Enjoy the look of garden flowers growing in your landscape? Why not try your hand at creating a flower arrangement to bring the beauty of flowers indoors.

No flowers? No problem, as leaves and branches from the garden may be used to create an all green flower design. Hosta, sedum, evergreens, decorative shrubs, equisetum (snake grass) and iris foliage are just a few examples of what may be used and will last long in the vase.

A water absorbing green foam called oasis may be purchased at local hobby stores to provide a base in your vase to position flower stems in place. Before using, soak the block of oasis overnight to prevent flower stems from being inserted into dry areas in the foam.

For best results, use a dark colored container, about 1/3 the size of your overall arrangement for a well-proportioned look. Shiny or clear vases can distract from the plant material used, as the focus should be on the floral design rather than underwater stems, or the container used. Speaking of stems underwater, always remove any leaves on stems that will be in the water as to prevent bacteria from forming, which can clog the water uptake. Cutting stems at an angle will also help to open up more area to allow for additional uptake of water.

Use flowers which have been “conditioned” to prevent wilting. Conditioning flowers is a process to ensure as much water as possible is retained in the plant material before making your flower design. Cutting early in the morning or late evening helps to avoid moisture loss that occurs by evaporation through plant leaves during the heat of the day. Place flower stems in a bucket of tepid water overnight in a cool, dark location as this will help them to absorb as much water as possible.

Did you know? Hamilton County Fair hosts two flower shows each year in Floral Hall. Visit the fair July 26-30 for ideas on flower arranging, or better yet, enter a design of your own! For further information on entering, check out the 2017 fair flower show schedule at: http://www.hamcoexpo.com.

Questions? Contact McCormick at yvonne@iastate.edu for information or advice.