AY Honors/Flower Arrangement/Answer Key

1. Name six perennials and six annuals suitable for indoor flower arrangement.

Perennials	Annuals
Rose Tulip Rhododendron Hyacinth Gaillardia Blanket Flower Statice Yarrow Magnolia Baby's Breath	Lotus Aster Cosmos Sunflower Daffodil Carnation Marigold Salvia Morning Glory

Annuals are those flowers that complete their lifecycle in just one growing season. In other words, you plant a seed (or a seedling plant), it grows foliage, then flowers, seeds and then the plant dies, all in the same year. Annual flowers tend to bloom from spring until autumn frost. Although they must be replanted each year, annuals are hard to beat in terms of showy, season-long color.

Perennials are those flowers that grow for three or more years. Although most perennials tend to have a relatively short season of bloom, combining several species in your planting can yield season-long color.

Perennials

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  Rose

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  Tulip

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  Rhododendron

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  Hyacinth

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  Gaillardia Blanket Flower

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  Statice

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  Yarrow

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  Magnolia

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  Baby's Breath

Annuals

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  Lotus

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  Aster

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  Cosmos

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  Sunflower

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  Daffodil

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  Carnation

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  Marigold

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  Salvia

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  Morning Glory

2. Name at least three flowers that bloom in the spring or early summer suitable for indoor flower arrangement.

Rose, Daffodil, Statice, Calla Lily, Snapdragon, Columbine, Iris, Baby's Breath.

3. Name at least three flowers that do not keep well when cut, and three that do.

Don't keep well: Poppy, Petunia, Morning Glory, Daisy, Dahlia, Orchid, Hibiscus.

Keep well: Rose, Statice, Carnation, Baby's Breath, Snapdragon.

4. Give six suggestions regarding the cutting of flowers and their aftercare, such as when to cut, how to cut, and how to keep.

1. Cut flower stems with a sharp knife or pruners.
2. Do NOT use scissors as they can pinch and damage the stem tissue, decreasing the flower's ability to take in water and nutrients.
3. Stems should be cu at a 45º angle. This allows for more water and nutrient intake.
4. Cut flowers in early morning or evening when cooler.This helps to limit flower wilting due to humidity.
5. Place cut stems in water as soon as possible. This helps to prevent drying out or wilting.
6. When storing flowers in buckets or vases, do not overfill with flowers, to allow for air circulation.
7. Always store flowers with cut end in water. Never submerge blooms or foliage.
8. Remove any foliage that would be submerged in water once the flower is placed in its display container.
9. Always remove foliage and cut flower stems with a sharp knife or pruners. Never strip foliage by hand or shorten the stems by breaking them. This damages the tissues that help the flower take in water.
10. Never place an arrangement of live flowers in direct sunlight, as this will cause the flowers to fade and wilt faster.
11. Be sure to change water daily.
12. To help flowers keep longer, store in a cool place in your home (mudroom, etc.), or in your refrigerator (Approximately 35º F).
13. If storing in your refrigerator, be sure to keep separate from ay fruits. Some fruits release gases that can cause the flowers to brown and ages faster.
14. A Preservative may also be added to the water. There are many that are commercially available, but you can make your own using one part sugar to 3 parts water.
15. If using silk flowers, be sure to use wire cutters instead of pruners or a sharp knife, as the wire used in the stems of silk flowers can damage the pruners.

5. At what stage of development should roses, gladioluses, and dahlias be cut?

Roses

Cut when petals are half-open. This allows for the rose to open fully after harvest.

Gladioluses

Cut when 3/4 of the flowers have opened. Cut a spike that contains 1-4 open blooms on it. Harvest in early morning before stalks dry and leave 3-4 leaves on on plant harvested from to allow for the plant to produce the following year.

Dahlias

Cut when flowers are almost fully open. Harvesting sooner may cause them not to open at all.

6. Give three suggestions on the relation of containers to the flowers used, and three on the relation of arrangement to the room and furnishings.

Containers

Some flowers are considered to be more suited to more ornate containers, and some to simple. For instance, if you were doing an arrangement with uses, use Glass or ceramic containers. For wildflowers such as daisies, use wicker or plastic. Use bowls or short baskets for short flowers. Use baskets for silk flowers or flowers like daisies. Use tall vases for tall flowers.

The size and shape of the container and arrangement also depends on it's intended use.

• Small arrangements like the Mound can be used on end tables or as accent pieces.
• Triangular arrangements are often used as altar centerpieces or as focal pieces along walls to add visual interest to the blank space.
• Asymmetrical arrangements work best in shallow containers and are often used as focal points in entryways, on mantels, and on the end of buffet tables.
• The Crescent is similar to the Asymmetrical arrangement. Low, oblong or oval containers are often used, and it is placed in similar locations to the Asymmetrical arrangements.
• The Hogarth Curve is an attention-grabber. it is often displayed prominently in tall vase or as a door or wall piece.

Room furnishings

Use large arrangements for table center pieces. Use small arrangements for side or end tables. Flower colors should contrast with the wall colors.

7. In flower arrangement, what should be the relation of dark and light shades, large and small flowers, open and partly open flowers?

• Use dark flowers in front of light backgrounds.
• Use light flowers in front of dark backgrounds.
• Use large flowers as the center focus flowers in an arrangement.
• Use small flowers as filler flowers in an arrangement near the vase's edges. Use open flowers as the center focus flowers in an arrangement.
• Use partly open flowers as filler flowers in an arrangement near the vase's edges.
• Also, use large flowers to construct the primary angles and focal points.

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8. Make two artistic flower arrangements in each of the following areas: (Fresh or silk flowers may be used.)

a. Table decoration

Short arrangements, generally small mound arrangements in baskets or short vases.

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b. General house use

Medium arrangements in baskets or bud vases, to be placed on a table or in an entry way.

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c. Public service

Large arrangements in vases or baskets, intended for display in public areas such as an office or a church foyer or sanctuary.

9. What are some wild flowers that could be used in arrangements for the home? What combinations of these flowers can be used?

Wildflowers that can be used include wild rose, daisy, blanket flowers, sunflowers and wild sweet peas. Use wildflowers whose sizes and colors complement each other.

Additional Information

The following information was not included in the honor requirements, but it should be.

Tools for use with live flowers

• Sharp pruners or a sharp knife
• Five gallon bucket with water in it
• Preservative (an easy one is 1 part sugar/3 parts water.
• Floral foam - can be soaked in water to help the flowers keep longer in an arrangement that will not take water. It is also a sturdy base with which to help position the flowers for an arrangement.

Tools for use with silk flowers

• Pliers
• Wire cutters
• Floral tape
• Floral wire
• Floral foam (dry) - It is a sturdy base with which to help position the flowers for an arrangement.