What goes into a good rose arrangement? How do you select the right roses? What sort of line and filler material should you use? What dried materials can you use in arrangements?
While Googling around for good articles on rose arrangements I came upon the Rose Arranger’s Bulletin for Fall 2009. This helpful pdf answers the above questions. It is chock full of color photographs for inspiration and useful information for those who want to know more about rose arranging, specifically about selecting roses, line and filler material, and dried material.
Contents include:
Choosing Roses For Arrangements
By Norma Booty, ARS Arrangement and Horticulture Judge,Director, Region 5, Apple Valley, MN
Line and Filler Material All Arrangers Should Grow
By Kreg Hill
Dried Plant Material In Designs
By Doug Helberg , Chairman National Arrangement Judges Committee
In the article Choosing Roses For Arrangements, Norma Booty discusses how to select roses for arrangements, things one should keep in mind when choosing a container, and helpful hints for the best way to cut and condition roses.
She also gives suggestions for specific roses to use in Modern and Oriental Designs or Traditional Designs. Something I found most intriguing was her comment that the single roses (4 to 8 petals) work better in Modern and Oriental Designs, while roses with more petals are better for Traditional Designs.
In the article Line and Filler Material All Arrangers Should Grow, Kreg Hill tells us just exactly that. I started my garden from scratch – nothing but an anemic lawn surrounded by an empty border – and I have planted many roses, but I am always looking out for more plants to add to my garden that will make suitable line and filler material in arrangements. This article is right on point.
In the article Dried Plant Material In Designs, Doug Helberg discusses various dried plant materials for use in arrangements, what makes them attractive, and how best to use them. He also includes photos of three of his creative arrangements.
If you are interested in creating rose arrangements to enter in our upcoming 2012 Spokane Rose Show (hint, hint) or just for your own enjoyment in your home, you will find something of interest in these articles.