Area Advent Calendar - 10th December

Welcome to our Advent Calendar for the 10th December.  Today our Education Rep on JDSE&P and member of Dover Flower Club, Cicely Finnis shows us how to make a welcome bowl.  

Cicely says: "This is a style suitable for a porch, entrance hall or table as a welcome to the house at Christmas time.  It is ‘an anything goes’ arrangement where you do not need specific materials so you can use what you have to hand, hence it can be a very economical design to create.  

The design is worked mainly in blocks of colour and texture so look round for good contrasts.  Seasonal foliage and berries can be interspersed with Christmas baubles, fir cones, sprayed twigs, nuts, flowers etc, remembering to  keep the components in scale, especially if you wish to use a candle in the centre. At Christmas artificial plant material can supplement fresh material if you do not have that available.  Moss is a useful addition to conceal the floral foam.

The arrangement is worked in a low lying bowl with a large opening, a plant saucer is ideal if you don’t have a suitable bowl.  Place several blocks of floral foam in the bowl ensuring that it is raised about 1’’ above the top of the container.

Start with something tall in the centre of the bowl and work in blocks of contrast over the bowl until you are satisfied with the finished design.  

Have fun and enjoy creating your arrangement. Happy Christmas to everyone and lets hope for a better 2021. 

The photographs show the different stages and some of the individual plant material, berries and cones can be enhanced by spraying or with rub and buff".