The Lenox Garden Club

PETAL PUSHERS
Hints for Flower Show Exhibitors from the Flower Show Committee and the Judging Committee
1. Look up botanical names of your plant material before you arrive at the flower show. List all plant materials on your entry card with botanical names first followed by common name. Print with a typewriter or computer.

2.  Plant material conditioning:
a. Plan on conditioning your plant material at least 24 hours in advance of the flower show.
b. Plant material placed in a dark location will absorb more water.
c. Remove all foliage below the water line.
d. Scrape bark off the bottom 1” off woody stems with a knife or potatonpeeler. Then slit the stems.
e. To revive wilted material….cut stems on an angle and soak in warm water.
1/15/08

3.  Check list for your entry before being passed:
a. Are the mechanics hidden unless they are an integral part of the design? No oasis showing and no glaring in your container?
b. Is the arrangement balanced – side to side, front to back, and top to bottom?
c. Are the proportions correct-plant material to the container, any accessories to the arrangement and to the staging.
d. Are the components in scale with each other?
e. Is there dominance without being out of proportion?
f. Is there contrast?  Look for unfinished spaces (remember, though that space is an important part of a design.
g. Is the back finished enough to create depth?
h. Have you filled the container with water?  Would it help prolong the life of the arrangement to use conditioner in the water?

4.  All questions regarding the flower arrangement classes should be directed to the class consultant.

5. Read your Flower Show Schedule.  Make sure that you have followed all the guidelines.  Be aware of the timetable in your schedule.  This will tell you the proper time to drop off and pick up your flowers.

OCTOBER 2009

These hints are from:
Divine Flower Arranging, By: Gay Estes (avaialable through the GCA sub-committee of the FASG).  Call Helen Goddard, GC of Buzzards Bay) about getting a copy!
"Flower arrangements will drink the most in the first hour; they can be bone dry in two hours if the flowers are thirsty.  If using floral foam, dig a small hole in the back of the arrangement, so that you can add water.  There is no substitute for the "finger test" to check water levels."
 Definition - MASS ARRANGEMENT:A Mass Arrangement is usually a profusion of flowers of various forms and sizes arranged in an oval, triangular, or fan shape design. It is closed silhouette with more solids than voids.

This hint is from: The Church Ladies Guide to, Divine Flower Arranging
by: Gay Estes     Published in 2008 by Bright Sky Press

"If your OASIS is holey...It is not HOLY.  If it is pale and crumbly, do not even think of using it."  Gay Estes

Gay Estes is a GCA member of the Garden Club of Houston and editor of the GCA Magazine Photography Magazine FOCUS
INSTANT OASIS...Takes up water in less than a minute.  Some types of foam come with chemicals to keep the flowers fresh...these must be soaked in the containers/vases that they will be used in, otherwise; all the chemical help will be disposed of with the soaking water.
According to Gay....The biggest causes of Floral Foam failures are:
1.  Jabbing the flower stem in and then taking it back out without re-cutting the end.  Floral foam will clog the end of the stem and inhibit water absorption.
2.  Jabbing the flower stem in and then raising it up will create an air pocket that will stop water absorption too.
3.  Using old foam.  Floral foam has a shelf life just as anything else.  If it is discolored and crumbly DO NOT USE!
4.  If your Floral Foam looks like SWISS CHEESE and has been used before...you know the one that you saved.  Do yourself a favor and do not attempt to re-use it.
Floral Foam not only comes in the regular brick shape.  It is also available in large and small balls, semi-circles, wreath shapes, crosses, garlands and hearts.  It may be had in the standard green color and in a multitude of pastel colors.
Don't confuse OASIS Floral Foam and similar products with it counterpart SAHARA (a styrofoam product) used for dry and / or silk flower arrangements.  This will not absorb any water.

The well stocked flower arranger’s  tool bag might include...

Clippers
Swiss Army Knife
Watering Can
Rubber Bands
String
Spool and Flat Wire
Floral Foam / Oasis
Waterproof Davee Tape
Chicken Wire
Wire Cutters
Kenzan / Commonly called Pinholder
Water Picks
Fern Pins / Greening Pins
Moss

AGAPANTHUS - Cut 1" from the stems and place in 10"-12" of cool water with the correct amount of floral preservative.

ALLIUM – Add a few drops of Bleach to the water to eliminate the onion smell.

ALSTROEMERIA – Remove as much foliage as possible, place in warm water.

AMARANTH – Remove foliage below water line and cut stem underwater

ANEMONE – Cut stem underwater…if stem begins to droop, dip end into alcohol for several seconds and return to water

ANTHERIUM – Cut stem underwater

2/15/08       

BABY'S BREATH (GYPSOPHILA) - Add a few drops of bleach to the water to keep fresh

BALLON FLOWER (PLATYCODON) - Sear cut ends with a flame and place in cool water

BEE BOMB (MONARDA) - Place cut stems in warm water

BELLS OF IRELAND (MOLUCELLA) - Remove all leaves, cut on an angle and place in warm water

BUTTERFLY BUSH (BUDDELIA) - Condition in very warm water...repeat as needed

3/15/08

CALADIUM - Cut underwater, add wire support to stem if needed, and place in very warm water if necessary.

CAMELLIA - Hammer woody stem at the base and place in warm water.

CAMPANULA - Cut stem underwater and place in warm water to harden off.  Remove past flower to encourage new buds to open.

CANTEBURRY BELLS - (Campanula) Sear cut end with a flame and place in warm water.

CARNATION - Cut stem between the nodes and place in warm water to allow it to open fully.

CHRYSANTHEMUM - Remove most foliage.  Break stems ends and place in room temperature water to harden off.

CLEMATIS - Sear the ends of the stems, allow to stand in warm water 2-3 hours and do not allow petals to get wet.

4/15/08 

DAHLIA – Place stems in very hot water for 20 seconds while protecting the flower heads from any hot steam.  Immediately plunge stems into cool water.

DELPHINIUM  -  Cut stems on an angle, place in warm water and let sit over night.

DIANTHUS  -  Cut the stems between the nodes and place in warm water.  Let them sit for several hours.

DOGWOOD  -  Crush woody stems with a hammer, place in warm water and let sit overnight to harden off.

DUSTY MILLER  -  Place stems in very hot water for 20 seconds  and them plunge into cold water and allow them to sit for 3-4 hours to harden off.

5/15/2008

ERYNGIUM - Sea Holly, Hammer as for woody stems and place in warm water.

EUCALYPTUS - Hammer as for woody stems and place in warm water.

EUPHORBIA - Cushion Spurge, Poinsetta, These plants have milky sap.  Remove excess leaves and sear ends with a flame, place in room temp water.

6/15/2008

FERN – Submerge in cool water 

FEVERFEW – Chrysanthemum, Cut under water and let rest in warm water

FLOWERING WOODY BRANCHES – Smash ends of the branch with a hammer and place stems in warm water for several hours

FOX GLOVE – Cut underwater and let sit in room temp water over night

FREESIA – Cut underwater and then place in a container of room temp water in a cool location overnight

07/15/2008

GARDENIA – Clean foliage and refrigerate leaves and flowers in a sealed plastic bag.

GLADIOLUS– Clean off dead bloom, cot under water and place in room temp water.

GLOBE THISTLE – Hammer woody ends and place in warm water

GRASSES – Condition and harden in a solution of 1T White Vinegar to 1 Qt. Water

08/15/08

HEATHER                Hammer woody stems and allow to harden in tepid water for several hours.

HELIOPSIS               Cut under water and harden off warm water for 3-4 hours.

HOLLY                       Cut Holly and keep in a cool dry area.  Do not place in water as leaves will tend to fall off.

HOLLYHOCK           Split ends of the Hollyhock, make sure that blooms and foliage are protected from the heat and steam,  and then place in boiling water for about 15 seconds...immediately plunge into cool water and allow the stems to harden off in a dark room for at least 24 hours.

HOSTA                      Submerge the entire leaf under water and allow it to stay for several hours.

09/15/08                  

IRIS    Cut stems under water and harden off in warm water.

IVY      (Hedera) Split or hammer woody stems.  Submerge in water overnight.

JASMINE Dunk stems in 1 inch of boiling water follow  immediately by a cool water and allow to harden off

10/15/08

11/15/08

NASTURTIUM -Cut ends and place in warm water with Cut Flower Preservatives   

NERINE - Cut ends and place in room temp water with Preservatives over night.. 

NICOTIANA – Cut ends and place in warm water with Preservatives

NIGELLA – Remove most foliage and place in room temp water with preservatives for several hours.

02/09

ORCHIDS     Cut stems on an angle and place in warm water and allow to stand for at least three hours.

PEONY          Cut buds when flower color begins to show.  Remove all excess foliage. Place in warm water for at least three hours.

PHLOX          Crush the cut stems with a hammer or the clipper ends.  Place in warm water and let stand for at least four hours.

PHYSOTEGIA Cut stems at an angle and place in room temp water for three hours.

POINTSETTIA Cut ends on an angle and sear with a flame to stop the flow of the milky sap.  Place in tepid water and let stand for three hours.

POPPY          Cut ends on an angle and sear with a flame to stop the flow of the milky sap.  Place in tepid water and let stand for three hours.

PRIMROSE   Cut stems and place in tepid water for three hours.

PROTEA       Split stems or hammer ends.  Place in warm water for at least three hours.

PUSSY WILLOW Hammer woody ends and place in tepid water.  Stems may be dried to stop the growth of the catkins.

PYRACANTHA        Hammer woody ends and place in warm water for at least three hours.

03/2009

QUEEN ANNE’S LACE (Daucus carota) - Protect flower heads with paper to avoid wilting.  Place stems in 1 inch  of boiling water for 15 seconds and then immediately plunge into cool water.  Allow the stems to sit in room temp water for several more hours.

RANUNCULUS  - Remove all excess foliage and place in boiling water…follow steps for Queen Anne’s Lace (above).

RHODODENDRONS  - Crush woody stems with a hammer and place in very warm water to harden off for several hours.

ROSE  - Remove all excess leaves and thorns.  Cut stem on a sharp angle and place in warm water with flower preservatives and allow to harden off.

RUDBECKIA  -  (Coneflower, Black Eyed-Susan) Use Boiling water method as described for Queen Anne’s Lace flowers.

04 / 2009

SALVIA – Remove most foliage and place in tepid water for several hours.

SCABIOSA – Remove foliage under the water line and let harden off by placing in warm water for several hours.

SEDUM – (Autumn Joy) Remove foliage from below the water line and allow to sit in tepid water for several hours.

SHASTA DAISY – (Chrysanthemum) Sear ends and then place in cool water.

SNAPDRAGON – Strip off all foliage below the water line.  Ends may be split then place in warm water to harden off.

STAR of BETHLEHEM - (Ornithogalum)  Place satems in deep warm water and allow to open.

STOCK – (Matthiola) Remove all excess foliage, crush stems and place in water with 1 tsp. bleach per gallon of water.

SUNFLOWER – Cut stems on an angle to expose more surface area nad place in deep warm water to harden off.

SWEET PEA – Remove foliage from under the waterline and place in tepid water for several hours.

SWEET WILLIAM – Remove excessive foliage.  Crush stems and place in warm water for several hours.

SYRINGA – (Lilac) Remove most foliage.  Hammer stem ends.  Place in very warm water for 3-4 hours.

05 / 2009

TANSY - Remove all excess foliage below the water line.  Plunge stem ends into boiling water for 15 seconds and them plunge into cool water and allow to harden off for several hours.

THISTLE - Remove all excess foliage below the water line.  Plunge stem ends into boiling water for 15 seconds and them plunge into cool water and allow to harden off for several hours.

TULIP - Cut off white stem ends.  Wrap stems in newspaper to keep upright and allow tosit in tepid water for several hours.

06 / 2009

VERBENA  - Split stems and insert into boiling water for 10 seconds followed by a cool water bath.  Allow to harden off over night.

VERONICA - (Speedwell) Allow to sit in tepid water overnight to harden off.

VIBURNUM   - Crush woody stems with a hammer and allow to harden off in warm water for 3-4 hours.

WISTERIA - When cutting blooms...cut some woody stem growth.  Put stem in alcohol for 5 seconds and allow to harden off in room temp water over night.

YARROW - Break stem ends and allow to harden off over night in room temp water.

YUCCA - Use boiling water followed by a cool water bath and allow to harden off over night.

ZINNIA - Remove all excess foliage and allow to harden off overnight.  Re-cut ends before arranging.

7/2009

Each month flower tips will be added to our list from out LGC NEWSletter section PETAL PUSHERS.