Ravens and Roses
Halloween is now the second-largest holiday in the US -- and florists certainly know how to enhance ANY party! In this Flower School How-To Video Leanne has a spooky-good time creating a hauntingly beautiful design with red roses, leucodendron, preserved leaves, ornamental pumpkins and a few feathered friends. Enjoy!
Video Transcription
Halloween has become the second-biggest holiday of the entire year. For florists, that allows a lot of room for haunting fun. Let me show you how it's done.
The base? One-half brick of Midnight foam anchored in place with black waterproof tape. The branch? Manzanita. It's dried, it's very hard, it's very long-lasting. To make sure that it stays in place, I push it into the foam firmly, and then using the OASIS Floral Adhesive, glue right at that insertion point, and it will actually stick to the wet foam. And that way, this won't shift around, it'll stay upright and stable throughout the life of the arrangement. Then adding in the raven. I don't want their feet. Oh no, don't look! Cutting off the feet! Oh no! But that way, I can glue them right onto the tree. Put a little bit of glue directly on the body. And then finding the perfect spot to perch him. And then using a leaf underneath to securely bond it. Then repeat that with a few more birds, and then of course, a few extra leaves. Just a dab of glue, place it right into the branch.
To begin covering mechanics, score down the sides of the foam, give a flat surface, then using a variety of foliage, maybe a bit of Ruscus, maybe some Aspidistra. When I work, you can cut the Aspidistra down and wrap it around the container, securing it in place with another piece of foliage. Gives you quick coverage. Use a Fatsia leaf, coming in from the center, maybe another, and that way you're ready to design with your mechanics all hidden.
The roses? Radiating from a central binding point, giving them a cut, bringing some upwards towards the center, and then others out a bit more to the side. And then since it's a full rounded centerpiece, making sure that if you do it on the right, add it to the left; front, back, all the way around.
To finish? A bit of Leucadendron, giving a nice contrast, going even deeper burgundy. And then adding in some of the leaves. Use them up in the top of the tree and bringing them down into the arrangement.
The recipe? Three ravens, one stem of the preserved leaves, one large stem of Manzanita. Then I use 12 Roses, seven pieces of Leucadendron, and then a variety of Foliages. For a final touch, one stem, large stem, of the ornamental pumpkins. Just cutting them down and placing them in to add a last haunting touch.
The classic round centerpiece, updated with haunting fun. You'll find more creative inspiration on the website flowerschool.com. If you have questions, you can reach us through there. But now it's your turn. What are you going to create for Halloween? Be sure to take a picture, post it on social media, and hashtag #FloralDesignInstitute. That way, we all can see what you do as you do something you love.
