All about flowers & flower arranging
Wreaths
Wreaths have been around for thousands of years in various forms. Representing the circle of life - a circle has no beginning and no end - wreaths symbolize eternal life, never ending love, and friendship. Generally wreaths are made from a variety of botanicals like twigs, leaves, flowers etc, but can also be made with non-natural materials.
Wreaths are traditionally used for commemorative events and funerals, but are being increasingly used for table decorations, seasonal door hangings & wedding decor. Wearable wreaths would include those made out of laurel going back to ancient roman times, as well as a bridesmaid's head circlet. The variety of wreaths is endless.
Making a wreath
A wreath is a symmetrical arrangement, so material should be evenly distributed. Materials are quite often placed at an angle so that your eye travels in a clockwise direction. For visual appeal, the classic ratio of the wreath : hole : wreath is 1 : 1.6 : 1. Many wreaths of course would not comply with these basics, (and are not necessarily even round), but for formal occasions such as wreath laying ceremonies, protocol may demand certain specifications.
Wreaths can be made using frames made of wire, cane, willow, grapevine, straw, polystyrene and floral foam. Floral foam wreaths are used extensively by commercial florists. They are available in a variety of sizes and qualities, and the type with a plastic backing is the most practical to use. To soak a floral foam wreath, it should be placed upside down in container large enough to accomodate it's size, so that it can absorb water at it's own pace. If using a cardboard backed wreath, it is easy to oversoak the wreath, which may result in it collapsing, and rendering it unusable. If the wreath is being made for a funeral or wreath laying ceremony, there may be a considerable amount of handling, so the stronger the base, the better.
Sympathy wreaths
Sympathy wreaths are usually sent as floral tributes to the funeral or service, rather than the home. Wreaths are generally designed to be either laid down, or put on a tripod-like stand, so sending them to a home or business is generally inappopriate. An arrangement of flowers is the better option for home delivery.
When ordering a wreath for a funeral service, it is critical that there is ample time for the delivering florist to make the order. Funeral directors usually require flowers a good few hours before the service and occasionally the day before. These days, there are no real rules about the colours used in sympathy wreaths. It has become quite a personal choice. Some cultures have specific preferences, and if you are a florist, it is a good idea to become familiar with these to avoid an unnecessary faux pas.
