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We’ve all drooled over those gorgeous flower arrangements at the florist, right? Did you know that you can turn grocery store flowers into a beautiful arrangement at home that looks just as good and costs a TON less?
Today I’m excited to share with you how to take those grocery store flowers from boring to beautiful so you can have a beautiful flower arrangement for your next summer celebration or get together. Summer is the perfect time to entertain since there’s no school, freed up schedules, and great weather!
If you’ve ever gotten grocery store bouquet flowers from someone and simply stuck them in a vase, you know it just doesn’t look quite right, and the flowers just don’t seem to last very long. There are a few simple rules you need to follow to arrange your flowers so they look beautiful and are healthy.
I recently took a flower arranging class from two florists who have been in the business for a couple of decades, so I’ll be sharing the floral arranging tips and tricks that I learned from the pros!
How to Take Grocery Store Flowers from Blah to Beautiful
Prep Your Vase
Before you do anything, get your vessel ready for your flowers. You can use a vase, a jar, or any other creative container that would look great with flowers.
Be sure the vase is clean, then add water and the plant food that was included with your bouquet. That food will give the flowers they need to stay fresh and last longer.
Separate Your Stems
It’s easier to see what grocery store flowers and filler you have if you separate them all by type and color. I lay all my stems out, then put into small piles.
Cut as You Go
Each stem needs to be trimmed to a 45 degree angle with a sharp pair of scissors or a knife. A fresh cut at a 45 degree angle helps the plant to take in the most water possible so the plant lasts longer and doesn’t get droopy.
Rather than cutting all the flowers at the same time, just cut each flower as you go to arrange it in the vase.
Trim the Leaves
Be sure to trim the leaves from the bottom halves of your plants before you add them to the vase. Bacteria will grow on leaves that aren’t trimmed and sit in the water, which is harmful to your flowers.
Not only does trimming any leaves that will be near the water keep your plants healthy, it also makes the arrangement look cleaner and less busy!
Filler First
I had always thought that the filler went last, but the florists who taught me said that they always add the filler first. The filler consists of greenery and inexpensive flowers that create volume and hep to “fill” the space between the larger, more expensive blooms.
When you add the filler first, it gives the arrangement a nice base to start from because the stems that are already in the water create a diagonal layer that help create a framework that helps to support the other flowers.
Mix it Up
Now it’s time for the fun part- adding those gorgeous colorful flowers!
You’ll want to add your flowers so that they’re at varying heights. Make sure that the you spread around the different colors and varieties of blooms so that you have variety in your arrangement.
If your arrangement fill be seen from all angles, be sure to turn your vase as you go so that you have different colors and types of flowers on each side.
Go Low
Don’t be afraid to trim those flower stems a LOT. You want some flowers to barley peek above the top of your vase so your arrangement has a variety of heights and looks more interesting. Don’t be afraid to cut and cut some more!
Flower Maintenance
To keep your flowers lasting longer and looking beautiful, be sure to change your water daily.
You’ll also want to trim the stems at a 45 degree angle every few days so the plants are getting the most water they can.
Aren’t they gorgeous?!?
Now that you’ve got your beautiful flower arrangement made from grocery store flowers, it’s time to display them at your next get together!
Summer and ice cream go hand in hand, so I went to Walmart and picked up some of the delicious new DREYER’S® Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream and DREYER’S BabyRuth Ice Cream. I found them in the frozen section with the ice cream and frozen treats. YUM!!
DREYER’S has a new line of ice cream inspired by your favorite candies that’s made with no artificial colors or flavors and is made with fresh milk and cream made with no rBST. The new flavors are so delicious, and the perfect treat to enjoy with friends and family on those hot summer days!
I LOVE all the small candy pieces in the new ice cream. It’s SO delicious!
During June there will be demos at Walmart of the new DREYER’S Ice Cream, so be sure to check here to see if there will be one in your area.
Happy summer!!
