A modern Diagonal.  Ideas and techniques for flower arrangers, florists, floral artists and beginners can be yours each month when you subscribe to 'floral design magazine'.

This design has to be balanced actually or it will fall over, and also balanced visually. Mechanics must be stable and as it is a modern design you will be using less material so you can't hide your mechanics and oasis with tizzy plant material Build your container The natural look is in, so you are going to glue natural materials on to 2 heavy cardboard roll centres, or PVC plastic downpipe, or waste pipe, alkathene or carpet roll. One cylinder, which is the bottom section,  cut to 46 cm (18 inches) the other, which is the top section, cut to 33 cm (9 inches). Use a hot glue gun.

There is no need to make the stalks or leaves on the top section even, and you can stagger their level for effect. The top section is going to sit on top of the bottom section, with oasis in the middle.

Mechanics Depending on the diameter of your container, you will need a 1/4 or 1/2 or 3/4 floral foam block inside a cage for stability, Kebab sticks, glue gun, wire, secateurs. After you have cut your two cylinders to length and glued your plant material to them, hot glue 4 kebab sticks into the bottom of the top section, and 4 into the top section of the bottom container, so they stick out 10 cms (4 inches) Place your oasis, which has been soaked in water, on the top of the bottom cylinder. with the kebab sticks through the floral foam. If your cylinder is heavy cardboard, wrap your wet floral foam in clingwrap so the water does not soften the cylinder.It is also a great idea to "cage" the floral foam in fine chicken wire so it doesn't crumple especially when using big stalks. Now lower your top section onto the floral foam block again skewering the floral foam with the sticks. You should now have 8 kebab sticks securing the floral foam top and bottom. If your joined cylinders feel as if they will topple, fill a jar with sand and slip your bottom cylinder over it. If the jar fits snugly, it will provide stability.

Plant material You will need long stemmed flowers such as kniphofia (poker), gladioli, Proteas as well as extra plain long stems such as agapanthus for effect, or use bare branches for wonderful patterning and with these you can use pods, cones, berries OR seaweed, shells etc. You will need two kinds of foliage, one variegated and one plain, whatever suits your covered container, such as aralia aspidistra, puka, fatshedera, variegated honesty, hosta leaves soaked in water for several hours etc. For added depth and rhythm and unity use vines such as actinidia, wisteria, supplejack or long reeds to bend at angles. you will need moss to cover your mechanics.( the floral foam and "cage") These are a guide only, see what you can find in your garden or buy what is in season

Inez's design using lichen  and banana bracts   Poppy's design using proteas

The design As this is a diagonal design, first insert the long stemmed flowers into the oasis on a sharp diagonal pointing downwards. Match this angle with the bare long stems inserted on the other side. Note that the stems do not travel right through the oasis although it looks like they do. Cut the stems with a good point for ease of poking into the oasis. Cover the mechanics with moss. Don't tuck it in tight but let it flow down for texture and colour and so it becomes part of the design. Now add your variegated and non variegated leaves to add interest and to give the design balance visually and texture. Don't add the leaves like ears or butterfly leaves, but vary the angles and length to offset them, one from the other.. Finally bend the reeds, or curve the vines around the design to create a sense of space, and giving a lot of rhythm, form and texture. Ivy's design

Break away from the convention of always using a vase or bought container, and try some new, modern ideas. One of the best florists to help you is Jane Packer. In her book, Fast Flowers,  she shows you how to create a new look for your container as well as how to place the flowers! As you can see form the picture (right) from her book, you will be able to try easy, fun, fast designs that will look fabulous! More...

The Art of Floral Design by Norah T. Hunter, Herb Mitchell   Reviewer: JULIE BARGERON from AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA March 4, 2000 "This is the BIBLE OF THE FLORAL INDUSTRY! " That is the exact word my instructor used five years ago when I attended design school. Since that day, I still refer back to it again and again. The techniques and  illustrations are wonderfully formatted in such a way that is easy to understand. Everything from the history of floral design up to today's job opportunities within floristry are covered.  More examples of topics covered are; wiring techniques for corsages proper care and handling of flowers, understanding color, design principles, controlling cost, holidays, funeral arrangements, the list goes on and on.. Sincerely,Julie E. Bargeron  This book is available,here from USA, online with worldwide shipping. Click here for details.

Creative Flower Arrangement by Jean Taylor  This book I should have had the day I joined a Floral Art club. It covers all the points of good design, with many examples, and it has made me able to look at my own creations more objectively from a design point of view. It has been reprinted 8 times already and for me, it is the definitive text for excellence in Floral Design. Long time Floral Artists guard their copies jealously so you can buy it online here , from Amazon.com in Britain as it is not available online in the USA, with shipping worldwide. You'll find as soon as your copy arrives, you won't be able to put it down and you'll finally understand how the "experts" make their arrangements look so wonderful. Try the design principles in the book and it won't be long before you too, will be an expert!

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