STARKVILLE — Allison Siddall, owner of State Floral, gave a demonstration on how to create a live holiday arrangement at the December meeting of the Starkville Town and Country Garden Club held in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church.
Holidays are usually so busy; therefore, Siddall was asked to demonstrate how to create a fresh floral arrangement that was easy and fast to make.
Siddal began the demonstration by showing the club the elements she was going to use to make the arrangement, including a large, round container, a mini-poinsettia plant, a small orchid, a small green ivy, a waxed amaryllis bulb, fresh pine and cedar branches, and two small glass vases to be used as water sources.
The plants were arranged in the bowl at various heights by placing them on blocks or items in the bottom of the container. She then added two small vases (or jars) of water on either side of the container and inserted the cedar and pine branches. She explained that including a water source in the container keeps the branches fresh until Christmas. She added fresh white roses into the two water vases with the branches, and suggested you add these as you get closer to Christmas. Once Siddall had the plants, branches, and roses arranged, she covered the pots and jars with fresh moss.
When asked how often the arrangement needed to be watered, Siddall replied weekly and/or as needed. Sometimes the heat of the room may cause the plants and branches to dry out quicker.
“You can add a shot glass of water to the orchid while in the container, but I recommend you take out the other plants to water them,” said Siddall. “Fresh water just needs to be added to the vases when the water becomes murky.”
Siddall then demonstrated how to create a small, fresh rosemary wreath by wiring together rosemary branches in a circle. Two wooden floral picks with wire were then attached to the wreath, and the wreath was placed into the fresh arrangement.
“You can also create fresh, rosemary napkin rings using the same technique,” said Siddall. “A sprig of rosemary can also be added to bows on packages.”
Someone in the group asked how long will fresh wreaths and greenery last. Siddall replied that fresh greenery typically lasts indoors for about two weeks and longer outdoors in colder weather. She recommended arrangements and wreaths be kept away from heat sources and to mist them daily to help cuttings last longer.
In addition to the educational presentation, Club President Kathryn Davis conducted the business meeting and members enjoyed delicious appetizers prepared by hostesses Lynn Infanger, Kathryn Davis, Mary Howard, Patty Hosch and Anna Hood.
Members also helped pack art supply boxes as gifts for members of our Junior Garden Club called the Garden of Goodness and Glory. Each box contained 11 tubes of colored paint, paint brushes, colored card stock, Q-tips, a watercolor notebook, a plastic paint tray, and a wooden initial, most of which will be used by junior garden club members to create hand-painted cards to be sold at the Starkville Farmers Market.
The Starkville Town and Country Garden Club strives to improve the knowledge of its members through monthly educational programs, regional workshops, and the sharing of information and resources among club members.
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