Arranging Garden Roses

We hope that the following advice may be helpful to less experienced flower arrangers. It is easy for anyone to create a lovely vase of flowers in a few minutes by following these suggestions. Flower arranging societies are a great way for those with a real passion to learn more. Garden roses have a natural grace and charm. Two or three open blooms can be very effective when cut shorter and displayed in a small vase or jug, either on their own or mixed with other flowers and herbs. Nothing could be easier to do - and of course it allows you to enjoy garden roses spead out over several rooms. Always check the water level in small containers daily as garden roses are very thirsty flowers. Another very simple ways to achieve a natural effect using garden roses is to gather all the stems loosely together to create an attractive posy. Make sure that the bottoms of the stems are reasonably level, then gently drop the flowers into a vase of the correct height. Each rose stem will naturally tend to fall in a way that suits its individual shape. If this looks great first time, just slightly adjust the spacing between each bloom as needed. If not, gather them gently back up and try again. Professional florists can effortlessly create natural arrangements by holding the flowers in one hand, then twisting alternating stems of flowers or foliage crossways around the design. They will turn the design as it develops to create an arrangement that looks wonderful from every angle. This is worth trying, but if it doesn't work for you, start by creating an open framework, crossing a few stems from opposite sides of the vase to provide support. Rest the other flowers against these stems as you gradually fill in the gaps to create an attractive, well-balanced arrangement. If using foliage as well as roses, it is often best to create your framework with some of the foliage first, spreading it evenly out. Always try to give an impression of natural growth when working with garden roses. Show off the different angles of the open blooms by positioning some facing outwards to the sides. This adds to the charm of the arrangement. When fully open, the heads of David Austin's garden roses are larger and heavier than most other roses. Unless you plan to wire your roses, don't try to work against the habit of each individual stem. This would be a battle that the rose would win every time! Position the rose so that it can naturally nod in the right direction. Customise a rose bouquet by gathering a few stems of perennials, herbs or foliage fresh from the garden or hedgerow. Foliage with many small leaflets such as myrtle can be very attractive and will make a wonderful contrast with the scale of the roses. Sage (salvia) or rosemary are great companions for roses and a few sprigs are often available fresh from the kitchen garden. If you have unripe blackberries or raspberries growing in your garden and can bear to part with a couple of stems, these look wonderful, as do rose hips. With a little imagination, you can creates a beautiful, original floral design with very little effort. At Christmas, one open rose bloom tied with a sprig of holly, mistletoe or ivy makes a beautiful place setting. Keep the place settings fresh in a little water until shortly before your guests sit down for their meal. If you have access to basic floristry equipment, you will be able to buy small tubes with a plastic or rubber seal that will keep a single bloom fresh. Wrap a large leaf or a few smaller leaves tightly around the tube to hide it, and tie in place using a twist of florists' wire. A narrow ribbon tied in a neat bow will complete the effect. For a contemporary, minimalist look, arrange several tall, slim bud vases in a row, each containing a single rose. For a stunning, easy-to-create dinner party arrangement, float the open rose heads in a large bowl of fresh water. Swirl in some foliage or add glass beads to create an interesting, textural effect. Scatter a few rose petals to create a romantic effect. If you love garden roses, please click here to read our full care instructions