ae Th Designing Merchandising CHARLES GRINEria To design a bud vase. Roe Me se ‘After completing this unt, ou should be able to: Design a one-bloom bud vase. Design a three-bloom bud vase. Design a bud vase for special occasions, eee eae an assortment of bud vases floral preservative cut flowers (roses, carnations, gladiol, leaf polish baby’s breath, or other sutableflowers) ribbon cut greens (leatherleat, sprengeri, 20-01 22-gauge wire ‘plumosa, or ming)120 FLORICULTURE DESIGNING & MERCHANDISING INTRODUCTION a bud vaseis a tall narrow container with a small neck designed to hold one or A: small number of flowers. They are quick and easy to make and are modestly priced. Because of this, bud vase arrangements are popular with customers. They make excellent gifts for hospital patients and are very popular on holidays, such as Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. Bud vases are made of various materials and come in a vatiety of shapes (Figure 10-1). Some of the most popular materials are clear glass, milk glass, colored lass, silver plastic, pottery, and china. The cheaper glass and plastic vases are the most, popular in the flower shop. The more expensive materials greatly increase the cost of the bud vase arrangement. Customers who are willing to pay the increased cost usu- ally choose a different type of arrangement. Expensive bud vases are often purchased bby customers and kept in the home to be used over and over. The color of the bud vase chosen should harmonize with the flower colors. Clear, milk, and green glass, as well as white and green plastic, are popular because they can be used for most flowers and occasions, The neck of bud vases may vary in size to accommodate varying numbers of flow- «ers. A bud vase for a single blossom should have a small neck to support the stem and prevent the flower from moving around in the vase. Bud vases with a narrow neck would not accommodate the bulk of multiple flowers. Choose a neck designed for the ‘number of fiowers you plan to use. SELECTING FLOWERS FOR BUD VASES Roses and carnations with baby's breath are the most popular flowers used in bud vases. However, any number of flowers are suitable, The main require ‘ment is that the flower has a stem long enough to be inserted into the vase and still hold the flower well above the rim of the container. Figure 104 A variety of bud vases.wwirte = puovases. 127 Eames i gue 102 Murortybadae Figure03 cadets In the spring, iris and daffodils are in season. At other times of the year, standard mums make excellent novelty bud vases (Figure 10-2). Gladioli, placed back-to-back, create a contemporary look (Figure 10-3). Because of the weight of these flower heads, the bud vase will need to be weighted with marbles or gravel. A large neck vase will aso be required. FOLIAGEFORBUDVASES Foliage complements the towers in bud vases and helps to hide stems and mechanics if any are used. Foliage also helps hold flowers in place. Leatherleaf is a popular foliage used by florists when the bud vase is to be viewed from one side only. A bud vase to be taken to a hospital would prob- ably only be viewed from one side, When the bud vase is to be viewed from any direction, other foliages, such as ming, plumosa, or sprengeri are more appropriate. Foliage such as eucalyptus, huckleberry, and Scotch broom con- tribute to the distinctive design of the bud vase (Figure 10-4).122 LORICULTUSE ——_DeSiGNING MERCHANDISING i Figure 104 Bud vase wih eualypus. ‘ACCESSORIES — ‘Bows and other accessories are often used on the bud vase. If the bud vase is made for a special occasion, the accessories help contribute to the theme, For example, if the occasion were a Fourth of July celebration, then a red, white, and blue ribbon would complement the theme. A small flag would be an additional thematic accessory. Shamrocks on St. Patrick’ Day would be an ideal accessory. Butterflies and bumblebees are often used on novelty bud vases. DESIGNING BUD VASES _ Constructing a Gne-Bicora Rose Bud Vase Step 1. Select materials: one long-stemmed rose of any color three stems of sprengeri or ming foliage 4-1/2 yards of number 3 satin ribbon two 20- or 22-gauge wires ‘one stem of baby’s breath (optional) leaf polish bud vasei | Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step 5. Step 6. Step 7. Step 8. Step 9. uwir1e ——suovases 128 ‘Figure 10-5 Use rose sipper to remove thors and flige Fill a bud vase with preservative water to within 2 inches of the top. Remove all foliage that will be below the water level. To take off thorns, rose stripper is usefil (Figure 10-5). Cover the rose bloom with your hand, and spray the foliage with leaf polish to make it shine. Cut the flower stem below water to a length 1-1/2 to 2 times the height of the vase. “Wire the rose with a 20- or 22-gauge wire using the straight-wire method. Gradually wind the wire around the stem of the rose, being careful not to break off leaves. Insert the flower in the vase and turn the “face," or most desirable side, toward you. Cut three pieces of sprengeri or ming foliage to different Jengths and place these so that they arch slightly away from the rose (Figure 10-6) Add a sprig of baby’ breath so that it surrounds the rose inside the foliage.‘124 ORICULTURE ——_DESIGHING A MERCHANDISING Step 10. Tie a bow about the size of a corsage bow. Leave three streamers cut to different lengths up to 6 inches long. Tie the bow using a 20-gauge wire. If smaller wire is used, attach it to a wooden pick, “Step 11. Insert the bow in the front center of the bud vase slightly above the rim, Adjust the streamers, Step 12. Attach a card to the ribbon or insert a cardett and card (Figure 10-7). cardett is a plastic stem with a three-prong holder at the top to hold a card. Step 13. Reffigerate the completed bud vase. Constructing a Three-Bloom Carnation 2ud Vase Step 1. Select materials: three carnations five stems of leatherleaf fern one large sprig of baby’s breath floral preservative leaf polish 1-1/2 yards of number 3 satin ribbon 20- or 22-gauge wire a large-necked bud vase aloe toa. Figure 10-6 Add sprengeroring tothe bud vase, Figure 107 Atacha caret tthe budvase.Figure 10 Placement ofthe camatons Inthe bud vase Step 13. Step 11. Step 12. uur aupvasiS 125 . Prepare floral preservative, and fill the bud vase to within 2 inches of the top. |. Spray leatherleaf fern with leaf polish. |. Wire the carnations using the straight-wire method. Flowers may not need wiring if the stems are strong. . Select the smallest carnation and cut it to twice the height of the container, . Select the medium-sized bloom and cur it 1 to 2 inches shorter than the tallest fower. . Cut the largest flower 1 to 2 inches shorter than the middle flower. . Remove all foliage from the stems that will be below the vase line. . Insert the flowers in the bud vase. Place the smallest flower in the center, facing up. Stagger the medium flower and place the larg- est flower at the bottom center (Figure 10-8). Gradually face the middle and bottom flowers toward the viewer. , Select two pieces of leatherleaf that are stightly taller than the flow- ers, and place these back-to-back behind the flowers. This causes the leatherleaf to stand up straight behind the flowers. Insert shorter picces of leatherleaf on each side at a 45-degree angle and in front of all other stems. An optional piece may be inserted vertically in front of the tallest stem (Figure 10-9). Insert baby’s breath and add a bow centrally, slightly above the font rim of the vase (Figure 10-10). The bow is attached to a wooden pick that is inserted into the bud vase. Add a card and refrigerate. Figure 109 Addlesthereaf tothe bud vase Figure 10-10 Add tabs breath end atach a bow.FLORICULTURE DESIGNING & MERCHAADISING |. Make the one-bloom and three-bloom bud vases as outlined in this unit. Design a bud vase for a special occasion. Be creative and use any accessories you feel would add to the theme ofthe occasion. .Invitea florist to visi your class and demonstrate the creation of unique bud vases, Use the Flower Arrangement Rating Scale in Appendix G to rate one of the bud vases that you designed.wnrio —BuDVASES. 127 ‘A. Fillin the blanks with the word that best completes each of the following statements, A {sa tall narrow container with a small neck 2. Bud vases are popular with customers because they are less than other types of arrangements. 3. Thecolor of the bud vase chosen should with the colors of the flowers tobe used inthe bud vese. 4. Themost popular flowers used n bud vases are__and 5. Lestereatia pops fologeuedn dsgrng bc vases, butt shoud be sed only whe the | arrangements tobe viewed from 6. Bows, shamrocks, and butterflies are examples of__ that may be used on bud vases. 7. The overall height of the bud vase arrangement should be. the height of the bud vase. 8 The purpose of a cardett isto attach a to the bud vase arrangement. B. Short Answer Questions 1. Why do retail flower shops mostly use inexpensive plastic and glass bud vases? 2. Why are the necks of bud vases in different sizes? | 3. How do accessories contribute to the theme of a bud vase?