Trendy Bouquets For S pring Celebrations (NAPSA)—Here’s a party-planning tip: Whether you’re celebrat- ing Mother’s Day, a wedding shower, graduation or even spring itself, fresh flowers create a warm, welcoming ambiance—plus, they’re easy andfun to arrange. A festive spring bouquet starts with your choice of flowers, says Rene van Rems, noted floral designer and educator in Vista, Calif. Bring the vibrant spirit of spring into your home with daffodil, narcissus and hyacinth, available from January to May. Irises and tulips also herald the season, along with daisies, freesia, lily of the valley and calla lilies. In fact, there are more than 200 dif- ferent flowers and foliages available from California in spring— just choose yourfavorites. Color is the second ingredient for dazzling bouquets, says van Rems. Spring flowers are brim- ming with vibrant, intense color. For a bouquet that will pop with bright, happy energy, mix yellow daisies, daffodils and ranunculuses with orange daffodils and calendula, as well as white narcis- sus and blue hyacinths. Another approach is a bouquet Bring the vibrant spirit of spring into your home. Make a bouquetthat uses seasonal flowers such astulips,lilies, hydrangeas and roses— all in shades of one vivid color. gests van Rems. White cherry, pink crab apple and manyother blossoming branchesare generally available from California during March andApril. Here are some other tips for spring sunshine with yellow daf- creating dynamic spring bouquets: Wrap It Up Wrap a glass cube container with ribbon, like a present. The roses. position the flowers. of one outrageously vivid color. Treat your guests to a burst of fodils, ranunculuses, tulips and Budding branchesare a beauti- ful tribute to the rebirth that the season symbolizes. Place five branchesof bright red quinceblossoms in a clear glass vase, sug- ribbon grid across the opening will Lime Punch Include a few bright green flowers in pastel bouquets to punch up the color. Chartreuse button mums invigorate pink ranunculuses, hyacinths andasters. Keep The Water Coming Most bulb flowers need lots of water as they continue to grow in the vase. Refill the vase frequently. Want more inspiration? Visit the California Cut Flower Commission at www.ccfc.org. The Cali- fornia Cut Flower Commission is a promotional organization for California cut flower growers. Rene van Rems (www.renevan rems.com) is a memberof the American Institute of Floral Designers. He is a lecturer and the author of “Rene’s Bouquets—A Guide to Euro-Style Hand-Tied Bouquets.”
