A stunning flower arch - Part 2 - Adding foliage
with WILLOW CROSSLEY
Lesson 14 of 20
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With the framework in place, the next step is to begin building up a base layer of foliage. Follow along as Willow demonstrates while offering helpful tips and tricks.
From the Lesson Workbook
Adding Foliage
Foliage forms the base of your flower arch and is really useful for defining the shape.
Flowers & Greenery I Am Using
- Apple of Peru
- Beech
- Pysocarpus
Adding Foliage
Step 6
Select your foliage - I find it looks most effective if you stick to around 2 varieties so that your base feels cohesive. Lay out the stems in front of you so you can see what you have to work with, and can begin to work out which shape will suit which area.
Step 7
Starting with your biggest foliage first, insert branches into the buckets at the base of the arch. You can use cable ties to encourage the branch to sit against the arch in a certain way or weave the stems around the framework. This will also help to preserve your work in windy conditions.
Step 8
Work your way around the arch, adding in foliage to the cones and vials. Allow yourself to be guided by the natural shape of the branch - you'll find some to be the perfect shape to curve over the top, while other straighter branches will work well to cover up the sides.
Step 9
With a flower arch, it's vital to stand back and see how it's looking right from the beginning. Check from various angles, and assess how the shape is building. You can always trim the foliage into shape.
Step 10
Continue adding greenery and foliage until you feel you have a really good base; I like the greenery to form around 70% of the arch.
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Your Instructor
Willow Crossley
World-renowned florist, author and designer, known as the UK’s ‘Queen of Flowers’.
Willow Crossley is a professional floral stylist, creating wild and whimsical arrangements full of colour, pattern and movement for an array of top British brands (Jo Malone, OKA). She is the author of four books and is regularly featured in House & Garden and many other publications. Willow is passionate about the profound impact nature can have on how we feel, and has gained a substantial following for her down-to-earth and inclusive approach to floristry and gardening. Willow firmly advocates a sustainable approach to floristry, working with the seasons and sourcing locally grown stems wherever possible.
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