1. Keep a reference book on hand. Inspirational and packed with information, books and Web sites about the language of flowers are essential to creating a posy that is rich in sentiment. Look for a resource that has a glossary or encyclopedia of flowers and their meanings. (See suggested books listed below.)
2. Let the theme guide your color selection. In general, red, orange, and yellow communicate excitement, while green, blue, and purple lend a sense of calm and comfort. You can also look to the meanings of flowers and call on bright and cheery yellow flowers to say "congratulations" or muted dusty purple roses to express sympathy.
3. Choose the right size vase. The scale of the container should be appropriate for the size of the bouquet. A good guideline is that the container should be one-third the height of the finished arrangement. Follow this advice if you like, but trust your eye to tell you whether a container and arrangement are complementary.
4. Arrange the bouquet in your hand. Rather than placing individual flowers in a vase, arrange flowers in your hand for greater control. (Flowers often shift when arranged directly in the vase.) With the bouquet in hand, you can easily manipulate different colors and shapes into a pleasing arrangement. Once you have a form you like, cut the stems to a uniform length and pop the flowers into a vase of water.
5. Look beyond the florist shop. Remember that your yard and garden are probably bursting with meaning-rich twigs, vines, and tendrils. Visit the produce section of a grocery store or your local farmer's market for a selection of fresh herbs. Garden centers are excellent sources for hard-to-find bouquet additions.
6. Include a note. Tie a handwritten note to the bouquet listing the flowers and their meanings. This will show the recipient that the arrangement is more just than a lovely bouquet because it carries a carefully thought out, personal message from you.
7. Create your own design, or base your arrangement on one of ours.

 

The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings by Shane Connolly (Rizzoli; 2004)

The Language of Flowers by Marthe Seguin-Fontes (Sterling; 2001)

The Meaning of Flowers: Myth, Language & Lore by Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field (Chronicle; 1998)

Tussie-Mussies: The Language of Flowers by Geraldine Adamich Laufer (Workman; 1993)

The Meaning of Flowers