February 9, 2010

Spring Arrangement 101

Greetings Friends~ ~

Last weekend we had 18" of snow and are bracing for another 12" tomorrow. I feel like I need a Breath Of Spring. I'll share with you how I made this dogwood arrangement to fool myself into thinking Spring is just around the corner.
We have a wonderful shrub outside with very fine branches that twist and curl. I have not been able to locate the name of this perennial shrub. The stems are lined with tiny lavender flowers all along the stems and it falls over like a lavender fountain. It's 6-7' tall. It is stunning when it blooms and it blooms all summer! If you can identify this shrub I really would appreciate it.
I choose a few branches from this shrub but you could use any tree branch with a pleasing shape. Choose a pot that you like for the outside pot and then find another smaller pot that is heavy and fits inside the larger pot to stabilize it and add weight. My inside pot is a heavy clay pot. Cut a piece of florists foam to fit inside the smaller pot tightly and push it in.

Set the smaller pot inside the large pot. Crumble newspapers and push them all around the small pot to keep it centered and make it stand upright.



Arrange your branches artfully and wire them together. Trim them to the height you like and push them into the foam.



My helper says keep going your doing a good job. He is always in the middle of a project.
Cats are such a delight.



I used dogwood branches I got a Michael's for 40% off and some Spanish moss to top the pots off and hide the newspapers. You really could use any spring flowers I also considered forsythia but I wanted white flowers.


I hung two sequined hearts that I had around the lower branches for Valentines. I will change these out for possibly birds or ivy after Valentines day.


I really needed something to fill the empty corner in the diningroom and I love the way it looks in front of the lace curtains.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

12 comments:

Allie and Pattie said...

Very pretty! A perfect way to remind yourself that Spring IS coming. Stay safe this weekend!
xoxo Pattie

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Ahrisha, What a beautiful arrangement. Great tutorial! I have the perfect place for this in my house. Did you know I live in Willow Street? Where in Lancaster do you live?
Yvonne

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh it does look like the beginnings of Spring! What a wonderful thought.

Sandy said...

Lovely arrangement! It's started to snow here too. We came home from Walt Disney World yesterday and it's good we had a 4 wheel drive truck to get up the driveway. Hubby cleaned the driveway today and our neighbor just called asking if he could borrow our snow blower tomorrow to save his back. All this snow reminds us of living in Chicago during the big snow years of the last 1970s and early 1980s.

Teacup Lane (Sandy)

Blondie's Journal said...

Arisha~~~

How pretty your arrangement looks. And thanks for the step by step...I learned a lot! I never thought to wire the stems together. I think the white dogwood looks fabulous. What a great job you did. SO pretty!!

xoxo
Janie

Anonymous said...

Wow! That came out beautiful!

Melissa Miller said...

Hello Ahrisha,
It's so nice to meet you sweet friend! Thank you very much for visiting my blog today and your kindness. I really appreciate it. You are always welcome anytime.

Your blog is simply beautiful! The flower arrangement came out so gorgeous. You are talented.
I adore it and your lovely home!

Many blessings to you and stay warm with all of the snow. ~Melissa :)

The Watts Family said...

Oh that is very pretty~ You did a wonderful job on that!! I do hope springtime comes soon for you!! ~Blessings Love Heather

Raspberries and Rose Petals said...

Hi Ahrisha!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! It has been fun looking through yours as well! You have a beautiful home! And I LOVE your spring arrangement ~ thanks for the directions. I've always wanted to try something like this, but wasn't sure how to add stability...now I know!

It was very nice to meet you! I'm looking forward to sharing more with you in the future! I hope you can stop in often ~ I will be back here, that is for sure!

Stay warm! Spring is just around the corner! :)

Together We Save said...

This is very pretty... somehow though even if I bought exactly what you have, mine would never look this way.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Very pretty and certainly a good reminder spring follows winter.

Anonymous said...

nice post. thanks.