The fresh colours and soft scents of spring flowers need little dressing-up - in fact, as these easy ideas show, the simplest arrangements are often the best.
The arrival of spring brings with it an abundant choice of classic blooms that need little enhancement. In fact, often the less you do with them, the better they look.
Hyacinths come in shades of white, pink, apricot, blue and purple, and are popular as a cut flower as well as a pot plant. Buy them when only the first flowers on the stem are open and rinse off any soil before putting them in water. Cut lilac hyacinths make a lovely gift presented in a box. Wrap florists' cellophane around the base of the stems, tie firmly so that it is watertight then pour in some water. Place in a box lined with tissue paper and finish by tying a ribbon around the box.
Tulips are available in all shapes and colours from plain red petals to the gently striped and more frilly petals of parrot tulips. After you have bought them, place tulips in water for 1 hour before removing the wrapping - this helps to keep the heads upright. Tulips prefer shallow water, so don't fill the vase but keep it topped up as they drink a lot. Simple brown paper is the perfect foil for orange and yellow parrot tulips, or for the mantelpiece, take several flowers and place each in a separate container. For a different look, curl a bunch of flowers inside a round glass vase. Try to keep the flower heads from touching the water.
The jewel-like colours of anemones look stunning wrapped in deep pink. The flowers will open up almost flat, so buy them when they are half open to enjoy them for longer. Keep the water topped up and turn the vase occasionally, as anemones (and tulips too) will curve towards the light.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in March 2003.