CONSTRUCTING AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE ARRANGEMENT

1. CONSTRUCTING AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE ARRANGEMENT Written by: Holli Bowman & David Lynn Hall County Board of Education April 2003 Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office September 2005

2. This presentation is designed to supplement the textbook, Floriculture: Designing & Merchandising, Unit 11 “Triangular Arrangements”. The author is Charles Griner and it is published by Delmar Publishers.

3. Step 1: Selecting Materials • A low container (6” design bowl or Revere bowl) • 5 stems of gladiolus • 13 standard carnations • 2 stems of statice • Several stems of sword fern • 10 stems of leatherleaf fern • ½ block of floral foam • Floral preservative • Waterproof anchor tape

4. Step 2: Preparing the Container • Select a low or pedestaled container for this design. • Soak floral foam in warm preservative solution and place it in the container. • The foam should protrude at least one inch above the rim of the container. • Secure the foam with waterproof anchor tape.

5. Step 2: Continued • Criss-cross the tape over the foam and attach the ends to the container. • Do not attach more than ½ inch of tape to the container. • Long strips of tape will be difficult to hide later. • The tape should be slightly off-center in order to insert a stem in the center of the foam.

6. Step 3: Establishing the Height and Width • The first gladiolus should be placed in the rear center of the foam and tipped slightly backward for balance. • The height should be at least two times the height of the container. • The other two gladiolus will establish the width of the design. • They should be spaced equidistant forming the points of an equilateral triangle.

7. Step 3: Continued • Tipping the gladiolus slightly backwards will counterbalance the forward placement of the flowers. • Insert the stems into the sides of the foam near the back. • The stems should angle slightly backward and downward.

8. Step 4: Finishing the Outline • Position an additional gladiolus at the midpoints of the two vertical sides of the triangle. • They shouldn’t extend beyond the boundaries established by the first three gladioli. • If you were constructing larger designs, more than one flower would be needed on each side. • A short (6 inch) piece of gladiolus can be inserted in the front, angled down above the rim of the container to add depth.

9. Step 5: Adding Carnations • Add standard carnations following the outline of the design. • Use the smaller blooms along the outer edges. • The tallest carnation should be slightly lower than gladiolus that is behind it. • With these seven carnations you are constructing a triangle within a triangle.

10. Step 6: Greening the Design • Insert greenery into the foam along the triangular lines of the design in front of and behind the flowers. • Green the back of the design so that all mechanics are covered. • The leatherleaf fern should maintain the triangular shape of the design.

11. Step 7: Adding More Carnations • Place the largest carnation in the front center, just above the rim of the container. • Position it to come straight out and slightly downward. • Angle the lower flowers downward over the rim. • All of the stems should appear to radiate from one point. • Correct facing is important. • Flowers near the focal point should face forward.

12. Step 8: Adding Filler Flowers • Add statice or other filler flowers to fill in the voids. • Be careful not to crowd the flowers. • The sword fern can also be added at this time.

13. Step 9: Evaluating the Arrangement • Check your work. • Step back from the arrangement and observe it closely. • Move flowers as needed, but remember to make a new hole in the floral foam each time.