Arranging Flowers at Home

Southern Accents: Can you give some basic tips for readers who want to arrange flowers at home?
DeJuan Stroud: Use the freshest flowers you can get, and change the water every other day. You’d be amazed at what those two things can do for longevity. Also, don’t be afraid to cut flowers short. Sometimes, featuring just one bloom in a vase can be so beautiful.

SA: What are your guidelines for cutting stems to fit the container?
DS: First, decide how close you want the flowers to the container; then cut them accordingly. The first cut should be with the stems -- either long or short -- touching the bottom of the container. As you continue to make the arrangement, you may pull a few out and cut them shorter, giving dimension to the design.

SA: Do you have any rules of thumb for optimum combinations of blooms to use in arrangements?
DS: Most striking arrangements feature a couple of face flowers. So for most designs, focus on placing these in the best positions, and build around them. Keep filler flowers, or the “mortar” elements, to a minimum, and to the extent possible, make them wildly unusual.

SA: Do you have any foolproof combinations?
DS: If I’m using roses, combining red, yellow, and orange -- or hot pink and orange -- will always give a big wow!

SA: Is there anything you should avoid?
DS: Mixing too many different kinds of flowers and greenery in one arrangement.

SA: What’s a good next step for a novice who wants to go beyond the basic loose arrangement?
DS: Learning to make the European hand-tied bouquet. This transformed my business and increased my skill at putting varied elements together, resulting in sensational combinations.

SA: You and your wife were high school sweethearts, and you went into the flower business together. Do you still bring her flowers?
DS: Yes. Every week I put flowers all over the apartment. We are both addicted to having them around us. Even when we travel, I go out and get flowers or have them shipped from our wholesalers to our vacation location. Last spring in Paris, I went to a local market and filled the apartment with flowers. We’re pretty spoiled, I must say.

SA: What else inspires you?
DS: I’m inspired by looking deep into flowers and foliage. I’ve designed entire parties based on the colors of a single coleus leaf, or the colors found inside a salmon parrot tulip. Also I’m inspired by beautiful gardens. The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and the border gardens at Sissinghurst immediately come to mind.

SA: Do you have any floral books you recommend?
DS: I recommend all of Christian Tortu’s books.
 

RESOURCES: DeJuan Stroud, Inc., 212/431-9099, www.dejuanstroud.com.