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Christmas - Festive Flowers
 By Sara SmithIn the next few weeks we will be digging out the Christmas decorations from the attic, untangling the discarded fairy lights from last year and rearranging the furniture to accommodate the tree. But before you cover the house with tinsel, why not make room for some more natural decorations this year? Florist Jamie Aston, author of Flower Arranging Made Simple, says that a great way to add some seasonal sparkle to your home is with a little bit of flower power. "This time of year allows us to express ourselves in so many ways throughout the home, from table centres to door wreaths. There is endless scope to be creative," he says. "Christmas has to be every florist's favourite time. I always spend many hours at home decorating the fireplace and tree with pine cones from the local forest." Jamie, who runs a flower-arranging school as well as stores in London and inside Selfridges in Manchester, says being good with flowers at any time of year is all a matter of confidence. "Flower arranging should be enjoyable," he says. "You only need a little guidance to get yourself started. Then, once you start learning what works for you and which flowers go together, your confidence will improve. "Even if what you're making is not quite working, confidence is the key. Over the years, I have learned from my mistakes, not from my successes." And he promises that, while you do need to have a little patience, many festive creations aren't as tricky as they look. He says: "For a simple but effective Christmas decoration, you could use stems of berries, dust them with fake snow or glitter and put candles round them. "One of my other favourites is the winter wreath, which is such a fun piece to make as it allows for endless creativity. Anyone can make these, even children." Finding flowers for displays can be a little harder during the winter months, but is easily possible as long as you're a little resourceful. "Winter is probably the most challenging time of year when it comes to flower availability and selection. This is when I always make good use of amaryllis, poinsettia and ilex berries. These flowers last for weeks and create a bold statement when used on their own. But also try to incorporate any garden foliage you can find - such as pine, birch branches and holly - through your displays to help fill them out and add texture." Click overleaf where Jamie shows us how to create two Christmas must-haves - a stunning wreath and a wow-factor garland. |
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