31

Mar

2014

DIY Tutorial: Hydrangea Garland

DIY Tutorial

A few weeks ago I posted a gorgeous tutorial showing you how to create this White and Green Hand Tie Bouquet. The tutorial was taken from a wonderful book called Simple Flower Arranging. This book is FULL of amazing flower arrangements as well as incredibly useful hints and tips to create the prefect flower arrangement just like the professionals. The books is jam packed with amazing turoials, so today I have another one to share with you.

Hydrangea Garland

‘This arrangement, running the full length of a table, is a real show-stopper for a celebration or party. Add the flowers and foliage bit by bit, until the garland matches the length of your table, and make it fairly last-minute, as it will only look its best for 24 hours. The flowers are layered on top of dark-green deeply veined leaves to create a sumptuous table display, and the hydrangea heads are angled out at either side to accentuate the three-dimensional shape of this design.’

DIY - list fo what you need

STEP 1) Cut the length of cord slightly shorter than the length of the table, place it on a flat surface, and tie 1 aralia leaf onto the end of the cord with garden string secured in a simple knot.

  • Ensure the flowers and foliage have a really good drink beforehand, as this is a temporary design and none of the stems will be in water.
  • Leave the garden string attached to the leaf and cord, as you will be binding all the remaining ingredients onto the rope.
T_Garland_SBS_01

STEP 2)  Layer 1 hydrangea leaf stem over the aralia leaf, so its leaves are graduated just below those of the aralia. Wind the string around both stems and cord to make the swag more robust.

  • Pull the string tight before wrapping it around another stem, otherwise the garland will become too loose and floppy to handle.
T_Garland_SBS_02

STEP 3) Place a group of 3 alchemilla stems on top of the hydrangea and aralia so they form another graduated layer. Pull the string tightly around the first 2 leaf stems before winding more string around all the stems and cord to secure them together.

T_Garland_SBS_03

STEP 4)  Add a pink hydrangea to the garland, placing it just beneath the lime-green alchemilla. Bind it to the secured stems by winding the string 3–4 times around all the stems and the cord, and adjusting the flower head so it is slightly angled to one side of the design.

  • Evenly space each layered ingredient, so there are no obvious gaps in between them and none are hidden.
T_Garland_SBS_04

STEP 5)  Add another hydrangea leaf stem and a cluster of 3 alchemilla stems to the garland in the same way. Arrange another hydrangea flower at an opposite angle to the first flower.

  • Sit the hydrangea head slightly off centre, as it looks more attractive arranged in this way and increases the three-dimensional effect.
T_Garland_SBS_05

STEP 6)  Add more flowers and foliage until 15cm (6in) of rope remains. Lay the last stems of alchemilla and hydrangea leaf, and, finally, the second aralia leaf, in the
opposite direction to the other stems. Pull the string tight and wind it 3–4 times around these last stems and rope. Secure the string firmly in a knot and cut off the ball of string.

  • Continue to layer the ingredients in the same way, so they are evenly distributed and their stems all point in the same direction.
T_Garland_SBS_06
  • Mist the flowers and foliage before your guests arrive, so the arrangement looks as fresh as possible.
t_garland_03

 

Simple Flower Arranging, by Mark Welford and Stephen Wicks, published by DK, £16.99, dk.com / Buy on Amazon 

You can keep up to date with Mark & Stephen’s news here

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