On my online workbook this week:

Dear

This week’s inspiration is dividing and potting up plants… and yes… where did my floral snips go??? It was just right here!

When picking roots to design make sure it is the kind that cleans up nicely (but maybe more importantly, quickly) and does not hang on to dirt. You do not want to waste all your creative energy and precious time picking off clumps of dirt. And you have to remove as much as is realistically possible of the dirt because anything that contaminates the water you want to hydrate your flowers in will shorten their vase life.

The best way to inspect whether the roots are clean is to blot it with a paper towel or tissue paper. Foxtail ferns clean rather quickly after a short soak and works remarkably well at suspending the flowers above water. The tuberous roots are also attached like a long garland that can be placed exactly how you want it.

And they last! My root rose lasted well over 2 weeks and kept its shape even when I tipped out the water to refresh it before adding new flowers.

Of course when when we are ready for a change of design let the roots dry in the rose shape for another armature option. This time suspend the dried roots over a container like a grid for a completely different look.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine