I enjoy spending time in the garden and
entertain
– preparing a large feast, creating tasty dishes
– cooking an extensive meal, making flavorful food
– handling a substantial dinner preparation, crafting delectable cuisine
– putting together a hearty meal, producing scrumptious food
– managing a major culinary project, making mouth-watering dishes
cocktails
and utilizing blossoms and foliage from my garden (along with additions from the florist) to create a
flower arrangement
for the table!
Although I have many attractive napkins and
beautiful dishes
and tableware to use, along with plenty of hydrangeas, ferns, and herbs from my garden for an arrangement, historically I’ve discovered that creating an attractive centerpieces can be challenging. To avoid unnecessary stress, I have learned to adhere to the straightforward 3-5-8 technique for floral arrangements.
The 3-5-8 principle (connected to the Fibonacci sequence where every number equals the sum of the previous two…which is mathematical) suggests applying a particular proportion of blooms and foliage in a design to create visual balance and harmony. More precisely, this guideline involves incorporating three kinds of main flowers, five pieces of greenery, and eight stalks of a secondary flowering plant.
Understanding the 3-5-8 Method of Floral Design
Start with the 3
Begin by selecting three primary types of flowers. These are known as the key flowers because they will serve as the main attraction in your design. They should differ in form, dimension, and hue. These blossoms should be sizable (such as)
hydrangea
and
roses
and attract attention. I tend to stick with the same color scheme when selecting my main flowers, such as white hydrangeas, soft pink roses, and deep purple calla lilies. Although this isn’t an absolute guideline, I believe it gives the display a more unified and elegant appearance. Arrange the flowers in the container so they vary in height and point in various directions.
Next, add the 5
After placing your main flowers, supplement and surround them with five stalks of leaves or greenery. This enhances the composition by adding layers, variety, and hue. You can trim these from your own garden—consider
fern
Stems, rosemary sprigs, or branches from an olive or citrus tree—either gathered yourself or purchased from the store. When selecting foliage, think about how it will drape (such as the rosemary shown here) or remain standing tall and firm. To add variety, it’s ideal to include both styles. Tip: Begin by positioning the longer branches along the sides; you can trim them later if necessary.
Add the Final 8
The final stage of the 3-5-8 method involves incorporating eight stems of auxiliary blossoms. These blooms must be petite, fragile, and match the primary flowers in terms of hue and feel. Spread these supplementary flowers uniformly across the design, employing them to cover any empty spaces or voids. Some commonly available options for filler include blooming eucalyptus, cosmos, and lavender.
A Few Final Tips
- Make certain that every component is spread out uniformly across the composition to achieve balance.
- Adjust the varying heights of the main flowers, foliage, and secondary blooms to create depth and enhance visual appeal.
-
Save money by gathering plants from your own backyard. In addition to cutting foliage from bushes, think about growing a
perennial cutting garden
which can produce some of the blossoms required for your designs throughout the seasons.
