...OF SPRING AND SUMMER...: Italy

21 February 2015

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 40 - Pale Pink Cloni Ranunculus

Today on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some very pretty pale pink Cloni Ranunculus from Italy - where they grow beautiful Ranunculus with very large flower heads.

You'll need:

- 20 stems of Ranunculus in a pale pink colour

- a medium size clear glass vase

- 2 small containers for off-cut flower buds

- a few pompoms, a pile of books and a zinc watering can - all in grey tones

- a little white painted foot stool or similar and some gauze or other thin white translucent fabric

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket

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.

Be gentle when you are handling the flowers as Ranunculus are quite fragile - the stems are soft and the delicate, papery petals tear and bruise easily.

Keep the water level in the vase low - if too much water the stems tend to rot.

The flowers should last for a week or sometimes longer.

If there are any small or big flower buds - keep them to make a few small arrangements on the side.

Start with some of the shorter stems and let the flower heads rest on the edge of the vase. Always measure the stems against the outside of the vase to make sure you get the right height. Continue filling the centre of the arrangement with slightly taller stems.

Try to pack them as tightly as you can as you want to see as little as possible of the green stems. That way they also support each other in the vase preventing the stems from breaking.

If you have saved any buds from when you conditioned the flowers - put them in a couple of small vases. They have a very different but interesting colour and texture then the flowers.

I have combined the delicate, pale pink flowers with some neutral grey colours - including pompoms in two different sizes, a zinc mini watering can and some vintage books - chosen purely for the colour of the cover!