Have your cake (but don't eat it)

May 18 2008 Vivienne Lee And Nick Priestly

Flowers The Perfect Birthday Present.. And Calorie-Free

Looking for the perfect birthday present for the friend who has everything or a centrepiece with real wow factor for a family party?

This floral "cake" would also be the perfect birthday treat for a friend who insists they are are on a strict diet.

Try creating this brightly-coloured gerbera arrangement which makes a unique gift for a friend or family member's birthday and it's quicker, simpler and more original than baking a cake. Gerbera are the ideal flower to use for this arrangement due to their large flat flower heads.

At this time of year they are great value for money too.

Originally from South Africa and sometimes known as African daisies, the majority of gerberas sold in UK florists are now grown in Holland and come in a wide array of colours - you can get virtually everything but blue.

Keep a lookout for the unusual spider gerbera or the beautiful bright yellow Pasta di Mamma variety - the curled petals really do look like they are made from pasta.

You can also make mini versions of the cake using mini gerbera, more commonly known as germini.

Use these mini cakes to hold the place names of each of your guests at a dinner table.

Alternatively create a more expensive, luxurious version by packing the cake with roses and cymbidum orchid heads.

You will need..

18-20 gerbera

12 candles

Glass cake stand

Floral foam cake base

Cost of flowers £20-30

STEP ONE

Soak floral foam in water and place on cake stand.

STEP TWO

Cut gerbera stems leaving about 2in and push into foam, working around the side of the cake.

STEP THREE

Cut remaining gerbera stems and push into the top of the cake.

STEP FOUR

Insert candles