A Bunch for the Weekend - # 23 - Pink Chrysanthemums

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some stunning bright pink Chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemums flower from late summer to about midwinter - but you can also buy them most of the year from florists and big flower markets. 

I love these small chrysanthemums - they are only about 3-4 cm across. This pink one has a very dark centre and the colour fades to a pale pink at the edges.  

I've made two arrangements - one large one in a ridged clear glass vase and a small one in a small, also ridged glass vase in dark pink. 

You'll need:

- 10-15 long stems of Chrysanthemums in a bright colour

- a clear glass vase with a narrow neck

- 9 short stems of Chrysanthemums

- a small vase in a similar shape to the big one

- a few fun things in matching colour - in this case a small rag weaving, a piece of fabric, some ribbons, a few spools of cotton and a vintage pair of tailor's scissors.

- a small platter or plate in matching colour

As always - condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle - to increase water absorption. Put in a clean container with tepid water and leave in a cool place over night or at least a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Remove any leaves that will end up inside the vase it looks better with just clear stems and no leaves showing through the glass. With a narrow neck you will also be able to fit more stems into the vase - without any leaves.

I wanted this arrangement to look really full and just have a mass of flowers tightly packed together. So this is an arrangement that you'll need to make in your hand - almost like a handheld arrangement - but not quite - you'll not be putting the stems in a spiral. 

Hold the flowers in one hand and add with the other. Arrange the stems at different heights and fill in where there are empty spaces to make a really full and slightly dome shaped arrangement. 

The stems will end up different lengths at the bottom - so when you are finished putting the arrangement together  - put the vase at the end of the table or counter and estimate at what height you need to cut the stems. Leave a little bit of stem showing with a few leaves at the top - it will make the arrangement look in proportion to the vase. Then cut the stems all the same length and put into the vase. 

I have finish the arrangement off by putting the big vase on the floral platter and placed it on the pink and white rag rug weaving.   

Just for fun I have also added a few fabrics, ribbons and spools of cotton around a pair of vintage tailor's scissors - all in matching bright pink colours. 

The ribbons are all from Jane Means ribbon collection. I'm one of Jane's Ribbon Bloggers - we feature her ribbons in some of our blog posts.   

Have a Wonderful Floral Weekend!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]