Bree Iman Clarke of The Iman Project and The Plant Project in Dallas, shows how to make a radiant arrangement in sunny yellows and pinks. Combining roses, carnations, ranunculus, and ‘Blushing Bride’ protea with scabiosa and astilbe, Bree captures the sunny colors of spring and summer days.
Bree says, “My main goal in arranging is to make sure every flower is seen, and for my floral workshops, it’s making sure that there is a place for everyone at the table and that everyone’s voice is heard.”
MATERIALS
- Italian ruscus
- Asparagus fern
- Carnations
- Spray roses
- Roses
- ‘Blushing Bride’ protea
- Ranunculus
- Scabiosa
- Astilbe
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 I chose a very simple and versatile container on the small side. Using a neutral container ensures the focus is on the flowers. Fold up a piece of chicken wire and place it in the container, and add water.
Step 2 Next, start to build your base of greenery. I used two types, glossy Italian ruscus and fluffy asparagus fern, as contrasts to each other. You can always add in more greenery toward the end if needed.
Step 3 I enjoy using the underrated carnation! Manipulate the bloom to make it open up more. Build a triangle of blooms nestled in the greenery. I find that the triangle approach works for all skill levels.
Step 4 Next add clusters of spray roses. Trim the long stems. If you don’t have spray roses, try another small flower such as lisianthus— multibloom stems are great for filling in blank spaces and for pops of color. Learn how to make cut roses last.
Step 5 More roses! Reflex standard roses to look more like garden roses; the yellow tone of the rose helps to unite the palette, from the pale pink spray roses to the pale yellow carnations. Let some sit a little higher in the arrangement and put some at the base.
Step 6 I like to add layers of interesting texture and color by including astilbe and ‘Blushing Bride’ protea to align the palette and start to pull it together visually.
Step 7 Time for some flourishes! Use ranunculus and scabiosa for movement in the design. Let them dance above. These blooms add a playful note to the arrangement.
Step 8 To further unite the palette, I chose these roses for their pretty pink tone. I twirled them and reflexed them for a more dynamic look. Finally, look for any holes in the arrangement, and fill in with more greenery or leftover blooms.
By Bree Iman Clarke | Photography by Manny Rodriguez
See more arrangements from Bree Iman Clarke and learn more about her Dallas businesses, The Iman Project and The Plant Project.
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