Be creative this year

Turn over a new leaf: be creative with your flower arranging this year! We wish you all the best for 2015 and good luck with your resolutions!

Now is the time of year that people are starting their new year resolutions – whether it’s to get fit, learn a language or pick up a new skill. Why not make your 2015 the year you experiment with flowers! As well as the opportunity to learn flower arranging techniques and try being more creative with your flower displays, flower gifts are a great way to show others you’re thinking of them and spread a little kindness. Here are some ideas for new year flower resolutions you might like to take on.

Try unusual flowers

Of course you love a bouquet of white roses or your favourite colour gerbera to cheer you up, but why not be adventurous and try something different this year? Decorative kale resemble mini cabbages and can look like exotic blooms in a bouquet or on their own. They come in shades of green, white and purple and look beautiful with roses, delicate wild flowers or nestled in a pot on the windowsill. Or take your gaze to warmer climes and consider the extraordinary exotic flowers available from florists – such as the show stopping bird of paradise flower or vibrant ginger lilies. Whatever you go for – make sure you branch out and try something different; you never know, you might find a new favourite!

Be creative with your vessels

A simple but elegant glass vase is a must for any home and any floral bouquet is bound to look good in it. But there are a host of alternative vessels you could use to create surprising new looks. Here are some ideas for unusual vases you can try:
- convert old light bulbs into hanging flower vessels – just add a sprig of wildflowers or a single rose;

- go searching in charity shops for patterned tea cups and jugs to display your blooms in;
- use vegetables as vases! Hollow out a red cabbage or an artichoke for a truly unusual look; drop slices of orange or lemon into your glass vase, and add strawberries and blueberries for a bright look at summer parties – cranberries for winter ones;
- use different sizes and styles of coloured bottles and jars for a quirky look;
- snip off the heads of your favourite flowers and add to a glass bowl with floating candles to create a whimsical centre piece

Buy flowers for a loved one

And buy them ‘just because’. It’s wonderful to give flowers as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and traditional celebrations – but receiving flowers will always brighten someone’s day. Sendflowers to say thank you to a friend, to show someone you’re thinking of them or to a loved one at work as a wonderful surprise. Choose their favourite flower or send something bright and cheerful to make them feel special. The perfect way to spread a little joy!

Express your creativity

Flower arranging can be a very therapeutic activity that allows you to experiment and express your creativity. Although florists are experts at creating beautiful floral displays for you, there’s nothing to stop you giving it a go yourself! Florists and flower markets always have loose cut flowers and foliage that you can mix and match, and then it’s just a trip to a craft store to pick up some extra additions. Whether you like a more rustic look, love DIY crafts or want to create the perfect elegant display you can find plenty of inspiration online on sites like Pinterest, or you can attend a flower arranging course to really hone your skills. But at the same time…

Don’t be afraid of simplicity

A bunch of yellow daffodils or tulips picked up on the way home are a lovely way to treat yourself or your partner and will brighten up the kitchen table. And even for fancier occasions – a simple, elegant bouquet of blooms, perhaps in the same colour, can be just as striking as more elaborate displays. Try a bunch of white calla lilies, a sumptuous bouquet of pink roses or a vase of bright sunflowers. A single bloom can also be a delightful addition to a coffee table or mantelpiece, or can be dotted down a table for a party. You could also choose different varieties of flower but all in the same colour to create variety of shapes and texture, for example: white hydrangeas, roses and ranunculus; red calla lilies, roses and berries; bright pink lilies and gerberas.

Remember people’s favourite flowers

What better way to brighten someone’s day than to surprise them with a bouquet of their favourite flowers? Any floral gift is guaranteed to bring a smile to your loved one’s face, but to make them feel truly special it’s a great idea to find out their favourite flower. Perhaps you already know, but if not – be sure to listen out when your partner says ‘I love those peonies’ and make a note! Or if it’s for a friend or family members birthday or anniversary, find out their favourite flowers from their partner or family members. Not everyone will buy flowers to treat themselves, so to receive them from someone who cares will really make their day. A great new year resolution to be more thoughtful and make others feel extra special this year.

Go exploring!

Is your new year’s resolution to get outside more and do more exercise? Why not combine this by exploring thebeautiful flowers that the UK has to offer. There are wonderful wildflowers to discover in the forests: in the springtime you’ll find snowdrops, bluebells and primroses; in summer you’ll see honeysuckle and foxgloves and in autumn look out for cyclamen, aster and anemones. There are also lots of flower shows, ornamental gardens and the landscaped gardens of stately homes to explore this year – and city parks always have beautiful planted and wildflowers to enjoy.

We wish you all the best for 2015 and good luck with your resolutions!

Photo source; Flowers24hours online gift shop