But why just enjoy these beautiful blooms on bushes outdoors? What better way to enjoy these fragrant beauties than by putting them to work indoors to breathe life and a touch of elegance to the rooms of your home? And don't despair if you aren't fortunate to grow your own roses. A trip to your florist can provide you with enough roses to make your purchase worthwhile.
Since there's nothing typical about the color and fragrance from one rose variety to another, why not carry that idea into the way you arrange them indoors? Make the most of your roses by displaying the buds and blossoms in new ways.
Arranging roses in creative ways makes even a few blooms seem far more interesting than roses plopped into a vase. Experiment with the following ideas when you have a few blossoms to work with:
*Rather than stuff a teapot with a bunch of roses, allow a smaller number of buds to stand prominently by wedging a loose ball of chicken wire into the pot's base. (Make sure to line the inside of the vase with plastic wrap to avoid scratching the inside of your container with the chicken wire.) The chicken wire helps hold the stems in place and conforms to the container's shape better than florist's foam (see photograph at right).
*Roses tucked into a bowl of apples make a quick-and-simple centerpiece for your dinner party. Insert the stems into water vials, available at floral supply stores or your local florist, to keep the roses fresh. Keep in mind this type of centerpiece can only be used for one occasion only, so remove the flowers as soon after your function as possible. Roses shouldn't stand too long near fruits and vegetables because ethylene gas, emitted by produce as it ripens, causes blooms to wilt prematurely.
*Grouping roses in glass containers can give a mantel greater impact. Look for a variety of containers in interesting shapes and sizes, such as olive oil and vinegar bottles. To keep your arrangement casual, leave some of the bottles in your grouping empty.
*For a wine-and-roses buffet setting, place a single rose stem in an elegant-looking glass. Because of their depth, champagne flutes and pilsner glasses make excellent substitutes for traditional vases. Mix different pieces of stemware to make your place setting light and lively.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Michael Vyskocil's Home Decorating topic, please visit the Discussions page.