Everyone loves spring flowers and they're not expensive. Top florist Paula Pryke shows you how to bring a splash of gorgeous colour into your rooms with these five simple ideas. You could also use them as a special gift for Easter or Mother's Day
Paula Pryke writes: 'One of the most useful vases in my collection is a cube-shaped glass tank. You can buy these in different sizes, and I often use three small ones down the centre of my long dining table when I am entertaining. Spring flowers are inexpensive now, so why not hone your flower-arranging skills? I have shown five different arrangements with two glass vases. They're perfect for enhancing a room, or you could give them as a gift on Mother's Day (25 March) or Easter Sunday (15 April).'
Care of flowers
Although some of Waitrose's spring bulb cut flowers originate from the Netherlands, most are grown here in the UK - in Lincolnshire, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. The most popular spring flowers are narcissi, tulips and hyacinths.
Narcissi and tulips are sold dry to prevent them from opening too quickly, giving you maximum flower life. Our tulips are also specially treated with a solution that extends their life and prevents elongation of the stems.
Keep tulips in their wrap, cut 2.5cm off the stems at an angle, and place in fresh water for 2-3 hours, to strengthen the stems, before arranging in a vase.
Narcissi excrete a 'slime' that can harm some other flowers. To prevent this, simply cut 2.5cm off the stems at an angle and leave in clean water overnight. They can then be displayed with other flowers. Mixed spring bouquets containing narcissi come with a special sachet of food with a neutralising agent which can be used directly in the water to prevent the 'slime' affecting other flowers.
The Perfect Vase
To create the arrangements shown here you will need two square glass cube vases, available from John Lewis department stores and larger Waitrose shops. The smaller is 10cm square and the larger is 14cm square. The larger one is particularly versatile and would make a useful addition to any flower arranger's vase collection.
Hyacinths with Rosemary
Hyacinths will last a long time. If you can see part of the bulb attached at the base don't recut the stems, as this helps the flower to absorb water and will extend its life.
You will need:
3 bunches of hyacinths
1 small cube vase
Double-sided tape
A length of string or raffia - enough to fit around the vase at least twice
Fresh rosemary - enough to cover the whole vase
Place strips of double-sided tape around the outside edge of the small cube. Position the rosemary upright against the outside of the vase, against the sticky tape, and tie with raffia or string. Arrange the flowers in a bunch in your hand and tie them to hold them together. Place the flowers in the centre of the vase and top it up with water.
Oranges and Lemons
You will need:
5 bunches yellow and orange tulips
1 large glass cube vase
2 or 3 lemons
½ block of green floral
foam, soaked
Cut the lemons into 5mm slices and line two sides of the vase with four slices each. The natural sugars in the fruit should make it quite sticky so that it doesn't slip. When you have completed two sides slide a square of floral foam snugly into the container to hold the lemon slices in place. Slip lemon slices down the other two sides of the vase between the glass and the foam. Add the tulips, sticking the stems 2-4cm into the foam.Top up with water.
Living Topiary
You will need:
1 small glass cube vase
1-2 bunches of narcissi
Garden rope or raffia
1 paper cup, jam jar or glass tumbler
Yellow aquatic grit
With large-headed narcissi such as daffodils you'll need fewer flowers than with dainty-headed varieties such as paper-whites. One bunch of trumpet-headed daffodils is fine for this arrangement. Arrange the flowers into a tree by placing all the heads at one level and creating a round ball. Tie them at the base of the heads and stems. Meanwhile, place a small glass tumbler or paper cup in the centre of the vase and fill around it with aquatic grit. Place the flowers in the cup and top up with water. Add more grit to the top of the vase.
Tulips and Pink Raffia
You will need:
1 small cube vase
Double-sided tape
Some glossy leaves, such as magnolia, laurel or rhododendron
3 bunches pink tulips
A length of pink raffia or string
Place double-sided tape around the top edge or outside of the vase. Stick the leaves around the vase and tie with raffia or string. Arrange the flowers in a bunch in your hand and tie them in the middle to secure them. Cut to the correct length and arrange in the centre of the cube, then top up with water.
Cubed Anemones
Top up the vase often as these flowers lots of water during their vase life of five to eight days.
You will need:
2 bunches of anemones
1 large cube vase
Sellotape or florists' tape
Pour some water mixed with flower food into the vase, carefully keeping the sides dry. Using the tape, make a grid of three strips each way across the top of the cube - this will help to anchor the flowers in place. Top up the vase with water. Cut the stems so the flower heads come just above the edge of the container - 15-16cm in length - and place equal numbers in each section of the grid.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in March 2001.