Try this arrangement for a special social occasion, suggested by Julia Bennie

This is really good for a party and means you can use a tall vase more easily as the arrangement sits in a bowl that fits in the top of the vase.

You can vary the filling you put in the vase itself to suit the event or the colour scheme of the party. The key is the clear plastic bowls that I found and was so delighted with as they have so many uses.

You will need:

• A clear plastic bowl with a lip
• A tall wide necked glass vase that will carry the lipped bowl
• A round green floral foam – soaked
• A Green floral foam holder – called a ‘Frog’
• Green oasis fix or a hot glue gun
• Clear floral foam fixing tape
• Five Green Carnations
• Five Calla Lily
• Two Oriental Lily heads
• Two Fatsia Japonica leaves or other large leaves
• A stem  of Dracaena sanderiana or other variegated leaves
• Alchemilla Mollis or Gypsophila
• A stem of Ruscus

Optional

• Ribbon
• Helium Foil balloon
• Butterflies
• Vase Liner – for example coloured sisal, floral gel, organze  or scrunched up cellophane

1. Fix in the frog with a hot glue gun. You can use the floral fix putty, but I find the glue gun quicker especially on plastic. Soak the foam and when the glue is cool and set, place the foam onto the frog, making sure that it is pushed carefully down. I have also taped the clear floral fixing tape (sometimes called pot tape), over the foam securing to each side of the dish. I use this for extra security when transporting the arrangements
2. Make the balloon fixing from the twisted aluminium wire, placing securely in the foam. This arrangement is viewed from all round so make sure that your flowers radiate from the centre. I have placed my Carnations in first; the centre one is the tallest and the other four at different heights underneath.  The Calla Lilies go in next and I have used two of the cut off stems, to put in the bottom opposite the two low ones. This gives the idea that the flowers are lying across the bowl. The two large leaves are placed together, and the rest of the foliages are now added, being careful not to cram in.The two Oriental Lily buds are placed very low into the arrangement. When they open they are large and can unbalance the design if you don’t keep them low
3. Finish with Achemilia or Gypsopilia – checking that the foam is generally covered with no gaps. I have used some more of the aluminium wire for design and also added a bow and butterflies (optional)
4. For my vases I have lined one with lime green sisal, the other is filled with a sachet of the floral gel (this can be purchased in small sachets and soaked) available in so many colours.