HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

Fall is here! Designers have always had a mad love affair with autumn; its palette is rich, warm and cozy and its textures are just as ample. Now that the temperatures are dropping, us Canadians will immanently be spending more time indoors. At WNF, we have created a step by step guide to help you bring the outdoors inside with your very own fall floral arrangement that will impress your pilgrimage of holiday guests. 

STEP ONE: PREP YOUR VESSEL

Choosing a vessel for your arrangement sets the tone for the piece you will create. A glass vase suggests a clean and modern aesthetic, whereas an antique pitcher will add character to your piece. For this arrangement we have chosen a compote in a neutral tone to create a low and lush centrepiece. 

Prepare tall and/or transparent vessels with a grid of floral tape along the perimeter of the vase. For wider and/or opaque vessels, form chicken wire into a hollow ball and use floral tape to secure it into place. Add water for your thirsty friends!

 TIP: Compotes are a great choice for table arrangements, as they are low and do not block the view of your guest across the table. With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s a great option!

STEP TWO: GREENS

Just like a chef or a baker, floral designers have recipes to (loosely) follow. Greens are always the first ingredient  in making your recipe. Think of your greens as the bones of your piece, dictating the shape and support for your flowers later on. If you desire a round shape, evenly distribute your greens along the grid you have created. For a more organic shape, leave negative spaces to anticipate the addition of florals. Be sure to strip the stem of any foliage below the base of the grid to keep any stray leaves out of the water. 

TIP: Use more than one kind of greenery to create an interesting shape. For our arrangement we have added a darker foliage to achieve tonal depth. 

STEP THREE: BASE FLOWERS

Find a base flower you would like to use as the backdrop to your piece. Base flowers are best when they are sprays; sprays have several breaks in one stem and can cover lots of area. For our arrangement we have started with two variations of sprays: thryptomene and yarrow. Place some of the base flowers as following the lines of your greens, while others can deviate away, adding to the overall shape. 

 TIP: When using more than one kind of flower in a step, try grouping them together to create an organic feel. The same technique can be applied to tones and colours.

STEP FOUR: TEXTURE AND LINES

Find florals with texture and height to add some dimension to your piece. As we mentioned, fall and texture go hand in hand, so for our piece we have opted for some ornamental grasses and Queen Anne’s lace to soften up our piece with the warm-and-fuzzy-allover feelings they give us. Pick something that reminds you of putting on your favourite fall sweater! For lines, a foraged branch from a fall stroll would be a lovely addition to your piece.

TIP: Give your textural and line flowers lots of space to do their thing. Build upon the shape you have so far created, rather than cramming them in. 

STEP FIVE: FOCALS

You’ve added all these ingredients, but for some reason it feels like something’s missing… It’s time for the piece de resistance, the main course, the third act: your focal. Your focal flower is where the eye will immediately be drawn to, so make sure it expresses your colour palette well. For our focal, we have chosen to use dahlias, the perfect fall local focal in deep red and cafe au lait colours. You might notice that we have deviated from the classic fall palette for something a little more modern and muted; if you are a traditionalist, sunflowers would be a wonderful choice for your focal. 

TIP: Less is more when it comes to focal. Applying one or two per visible side of your arrangement will let the flower take centre stage. 

STEP SIX: SECONDARY FOCALS

Secondary focal flowers should compliment your focal from step five. Think of your secondaries as the accessories to your perfect fall outfit. Just as the perfect boot or scarf can elevate your look, so can a rose or a stem of lisianthus. 

TIP: Your arrangement might be getting a little crowded. If a stem wont go in where you want it, don't force it. Find a place where its natural shape can fit, like the last pieces of a puzzle. 

STEP SEVEN: EXTRAS

It’s time for the bonus round. Find a flower that is airy and delicate to give your piece an ethereal feel. This last ingredient should be delicate and lightly threaded in to your arrangement as the last step. Our favourite step seven flowers are scabiosa (used in our arrangement) or cosmos.  

 TIP: You are nearly done! Make sure your piece has some dimension—place your “extras”  in friendly positions, almost as if they are popping out of your arrangement to say hello to your admiring guests. 

 **We have lots of new centre piece additions to our online ordering roster that would make the perfect Thanksgiving favour. Feel free to check them out here. 

- Written by Katie Jordon