Paula Pryke
- Always choose seasonal flowers and use en masse. Don’t over complicate things, natural-looking arrangements are always better.
- Clean vases are essential for the longevity of flowers. Use bleach to kill and bacteria and change the water daily.
- Flower food works as an anti-bacterial agent and also a food. Flowers will last longer.
- When flowers are out of water the stem seals over and so you need to make a diagonal cut whenever you buy flowers. If you are cutting from your garden, take a bucket of water with you and try to do it before the sun gets up.
- Flowers last best if they are kept out of draughts and out of heat. Move flowers to a cool place over night to allow them to recover.
- Expensive flowers are sometimes better value than cheaper flowers. Cut orchids last three to six weeks and some Anthuriums last months! I use a lot of lilies and Amaryllis in my home as they last so well.
- Although I adore mixed colours, using all one colour in a monochromatic scheme can be very arresting. Think of a carpet of blue bells and how stunning that looks in nature.
- Nature is my best inspiration. Mixed greenery can be stunning without any flowers.
- Floating flower heads is the cheapest and easiest way to make a table centre. Use flat flowers such as Gerberas or roses.
Paula’s latest book Flowers Everyday (published by Jacqui Small) is available now for a RRP of £25.00
