horticulture science lesson 60 designing basic floral work

Horticulture Science Lesson 60

Designing Basic Floral Work

Horticulture Science Lesson 60

Designing Basic Floral Work

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Interest ApproachInterest ApproachBegin introducing this unit by bringing into the class items that the students might be familiar with and items with which they are probably unfamiliar (e.g., shears, florist foam, florist knife, needlepoint holder, a frog). Start by playing a game of identification tag in which a student goes to the front of the classroom, grabs an item known to the students, and takes it to another student to identify.


Interest ApproachInterest ApproachIf the second student cannot identify the item, it becomes his or her turn. This exercise will establish what the students know and what they don’t know. Thiswill lead into the first objective.


Student Learning ObjectivesStudent Learning Objectives•Identify supplies and tools needed in floral work.

•Explain basic geometric designs.


Student Learning ObjectivesStudent Learning Objectives

•Define naturalistic style design.

•Prepare a potted plant with foil.


TermsTerms• anchor pin• brick• chicken wire• contour• floral foam• florist shears• greening pin• grouping


TermsTerms• hyacinth stakes• needlepoint holder• pan-melt glue• poly foil• pruning shears• rosettes• water tubes• waterproof tape


What tools do floral designers use?

• Cutting tools• 1. Knives are cutting instruments used

extensively by florists. – The pocket knife is excellent

because it can be folded for protection when not in use.

– The advantage of a knife is that using one is faster than using shears or scissors.

– A disadvantage is that thumbs and fingers are more easily injured.

– A knife should be kept sharp for best results.



• 2. Florist shears are a cutting tool with short, serrated edges designed for cutting thick or woody stems and flowers that have been wired. – An advantage of this tool

is that stems will not become pinched in the cutting operation, allowing for better water uptake after cutting.



• 3. Pruning shears are tools used in the landscaping area to cut branches from trees or shrubs. – The cutting style of

shears is preferred to the anvil style, which cuts by pinching the stems.

– Pruning shears are typically used on very tough branches and stems.

– They are extremely valuable during the Christmas holiday season because of their ability to cut evergreen stems.



• 4. Scissors are valuable for cutting both ribbon and floral stems. – However, there are

different kinds of scissors.

– Fabric scissors are preferred for cutting ribbon, while utility scissors are preferred for cutting flowers and other materials.



• Supplies and their uses• 1. Floral foam is a porous material that

holds a great amount of water and provides stability for flower stems. – Flowers can be placed at an angle in this

material, and the foam will hold them in place.

• a. Foam comes in two formulations. – One is for fresh materials, and one is

for dried and artificial materials.



• b. The foam comes in the shape of a rectangle and is referred to as a brick.

• c. Florist foam can be cut to the desired size and shape with a knife or heavy gauge wire. – The foam should be allowed to soak in a solution

of floral preservative for a minimum of one-half hour before using it to assure maximum water absorption.

• d. Foam should not be re-soaked. – Neither should a brick be forced into the solution,

because this will create air bubbles in the foam.



• 2. When placing foam into a container, there are several things to remember:

• a. An inch or more of the foam should appear above the edge of the container, which allows for the placement of flowers at angles that might not be permitted otherwise.



• b. Foam placed in a clear glass container will appear green from the outside.– This appearance can be changed by

wrapping the foam in silver foil. – Also, using a container made of

colored plastic material can mask the green color.

• c. Leave a small area in which the recipient of the arrangement can add water later. – This is very important for a design in which the

foam would cover the entire area of the container.



• 3. Foam must be secured to the container to prevent an arrangement from falling over.

• a. Waterproof tape is the most common method used to secure foam. – It can be used with wet foam, but the container

must be dry. – Waterproof tape is available in ¼- and ½-inch

widths and in green, white, and clear.– Lengths of tape are usually affixed from a 12 to 6

o’clock position and from a 3 to 9 o’clock position.



• b. An anchor pin is a plastic four-pronged device secured to the bottom of a container with glue or floral clay. – Floral foam is placed on the anchor pin.– An anchor pin permits a small piece of foam to

be used in a container. – If a larger piece of foam is used, multiple pins

might be necessary.



• c. The pan-melt glue method uses dry foam and a dry disposable container.– The floral foam is dipped in a pan of hot glue and

then secured to the container. – When the glue is dry, both the container and the

foam are placed in a preservative solution.



• 4. Several other foundations can be used by a designer, including:

• a. A needlepoint holder, also referred to as a frog or pin holder, is a device that has a heavy metal base with upright metal pins attached and evenly spaced. – This device is secured to a container

using floral clay. – Except in exhibition work,

florists seldom use needlepoint holders because of their high cost.


• b. Chicken wire is inexpensive and creates great support for heavy and thick stemmed flowers. – It can be secured into place with plastic “S” clips.

• c. A greening pin is a metal “hairpin” with an “S” or flat top. – It is used to keep moss or foliage in place. – Wire bent in a “U” shape can achieve the same

effect.


• d. Water tubes are plastic tubes with rubber tops that have holes in them for the fresh flower stems. – They are often used to add fresh flower

accents to potted plants.

• e. Hyacinth stakes are green wooden stakes that offer needed support for heavier flowers in an arrangement.

What basic geometric designs exist?

• Each geometric design offers a different visual experience.

• Designers need to visualize the shapes they plan to use in their designs.

• Basic techniques involve setting the height of the arrangement first, adding width, and then adding the contour.


• Contour is the three-dimensional radiation in an arrangement from the vertical height placement to the horizontal placements when viewed from the side. – Proper contour should

have a gentle roundness to it.


• Floral foam is an important component in achieving geometric designs. – Flowers that appear on the left should be placed

in the left side of the foam, and flowers that appear on the right should be placed in the right side of the foam.

– A symmetrical design should be centered in the foam, while an asymmetrical design should be placed to the right or left of the center.

– The designer should place tall flowers near the back and then work forward.


• Three basic types of geometric floral designs are:

• 1. Vertical—Vertical designs are very eye catching and bold. – The flowers are placed in a linear fashion,

forming a strong vertical statement. – The width of these designs is secondary to

the height. – Bud vases are typically vertical designs. – One of these arrangements can be placed on a

desk, table, or counter with a small amount of space.


• 2. Triangular—Triangular designs are popular for all types of occasions. – They are often seen in church altar

arrangements for weddings and in funeral pieces.

– They can be asymmetrical or symmetrical in design.

– Symmetrical triangle designs are equilateral or isosceles.

– Asymmetrical triangle designs are right or scalene.

What basic geometric

designs exist?


• 3. Circular—Circular designs offer diverse styles, including oval, crescent, and Hogarth, or “S”-curve designs. – The oval design is often used

commercially in get-well or Administrative Professionals’ Day (or Week) bouquets.

– The crescent is common in holiday design pieces, and the Hogarth curve is seen in formal and exhibition design work.

What is naturalistic designing?• Naturalistic designs draw on nature and

gardening for inspiration.• A common technique used in naturalistic

designs is grouping.• 1. Grouping is placing

flowers and foliage in units as if they were naturally growing there.

• 2. Designers who understand nature and how things grow will be able to create these designs easily.

What is naturalistic designing?

• Naturalistic designers often use baskets, trays, and bowls that are very low in height. – Often the containers are not visible. – Designers will also typically use containers that

are made of natural fibers.• 1. Sheet moss and Spanish

moss are common materials used in naturalistic designs.

• 2. Florists sometimes design rosettes, in which foliage stems radiate from a central point as if growing in the wild.

What is naturalistic designing?

• Accessories such as realistic birds, butterflies, nests, and even insects can offer something special to naturalistic designs.

How is a potted plant wrapped?• The ability to decorate potted plants is a

very important skill for a person working in a floral shop.– A florist sells many potted plants for

various occasions. – Few plants leave the shop in just the

clay or plastic pots in which they were grown.

• 1. A plant may be placed in a basket or in a preformed pot cover.

• 2. Once the cover is in place, bows, birds, seasonal items, or live flowers may be added.

How is a potted plant wrapped?• The most commonly used decorating

material is foil. – Foil comes in two types, lightweight foil and poly

foil.

• 1. Lightweight foil is not as resistant to tearing and water damage. – It is colored on one side and silver on the other.

• 2. Poly foil is thicker because a polyethylene material is applied to the silver side of the foil. – The thicker material lessens the chance of the

foil tearing and water escaping.

Review/SummaryReview/Summary•What tools do floral designers use?

•What basic geometric designs exist?

Review/SummaryReview/Summary•What is naturalistic designing?

•How is a potted plant wrapped?

horticulture science lesson 60 designing basic floral work

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