Bring Outdoors In With Floral Arrangements

I inherited a love for gardening and flowers from my father, and I grew up helping him arrange flowers from his bountiful garden for every room in our home.

In fact, it was Dad who suggested I enter my first flower show when I was 10. I took the competition very seriously, nurturing the roses, peony buds and pansies for days before cutting them for the show. My dedication paid off. I won a blue ribbon.

In the years that followed, I experimented with different styles, from Japanese ikebana to formal French arrangements. As I developed my own style, I tried almost every possible combination of shapes and colors in just about every kind of container.

Today there is one common element in all my bouquets: The flowers are always the focus. I never let an ornate container or complex arrangement overshadow the flowers themselves, whether there are a hundred of them or just a few remarkable blooms.

I love masses of flowers in a profusion of colors, but a single stem can be equally impressive. It all depends on what’s available.

At this time of year, peonies, delphinium, campanula, astilbe and roses are perfect. Later on in the summer, I’ll include annuals such as zinnias, asters, marigolds and snapdragons in my arrangements. I also like to mix in some pretty foliage in shades of green, silver and gray.

Before I cut even one flower, I survey my garden to see what looks best that day. Then I decide what kind of arrangement will showcase the flowers most beautifully.

If you’d like to create an arrangement but don’t have a cutting garden, look for seasonal flowers at your local florist or farmer’s market. Never decide what you want before you get there. Always buy what looks prettiest and freshest. (If you have something special in mind for an upcoming occasion, ask the florist to order it for you.)

The bases of fresh buds will feel firm. Mold on the stems indicates that the flowers are old. Roses should last for two weeks, and hollow-stemmed flowers, such as tulips, should last for at least one. If your flowers wilt after just a few days, find a new source.

Many large towns have a flower market where you can find a wonderful selection of blossoms, usually at good prices. Be aware, however, that some sell only in bulk to wholesalers.

Whether your flowers are from your garden or store-bought, you can extend their lives with proper care.

As soon as you bring them inside, plunge their stems into cool water. Then, one by one, cut the stems on the diagonal to allow them to drink in more water. (Use good, sharp floral shears or a knife.) Crush the ends of woody stems with a hammer to increase water absorption.

Strip off any leaves that would be immersed in water, or they’ll rot.

When choosing a container, think beyond vases. I use jelly jars, pressed-glass compotes, crystal wineglasses, ceramic urns, even eggcups. Sometimes I line up old glass bottles I’ve bought at flea markets and place a single flower in each.

Arranging flowers in unusual decorative containers isn’t difficult, but there are some techniques and tools that are very helpful. Flower frogs, or stem holders, are indispensable for flower arranging, and they’ve become collectibles, too.

A frog may be a prickly metal pincushion, a glass disk with holes for stems, or a whimsical wire contraption. New frogs can be purchased at floral shops, while older ones can be found at flea markets and antiques shops.

A frog is particularly useful in a shallow container, such as a compote or bowl. It anchors and steadies the stems and lets you place them precisely where you want them.

To keep the frog from scratching your container, line the container with a piece of cellophane. Use floral gum (available at floral shops) to attach the cellophane to the container and to fasten the frog to the cellophane.

Some small flowers may droop without additional support, especially if they’re placed in a wide-mouthed bowl. To remedy this, use floral tape to make a grid across the top of the container, then fill the holes in the grid with the flowers. The petals will hide the ends of tape on the outside of the bowl.

To create an arrangement in a container that’s not watertight, such as the wonderful old tole urn in the accompanying photo, place a glass of water inside the container. Next, cut a piece of chicken wire to fit the top of the container and attach it with floral tape. When you insert the stems through the chicken wire and into the water, the wire will keep them in place.

Be sure to recut the stems and change the water in your arrangements often - every day, if possible. A little attention will help flowers look better and last longer.

MEMO: Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Martha Stewart New York Times Syndicate