Blog Archive

Monday, March 6, 2017

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!

13 comments:

  1. Penny, You are so very clever....what a beautiful basket. I love it. You are giving me the spirit to do one myself. Blessings for a great spring. xoxo, Susie

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  2. Very sweet Penny. Using both is really desirable, and using plants that can be used for continued bloom, even better. Having worked in fresh flower shops and with silk---the upside of silk is no prep---to speak of and no mold.

    Expense ---I would rather spend $10 on groceries for the local food bank, or my own cupboards as much as I love flowers. So, I plant tons of flowers and bulbs...and have fresh bouquets 1/2 of the year, and never worry about adding a bit of faux, here and there.

    Your basket is lovely---any way you do them, with all your adorable accents, Sandi

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  3. Bonjour chère amie,

    Les fausses fleurs ont parfois un rendu surprenant ! Elles sont merveilleusement bien imitées. Mêlées aux fleurs fraîches, elles font de belles compositions.
    En ce moment, dans la forêt chez moi les jonquilles sauvages forment de merveilleux tapis.
    Merci pour ce joli billet.
    Gros bisous 🌸

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    Replies
    1. Bonjour, il semble que les jonquilles dans la forêt près de votre maison sont belles en ce moment. Prendre plaisir!

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  4. Penny,
    I LOVE that basket!! Did you get it recently? So pretty and I love what you did with it!! I still can not get into a Spring mode especially since we have colder temps. predicted for all of next week and a chance of snow at least twice in the coming week.... Winter has come back with a bit of a vengeance here..
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  5. You make me dream about spring. What a pretty basket!
    Hugs Alessandra

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  6. I love what you did with this, it's adorable! Thank you for sharing at the Creative Muster Party! Pinned
    Robin | Fluster Buster

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  7. This is gorgeous. Sometimes I place purchased faux flowers in a vase and then fill it with my hand made ones, but I have not tried mixing fresh with faux flowers. Your arrangement is beautiful and that moss basket is the best. Pinning.

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  8. It looks fresh and I love the idea of mixing the fake with the fresh - lovely basket

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  9. That basket is gorgeous Penny and the way you mixed and matched fake and fresh. So lovely. It's really hard to tell the difference, it's amazing how beautiful the fake plants and flowers look now

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  10. Me encanta todos tus arreglos florales!!!

    Besos 😘😘😘

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  11. It looks all fresh! You have been phenomenal Penny :)

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  12. Beautiful arrangement real or faux, but I love that you mixed it. Thank you so much for sharing it with us at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!

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