Flowers for Arranging

What fun it is arranging flowers! Develop your artistic talent and expertise in floral art by practising with different types of flowers. The most economical way of having plenty of practice material is to raise your own plants. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you.

Inspiration

A lifelong pleasure in being close to flowers can begin in childhood. I remember my mother always kept simple arrangements of fresh flowers in every room, including the bathroom - whether guests were coming or not. I didn't think this at all unusual at the time, but the flowers must have left a strong impression! Children form habits at a surprisingly early age. It's never too early to instil a love of beauty.

Flowers to grow from seed for cutting

Have you noticed the exquisite delphiniums that have been appearing in bouquets sent from florists lately? Now you can grow yourself some from seed. Simply purchase a packet of Delphinium grandiflorum 'Amour'. Personally I can't wait to sow this new larkspur with its butterfly-like flowers. The packet contains a pleasant mixture of four colours, with the sought after blue among them.

I am drawn to traditional sunflowers (helianthus annuus) of the Van Gogh type - large yellow circles of petals round huge heads of dark seeds. Children love them too - and they like growing them. Unwins list a packet of seed with different colour and flower forms, called 'Vincent's Mixture'. All are easy to grow from seed. Have you tried the lovely 'Lemon Queen' mixture in pale lemon from Thompson & Morgan, or the 4-ft high 'Elite Sun'? Sow a pale lemon and traditional yellow sunflower varieties, and you can enjoy arranging the flowers while your children paint sunflower and moonflower pictures.

New introductions

Thompson & Morgans's first All American Selections Winner, 'Cherokee Sunset', is a striking new introduction for 2002. This Rudbeckia x hirta hybrida mixture contains unique flower shapes and colour ranges. Visitors commenting on the blooms growing during trial said: "What is the name of that interesting plant? It would be good for flower arranging." The semi-double to double blooms in golds, yellows and sunset reds look attractive in the garden. They will also please the many people who choose these colours for interior decoration. The flowering period lasts from mid summer to early autumn and plants are vigorous, free-branching and strong stemmed. Seed is available from Thompson and Morgan.

Perhaps unsurprisingly there was a lot of "Sweet William" (Dianthus barbatus) around at trials this year. T & M offer 'Summer Sundae Mixed' as a quick-to-flower hardy annual. The species is normally grown as a biannual but apparently 'Summer Sundae' flowers the first year. The mixture - crimson, pinks and white - contains seed of varieties that grow to a height of 18-24ins. The fragrant blooms are suitable for flower arrangements. D.'Noverna Purple', a bright pink-purple, displaying uniformity in height and colour, is a Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winner 2002.

Dianthus 'Diamond Coral' (Dianthus hybrida) was on show in the Parterre at Wimpole Hall this summer, where it lived up to expectations. This is a 'separate colour' dianthus offered in Unwins mail order - an easy plant to grow as an annual.

Here's an unusual one!

Declared good for flower arrangers, the colours of Cerinthe 'Blue Kiwi' (Cerinthe manor purpurascens) are so different - sea-blue bracts with tubular purple and yellow flowers - that many flower arrangers will want to grow the plant especially for cutting. Seed can be bought and sown now.

Sweet peas are excellent for cut flowers and they are also suitable for autumn sowing. Unwins Seeds do special Flower Arranger's collection packets. And one of their new varieties 'Lovely Lady' is bound to be popular this year, as it was named to celebrate the Queen Mother's 100th birthday. Large wavy blue flowers on strong stems will please floral artists and gardeners.

Plant extra bulbs for cut flowers

I shall be growing Narcissus 'Gardenia' - new for planting in autumn 2001. It is a poeticus cross with white double flowers and a delicious scent. For other narcissus varieties see also Bulbs for balconies

Roses - a favourite for flower gifts

Whether a single red bloom, or a bunch of yellow or pink roses, everyone likes to receive roses. More women would fall in love if they received more red roses! More bridesmaids would be happy if they carried white and cream roses. More mums, aunts, grans, grandmas and nans would be joyful if they were given flowers.

Flowers for the new born

More new mothers would be delighted if they received bunches of flowers; baskets of blooms; special floral arrangements: roses, carnations, beautiful irises, any flowers - white, yellow and blue for a boy; pink and white for a girl.