Real Holiday Flower Tips for Linnea Johansson

Another holiday approaches with yet another top ten list about party planning from 'top experts'. This past Sunday, USA Weekend's list managed to insult 100,000 professional florists with:

"Flower arrangements can be a total rip-off," (Linnea) Johansson says. Instead, buy one kind of flower, in one color, in bulk." 

As tempting as it is to lampoon the entire list, I'd like to offer Ms. Johansson, an event planner and cookbook author from New York, and our readers some ideas and advice about decorating with flowers and getting the best values for Christmas and the winter holidays:

1. Allow enough lead time. If you plan to arrange your own fresh flowers, get them at least two to three days in advance of the party so you'll have plenty of time to clean, condition and arrange them.  Truly fresh flowers arrive in budded form and aren't nearly as impressive as blossoms that have been given ample time to open to full glory. Just like timing a dish from oven to table, flowers need timed for peak presentation. Your professional florist can advise you on proper care and appropriate lead times - and will even condition the flowers to get them in party-perfect form.

2. Be flexible with color. Red flowers in particular are in great demand so choosing blossoms in other colors will often get you more for your flower dollars. You can still incorporate reds by adding ribbons, ornaments, berries, candles or other holiday accessories.   

3. Focus on a few areas of interest. Choose one or two feature areas (dining table top, food buffet, mantle, entry, etc...) and focus on a 'wow' effect rather than trying to spread your flower budget throughout the house. The impact of just one or two well-placed, well-designed arrangements can have a visually dramatic effect and set the mood for the entire party.

4. Use flowers as favors. A simple rose or orchid (in a petite water tube) tied into a napkin can transform an everyday place setting into a holiday delight.  For a more grand effect, add open roses (again, in water tubes) into your Christmas tree and present each guest with a blossom as they leave. The tree will be stunning and the guests will remember your sweet floral gesture.

5. Consider blooming plants. For holiday decorating, nothing shows more color longer than live blooming plants. Poinsettias, hydrangeas, cyclamen, kalanchoes and azaleas are all available in table-top sizes that aren't so tall as to get in the way of conversation. With proper care, they can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season.

6. Choose long-lasting varieties. Rather than using an abundance of brief-vase-life flowers, consider fewer stems of more dramatic varieties in traditional holiday colors. Ginger, anthuriums, orchids, proteas make striking accents and can be enjoyed for weeks with proper care.

7. Use non-floral fresh materials. Pine, cedar, holly, lemon leaves, magnolia, curly willow and other fresh branches can be used to make pleasingly fragrant and striking holiday decorations that last for weeks when arranged in water and floral nutrient. Have your florist highlight foliages like lemon leaf or ti leaves with a patina of silver or gold for an added shimmer. Add a few yard of elegant ribbon and some pine cones to complete the seasonal look.

8. Incorporate and recycle your accessories. Pull out those boxes of pine cones, ribbons and ornaments from storage and ask your florist to use some of them in the flower arrangements. Carrying the colors and texture throughout a room or area creates the affect of a professional, coordinated look. 

9. Take your vases and containers to your florist. Most everyone has favorite holiday and everyday vases at home. Simply bring them into the flower shop and let your florist know your color scheme and where you plan to display the arrangements. A sideboard or buffet design will generally be seen from one side only, so there's no need to place flowers in areas out of view. Centerpieces should be created 13" or lower or 22" and taller if guests will be dining around them. Be sure to let your florist know your table size(s).  Providing him/her with digital photos of the tables, mantles and spaces enables a perfect fit.

10. Have your flowers hand-delivered. Rather than scurrying around at the last minute on the day of the event, have your florist hand-deliver the arrangements; timing them to arrive no less than two hours prior to the party. You'll needn't worry about vases tipping in your car and can focus attention on other party preparations. 

And remember, no florist can stay in business long by providing 'ripoff' arrangements. We're here to offer beautiful products, great services and timely professional advice to get you the best values in flower decorating for easy, excellent holiday entertaining.

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