Can i make my own bridal bouquet with peonies?
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Using peonies in a wedding bouquet gives a bold yet elegant twist to typical bridal arrangements. With lush, fragrant blooms and layers of petals, peonies can create a dramatic wedding bouquet. Blooming in spring, the flowers come in white, peach, red and shades of pink, and can last up to a week when placed in water. A popular choice for mid-year weddings, many brides choose the flowers for their arrangement design as the colors are complementary to many dress styles.
About Peonies
Reported to be named after the Greek healer Paeon, the peony has long held position as a popular flower for use in wedding celebrations. In the Chinese culture, peonies are known as the flower of riches and honor, with symbolism associated with a happy marriage that is full of good fortune. The flowers are native to Asia, Europe and North America, giving the flower universal appeal.
Selecting the Flowers
Visit your local floral shop or a floral wholesaler, if one is available, several days before the wedding to purchase the flowers. While using all one color is a popular choice, selecting a variety of shades, for example pink and peach, can add a dynamic element to the bouquet design. When selecting flowers for the arrangement, choose a combination of fully opened peony blooms and buds that are soft to the touch and just beginning to open. Peony bouquets can be made with as few as three large blooms or as many as a dozen for a more extravagant display
Preparing the Stems
Condition the stems of the peonies, bending the stem approximately an inch up from the bottom until it splits, then scrape the bent area with a sharp knife. This process removes the bark, allowing more water to enter the inner stem. After exposing the inner stem, fill a container with approximately 2 inches of boiling water. Place the stems in the boiling water for three minutes, then empty and fill the container with cold water, allowing the peonies to soak in the cold water for at least two hours. Once conditioned, the flowers will remain fresh for approximately five days when kept in fresh water and refrigerated. When storing the flowers, it is important to remove all fruits and vegetables from the refrigerator as they emit a chemical that may harm the peony blooms.
Creating the Bouquet
Remove the flowers from the water and use flower clippers to trim the stems so they extend two inches beyond where you will grasp the arrangement. Although a simple bouquet can be made with as few as three peonies, using eight to 12 flowers will create a dramatic design that is still light and comfortable to hold. To create the bouquet, hold two peonies in one hand and add two additional stems as you rotate the bouquet counterclockwise. Continue until a full circle of blossoms is created, taking care to avoid overcrowding or crushing of the petals. Use a rubber band to bind the flowers together and cut the bottom of the stems as necessary to ensure a uniform length. Use a piece of ribbon to wrap the stems fully, using a crisscross pattern that begins just below the blossom heads and ends approximately two inches from the bottom of the stem. After tying, allow the ribbon ends to hang freely, adding a vertical line of pearl-topped straight pins to secure. Make the bouquet the day before the wedding, placing the arrangement back into a vase in the refrigerator until ready for use.
Source: www.ehow.com
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