Valentine's Tulips!

Before the red roses arrive from your sweetheart, get into the spirit of the holiday with gorgeous red tulips.  This is a very simple arrangement of about twenty tulips that will brighten any spot in your home. See how below.

                                                                                                                               Kathy Wirtala Photo

Materials
1.  Clear glass cube vase, 6" high, 4" wide, and 3" deep.
2.  Floral preservative.
3.  About 20 tulips. I bought these at Wegman's Supermarket in Fredericksburg.
4.  Silver plate beneath the vase is optional.
The size of this arrangement can be scaled up or down.  Just make sure you use enough tulips to fill the vase. 

                                                                   Kathy Wirtala Photo

Instructions

1.  Hold the tulips in one hand and begin by placing the straight tulips in the center. 

2.  Place the tulips that turn to the right, to the right of the straight tulips.

3.  Place the tulips that turn to the left, to the left of the straight tulips. 

4.  Cut the tulip stems all the same height, so that the tulips will extend about 3 inches above the top of the vase.  (This is the opposite of the rule, that most arrangements should be 1.5 times as high as the container.)

5.  Always cut stems at an angle so they will absorb as much water as possible.

6.  Adjust height of individual tulips if necessary, but pulling them up or down by the stem, so they all appear about the same height. 

7. Place in the vase. Adjust direction of tulips as necessary. 

8. The next day, your tulips may be turning in different directions. Take them out, clip the stems, change the water, and adjust the direction as needed.  A fresh cut and fresh water will prolong the life of your flowers.

Note:  If your flowers are fresh when purchased, they will last about a week if properly conditioned.

                                                                                     Kathy Wirtala Photo

                                                                                                                          Kathy Wirtala Photo

                                                                                   Kathy Wirtala Photo

                                                                   Kathy Wirtala Photo

About Kathy Wirtala
I met Kathy Wirtala at one of my workshops and recently discovered that she is an accomplished photographer, as well as a talented flower arranger.  Kathy's experience includes working as a photographer for the The National Archives and The Smithsonian.  If you are interested in having  Kathy capture your special moments and more, contact her through her Facebook page, where you can also see more of her beautiful work!