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Flower Drying Equipment

You will find it easier to createsuccessful displays with dried materialsif you use the appropriate equipment.You should he able to obtain thefollowing basic items from good florist'sshops or suppliers:

Adhesive clay: this may be used to settrunks in pots for topiary displays or tohold down baskets so that they do notoverbalance under the weight of a large display.

Candleholders: these plastic fittings areavailable in a range of sizes. They havea star-shaped base, which is easilypushed into dry foam to hold a candle.Canes: if you are creating a very largedisplay, you need to extend the lengthof a stem by taping it to a cane. Canes can also he used to create a square ortriangular frame for a garland, or to fixterracotta pots in a display.

Chicken wire: this is a useful base forsome displays (moss balls, for instance)and can also be used to hold flowers inlarge containers.

Copper or steel rings: these, in tact,comprise two thin wire rings, which areused as the base for garlands. They areparticularly useful if you plan to build agarland with heavy items.

Florist's adhesive tape: this is excellent for binding blocks of dryflorist's foam together. It can also heused to hold foam tirmly in a container.Florist's clear sealer: a type of fixative,like a clear lacquer or very light varnish, which is specifically kir use ondried materials. When sprayed on to adisplay, it holds loose material in placeand will also help to keep it clean.Florist's foam: this is usually grey orbrown and available in rectangularblocks, spheres and cones. It is best toavoid foam that is intended for freshflowers, because it tends to crumble itit is used with dried materials.

Florist's wire: these are available indifferent lengths and gauges; it is bestto use wires that are as thick as you cancomfortably work with and to buy longwire which you can cut to length as

Whenever possible, use the specifiedtools and materials - it always makes a displaymuch easier to create. The heavier the material, the thicker the wire you will need to hold it in place.

Glue gun: this is extremely useful as itdramatically reduces the time neededto make a display (it is much faster touse glue than to wire materials). Aswith many things, better quality gunsare more expensive. A gun with atrigger feed for the glue is easiest to use.Take care not to burn yourself.

Gutta percha tape: use for wrappingaround false wire stems.

Mossing (floral) pins: these are ready-made pins that are used to holdmaterials in place.

Pliers: use these to secure and twistflorist's wire, chicken wire and so on.Raffia: traditionally used by gardeners,this makes an attractive bindingmaterial, particularly if you are wantingto achieve a rustic look.

Reel (spool) wire: this comes in arange of gauges and is essential formaking swags and garlands. Experimentwith different thicknesses until you find one with which you like working.

Sharp knife: invaluable for cuttingdried florist's foam to size as well as forcutting woody stems of naturalmaterials. Keep knives in goodcondition and cut away from yourself to avoid injury.

String: if you prefer, you can oftensubstitute reel (spool) wire with string.The type used for gardening tends to bemost suitable and comes in a range ofbrown and green colours that blendwell with dried materials.

Twine: Strong sting or twine isessential when tying spiralled bunches,making garlands or attaching foliageto gates and posts.

Wire cutters: use to cut medium- andheavy-gauge wire.

Wire mesh: use to strengthen plasticfoam and stop it crumbling when largenumbers of sterns are pushed into it.

The advantage with ready-made canerings is that they are fairly inexpensive, readilyavailable and simple to use.

Any type of container can be used to holda display. However, if you plan to use somethingmade of glass, place a piece of dry foam in thecentre of the container, and then packpotpourri, quantities of moss or even colouredglass stones, around the foam so that none ofthe working will be visible.

Scissors: sharp dressmaker's scissors arebest for cutting fabric and ribbons.Resist using scissors to cut stems or theblades will quickly become blunt.Secateurs (pruners): a strong pair ofthese will cope with most material.Always use a pair that feels comfortableto work with

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