How to make your own peony flower arrangement

Peonies are beautiful, fragrant, and available in a number of colours too. These spring flowers are perfect for a wide variety of arrangements and occasions. They can be used to make table centrepieces as well as bridal bouquets. To top it all, they are really easy to work with and you can achieve an amazing visual effect with just a few simple steps.

You will need:

• One short, wide vase
• Hairpin frog (to hold the stems in place)
• 20 – 30 peonies (depending on the size of your vase)
• 5 – 8 sweet peas
• A few bunches of hypericum berries

Instructions:

• Begin by preparing your vase. You want to make sure that it is clean before you secure the hairpin frog in place. This “frog” is designed to rest at the bottom of the vase and hold each of the stems in place you don’t have to worry about them flopping about as you work. If you are worried about scratching the vase, you can place floral clay on the base of the frog before placing it inside the vase.
• Add your floral preserve and water to the vase and make sure that it has dissolved completely before proceeding.
• While you wait, you can condition your flowers. This means that you should remove any low lying leaves and inspect for signs of damage.
• You can trim each stem as you go so that you trim them each to the right length. Start by placing your peonies in position since they are the main attraction. The peonies placed in the centre of the arrangement will have slightly longer stems than those around the edges of the vase. Secure each stem before moving on to the next.
• Once you have arranged all of your peonies, it’s time to add the sweet peas in between. Place them evenly apart so that the arrangement is balanced.
• Now it’s time to add some hypericum berries in between for some extra colour and texture.
• Display your fresh flower arrangement anywhere you like. Of course, you should keep your flowers away from sources of heat, fans, or even the slightest breeze. These factors, as well as direct sunlight, will shorten the lifespan of your cut flowers.
• Maintain your arrangement by changing the water every few days. Trimming the stems might not be a practical option but at least changing the water will help keep your flowers fresh for as long as possible. Don’t forget to add more floral food whenever you change the water.