Fresh or Fake?

Do you prefer fake or fresh flowers?  

I think I prefer fresh,  but they are not always available..... pretty pricey and don't last but a few days.        On the other hand,   fake flowers are readily available.   Like the fresh ,  the realistic ones are pretty pricey....but they last ,  and last and last.
 
Today I wanted to do a fresh spring floral design but couldn't find any fresh tulips or daffodils   ( I found some daffodil plants at Lowes but that's all they were...plants...the blooms were all wilted. )    So,  I decided to use fake and fresh in my design....see if you can tell which is fake and which is fresh.

I chose a pretty green basket as the container for my spring design   (a TJ Maxx find)   

I gathered up some of the supplies that I thought I might use,   Some I used,  and some I didn't.   I also had some fresh pansies that I had picked up over the week end .

I placed 2 pieces of foam in the bottom of the basket .

Then I filled in all around them with green grass.   If you pack the grass firmly around and in between the styrofoam,  I've found that I don't need to wire the foam to them bottom of the basket.  
 I would like to caution you that when using fresh flowers and green grass....the water and the color don't mix well!    Don't just set this kind of floral design on your best tablecloth or it may leave a green stain.

I just placed  my containers of  pansy's on the foam and that set them high enough to peek over the top of the basket..   I gave them plenty of water before I added them to the design so they should last several days with out needing water again.   When they need water again,  it's probably time to get them planted outside in the sun.   

Now I will add some of the fake stuff to my design.....

I just press the pick into the pansy dirt........

I added some faux pussy willow since I couldn't find any fresh.       I've had this willow for years and I love it because it is on a very fine wire.    I was able to stick the thin end wires directly into my basket in between the woven part ....with no damage to my basket.

See how I was able to wind my willow around the basket.

So,  take a look  and see if you can pick out the fresh from the fake...... 

Pretty good fake daffodils.......

Can you pick out the fresh from the fake? 

Here's a sneak peek at what I did with the same basket when it was time for the pansy's to be planted outside.

Be back soon with that post!