Flower Material: Ranunculus 小牡丹／陸蓮

小牡丹有可愛又重覆的花瓣，表達你想的愛意，用以比喻成小青蛙向心儀者的追求，遂變成小牡丹花。多數用於花球上，伴以其它玫瑰花，樣子嬌小的圓形，深愛喜愛。

小牡丹有荷蘭，有中國，澳洲進口的，有平有貴。極好的出口品種可以大約4-6cm以上，足以和玫瑰花盛開的大小一樣。亦有品種花芯中間為綠色或裙子般的花瓣，形態色彩千變之多，很少在其它花上出現。

Cloni ranunculus － 新品種有點田園玫瑰和小玫瑰的樣子， 花球最愛。

PomPom ranunculus － 新品種有如小綿球一樣，得意可愛。

Cherry Blossom

Several delicate cherry blossom branches.

Celebrating the Chinese new year and Valentine's day fall on the same day in year 2010!

A symbol of love and good fortune in the new year!

American Roses Bouquet 大頭美國瑰花束

Different color of American Roses bouquet, with holland assorted flowers.
Purchase online at
http://fleur.hk/sfo/WebObjects/fleur.woa/wa/F/flower?f=150

American Roses are feature by their large head size. They will be last longer than the dutch bleed kind of roses that commonly growth in China. People will be amazed by their size, but they are generally not too fragrance.

The american roses are shipped from Ecuador, to Holland and then to Hong Kong. They can be use to refrigerate a long time without opening too soon, and less prong to remove. Florist love to use them for a reason!

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) care instructions 朱頂蘭的打理方法

Instructions on how to take care Amaryllis.

In the home:　朱頂蘭的打理方法：

1. Slant cut the stems and stand in fresh water. It is advisable to cut a small piece off the stems every two days to achieve maximum vase life. 每隔兩天換水剪腳。
2. Moving the flowers into a different vase or replacing the water in the vase will not impair their vase life.　換花瓶的水對花沒有影响。
3. Do not forget that the hollow stems of Hippeastrum are filled with water. Drain them above the vase when moving them.　花莖中空，當拿起會有水倒出。
4. When using Hippeastrum at an angle it is advisable to push a stick into the stem to prevent it from bending. It would normally take 10 to 14 days before this occurred.當在大約一星期左右，中空的花莖要放竹枝扶直，以防倒下。
5. Hippeastrum grows taller as the flower opens. Ensure there is plenty of space above the flower ( 20 cm) to accommodate this growth.　花會長高，要預有空間。
6. Hippeastrum does not need cut flower food but can tolerate it.　可以不用鮮花水，下亦無損花。
7. Remove dead blooms to maintain the ornamental value.　可以剪去凋謝的花頭。
8. When Hippeastrum has been standing in water the base of the stem will turn red and start to curl back. This has no ill effects on the flower’s ability to absorb water.
花腳會向外辦出，但不會影响花吸水的能力。可以預先在花腳貼上膠紙或用黑色花瓶。

Source:
http://www.flowercouncil.org/int/product/novelties/flowers/2009/f01NL_hippeastrum_ad.asp

Wedding flowers in Hot summer! 適合炎夏結婚的鮮花

天氣炎熱，花球易缺水。要選擇較沒有容易缺水，熱帶種植的花：
Here's a short list of a few hardy flowers that recommends:

Protea　皇后
Spider Mum 爪菊
Button mum　菊仔　
Carnation　康乃響
Craspedia　黃金球
Coxcomb　雞冠花
Mini calla lily or regular Calla　馬啼蘭
Sunflower　向日葵
Anthurium　紅掌
Cymbidium orchid　蕙蘭
Cornflower　貓眼
Wax flower　立梅
Hypericum berries　紅豆
Thistle
Horsetail

What flowers should couples avoid if they are getting married outdoors in the heat?
那些花容易缺水？
Hydrangea　繡球, Garden Roses, Dahlias大理花, and Gardenias ,　Bouvardia 十字花。

Tulips will open when heat. So, it is is very depends on your design
鬱金香遇熱易打開，要小心花形會改變。


If they are used, try the best with these method.
1) Let the flowers drink enough water.
2) Put the flowers bouquet in the vase frequently.
3) Use flower bouquet handle with wet foam.
4) Spray of flower coating where necessary

炎夏買花小貼士 - Flowers for hot summer!!

炎炎夏日，購買鮮花，清新的香氣可以趕走悶熱，放在辦公室或家居，寫意一下。問題是，那種花好？如何選擇？
以下有一些小貼士給大家！

1) 玫瑰花在夏天的高溫，好花打開，吸水特別快。有網的玫瑰如果超過一天，因為綁緊而不能打開，又或者打開亦而過熟。亦因為玫瑰的一車車由國內而來到香港，有一天時間是只用冰瓶保持冷凍，因為溫度一提升，花就催開，再雪藏不能由復未開的樣子了。

美玫就好一點，因為空運，供應錬快，特性亦開得慢，雪藏一段時間使用都沒有大問題。夏天，送美玫好一點，當然價錢不同亦雖要早一點預訂啦！

２）百合花是夏天寵兒，花期長又耐看，香氣滿溢。近年，百合花亦多了不同的品種，亦有荷蘭品種的供應，不再是粉紅或就是白色百合，可以看不同的顏色班紋，一定不老套！炎夏不用放太多水，因為會很快開，用高身lily vase,　如果是casablanca亦要加竹枝扶直。

３）蕙蘭花不用雪藏，有冷氣的地方就可以保持新鮮，可以放一星期才凋謝。此外，同樣是蘭花的品種，胡姖花和萬代蘭供應日漸增加，不愛蕙蘭的外形，可以嘗試這些新品種，配搭小巧的花瓶做擺設。蝴蝶蘭盆栽亦十分普及，近年流行迷你品種，亦有高身的品種，不愁沒選擇！

4) 夏天的綉球，要有大量的水，荷蘭的綉球又比國內的耐看，價錢是一貴一點。

５）鬱金香遇熱會開咀，好以太易弄殘，要很小心。夏天要購買剛運到的鬱金香，不會太熟的。馬啼蘭不會開，可以放一個星期，亦是不錯的選擇。


買花好講經驗，打理花亦要有心思和耐性，難怪男仕愛以鮮花攻勢打動芳心啦！女仕收到不同的鮮花，亦會變為溫柔可愛的淑女吧！

Care Instructions 鮮花保養問題

Flowers makes you happy! Don't be upset when they are dying several days later. The flowers are begin to getting older and older everyday when they have been cut away from soil.

Flowers that sells in Hong Kong will usually get to fully open very quickly in the hot summer, and they die quickly, or otherwise they suffer dehydration, drinking not enough water, before they are fully blossom.

General Rules,

"Carefully remove the packaging and insert your flower to vase immediately upon recieve!!!" (otherwise they will die in the packaging.)

1) Use flower food
2) Replace with clean waters frequently
3) take out the flower stems when it dies
4) Avoid heat and temperature, stay in cool place
5) Use a clean vase that filled with 2/3 of waters

When the flowers show any sign of not absorbing enough water,

1)bent neck for roses, gerbera,
2)soft petal for hydrangea
3)soft neck for tulips

Wrap it with paper and drop it to a bucket of water of 2/3 length, for 2-3 hours, see if the flowers got retrieve, re-cut the stems( with a sharp knife, slant cut) when necessary. Remove some of the leaves on the roses stems will be possible to stop water losing out to the air.

Remember, if you really want something can extend a longer period of time, always ask the florist for guidance. They will be happy to let you know which flowers are in seasons.

---------------------------------------
Some more details care for florist: (it may has been taken care before we sold)
(source: http://www.flowercouncil.org )

Roses
1) Buy when the bud is fully grown and ‘loose’.
2) Remove the lower leaves.
3) Use clean vases and fresh water containing cut flower food.
4) Avoid smoke, fruit and exhaust fumes (sources of ethylene).
5) Give the customer an adequate supply of cut flower food.

Hydrangea
1) A clean vase and fresh water are essential.
2) Cut a piece off the stems and remove as many leaves as possible.
3) Cut shrub food will extend the vase life considerably, up to a maximum of two weeks. 4) Avoid draughts as this will cause the flowers to droop.


Helianthus/ Sunflowers
1) Cut a good piece off the stems, remove as much foliage as possible and stand in cold water containing special food for cut shrubs.
2) Never leave without water. Check the water level regularly because this flower is very thirsty.
3) Avoid crowding the flowers to avoid damage.

Gerbera
1) Put the flowers in water immediately to allow the stems to absorb plenty of water. 2) The water should be shallow as the flowers could otherwise be contaminated.
3) Cut flower food inhibits bacterial contamination.
4) Don't let any water droplets on the flower petals.

Amaryllis / Hippeastrum
1) Do not store Hippeastrum too cold (<5°C) as the trumpets will discolour.
2) Cut the stems off straight and stand the flowers in fresh water containing food for bulbous flowers.
3) A dark vase will stop the stems from turning red and curling back.
4) Push a stick into the flower stem to keep it straight.

Lily
1) At temperatures below 2°C the bud can turn brown.
2) Stand the flowers in water containing cut flower food, preferably special food for lilies.
3) Remove any pollen from clothing with the aid of a brush or adhesive tape or hang out in the sun for several hours.
4) Do not try to remove the stains with water. The flowers can be strongly scented.

Paeonia (Peony)
1) Cut a piece off the stems and put the flowers in fresh water with cut flower food.
2) Higher temperatures will speed up flowering, so Paeonia should be kept in a cool spot.
3) If the flowers are to open well the buds must be moistened regularly using a plant spray.

Zantedeschia (Calla Lily)
1) Cut a piece off the stems and stand in fresh water.
2)The stem ends can be stopped from curling back by wrapping them with adhesive tape or using a dark vase.
3)Allow the flowers to drink their fill if they are to be used with Oasis foam as it is difficult for them to absorb water from the foam.

Tulipa
1) A tulip bud that is fully grown and showing colour will develop best in the vase.
2) Drooping tulips can be revived by cutting a piece off the stems, wrapping them in paper and standing them in fresh water in a cool spot.
3) Remember that tulips continue to grow in the vase, re-cut when necessary.

花店的選擇﹣不會有意料之外的結婚花球！

Take advice from your florist, no surprises on the big day!



一生一次結婚的大日子，當然嚮往有如仙子一般，手持花球，浪漫動人。選擇花球，只會看看相簿及價錢，草草就算，從不知個中花球是有何價錢上的分別，案圖樣式花店不會通知你花材的替代，往往大日子到的時候，眼見手持的花球有天壤之別，又驚喜又怒，破壞了高興的日子。

１。花的顏色及花球大小

花的顏色品種十分之多，不同價錢的花材亦有相同的顏色。相片的尺寸有些取巧，拿出來的花球十分小巧，得不到想像中的多花的款式，亦都要留意。　一般大的花球有9"-10"寸，伴娘7"寸,　身材小的新娘，用鐵線wire 的花球，身型碩大的，要slim 的花球，手持兩枝蝴蝶蘭即可 。 手束花的腳直徑不大過2.5"寸，有時候，看見一些粗腳大到不得了，拿不住那般沉重，是花店選錯了組合太粗大的花材啦！

Typical color combination 一般顏色組合:
White / Cream
Red & Green
Champagne
Yellow & Green
Purple
Pink
Green

問花店提供不同花材的照片，從中知道你將會有的花球樣子，不會出事！



２。花材出口地及季節性的選擇

香港入口的花材來自世界各地，價錢不同，以中國由陸路進口最化算。荷蘭，新西蘭，南非，南美等地都是以空運入口，成本高，所以貴。香港見到的花有時候可以一年四季都有，原因是春天用荷蘭的花，到冬天靠入口新西蘭的花，所以花材不論是春夏秋冬，年中斷貨半年又會再出現另一個春天。

Holland　＄＄＄＄
New Zealand　＄＄＄
China　＄
south Africa ＄＄＄
taiwan ＄

當造的花材又與不當做的時間有天壤之別，例如夏天的荷蘭鬱金香要溫室種植，成本及供應少，比平時一定貴一倍。在你定下大日子的同時，不仿留意那些是當造的花材，可以得到好又扺用的心水花色！不合時又貴，做出來的不是好看貨色，不要勉強！

物色你的主題可以跟據季節不同的花，留下深刻印象。

春天，牡丹，較剪蘭，鬱金香，風信子
夏天，向日葵，紅掌，蕙蘭，馬蹄蘭
秋天，大理花，雞冠花
冬天，水仙，朱頂蘭，聖誕紅，


３。多種混合或獨立單色

花的價錢有時候可以是在預算之外，要削開支,可以保留主花，其它花用便宜的相襯。伴娘的花球可以用顏色一樣，便宣大量的花例如康乃馨，大陽菊之類，用特別的絲帶裝飾效果亦是十分有個性的，不會老土。

獨立的花（solo flowers)，例如馬蹄蘭，鬱金香，可以單獨做成一花球，不用其它襯花。使用多種襯花，尤其是荷蘭的獨特花材，是會貴很多的。

Simple chic (solo flowers)　＄＄
multiple colors and textures ＄＄＄＄　
China flowers only ＄＄
Holland / imported flowers only ＄＄＄＄＄




４。後備的方案

花期的供應不定時，天氣等等因數，如遇上某些花的顏色缺貨，你亦要做後備的方案。花的顏色偶有深淺色，那是正常的，但是不能供應的時候，是不會有預兆的。你可以問花店後備的選擇，要避開不想要的花材和顏色，大日子不要犯錯啊！可以從顏色換上別的花材，牡丹轉美玫，紅色改白色等等給花店做個準備。


要多些聽花店的意見啊！花店不是吃錢的，手工及花材都是要價錢高低的因數。當你清楚自己的要求和找到手工好的花店，都是值得的。反而，草草半年下單子，不知花價亦付錢，要是花價上升，花店亦會不夠款項，只用頂替，吃虧是自己呢！You get what you pay for!

In memory of bloom economy...

During these budget tight days, we can learn how to buy flowers in a economical way. You can buy a bunch of mass head China roses instead of using American roses, or using less imported flowers. And then ask your florist to take away the filler flowers. Single mass flowers will brighten her a day!

Try our economy packaging flowers. Bulk purchase of 30 tulips HKD 888. Bulk purchase of 50 tulips HKD 1188.



We are buying houseplant like orchids or green plant such as Africa violet.
When you need to send a greeting gift to your friends, you can send it economically without hurting your pocket.



Flowers can cheer up your day! There's not a price for making her a happy day!

Moraka Orchid 胡姖花 - A gift to remember!

A gift to remember! It has been a long time best seller in our workshop!!

Buy simply a flat vase with a mass bunch of Moraka Orchid - red, orange, purple, yellow.

Buy this one you can make someone cheer up for a week! It is easy for lazy people. It needs only a little water, the water will not become murky. The petals will dry up and slowly detach.

Flower of happiness for everyone!

Purchase online at Fleur.hk!
http://fleur.hk/sfo/WebObjects/fleur.woa/wa/F/flower?f=77

Happy Father's Day! 15 June,2008

一般父親節都比數少機會送到花，多是電玩及手賬工具，電話等等。父親節都一般不會有這樣的特定的送花，不似母親節，送上有母愛的像徵的康乃馨。往年電玩及電話新潮的物品，今年都不用更新，送甚麼好？

今年最好以甚麼記念父親節？提出綠色的禮物，好像花籃禮品，花束，植物等等，現時都十分受樂。不要怕父親收花會很『老土』，現在的花束具時尚和氣派，定能給平凡的父親節加上另一重驚喜！

Flower Color theory 花之色彩學

Pink and Green colors.








Yellow and green.





Red, purple & green colors. Red stands for passion and purple means mysterious love.

甚麼是「保鮮花」? What is "Preserved Flowers"?

保鮮花，可以是玫瑰等等不同種類的花，不同絲花或人造花，它是可以保存很久不會凋謝的花，適合放置於室溫內，但不能直照陽光及濕度高的地方。如果小心打理，保鮮花可以保存數月甚至幾年。它是經過處理的花，當然，不可以放進水或灑水。

保鮮花是用真花製作，保留了自然的外貌及柔軟的質感，比人造花自然像真。它使用甘油成份的化學品去浸蝕切下的鮮花，於是花辦內的水份排出，停止細胞的水份和細菌生長造成腐敗。於是，出現了近似保鮮的功效。然後，再使用浸不同顏色的染料，造出不同奇特的顏色，例如，黑色，藍色，啡色的玫瑰，令人嘖嘖稱奇啊！

有其它方法保鮮，冷涷乾燥使用溫度趕走花辨的水份或是可索性以天然風乾花材，都是可以永久保存鮮花的辦法。但是，缺少水份的花瓣會出現小許脫色及花瓣變得較脆。

其實，保鮮花一直都有存在。在日本，很容易買到製作保鮮花的溶劑，在家中把花材浸製，再設計成不同的花飾或擺設。現在，由於需求上升，不少企業投資到厄瓜多爾及中國等鮮花生產的地方。不獨是日本，其它國家也買保鮮花了！


Preserved flower, especially roses, are unlike silk or artificial flowers. With the proper care, that is when used indoors in regular comfortable room temperatures, and kept out of direct sunlight and void humid condition, they will last for months even years. Of course they must never be placed in water.

Preserved roses enjoy the benefit to maintain their natural shape and soft touch of the flowers. Glycerin base solution are designed for flowers to replace the water in the cell and therefore stops the development of bacterial or decay like normal flower does. Then, they follows by a dying process which switch on with different colors. Varies color such of black and blue that has never been seen in the natural will be created.

Roses can be preserved in many other ways such as by hanging or freeze dry. The freeze dry method is similar that they take away the water in the cells as completely dry. As a result, the color will be a little bit offset but overall structure is preserved. However, the petals will be brittle.

In long time ago, this is a home based art and craft in Japan. Japanese can easily buy bottle of solutions, creating themselves a wonderful and yet long lasting flowers arrangements. Nowadays, due to a popular demand, many manufacturers are making this nearby the production of the fresh flowers, for example, in Ecuador or China. You will see more and more marketer to sell the product to you soon!

回應環保觸角 送花不環保？

http://www.greensense.org.hk/

情人節鮮花非重點
過綠色情人節　陪伴對方　親手自製小禮物

二月十四日是西方情人節，不論是當天在街上逛、辦公室內、電影電視劇情，送贈鮮花是其中一種最常見的表示愛意的方法。但隨著時代變遷，大眾對送花的理解已有改變。本會於月初進行節街頭問卷調查訪問了395位市民，希望了解時下男女對情人節送贈鮮花的看法。

送鮮花文化其實對環境造成不必要的影響，為了平衡節日的需要，我們建議一些既環保又有心意的方法希望大眾能過一個綠色的情人節。

１。送花本是情人心動和愛的表達。如果bio-degragable 的花你不買，要名牌和金錢，那麼就是合付環保觸角的原則嗎？聖誕節環保觸角亦題出「得物無所用」禮物不環保，不是嗎？

２。花束跟本很環保。我同意你如果有心思，你可以自己係買花送，不用花巧的包裝，更有誠意。

３。拍拖是要有情趣的，香港人生活忙碌，甚少有情趣，偶有一天情人節，高興亦不仿。你有心機做禮物亦好花時間。我同意等到年紀大『陪伴對方』就是了，收花束不重要。

４。『時代變遷』的定論是優質花店的興起。新花店都採用歐式手札的方法，一根繩子把一把子四十枝以上的花札好。只要少許簡單的包裝，不佔百分之五的花束成本，本是無害。
你在旺角市場上見到的都不是歐式花束，以它們的價錢只可以平價的包裝，取代花材做支撐的效果，你給的價錢的確是在包裝上。
市場上有歐式的花店的確很環保，小攤販的一枝枝玫瑰也可以很環保，不能以此定論『送鮮花文化不環保』。引用進口香港的燃料為例子，司空見慣，香港甚麼都是入口，難道只說鮮花不成。不識花藝潮流，缺乏賣花的觸角，草草為了見報而發題。


５。用小量的人做一些引導性的問題。空洞的 Q&A 可以一大堆。

情人節收花好不好？　女仕：　收ＬＶ仲好。
送花好不好？　男仕：　送花比送ＬＶ便宜。

不收花收甚麼比較好？女仕：收ＤＩＹ東西。（自己包好個ＬＶ俾我）
不送花送其它好不好？男仕：她們要ＬＶ。好貴。送花好。

情人節的花束幾錢？
女仕：平Ｄ好Ｄ。因為可以要更貴或更好的禮物。
男仕：不送貴花會覺得我小家。

情人節要付錢送花，你喜歡嗎？男仕：你條問題答左。
情人節希望對方如何表達心意，送花除外？　女仕：陪我，因為我係女朋友。


６。送花的思想是源遠流長的文化，不是傳統守舊，不要以為不環保為藉口。你可以等平日送，或者自己包花送。其實送花是藝術，歐洲視為 Lifestyle，不是以金錢而量度，為心儀的對像表白，花勝千言萬語。

７。供求定律下情人節花束一定比平日貴。花藝師一日包到的花束數量都有限，店鋪有Quota 不能無限量收單，否則花材一定不好，唯有價高者得，市場自行調節。不是花店集體加價，仕何有實力的花店都不會以割價的模式辦事。

Orchid care tips 養蘭花的要訣

１．蝴蝶蘭要少許的光線，但不要直接日照。可以考慮放在窗廉後。
２．不要澆水到葉子上。如果有水仍留在葉片之間，可以用紙巾吸走。　
３．澆水的時間最好要在早上的時份，這樣多餘的濕氣可以在日間蒸發掉，夜間澆水，效果則相反，太多水份會損害根部。澆水的次數視乎天氣，一般而言，在冬季一星期一次，在夏季天氣暖和乾旱時，則一星期需要澆水兩次。
４．不要留有水份於花盆及底座內。蘭花的根部不能長時間浸濕在水內，應倒去多餘的水份。
５．當最後蘭花凋謝，可以將一半的花徑剪走。經悉心打理的蘭花是會再次出芽發開花的。

Kumming Flower Market 昆明花市場

Flowers in Hong Kong are mostly come from China, Kumming. As you can see in the picture, a huge production and wholesales of flowers are taken place everyday. Flowers from China is comparable cheaper. They are being transported by truck to Hong Kong everyday and the airfreight cost has been saved. The quality of flowers has been improved due to foreign investment there. Not only roses are growing from Kumming and many other flower varieties are also due to a popular demand.

香港的鮮花市場是由昆明入口的。昆明的花市場處理很多鮮花，供應香港及國內,以及出口到歐洲及日本。昆明的鮮花相對地較為便宜，可以由陸路運輸省下空運費。亦因為外資投資到昆明市場，所以品質得以提升。不單只有一般人常見的玫瑰是由昆明出產的，其它的品種植亦因外地市場的需要而種植。

See more interesting photos from Flickr

http://flickr.com/photos/dnk/sets/72157600707560171/

Fashionable chrysanthemums! 潮流菊花

http://www.justchrys.com
Chrysanthemums are not old fashion things. They are now "hip and dynamic". They can create colorful and modern arrangement that widely adopt in some floral masterpieces. See this website for your inspiration.
菊花有豐富的顏色,可以做到不同的花藝擺設。 給予人感覺成傳統的菊花，經過設計師的改造下，是時尚而色彩的配搭。
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Color and meaning of flowers 花語

White roses: 白玫瑰
It means for true love & purity of spirit. Also, it is meaning of "trust me".
白色代表純真的愛情，亦可以表明 「請相信我」的意思。

Yellow roses: 黃玫瑰
It is an expression of friendship. As lightly open yellow roses asks the questions "Do you still love me?" and when fully opened, yellow roses can also mean a lament " please come back to me!"
含蓄婉委地表達你對她的友誼，亦可借喻作為朋友的開始認識對方。微開的黃玫瑰是在暗示「是否還在喜歡我？」。盛開的黃玫瑰是對戀人期待復合的意思：「請你回來我身邊吧！」。

Pink roses: 粉紅玫瑰
It means prefect happiness, pleasure , but also secret love. It says "my heart belongs to you". In full flower, a pink rose can also mean "believe what I say and do". A deep pink rose is a symbol of gratitude.
粉紅色玫瑰代表擁有完美的愛情，幸福盡在不言中，但是含蓄低調，是隱秘的愛情。這是告訴對方「我的心是屬於您的」，「請相信我真心說話，我是認真的。」深粉紅色的玫瑰是代表敬重和感激不盡。

White & Red roses: 紅白色組合
A combination of white and red roses means togetherness for all time.
紅白色玫瑰的組合,代表永遠在一起的意思。

(source: floraholland)

Hand-tied bouquet- No plastics! 手綁花束

A new breed of hand-tied spiral bouquets -- originating in Europe -- has unfurled as a unique form of floral arrangement for the home. Hand-tied bouquet is different from your buying at the street florist in many ways. You can see the difference in followings:

原自歐洲的手綁花束,鬆開的花型優雅自然,是室內及家居最好的點綴。不同於市場上有些價廉的傳統花束,即使你以為花的外型和份量是一樣, 解開包裝後卻是兩回事。

1. No plastics cellulose tape is used.
We used the natural ropes and spiral method to tie the flowers together.
沒有膠紙。傳統的花束，以膠紙作為綑紮的工具。歐洲的手綁花束都是用草或麻繩,以螺旋形的手法束綁花材。

2. No plastics holder in each of the flower stems and on its flower buds.
Traditional florists use cellulose tape as binding and make their bouquets flat on the table. Therefore they used the plastics holder on the stems to make the flowers pop out. Instead, modern florists use a spiral binding technique with strings. And they use leaves and flowers material make a bunch of flowers voluminous.

沒有玻璃紙。傳統的花束,會在每支花柄上加上玻璃紙,以作為花與花之間的分隔空隙,亦令到花束看上來比較大一點。有些更在花蕾上再加上很明顯的膠網裝飾。花束都是平放於桌上,只有使用膠紙綑紮,不是立體的螺旋形,所以"膠紙"十分多看起來會"豐滿"一點。現代的花束都很環保, 亦講求美感,不要太多不自然的完素。

3. No plastics net wrapping material.
We used paper, raffia ribbon and sometimes fabric woven ribbon instead. A simplistic and modern style - environmental friendly as well.
沒有人造網。傳統的花束都喜愛以"膠網"作為包裝材料。現代的花束注重簡約,過量的包裝令人誤以為花材的分量多，是不實際的想法。自然的素材例如拉菲草及布絲帶,都是既環保,又簡單的包裝材料。

4. Value for money.
Your flowers is handle by our skillful florists beautifully. They spend more time than the traditional florist who make the wrap and you go. Plus, more flowers & greenery you will be receiving instead of a bunch of plastics wrap that you will not able to put it back to the vase.
物有所值。現代的花束都是由專業的花店從業員花心思和時間做好手綁花束，不同於傳統的花束快包裝。花束都以大量綠葉及襯花相伴,不是以“膠紙“做支撐花型，是物有所值的一件藝術品。

5. Use tasteful color scheme.
It is a professional florist's duty to make use of the beautiful color to create a piece of art that attractive to your eyes. We do not suggest to "mix-and-match" yourself. It ends up something very distasteful and their color looks strange.
使用經過組合的顔色系列。花店從業員只會使用悅目的顔色,以自然的表現花的美態,不會胡亂配搭。傳統的花束都只是隨手拿來數總花材綁起來, 沒有視覺上的美感可言。


6. No "baby breath" things.
We seldom use things such as "baby breath" and "solidago" as filler flowers. We use natural green leaves and Eustoma flowers instead. Modern florist make use of different trendy flowers to create new style.
不要滿天星及小黃鶯。滿天星及小黃鶯是很久以前常用的花材,現代的花束都很避免"老套"的外表而用綠葉及洋桔梗花作為填充花材了。現代的花材總類繁多,不是一定用相同常見的花材。

7. Hand-tied flowers are ready for decoration.
Traditional flowers make a big problem here. With the plastic stuffing inside the bouquet, you may not find it easy to put it beautifully into your vase. And also, sometimes the weight is not balance and will turn over the vase. Hand tied bouquet has a spiral structure that can standing on the table. It is so natural that you can put on vase but not seeing any plastic cellulose tape stick on the flowers.
手綁花束可立即放入花瓶內做擺設。傳統的花束都是用大量的膠紙作為花材的支架,不是可以做到把重量平均分佈。如果放入花瓶內會很容易翻倒，而且膠紙也不好看。現代的手綁花束都以螺旋形的手法,重量平衡,可以把花材站立起來。手綁的繩子是可以放入注滿水的花瓶內,即可成為點綴家居的藝術品。

Reference:
Do it yourself!手綁花束的做法：Better Homes

婚禮花球 ﹣Q&A (1)

Ｑ：傳統的拖尾花球好？還是現代的手束花比教好？
拖尾或稱瀑布式的花球，是經典的選擇，最好是傳統的教堂，長拖尾婚紗的配答。傳統的拖尾是以鐵線技巧綁扎，十分考功夫，現在只要有花泥手柄代替，花藝師可以很上手把花材安放。花球要有不同的層次透氣的感覺，否則會活像盾牌一樣，好重和好硬的感覺。花球的拖尾不是愈長愈誇張愈好，要配合新娘子的高度，不要把新娘子蓋過呀！那樣正好說出如果你是嬌小玲瓏的話，就不要選太巨型的花球，手束花會比較適合。花藝師要有手束花的綁扎手藝，使可以十分堅固的放在枱上。不用上手的時候亦可以在花瓶內，立即成為你的枱花！而且用的花材亦會比花球泥多一倍，花材基本上是不受限制的，千變萬化！

Ｑ：絲花花球比鮮花球，那樣比較好？
絲花球價錢十分廉宜，但又不及真正的鮮花富色彩感。不妨多花心思揀選你最喜好的鮮花，問問花藝師的配搭，鮮花球能使你留個美好回憶。

Ｑ：姊妹們需要甚麼花？
Ａ：姊妹們可以考慮一個和新娘子一樣,但比較細小的花球，多是手束花，襯托姊妹們的禮服。 亦可以有手花縛手腕上，襟花在衣服或披肩上等。 男仕比較簡單的襟花就可以。主人家的父母親可以用較大的襟花，例如兩株玫瑰，特顯地位。

Ｑ：我的禮堂佈置的主題是粉紅色, 甚麼花的顏色最特出我的花球？
Ａ：你可以考慮有比背景深一倍的顏色,例如鮮紅色,來突出主題。如果不想太多紅色,亦可以考慮其它比實色(Saturated)的顏色, 比如鮮黃或鮮橙。粉紫色的色系和粉紅色系跟背景十分相似，那樣就好像攝不入鏡頭一樣。現代的花的用色千變萬化，不愁找不到你想要的顏色表（color scheme)。相反，場地為實色以粉色相襯會更柔和。如果是在室外，可以多用一些的青綠的花材，例如小繡球，增加natural的效果。

Ｑ：怎樣處理我收到的花球？
Ａ：如果是手束花球,可以坐回水中養一整晚。如果是花泥球,可以用一個玻璃杯把手柄放好，亦是一樣把水注到浸到花泥，好讓花泥不會乾涸。玫瑰或繡球花可以用小小的濆水壼濆上花瓣上，不用的時候可以放回水中吸水，那麼花球就可以保持一天不會變殘。

∼預告：顏色，形狀，花