at your florist, and put together another beautiful display.
