Say "No" to Plastic flowers

Say "No" To Plastic

Floral Arrangements

Silk Calla Lily & Foliage I have seen artificial arrangements that are absolutely beautiful, and, I have seen artificial arrangements that are unbelievably tacky. The tacky ones are what gives artificial flowers a bad name!

Plastic flowers are at the head of the class when it comes to cheap-looking, unattractive arrangements. To be honest, I won’t even put plastic flowers in arrangements that go outdoors. In most instances, these flowers scream, “fake,” and I would rather have no flowers at all. Shabby, cheap-looking flowers can stick out like a sore thumb and will detract from the overall beauty and realism of an arrangement.

Another artificial flower "faux pas" is the silk flower with brightly-colored plastic leaves, stems, centers and/or stamen. I have seen some silk flowers that would be acceptable it if weren’t for the plastic touches. Silk flowers arranged in a glass container with acrylic “water” are very popular, but you can’t ignore the appearance of the stems when making such an arrangement. They show! So, what is the solution to shabby-looking silk flower arrangements? The solution is to never use flowers of lesser quality just because they are less expensive. I prefer fewer exquisite silk flowers in an arrangement than a lot of inexpensive, tacky ones. To me, quality is much more important than quantity, and high-end silk is the was to go.

Have you checked out the silk flowers and foliage that are available these days? It's hard to believe how realistic they look, and feel. The latest high-end floral reproductions are so amazingly lifelike and botanically correct that I have actually gone up to displays to touch petals to find out that they are not real.

When buying silk flowers, buy economically. For example, instead of buying a stem with one large blossom, consider using a stem which offers two blossoms of slightly smaller size. As a bonus, this stem may include a bud or two and usually offers more foliage. If desired, you can cut this stem apart and use the separate pieces as individual items in the centerpiece.

Consider purchasing flower 'bushes' if you are comfortable with cutting stems apart and adding extensions. A flower bush contains a generous amount of blossoms and foliage. Many are available with a variety of blossoms and colors in one bush, in combinations that work well together. The price/count of a bush compared to a like amount of single stems usually proves to be quite a bargain.

Obviously, when buying silk flower stems, there are vast differences in the craftsmanship and price. That old saying is still true - you get what you are willing to pay for.