A Bunch for the Weekend - # 54 - Pink Peonies and Alchemilla mollis

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' I'm featuring some fabulous huge pink peonies and bright lime-green Alchemilla mollis flowers.

You'll need:

- 5 peony stems in a bright pink colour

- 20 stems of Alchemilla mollis - these are long-stemmed from my local street flower seller 

- a medium sized vase in a neutral colour - here I have used a white vase from a charity store

- two small vases in the same colour as the big vase or in a contrasting colour - here I have chosen on of each

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket filled with fresh water

Condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. This is to reduce any growth of bacteria from deteriorating leaves. Also remove any broken or bruised leaves.

Cut the stems at an angle - this is to increase water absorption.  

Put in a clean container with fresh water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least for a few hours, to let the flowers absorb the maximum of water, before making the final arrangement.

You might have to re-cut the stems while making the final arrangement to suit the size of the vase or container and to get the right proportions.

It is now warm enough for peonies to come into bloom in the garden and they are everywhere to buy at the flower stalls.

If you want them for a special occasion - buy the flowers a few days before the special day. The buds will take a couple of days to open up.

I created the bunch in a traditional hand-tied way by holding the flowers in my left hand and adding the flowers with my right - turning the bunch around while I'm adding the flowers. With some luck you'll end up with a round dome-shaped bouquet! 

To hold the bunch together I tied the stems with some raffia - then I measured the bouquet against the vase and trimmed the ends - and placed the flowers in the vase. 

While making the handtied bunch I was left with quite a few short little Alchemilla stems. I put them all in a black mini vase where they will last for about a week.

Go out and buy some Peonies - use them on their own or mix with other flowers. 

Enjoy your flower arranging!

Have a Great Floral Friday and a Happy Weekend!

I will see you next week with more Do-It-Yourself flowers from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson - Of Spring and Summer]

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