On my online workbook this week: I mean… did you!?!

Dear

This week's inspiration is leaving a bit of a gap for the light to just be light.

My tip for you this week is about keeping really delicate stems from floating about when you use a Kenzan as a support. One way is to bundle them and then skewer the bundle into the teeth of the Kenzan. Book readers turn to page 160 where I talk about supporting your flowers with a Kenzan.

If you do not want to add a bundle of fine stems or vines you can always use the gap between the thicker floral details to keep the vines anchored below the water.

Now, before I show you how I must mention that the rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii) is a succulent and it will last without a water source. So I don't really need to place the cut end below the water for hydration... but I want to. You see in this design you will notice my rosary vines are slightly more purple than usual. I do this by placing my cutting stems in water and then placing that in bright light. Not really full sun but just out of reach. The plant is then triggered to protect itself from the light... and it becomes a darker purple. Amazing, right? And to show off this I need to twist the vines so that the undersides are exposed.

I do this by anchoring the cut end of the vine firmly so that I can drape it around the design details above.

Slip the vine through the gap in the floral stems. Push it down below the water where the gap is tight (see the pictures above) enough to pinch the stems in place. Twist the vines so that you can show off the side you prefer and drape the rest of the vine over the design details. This way the vines will remain exactly where you placed them, without floating about in the water.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine