Make Your Mum's Day

Feb 24 2008 Vivienne Lee And Nick Priestly

Everything's Coming Up Roses With This Simple Diy Design

What better way to show your mum how much you appreciate her than with gorgeous flowers?

Some mums will have a favourite flower but if you are unsure stick to seasonal blooms in pretty pastel colours - largeheaded roses, delicate spring ranunculus, elegant tulips and hyacinths.

Here are our top tips for ensuring you get your Mother's Day off to a blooming good start:

1. Don't resort to a last-minute bunch of flowers from a garage forecourt. It is always better to buy one or two beautiful blooms than a big bunch of tat. Choose a favourite flower or one with a special meaning to your mum.

2. If you don't know her favourite flower, pick an arrangement in her favourite colour or something that would go with a particular room.

3. If you're unsure about choosing a mixed selection, stick to lots of one type of flower to create a stylish bouquet.

4. Think about scent. The delicious fragrance of tuberose, oriental lilies, hyacinths or narcissus will go down a treat.

5. You don't have to go for a regular bouquet. Buy flowers already arranged in a vase so she has a keepsake after the blooms have faded.

6. You can't beat the effort of making your own gift. We have designed a simple arrangement that will impress your mum. Try using Sweet Avalance, Talea or Ecuadorian Priceless roses.

STEP ONE

Fill cube vase one-third full of water and add flower food.

STEP TWO

Cut wire coils to fit size of the vase and place at the bottom. These will help anchor the roses.

STEP THREE

Carefully measure each rose against the vase and cut to length so the rose head sits just at the neck of the vase.

Arrange the cut roses into a nine-rose grid pattern.

STEP FOUR

Cut the ribbons into 1metre lengths and place one ribbon on top of the other. Sit vase in centre of ribbon strip and bring the two ends together at the top, securing with a knot.

Cut off loose ends then repeat, turning the vase so the ribbon forms a cross. Tie the ends with a bow.

Remove any rose petals that turn brown as this will keep your arrangement looking fresh and slow down discolouration of surrounding petals.

To prolong a rose arrangement, ensure all foliage is removed below the waterline. This stops bacterial growth which attacks the blooms.

You will need..

2 metres of different coloured ribbon

Scissors

Secateurs

15-18cm cube vase

2-3 metres of coiled wire

9 large-headed roses